dpberr

I'm going to supress the inital thought that the front office and this coaching staff is trying to out-think the room by getting cute holding fullback workouts while more apparent needs are not having workouts. Are we going to run the wishbone offense on Sunday versus the Ravens? (arguably that would be VERY cool.) The best fullback in the league wouldn't have stopped half those sacks last Sunday.

My positives to add: 1. We have an accurate field goal kicker. Been pleasantly surprised with Dan Carpenter. He's kept us in all three games. 2. Kiko Alonso. A game-changing linebacker that we haven't had for a long time.

I agree 100% that Marcel Dareus is the Invisible Man. Just another guy. He's consistent, solid...but not a game changing defensive player that'd you'd desire from that high of a draft selection. I believe CJ's ineffectiveness is sort of like the ineffectiveness of Chris Johnson from time to time. They are running backs that thrive in certain schemes. He thrived in Gaileys, not Hackett's. Although we have new coaches, it appears that the Bills still suffer from generally lousy play callilng (no screens for a team that *was* surgical at their execution) and zero ability to adjust at the half. Sigh.

Media types have some of the biggest egos on the planet. They not only love, but desperately need to be right. All the time. They can never be wrong. I'm a Pittsburgh Pirates fan for over 20 years and there are still media types dangling "collapse is imminent". They have a complete inability to write about success. I'm not saying the Buffalo media should sugarcoat or start publishing fictional tales of NFL Bills supremacy, but some balance would be nice. Lots of teams are 0-1.

I wouldn't take a lot from that first game. Game tape exists now and other opposing teams won't be so stubborn in staying in their base defense when it's not working. While watching the game last night during that first half I was sure Dave Wannstedt was Washington's defensive coordinator. My bet: Chip Kelly's offense is a lot like Chan Gailey's was in that it catches teams by surprise for a couple weeks early on until it's figured out.

There are things to be worked on but I was pleasantly surprised by the Bills performance, Marrone included, on Sunday. I wasn't expecting perfection. Marrone and Company gave me what I was looking for-a competitive team for all four quarters, not just the first two like we had gotten used to over the last three years.

Bobby Petrino. $24 million dollar deal. Quit during the first season.

Excellent question. I think the Pats are focusing more on the Bills defense because the hole that was exploited last year by their two TE set has been marginalized to a degree because Gronk is injured, Hernandez is gone and the Bills linebackers are now a lot faster. You just hope they can shut down the run. Brady and the Pats offense is what stirs their drink. Their defense is ordinary. Whether it's Tuel or Manuel behind center, the Bills *can* score on that defense.

Drafts are largely research projects in the given moment. Spiller was the all-world home run, once in a decade running back that year. I didn't have an issue with the Bills taking Spiller. I was surprised that they ended up treating him like a garage kept Ferrari though until necessity (injuries to Fred) required he'd be taken out of said garage. I've always had a problem with the Troup pick though. That was an example of where the front office tried being smarter than everybody else when there were more solid players to choose from, i.e. the pair of productive linebackers from PSU that year, Lee or Bowman. (I don't claim to have seen the greatness of the Gronkowski.)

Motivation should never be underestimated. It's a powerful element and can trump talent when talent gets lazy. It's what seperates guys like Jay Ross from guys like Dareus and Williams in camp. I think the Bills have motivation problems with both Dareus and Williams. The guys have all world talent but mediocre desire to use it consistently and get out hustled and out worked by less talented players.

Add me to the list who found Pacific Rim to be one incredible example of movie making. First movie in a very long time I'd think about seeing again in the theater.

I don't see how or why these guys get a break. Wiretapping is espionage, and in this particular case, corporate espionage.

Overall, I thought Nix was considerably better than Donahoe and Levy.

