WhitewalkerInPhilly

As I mentioned, I would want him back. I want him back yesterday. I want him back for Game 1 against Tom Brady. I want him back Week 3 to terrorize Geno. The question, to me, is whether or not he'll ever shake out of "Martyr Mode", because he certainly hasn't played well enough to get the money he was asking for BEFORE the season began, never mind sitting out so far this year. A secondary of a fully willing Byrd, Williams and Leonard at safety and Gilmore, McKelvin and Brooks/Robey at CB sounds scary good. I just don't know if we'll ever see the first, and most questionable part of that lineup. +1 Yes, this this this....I hope. I really do.

Now, don't get me wrong. I would love it it Jairus Byrd and the Buffalo Bills came to a long term deal in which both sides are happy and a very talented safety is out there playing his heart out for us. But as the season wears on, and we've heard rumblings that Byrd is unhappy, and he seems to refuse to play with the same injury he had during the best season of his career (and one that his teammate Mario Williams is productively playing through). He seems to not want to be here. So with that in mind, I have to ask: How irreplaceable is Byrd to this defense? Yes, we could use him out there. Our DB corps is one of the most snakebitten in the league and I am counting the days until Gilmore comes back. But how much would they improve by the return of Byrd as compared to Gilmore or...I can't believe that I'm saying this, McKelvin? Aaron Williams has done a surprisingly good job transitioning to safety, and oddly enough, it seems that his time there has made him a better CB as well. Seacry, while certainly leaving something to be desired is a good run stuffer and has made some big plays. And the veteran Jim Leonard has looked pretty damn good. Of course, we may have to lose Williams to CB duty from time to time, and Leonard is reaching the end of his career, but this seems to be something that can be solved with the draft or picking up some depth in FA while our last two safety picks develop. So I want to ask: with a group which has gotten 9 interceptions in four games without Byrd, how badly do we need him back?

When I saw this on the schedule I thought this was going to be a gimme. But even when the Brown were 0-2 people were talking about how their defense has improved. With the AFC North being a huge mosh pit right now, them going on a run does not seem outside the realm of possibility. Plus, even if CJ and Fred are willing to tough it out the Browns are (as of right now) top 5 in the league in run defense. Of course, at the time so were the Panthers, Jets and Ravens... I honestly thought they had given up after Richardson. I mean, they put McGahee in the backfield. Hey Willis, meet some new friends we've made since you've been away! The good news then is that the Browns have almost no run game and we've been pretty good at stopping the run (except for unfortunate bursts which mess with stats). McKelvin was a gametime decision and should be back, and Aaron Williams surprised me. If we somehow manage to get Gilmore back, I think our secondary may be good enough to shut Hoyer down.

This makes a lot of sense. He's probably out for the year (which I'm certainly not bemoaning) and I can see him indeed getting cut. It would be nice not to have to face him twice a year.

I think everyone agreed that he had talent. The problem was always that he made dumb calls. Maybe some discipline helped.

I do think that special mention STILL has to go to Kiko. The man has been a beast all season.

I have to say, I'm impressed with this depleted CB group. Even banged up, they have already played beyond expectations. I've liked Williams at safety, but he is being more then serviceable. Yeah, I know! Really, at this point he's really hurting any free agent value he has.

Yeah, that Pettine defense looked great against the offensive juggernaut of the NY Jets. Wait... Kidding aside, I'm thrilled about how they did today. With the 3rd corner and Aaron Williams converting back to CB, they managed to get FIVE picks. But I'm not willing to anoint Pettine the savior until this is consistent.

Nice one.

He is definitely good. That said, I wouldn't be shocked if the Colts backslide a little and that wouldn't be the end of the world for them. The Redskins also came out red hot last year and now look at them. In fact, the team that's done best this year with a 2012 rookie is the Seahawks. Seriously, I've watched Russel Wilson's first game, and he came along slowly at first. His game against the Cardinals wasn't much to write home about, so I'm keeping that in mind while we watch EJ and Geno.

Not anymore. I also agree that Geno has been left out to dry. Of course, the Jets have been taunting about how they're coming for EJ. I want to see the Jets keep throwing Geno into Mario all game

Fair point, EJ probably will have a bad game and take his lumps. But I do think that you can extrapolate a little on how two QB's have done against the same defense. I also think the difference is that EJ is getting more help from his receivers, O-line and most importantly his OC, who is helping him with the transition. These are good indicators in helping a QB develop, as opposed to getting pounded for 9 sacks in two games, and abandoning the run when its working to put pressure on the rookie.

I think you're missing the point of "at times" I LIKE the choice the Bills made. I'm happy they took Manuel over Geno. I think he's a bit more talented, has a better attitude and charisma but owes a great deal to the coaches not trying to rush him while he works out rookie mistakes. The difference is that the Jets have momnts of throwing their QB's to the wolves, as people accused them of doing to Sanchez last year. They push too much, let them get pounded and the fans scream for the backup when things don't go perfectly.

