Punch

Yeah, right. Donahoe threw away draft picks to create the semblance of a paper contender, and although his tenure represents the best the Bills have been over the past 10 years, the franchise was far from heading in the right direction.

Roger Goodell had stated as much on a trip to Western New York a year or two ago when asked directly if the league would consider allowing a team like the Bills to set up a public ownership structure akin to the one in Green Bay. It's no small thing that the NFL Commisioner responded so warmly to such an idea in a very public way.

Not at all, but just as Nix implied following the Miami game that Urbik was in the mix at RT there were some amongst the coaching staff that believed he would get a shot... especially if he could increase his strength and catch up mentally. Open auditions in a rebuilding year, and all.

It would be the first ever example of an NFL player going to New England and then getting off the juice.

He's back from injury but has been inactive for all 3 games. I think he's not quite 100%, but there was speculation from some of the Bills' offensive coaches early in training camp that he could be the starter at LT at some point this season.

Amazingly, we just released the most successful QB (to date) of the 2007 draft. Staring at one another from opposite ends of the spectrum are the 2007 and 1983 QB Classes.

Hamilton wrote that the competition simply went down as Chan said it would back in March: A) each of the 3 QBs would get an equal number of reps during the spring minicamps B) 1 of the 3 would be the clear cut #1 entering training camp and thus get the most reps C) the other 2 would need to wrest the #1 spot away. All of this happened, and that's why Trent started all through the preseason. Allowing Trent to take the reins and prove himself as the top dog was the only way to see if he could still make it in this league... and he failed. Now, onto Plan B. I'm not always crazy about Paul Hamilton's football analysis but he was present during the various camps and saw this play out just as Gailey explained.

The interception at the end of the game would have to have been a great throw... a throw that, oddly enough, Trent Edwards has the skill (but obviously no longer the moxie) to make. If Fitz is going to have the confidence to attempt to drop a pass in a tight spot at a bad angle like that (and in a pressure situation) which only a terrific arm can accomplish he's going to need to adjust his expectations just as much as improve his accuracy.

UPDATE: A telling quote from Schobel to FOX 26 in Houston: "They have a lot of good players and are on the right track. It would have been hard for my ego to be a role player."

Presumably, now that Trent is no longer "one of us" Chan won't mind if we "dog" him when he likely starts next Sunday in Buffalo.

According to Levi he was upset that he "didn't even get a practice squad invite". Where did you hear different?

Maybin played for almost the entire 2nd half against New England, and he certainly appeared to be sinking when he was noticed at all. I'm not sure why Carringon hasn't played yet. What's there to lose? He looked the part of a 3-4 run stuffing DE in preseason, or at least a rookie 3-4 run stuffing DE. Cordero Howard substituted in at both OT positions this past Sunday, and he certainly has the size and strength to play on the right side. At RG against Green Bay he was mauling in the run game and showed excellent mobility for a man his size. I suspect he may be starting at RT by season's end.

I'd guess most Bills fans are thinking about Bruce Smith when they feel the DE should be pressuring the QB, which as you point out, is not the norm in a 3-4 D. Bruce was almost supernaturally gifted at getting to the QB off of a 3 man line, and whenever I point this out to football fans here in Virginia that are not as familiar with the style of defense the Bills played during that era they are always absolutely blown away by the sack numbers. For Bruce to accomplish what he did in a 3-4 while constantly drawing double teams and successfully beating them... just unbelievable, really. Even if a light goes on in Aaron Maybin's head and he suddenly figures out how to use his quickness and speed we still need a pass rushing OLB to take advantage of the strengths on this D, namely the secondary and the line.

Based on your roster assessment, today is not that day.

Did David Martin not play again? Not that he was anything more than a serviceable veteran, but why bother sign him and not use him? Is Stupar that much better?

