BillsVet

SF also has this savvy front office exec: 49ers front office bio What's that say about the 49ers? Things were better when Eddie D. ran the show, even if he was crooked.

RIP Jack. You are and will be sorely missed.

Head coaches are overrated. Personally, I think Brandon could coach this team. He's already mastered the personnel end of the franchise, so why not give him a shot at HC. There'd still be continuity too!

I'm not as worried about a 3rd year QB as I am about a HC entering his ninth season as a NFL HC with a career winning percentage of .429. Buffalo has the offensive weapons to score some points. But there's a 2nd year OC who refers to Bill Walsh when anyone doubts him. Before the Bills can make any progress toward a playoff appearance, their HC and OC need to figure out how to make a gameplan and, if necessary, make in-game adjustments. They failed miserably in that task last season.

Welcome, and bring your ballistic helmet!

Because I'm too negative for not believing that a coach would want to leave for precisely those reasons. I'm trying to be kinder and gentler in my approach.

IIRC, DJ and the front office didn't want to let Kollar go at all. But there's no sense in holding onto a disgruntled position coach who thinks he has a better situation to go to. Kollar had been in Buffalo for three seasons and I'm sure he thought Houston would present a better situation for him. It's wrong to speculate why he wanted to leave, but Houston is an up and coming team.

The fact that Indianapolis had injuries to Saturday their All-Pro OC, and both starting guard Ryan Lilja and Mike Pollak had injuries as well. Those three guys made up their starting interior OL, so of course the RB isn't going to have as much success. Addai also had injuries that took him out of games, hence the 155 carries. Jason Smith is a converted college TE. Obviously playing RT is less challenging than left for a right handed QB, thus the move to RT before getting the tougher assignment.

There are a host of players throughout the league with size similar to Butler. But genetically not all of us are created equal and not everyone with size will have the enough speed or strength. It's why everyone strong big guy can't play OL. The OT position requires a guy to handle faster DE's as opposed to bigger but slower DT's. That's quite a difference. Rhodes is on his third team in three seasons. Someone pointed out that it's not bad for a 3rd RB, which is correct. It's not a concern, because he'll be fine for three games paired with Jackson until Lynch returns. It's a long way to the regular season. Then again, there is nothing inspiring about DJ and his staff that makes me think they can get good players in position to make plays. I'm playing a wait and see with this franchise, given their 9 seasons of ineptitude. I like many players and some of their off-season decisions. But there's so much turnover on this team to think each change will be a good one.

A player's skill set does not change after three years in the league. College OT's do not kick inside to OG and back to OT with ease. Butler works hard, but if he wasn't good enough to play RT in 07 (hence the LW signing), why is he good enough now? You did not include Brad Butler and a certain HOF'er in the same thought process, did you?

This idea that because Butler played RT in college that he can play in the pros is wishful thinking. Many college tackles kick inside because opposing DE's are faster and stronger. As for the Bills competing in the AFCE, that also remains to be seen. One thing the Bills do quite a bit of is making cosmetic changes that casual uniformed fans think will make a difference in the W column. TO is a nice addition, but Rhodes averaged 3.5 ypc. But because casual fans recognize his name from Indianapolis, it's a good move. He's 30 and that number does not bode well for RB's. The talk about the 2009 draft being a turning point also is premature. This type of discussion was tabled after Marv's first draft in 06. While that wasn't a complete failure, it hasn't set the foundation some fans thought it would be.

Nothing wrong with hating the Patrietts. But give them credit for having a proven front office that knows when to get rid of contracts. They got a first for Deion Branch, acquired Moss for a fourth, and pulled a Corleone on the Dolphins for Wes Welker. They find talent in the middle rounds as well as anyone and wisely use UFA. Adalius Thomas was a big name, but he fits their scheme perfectly. And oh yeah, they develop QB's better than anyone. Until the Bills prove they're capable of success for at least two years (meaning playoffs) they'll be questioned. Because their track record stinks this decade.

There are so many ifs and hopefullys each year with the Bills. And while it's the NFL and turnover happens with UFA and injuries, Buffalo needs so much to go right to have any chance at the post-season. There are going to be a lot of new players getting significant PT. And new does not always equal better. I hope those DB's aren't seeing as much action this year. Rather, I'd like to see more sacks and pressure. Have high hopes for Maybin to help there.

I'm not a fan of depending on any more rookie or inexperienced players than necessary. It appears that two OL positions will be manned by rookies. The OLB position may go to a guy returning from an ACL tear. FS could be a rookie. And while I love the new TE, he's a rookie as well. Hangartner has never been a full time starter at one position. And the pass rush needs help from a rookie though top pick. Some of these positions may be in good hands and we don't know. But it's a gamble to hope rookies and guys who've never started full time are going to man those positions at a decent level. And this is before sliding the former RG to RT and old RT to LT. That's a lot of turnover from one season to the next.

You know I'm not a fan of the coach. I just don't see how a guy who was a position coach for many years couldn't get promoted to OC for multiple franchises. The jury is still out on this guy, and the guy who hired him. What I saw last year was some unpreparedness and inability to adapt in-game to opposing defenses. People like to point out that Cleveland picked off Edwards 3 times early. I was there and it was painful to watch a guy make those mistakes. But I also don't think his OC helped him at all either. Let's recall this was the fifth time TE saw a 3-4 defense. An experienced NFL coach needs to do better than that, regardless of how many games he's been an OC. I expect more from the OC when he's been around the game his entire adult life. I still believe TS would not be more than a position coach for 31 other teams in the NFL. His not being hired after 10 seasons as a QB coach tells me something.

