thewildrabbit

The article is a joke. Glenn was the best lineman on the team last season, and would have looked better if he had a better player next to him. Along with a better coaching staff. Henderson at least played, and when he did he mostly stunk it up. He graded as one of of the very worst OT's in the league. Watch him deftly block Mack....

There is no question that Hackett was in over his head, and Marrone wasn't helping at all. I think "the Saint" was more concerned over helping his buddy the ST coach then the OC. EJ even stated he learned far more from watching Orton prepare for a game then he ever did from Hackett. So anything Whaley derived from the last years coaching staff is basically worthless IMO. Just think in EJ's first year in the NFL in 2013 all he had to learn from was Hackett. With no QB coach, along with rookies Thad Lewis, Jeff Tuel. What a clusterF of stupidity! Then last year Hackett goes pass happy all year with virtually no run game from the week four Texans game and on. Forty plus passes almost every game from Orton, and to his credit the guy managed to go 7-5. Its my take that Hackett tried to throw the entire offensive book at EJ and he wasn't up to the task of 40 passes per game behind that godawful line. It wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that Hackett threw EJ under the bus to the FO, and put all the blame for EJ not developing quickly enough on EJ. Besides, 14 game starts being mentored by a moron doesn't count at all in my view. This season EJ is going to be playing in a near perfect run first system for him to develop properly, and he now has a decent receiving corps to throw it to. If Greg Roman can set up an offensive game plan like Cam Cameron set up for Joe Flacco then I think we may see quite an improvement in EJ this year. Jeff Tuel was a wasted roster spot from the start.

Tuel was a deer in headlights in that Cleveland game, and the coaches should have had him better prepared for it. In that KC game the Bills were dominating on offense with the run game in the first half over that Chiefs team with their vaunted top 5 defense. It was a thing of beauty to behold as Fredex & Spiller were killing them in that first half to the tune of 6.3 yards per rush. 470 yards of offense in that game with 38 rushes for 241 yards rushing almost all in the first half. I can recall thinking that the Bills coaches are getting it done perfectly in the first half by running it down the Chiefs throats, and having Tuel manage the game by limiting his passes. Then Hackett outsmarted himself in the opening drive of the 3rd quarter by allowing Tuel to throw into the end zone at 3rd down and one at the Chiefs one yard line. I know that Fred didn't get any yardage on his first two runs up the middle. But still, it was all run plays the first half that were dominating the game, and the Bills coaches could have played it safe and tried one last run. If that had failed then kick a FG, and the score is 13-3 with the Bills defense dominating the Chiefs offense. The KC offense only scored 3 FG's all game, and had the Bills not scored again all game the score would have been a 9-13 win. JMO to play it conservative with a kid who went 4-26 in college. Now that the Chiefs had a 3 point lead the running game plan went out the window. Hackett had Tuel throw for 14 passes in the first half and 25 passes in the 2nd half. Most of those in the 2nd half were incomplete because the Bills stopped running the ball, and that KC defense could now just focus on stopping the pass. This game showed me that Hackett was no better in panicking during a game then pass happy Chan Gailey once his team fell behind in points. In fact he became much worse an offensive playcaller because he had idea how to properly setup an NFL run offense other then constantly running up the middle. Its more of a credit to the elusiveness of CJ, FJ in gaining all those yards then it was the blocking schemes. Here it is folks. Tuel snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2013110300/2013/REG9/chiefs@bills#menu=drivechart%7CcontentId%3A0ap2000000275308&tab=analyze&analyze=playbyplay

