BigBuff423

The problem with this though in my opinion, and I discussed it in another thread, there are VERY few TEs that actually turnout to be woth a 1st or 2nd round Draft status...some of the BEST in the game today are 3rd rounders and 4th rounders. To name a few: Jimmy Graham, Jason Witten, Jordan Cameron, Julius Thomas, Aaron Hernandez (yes, he's facing life in prison, but this is about drafting talent not predicting homicidal behavior), and Antonio Gates was an Undrafted Free Agent. There are many others. Those TEs who were taken in the 1st round...Tony Gonzalez, Vernon Davis and Brandon Pettigrew, along with recently drafted Tyler Eiffert (how's he done this year?). My point being, statistically speaking, there is a virtually no use in drafting a TE in the 1st round and getting an "elite" TE by pre-Draft standards would take that...also, Gronk was a 2nd rounder, personally I wouldn't invest a 2nd in a TE either, but that just puts things in perspective a little bit. You want an elite TE and build the BILLS to be better? Draft a BIG O-lineman, go with Mack at LB, and then take a TE....just my thoughts on the subject.

Carolina is just one game that I think will look much different in hindsight when reviewing the season. I agree the win looks much better now than it did then but I also think some of the losses won't look as terribel...except the Saints and Pitt games...those two were legitimate, solid in the tank type of losses. Otherwise, I think this season is shaping up about how many expected in the wins-losses column but MUCH better in the reality of the games played than many of us expected...certainly true for me!

If that's the case, that only proves statistics...are worthless. To say the Defense gave up 23 points, 14 of which they WEREN'T EVEN ON THE FIELD FOR, is ludicrous....it's beyond reason to even begin to attempt to dismantle the reasons for why attributing 14 points against the Defense in this situation doesn't compute.

You would think for a guy who's broadcasting to thousands of people, including a large market city like New York, and getting paid handsomely for it, would do his diligence and represent the "facts" accurately...buuuuuut, apparently that's just for local newspaper hacks and beat writers....my bad

I don't think that's entirely accurate....this TEAM may have given up "at least 20 points a game", but not the Defense. For example, Kansas City scored 23 points, but only 9 of those were on the Defense, the other 14 were turnovers returned for touchdowns...can't exactly fault the Defense when they weren't even on the field...I get your point, but I heard this stat during the Sunday game and it drove me bonkers because of its inaccuracy...Cleveland's Defense had 14 points due to turnovers as well, and that counted against the point total of course, but those points don't get stacked onto the Defense....just a point, not trying to pick a "fight" or anything

It all depends on how well this Defense plays...no matter what, I think you get 2nd year out of him. But if next year this Defense plays in the top 5, he may very well get offers and depending on how much he likes the team, his role on the team, his voice in the room of decision-makers, and if he actually has the ambition to be a HC, will determine IF he bolts for a HC position. I like the guy, for the first time in about a decade, I really like the Defense and how he's utilizing players to maximize their talent and natural ability.

Those who have problems with this Defense are people who fail to take the totality of circumstances into account: a new Defensive scheme (not an excuse, but it's not like flipping a switch either), significant injuries to start the year, and the fact that in retrospect, this team played some playoff contenders and solid teams in the first half of the year. As said with the first point, injuries aren't an "excuse", but if the guys who are 2nd/3rd string were starters...they'd be playing somewhere else. It's no accident that players getting healthy has made a big impact on how this Defense has done and keep in mind, they keep getting better...

my apologies, and i did read the rest of the post, which is why I took a soft approach to explaining my position...it wasn't that I was all up-in-arms about saying someone needed to apologize to Hackett, but again, I missed the general tenor of your post, which is my fault...well, that, and Monday morning being what it is...either way, I didn't take it as you intended and apparently my rant came off as just that - a rant, which it was not...my bad nice...

Good point...and it's why I don't understand why so many fans give him a hard time...I've thought that he's done "well"...not outstanding, not exceptional, and not walk-on-water type stuff...just "well". But last year he had personal tragedy and a horrid D-Coordinator and the whole team was a wreck...so this year, it seems between NFL maturity and a legit D-Coordinator and a Defense playing to his, and other players', strengths - it's making a postiive difference!

