BillsVet

And many around here didn't want to admit this during the late summer when it became clear three players who had not taken a NFL snap before 2009 would be starting on that line. It's not surprising they have to run simple sets to make up for that inexperience, especially now that another rookie was forced into duty with Meredith. How can anyone give the front office credit when they've tried twice in four off-seasons to rebuild the OL? This time they just did it cheaper, but the results aren't all that different.

And Schonert, even though he'll never get another big NFL job, is laughing his hind quarters off. In his 9th season as a HC, Dick Jauron has successfully found new ways to develop unimaginative offenses which are typically at the bottom. This is not the exception with DJ, it's the rule. He is bad and getting worse and for an opposing NFL player to say this, speaks volumes about the entire team. Because it's RW's coach after all.

You seem like a nice person John and I'm not patronizing you here, but.... Why should we have any confidence they'll find good players if the same flunkies keep running the personnel side of the house, supervised by someone who grew up selling tickets and marketing a team? They are incompetent and probably not going anywhere. Management is among the worst in the entire league. Awesome. I believe Jimma Carter had one as well.

Bill, thanks for the comments again. Being at the game I miss some of the sideline things, even though we sit in the front row behind the tunnel side EZ. Thanks for the info. Today can be no better example of why Dick-ball does not work. Even forcing turnovers and running a vanilla no guts offense, they managed to once again break down defensively in the fourth. Sound familiar? It's like freaking ground hog day each game-day. RW said at halftime that his goal was to give the fans a SB win. Are we any closer today than we were at the end of 2005? I think not, and it's an insult to the intelligence of Bills fans to believe this remains their goal. At the same time, I'm happy no one booed a 91 year old man and everyone should respect their elders. It's still worthless to discuss the merits of individual players and coaches because until the men picking and coaching them are replaced, it's a waste of time. When this decade began, there were 30 other teams in the NFL. All of those teams save Detroit have made the post-season at least once. If it's not clear a total housecleaning is absolutely necessary again, I don't know when it ever will. Fans who want to criticize players should stop wasting their breath. It's management folks.

After this team lost to Cleveland, anyone should realize this team can lose to anyone at anytime. Houston's been an up and coming team for it seems like forever, but in a battle of talent and coaching, they have the advantage. That's not to say Gary Kubiak is a great coach, but he's a heckuva lot better than DJ. And when you compare QB's it's pretty obvious: Schaub is an injury-prone talented guy with good weapons. Fitzpatrick is a weak-armed inconsistent and more daring than than man he replaced. Anything can happen, but Houston should take this one.

I thought that article would be another puff piece about how JM has stepped up his approach to the game. And all it talked about knowing Williams from the NCST days. In 2006, Marv tried to forge a front office that cooperated and made compromises. Unfortunately, he couldn't be a leader after having been out of the league for nearly a decade. This very approach, still alive and not well, is what gets you picks like McCargo. It also finds average players who can't change games. Or you find busts that never play well. Oh, and having incompetent holdovers from the TD regime also hurts. Modrak and Guy have to go and be replaced with completely new GM, Pro Personnel Director, and Amateur Scouting Director.

It's not hard to understand why the Giants have been good for a long time: their GM's who are supported by the Mara/Tisch families as ownership. George Young (79-97), Ernie Accorsi (98-07), Jerry Reese (07-present). Those guys knew what they were/are doing and four SB appearances with 3 titles proves that. I'm not sure there's an era with this good of GM's as the Giants have had since Young took over. As much as the NFL attempts to equalize payroll, they can't (as is suggested in the article) equal out the minds in the front office. It's why socializing anything never works.

If there's one word that's been tossed around far too much, it's potential. All it means, as mentioned repeatedly, is you ain't done nothing yet and that about sums up Buffalo Bills football from 2000-2009.

It tells me they've beat up on bad teams. Carolina is getting to be a dumpster fire at 2-4, the Jets are 4-3, and TB is 0-7. Combined W-L is 6-14. Just about par for the course when you roll back the layers behind DJ. DJ was 57-76 entering the season. My records indicated his record against in these categories: 13-43 against playoff teams 44-33 against non-playoff teams. So DJ is living up to reality once again. Beat up on bad to mediocre teams, while getting creamed by good teams.

The Titans are missing Albert Haynesworth. But it's hard to see one guy making them go from 13-3 to 0-6. This chart showed me one thing sure to make any QB wince: 54 QB hits allowed in 7 games, tied for worst in the NFL. Even though Trent is prone to injury, that's far too many hits. Unless you've got Roethlisberger.

Because the same teams are typically good every year, with few exceptions. NE, PIT, BAL, IND, DEN, SD, NYG, PHI, and GB are able to sustain success. The others haven't done it. All of those teams are well managed, and this is the difference between good, mediocre, and plain bad teams. It's why the Bills are stuck in a decade long rut of ineptitude.

It'd be wrong to boo RW this Sunday. That said, he's the reason this team is on the treadmill of mediocrity this decade and it won't shock me if people shower him with boos. The PR department is definitely taking advantage of their winning streak, which is par for the course. Perhaps only the Washington Redskins have alienated their fans and established more of a bunker mentality than Buffalo.

Competent HC's and OC's know the way to beat Buffalo is to run the ball throughout the game, not trying to throw. John Fox evidently didn't watch the NO tape, and figured he could pass with a QB who is dead last in INT's thrown. Wrong. The Bills ranked high in pass defense in 06 and didn't allow a 300 yard passer. Unfortunately, their run defense allowed 140 ypg which was exploited early and often. Again, their pass defense ranks high in 09, but there's a catch. Besides, playing against Delhomme, Sanchez, Anderson, Henne, and Leftwich doesn't hurt either. Their teams' combined records? 9-24. Not an accomplishment to beat up on bad teams.

