BigBuff423

Marrone is in the process of changing the culture...is it done? Not even close! Am I satisfied with where the team is now? Again, not even close! But do I believe the team is moving in the right direction MID-SEASON? Yes! Do I ike the adjustments the coaching staff are making during the game and during the season? YES! The BILLS need to continue to develop their young talent and continually evolve their game plan to reflect their strengths and refine their weaknesses and Marrone seems to be committed to doing that in a way that truly represents a team mentality. I am a believer as of Friday, October 25th....will he and the BILLS finish the season stronger than where they started? That is the $64,000 question....this team needs to get better and stronger in all 3 phases of the game, but I think, and it's just an opinion based upon observations so far, they will do just that. We can re-evaluate this same discussion after a full year of injury adversity, game-planning, staffing changes, and mid-season adjustments have been made....but it should reflect positive changes. I will greatly interested to see who stays and who goes during the Off-Season, even if the BILLS do make the playoffs, just to see where they believe the team needs to improve - without excuses....

Marcell Dareus was the right pick...at the time. Hindsight is always much easier on the eyes...and I still like him, he just has to be coached to be put in the right position and you have to have a Defensive Coordinator who understands his strengths and allows him to play to them... I love the two Rookie WRs, but we need another one. A receiving TE should be one of the top 3 positions taken in the Draft. I like Marrone and Pettine, Hackett is "ok" but needs to continue to learn a great deal to keep up with the learning "curve" in the NFL. Levy sucked as a GM...Jauron and Chan are two of the worst hires this team has had in nearly 20 years. Brandon has been a man of his word thus far. Whaley will continue the good work Buddy began. Look at other teams, including the almighty Patsies, they let many of their Drafted players go early in their careers. All things considered, I think Buffalo has done a fairly solid job of Drafting given the team needs and where this team was at the time Nix took over. He deserves more credit than he gets, and Whaley is another strong step in the right direction. I sometimes think EJ is a phenomenal physical athelete, but NOT the QB of the future for the BILLS. I still think their Franchise QB is yet to be drafted....hopefully I'm wrong, but I think a QB is drafted in 2015 with the idea that EJ can still "win" the job that year, but will most likely end up on the bench.... Despite the EJ concerns, I really do like the draft class of 2013 for the BILLS. If Buffalo does not build an domed stadium at the point in time when a new stadium is approved and ready to be built....they are the biggest bunch of dumbasses the new century has seen yet. The new NFL is all about the fan experience, and you can regale me all you want about the Kelly years and playoff football in zero degree weather, very few people want to take their children to zero degree weather in January in Buffalo....we need a domed stadium and it needs to be relocated.....