This is more accurate then most fans want, or care to believe. Then judging by last years performance of #2 Cujo who couldn't even get on the field on one of the worst lines in the league, the performance of Richardson, Henderson one can't help but wonder if this years third round pick will be as equally bad. Granted it does sometimes take players a year or two to acclimate themselves to the rigors of the NFL for the line. Its not for the faint of heart in any aspect, as you need the big nastys who are downright mean, and willing to go toe to toe for 60 min in the trenches. All the while knowing that unlike the skill players, and QB who fill the highlight reels. That their play will mostly go unnoticed except by their own players, QB, RB, and coaches. Last year the Oakland Raiders fielded the very worst in the NFL defense in points allowed (32nd), and a near equally bad in yards allowed in (21st) they were (-15) in turnover differential which was worst in the league. 30th in the NFL in sacks. The Buffalo Bills went into Oakland in week 16 with a solid chance to secure a playoff berth for the first time in over a decade. Wanna know the stats that really stand out to me in that game? Buffalo Bills 13 rushes for 13 yards. Fred Jackson 6 attempts for 10 yards. Spiller 4 attempts for -4 yards. How freaking pathetic can you get against one of the worst defenses in the league while vying for a playoff spot. This game made me sick watching it. Yeah the schemes were bad, and the coaches were bad, but also the line players were bad. I've always been an advocate for better coaching, and hiring the very best coaches you can. But there comes a point that no coach can overcome bad talent. Will the Bills field a decent O line in 2015 while trying to protect a statue, or a player with only 14 NFL games under his belt, maybe...or maybe not. I can't help but think this isn't the way I would want EJ to be developed, by being behind another maybe line. Not the way I wanted to see this team enter the 2015 season.

Winning games will keep Whaley employed, and we all know that. The Bills had about 6 mill left in cap space targeted for a RT-RG, and Rex wanted WR Percy Harvin... so the Bills signed him. It looks like that WR signing ended any chance of further thought about upgrading those two positions with solid vets due to limited cap space. There was a real reason as to why Whaley was initially chasing those two players. The 2014 O line was horribly bad. Will this years line be improved with a healthy Chris Williams, along with Richie Incognito? In a word, yes. Will they be even close to improved if they had signed Bulaga and Evans, no way. A huge disparity still exists between having a dominate line, and one that can barely scrape by. With Bulaga, Evans they could have fielded a top ten unit which would have given the team the ability to run any offensive scheme they needed to run. Some fans like to throw numbers around, so let me throw some. In 2014 the San Francisco 49ers fielded the #9th ranked O line, pass blocking 16th, and run blocking 5th. Now that niners line featured three 1st round picks, and solid pro bowl players. That team was 9th overall in rushing attempts, and 4th in overall rushing yards in the NFL. Then as good as that 49er line is they were only 25th in points, 20th in yards. They still struggled to reach an 8-8 record, and they have their franchise QB in Colin Kaepernick. Bottom line here is the Bills missed an opportunity to shore up the weakest area of the team by far with some top players and now have an over abundance of "maybe" players. Maybe Chris Williams stays healthy, and plays well... maybe Incognito returns to his old pro bowl form...maybe the 3rd rounder or one of those three will keep Urbik on the bench. Like I said there is a huge difference between fielding a top 20 line, and a top 10. The Bills don't have a Brady, Luck, Wilson who can still make plays behind a rather weak line. JMO

I know I'd be happy with a QB that could produce a winning record, as the last one previous to Orton was Doug Flutie, and the one before that was Jim Kelly. I like underdogs too, and that's why I'm rooting for EJ to step up, and stand out this year. Betting on Taylor to get the starting job is like betting on that 100 to one nag.

Exactly, on every count! There is no question that Erik Pears had no business playing RG, and there is little doubt Seantrel Henderson was one of the worst RT's in the league last season. Urbik was an upgrade at LG over Cyril Richardson but not over Chris Williams. When you have a player that is clearly one dimensional in his performance what does it tell you about their skill as a professional player? Would any Bills fan want a defensive player on the team that was only good at pass rushing and horrid against the run or vice versa? A DB that could tackle but couldn't cover, or could cover but couldn't tackle? Imagine a DT that was pushed back five yards on almost every run play. For years the Bills have employed players on their lines that couldn't run block properly even if their lives depended on it. Bills fans should be rejoicing now that Pears is finally gone, and I know I will join them when Urbik is also gone. I don't hate on the bad players, I just want to see some actual talent. What most Fans fail to realize is that once Doug Whaley gave up on the idea of replacing the RG / RT with Jahri Evans, and Brian Bulaga because he wasn't able to obtain either. That he also gave up the idea of a playoff berth that went out the window with those failures. Most just don't get that this team could have had a viable shot at not only a playoff game but a chance to actually win some if they had upgraded, strengthened those positions. How many third round picks have the Bills drafted that became immediate impact starters over the last five years? What are the odds that a player out of the NFL for a year, and no other NFL team was willing to touch will return to pro bowl or even a average form? Whaley might have been able to make the playoffs last year had he signed Incognito at some point. The line play against the Raiders with a playoff berth on the line was downright disgraceful, and better OG play could have helped a great deal.