I liked the retro intros with the booming instrumental music and kickass guitar solos of the late 80s and early 90s. Added some gravitas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPS2j86dSMw

BB King has the answer for not only Mario Williams but all men in general. Don't ever trust a woman Until she's dead and buried Yes don't ever trust a woman Until she's dead and buried One day she'll say that she loves you And the next day she'll throw you in the street She'll smother you with kisses When her birthday comes around But as soon as she gets her presents She'll down talk you all over over town No don't ever trust a woman Until she's dead and buried One day she'll say that she loves you And the next day she'll throw you in the street She'll beg you for clothes and diamonds Until you're all in hock And then you'll come home one mornin' And your key won't fit the lock Don't ever trust a woman Until she's dead and buried Well, one day she'll say that she loves you The next day she'll throw you in the street She'll call you every mornin' Every mornin' noon and night She'll call you in between times Just to see if you're doin' alright She'll ask to borrow five And then she'll beg for ten And baby that five and ten You won't ever see again! Man don't ever trust a woman Until she's dead and buried One day she'll say that she loves you And the next day she'll throw you in the street

Although we obviously have to hold judgement until the games are played on Marrone's coaching ability, I do like that he appears to be very comfortable in handling the media and answering at least some of the questions with real answers. It shows a fairly high level of communication ability which hopefully transfers in how he communicates to the players.

I love the player for player trade. Keeps things interesting. I don't know why the NFL doesn't do more of these with all the different schemes out there, some players do better in others. We'll see if it holds true for both of these guys.

You guys let me know when you've found an NFL draft "expert". Or well, any "expert" on the NFL. Just because you worked as a head teller at a bank doesn't make you an expert on the economy.

Oh there is lots. I'm convinced the media doesn't know anymore than the casual fan. There really isn't "media" anymore. Just a bunch of guys shotgunning opinion or thinking what's news is really just what the teams want you to put out there. "Oh, Geno Smith/Star Lotuleilei/Sharif Floyd will all go before #5." WRONG. Joeckel is the #1 pick because he's that good. WRONG. All the bs about the Bills...from the Marrone/Nassib connection to the Barkley infatuation to the guard pick. WRONG. Kelly will pick Dion Jordan for sure. He knows him! WRONG. And on and on and on.

Going out on a limb, I'll say Joeckel because he's probably the #1 pick. He won't bust fantabulously but he won't be mistaken for the second coming of Munoz or Boselli protecting a non-scrambling quarterback in Smith (if Chiefs indeed pick Joeckel.)

Of course Wannstedt is the answer here. Many of those games lost last year was due to the predictable defense being carved up like Thanksgiving turkey. That's why you saw the Bills defense get shredded after halftime. The other team adjusts, Wannstedt did not. Frankly, it's a whole coaching issue for the entirity of Dick and Chan's time here. The Bills would start out hot in September but once teams got tape on them, it was all over.

Don't let the media feed your panic and paranoia, which for the most part is what gets folks down during the offseason because the media stokes the opportunity cost freakout in all of us. We see Team A doing something, anything and we're automatically thinking we have to do that and when we don't...panic. Media says Dolphins are the winners in free agency. Team financials are somewhere between dumpster fire and nuclear meltdown. Media says Bills must take a guard at #8. Bills bring in no guards for visits. Media says Bills roster fourth worst in NFL? Yet Bills finish 6-10, drafting 8th, not 4th, with no team anywhere near a complete roster for 2013. I think fans believe the media as fact checkers and truth tellers and they are not paid to do either of those things. The majority of sports media is typing out opinions...just like we all do on here because there isn't a lot to write about and sportswriters have to write to get paid. You're not going to know who the 2013 Bills are until about 5 games into the *regular* season, so it's best to enjoy the draft and your summer.

I don't think Kolb is as bad a player as the media or "experts" portray him. That situtaion in Arizona from the almost imaginary offensive line to the mediocre coaching to the mediocre running backs was not one where a quarterback was going to flourish. Big deal you had Larry Fitzgerald. He can't block pass rushers or catch balls out of the backfield.

Inspire: I think Marrone/Pettine are the real deal with tactics, strategy, will adapt at halftime. Spooky/scary: Team still lacks identity and leadership on the field.

The man had an imaginary offensive line in Arizona. It'll be interesting to see how Kolb performs with a real one.