BillsVet

send in the clowns...wait, they're already playing.

DJ and the Bills: Still clueless after all these years. Whaddya think now about DJ Ralphie and Russy?

The combination of DJ not being able to select decent coordinators and fact that Buffalo's offense has looked remarkably inept as SF's two season does point to DJ being the real problem. Offensively, DJ's teams are routinely low-scoring. IMO, that demonstrates his lack of focus on that side of ball and his belief in keeping things close by being ultra conservative. In researching DJ's teams, they've scored 2248 points in 126 games for an average of 17.8 ppg. They allowed 2595 points in those contests for an average of 20.6. His teams have been out-scored by 347 points, and it's no wonder he's 56-75 career. These figures did not include his 5 games as interim HC in Detroit.

Were they flintlock or matchlock rifles?

Citing the Marlins link is hilarious. They bought a title in 97, then totally dismantled nearly the entire team in 98. RB left after 97, and I'm sure he read the writing on the wall when the team was stripped down. Felser is dead on again, but it will fall on deaf ears. I agree completely here-Brandon's job isn't to find talent (they leave that to Guy and Modrak, with DJ making the picks) but rather to spin things into this team being legitimate. I will maintain until this team attains respectability or moves, that fans must educate themselves on how normal NFL franchises operate. Buffalo is not one of them and remains the one of the exceptions to how successful teams work. DET, KC, STL, OAK, and CIN are the others. Mark Felt says hello. The public finally learned his identity three years ago. The origin of leaks are unknown, but it depends on reading between the lines and having the savvy to understand why someone would leak something to the press. Felt had his reasons, and so do the Bills. Leaks will happen from both Peters' agent and the Bills. Sad to say, but Peters' agent is supposed to do this. Buffalo's front office should man up and begin negotiations. Instead they revert to playing games and hitting up their best player. Peters is no saint, but represents the closest thing they have to elite talent. Watching the Bills treat him like this is funny, because getting rid of him tells me they're not serious about winning. It says they want to remain mediocre and keep payroll down.

And he actually thinks he's capable of out-maneuvering the Parcells, Pioli's, and Belichick's of the AFCE! We are fast becoming the Detroit Lions East. Inept leadership that promotes failed execs and those not qualified to greater responsibilities. Scary stuff. Pioli is VP of Personnel, but his is a unique situation. Both he and Belichick seem to share the function of GM. Their's is the only example of such a combination, but they're obviously successful. I think he's looking to be a GM first and foremost, but his track record is so good, an owner ought to trust him to be president. Bill Polian is president of the Colts. He's in his mid forties, Parcells' son-in-law, and one of the best talent evaluators in the league. Someone would pay a king's ransom for his services. And that someone won't be the Buffalo Bills, who find new ways to create mediocrity. It continued last year by making the business/marketing guy a bonafide NFL GM.

Shades of RW wanting to take Doug Flutie back in 85. Fortunately reason stepped up in the form of BP and made the wise choice picking perhaps the greatest DE in NFL history. All of this thread shows which priorities the smart fan knows are correct. I don't have a problem with BADOL's priorities, especially when you consider that half of the 6 DE's selected to the Pro Bowl were not drafted in the first round. Those players include Mathis (IND), Tuck (NYG), and Allen (MIN). Granted some fine pass rushers are found in the first, but when good organizations do their research, they find the best players. The Giants, Colts, Ravens, Cowboys (under Parcells), Steelers, and Patsies all draft well year in and year out. It's not a coincidence that all experience success fairly regularly.

It's what's referred to as a, "leak."

Great post. Brandon's a marketing guy at heart, and clearly understands how to sell a bad product to a fan base. Selling 56k season tickets for a team without the a playoff appearance in 8 years was impressive. But now his work becomes even more difficult with this latest disaster of a season. I have no doubt that the front office will look for a way to negate the Peters' Pro Bowl selection and prevent another contract disupte. After reading that Trent texts DJ to show his support, I believe the front office will do anything to get the fans to go along with their thinking. Someone in the marketing/PR departments is behind linking the starting QB to the also-ran HC who couldn't coach his way out of a wet paper bag. But it's too true of the Bills, who rely on propoganda to get fans into the seats. Whether it's supporting DJ or trying to put down Peters, it's what Buffalo's front office does best. If only they approached team-building as aggressive as they try to spin this team.