The only point I will disagree with is how "barren" the talent is on this team...I look at Dareus and think he can still be one hell of a player, KW hasn't been healthy for two seasons, Mario Williams is a super DE who can apply the pass rush and we've seen pieces of that...Gilmore is a true lockdown Corner in the making and Byrd, whether he stays or not is another question, is very talented, just on Defense. Stevie made Revis Island look like Disney Resorts, Spiller is the one of the most electrifying runners in the NFL today, Wood is as solid as they come and Glenn is still on the learning curve, but very talented...add in Goodwin and Woods and you've got yourself some real good beginnings....is it perfect? NO! But as you would say, how many teams have superstars at every position? Even the Bengals: AJ Green....who are they other receivers that are so talented you must take notice? Giovanni Bernard was over looked by everyone until Hard Knocks....Geno Atkins is a stud at DT, but no one really talks about the others...Harrison is not his old self and a FA....they are a very good team and have a great deal of talent, but it's not like everywhere you turn there's pro-bowlers.... 49ers: Aldon Smith, a cluster....Gore is aging and Vernon Davis is the real star on that team while Kap can be great or he can be average, still young and developing Seahawks: Lynch most games, but he's about to be middle aged in RB terms, Sherman is stellar and Wilson is very good....who are there top tier WRs?? Rice? Harvin? Both good, but superstars...I think not... Patsies: Brady obviously, Wilfork is a beast...Vollmer very good and Gronk when he returns...WRs are young and have been part of their struggles and inconsistency at RB is an issue...a secondary that is not great and a LBing core that needs work.... Miami: a lot of FA talent, but no one has stood out individually Atlanta: Matty Ice and Julio Jones....no one else makes that team look "super"....Gonzalez is good, but aging. Osi the same and SJax cant' stay healthy.... Denver: this team, might be the most complete in terms of "superstars", Peyton, Thomas, Welker, Von Miller, Champ Bailey, Clady, etc....and yet, it's taken a lot of FA, good drafting, and some luck to make a "wonder" team....they are th exception and not the rule you allude to.... Pitt: Need I say more?? Jets: Superstars?? None I can think of....a lot of good players who fill their role, yes. Ravens: Rice and Flacco....arguably Suggs, that's it.... Jax: Cecil Shorts in Fantasy Football and Blackmon, the rest are fodder for fielding a "team" Saints: Brees, Graham, maybe Sproles and Colston, but those last two are a bit of a stretch for "superstars", which apparently seems to be your expectation for nearly all players at all positions...Defense is greatly improved with a few key young players and much better coaching Browns: Gordon, Cameron, and Haden....the rest? See Jets above Kansas City: Charles.....that's it....every other player, despite their high draft position, are just now starting to play as expected due to incredible coaching...it's the Reid factor...don't think so? Look at their roster this year versus last....except for Alex Smith, it's nearly identical (drafted players notwithstanding of course) I went through all these examples because I wanted to show, save Denver, every team has a few very talented, rare physical specimens that demonstrate incredible skill at their respective positions, but most of the teams are comprised of good to very good players who fit into the system they play....and the teams not doing well, typically are teams in transition or teams whose coaches are not redefining their expectations based upon personnel availability....that's what I like about Marrone. His expectations for winning remain constant but his willingness to adapt to get there is open for change. Btw, I was just making a point....hope that didn't come across as hostile or argumentative...

I would say....unfortunate luck?? Seriously, they've explained why they kept Tuel on the active roster...because they believe in him long-term and didn't want another team to scoop him up while on the Practice Squad after a solid showing in the Pre-Season....and when Kolb went down, they felt it better to hope for EJ's health than to sign another player who may only add to the confusion...I mean, if the Flynn situation had presented itself before the beginning of the season, and EJ struggled, who would have been calling for EJ to sit and Flynn to play?? Instead, they showed a vote of confidence in their young QB and allow him a wide berth to develop and gain necessary experience. For God's sake...GET OVER IT! And if Marrone didn't have a crystal ball to know exactly when and how EJ was going to get injured....well then color me shocked....injuries apart of the game, yes...over-reactive to them BEFORE they happen, not prudent....let....it....go dude

Like any new coach and staff....let's wait 3 years to see where we're at....I like Doug Marrone and Mike Pettine, jury is still out on Hackett but today's play calling was "better" than it's been.....I like the moxy of Coach Marrone going for it at home early in the 2nd quarter...away, and in the second half, No...but I understood the call and more importantly the message: We will not settle for mediocrity, we need to get Touchdowns. At least that's what I heard....so far, there are signs of life, but again....let's see how this season bares out and let's see how next season unfolds before we're too quick to make any judgments, positive or negative.

Hogan has had those issues all year....he may be "7-11: Open all day" but the hinges on his door are rusty and frquently close at the wrong times....

Nice....

I don't know that it's a blessing in disguise, but I do think what transpires for EJ the rest of this season has a great deal to do with how he approaches this time away from the games....will he treat it as an incredible opportunity to learn and become more mentally prepared, or will he simply drown in his own pool of self-pity and become frustrated....much about the mental aspect of the game for QBs is knowing the situtation and maximizing it's opportunities....let's see how EJ emerges (assuming he does) from this respite from game play....