I like that they've selected a player for the long term and not to help DJ to hopefully make the playoffs. This pick is not about next year, but 2-3 years down the road, although he may help in 2009. I still maintain that fans who wanted Orakpo felt he was a more "finished" product, yet he too had issues against the run and is far from a complete DE despite being stronger. His performance in Texas' bowl game left a lot to be desired. Maybin played in the Rose Bowl at roughly 230. He's gained 20 pounds, and most certainly increased his strength. I'm sure he'll add more weight, but I could see him playing at 250-260 for his entire career. Jason Taylor at two inches taller played with less weight on him. Having the speed to dip under OT's will be essential to his success. I'm confident he'll be able to get around those guys with more work on hand use and pass rush moves. I see AM playing on obvious passing downs from the LDE spot. He's going up against some RT's, particularly in the AFCE, who aren't much. Damien Woody, Nick Kaczur, and Vernon Carey aren't the types who handle speed well. He could be solid in this type of role initially.

I forgot to add this: I don't expect him to do anything out of his normal self this year. I do recall hearing about opening up the offense in 07 and 08. Not sure if that was Losman in 07 and Turk in 08 with their bluster, but I've got to go doubting Thomas here and believe it when I see it. Besides, DJ has a method, which I disagree with, that has got him this far. I don't see him changing his stripes anytime soon.

Melvin Fowler was a fine chess player and smart guy. It didn't make him a solid NFL center. Intelligence without physical ability isn't enough. Certainly not saying GH isn't talented, but he's an unproven no matter what happened in CAR. He and Turk are not what I'd call innovative, nor do they make in-game adjustments when the situation calls for it. Seeing all those 3-4 teams dropping 6 or 7 into coverage was maddening. Only during the Cleveland game did they run it effectively when that happened. The Dick and Turk (plus Perry) Show have a lot to prove after three years. Not sure if after a combined 50 years in the NFL they'll ever be great gameday coaches.

Maybe this is a marketing ploy from Brandon to make it easier to do commercials next year: K-Gun 1990 versus K-Gun 2009. Show some Kelly and then Edwards. Those commercials showing highlights from the glory years will never run out. They must need new material for 2010.

The difference between Walker and Peters settles down to a few things: 1. Walker has played his entire career at RT or G. He has never played LT for more than a handful of games. How he holds up is a complete mystery, but... 2. Walker's physical make-up is more suited to play RT. He may have long arms (he's 6'8 for goodness sake) but his agility and lateral movement to handle edge rushers will make fans wince. If people thought Peters was slow to handle the Jets rush when Losman fumbled, wait'll they see Walker. 3. If Walker had the ability to play LT, he would have done so in Oakland. He played the entire 2006 ar RT, even when Gallery was moved. Peters has clearly shown, save for people's last memory of him, that he's more than capable of playing the position. It's not if, but how much of a downgrade this move was. Playing to potential will be Peters' issue. With Walker, he doesn't have the potential at all to handle the most demanding OL position.

I'd also add that after Hangartner's 2 seasons in the league, Carolina drafted Ryan Kalil in the second out of USC in 07. Teams don't use top picks on centers they don't intend to play. Hangartner may be a fine backup, but he's not proven he can start long term. It's not like Hangartner received big money, reportedly 4 yrs and 10M. Additionally, drafting Wood makes me wonder if he's the fall-back should GH struggle. It's pure speculation, but it's not outside the of the question to say the front office wants options on the OL. I don't trust the front office, despite the new players who entered this off-season. They need to prove something before receiving credit for anything.

Certainly there are some poor GM's. Millen wielded almost unlimited power for about 5 years longer than he should have. Then again, when owners run the show and make money, they don't change much. It took WC Ford's son to say something publicly to effect change. Good GM's are hard to find, and there are some bad ones. I know you disagree with me, but I believe a GM should run the football side of the house without interference. Unless of course there is some major money being thrown around in UFA. Then, I can see an owner asking some questions. I don't think more teams are going to the consensus approach. I can name plenty of teams who have a GM or have a oligarchial form: Belichick, Parcells/Ireland, Ozzie Newsome, Kevin Colbert, Polian, AJ Smith, Pioli, Reinfeldt (TEN), Reese, Reid/Heckert, Ted Thompson, Dimitroff, Hurney, Rod Graves, and Tim Ruskell. That's pretty much half the league with a above average to excellent decision maker in the front office. There are guys out there right now who can be GM's, but with only 32 of those jobs, it takes time. Not many people probably heard of Tom Dimitroff 18 months ago, but he's constructed a fine team that appears ready to be successful long term.

Tim-Much effort has been spent breaking down the front office hierarchy. I won't waste your time here, but does Brandon view himself, in your opinion, as a GM with functions similar to a Jerry Reese or Scott Pioli? This whole front office set up sounds like something Greg Marmalard and Dean Wormer are involved with. Too bad we don't have Bluto Blutarsky and Otter running the show.

Couldn't agree more. Why Kelsay's starting last season was beyond me. At least Denney batted down some passes when he couldn't get to the QB. This isn't a situation where it's calling people out to the press. All the coach has to do is bench unproductive players to remind them not to get complacent. Buffalo rarely does that with any player. Frankly, I think it's due to a lack of depth at key positions. They'd rather go with the veteran who's not producing that trust an untested rookie. Sometimes I wonder if it's a money thing with these high priced veterans. Counter that with a guy like Parcells who signed Ernest Wilford and then promptly kept him on the incactive list week after week. That takes guts, to admit you've signed a flop of a UFA.

He does. IIRC, Keiaho noted upon visiting OBD that Buffalo runs their LB's in opposite positions. Mitchell is the Will and whomever happens to be opposite is the Sam. I know Mitchell has pretty good straight speed for a 250 pound guy, though isn't as good laterally. But I would think they need someone to play the strong side bigger than the other sub 240 pounders Ellison, Bowen, Buggs, Corto, N. Harris and Costanzo.