Never NEVER Give-up

I only have 2 days on the weekend. Days get shorter this time of year too. I get angry with myself if I waste a whole afternoon watching them stink-up the joint. I get furious if I watch them lose like they did against the Jets-Pats-Niners. Didya ever feel as though YOU care more about the Bills winning than the Bills themselves do?!?! So now I record each game. If I'm working around the house, I'll have it on and admittedly, I usually get sucked in until they start playing like crap - then I'll turn it off. I'll check to see if they win/lose and decide if I want to watch the plays (30-second fast-forward button on DVR lets me watch a whole game in about 1:15). I must confess - I did not watch the 2nd halves of the Jets- Pats games, though I did reply the 2nd half of the Pats game because I couldn't understand how the Pats just kept scoring, and scoring, and scoring!! Like a fire, a car wreck or a carny freak - something so strange you can't take your eyes off of it. I watched a few minutes of the 9ers game and between seeing that I cared more about the game than the Bills did and knowing I'd have to suffer through the overly smug Harbaugh - I turned it off. I was lucky enough to be an adult (30) in 1990 - the Bills heydey! It was an incredible ride - the Super Bowl actually felt like a birth right after the 2nd one! I suffered thru the 70's - (we never beat the fish from 1970-79, 0-20!!) and we were worse than we are now (believe it or not). We had the running back OJ (not the murderer), and he was a diversion. I actually remember feeling (as a kid I must remind you) that as long as OJ got his yards and some exciting runs, it didn't matter that we lost - because that would normally get us on MNF Halftime Hi-lites with Howard Cosell!!! It was a huge deal back then. But there's no way I watch as much as I used to - I refuse to make the time committment until I see the team make a committment to trying to win (note I say trying, not actually winning). The talent is there - but they are not producing. Kelsay revealed a few cracks in the team chemistry (which is needed to add some bite to the complacency). We need some bickering Bills before ths team turns a corner!

I posted this to another thread, but it applies here. . . . . I just did a quick analysis of the Bills Tackling Stats: % of TOTAL TACKLES: LB-32 DB-48, DL-20 % of SOLO TACKLES: LB-31 DB-50 DL-19 What does it mean? The analysis is incomplete because we need to realize DB's make a high %age of tackles on passing plays, thus padding their #'s, BUT, the raw #'s above DO suggest that the LB's are making too few plays. So I said to myself, "Myself, what if you compared our D to the #1 D (we want to become), what do their #'s look like". Number 1 right now is SF 49'ers, here are their numbers % of TOTAL TACKLES LB-40 DB-38 DL-22 % of SOLO TACKLES LB-42 DB-36 DL-22 The analysis is still incomplete, but you can derive that the Bill's secondary is being called on to make too many plays AND it make sense that as the game goes on those guys may get more worn out, hence succeptable to big plays later in the game. Also, the Bills have 438 total tackles to SF's 377 or 16% more - we're on the field way too much (but we all already knew THAT !) Another interesting thing about the numbers - the Niner LB's made 42% of the solo stops and were in on 40% of all tackles. The Bills' LB's only made 31% of the stops and were in on 32% of all tackles. This tells me the Niner LB's made plays 42% of the time on their own with no help (assists). The Bills' LB's should be embarrassed. Looking at our DB's - theyre being asked to make SOLO stops (no help from LB/DL) on almost 50% (48%) of the plays - UN-Billeveable!!! We need to cut them some slack, buy them some Ben-gay and tell them we will draft LB's and maybe find some in Free Agency!!! Our DL makes slighly fewer tackles as a %age of total plays, than the Niners DL - 20% vs 22%. But it's not as glaring as the LB/DB numbers, but intuitively, we all know the DL should be doing better.

AND we lost 2 Super Bowls to back-ups Jeff Hostetler and Mark Rypien (tho Ryp was the starter that year, he was starter for a very short time).