I'm not sure if that was sarcasm directed at my comment or you were playing to the larger crowd of pessimists... So, I'll respond by simply explaining that my comment was not intended to be derogatory toward Buffalo, it was more about taking the high ground and prior to casting aspersions on another franchise who seems to be in disarray, as fans we may want to let Buffalo rise a little above mediocrity before we become too critical of a team who appears to be in a somewhat similar position in their trek to becoming relevant once again.... If your sarcasm was directed at the pessimists who constantly have negative things to say about this organization, then all I can say is....carry on

I don't understand hitting the panic button at this point. Let's review for one as the OP menionted hiring Marrone and saying how other coaches have faired thus far, and this all assuming they weren't asked to come to Buffalo which NONE of us know for sure. Regarding Reid: Kansas City was abysmal last year, but they have been stacked with talent for years due to drafting so high over the last eight years and they traded a 2nd rounder for a former 1st overall talent QB who was playing well in San Fran prior to the emergence of Kap... Regarding Trestman: Chicago had an established QB, RB, WR core and Offensive line with a solid Defense and great Special Teams....that team was well established, they just needed a new set of creative ideas and for their sake, change for the sake of change as Lovie simply became old news and the easy scapegoat for under-achieving... Regarding Chip Kelly: his Offense, as expected has put up some big numbers, but they still have the same record as the BILLS and in a division with the Giants and Redskins as opposed to the Patriots, much improved Dolphins and apparently, a Jets team that was better than advertised with a QB who has a solid running game and an outstanding Defense... Regarding Chudzinski: again, the Browns Defense was better than most gave them credit for and with the right QB, and a terrific TE, and Gordon's talent, they have begun to put the pieces together, Oh, and it helps that Norv Turner went to be the O-C. I'm sure I'm leaving out some of the positions and teams, but keep in mind in most cases an total overhaul was being completed, there were key missing components or merely mismanaged talented players who now have some good coaching, i.e. Kansas City... Buffalo's position was somewhat unique, they have one of the top 3 youngest teams in the NFL and a new coaching staff who are also cutting their teeth at their respective positions in the NFL and yes I know Pettine was the DC in NY, but let's be real, Rex makes those calls and runs that Defense. While Pettine I'm sure was integral to their success and ran day-to-day operations, Rex was the one truly "coordinating" that Defense... Also, people forget the talent that Nix assembled for this team and how some of the former players made unreasonable demands based upon their belief of talent....such as Whitner, who is playing well in a Defense that doesn't ask him to be the star, but he still wanted to get paid like one...sorry, but over-paying for any one player at any position doesn't benefit the rest of the team....There was a house cleaning done in many ways, and some of the guys who Nix was finally able to get after it was his scouting staff he put in place for his SECOND year on the job along with Whaley this year for this Draft class is what we can evaluate him on... Meanwhile, Marrone should begin to apply pressure to Hackett and better play-calling, no question and it should be done...otherwise, what fault can you find with this staff that screams ineptitude??? Lewis on PS versus Tuel...did you consider that maybe Marrone wanted Tuel close to him during the games so he could mentor him and allow Tuel the opportunity to be on the sidelines to gain some form of game type experience and be able to be field level to dissect plays and talk with coaches and EJ during the game to again, obtain more football experience....to expedite his growth?? And as someone, well many someones, mentioned earlier and in other posts, Kolb was brought in and injury sidelined him when I'm sure they hoped they could keep him in place exactly for something like this...if Kolb wasn't injured, we would be talking about the genius of the coaching staff and "Whew, aren't we glad we made such a good choice for a back-up", but injury dictated a gamble...and didn't the last coaching staff get lambasted for lacking the moxy to take chances?? Yes, EJ needs to continue to develop...and yes, it's disappointing as a fan to see him get injured...yes, I would like to see better Offensive play-calling....but, where or where, does this team and it's staff look a mess or over-matched??? Progress is often slow...and painful...and with more sacrifice than orginally believed....such is the state of the BILLS. But hope is not lost and what is on the horizon is the most promising this organization has seen since the twilight days of Kelly and Thurman and when Bruce tried to be a Redskin....let's just take a more patient approach to what occurs on the season and see where we stand once the final whistle is blown... My guess, we're still another year out, with EJ's development, with Hackett's growth in the Offensive game planning dept., and getting a more developed Offensive line before we see this team taken seriously for playoff contention...but when it happens, and it WILL happen, it will taste all the more sweet and ripe for the taking....