This comes down to the roster makeup. Buffalo's been forced to play more UDFA's and/or rookies this season that it's not a surprise they've received plenty of yellow. Bell, Byrd, Levtire, Wood, Palmer, Buggs, and Meredith are all getting their first action this season and responsible for many of the flags. Overmatched OL like Bell are victimized because they play such a key position. If there's one defense of DJ, it's that the people building this roster have never found quality backups. One injury at OT or LB forces them to scrape the PS and street free agent roster. I'm sure they have a budget, but spending big for this team, getting a TO means not finding quality depth. And with the team being one of the smallest in the NFL, injuries are bound to happen. They've got some depth at the skill positions like DB and WR, but the lines, LB, and QB mean going to bad players quick.

Congress and the WH will hold that anti-trust exemption over their (the NFL's) head in the same way they used the TARP funds over the bankers. It's their in-clause, as in how to get in the front door to having some control over the NFL. And I won't rule out NFLPA President DeMaurice Smith using whatever D.C. political connections he has to get his way. So long as Congress can sell why they're doing something, nothing is out of the question.

Because one game against an injured CB defines his 3+ seasons in the NFL. Do the research. If Bill Parcells doesn't want him, why should we?

Actually he is. Donte's from the school that you don't win in the trenches, but with small fast players who are dinged up by Week 3. Draft them high and sign as many of them as you can.

Yes, thanks for the correction on the TD's. It's pointless to discuss individual players or even the coaches because ultimately it's the people from the top choosing the coaches and players that are hindering the franchise. The owner, supposed COO/GM, VP's of Pro Personnel and Amateur Scouting are the people who need to draw the criticism. For me, it's hard to believe in a franchise which won't change because the owner is at an advanced age and cannot make long term plans. For the life of me, there's nothing more to say about the franchise. Management is struggling to find reasons NOT to change. The tide is not turning, and if it were, 7-9 in 2008 would have been the end for that HC and front office. I'm actually looking forward to the off-season to see how they're going to sell this team and avoid making changes, including firing the coach. It wouldn't surprise me to see DJ return, especially if they go 7-9 or 8-8.

Bell was watching helplessly when the safety occurred. He is weak and not great at the POA and against good DL, he'll be overpowered. The point is, each move the team makes has unintended consequences. Trading Peters meant huge changes to the entire OL, one of which, the RT to LT, didn't make it past the summer. Everyone knew that he'd need help from the TE or a RB chip block, which as Bill points out, hinders the options in the passing game. Few people around here anticipate these issues, but see only the immediate result. I guess for RW and RB, he's cheaper than Peters.

Fixed it for you. It's pointless to focus on players while ignoring the front office picking said players. Draft Day is nice, but do we really have confidence that the current case of Jauron, Modrak, and whoever claims to be the GM will get it right? I'd fill the issue at LB in UFA if possible and go best DT or OT available in Round 1.

Scoring 2 TD's in three games against CLE, NYJ, and CAR isn't what I'd call offensive production. As a matter of fact, the offense has exactly 8 TD's in 7 games. They rushed for 53 yards on 30 carries yesterday, and the OL is struggling mightily. It's easy to get emotionally worked up after beating inferior teams. To make the post-season, the Bills have to go at least 7-2 in their final 9 games to have a shot, which means losing only two games to NE, MIA, NYJ, ATL, IND, HOU, JAC, KC, and TEN. After losing to CLE, I'm no game is a sure thing with this team.

It's hard to fathom that a QB with Owens and Evans would throw so often to his backs and TE's. The only thing I can think of is that DJ is in TE's head so much, he won't take risks for fear of any type mistake. There are so many variables involved that someone can pick apart TE versus RF. I think if we look at yards per attempt and yards per completion, we'll find it validates Simon's information. Fitz's YPA is 5.09, whereas TE's is 6.44. Edwards' 91 completions have gone for 985 yards, or about 10.9 ypc. RF's 21 completions have gone for 239 yards, or 11 ypc. Fitz's YPA is brutal, although his sample is much smaller. I'd like to see what he does, but it's clear he's not a long term answer at QB.

As always Bill, thanks much. The DL played much better against a good OL today. Kelsay's sack (splitting the RT and RG) was surprising and ncie to see. I'd still like to see more pressure on the QB, but I'll take their performance. I would like to say the OL is better, but running between the tackles is still a big problem. I don't think anyone expects Levitre, Hangartner, and Wood to be All-Pros, but 30 carries for 53 yards is inexcusable. The tackles, Bell and Meredith don't seem to be anything more than bodies. I know Bell has been highlighted ad nauseam, but he's a liability. I would not like to enter 2010 with him entrenched as the starting LT. Fitz is too inconsistent to be a starting QB in the league for my money. 21-47 and 239 yards with 2 TD's is not good enough to win consistently in the NFL. Sadly, I'm not sure TE is much better. 3-4 is about equivalent to DJ's career winning percentage. And allowing 425 yards will not win against the NE's, ATL's, HOU's, and MIA's of the NFL.

Defense was better against the run, but still yielded 425 yards. Delhomme is a turnover waiting to happen, and Buffalo capitalized on short fields. I did not see them sustain a drive all day. Fewer penalties today, but Buffalo averaged 1.8 yards per carry and Fitzpatrick made a few plays but was generally inconsistent.

Good question.