RuntheDamnBall Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 This is going to be a rant. 25 minutes into this game all I could do was laugh, the Bills were so bad. I'm not going to jump off a bridge or anything, but I sure hope they can give me more for my money next week. I'm taking Dad to the game so it would be nice to get one for him. About this game - JP: I continue to like this kid. He was one of few to play with heart today. I hope we don't get him killed, and that this time next year, he looks like Eli Manning does now. Hopefully the front office and coaches have the good sense to put him in that position. The O-Line: just dreadful today. They didn't even give JP a fighting chance. The Defense: They were talking best of all time at the beginning of this season. I would settle for fifteenth best in the league, this season at this point. Jeff Posey was undisciplined and cost them. The secondary looked ridiculously weak -- McGee was hurt and gets a pass. The rest of these all-Pros and best in the NFL don't (TV, Milloy, Clements: I'm looking in your direction). I saw the defensive line just give the f--- up on a couple occasions. They were strolling their way to the backfield while Brees just lit them up. They overpursued on countless screens, they never pressured the receivers, who got constant separation. That we got killed by guys named Parker and McCardell and Turner, while Gates and Tomlinson had relatively quiet days, is telling. Takeo Spikes' absence is a problem, but a "performance" like today's is an unmitigated disaster. It reminded me of the way NE would decimate the Bills D in Foxboro over the past couple of years. Screens, high-percentage plays, and gaining yards on every play. Play-calling: Mularkey and co. seem to get a pass from a lot of folks around here, citing stats of how he really is calling enough running plays, etc. etc. What the stats don't tell you is how he actually calls a game, when he calls what play. From here it looks like he just totally doesn't know how to go with what works, and get his offense into a rhythm. For as much as he accused our young quarterback of "pressing" early on, it felt like he was pressing with his playcalling when down 14-3 early in the game. It shouldn't really be time to abandon (or never even start to use) the run at that point. You go with what works. It felt like they were looking for a quick strike to even the score instead of playing the kind of football that has been winning them games, by successfully running the ball or at the very least establishing some commitment to the run. To be fair, Mularkey can't be faulted for a botched handoff or a day in which it just seems nothing can go right. But as the leader of the team, he has failed at most turns, especially on the road, to establish an identity for this team. In general, it just seems like these guys can't prove it on the field. Posey can't respond to a cheap block by just going out and destroying the guy on the next play, instead of pushing him from behind and attracting a 15-yard penalty. Willis can't just go out and prove it by rising to the challenge of playing a three-time Pro Bowler. He's got to run his mouth. The defense can't just go out and stop the opposition, they've got to talk about how they might be the best ever. I'm sorry for anyone who apologizes for these guys for "wanting to be the best." I wish they'd just go out and show how good they can be. I've seen scant evidence thus far. Really. I hate the guy, but how many times have you heard Tom Brady talk about how awesome he is? How often do the Colts' playmakers get in the media for yammering on about their greatness? The former has hardware. The latter have 10 wins, no losses. Results like those tend to speak for themselves. Good night, and good luck. We need it.
smuvtalker Posted November 21, 2005 Posted November 21, 2005 Great post. I think the thing that makes me so disgusted is that this was a chance to step up to the plate and at worst, play a competitive game. This one was over at kickoff. The only thing consistent about this team is their ability to lay down and die when the pressure is on. We are a mentally soft football team.
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