Sure the Ravens had a choice. Like I said, If he were a top backup QB then I don't see Ozzie Newsome letting him leave at all. Ozzie keeps his good players, and its a big reason why they make the playoffs / super bowls. Some backup QB's are making upwards of 5+ mill per nowadays. He got 1.2 mill per from Buffalo with a chance to earn 7 mill if he becomes a starter. I think the big reason he took the Bills offer is because Rex has had past interest in him, and he does appear have a legit shot against EJ & Cassell from what Rex is saying. Hence my comparison to Gailey in 2010. In Denver he knew he had no chance to start. Still, the guy has to be better then Tuel to get an actual backup spot, and he is no big deal in my view. 6'1 208, and drafted in the 6th round of the 2011 draft. In his four year career 19 of 35 for 199 yards 0 TD's 2 INT's. Basically a short, running QB with accuracy issues. A Russell Wilson he isn't. JMO https://tommeltonscouting.wordpress.com/2011/03/22/tyrod-taylor-qb-virgina-tech-scouting-report/

First, my take is Polian wanted to see the Bills take a shot on obtaining a franchise QB in some regard, and even if that prospect were a late round pick or undrafted free agent. I don't think any Bills fans are still holding out hope that Jeff Tuel is the "one" being developed into that franchise guy. A lot are questioning as to why he is even in the mixture of competition in competing for the starting job. This sort of reminds me of the 2010 off season QB competition with Fitz, Edwards, and Brian Brohm. Then when Gailey stated that all three were about the same it gave the impression that he knew what he was talking about. Needless to say that even Interim HC Perry Fewell was smart enough to start Fitz over Edwards the previous year. So the Bills start the 2015 off season with EJ, Matt Cassell, Tyrod Taylor, and Tuel as the QB's. I don't see the interest in Taylor because if he were a top backup QB I don't see Ozzie Newsome letting him leave. He became expendable when the Ravens signed Matt Schaub, and the Ravens have three other unknown QB's Keith Wenning-Bryn Renner- Jerry Lovelocke. Bottom line here is that the Buffalo Bills still don't have a viable developmental QB that even has a shot at becoming a legit franchise QB. (aside from EJ who should be given the most chance this year IMO)The bigger issue is that I doubt anyone in the entire org even knows what a true developmental QB looks like. The Bills don't have either their Brett Farve or Aaron Rodgers. Lastly, for the fans that can't let the Donte Whitner pick go...the guy is still playing in the NFL from 2006. Then he made the pro bowl with the 49ers so what does that tell you about that Bills coaching or defensive scheme back then. Marv didn't like greedy Lawyer Milloy, and there was a huge hole at Safety after Levy sent him packing. That same year the Bills did draft Kyle Williams. Hey, at least Levy didn't draft Aaron Maybin, and how long was he in the league? The Bills wasted a lot of money on a guy who had one decent college year and looked good after he bought his P90X DvD's.

The Cowboys had the top rated O line in the league last year. They were smart enough to add insurance to an already great line. I doubt Collins starts this year, and could work his way into a starting job by playing special teams.

and who's fault is that? That wasn't the case when Whaley took the team over as he let Levitre walk and still hasn't properly replaced him. That 2012 line was ranked in the top 15 (13th), and were ranked 5th in pass blocking, 21st in run blocking. Last season they ranked dead last in run blocking and 30th in pass blocking. Like I said earlier, the longest it took Bill Polian to win the division with three different teams was three years. This GM can't even acquire a decent LG or build a decent O line in three years....much less find a franchise QB. Building the line should have been the teams first priority in 2013, and it wasn't...and still isn't! Trying to force 2nd year QB EJ to throw 40+ passes a game behind that shambles of a line was more then moronic. I'm not convinced this years team will have a winning record because that line is still in flux. Then the HC having to run around trying to lure possible felons to the team because the GM didn't get it right again this off season. I have no idea why this front office (besides Rex) puts such little emphasis into building a dominate O line. I had such high expectations for this franchise when Terry Pegula bought the team, and it looks to me like this years team will again struggle to even get to a winning record.

