Coach55

I was looking back the Bills TE's of yesteryear to do a comparison to our current TE's and was looking at the McKeller/Metzelaars dynamic. Personally, I think Metzelaars was a better TE both from a blocking and a hands perspective. McKeller clearly was faster and ran better patterns. McKeller started during the SB years of 90 and 91, but then lost his starting position to Metzelaars midway through the 92 season. The reason this is interesting is Metzelaars was the starter from 86-89, was dethroned and then returned to start the 2nd half of 92 through 94. One would wonder, if Metzelaars had started in 90 and 91, would the seasons have ended differently?

If the 3 headed monster of Shouman, Nelson and Fine have 70 receptions, 800 yds and 6 TD's, I would consider it a successful season. (vs 58, 598, and 3 last year)

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Mike Williams? Oh wait, he just sucked.

Interesting Article - I think Jerry Jones and Wade are regretting their decision. http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnFS...p&type=lgns

I don't think jailbreaks can ever be avoided, no matter how good the line is. Good QB's will either hit the hot reads, throw it away or, at worst, step up in the pocket to minimize the damage. Bad QB's will drop back further and turn a 5 yd sack into a 10 yd sack with a potential fumble or even better a pick 6.

I'll agree the offensive line wasn't as bad as people make it out to be. However, the long stretch of "poor offensive line play" had more to do with the inability of the QB's to make decisions as opposed to the play of the line. Johnson, Losman and even Bledsoe all had a confidence issue, I like to call "Rob Johnson Syndrome". Once a QB acquires RJS, the whole offense suffers and the line looks bad. Case in point - the late 90's Bills. Rob Johnson and Doug Flutie played behind the same offensive line during a 3 year stretch, during which Johnson was the most sacked per dropback QB in the league and Flutie was one of the least. In addition, the RB's averaged a whole ypc higher with Flutie at QB as opposed to Johnson. Note there are comparative statistics with Losman and Edwards, although no where near as pronounced. Often times what appears to be ineptitude of the offensive line stems from other problems with the offense.

Running QB's can make it (ala Steve Young and John Elway). Vince Young just isn't the sharpest tool in the shed and got knocked into reality when he stepped up to the pros. What was his Wonderlic score?

The reason the no huddle worked is Kelly called the plays and took what the defense gave him. In addition, the play-calling was overly simple which allowed the players to play. The pass blocking schemes were man blocking and in a rapid play pace, the D-line would not be able to generate a consistent play rush. The run blocking was also overly simplistic. With a spread out defense due to the passing threat, the Bills rushing consisted primarily of draws and the Counter Trey. The draws and screens (which the Bills ran very well) held back blitzing backers, forcing the defenses to play reserved. The great thing about the offense was that Marchibroda instilled an offensive scheme that exploited the talents of the players while hiding their weaknesses. Even though that line had many pro-bowlers, from a talent perspective they were not materially better than average (outside of Hull who IMO shoud be in the HOF). But due to the system and good coaching/playcalling, the average line played well above their raw ability and consistently looked great.

Players have shortcomings, no matter how good they are. Obviously some more than others. However, when a player fails, there is most likely a degree of coaching failure as well. When Thurman Thomas, who is typically surehanded, fumbles the football in the Superbowl, I wouldn't call that a coaching failure. The player lost the ball doing a routine play When Robert Royal, who likes to play hot potato with the football, fumbles the ball, there is a degree of coaching failure as I would fathom he loses the ball consistently in practice, similar to his game day performance, therefore from a coaching perspective he should not be put into a position to lose the ball - thus don't throw to him, or even put him on the field (they finally got it right and let his stone hands loose) Players who fail to perform should be cut (not 1 off failures, but consistent failures or big failures), i.e. Ronnie Harmon - game on the line, perfectly thrown ball, right play call, wide open, no pressure drop. Next day he was cut. Billy Joe "I didn't know the plays" Hobert - cut immediately. Lately, it seems, they have too much leniency for player failures, but now I'm rambling, so let's save that for another post.

We're not starting this again. Players are imperfect and will fail, however, a good coach will put the players in a better chance to succeed. Norwood - wide right - player failure - coaching was there Harmon - dropped TD reception in 89 WC game - player failure - coaching was there Lindell - wide right at Cleveland - player failure - coaching failure as there was plenty of time to secure a higher percentage fg Losman - fumble in Jets game - player failure - coaching failure as there was no reason to be passing

Has anyone else noticed that the Bills consistently waste the last 2 minutes of the half when they get the ball. Back in Kelly's days, if the Bills got the ball with even 30 seconds left in the half, they would take a shot to move the ball to at least attempt a field goal. Often times, getting touchdowns. As I recall, one game against the Dolphins, there were a total of 3 scores in final two minutes of the half. But it seems under the DJ era, we always just sit on the ball and run out the clock. Does DJ just like to squander possessions? What is his deal?