Williams is a depth player at DT. He may be involved in 1-2 plays per game, but gets pushed around too easily. Stroud still has some tread left on the tires, but he's 30. The Bills still need to find another DT, but add that to DE, OLB, S, TE, C, OT, and QB depth. Once we get those problems resolved, we'll be fine. If only we'd have had a chance to get the guy...a 3-4 NT with the mobility to play the 1 gap in a 4-3. Wait...

Wouldn't argue at all with Marty. But DJ, if he is for some reason kept for 09, will have a tough go of it next year. The Bills had one of, if not the easiest schedules in the NFL. There won't be cupcakes in 09 as they had this year in abundance. To think they played the AFC and NFC West and could not muster more than 6 wins through 14 games should make even a fourth grader realize how bad 2008 has been. If fans think a 7-9 season was acceptable with that schedule, they'll struggle mightily next year against the AFC and NFC South. Next year, I'd be surprised if they went 5-11 with DJ running the show and those opponents.

The rumor is that Marv is returning as HC. Marchibroda will be wooed out of his TV gig with the Colts, and "Swizzle Stick" Walt Corey can come back as DC. If that doesn't sell tickets, nothing will.

At this point, RW's senility and power mongering converge to result in continued ineptitude. It's nothing different from the last 3 seasons. At least in 2000 he hired a football person, but that decision is preventing him from allowing anyone outside the inner circle to enter OBD with decision-making authority. Aside from the Ford family, Al Davis, and Mike Brown, RW is the worst owner in the NFL and every passing year with mediocre results has his stamp of approval. The fact that he retains the same bad personnel people and won't hire anyone from the outside is proof to me that he's content with what he has. Jerry Sullivan on the radio this week mentioned that Brandon fancies himself as a legitimate personnel man. We know Russ doesn't have a clue in personnel, but the idea that he thinks he does is scary. And if that's the case, then I don't see the front office changing. Then again, even the most die-hard fans are beginning to question the direction of this franchise. If nothing or only cosmetic changing is made, it won't be enough. Season ticket sales will plummet at least 10% with the current group of flunkies.

This fact, being swept in the AFC East, is the one which hurts the most. The easiest path to the playoffs is winning the division. To think this team will end up 0-6 in their own division is utterly ridiculous. I can't put into words how bad that is. NFL HC's rarely have second chances to prove they can coach. DJ got one, courtesy of someone unfit to handle the GM role in Levy. DJ has not improved his game management, nor has he stopped wasting timeouts. What more can he screw up to get himself fired? He has had unparalleled control in personnel (the product of not having a legit GM) and still loses. What more can he have that he doesn't already? The UFA additions have been underwhelming. The 06 draft is barely average. 07 and 08 are too early to tell. This team needs a new vision, preferably one in which teams fear Buffalo. But the Bills haven't had that, and have become a laughingstock throughout the NFL. If we want to retain that reputation, keep DJ. I guarantee he'll give us continuity in that respect.

It's plain ridiculous to say we can't find a good coach because Ralph is the owner. But RW is the common denominator in all of this and remains an obstacle to having a winning franchise. When he allows football people to make football decisions, good things happen. Unfortunately, he hasn't done this since, well, BP. There are coordinators right now in this league who can and will succeed as HC's. There are coordinators who cannot. The key is having a football guy who can make the right choice. Donahoe struck out twice, although it wasn't that cut and dry. It also wouldn't hurt to make it worthwhile to come to Buffalo, which is another sticking point. Not to mention having only 7 home games. Nearly every successful NFL coach, past and present, was a coordinator at one time. Generally, HC's have one shot to be good, hence the risk averse culture in the fraternity. Finding a competent guy who just came from being a HC somewhere else is very, very hard. Perhaps if Andy Reid is let go, but I doubt that. Therefore, it's key to find new coaching talent. Maybe if we hire a real GM, it will happen.

Any Bills fan who wonders about whether to retain or fire DJ needs to take a poll of Chicago Bears fans. It took five seasons for the Bears to finally fire DJ, but the fans knew he couldn't win after that playoff loss in 01, if not earlier. It's ironic that in Chicago, DJ coached 2 seasons without the presence of a GM. He had personnel control, and shaped the team the way he wanted it. When there were no results after his second season, ownership hired Jerry Angelo as GM from TB. Angelo then took control over personnel. Here in Buffalo, DJ has had personnel control these past three seasons. In essence, he was his own GM since the day he was hired. Even such, he's still not been successful. All that control and still no results. This is all-too familiar for DJ coached teams. I'd argue that few coaches in the league have the control he has. And coaches who do have that control are highly regarded NFL HC's.

