SpecialK15

What was everyone expecting? A magical assent to the top of the division? We've been a bottom-of-the-barrel, shoot ourself in the foot team for a very long time, but I don't see it that way right now. Look at the defenses we've played so far: Cle, Cin, NYJ, Car, Bal, and NE. Every week we've put up 20+ points on the better defenses in the league, stayed in every game until the end. There isn't much comparison to the old regimes. In the past, we've been blown out or down by two or more scores too many times to count. This team is consistently right on the edge of winning and losing each game and unfortunately only twice we've come out on the right side. The defense needs to step up here. There is more depth, plays are being made, there should be optimism about this team.

I'd expect to see plenty of Summers and Smith as extra blockers (and Our Fathers and Hail Marys) in this game.

The patriots seem to do well each year with a couple guys on their roster with character issues... I think Marrone will be invested in his players on an individual level to help keep them in line. We have enough good character guys on the team already to keep the questionable ones in check. That being said, the guy reminds me of Hakeem Nicks. Great pick up!

Influx of talent on the offensive side of the ball, yes, definitely. What really gets me excited is the new approach to the offense and adding players that can produce within the system. Marrone and Hackett want to bring speed and pace to the offense - so we go out and draft speed and pace guys. Everyone evaluating our draft class is eyeing Manuel. If he can come in, win the starting job and run the offense efficiently, the offense will put up points and silence the critics. I'd be fine sitting him for a year to learn like Kaepernick, but he was drafted in the 1st rd to be the franchise guy and should play. These rooks will be a reflection of how good Hacketts system really will be.

Agreed. IF there is a player still there worth the #8 pick. It doesn't seem like the stud, top end talent is out there like in previous years. Only very good players that can make an impact on teams, evidenced by the ever-so-changing mock drafts everyone puts out. Not many consensus top 10 picks. I see a lot of players being called very talented but "raw".

Flip a coin for Barkley and Nassib. Don't see a huge difference between the two at this point. Don't think they'd take Geno if he fell to 8.

He fits the "multiple" defense we'll be running. Pettine's defense should be attractive to a player like Dansby. This is good timing for the draft. If he signs then that means Milliner if he's still there and is healthy or QB, Nassib or Barkley. Nix doesn't value OG highly so you can rule out Warmack and Cooper.

Maybe not a must win game but Sunday is a "if-you-lose-you-let-the-other-divisional-teams-catch-you" game.

We can definitely compete with them. What I like is that the corners are playing more physical at the line. Brandon Lloyd had a big game because Baltimore gave him a nice cushion at the line and was able to beat his man. Same goes for Welker. The Jets consistently take the Pats WRs out of the game by playing tight right off the snap. Bills D line is getting *enough* pressure on QBs to force quick throws, nothing over the top. We will need our LBs in coverage to run with their TEs. Our run D has been very good - NYJ and KC got most of their yds on the ground at the end of the game. K. Williams is the first lineman on either team every down to get out of his stance. Our O line is playing at a very high level - big holes for all of our RBs and keeping Fitz upright (Fitz's one lone sack should come with an asterisk). As a big plus, WRs and TEs are not dropping passes as long as Fitz can deliver the ball on target. This game will come down to ball possession and turnovers.

Are you kidding me, Rex?!? Your team is so dysfunctional you needed to plan an intervention to sit around a campfire and sing kumbaya? All we need now is for Sanchez to get sacked a couple of times next week, followed by some drops by Holmes and Steven "butterfingers" Hill and it'll be a downward spiral from there. Ground and Pound Shonn Green has been getting pounded into the ground. Maybe we'll get to see a couple fights on their sideline too. The only thing keeping that team from completely imploding is their respectable defense giving them a glimmer of hope because we all know they cannot lean on their offense to bring them back into games. http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/8314202/new-york-jets-veterans-go-leadership-training-seminar

As much as I hate the term 'vanilla,' that's just what the Bills offense planned to be this preseason. You really think that we wanted to show plays we plan on using during the season? Run the ball up the middle and throw short to intermediate passes to work on run blocking and timing. I'll start to worry after game 1 if we look terrible. Another reason why we didn't use CJ or Fred that much. A lot of our offense will ride on them and the plays designed for them, whether it be screen plays, pass protection, splitting them wide to open the defense. Didn't see much of that at all this preseason when that was a big part and bright spot of our offense last year. Getting a two-fer week 1 will be huge to set up the season and start the chant for McElroy since Tebow sucks.

More confident than not since the Jets offense sucks. Since the Jets have yet to score a TD this preseason (not saying we were that much better), we should win if we put up at least 17 points. My prediction on the game: Bills 20 - Jets 12. Move over David Akers, Nick Folk will have more field goals than you this season.

