PushthePile

THE PIRATES? Really? I have to say you are incorrect on that one but what do I know, I've never even been there.

How dare you imply that it's possible other problems may exist on this team other than coaching. Don't you know that most coachs would have had this team playing in the playoffs? It's obvious that Jauron and Turk simply brushed aside his redzone talent and said no thanks. Maybe they drafted him as a career decoy. At the same time I'm starting to wonder if anything past ten yards downfield was a coaching staff decoy. They need to tell Trent to at least look downfield to give it any hope of working though.

I have heard that before about Stroud. You could be right. I was just playing around with combinations. I don't know why he couldn't be a 3-4 NT. Is it his body or ability? B.J. Raji would be the a great start.

I would be shocked if this was true. I would guess that regardless of age the Steelers crush the Penguins in popularity. I know Crosby has an enormous effect on jersey sales but it can't be that big. Can it? I don't know but that would really suprise me. I'm not a hockey fan but didn't the Penguins have a scare of moving awhile back? I suppose Lebron is doing it in Cleveland.

Outstanding post! Until a QB pans out, every coach in Buffalo is destined for failure. That's just how the NFL works. Jauron has made his share of mistakes but he's not getting much help either. The team's overall talent just magnifies any error. You watch these so-called geniuses and they make just as many bad calls. Every week the media has a field day frying 2 or 3 coachs. The difference is many teams can bail out their coach a few times a year.

I wasn't trying to downplay the talent of Ngata at all. I was responding to Ramius who said the Ravens have one of the best DL in the NFL. Other than Ngata they have capable average players on the line. Luisma said he disagreed with me on NT in the 3-4, but I think I did a poor job explaining my thoughts. The NT is the most important position in the 3-4. That is why Williams, Wilfork, Ngata, and Hampton are arguably the best on their respective lines. My point was that the rest of the line is alot easier to fill once you have the centerpiece. Players like Aaron Smith, Justin Smith, and maybe even Spencer Johnson can be effective in this scheme as DEs. This type of DE is not hard to find and comes at a discount compared to a Dwight Freeney or Jared Allen. As for the linebackers in a 3-4, take your pick because every year their are more and more of these guys. Looking at the Bills situation for fun. You could put Stroud in the middle and slide Johnson out to the end with Kyle williams on the other end. The line could also be upgraded in FA without having to spend the farm on a Peppers. I would also feel alot more comfortable drafting a big strong DE like Tyson Jackson if we didn't have to rely on him as a big time pass rush player. I think you get alot more out of Mitchell and Schobel on the outside in a 3-4 than you do in their current roles. Poz would man the middle with Crowell and neither would be forced into playing outside their skill sets. As far as the draft goes you grab an English, Orapko, or Brown and rotate them into the mix. To me we are closer to being able to run a good 3-4 than we are a Tampa 2.

Please explain to me how the Ravens have a monster DL? Halot Ngata is a very nice player. Other than that who's the monster Jarret Johnson, Trevor Pryce, or our very own Justin Bannan. If you try telling me Pryce is still playing at an elite level, I'm going to tell you he had 4.5 sacks this year and 27 tackles. Last year he had 17 tackles and 2 sacks. I also consider the Steelers to have a fairly successful defense as well. Do you think that players like Hampton. Smith, and Keisel are amongst the NFL elite? I think they are very nice role players. Casey Hampton has 5.5 career sacks because they don't rely on their tackles to rush the quarterback. The Jests, Cowboys, and Chargers have also played good defense without being stacked on the line. Kris Jenkins and Jamaal Williams are both really nice players but IMO, not impossible pieces to aquire. The *Pats are stacked on the line and they play more 4-3 than any of these other teams. I'm not trying to say that the 3-4 is far and away the best system. I just think it's the best option for the Bills.

I've never seen him play in a real game.

It works because the players who fit are much easier to find. The steelers have Harrison, Woodley, Timmons, Farrior, and Foote. All fit the system and all can jump in and do the job. If they had to replace one in this draft, I'm certain they could. That's why you saw Porter and Adalius Thomas hit the market. We lose one declining DE and fall apart! Look at what happened when KC traded Allen. They set an NFL record of 10 SACKS! You can't stock a team with stud DEs very easily and if you do good luck keeping them all.

Exactly my point, Coach! You are right on with this post. The successful 3-4 teams don't have studs up and down their D-lines. They have solid big-bodied and disciplined role players. If you think finding a Mario Williams is as easy as finding a Lamarr Woodley you are out of your mind. The steelers and ravens are so stocked with these types, they can afford to let go of Adalius Thomas and Joey Porter. They just reload with a fresh crop and continue attacking. This draft alone has 6-8 of these type of guys who project better to a 3-4 than they do a traditional 4-3 DE. The college game has gotten away from the big DE and relies on the best athletes instead. Who in this draft is going to come in and be our Mario Williams? Tyson Jackson? Even a great player like Mario Williams plays on a defense that can't get pressure. The Texans have spent high draft picks trying but haven't been able to compliment him. What makes you think the Bills are going to find a player like that? We will either take a big no impact DE or we will take an undersized guy and put his hand in the ground and negate his greates strength, you watch. James Harrison would not have the same impact on the Bills as he does on the steelers. You can say the same about Orakpo, Brown, Maybin, English, and Johnson. It's only going to get harder for small market teams to retain the Freeneys, Strahans, and Allens. What about depth? Think it's easier to have a group of rush LBs or a group of stud DEs? What about tackles? I'd rather replace a space eater than a guy you rely on to slash through gaps. We don't even have ONE that can do that with any shred of consistency. The system worked well with HOF talent everywhere on the field in Tampa but it's not going to work in Buffalo.

