HankBulloughMellencamp

Jboyst62, if that is truly the nuts and bolts of releasing him vs. keeping him, I understand your logic. But there might be a potential dance partner if a few of the coveted WRs are already off the board come draft day. My post was more of a gut feeling in hearing that Britt is coming here for a visit. To me, they have very similar skills sets, although Britt is a bit taller. I know Stevie has done well versus Revis, but that’s really about it as far as I am concerned. So SJ13 defenders can go ahead and mark my words … flame away, whatever. Let it be known that I was all for his re-signing. But I am here to say that I am officially off his bandwagon, and no longer warm and fuzzy about what “yeevie” truly brings to the Bills. SJ13’s act has grown tiresome, and his 8 career 100-yard games are not exactly jaw-dropping. Couple that with all of his drops and misfires in clutch situations. But for me, the real tipping point was his lack of awareness at the end of the Falcons game. To be sure, it was a great play by the DB who stripped him, but Stevie could have/should have gone down and/or protected the ball in that situation. And afterwards, we heard the typical Stevie …“it was just one play in the game” (as if he had absolutely zero control over the turning point that it was). A similar thing happened to Chandler, and his reaction was the exact opposite. He was gutted, and took full responsibility for the fumble at that crucial moment. We all agree that we like Woods and Goodwin thus far, so if Stevie is such a legit threat, why would we have an interest in Britt? Watkins? Evans?

Mark my words, Stevie Johnson is not going to be on the Bills in 2014. This interest in Kenny Britt is not a good omen for him. The very real possibility of getting Evans/Watkins at 9 would also be the clincher. You know Whaley/Marrone want to develop Woods and Goodwin. Johnson does many things well, and could definitely help some NFL team out – I just have a feeling it won’t be Buffalo. I have to believe TJ Graham is also in danger of getting hit on the arse by the door. #13 is really not a clutch performer. Despite having 3x1000 yards before last year, he is not worth the $$$ they now pay him. He is a team guy, but the headache factor clinches it. I don’t get the sense that Marrone wants/needs Stevie around for the future with his classic 4 catches for 60 yard outings. Guess how many 100 yard games he has in his career? The answer might surprise you …

OK, but I don’t recall EJ running at & reading the OLB/DE very much ... nor do I remember him pitching it as he takes a hit to CJ or Fred (a la Turner Gill). It’s a buzzword more than anything these days. If we run ANY true read option stuff with EJ, we have the dumbest coaching staff in the NFL. That boy needs to demonstrate he can play from the pocket, first and foremost. Thanks, I just updated my avatar for you, Heff.

There was no “synergy” on the O-line? This is a nice attempt at capturing things in hindsight without saying anything at all. Is that what was missing? Or was it how Colin Brown simply got beat man-on-man often enough that he was released by week 5 and remains unemployed? Or did you mean QB synergy? - that I agree with. The read option is a strength when EJ runs it? What in the world were you watching last year? EJ looks the part, but is a train wreck waiting to happen when he takes off running – as evidenced by what TJ Ward did to him in Cleveland. And I would argue Thad Lewis would be best suited to run read option plays, if and only if that is really what you want to do as an offense. The NFL has an endless supply of defenders that will eventually get you. The read option is really just a fad that will soon disappear, much like the wildcat already has. There are very few NFL QBs who are even capable of running an option play. And they are not worth the exposure to the eventual pounding that will come with running an option (see Griffin III, Robert). In 2013, SF didn’t risk Kaepernick nearly as much as they did in his previous (SB) year. And for as capable as Russell Wilson is, option-wise, he did not really run it very much last year at all. A QB is too valuable a position to risk having to play the backup on the very next play. Just get rid of it, and live to play another play.

This is an excellent point - if Spikes is the guy, you can bet Kiko will shift over to the middle on obvious passing downs. Spikes checks out, Robey/Graham check in.

Scuttlebutt via twitter indicates that some UB med students have revealed that Spikes is in town for a physical … could just be the like the guy who saw George Seifert at the airport. But if this is true, it would be a case of Whaley creating some buzz on WGR, and then hitting us with a signing like this a few hours later. If so, Russ Brandon is truly a master puppeteer. Anyway, I like having mean guys playing linebacker for us. Kiko is not a nice guy on the field either. I will say the same about Lawson. Also, Schwartz likes coaching up mean guys who may be missing a wingnut or two.

OK, you have talked me out of Spikes a little, especially considering that he would command a decently large contract as well. It is quite curious that Whaley offered up their plan so early on in FA, but that could only mean they love a guy they already have (doubtful) or will be signing a veteran soon (perhaps someone Schwartz has had in Detroit?). If they can get a Max Bullough or the kid from Wisconsin fairly early in the draft, I will still perform the cartwheel.

