vincec

A lot better than any other strategy the Bills have employed since.

This is a great thread.

NFL will have institute a testing program to confirm said player's "gayness".

Nice

Wait, didn't you just laud Marv for playing the percentages and kicking it at the goal line? Turns out that this wasn't really the percentage play. You can say that your "gut" says to kick a field goal because of momentum or whatever but the percentage play is actually to go for it. That is demonstrable statistically.

What part do you think the fact that Fred Jackson out performed Lynch game in and game out played? Lynch wasn't exactly setting the world on fire here. The fact that he was a great RB while in Buffalo is the revisionist history, IMO.

I'm not sure that this is true. I don't think that he's actually rated that highly by most football observers. Many Bills fans may think that he's underrated but generally I think that he's viewed as a solid OLB but not a star.

Perhaps a scientific statistical analysis will sway you instead of a good book. Consider this study of the situation: http://fifthdown.blo...go-for-it/?_r=0 To me 4th and goal at the one early in a close game is basically a no brainer go for it situation most of the time, as this analysis illustrates.

It had to be said.

The officiating has generally been fair in the Bills games. Nathaniel Hacket has been doing a pretty good job calling plays to establish a run first identity and protect young QBs while still scoring a fair number of points.

I can tell just by watching that the Bills run defense is better than it was last year and that's a credit to Pettine. I don't think it's a problem per se, but it isn't really a strength either. I would characterize it as decent and good enough to win with. If the Bills want to take it up a notch and have an elite run defense then they are going to need a space eating NT/DT. Neither Williams nor Dareus qualifies as they are both penetrating types, IMO. In this respect I would say that it's not just Williams, but the Williams-Dareus combination that limits how good the run defense can be. Of course the pass rush should benefit from this combination.

Marrone, as a former offensive lineman and offensive line coach, was asked about the value of chemistry on the OL early in the season. He basically said that he thinks it's overrated. He believes that you put the 5 best players out there and it's his job as the coach (or maybe specifically the OL coach) to get them to play well together.

The problem, IMO, is not that the Bills don't have good drafts but that they do a poor job of retaining the good players from their drafts once their rookie contracts are up.

Definitely agree with the decision to go for it. Should've run it a fourth time, IMO. I can hear Vince Lombardi saying "if you can't get one yard then you don't deserve to win". If the Bills are trying to develop an attitude that they can run it on anybody then that was a great opportunity to build confidence.

I think that Tuel is thinking the same thing which is why he asked to speak to Marrone. I definitely think that Tuel or Flynn will be cut when EJ comes back.

Bills certainly aren't going to keep 5 QBs going forward. Manuel is a given. Lewis looks safe based on his performance against Cleveland. That means that 1 or 2 of Tuel, Flynn and Dixon are going to be cut. Who's it going to be?

Receivers as a group are poor, but if the Bills can add (1) premium guy it would all be turned around because Woods and Johnson would be very strong #2 and #3 receivers. They could keep Goodwin and Easley as #4 and #5 because of their versatility and special teams contribution. WR #1 pick next season.

A lot of conflicting advice in this thread. I'd be curious to hear what you find and learn the truth.

I'm honestly stunned by the mishandling of the backup QB situation. The staff gave Tuel the backup job out of camp, ahead of Thad Lewis, and without even seeing him play a game they have decided that he can't start in the event of an injury to the starter (the definition of the backup QBs job) and that actually Thad Lewis is more ready than him. Why didn't they just declare Lewis at the backup and waive Tuel? Forget that they waived a competent backup in Tavaris Jackson without even giving him a chance, using the excuse that they can't split the practice reps over three players. Then they proceed to split the reps over three players with Kolb, Manuel and Tuel. I think that they really underestimated the importance of the backup QB in the NFL.

I don't know if he can get it done but we know that the guys on the roster right now can't get it done so I applaud the move. At least they're trying.

Honestly, they should've IR'd him two or three weeks ago when it became clear that Carpenter was pretty good. They could've used the roster spot for a DB or OG.

Nice one.

Really? Didn't he lose his job to Powell just last year? Now he's the upgrade over Powell? And 38 years old to boot. Hard to believe that this was the best option but the proof will be in the punting.

As long as Branch is out there, the Bills effectively have 3 DTs and a DE who is strong enough to play DT. Good luck running against that. Look for more wide runs and first down passes from Bills opponents to try and take advantage of Branch's perceived lack of mobility and pass rush.

Just IR Hopkins and get it over with. He can battle Carpenter next training camp for his job back. Powell hasn't punted well since pre-season when his competition was cut. He is very inconsistent and rarely seems to hit a good punt when you need one. Don't know if anyone better is out there but he doesn't look like a long term answer right now.