I'll say that I like EJ better in the long run, but Geno played well last night, there's no debating that. Is he ready to have his bust put in the Hall of Fame?? Absolutely not! Did he play well last night, and last night only, Yes. Let's leave long-term projections in their place...time will tell....will Geno have a better career than EJ? If you know that, go to Vegas, and put a year's salary on whatever number / game you're thinking, because you obviously have much better foresight than most of the GMs in the NFL...otherwise, let's just see how each develops over the next 3 seasons....

I think the Lines - Offensive and Defensive - get the most attention in the Draft next year...assuming Free Agency is much like last year, I can see us adding a few key pieces, such as Lawson and Branch, but looking for upgrades on Offensive Line in 1st and 2nd Rounds...IMHO

I'm guessing the reason is this: Lewis was brought in towards the end of Preseason, so he was still be familiarized with the playbook, and if EJ wasn't ready to go, Tuel was here the entire off season and therefore had more familiarity with the playbook and time to build rapport with the players....and they believed EJ could stay healthy, so Tuel could sit on the sidelines and learn along side the coaching staff and be mentored by Marrone et. al. Now, Lewis has had a couple of months to learn the playbook and build rapport with players and they need someone who can lead the Offense confidently and has similar attributes EJ has, i.e. escapability, and Lewis is their guy for that right now....I don't think it's back-peddling, I think it's timing...Lewis came in at the end, Tuel knew the playbook better in Week 1, and it would give Tuel time with Marrone and his staff to coach him up...Lewis is more experienced and now has the other tangibles necessary to lead the team...this was no shock to me as Marrone favors promoting his own players and values knowledge of the system and the scheme over all else....either way, let's see what happens.

I'm guessing the reason is this: Lewis was brought in towards the end of Preseason, so he was still be familiarized with the playbook, and if EJ wasn't ready to go, Tuel was here the entire off season and therefore had more familiarity with the playbook and time to build rapport with the players....and they believed EJ could stay healthy, so Tuel could sit on the sidelines and learn along side the coaching staff and be mentored by Marrone et. al. Now, Lewis has had a couple of months to learn the playbook and build rapport with players and they need someone who can lead the Offense confidently and has similar attributes EJ has, i.e. escapability, and Lewis is their guy for that right now....I don't think it's back-peddling, I think it's timing...Lewis came in at the end, Tuel knew the playbook better in Week 1, and it would give Tuel time with Marrone and his staff to coach him up...Lewis is more experienced and now has the other tangibles necessary to lead the team...this was no shock to me as Marrone favors promoting his own players and values knowledge of the system and the scheme over all else....either way, let's see what happens.

I understand the desire to have a talented Safety, i.e. Byrd, play for the BILLS...but if the guy doesn't want to be here, why would the BILLS - and us fans - want to keep me here?? If the BILLS can get a 2nd or 3rd for him, then let him leave....malcontents on the team have no place in the locker-room.....yes, I know the Antoine Winfield, Donte Whitner arguments about how they're playing or have played so well in other places, but at the same time, we're seeing a team beginning to come together as a team, and Searcy and Williams have played nicely....not perfectly, but nicely...and when Gilmore and Brooks comeback and McKelvin is fully healed, I don't know that Byrd's demands will be met....he acted like a fool and now, he should be treated as one...trade him in season to another team and if that doesn't happen, Franchise Tag his butt again, and move him in the Off-Season before the 2014 Draft

I realize with all the money thrown at him to come to Buffalo he will be under greater scrutiny, but let's be fair...the Defense as a whole is the main concern. He could be getting 10 sacks a game, and if the Defense was playing horribly, it truly wouldn't matter. However, he could have 5 sacks on the season but if the Defense was in the top 5, there would be no discussion because somewhere in the middle of all that, he would be doing his job as directed by the coaching staff, since having a top 5 Defense requires 11 players (and their subs) to be playing as one coehesive unit. That said, I understand the frustration of not seeing a playmaker make plays....but let's look at the totality of circumstances before we start fitting him for the cross of crucifixion.

I understand there may be legitimate concerns....but this is Buffalo....and, maybe, just maybe, we should finish replacing our glass house with brick before we pick up any stones....just a friendly suggestion.

This is exactly the type of in-season adjustment I want to see from a Coaching Staff. Sometimes, less is more - especially with a young Offense. Spiller is a much better runner than what we've seen thus far in the season and I believe EJ is progressing as hoped. Thank you for sharing, nicely done!