Could you please explain a his 3-18 record since 2006 against teams that finished the season with a winning record. Belichick's second season in NE he won an improbable SB with a rookie QB. He also won in his fourth and fifth seasons with the Patsies. DJ? He can't even get over .500, and this season will be his 7th in 8 season below .500 for the season.

Buffalo's PR guys know they've got an uphill climb to market this team for 2009. And IMO, letting people know that the popular QB supports the embattled HC is the first step to selling tickets for next year. I've read here that some fans, while still supporting the team, clearly don't see the need to invest money in season tickets, the Sunday NFL Ticket, and merchandise as long as this team continues doing what they've done these past few years. I'm beginning to think the Bills will retain Jauron, while doing their utmost to make it seem cosmetic changes (perhaps new coordinators, a new UFA, draft picks) will make this team a winner. It didn't work in 08, and I don't see it happening in 09. Needless to say, the PR effort has to go into overdrive ASAP if DJ will be kept around next year.

Baugh played QB, CB, and punted-all extremely well. As a matter of fact, in addition to his passing prowess, he was a league leader in punting. He lived or had lived in Temple, TX which is not far from Fort Hood. A great player from a great era in NFL history. RIP.

The OL looked good playing against a team they were motivated to play against. Lynch also gains a lot of yards on his own, and is elusive enough to get into the secondary when given a hole. He's taken it upon himself. But let's not forget this team's leading rusher in the Miami Toronto game was... J.P. Losman. This OL has played poorly more often than not. Much of it is because neither guard has very good mobility. Peters is very good, and Walker hasn't been consistent. Preston is not a starter, and Butler is someone they should look to replace. Lynch didn't run for more than 100 yards until the Cleveland game. Luigs and Unger may be values in the second round, unless of course the front office finally gets one right in UFA. I doubt that though.

This makes far too much sense. We're not looking for people who are up and coming. This franchise is looking to maintain the status quo and dress it up as though we've made big changes. I trust that AJ Smith, despite hiring an overrated coach in Turner, knows who to put in charge of pro and amateur scouting. That's enough for me. It's been said that having a marketing guy running the front office is emblematic of this franchises vision. Sell tickets, invest limited resources, and market like a son of a gun. So far, so good. But real football fans, when they look league wide, know that having a competent GM to run the football side of things is absolutely necessary. Especially when you see Parcells and the Belichick/Pioli tandem.

I thought Bills players coached themselves. Easterbrook just confirms this. I can't imagine being in that locker room and going to practice with DJ. Any shred of respect those players had for him went out the window with such an asinine play call on Sunday. Besides, DJ has the audacity to say perhaps some of the most arrogant things when he's clearly failed. I'm talking about not "destroying" Marshawn, even though ML hasn't had more than 25 carries in a game. That came after the SF debacle. And this week, saying it's a good call if it works to throw a FB pass on 2nd and 5 with 2:06 remaining. Well of course, if it works. It's also a good call to throw 80 yard bombs when they work. The likelihood that it works is minimal.

I can't root against them, but it's getting old watching losing teams year in and year out. Not to mention, I've had season tickets this year and last. I'd like to know what it's going to take for DJ to be fired. At this point, I wonder if it can get worse, but we know it can. The changes this team has made the past few seasons have been merely cosmetic and failed to address the real issues in the front office. Until the front office is shaken up, I can't see a team with the same execs making the calls moving forward.

Wire and Lawyer Milloy both seem to be playing well for Atlanta. Throw in Mularkey, and Atlanta is almost Buffalo south. Then again, Milloy wasn't good enough to start on this defense. He is fine starting on a playoff contending team though.

You have to love the off-season Bill. Once the SB is over, the clock starts on FA beginning. The senior bowl and combine offer plenty. But it's depressing when the highlight of your season is waiting for the off-season. Just once I hope this team can get into the playoffs. The Bills have an uphill climb, considering they have to win in spite of an elderly distant owner, no GM, and a HC who should have been fired Sunday at about 4:30PM. Still, working on the lines is not done. Just once I'd like this team to find a dominant lineman in the draft.