I get the OP's main point...but I don't think anyone is "owed" an apology just yet...I didn't trash Hackett but I certainly did question his play-calling, and at the time, who shouldn't?? Probably a combination of his presence on the sideline helped calm a young QB along with staying in personal contact with him throughout the game and his improved play-calling made a tremendous difference in the Offensive output, but it's one week....let's see how the rest of the season progresses, just as I stated in a thread last week when people were ready to throw EJ off the bus...let's all calm down and give it a little time...for better or for worse. I think the team is heading in the right direction and it's why I'm willing to give Marrone and his staff a little slack to improve, but make no mistake, the entire team does have to improve. Yesterday's win against the Jets was nice and it showed what this team is capable of, minus the lackluster running game, and that's room to provide hope for a better BILLS future...Hackett did much better, but so did EJ, which made the WRs look better and the O-line...and the cycle goes ad nauseum...but, no apologies yet, his game plan was questioned legitimately...let's see how he develops along with his young Offense

I know Dareus hasn't lived up to his 3rd overall Draft status, but I don't think he's played as a bust either...I just think that you have to consider the previous D-Coordinator and allow this year to be his Year Zero...taking into consideration the previous coaching staff were misusing all kinds of players, especially on Defense...so, I agree I would like to see that intensity EVERY game, I don't know if all the "Dareus Sucks" chanting is truly viable or reasonable... To your original point, I thought Dareus played an extremely effective game, doing what was asked of him and showing flashes of rare talent and strength....let's hope that continues, more importantly let's hope Pettine sticks around for 4 to 5 years, no matter how much success the BILLS may have with the Defense

No, I wouldn't trade for him...sign him as a FA maybe, depending on money. But one of the strengths of this team is its emerging WR talent...as evidenced by yesterday. Even Hogan didn't look terrible. You add in another Draft year this upcoming April and WR may not even be in the top 5 of concerns for this team heading into next season. I see the attraction and I happen to agree with jboyst62, Andre Johnson is woefully under-valued in the NFL much like SJ in Buffalo...he makes a good point of playing well for years despite "sub-par QBs", which is also true...but, I remain firm in my stance about taking Andre in FA, not trade...as we've seen, the Drafting of the Buffalo BILLS in recent memory has been pretty strong, and if Whaley and company can continue that trend, they may very well find the next Andre only younger and on an up-and-coming team....

good story....and it's interesting that so often, the moments shared with family bring us to the heart of loyalty with this team

Marrone gets a pass until he demonstrates total ineptability to manage the players, the game, and the schedule. Which, if it were to occur would not be known until the end of year 3...so far, I like what he's done overall but improvements definitely need to be made...I like the guy and his philosophy...I like his straight-forward approach to answers and his ownership for when he has made mistakes or recognizes areas he needs to improve personally...how that translates to actual game improvement remains to be seen...so, I'll reserve judgment until this time next year and then we'll see just how much progress this team has made...if none, I will begin to rally the cry for another new coach but hold off on asking for execution until the end of the third year.

I like the never punt philosophy...for many reasons, but most of all because I believe you eventually open up the playbook more...if it's 3rd and 8, you don't have to pass...you could run for 3 yards and it be 4th and 5 and it put the onus on the Defense to decide on how to defend, against a draw, a screen, or a quick slant...the other thing it would do is open up 2nd down quite a bit...in the same scenario, if it's 2nd and 8, you could take a long shot down the field and still have 2 attempts to get 8 yards, or go back to back long attempts, get the safeties and DBs winded (if the protection holds up), and then still have 2 attempts at getting the 1st down...this helps in a hurry up Offense, two long attempts, and then hurry back to the line and down a stretch run to get the LBs and DBs moving again and still have another 4th down to make up whatever yardage you didn't gain...and yes, I know, the what "ifs" about giving up field position, but except in some rare cases, how field do you truly gain by punting? I know there's much room for debate, I just think in today's Offense friendly NFL, you gain more than you lose over the course of a game and season.

It's difficult to articulate in simple sentences as for me it dates back to adolescence. In early childhood my parents divorced and I moved around the quite a bit between Florida and Georgia and of course, Central New York - where both my parents are from. At age 13, my mother and I finally settled back to our hometown of origin and I began seeing my father much more than I did as a child, no fault of his but more of moving around so much, and that's when the BILLS began their string of 4 straight Super Bowl appearances. I loved football but was not a fan of any particular team, up to that point due to moving so much. I watched a number of Tampa Bay games and Atlanta Falcons games along with Georgia and Georgia Tech games but the BILLS were foreign to me until we finally settled back to the Central New York area. When that time in my life came, I found a medium by which I could begin to feel like home was where I found my center - my grounded purpose in family. So as I watched the BILLS reign supreme over the AFC during those four years and I progressed through high school and getting a deeper connection to my Dad, a loyalty unfolded to a team that also represented something else I needed...a constant. They were there year in and year out and gave me thrills and pains but my pscyhe melded to the ups and downs our great BILLS team. When the organization became the laughing stock of the NFL, and living in an area where there are just as many if not more Giants and Jets fans, and were frequently disparaged by friends and family, my resolve became harder and my resolution to stay with them more staunch. I realized the BILLS as a football team represented something greater than just a game or a team or players....they represented a powerful sense of - home. The place where I would watch football games with the leaves falling outside the window, where the cold rain would pelt the ground as the BILLS suited up on any given Sunday, and when the frigid winter's beginning would great the Ralph with heavy snowfall and watch the BILLS generally overcome the conditions and simply, win. The winning memories serve as fuel to fire the memories that this team was great once, and can be again, but most of all....they hold me in a place that keeps me feeling connected to home.