To answer your question: actually, YES. That is not to say I'm big proponent of Marrone's hire, as I love him for Syracuse but unsure about him for the BILLS....having said that, I'm not all that disturbed by his hire either.... I want to see results, but I like the man as a coach...will that translate into Ws at the NFL level?? Who knows...but the man himself is a very genuine guy who does bring some good experience, albeit not NFL experience, to the BILLS and I'm willing to give him an opportunity to see what type of team he is able to mold... As for the last questions about this year's record....yes, this last win is signficant and the way Syracuse played in the Big East and made their way into a bowl game....Marrone could do more, but as we concede the fact that college is NOT the NFL as for coaching and talent, it is also NOT the NFL in means of how quickly you can effect the roster...you have to recruit, to get high school pimple faced, over hormoned and under-sexed football guys to choose the dead of freakin winter in upstate NY to play football...do I love the program and the university?? Absolutely, but I've called CNY home for most of my life.....to be objective, if a kid from Texas can play in that weather, and for that university that he has most likely been a fan of for most of his life, along with his family able to drive a relatively short distance to watch their kid play, it's pretty damn hard to get him to leave the state let alone choose Syrcause over Michigan, Penn State, etc....so, getting good players is not like the NFL and you MUST take that into consideration....in other words, it's not just his Wins and Losses, but it's HOW he has contructed that team and HOW he has developed that program when football at SU was on life-support just hoping to get the funding so they could gas the bus up for their next away game.....perspective is necessary when looking at this decision....and that's assuming it gets verified by someone in the BILLS FO and not just tweets and media heads talking about a "done deal".....

Kyle Shanahan needs to be in the discussion and should be at least on the BILLS' radar if he isn't already....given what he's done with that Offense based around RGIII, it should be noteworthy as to his ability to adapt, not to mention his knowledge of zone blocking schemes and experience at such a young age...coaching seems to take to him like water surrounding a fish.... He's an up and comer worth taking a serious, hard, long look at and evaluating where he might bring this team and getting his thoughts on a DC to see who he would allow him to balance his team approach.... I'm not saying he would be my vote, although being able to hear the interview might actually capture my "vote" for him....if i had one, lol

your point is well stated and well taken and I don't fully disagree...however, the issue is as much perception as it is reality....the fans and the players want to truly "believe" in the next HC and trust his abilities. more than just thinking this guy knows football and how to run a team, this guy WILL bring Buffalo to the promise land, plant their flag in it, and take residence in the arena of greatness....Chip Kelly or McCoy might be those guys, but some feel more comfortable with the likes of Reid and Lovie Smith because of their resume....personally, Kyle Shanahan is growing on me but just want to see this organization make some good damn football decisions!!! HC, OC, DC are first....QB is next...those three will literally buy the BILLS organization another two years of fan patience....without it, and this team is on the cusp of losing their fanbase

A back-up on a different team....fine, as that was his role before he arrived in Buffalo, but "mentor"....to whom and why?? What can he possibly teach a young QB that would actually HELP the kid??? Sorry, I just don't see it....

Umm, how about No....

Hahahaha!!! Didn't even think that much into it!! Maybe I do?? Geez Dr., you have me seriously considering all my "man crushes"....hmmm, we can talk about it at my next session, lol.... I just want proven winning experience at both positions....but if West Coast got it done, then so be it!!!

I LOVE Marrone as Syracuse's Head Coach, when he was hired he told fans and media alike that Syracuse was his "Dream Job"....if that's true, then why leave? And if it's not true, then why say it?? So, in short, love Marrone for Syracuse....and that's where it stops. I really like his attitude and the way he approaches the game and his players, but I do not want to see Marrone come to the BILLS, not because I don't think he can win or experience at the NFL level etc., but because I want the BILLS to have instant credibility and the players to truly believe in the coach's resume as much as anyone else....so um, hello, Reid anyone?? That's not to say Reid is the "answer" but he and Lovie Smith would be two guys who instantly bring a solid, if not somewhat impressive, NFL resume and instantly instill confidence in this team, which is one significant intangible that's been missing for awhile....