Jeez John, its been three years and the O line is still a huge question mark! How many years will it take to replace an average offensive guard who was very good at pass blocking, and below average at run blocking? The longest it took Polian to win the division was three years, and this GM can't find a decent replacement OG in that amount of time... much less the franchise QB. If Whaley knew there was a problem with EJ last off season when he signed Kyle Orton. Then he should have the courage of his convictions and drafted Derek Carr or Teddy Bridgewater. I get the distinct impression that Whaley, and his current scouting staff just doesn't know offensive talent. They simply don't know the difference between a quality pre NFL O lineman, and guys that can't even get on an NFL field. It was disheartening to me that those rookies couldn't even beat out waiver wire scrubs like Pears / Urbik. Then to identify top pro talent in free agency, and then give up rebuilding the line entirely in free agency when they couldn't obtain the top players they had targeted. Lastly, please don't compare the Sabres to the Bills or I'm going to get completely discouraged about the future of the Buffalo Bills. Its been five long years since Pegula bought the Sabres, and their best season was the first after he took over the team from Golisano. I keep hearing that the Sabres have some of the best young players in the league, and yet keep finishing poorly or in last place. Whats kinda scary is that Pegula has stated he is more of a hockey fan then a football fan, and that he knows more about hockey. How many regime changes does it take to find the right man to build a winner when money is no object? Terry Pegula has no real viable reason for being at the top of the football operations flow chart, and neither does Mr dancing on the Yacht. JMO.

I think the one place the team needs a layer of authority is at the top of the org chart in the form of a president of football operations aka an Ozzie Newsome, or even Packers GM Ted Thompson hired and promoted to team president. Bill Polian would have fit the role, and he could have found a qualified successor should he want to retire. Russ Brandon is still the teams president, and not just for the financial side. He may defer to Whaley but he has no business being in charge of the football operations side of the team. From my view there is a definitive hole in the offensive talent evaluation process that can't be filled with a marketing guy. This team needs someone that knows QB talent, and who to acquire and at what price. The team still has big question marks involving the O line after three years. Otherwise the current HC wouldn't be out chasing another G/T. This new owner has no experience in running an NFL team and should be deferring to an experienced football man instead of being at the top of the flow chart. JMO.

Just to be clear. Raiders owner Al Davis still wanted Jim Kelly, as he had previously sent ole Jim to London with a few Raiderettes all expenses paid. Ralph was thinking about a trade if he couldn't sign him. Polian talked Wilson into making Kelly the highest paid QB in the league at that time. That was all Polian! Polian drafted Kerry Collins, a QB who took the Panthers to the NFC Championship game the very next year. While he didn't take Carolina to a SB, Collins did get to a SB a few years later with the NY Giants. That Panthers team went from an expansion nothing to the playoffs in two years. It only took the Houston Texans 10 years to make a playoff berth. Bill Polian could have easily been the laughing stock of the league had he taken QB Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning, and instead knew the difference between a outright bum, and a future hall of famer! Three teams into the playoffs within three years of taking a job with the team as GM or president. Two hall of fame QB's, and he built teams that went to the super bowl multiple times. There is a big reason as to why he is in the hall of fame, and the last time I looked there were only a few FO men in the hall! There is little doubt in my mind that if Polian had taken the czar / president job with the Bills back in the beginning of this year that the Bills would have their franchise QB (draft or Bradford-Rivers) That the Bills would be headed to a playoff berth this year! The 2015 Bills are chasing possible felons to fill the O line, and still don't have a franchise QB after three years of this current GM.

