vincec

And besides that Sanchez was the main reason the Jets lost as he couldn't complete a pass over 5 yards in that game.

Dick Jauron is back. So let me see if I got this straight: Wannstedt's defense was very simple and that's bad because it was too predictable and not sophisticated enough for the NFL. The Bills are in much better shape with Pettine and his new complex defense. Hackett's offense is very simple and that's good because you don't need a complex offense to be effective you only need to have good players and run the plays well. That sounds like what Wanny had told us. I'll buy this. The complexity is going to ramp up as Manuel starts to learn things.

Interesting. Maybe it was all a plot by the man to curtail my drinking.

I regularly attended games when I lived in the Buffalo area but I couldn't imagine taking my young son to a Bills game the way I could to a local Panthers game. The atmosphere is just completely different. You could argue that the fans aren't as rabid so the "home field advantage" isn't as big but here you can actually go and enjoy the game without really worrying about incidents or crazy drunken behavior. It was pretty mellow when I went to see the Bills in Arizona a couple years back as well. I don't know about all the other stadiums but I haven't been to anyplace like The Ralph yet.

Even I knew this and I'm certainly no doctor. Gronk definitely knew this as he would've been told by his doctors even if he didn't know it already.

I'm really going to miss Nix. I thought that he was very open and honest with his thought process and opinions about the decisions he made. It was really enjoyable to hear his interviews and you could clearly see his philosophy. His legacy will squarely depend on Manuel but in general I think he's done a pretty good job. I hope he enjoys his retirement and I hope that Whaley will be as open to the media and the fans.

You are correct. He hasn't been mentioned in any of the reports I've read and I've taken that to mean that he isn't doing much but it could just be reporters focusing elsewhere, or maybe he isn't even there.

In 7 on 7, with UDFA defensive backs covering him, he probably should be making more plays than he is. Still, the receiving dynamic will change when the contact starts and his future this season probably rests on his special teams ability anyway.

Makes sense to me. Apparently Dickerson is planning on playing WR. I don't think they are going to use a traditional FB so maybe you can keep him where you have him and he'll be some type of H-back. We'll have to see. Also, Brown has looked better than Snow to me so I would project him as the starter although he would be a more valuable backup since he can backup all three interior line positions where as Snow can only play guard. I think it's a toss up between Hairston and Pears at RT. When healthy Pears was better but who knows if he's healthy. Finally, I suspect that they are going to bring Manuel along a little more slowly and start Kolb or Jackson for week 1 unless Manuel really outshines both of them in camp. However there's no question that Manuel will be the starter before the season is over IMO. I do agree that it's likely that they keep Tuel and cut either Kolb or Jackson.

It will come down to special teams for the 5th and 6th WR positions, do Easley's chances rest there IMO.

His radio show is better than his play by play. Perhaps it's that he's had crap to work with but his calls are a pale comparison to Miller's. All you have to do is listen to the intro to his own show as he chronicles various play by play calls through the years to hear the difference.

Nice.

Come on. Give Lee Evans a little more respect than that! It's more like Bruce Smith vs Chris Kelsay.

I think that you have to separate OLB and ILB because after Lawrence Taylor the positions have become so different. At OLB, it has to be Taylor. He simply redefined the position. At ILB there are lot's of worthy candidates: Butkis, Lewis and Nitschke would be my three but I would lean towards Butkis. Of the three, he played on the worst teams by far and still dominated without all the talent around him that the other guys had, especially Nitschke.

You're reaching.

He was one of the most physical players on a not too physical team so I see it as a loss but the fullback is almost dead as an offensive NFL position and CMac wasn't really built to play TE or H back.

You may be right, but Wannstedt said the exact same thing about the LBs having to be able to play both sides in the modern NFL (and safeties too). Let's wait and see what the defense looks like before we crown Pettine. I think we anointed Wannstedt a little too early.

I would be surprised to see Mario playing standup LB except in obvious passing situations. Mario's strength is his strength not his quickness off the edge. Plus he's way too good a run defending DL not to use there, IMO. Also, there would be some serious growing pains starting a rookie like Alonso as the mike but I agree that he does seem like the most likely candidate.

I'm losing track of whose going to play where on this defense, and maybe that's the point. At this point, in my head, I have: SOLB- Lawson, Moats LDE- M Williams NT- K Williams, Branch, Troup RDE/DT- Dareus, Carrington WOLB/DE- Anderson, Hughes MILB/SILB- ??? WILB- Alonso, Bradham, Scott So, it looks to me like they have three WILBs and no MILB. Who's going to play on the strong side??? Can't wait to find out how this is going to work.

So what does the Bills record really matter in the end?

Between 6 and 8 wins. Growing pains on offense with new scheme and a lot of raw, inexperienced players. Kolb probably starts and gives way half way through the season to Manuel due to injury. Probably some improvement on defense with new scheme, but again growing pains learning a complex scheme and the Bills are still pretty weak at LB. Bills are not close to being ready to compete with the Pats. Probably the third best team in the division after NE and Miami.

I think that you need to differentiate between guys who have had off field problems like underage drinking or smoking pot and guys who appear to be bad team mates or have issues with coaches. Team chemistry is so important to winning that you have to be careful with "me" guys or players that have run ins with teammates.

How many QBs can you really give an honest look at in training camp? I think three is the max, especially with a new system to learn. So if you're going to seriously look at Manuel, Kolb and Jackson you are wasting your time bringing in Bray at this time.

Wow. Who knew? My wife's nephew was the starting QB for Northwestern a couple of years ago and they used to talk about these big rivalry games with the other Rock Hill schools. I kind of wrote that off to the usual parental hyperbole and blew it off, but maybe it was like what happens in Texas or something.

I'm actually more worried about RT than LG. Pears was OK before his injury and Hairston was mediocre in replacement. I have not been impressed with Sanders. Unless somebody really steps it up they're going to have a problem there. Guard is much easier to fill. I think that Brown or Young would do fine there. Maybe even Snow. I actually thought that Colin Brown looked raw but pretty good and it's hard to evaluate Young as a guard because he's been playing tackle. But what do I know.