vincec

Cunningham was the guy who could make a spectacular play or throw it right to the defense, to paraphrase Jimmy Johnson. There's a reason he was 1-5 in the playoffs with the Eagles, despite having one of the great defenses of the decade on his side. To me he's actually third in Eagle QB history, behind both McNabb and Jaworski.

I think saying that Randall Cunningham was a poor mans version on Donovan McNabb would be more accurate.

So basically, the Bills OL sucked.

2 minutes 34 seconds. What took you so long? ?

Would be awesome.

Maybe. I don’t know the guy well but I read in the Spain thread that PFF had him as the 40th best guard in the league and that his play has declined the last two seasons so I’m not sure that qualifies him as proven quality.

Yes. These signing are just stopgaps. They only signed one proven, solid starting OL and they were weak at all five positions last season. Bringing in half a dozen backups in the hopes that one or two might stand out is not a complete solution. In particular, they need to find a good OT in rounds 1 or 2.

I think most of these will be short term signings. They sign 6 or 7 mediocre guys with the hope that 1 or 2 will exceed expectations and become solid starters. Within 2 years the ones that don't will be gone and replace by draft picks and/or new candidates.

After this game I thought Chan was on to something, but it wasn't to last...

Touche.

Because he is on the Bills now.

It’s actually a pretty good staff, not that it guarantees anything,

He wasn’t cut or released. There was an accounting glitch that kept him on the team. The Bills simply fixed the glitch.

I watched most of their games last season and to be honest, he was decent for a rookie on a horrible team. He's a lot better than I thought he would be. If he went to a stable situation and got a year or two of experience behind a veteran QB then I can totally see him being a very good starter.

I don't know. I was there too and it really wasn't that bad. Playoffs in 1981 and .500 in 1982 and 1983. They drafted Jim Kelly and Darryl Talley in 1983 and Bruce Smith and Andre Reed in 1985 so there were things to get excited about even in those brutal years of 1984 to 1986. By 1987 the were on the ascent big time. It was over in a flash. By comparison, the Dick Jauron years seemed like never ending mediocrity with no end in sight.

But it only lasted a few years. The drought on the other hand...

Kyler Murray? ?

Bullough was incredibly unpopular with the players but I didn't notice tanking. Of course it would hard to tell given how bad those teams were...

Earl Campbell. Maybe not the longest prime because of his brushing style but he was incredibly dominant despite having very little help. Teams just could not get him on the ground.

I'm going to try this one more time and that's it. I'm looking for coaches who "who lost more games than the previous season for two seasons in a row". So they get worse for two straight years. The coaches you listed: Shottenheimer: 8-8 then 4-12 then 12-4 and the playoffs. That's one season of decline, not two. Fail. Shanahan: 6-10 then 5-11 then 10-6. One season of decline. Fail. Not to mention that he didn't turn the franchise into a winner and left after the next season with a 3-13 record. Vermeil: 5-11 then 4-12 then 13-3 and the Super Bowl. One season of decline. Fail. Holmgren: 9-7 then 6-10 then 9-7. Fail. I could go on, but I hope you get the idea. If McDermott produces a worse record this season than last then he will produce a two year decline which none of the coaches you have listed have done or overcome, and which I can't find a relevant example of anyone overcoming.

Shottenheimer, Shanahan, Vermeil, Holmgren, Payton, Wyche, Jim Fassell, Wayne Fontes all won their third year. Gruden didn't turn Tampa around. He wont the SB year 1 with Dungy's team and then left with them in the toilet. He is your example for success? Or is it Jason Garrett? Your examples make my point for me. I'm not sure what you're talking about.

Every one of those guys you listed were winners their third season. McD needs to do that too.

I’m trying to think of a coach in the last 30 years who lost more games than the previous season for two seasons in a row and still turned the franchise into a winner. I can’t. Maybe someone can provide an example, but if the Bills are worse than 6-10 next season then I’d say the chances that mcDermott turns it around are minuscule.

I’m not sure I like the looks of that last clip. If a DL is chasing the QB behind the LOS the OL can’t block him? That doesn’t sound right. The first time a QB gets hurt on this kind of play I suspect they will revisit this situation.

There’s still time... DL is the top remaining priority. They need both DT and DE help or all the moves in the secondary will not be as helpful as people may think.