To those being critical of Bill Polian because he is being critical of the Bills failure to find that elusive franchise QB need to understand that Polian found his man with every team in which he was the GM / president. Buffalo Bills GM: 1986-1992 built a team that was the 2-14 bottom feeder, and won the division in three years. Polian managed to make Jim Kelly the highest paid QB in the league, and he came to Buffalo all smiles. Carolina Panthers GM: 1995-1997 took an expansion team to the AFC championship game in two years. Drafted his franchise QB with the 5th overall pick in Kerry Collins who went on to the SB with the NY Giants. Indianapolis Colts president: 1998-2011. 3-13 to 13-3 in one year as president because he took the right QB in Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf. Its my belief that Polian purposely tanked the 2011 Colts to obtain once in a generation QB Andrew Luck. Manning missed the 2011 season with a neck injury, and Polian knew he wasn't coming back that year. So Bill waited until two weeks before the season opener to sign a veteran backup QB in Kerry Collins, and had to know that wasn't going to be enough time to get him up to speed to field a winning team. The backup QB's were bums in Curtis Painter who started a whole two games previous to 2011, and Dan Orlovsky from Detroit. The interesting thing here that that Manning's long time QB tutor, and mentor in former Colts OC Tom Moore suddenly decided to retire... leaving that world renowned NFL OC Clyde Christensen in charge of the Colts high powered offense. Clyde who? Needless to say the Colts offense went from 4th in points, and 4th in yards to 30th in yards, and 28th in points in 2011. Anyway the Colts owner didn't like the 2-14 record or Polian's son as GM so he fired them both. Anyway, my point is that Polian basically found his franchise QB as soon as he joined the team he was in charge of and looking at his track record of success I'm honestly surprised so many fans here are denigrating his opinion on this subject. Doug Whaley is now in his third season, and the team still doesn't have a clear cut franchise QB or even a decent solid O line for the maybe guys. I have to think if Polian had taken the job of team president / czar the Bills this year he would have already found their franchise QB, someway, somehow.

He does have a point, and its what Seattle did in finding Russell Wilson. Looking at the way Derek Carr beat the Bills in Oakland last year left me wondering if this scouting dept has the first clue about QB talent. OTOH there are only so many reps in training camp / preseason and perhaps the FO wants to see what EJ will look like being guided by an actual NFL coordinator. Time will tell with this regime, and if Whaley can't find a franchise QB or manage to protect the maybes then I don't see him keeping his job.

From the Buddy Nix school of thought, and I think this will be his undoing. Meanwhile the rest of the NFL teams who value O line players make a run on them leaving Whaley holding his...

Tough for me to argue that both Orton / Schwartz had a lot to do with that 9-7 record, and now both are gone. Then the Patriots sat Brady in that last game or its 8-8. Watching the Bills choke so badly in Oakland last year with the playoffs on the line reinforces the thought that this franchise isn't even close to a playoff berth just yet. Rex Ryan as the Bills HC hasn't proven anything yet, and Whaley still hasn't even adequately replaced OG Andy Levitre. No franchise QB, and the players they have at QB on the roster will be hard pressed to perform very well behind an O line of maybes. Winning the division or a playoff game would be the pivotal turning point for me, and until that happens nothing has really changed for me.

It is crazy stuff.

Excellent points. Most Bills fans here will argue that the #1 priority is finding that franchise QB. Yet now the majority seem happy with two first rounders, and a fourth round pick on a WR when the team is still looking for that franchise QB. This makes no sense to me at all. I think the biggest factor in this entire discussion is that this FO / scouting dept is so lame they honestly can't project what a player will eventually become so they reach for what they perceive to be the best. Yet those two first rounders, and a 4th for a WR still didn't net them a tall, speedy megatron clone. The team still needs that big WR red zone threat. Eric Ebron...really? Last years #2 pick Cyrus Kouandji is so bad can't even get on the field. Talk about building a team bass ackwards. This years team still doesn't have a decent foundation on the offensive line, and they still need two starters that they intended obtain....yet somehow didn't. If Sammy eventually does become great can we trade him for a franchise QB? Because without that QB this team will never see another super bowl.