I just did a quick analysis of the Bills Tackling Stats: % of TOTAL TACKLES: LB-32 DB-48, DL-20 % of SOLO TACKLES: LB-31 DB-50 DL-19 What does it mean? The analysis is incomplete because we need to realize DB's make a high %age of tackles on passing plays, thus padding their #'s, BUT, the raw #'s above DO suggest that the LB's are making too few plays. So I said to myself, "Myself, what if you compared our D to the #1 D (we want to become), what do their #'s look like". Number 1 right now is SF 49'ers, here are their numbers % of TOTAL TACKLES LB-40 DB-38 DL-22 % of SOLO TACKLES LB-42 DB-36 DL-22 The analysis is still incomplete, but you can derive that the Bill's secondary is being called on to make too many plays AND it make sense that as the game goes on those guys may get more worn out, hence succeptable to big plays later in the game. Also, the Bills have 438 total tackles to SF's 377 or 16% more - we're on the field way too much (but we all already knew THAT !) Another interesting thing about the numbers - the Niner LB's made 42% of the solo stops and were in on 40% of all tackles. The Bills' LB's only made 31% of the stops and were in on 32% of all tackles. This tells me the Niner LB's made plays 42% of the time on their own with no help (assists). The Bills' LB's should be embarrassed. Looking at our DB's - theyre being asked to make SOLO stops (no help from LB/DL) on almost 50% (48%) of the plays - UN-Billeveable!!! We need to cut them some slack, buy them some Ben-gay and tell them we will draft LB's and maybe find some in Free Agency!!! Our DL makes slighly fewer tackles as a %age of total plays, than the Niners DL - 20% vs 22%. But it's not as glaring as the LB/DB numbers, but intuitively, we all know the DL should be doing better.

If they trade Byrd, I'd be ticked. Buddy has said many, many times, you draft your own, you develop them, you keep your own and add in FA's occasionally as they don't always pan out (see M. Williams!! (thus far)). Byrd is a high character player who in year one showed us he had a nose for the ball but couldn't tackle. He worked on that and has shown he is a very good all around safety, still a ballhawk and now a great tackler and supports run defense too - approaching pro bowler level. I have no idea what the problem is on the defense, it's definitely NOT one guy. If I hear one more guy say the problem with the run-D is our "FITS" . . . I'll scream. These guys are missing their assignments on so many plays to the point this defense will go down in NFL history as the worst ever????? UnBilleveable! With players like our front 4 and the DB's (who I believe are pretty good) - I just don't understand. I do believe our LB's suck. If I understand Wanny's D at all, the DL are supposed to pressure the QB (though they do not do so consistently) and the LB's are supposed to make the tackles - and they aren't, they are falling to the DB's. We need some serious LB's, Barnett is a #3, yet the Bills act like he's a #1, he may be better - but it would require a couple of other studs out there with them.

Right! Perfect for our offense!!! Seriously - he IS raw, but is definitely talented. When is he due to come out - be drafted??

Tackling, once learned, is about desire and "want to" - at least that's what NFL Coaches say. That's why missed tackles are considered unacceptable and prompt screams from coaches.

BINGO!! Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner!! Harumph!! Harumph!! Harumph!! Harumph!!! "Hey, I didn't get a Harumph outta that guy!!" EXACTLY! Couldn't say it better myself.

Romo - not even close. WESTSIDE is right on.

Stevie Johnson's really good too . . . . now if we could only find a way to get him the ball more than 10 yards downfield! Hey, if we could land Bowe - we could multiply that issue times 2!! I love Fitz - great guy, family man, yadda, yadda, yadda, but he is proving weekly, that he is not a top NFL QB! Years ago, when we had Jim Kelly taking us to the playoffs each year, I chuckled at other teams efforts to improve. The Jets had a good team - but no QB. The same with the Pats - no QB, then Bledsoe came along and they improved, but still weren't great, because as we NOW know, Bledsoe is an enigma - and was never that good. In the NFL, you need a top QB to succeed. We thought with good coaching, Fitz could elevate his game - but it doesn't look like it'll ever happen. We're a better team, but we don't have a QB. T.Jackson may be an improvement, but he obviously is still at the Huntington Learning Center trying to get the complicated playbook down! Buddy and Chan have a next-to-impossible task confronting them - finding a top-flight QB. FA? Draft? Trade?? Who knows? But one thing is relatively certain, Fitz ain't the answer and the Bills will continue to be middling - winning 4-7 games per year and missing out on the best QB's when they come out of college. Too good to draft #1 or #2, and so bad we usually draft around #10 - a recipe for mediocrity! Remember, we missed Big Ben by 1 pick - so we traded up for Losman. That didn't work. We need to do a Colts maneuver - like suck for Luck . . . . we need to barf for Barkley!! And he's no sure thing either!!