It was intended as a joke because so many posters were saying he is utterly useless. I think most people resort to using the term "bust" when a player has simply not lived up to his draft billing rather than him proving to be a disaster, like Leaf. So, Donte is the best option for SS on the team at the moment and there's no way we need to add more needs to this roster. He's serviceable and, as I've said earlier in this thread, plays with a lot of heart and is a good guy overall. The question posed at the outset of the thread is whether or not he is a bust because he was picked at #8, which is a pretty high spot and a player that should be a difference maker. Well, dater 4 years he's never been a difference maker. His draftosition is not his fault. The defense is not very good so maybe he'll suddenly turn out to be another Ed Reed once we can add a pass rush and competant underneath coverage.

Nm

I don't think anyone is realistically advocating they cut ties with the entire linebacking corps; but the issue at hand is giving Kelsay--- an average at best DE who does not really seem to fit as a 3-4 OLB--- a $24 million extension after getting paid $6 million/year for being... average. The guy has made a lot of money over the past 8 years for being average, and the timing of this extension is a little curious seeing that fans are not really stoked about the LBs and less than disinterested in retaining Chris Kelsay.

Mechanics and footwork can be improved but accuracy really comes down to having an innate feel for throwing the football and being able to rely on one's instincts. Once a QB begins "aiming" his throws is when it all starts to fall apart; he'll start gripping the ball too tightly and throwing the ball at the receiver's feet. I guess the best proof that accuracy cannot be taught is that so many guys with other quarterbacking skills have failed to learn how to be more accurate and subsequently fall out of the league. Sam Wyche worked JP pretty thoroughly to try and improve his accuracy but it never took.

If there were ever a place for people to whine about Donte Whitner it is probably this thread. I realize he's not the biggest problem for the 2010 Buffalo Bills, but he's not exactly helping the cause out there. I don't hate the guy, I just wish he could make his presence felt in a positive way as other DBs have, despite the monumentally dismal pass rush. He's not being asked to run stride for stride with Randy Moss for 5 seconds or even at all, but he was twice extraordinarily late in recognizing where the ball was going, and that's been his MO for 4 years, whether he's lined as a FS, SS or 2 Deep. Mentally, he's a little slow to react. Is it okay that I don't think he's that great despite the defense's other shortcomings and my own lack of defensive backfield playing experience? I'll hang up and listen.

What if fans are observing that a current player on the team is not god enough? Is that considered acceptable?

Williams had a terrific game. He was consistently getting a push and was not knocked off the ball in the run game. George Edwards didn't adjust the defensive alignment for whatever reason to counteract the Pats when they starting pounding the ball. But the most consistent player on D aside from Dwan Edwards was Williams; and he actually made plays when it counted (a sack and a batted pass) to force the punt and give the O the ball with plenty of time and a chance to win. He was relentless but he wasn't really helped by the coaching staff or his teammates.

Yes, IIRC the Bills and Dolphins were the only 2 two trams that went after him, but he unfortunately chose Miami.

Keeping 1 or 2 of either Torbor, Ayodele, Mitchell or Andra Davis would be okay so long as they are backups. Posluzsny is the only true starter but he has more than a few deficiencies, namely pass coverage and staying healthy. The rest of the group* can join John DiGiorgio, Brandon Spoon, and "Old" Eddie Robinson on the Island of Mediocre Misfit Linebackers. *Arthur Moats has talent but he has no idea how to tackle in the open field or cover. None of what you suggest has any bearing on whether or not Kelsay is a good linebacker. He has character and plays hard, but we need a few less "Rudys" on this team and a few more capable football players. They don't need to be criminals to be better than Kelsay.

Today, everything appeared serviceable with the exception of the pass rush. Dwan Edwards is terrific but Stroud is leaving a lot to be desired at DE. Kyle Williams may not have beastly size but he's playing like one and had a great game. The O-line was not the biggest problem but they could certainly use an upgrade at RT. I think Demetrius Bell may actually pan out and Cordero Howard has filled in pretty admirably at the G and T positions in spots. Stevie Johnson, Evans, and Parrish all got open (behind an admittedly poor Pats' secondary) and played well. All of these positions can be improved and none are 100% set, but by far the weakest link is the pass rush. A lot of the coverage breakdowns and weaknesses in the middle of the fieldat the LB position will disappear with some consistent pressure on the QB.