I love the idea of moving Kiko to the outside. As the season wore on, his incredible instincts worked against him while playing in the middle. The best example of this was the long TD run down in Tampa, where he over-pursued & did not work inside-out to make the play that was there for him. As an OLB, he will be able to use that quickness and speed to more of an advantage in hunting things down, and he can get to the flats easier (in coverage or otherwise). And let’s be honest, it’ll be less wear and tear not having to take on guards and fullbacks all day. Kiko already sounds like he’s taken a few blows to the head … the less, the better. Also, I’ll do a cartwheel if we sign Spikes for the middle.

I enjoy the premise of the thread, and greatly enjoy the avatar of the o.p. Endured some of the whiny banter on WGR yesterday (Chris Williams blows according to a website grade, woe is us, we let good players go, why is Whaley even talking about the weather, Joe B talking in circles), and finally turned it off. Then we ink Graham and Rivers for veteran defensive depth at economical prices, and I felt a bit more encouraged. Whaley has shown good pro personnel skills so far … and they obviously targeted these guys. Who can argue with what Hughes, Lawson and Branch added last year? (Kolb got knocked out, and Legursky was a late add, you naysayers) Look, I know people want to see the baby already, and so do I. And this is really all just window dressing unless we get consistently competent quarterbacking. If we go into 2014 with EJ-Thad-Tuel, I will puke. We really need a viable 3rd option, because odds are, EJ will go down for a stretch, and I do not want to be in “play out the string” mode in 2014 or ever again. I’d love Schaub, but I’d even accept a guy like Sanchez --- or get me someone in the 2nd-3rd-4th round of the draft. Then, I will guzzle down kool-aid in a way that would make an oompa-loompa shake their head in disgust.

Nice post. Not leafing through the entire thread, but from what I see, the Bills addressed a glaring need by signing an experienced guy at a reasonable price. Kind of like that Manny Lawson signing last year. Doug Whaley has not yet given me a reason to be skeptical of who he brings in here. What about Legursky, you say? He was a late Steeler cut and late Bills add, and my point is that they obviously targeted this guy. That Alan Branch signing also seemed to work out OK last year, no? I also like that they are obviously looking to sign another veteran/3rd corner. And how can you not love the instagram pic the Bills posted of Williams and Marrone out in the elements celebrating the signing? edit: I almost forgot about the #1 reason this Marrone/Whaley regime gave me renewed hope - - their very first move was jettisoning that bum Kelvin Sheppard off to Indy for Jerry Hughes - - he of double digit sack production -- worked out quite well I'd say.

With this lineup, you're really Yankey-ing our Wood without the benefit of some Levitre, which would be sort of pointless/redundant anyway.

All that, and he's got very good Bills bloodlines ... I could (and have been) listen(ing) to Mike Mayock talk about potential draftees all day/week long ... to me, he is a significant notch above the originator, Mel Kiper Jr., who is a significant notch above pretty boy McShay

Needless to say, I would love to see Max Bullough's name selected. Let Kiko track things down from the weakside with his instincts and gazelle-like speed.

Not sure whom we should get, and didn’t mean to turn my post into something about the merits of Andy Dalton as a QB. I can’t defend his playoff performance thus far, but he HAS played well enough to lead the Bengals to three straight playoff appearances as a starter, which is not awful by any performance standard. p.s. I see that Louis Riddick was a pro personnel director in Philly, lending even more weight to his words. p.s.s. I’d love to see Schaub in here.

Bravo, this sums up EJ about as well as you possibly could in one simple sentence. I greatly respect the opinion of Louis Riddick, a blogger who (unlike a James Walker or a Tim Graham) has actually played DB in the NFL, and knows what he is looking at when he watches film. And I completely agree with his take. The Bills said what had to be said about EJ going into the offseason, but I do not think Marrone will risk his employment status by staying married to him if EJ doesn’t produce enough. If EJ plays a few games early on in 2014 that are reminiscent of what he did in the Meadowlands, Pittsburgh, or Tampa, I would not be surprised to see him pulled/benched. And that is why I want Whaley and Co. to bring in another guy now (Schaub? Cassel? Cousins? 2nd/3rd round pick?) – whomever they decide could potentially take over the club if EJ is simply more of the same. I do like Thad, he is our 3rd at worst, but I do not want to be in that “play out the schedule” mode again. We can win a lot of games in 2014 with our defense & some efficient Dalton-esque quarterback play.

He's way off base. Mack can rush the passer, which is not true of all LBs, and is quite beastly against the run, being that he is College Football's all-time leader in tackles for losses and all. He will be good on any team, in any defense.