Yeah right - 1000 lbs!! Just kidding. You're right. One thing I learned from weight lifting is how incredibly strong one's legs are and with training, it's unreal.

He's saying we lose in Cleveland. I don't see that. Although 5-2 going into the bye week is plausible.

AGREED!! I mean, I'd be shocked if he didn't make the 53-man roster. I'd be disappointed an surprised if he didn't play regularly in week 1. And I'll be downright amazed if he doesn't make it past the bye week. I expect him to get up to 10 sacks this year. Given that it's a passing league, he will get more snaps, not less.

Pretty weak segment. The female host talked to Stevie for 3 minutes about how big Mario is and his own TD dance steps, a Fantasy update wher Fits is 23rd and because CJ & Freeddy will split the load, they are in the same neighborhood as Fitz (for RB's). No analyst comments, none. If I recall other 32 in 32 spots, they always seem to have the analysts discuss the teams' outlook. Not sure why they skipped it for our boys. Pretty disappointing.

Much ado about nothing. Coughlin was just being frank voicing his disappointment in losing Ballard via a calculated risk of sneaking him through waivers. GM Jerry Reese echoed those sentiments. For a reporter to ask BB if he violated any unwritten rules is laughable and makes that reporter look like a rank amateur. The question for whomever picked up Ballard was - Do you wnat to carry him on IR for a full year? BB's answer is yes. TE is a major part of their attack now - this is not a dumb move, especially if Hernandez isn't happy with playing 2nd fiddle. Heck this is EXACTLY how the Bills pilfered Jack Kemp from San Diego and Steve Tasker from Houston!! To a lesser extent it's how we got Merriman - but it's taken him at least 2 years AND SanDiego was finished with him. There are probably other examples, but I cannot think of them right now. Sounds the same to me, but I agree -

As someone who always has the NFL Network on in the background, I can tell you that Sapp loves Dareus and both he and Evans have said positive things about the Bills before. They just won't say they will overtake the Pats in the East. And if RichmondRob doesn't have the NFL Network, I would venture to say he really doesn't know what he's talking about in this instance. Let's wait until 8pm tonight before we rush Sapp & Evans with our pitch forks and torches!

Every summer, with the NFL draft and free agency in the rearview mirror, I take a look at each team. What did it accomplish in terms of added personnel? How did its draft fill holes? What voids remain? Let's jump around the league, addressing three things for each team: • Help added (below): What has the team done this offseason to improve its prospects. Given my greatest area of expertise, I put a particular emphasis on the draft. • Questions that remain (need Insider access): A look at what voids must be filled. • Next year's help, now (need Insider access): With an eye toward next year's draft class, what player from 2013 could seemingly help the team in 2012? This is meant to be hypothetical, a quick look at prospects to keep an eye on. Here is the version for the AFC East: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFC East Buffalo Bills Help added: It's a proven fact that if you want to build a championship team in the NFL, it has to start with the draft. Look at the personnel makeup of any of the best teams and you'll see a massive ratio of its talent came aboard via the draft. This isn't groundbreaking, but I bring it up because of the addition of Mario Williams in free agency. So often, teams add free agents looking for a fix and end up disappointed. In this case, Williams might be a perfect fit. It's not merely because of what he brings to the defense as it goes to more of a base 4-3 system but because of what that could do for last year's top pick, Marcell Dareus. With Mario and Kyle Williams flanking him, Dareus could become a star. Don't forget about Mark Anderson, who picked up 10 sacks last season and will line up opposite Williams at right defensive end. The Bills' defensive line has been elevated and is now one of the top lines in football, a year after it was 25th in the NFL in sack percentage. The Bills did well in the draft. Cornerback Stephon Gilmore is an immediate starter. I don't agree with Buddy Nix that second-round pick Cordy Glenn profiles as a potential NFL left tackle, but he could be outstanding on the right side. Erik Pears is penciled in at right tackle, but I'm interested to see how the depth chart looks coming out of camp. The Bills could also have some late steals. Tackle Zebrie Sanders could become a starter if he develops, and Ron Brooks could be a starting slot corner after being overshadowed at LSU. It's hard to find a team that had a better offseason than Buffalo. For the remainder of the Bills info and full AFC East breakdown from Mel Kiper, including picks for next year's draft, you must be an ESPN Insider.