awesome...glad to know that...even better to know the context of such a speech...although, it makes total sense as you can hear the conviction in his voice

One of my favorite commercials of all time was the Ram Truck Superbowl commercial last year, "God Made a Farmer"...shared it several times on FB...simply, awesome....and while I'm not a farmer, my maternal grandfather and his family were all farmers...it's the heart of America and the bedrock for which this country was founded upon...a great deal of respect goes to the farmers of our country for their sacrifice and hard work...

Thank you for the correction on Montana, my mistake... As for looking for true pocket-passers and clarification on your initial point of contention, for the most part I concur. Specifically, I think pure pocket passers are indeed under-valued in today's NFL and that elite physical specimens are over-valued based upon the "win now" mentality, which seems to be the over arching idea in Buffalo. Of course I'm frustrated with the lack of winning, lack of playoff appearances, lack of relevance in the NFL, being the brunt of NFL jokes and jocularity, and most of all the lack of Lombardi Trophies sitting at One Bills Drive...but to what end? I would rather draft an Aikman, Elway, Manning, or Brady and see the team develop into a consistent winner than draft a QB with "elite physical tools" who can "win now" but at the expense of watching them meddle into mediocrity for years to come...Vick is an incredible athlete but to me, and up and down QB which brings him eventually to average.....and secondly, did you ever notice how pure pocket passers, ala Mannings, Brady, and the aforementioned great QBs seemed to get injured far less?? Something else that becomes truly legitimate in the discussion of QBs...it might also be why Tuel is better than some expected but still far from where a QB needs to be in order to lead an NFL team...

Just as an FYI...I do shop local and frequent farmer's markets as often as possible...in the spring, summer, and early fall (that's what's available around me), that's the only place I buy my produce, dairy and baked goods...meat is a little different, but do what I can...just to change up the topic a little

Another solid OLB is a high need, another good cover CB is a need A good, fast, tall WR is an absolute MUST A pass catching TE is a MUST Building Offensive line depth, starting with OG as you stated, is priority But centered around all these things....the QB. Jury is still out and how he finishes this season, will largely determine where this Franchise finds itself in the NFL over the next 5 years...re-building AGAIN or in the hunt for a playoff spot consistently year in and year out...

But he is an outlier in an otherwise standard format that produces mediocrity from the TE position....I'm not saying there aren't good to great TE's drafted in the 1st round, but there are far more that were drafted in the middle rounds that turn out to be just as good if not better in some circumstances.Gonzalez is another 1st round talent that has done well, but Jimmy Graham was a 3rd rounder, Jason Witten was a 3rd round TE, the list goes on...as for drafting a TE in the 1st round, sorry, but there is not enough data or statistics to support utilizing a 1st round pick on a TE...J, IMO

I think this team and franchise is sooooooo hungry for a Franchise QB who can be the face and rallying point in every game, such a thought process would be heralded in BILLS fandom...and right now, given the state of this team in relation to the league...I can't say I "hate" the idea...I don't "love" it either, but this a team in search of an identity and it has yet to know where to look for it...

Not that I disagree with taking a QB anywhere in the draft if the organization is convinced the man available IS the long-term answer, but in one breath you stated Rodgers and Brees as late 1st and 2nd round guys, not to mention the overstated Brady 6th round pick, or Montana 2nd round pick, or Dalton the 2nd round pick, etc and then say that the Bills need to keep such information in mind, as it correlates to EJ's season success or failure, when selecting in the 1st round...but as we can see 1st round is no guarantee..so, maybe more aptly stated is evaluating EJ to determine if he is IN FACT their QB of the future...not so much wait until the Draft...but you could argue either way, I just think it behooves the team to decide prior to Drafting

I don't disagree with the point of needing a pass catching, seam-stretching TE...but I hope you would not think we need a 1st round TE...and I'm not saying that is your posited solution...but look around the league...which 1st round TEs are blowing opponents away?? Julius Thomas and Jordan Cameron are both 4th round draft picks, in the same year I might add...Pettigrew is a glorified blocker and Eifert may do well, but not pass catching machine as of yet.....I think you can find a great TE in the 3rd round...the BILLS need one for sure, but have even more pressing needs in the first two rounds, maybe first three rounds...