The more viable question should be would it have been smarter to trade up to draft Mike Evans who is that big WR that the team has tried to acquire for years, and the team still has a need for that big WR red zone target. Or, just draft OBJ who the FO was very high on prior to the draft, or even Kelvin Benjamin and still have this years first round draft pick, and fourth. This brings up the question, does this teams scouting dept really know college talent at any position? The mere fact that the Bills would have drafted Ebron should have Bills fans scratching their head. The Cowboys pick at #16 Zack Martin made the PB at OG, and that position was clearly the weakest position on the team last year. The Giants drafted WR Odell Beckham JR @ #12 and the kid missed most of the off season, pre season and the first four regular season games with a hamstring injury. Now considering he played in only 12 games, and still had 91 receptions for 1305 yards 12 TD's, made the pro bowl. OBJ set about 30 new NYG records last year. The big talk from OBD, and hardliners was that Watkins is a once in a generation player. Yet it looks more like Watkins might be injury prone, and Beckham might be that once in a generation guy. If not for missing those first four games he would have shattered Randy Moss's rookie receiving record of 1, 313 yards. Extrapolate what he would have done in 16 games and it looks like 1600+ yards, 16 TD's, 120+ receptions. Holy Crap, as that puts him in the top three players for last season. If not the league leader. What makes no sense to me is utilizing two firsts, and a fourth on a player not a franchise QB. Last years team was more then one WR away from even making the playoffs, and they still are.

and a RT IMO. But that QB position is the key to being an average team or successful playoff team. Like I've stated in other threads. Had the Bills obtained OG Jahri Evans, RT Brian Bulaga this years team could very well be a serious contender in the AFC East.

After watching McCoy In a few games last year i came away thinking that the Eagles blocking wasn't anywhere near as good as it had been without their starting O line players. The line still ranked as the #2 unit in the league just behind the Cowboys. Still, it says a lot to me that McCoy was a non factor in a bunch of games because of the bad blocking by the backup linemen. While everyone else seems to be excited about the upcoming season, I still have strong reservations concerning the blocking by the Bills front five. It won't matter how great the FB blocks if the line doesn't open the initial hole. The FB is there to take on the second level blockers, and not the 300 lb defensive line players. If there is no hole you can expect to see McCoy try to break it outside just like Spiller has so many times. While I still feel coaching is everything, and things should to get a lot better with this new coaching staff. I was just wanting the Bills to sign Brian Bulaga, Jahri Evans, and my all concerns about this years offense would be gone.

While everyone is daydreaming about having a top offense... they seem to be overlooking the tangible differentials between the comparison of Pettine vs Roman. Pettine walked into a team loaded with defensive talent, and 9 of the 11 starters were either a 1st or 2nd round draft pick. Then he had a 100 million dollar DE, pro bowl DT's in Kyle Williams & Marcell Dareus along with ball hawking Jarius Byrd at safety. Any DC in the entire league would pretty much love to be coaching the Buffalo Bills defense the last few years. Not every OC in the league would even want to try to attempt to build a competitive offense with the current Bills offensive players IMO. Although Roman now has a star studded backfield, WR corp along with a productive TE. The biggest difference is on the lines with a current Bills O line unit that was last in the league in run blocking, and 30th in pass blocking. From rookies to players moved out of their proper position, last years offensive line was an absolute train wreck. The most important position on the team happens to be occupied either by a third year player with 14 games under his belt or a 10 year vet who's record is 33-38. That vet QB has only had two winning seasons in his ten year career, and both were 10-6 with KC & Patriots. Then both those two teams had much better lines then the 2015 will have. In my opinion Greg Roman has a monumental task to build a top offense utilizing a ground and pound running attack from an O line that was ranked last in the NFL in run blocking. Some of the players have been changed, and yet none of the players are of the quality caliber that the Bills have on the defensive line. Dunno why almost everyone is overlooking the fact that the team still needs at least two viable starters for the line this season. Whaley went after RT Bulaga, OG Evens in free agency for real reasons, and because he couldn't get those two he then gave up. If somehow Roman manages to build a top 15 unit on offense this season he will be a miracle worker in my eyes

Kinda why I thought it was Nix, as he did come across to me as having a scouts outlook on players. Plus, the way he was talking about Chan Gailey at that time led me to think that this is someone higher up in the FO.