There is no way we can't be considered a contender at this point, even without all the preseason camps and early scouting reports on other teams. Just look at what's been going on with the other teams in our division. Well the patriots are the patriots, but who knows how their defense will be even after drafting a class of defenders this year. But as AFC champs they are the team to beat. Then look at the Jets, still mercurial with one controversy after another and a wildcat offense we can play against. And what is going on with the Dolphins? Have they turned into last decade's Bills? Then look at what we've done... pass rushers, re-signed 'core' players, haven't really lost any significant starters, drafted OL, DB, and LB. Goes without saying but this is a make or break season and I finally feel confident in the roster we have right now, arguably the best one we've had seen since '99. Major kudos to Buddy and friends for really setting up a competitive roster.

Moats is a special teamer too, don't forget. He's got good potential and he's around the ball *when* he's on the field. Problem is he's had a hard time getting on the field on defense. I'm pulling for him to make the team, good character, potential to make impact, good team player.

It's Kelsay's number. Anderson needs a number too... I believe all the numbers in the 90s are taken. What's wrong with a different number? He can't see it when he plays. I'm sure people will buy the jersey regardless of what number he's wearing. As long as he's performing on the field it doesn't matter.

Why I think the Bills had a better draft than the Pats. Though I like Jones, biggest question mark for him is injury. The Bills as a team took good value, durable players and I think the Pats reached too much for some players. As Buddy said, the Bills picked up players that had solid bodies of work. Hightower is a solid pickup as a player but I have no clue how he fits into that defense. Did they address the CB position? Not really. When looking at draft class as a whole, there really isn't a pick that jumped out or made me think we better watch out for him. Thank god we got good depth players, especially OL and LB.

Personally, I like that we are playing the Jets away early on. Unfortunately there won't be very much tape to look at, but this is a game we should win if we don't have any preseason injuries. Hell, Marcus Easley could even make his regular season debut. We've been having a lot of trouble against the Jets but we can scare Sanchise early if our D-line plays as promising as it looks and make Tebow the season starter after week one. Maybe even a little yapping between Holmes and Sanchez.

When Perry was coaching the D, QB pressure (despite the lack of sacks) allowed for the Byrd man to rack up 9 INTs. Look for that again against some of the teams we're playing... NYJ, MIA, TEN, JAX, CLE, ARZ, SEA, KC. Byrd, Wilson, Flo, Williams, Rogers and Mclovin' all had INTs last season when QBs had ALL DAY AND THE DAY AFTER to complete a pass. Now we're going back to the 4-3 with a vastly improved D-line. Bold prediction? We'll be a top 5 team in INTs.

Strictly talking defense here. Over the last couple years (well... longer than that) our porous defense has been especially porous against our AFC East rivals for some reason or another. With the Williams and Anderson signings, are we finally ready to keep our rivals at bay? The way I'm looking at this is that CBs will look better by not having to stick to the WRs hip for 5-6 sec coupled with some new and refreshing QB pressure. QBs will scramble and be taken down or get pushed forward right into Kyle and Marcel. Matt Moore looked like Tom Brady last year against us and Tom Brady was, well, Tom Brady (I'm talking wk 17 Brady). Sanchez sucks. No more Brandon Marshall, Matt Light expected to retire if he hasn't already, and Tebow has Sanchez insecure about his role (probably complaining to his parents). Do you think our defense can make a substantial jump? A jump meaning giving up, say, no more than 17 ppg? I think so, as long as we get some LB/DE depth via draft or our young guys start to step up.

The great thing about the spread offense is that there are so many options, especially with if you play with someone in the backfield. You can look to go deep and if it's not there you have a 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th option. I feel like a defense on any level can't anticipate where the ball is going. With a couple good running backs, it also spreads out the secondary and opens up holes in the middle to run. Too many good things to like about our offensive plan. Scoring was never really a worry for me (see the first half of the season before injuries happened). All we need now if a true #2 to emerge and make the whole thing more consistent and dangerous.

I see Freddie being productive for 2 maybe 3 more seasons. Spiller and Choice are young and if we can give FJ the load of carries and keep 2 fresh, young, talents RBs in the organization after FJ is done, we can secure that position for the long haul. I think this is a very good move.

Maybe MW will bring luck sacking the QB to the Bills #90 uniform and Kelsay will find luck sacking the QB in a different #

meh. This is a desperation move by the Dolphins. Moore will be their starting QB. Since Marshall left, are there any WRs on that roster and does it matter who is under center?

Food for thought: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1092102-buffalo-bills-2012-nfl-mock-draft-7-rounds

reportedly a 2-yr deal