Their defense is looking really good. They shut the Ravens out of the first half. They could prove me wrong, but they're likely going to be putting out their third string QB, and they just traded away their best offensive player. I think that they are hoping to score the lowest draft pick. We need a new version of "Suck for Luck" "Dismal for Manzel" doesn't seem to work.

You could argue that EJ does the same at times (like the TJ throw). The difference is that usually even if he's off, he throws to places where his receiver can at least fight for it, or be the only one in position to make the play. I remember one Geno INT that was just hideously underthrown.

That is true, but I left that comparison off the list because while both got lucky with penalties, they're different kinds of luck. If Stevie doesn't get held, he's in position to catch that ball, giving the Bills about one shot to get into the end zone after the play. Geno gets hits a second earlier, the Jets don't get fifteen yards. Also, you have to take into account how Geno does in his failed comeback week two. When the pressure is on him, and the Jets are repeatedly in position to go ahead, or at the very least tie the game he throws the big interception.

I stumbled across a BR debate which got nasty in a hurry. But after watching a few games, they actually seem rather close. Both players have tremendous arm strength and good mobility. Both tend to hang around and try to throw instead of running for the 1st down, even when they probably should. Both are throwing to a veteran receiver and a draft pick from last year who has underperformed. Both have very good run games to help them. So why is one statistically so much better than the other? Interestingly, they both have been prone to underthrowing their receivers on fly routes and throwing behind their receivers. That's how the Pats got all of their interceptions last week. However, when EJ has done it so far he's either lucked out, thrown it out of bounds or had his receiver fight it away from the DB. Also, with the exception of staring down TJ last week, EJ has made very few "what were you thinking" moments. He's had bad throws, but made few cases where he's thrown into double coverage. The same can't be said of Geno I think you also have to look at the O-lines. While Colin Brown is seriously getting beat down every game, the Bills have still surrendered only one sack in to weeks even after facing "one of the best front seven" in Carolina. The same Pats defense which rarely laid a hand on EJ nailed Geno for a sack four times. The Pats defense is good, but it's not that good and neither is our O-line. If the Bills could constantly harass Geno and limit the Panthers run game, I think it bodes well for this matchup. Also...the OC's. I know Hackett was our whipping boy week 1, but he's decisions have kept EJ out trouble for the most part. He seems to be gradually opening the playbook to EJ and seeing what he can handle in a gameday scenario and he put together a great set of plays on the winning drive. In comparison Ol' Marty has gotten heat for abandoning the run when it was working and made a struggling Geno throw more and more. They might have a very similar talent, but EJ is a bit more composed, and has a better support system. At least so far.

I like to put it this way: in the last two weeks, our defensive line has been good at getting to the QB. Against the quickest checkdown man in the league and one of the most mobile passers the Bills put up 8 sacks combined. The Jets have given up 9 to Tampa (pretty good defense, but not a powerhouse) and the Patriots (who had zero on EJ) If our front 7 can beat the hell out of Newton, i want to see what three hours of getting kicked in the teeth does to Geno.

Feels like it. Apparently, he tweeted that a big trade was coming before it actually happened. Losing to Miami must have been quite a blow, because I remember sportscasters talking up a Luck/Tannehill rivalry. I'm still shocked about the trade. It would be like us trading away Dareus under similar circumstances. Maybe he hasn't completely wowed us or been the gamebreaker we hoped but he's been a solid contributor and is in a system that is currently working and gambling that the new pick (which statistically is almost certain to be lower) will somehow be better. I hate to say it, since I like Cleveland whenever we're not playing them or I've bet against them, but I think they're shooting for the #1 draft pick.

The man led a come from behind victory by one point off of a 80 drive with 1:38 to play with no time outs. He should be a shoe in. Naturally, since there is voting involved, suddenly that seems doubtful. http://www.nfl.com/voting/rookies/2013/REG/2#

Well, they were always talking about "the Patriot way" and having a high set of standards during the Herdandez case. But if they aren't willing to bench or cut him at this point, when he's the best CB they have that undercuts the message a bit. Of course, if he has jail time for when the Bills play the Pats in the last game of the season...

Thank you so much for posting those. I kept thinking that he had gotten held first when I saw the tape and I was furious about the call. It's nice to have video evidence. I'll be using that as an example when Carolina fans complain about the PI call...along with the no calls on Mario getting held and Stevie randomly getting decked.

Lawson isn't going to light up flashy numbers, but I can't think of anyone else I want out there stopping the run.

I saw them do a rundown of the highlights when they were pressed to fill time due to the delay on the San Fran/Seattle game. But while the others got a little analysis after them, they quickly moved on. I guess a gut wrenching last second go ahead touchdown didn't bear focus...oh wait, Jay Cutler did the exact same thing! Let's focus on that!

Why I said probably. But hey, if we do, you can totally lord it over me, and I won't care because WE'LL BE IN THE SUPERBOWL!