32 in 32 is a five to ten minute segment of the Total Access show. Stevie Johnson will be on to talk about the team as well. Poster "Teen Insight" is also correct that Sapp & Evans (or whomever is on that night) will discuss the team then the host of the show will go to Johnson on the Bills Cam (the NFL Network has a team cam in each NFL Facility). For our TWC firends to see it, you can go to NFL.com after the show has aired and search "32 in 32". All the teams they have covered thus far will be listed - simply click & view.

Link/URL: http://blogs.buffalonews.com/press-coverage/2012/06/bill-parcells-cant-get-enough-of-fred-jackson.html

Looks like: A. Williams K. Williams M. Williams

Big mistake - this gives the media a chance to stoke the QB controversy fires. VY has a history of problems like this. Why give him a platform to start a new rivalry with Fitz. Let him come in quietly - learn the playbook - get to know his teammates - earn eveyone's respect - resurrect his career! But NOOOO, we need to give the podium & a presser to the 2nd or 3rd string QB??? Big mistake. Now the media will stoke the fires (and this part I love) - they will say the FANS are the ones making it a controversy!! Based on the Press Conf - I would say the Bills and the media are duplicitous here - not the fans. I hope it is a non-event. I hope VY can resurrect his career here. But let's give him time to do it!

It was like yesterday . . . I was working on a systems conversion at a Buffalo bank. We had the game on a boom box. During the first half we we saying that - We were glad this travesty wasn't on TV; - That we couldn't expect them to win without Kelly & Biscuit and with Bruce nursing bruised ribs - he was less effective, then Thurman hurt his hip(I think) - we were done; - That we'd rather be working than freezing in the stadium watching this. Because I am a die-hard at heart, I kept the game on despite my co-workers pleas to put on some music. After the pick-six to start the 2nd half (35-3), the groaning got louder. Then the Bills finally scored (35-10) and I laughed - "we got 'em just where we want 'em!!!" Then we recovered the onside kick & scored again - quickly (35-17) and I remember telling everyone out of earshot that MAYBE they're gonna make a game of it. Then they scored again (35-24). It was as if the field were tilted!! We were now just watching the boom box, listening to Van Miller and cheering them on. Then we scored again - a 4th down pass to Reed - 35-31 !! And it was still in the 3rd Quarter!!! We were hysterical!!! Unfortunately the Oilers started to move the ball again and were lining up for a field-goal - they fumbled the snap!! Bills ball!! This is destiny - "we're meant to win this game" we crowed!! With about 3 minutes left, Reich hit Reed for the go-ahead score. We were no longer working!!! The Oilers forced overtime and won the coin toss - they received the ball and turned it over in about 3 plays. Nate Odomes picked it off and had his face mask tugged on the tackle - 1st down at the Houston 20 - it was all but over. On 3rd down Christie kicked the winner. We were exhausted and all trying to figure out how we can get a tape of the game. It was like yesterday!

Don't forget, last year in his brief pre-season appearance - Merriman was dominant! He is in the last year of his deal with the Bills. The Bills have done a good-to-great job of putting together a good-looking defense without him that is only better with him. Healing & Time will tell, but if he's feeling good, he could be great again. (This is my hope!!) Imagine a line of Mario - Dareus - Kyle - Anderson and Merriman as LB coming as a 5th rusher!!! With the NFL going pass-happy, there'll be more than enough snaps for Kelsay, Merriman, Anderson and Mario. They'll be able to give each other breaks and allow them to stay fresh throughout the game. It will be great when we get to play with leads, watching these guys pin their ears back and rush the passer, allowing the DB's to get more turnovers and ultimately more wins!! Next, Buddy will need to decide if they want to extend him - or Merriman needs to decide if he wants to stay of go the FA route. Perhaps there's even a chance to trade him before he officially becomes a FA. (?) If he doesn't heal and cannot play to the team's satisfaction, he will be gone after this year.

10 - Aaron Maybin 9 -- Carlester Crumpler 8 -- Phil Earthquake Enyart 7 -- Joe Dufek 6 -- Bruce Matheson 5 -- Phil Dokes 4 -- Tony Hunter 3 -- Bucky Brooks 2 -- Perry Tuttle #1 - Walt Patulski Oh? Greatest Bills?!?!

Never heard of him. Is he any good? Stats??