Archives for January 10, 2013

‘The 2012 season was the 13th straight year that the Bills missed the playoffs and 8th straight season with a losing record. They had such high hopes of breaking the playoff drought thanks to the signing of Mario Williams. He was a disappointment and the team finished with the exact same 6-10 record as they did in 2011. Now for the 13th year in a row we do our position by position final exam grades as well as individual player grades for key players at each position.’

‘The Bills had one of the least aggressive defenses last season, rarely blitzing the quarterback and relying primarily on the four down linemen to create pressure. Those days appear to be over.’

‘Marrone wasn’t kidding. Less than two days after taking the reins in Buffalo, according to various reports, Marrone has already made the two most important decisions regarding his coaching staff, though nothing official was announced by the Bills Wednesday.’

‘But Bills fans should keep in mind that Hackett ran a similar offense to the one the Bills ran in the 1990s with Jim Kelly. Of course, the Bills need a good quarterback to run this offense on the field, but I’m keeping an open mind. This could be great for the Bills’ offense, especially players like C.J. Spiller, Stevie Johnson and Scott Chandler.’

‘Hackett said he was offered the job Monday night during a phone conversation with Marrone, the former SU head coach who gave Hackett “the chance of a lifetime” to return to Buffalo and take the reins of an NFL offense.’

‘In a telephone interview on Monday night, however, while at O’Neil’s house watching the BCS championship game between Alabama and Notre Dame, Pettine talked about breaking away from the Jets and the shadow of head coach Rex Ryan. “I thought it would be good to be exposed to a different style of coaching, a different system,” he said. “It’s like continuing education – the more things you can expose yourself too, it’s beneficial.”‘

‘Pettine and Ryan have been a successful team for years, finishing first, third, fifth and eighth in total defense in the past four years. Pettine became the primary play-caller through the years.’

‘The Jets allowed Pettine’s contract to expire as the two sides came to a mutual agreement to part ways. Pettine felt it was time for him to get out from under coach Rex Ryan’s shadow and prove he could call his own defense. Ryan and Pettine clashed last year over play-calling, according to a source.’

‘”I’m hoping he goes somewhere else,” Ryan said Monday. “Mike and I have been together for over 10 years and he’s a tremendous coach. We had the conversations and right now, Mike thinks it’s best that he goes to a different team as a defensive coordinator and I wish him all the best, unless he goes to Buffalo.”‘

‘Pettine spent four seasons with the Jets as coordinator, where they ranked in the top 10 of the NFL in yards allowed every year. In his first three seasons, the Jets ranked in the top five of that same category. In 2009, Pettine’s first season, the Jets were the top defense in both points and yards allowed.’