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If I remember correctly FJ was on fire in that early stretch last year. His running took pressure off Fitz to make plays in the passing game. I hold Gailey responsible for Fitzpatrick's play against the Jets because of all the exceptionally predictable passing play calls on the first game of the season in the loud stadium of the oppossing team. There was no reason to have him throwing the ball that much that early in the game. If NFL defenses have all adjusted to defending the aerial attack it makes sense more than ever to bludgeon them with a running game until someone forces you to pass.

It's a good squad. However what you have seen in the two games so far is the line being used appropriately. The offensive line unit was built for the run, and now we're actually doing some running. (Forrest implied.)

Chan Gailey preferring the run is news to me based on watching the last two seasons. I was pleasantly surprised at A) the commitment to the run yesterday and B) Gailey switching things up a bit and not being so predictable.

The Cardinals watched the NYG/NE Super Bowl games for the blueprint. Persistent pressure and aggressive corners. The Cardinals had four sacks and Brady had rare times where he could sit in the pocket and take the shots we're accustomed to seeing. The Patriots offensive line is neither experienced nor talented enough anymore to fully insulate Tom Brady. The Patriots playcalling, especially on offense was also very bizarre in this game.

We all wrote that article last year.

I agree with TMQ on Fitzpatrick. Oppossing defenses had us figured out last year once there was gametape. Cincy was the first. It's been downhill from that point. Teams have intelligence units that look for tendancies and patterns. If fans can spot them you know those folks did some time ago. The key to any success this year will be keeping defenses guessing and that's not happening at all.

That goddamn cushion killed us last year and is killing us this year. I have no idea why we keep slogging away at ideas that clearly don't work. If it didn't work the 76th time you've tried it... That loss is on the coaches more than the players. I know the players get paid to perform but that cushion is another example in a long list of examples of really horrible coaching decisons. You're telling me that if the average fan saw it being exploited, experienced NFL coaches could not?

For Mario, one tackle after playing 91% of the game snaps. Ouch. I'm curious as to why Mark Anderson only played 50% of the snaps. Isn't he allegedly our second best pass rusher?

"Mario Williams just needs to the Deacon Jones school of nastiness, then he will be ok." Absolutely.

At this point, Chan should run plays from selected games of years in Bills past. This coming Sunday....all the offensive plays come from some Bills game in 1993, next week, 1997, etc. At least for the first time in two seasons, fans and the oppossing defense wouldn't know what was about to happen. Actually, that'd be quite fun to watch. Every week, something new.

I wouldn't have complained. I know why he felt he needed to, however. Awful lot of pressure on the man. You don't want your first game as THE man to be a swing and a miss. I only got angry and aggressive when I played football. I don't know about other folks on this board that played somtime in their lives but it was the only sport that allowed me to use my inherit aggression for a purpose that didn't result in getting arrested. If I was Mario and had that talent and strength I would have buried that guy. And since Rodney Harrison calls me out and says I'm a complete fool, I continue burying tackles and quarterbacks all season long. You can't be a nice guy playing defense. Best defenders historically have been really brutal human beings on the football field. I think the Bills have a lot of nice guys playing defense. It's a Catch-22. The guys are personable and makes them easy to root for. However, they have to figuratively start punching the offense in the face. Immediately.

That is *the* defintion of bulletin board material. I'm hoping Harrison's comments made a lot of men in Buffalo blue very motivated and very violent for weekends to come. I'm sure KC really appreciates what Harrison said. Now Mario must destroy Matt Cassel.

Give me Deion Branch and Mike Williams from that list.

Vegas is assuming the Bills will actually show up for this game.

Running the ball, yes. Run to set up the pass. Marty-ball, no. The problem with Marty is that much like Chan, he refused to adapt to changing conditions on the field. He'd just keep plugging away regardless of effectiveness. That only gets you so far.

6. "My playcalling is so predictable that the fans see what's coming and that was a problem Sunday." We have one of the largest, heaviest talented offensive lines in football with excellent running backs, a gigantic fullback and two big tight ends. Yet we pass and pass and pass utilizing our average QB and our average WRs. This team is built to demolish teams using the running game. It's a tragedy that McIntyre isn't in there paving the road nearly every play for FJ or CJ.

At the risk of being in the "I've heard of him crowd", I'd support at least kicking the tires on Deion Branch and/or Burress. Even if they have lost a step, they have shown they can make plays. At this point I think you need a *tall* veteran who can run routes and gives you that chance. With Jones gone for the year and Graham not ready, you are critical short of playmakers when you have a coach infatuated with a spread offense. It'd be different if the idea was to run Fred and C.J. until their legs fell off. However, the offense is so pass happy it almost feels like they are being underutilized. Bringing back Clowney or Roosevelt would be very underwhelming but I expect that to be the move.

With a couple hours having passed since the end of the game, I put this loss firmly on the shoulders of the coaches. This talented team wasn't prepared. I remember last year in the opener with KC, the team was on fire. There was a plan. Didn't see any of that today. Came out flat and got absolutely demolished. Long season but next weekend better be different.

I'm starting to turn on Gailey. A talented team is unprepared and now we've got starters in a 41-14 blowout in the 4th quarter of the first game.

I agree with others that the team looked unprepared from snap #1. I know it's one game of a LONG season but it's foreboding if you can't have your team prepared for the first game.

We all learned last year it's a marathon, not a 100-yard dash. As a fan I like a Week 1 win for peace of mind. I'd love an "easy" win just like last year against KC.

I like your work. Fine job. Hopefully you'll do it for each week. I'd be interested in reading it.

You know, I'd probably go for it after Week #1. I'd like to see what Donald Jones gives me. If nothing spectacular, I'd try Branch. I like that he's got good yards per reception (13.5 to Jones 10.8) so he'll move the chains a little better.

This is why preseason games are not a big deal. Teams don't load up the corporate knowledge during training camp because they know players will be leaving. If you are a cut player, you aren't an instantous strategic intelligence asset for another team. The good stuff is being installed this week. And for guys like Gailey who show absolutely nothing until the games count, I have to think that the schemes and packages are nearly state secrets in Bills camp between the coaches and starters.

The Wildcat is exhausted. Everything you can possibly do with it...has been done. Once you get the game tape, it's been neutralized. I don't know why Rex feels so confident about using it. The Bills demolished Tebow and an entire Broncos offense of the Wildcat only a few months ago in a late season meaningless game for both teams. Without Mario Williams, Mark Anderson or Dave Wannstedt. Whereas you could fool George Edwards twice or three times or twelve times, you'll get just one with Wannstedt. What I'd love to see is Rex try to outthink the stadium, run the Wildcat on the first play of the season and get Tebow killed by a Williams sack.