May Day 10

It does have some value. Im sure it has been implemented everywhere. But the blanket application in the popular comparison to baseball just doesnt make sense to me. Baseball is very repetitive, controlled, and the play is isolated. You can see what a batter has done on a first pitch fastball 92-95 mph on the outside part of the strike zone from a right handed pitcher at night that is below 55 degrees with a runner in scoring position. And the sample space provides for adequate data. Analytics can be relied on in baseball. Football isnt nearly as neatly bound as that. Coaching, teammates, bumps and bruises, extreme weather, etc have a lot to do with how the "stats" will look.

I agree. Football doesnt translate as well at all IMO. You have a smaller sample size of games, mismatches, team aspect, gameplanning, etc... Basically, it seems most teams apply "analytics" appropriately with the abundancy and logging of gamefilm. The combine also does it to a point for incoming players and is supplemented appropriately with interviewing/testing.

I am still skeptical. I dont believe Wilson "stepping away" handing the steering wheel to Brandon is much of a change at all. Brandon/Littman/Overdorf have been running the show for years IMO. I dont believe that Russ Brandon had all sorts of great ideas and a 93 year old Ralph Wilson shot them all down. I think that under the current structure, the GM position is greatly minimalized compared to other teams. I do hope they all prove me wrong, but I have been beaten down too much as a fan of the Bills. I am intrigued/happy with the coaching staff. With the right coaching, and if some secondary gets their acts together, the defense could be good. With a good D, CJ Spiller, Fred Jackson, with a well crafted playbook, gives them a puncher's chance in every game. So I am excited for the season, as I usually am. However I dont see this as the "New Bills". I feel they were headed in a decent direction with their limiting managing structure. Coaching and QB play held them back last season. They have the athletes to be a playoff team.

the analytics department is going to spit out the result on its noisy dot-matrix printer. A peeon is going to run the printout to Russ Brandon's office to announce their findings. "Sir, the Bills have sucked for an eternity"

I wonder if its a Southern thing. Think about the notorious fan-bases: Buffalo, Oakland, Jets, Philly, Cleveland, etc...

that is not that unreasonable of a leap though. back full circle, especially when you lose trust in what the guy says publicly. It may not be/proven to be the correct point of view, but it is certainly justified.

everyone still posting, no matter point of view deserves some sort of medal/award

they are all retreads I named, other than the non-retreads the point is, a real injection/culture change. Teams needed it, went out and got it. I do not believe the Bills have gotten a true injection of culture change. To me, Russ Brandon represents more of the same. The team has become more and more irrelevant with his ascent.

what choice do I have, but patience? I do understand the optimism. I guess the impetus of how I feel, is that I believe Brandon has basically been the authority since Donahoe left. In all facets, including football personnel decisions. People who take it at face value, and take them at their word that Brandon doesnt touch football, while Nix and now Whaley are 100% in charge of the onfield product will have a much better outlook. This goes back to where Brandon's blatant dishonesty gets to me and why I believe that is a valid criticism. I dont have trust in what he publicly says. I do like the coaching staff changes. Ill still be there opening day.

Cleanse the organization of Brandon, Littman, and Overdorf. Bring in someone who is a game-changer committed to winning and building a top football "program". There are a few a year. You had Pete Carroll, Harbough, Andy Reid, Chip Kelly, Caldwell, etc. The reason they would never come here is the management. There are people I am not aware of, especially on the top level business side. People who have not been involved in the past decade and a half of the 2nd worst team in North American Professional Sports. These half-assed changes only show me that they desire to keep fans at bay for awhile longer. They are mad that Brandon has the title of GM, get a "Football guy" as the front man (and say it 30 times in the press conference). Fans think we are too old, then put the younger faces at the front so we can fly the flag of the "youngest in the league". The fact is, not much has really changed. I have a hard time believing football decisions are made in 1 wing of OBD, while Russ Brandon is coming up with the 2013 Slogan. I really dont think its a reach to be negative at this point. I am not a negative person. In fact, I am one of the few optimistic Sabres fans because I believe that ownership is actually committed to being a top NHL organization.

How could people who are down on the organization be criticized? The team hasnt won a playoff game in what, 17-18 years? Havent been to the playoffs in 13-14? Its awful. It doesnt take much imagination to see the same guy running the show as the past number of years (Brandon). As well as Littman and Overdorf. I dont buy that Ralph Wilson > the age of 90 has been wielding absolute power and has ruined everything. I get the optimism. I wish I could really get on board. I cant. These same exact discussions were had when Brandon was promoted from GM, Nix was named "GM", and Gailey was named HC. To me, each of these changes every 3 years is a different shade of makeup. I refuse to really give them the benefit of the doubt until they are a competitive NFL team. If I had to bet on it, I would say we are back here in 3-4 years with another "major" change that features a Russ Brandon changing his title and shuffling chairs again.

i think the primetime games are more of a result of the Bills being a poor to terrible team with little to no star power. And part of the rennovations is to upgrade the broadcasting infrastructure for primetime games, no?

White Collar

The Meeks shall inherit the ball

I believe they dont get primetime games because they have no draw. They stink. The infrastructure of the stadium is also outdated for all the primetime equipment. Also, out of all the Bills games I have been to, I have never ever seen a fight (or even a near-fight) not result in an ejection. I have seen the inside of Eagles games and things are worse.

I could deal with this. If you really want to drink and walk (I typically can live without), pocket one. Finish your beer before you get to the sidewalk/street, then after you cross to Billsland, just crack your other beer.

My experience, people know months ahead of time. Especially in a management role. I doubt it was a secret and unplanned. Especially the fact that Nix likely didnt retire himself to a paid home consultant position.

agree 1000x% Sylvester is just going through the motions, Peters is completely unqualified, and the show puts both on display.

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I agree 100% that John Murphy's show is top-notch.

I want outdoor. However, if retractable/dome is what the developers, Bills, State, etc want, and that is what is going to get it done, so be it. Tailgating in a snow suit and stripping down to walk to the game in the freezing cold will be a new experience.

Im not a big indoors guy, but I could get behind that.

gotta say, that looks really cool from the inside

there is a way to tell the truth while keeping details murky in order to protect information you want protected. Blatant noisy/extreme lying builds distrust. Pencil necked marketing suits are supposed to have that stuff mastered. Another example is when he stole all of Pegula's rhetoric talking about only objective/goal is to win, no stone unturned, etc.... then turn around and sell home games to Toronto again despite public complaints from arguably the Bills' best player (who is approaching FA). We arent supposed to be able to see through these guys' BS. likely just to get 2 news cycles

this is why I hate Russ Brandon and have zero stock in anything he says as being the truth. That goes for this, how he wants to leave 'no stone unturned' to win games, the Toronto series being about "Regionalization", and that his objective is to keep the Bills here forever. "There's a lot of speculation for whatever reason related to that," Bills President Russ Brandon said. "Buddy Nix is our general manager and will be for a long time."