vincec

That's no surprise since the right side was manned by Howard. I was, however, surprised by how badly Rinehart did. Did Gailey really think that this was a starter a couple of weeks ago?

I wouldn't say that he's "horrible" but he definitely is not starting material right now.

I agree. Hairston got beat a couple of other times too, but he's definitely the best backup option at tackle as Howard was a turnstile tonight. I think that Coleman did enough to beat out Eddins. Tasker said that he thought the Bills would keep 5 RBs, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was only 4 which would mean that either White or Hall get cut. Probably no chance that it's White, so if that's the case Hall is gone despite a decent game. I would also throw in Brown as having played well. I know that it's with the 3rd stringers but the minute he came in the offense started to move after 3-1/2 quarters of stinking with Thigpen in there. As has been mentioned, Thigpen really should be cut based on his pre-season but Gailey has likely already made the decision to keep him based on practice (like he did with T Edwards). I also have to say that I thought Kellen Heard looked pretty solid again. He really should make the team with everybody's favorite (Jasper) getting cut, IMO.

I have actually wondered about this. While players like have been sitting out practices and games with reportedly very minor injuries, Dareus has been practicing and playing through his. Why? Is he trying to show his toughness to the team or does he feel so far behind as a rookie starter that he needs to be on the field? You'd think that he'd be one of the guys that the Bills would be eager to protect in anticipation of a long season.

Nailed it. Just add Corto or Martin and you're done.

Just watched the first half of that game on NFL.com. I'd say that the problem was primarily with Brady and not the OL. He just seemed to be so slow making a decision and releasing the ball plus he definitely had happy feet and many of this throws were way off. If that was Fitzpatrick back there it would've been a different story.

Carrington basically is playing as a 4-3 DE. He lines up in a down stance and I only saw him drop into coverage one time when he was out there (although I may have missed one), so he is basically playing like a 4-3 DE. At one of the after practice press conferences Gailey said that although Carrington is a good athlete he would be rushing the passer the vast majority of the times he lines up as OLB.

Carrington will get some snaps during games. If for no other reason than he is bigger than Kelsay. Gailey likes that. We will also see some of Batten because I am still skeptical that Merriman can make it through the entire season.

I don't think a long term answer at LT is on the roster yet.

The only problem with eliminating the kickoff altogether is that you would then also eliminate onside kicks. Maybe they could give the kicking team the option to kickoff or have the opposition just start at the 20 yard line.

Probably about as well as he can play offensive left tackle.

The Bills OL is a mess. They didn't properly assess their talent in the off season, failed to acquire enough (any?) help and now they're scrambling and grasping at straws trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. The obvious bottom line: the Bills OL will stink this year.

So Maybin is going to be a star I guess.

I have really not been impressed with Gailey's player management in this preseason or last. He just seems determined to play guys based on their size or perceived athleticism rather than their playmaking ability. Trent Edwards as the starting QB. Moats to ILB. Spiller over Jackson. Lynch over Jackson. Urbik over Hangartner. Rinehart over Levitre.

Yeah, they got worked. I don't see why they just don't play man on the outside with their CBs and stuff 8 and 9 people in the box to stop the run and blitz, a la Rex Ryan.

This "stupid" rule change was made because modern kickers are way better than kickers from 30+ years ago. The percentage of kickoffs that were returned before the rule change had dropped to the point where the return game was not really a factor in the outcome of games anymore. It will be the same now that we're back to the 35. Every kickoff in the NFL next season will be a touchback unless it's an onside kick or the kicking team has to kick from further back due to a penalty. That's not how football used to be played. What's the point of watching a touchback anyway? I guess you can add that to the extra point as the time when you can go to the bathroom or the refrigerator without missing anything. As some other posters have said, if the NFL wants to get rid of kickoff returns then they should just do it.

Of all the interesting twists that the english language has taken recently, it intrigues me the most how the word "literally" has actually come to mean the exact opposite (figuratively) of its definition. I had a product rep tell me once that his company "literally slaughtered their competition". I told him that he might me taking this work thing a little to seriously. He didn't get it.

I think he's done, but he may get a shot as a 4-3 OLB in a Jauron-esque scheme. Remember that when DJ was here Bryan Scott was a LB so Maybin is definitely big enough for that. I don't think he has the football instincts to do it, but I think he could pull it off athletically.

Based on Gailey's comments after practice, as reported by Brown, it just looks like he is happy with Rinehart. The fact that it's Levitre coming out and not Urbik is what looks bad.

I really have the new rule allowing kickoffs from the 35. You will see VERY few kickoff returns in the league this year. I guess that part of the game wasn't exciting enough to keep...

Very unpopular pick, even when it was made...

How can he possibly be better than what we already have???

I'm not sure why everyone is so eager to demote McGee. He is better in coverage and run support than McKelvin.

In college this guy couldn't throw the ball AT ALL. It may have had something to do with Johnson's offense but he's really not a better option than playing a running back like Jackson at QB. JMO

On a more optimistic note, players that stood out to me in a good way: Merriman, Batten, Carrington, Dareus, Heard, A Williams and Smith. I know that Williams had the long completion and the PI penalty against him, but his coverage on the completion was very good and his interception was spectacular. He just has the look of a player that is physical and dangerous to throw at.