This makes sense given the timing of how it all went down. A few guys already withdrew, and the Browns did not want to be left holding the bag and then calling in a Chan Gailey-esque candidate for a look-see if Quinn spurned their advances after the SB. Pettine was smart to extort their admiration of his candidacy by politely threatening to withdraw his name given the Curly, Larry & Moe perception of their bungled search. "Take the Browns to the super bowl", or get off the pot.

Pot, meet kettle. What we have here is your textbook example of a TBD troll/spin-master extraordinaire. I simply do not consider Pettine taking his defensive guys with him, while offering his right-hand man a significant promotion, to be any black mark on the Marrone regime. Schwartz will bring in his own guys, which I am sure was the plan they all discussed in bringing him aboard, and our D will again be a strength of the team. WEO himself had already declared that there was a snowball’s chance in hell that Pettine would ever be considered for a head coaching opportunity this soon, so it’s no surprise he is not acknowledging any of the credit MP bestowed upon Marrone or the organization as a whole as he left. But the lengths to which WEO (and others riding his wake) have gone to portray a promoted coordinator who is taking the guys he brought with him as some sort of act of defiance against his former boss is quite comical.

plus side: He was a tough LB when he played minus side: Units under his tutleage were consistently in the bottom third of the league conclusion: Not sure if I should **** or go blind. (disclaimer: no actual research conducted on Jerry)

good points, but you are going to have to change that comic sans font, or surrender your man card

Not sure what can be truly inferred from the Driesbach situation, or retaining Crossman, other than they reveal which fans like the direction Coach Marrone has taken with our team thus far (YoloinOhio, K-9, myself), and which fans (WEO, 4merper4mer) are not impressed. To demand answers as to the specifics of why hiring/firing decisions were made is to oversimplify the elite-level coaching culture that few of us know anything about. Who really knows what conversations were had when Driesbach was canned? And once Pettine became a finalist in Cleveland? It is now obvious that they planned for MP's departure at some point, and then executed that plan. And to accuse Marrone of cronyism is laughable --- it's the name of the game. The coaching trees of every NFL team (and university) are ripe with examples. It's not like your average "real world" job performance appraisal process. Head coaches are naturally going to elect to work their 18-hour days with guys they like and/or have worked well with in the past. I think it's now obvious that Marrone made the call in jettisoning both Hilliard and Driesbach, and he was also obviously a tremendous help in mentoring Pettine through the interview process in Cleveland. It's the Browns, but hey, still pretty cool (of Marrone) in my book.

Outstanding post. I think that the fact that Schwartz is already pocketing a cool 12 mil over the next 2 years from the Ford family, yet still wants to be here to direct this D, speaks volumes. And perhaps this also enabled Littman/Ralph to low-ball the Bills end of the contribution ... (I say that in jest as fodder for the "Ralph is cheap" crowd). A resume-builder for sure, but if we were to play poorly defensively, it would not help Schwartz get another HC gig anytime soon. But I think he's ours for at least the next two years, after which they will all be fired if EJ sucks and/or we keep going 6-10. Like many have also expressed, I think the Schwartz hiring process as a whole represents the new era in the Bills leadership and decision-making. As far as the Downing hire, any QB coach is better than no QB coach. But this guy has already worked a bit with EJ and Thad, who seem very coachable compared to a "just let her rip" talent like Stafford. If Schwartz slides Kiko over to the weak side where he can track down plays with his gazelle-like speed, look out. We'd just need a true MLB that is not on the roster yet. The Bills D may not lead the league in sacks again in 2014, but I am betting that we will stop the run with in-their-prime dudes up front like Mario, Kyle, Marcel, and Alan/Alex. Plus we do have above average talent in that secondary, and with a franchised Byrd serving as icing on the cake, our DBs are borderline elite. No wonder he's coaching here for free. I always thought Harbaugh deserved the postgame chase-down Schwartzy gave him ... let's give him a few of the swizzle sticks Walt Corey left behind and let's go get after some people!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“I need to go take the Browns to the Super Bowl” is what I often say when a #2 is imminent. It is also exactly what Mike Pettine said to his wife yesterday. Time will tell, but to me, the guy has shown he can get the most out of the talent he has to work with, so I think he will prove to be a good HC as well.

Very good point, I was just going by what others have indicated on here regarding Wade’s interest, so it could just be Chris Brown doing his PR-themed job. The DC hire will tell all as far as what their plan was. I also agree that Donnie Henderson is the likely in-house choice at this point. Besides Wade, I would also love to see Jim Schwartz in the mix. He may have failed as a HC, but he was afforded that opportunity based on his fine work as a DC in Tennessee. And his chase-down of Jim Harbaugh after the “I won my first big JV game” backslap was warranted. It also tells me the guy has some fire to him. He has handled Suh reasonably well, so he could probably handle Dareus.

tank salott