Is it possible that someone could say they have concerns about a rookie without saying they are a bust? I don't think anyone is calling him a complete bust and if they are that is pretty stupid. In 9 games, I feel comfortable saying he is along way from making an impact. I also feel comfortable saying that until he is an effective WR, he serves no value to the team. Of course you don't give up on him after year one but he needs to flash something next year. He drops balls, is out of position, gets pushed around, and hangs his head. Some of these flaws are not coachable and should be skills developed in college. I do have hope he can get it together but he is far behind Johnson right now. Also, by saying don't you know it takes WR 2-3 years to develop in the NFL doesn't mean we should blindly ignore a players development until that point.

I agree, being a Bill's fan means you belong to a club. It's a club that only the members can appreciate. Some of my best stories and memories, center around some sort of Buffalo Bill's implosion. We suffer our franchise's legacy together and their is comfort in that. It's a loser team, loser coach, loser owner, and I'm not going anywhere. Go Bills!

He can't contribute anywhere else either. I'm not advocating giving up on him by any means but I've got some real hesitation about his NFL career. The injury is just another bad break for his development. His TDs were big timing wise but they didn't exactly standout as extraordinary. I guess I'm concerned because he had a great opportunity to show something and failed badly.

I understand what you are saying. The scheme can work if you have good players/coachs. My point is that I believe a 3-4 is much easier to stockpile with talent. I can only think of one true stud traditional DE to come out of college in the last few years. On the otherhand these undersized DEs/rush linebackers are available year in, year out. It has alot to do with what college defenses are doing today. I also think it's easier to find big space eating DTs, as opposed to a Warren Sapp. Tampa had great players and a great coordinator. You need alot of luck to land the pieces that they had. Without these supreme players it's a vanilla scheme. JMO

I'm rooting for the kid but I didn't see much from him this year. He looked like he didn't even have the tools let alone understanding. Again, I hope I'm wrong but we will see.

I couldn't agree more. A good aggressive strategy has been needed for along time. It also sets the tone for our players. The attitude that many see in the steelers, ravens, and eagles etc., comes from the ability to play the game going foward. We subscribe to the read and react, 100 percent of the time. You can't punch someone in the mouth playing on your heals all the time.

Maybe it's just that loveable loser crap the media spews.

I agree that it is very rare to find this type of DE. Unfortunately our defensive scheme relys on having DEs who can play the rush and get to the QB. It's much easier to stock and reload 3-4 linebackers today than it is took look for Bruce Smith. Bill's right on the money with this IMO, scrap this D and start over. I think it could be quicker path to success as well.

Nope it was a cover 2. James Harrison couldn't drop back fast enough to cover the middle field. The announcers commented on the coverage as well. It seemed like as soon as Warner recognized where Harrison was going it was an easy play. It might have even been a hot read on Harrison. He just doesn't get back with the same intensity as POZ!

Given everything this fanbase has suffered it would be the sweetest victory ever had in the NFL. I honestly can't think of a more resilient and loyal group than Bill's fans, and thats all sports. Maybe the Cubs, but losing is a novelty to them. Losing just hurts and is embarassing to Bills fans. In the end we disagree and argue about everything but I hope everyone here gets to celebrate a SB just once.

He was considered a tweaner coming out of college, and best suited for 3-4 backer. His only question marks I could remember were speed and agility. I think a bigger learning curve was expected as well considering he was a DE. I also hate the Tampa 2 and feel it takes us out of the running for athletes like this. These tweaners are available every year now and seem to always be where the best athletes are choosing to play. I hate this bend but don't break crap. We need to play a more versatile, attack style.

I am slow on the take, today.

Ben is a much better version of Flutie IMO. At least the Bills version of Flutie. While they are similar in play, it's always going to be a height issue for Doug. He was always having to get out of the pocket to scan downfield, and that is just limiting. Ben is not close to Flutie in the athletic ability but he is much stronger. He has a stronger arm and is very difficult to tackle. He was also blessed with height and can keep his eyes downfield, unlike Doug. I don't think Ben is an elite Qb but he is a winner and he does get it done when it counts. He has 19 fourth quarter comebacks in his 5 year career to go with 2 superbowls.

The *Pats, Jests, and Fish all miss Gandy.

I thought both quarterbacks played well. Warner made a few mistakes and one of them cost his team the game IMO. A fourteen point swing on the last play of the first half is a nightmare scenario. At the very least they tie the game and get the ball back after halftime. He played great in the second half and set the record for completions in the fourth quarter. I don't understand how he's being questioned today? On top of his statistics take into account the situation, down to the number one defense and playing from a pass only position. Ben played okay for most of the game and great when he needed to. He was under just as much pressure as Warner. He had an advantage of only playing from behind on one drive of the game. He got it done though, so can't fault him on anything.