This is a complete misnomer. The Bills during the early 90's led the league in rushing twice and were 7 and 8 the other two years they ran the no huddle. The no huddle spreads the defense which opens up rushing lanes. The no huddle can effectively wear down a defense as good or better than a smash mouth offense. The whole key is moving the chains.

Exactly. He was only 5'9'' 180 and was one of the best open field tacklers at corner we've ever had.

Elgrooverdiocrege

The biggest problem I found with a 3-3-5 stack is if you stack the OLB's you are fine between the tackles, but leave yourself vulnerable on the option and sweeps as you could have a WR crack your OLB without much effort. If you shade the OLB's outside you leave yourself open between the tackles. But you are right, with the right personnel, it can work. As I always say, personnel dictates what you play, not the other way around (which is a major problem with most coaches)

From a high school perspective, it is significantly more difficult to play against a 4-4, as opposed to a 5-2/5-3. The defense is designed to allow to two inside backers to effectively shut down the run, as you can't effectively get a lineman on them for a clean block. You have to run iso's or seal blocks. You couldn't run it in the NFL, however, as you would be thrown at all day long. You could however run a variation of the 4-4 in the form of a 4-2-5 where you stack the two backers over the DT's and play with two strong safeties (a modified nickel). You would need to have the right personnel to do it and the key would be to have a pair of SS running in the 230's (effectively OLB's at the collegiate level with Safety Speed).

I'm all about this 4-2-6 that you are proposing. If the Bills could use that all the time, our defense would dominate (assuming we don't get flagged every down for delay of game)...

McCall to Practice Squad Shouman and McIntyre In Hardy to PUP, Jenkins In Bowen out, Simpson out, Florence out, Lankster In J. Bell, C. Harris to Practice Squad

You're picking up Omon and Lynch as 2, they are only 1 roster spot.

I've also seen Sebastion Janikowski kick a ball 70 yds in practice, doesn't mean its a high probablility play. Last year, this team had the talent to make the playoffs and due to questionable play calling and squandered opportunities, the team lost. The game is played by men, who are not infallable (nor is the coaching, I might add). A coach's responsibility is to be able to help the team overcome such mistakes by putting them in positions with a high-probabilty chance of success. DJ has failed to do so in the past.

Is this english?

I am not going to argue that the players make mistakes and the coaches are not entirely to blame but let's look at the games in question: 1. Cleveland - TE played his worst career game and Lindell missed a game winning FG. When all is said and done, the Bills had the ball at the Cleveland 30 with a minute to play. DJ decided to run the clock and kick the 47 yarder. 47 yards is not a "chip shot" field goal you settle on. You take it, if that's your only choice. If they attempted to move the football even 10 yards closer, the chance of having a successful field goal goes up dramatically. Coaching mistake. 2. NYJ - Bills have the ball with less than 2 minutes left and a 4 point lead and the Jets have 1 Timeout. Turk calls for a run (Lynch avg 6 ypc), DJ overrules and calls a pass. Losman, one of the most sacked QB's per dropback of all-time, gets sacked and fumbles. Blame should be put on Losman, but this is a run, run, run, punt situation. Losman shouldn't have been in the situation to begin with. Coaching mistake. 3. SF - This game can be blamed on Ryan Lindell as the Bills lost 10-3 and he missed 2 field goals (including one from 20 yds out). However DJ again had questionable calls - 2nd Qtr -Bills running thru SF like a hot knife thru butter have 2nd and goal from the 2, after a FJ 5 yd run. 2 bad pass calls - either run the fade or jam it down their throats. Bills settle for a missed FG. 3rd Qtr - DJ elects to punt from the 37 of SF trailing by 10 on a windless afternoon. 4th Qtr (11min left, trailing by 7), DJ calls a pass on 4 and 2 from the 7 - not necessarily a bad call except for the fact they call a slow-developing pass and Losman almost gets sacked before trying to force the ball to Evans. A better coached game, this is a win.

Schobel, Stroud, Whitner, Moorman, Parrish as a PR, McKelvin as a KR, Owens, Evans, Lynch, after this year you can add Edwards and Poz and of course Hamdan.

I am not saying he is currently better, but when all is said and done and you look back at Trent's career 10 years from now he will have been better. You have to remember, Kurt spent his first 4-5 seasons floating around indoor football and NFL Europe. If I was a betting man (which I am), I would bet that Trent is going to have his first pro-bowl season this year.