billsfan1959

I have no problem with Marrone saying this. He drafted Manuel to be his starting QB and obviously feels Manuel showed him enough this year to believe that, barring injury, he is the starting QB going into next season. I fail to see how this is some kind of a mistake.

In 2012, Foles’ first season playing QB in the NFL – he played in 7 games, completed 60% of his passes for 6 TDs and 5 INTs, lost 5 fumbles, had a QBR of 43.1 and a Rating of 79.1. In 2013, Manuel’s first season playing QB in the NFL – he played in 10 games, completed 58% of his passes for 11 TDs and 9 INTs, lost 3 fumbles, had a QBR of 42.3 and a Rating of 77.7 Not much of a difference to me. Foles really took a step forward this year...so, was it competition or having a year or so to develop?

Because it's true?

Well said

Last night, during Sunday Night Football, I listened to Chris Collinsworth go on and on, ad nauseum, about what a genius Chip Kelly is and how prolific the Eagles offense is. Then, I thought about all of the posters on this board who are calling for Hackett's head. So, I thought I would take a general look at the two and their circumstances this year: 1) Kelly inherited an offensive team that finished 5th or better in 3 of the last four years. Hackett inherited a team that finished 15th or worse in 3 of the last four years. 2) Kelly's quarterbacks this year were Michael Vick (no matter what you think of him - he can still make plays) and Nick Foles - who is a third year player that started 7 games prior to this season. Hackett's quarterbacks were Manuel, Tuel, and Lewis - with a grand total of one start between them prior to this year. 3) In regard to defenses, Yards per Play (Yds/P) tends to be a pretty good guage of those defenses that are tough to move the ball against consistently. In regard to the Eagles, the Yds/P ranking of their opponents (from lowest to highest) were 4, 8, 8, 17, 18, 20, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 28, 30, 31, 32. The defensive Yds/P ranking of the Bills opponents were 3, 5, 7, 9, 9, 10, 11, 11, 12, 14, 16, 16, 17, 20, 22, 29. 4) 6 of the Eagles 15 opponents were top 20 or better (with only 3 in the top 15) while 13 of the Bills 15 opponents were top 20 or better (with 10 in the top 15). Looking at just the top ten defenses, the Eagles faced 3 and the Bills faced 6. Against teams with a top 10 Yds/P ranking, the Eagles averaged 297 ypg and 25 ppg, while the Bills averaged 349 ypg and 25.3 ppg against defenses with a top 10 Yds/P ranking. I am not saying Hackett is better, the same, or worse than Kelly. Kelly may be the second coming of Don Coryell and Hackett may be out of the NFL in two years - or vice versa. My point? Actually, I have several: 1) Determining the success or failure of a coach requires more than a superficial look at their product. 2) There isn't anyone on this board that can say either coach would have been better or worse than the other if they switched circumstances 3) 15 games as a coach in the NFL is merely a snapshot. I need a greater body of work before I am willing to label someone a genius...or a failure

Agreed. Let's recap a little. (1) Hackett is a first year offensive coordinator who is still getting a handle on the talents, personalities, work habits, attitudes, potential, etc of his offensive players (2) He inherited an offensive team that has been, realistically speaking, middle of the pack at best (3) He had a revolving door at quarterback due to injuries - with his starting quarterback being a rookie who missed significant practice and playing time during the preseason and regular season (4) His running backs spent much of the year hobbled by injuries as did several of his receivers (5) The interior of his offensive line was, shall we say, less than stellar in both run blocking and pass protection (6) Based on the the defensive statistics of opponents, his team played one of the toughest schedules in the league.... I have been a die hard Bills fan since the very first game I attended in 1968. I want a winner as much as anyone...and have been as frustrated as everyone else over the lack of progress since the late 90's. Yet, I still try to evaluate this team based on a realistic view of as much information as I can - not simply through the cynical the lens of fifteen years of frustration. Plus, I really am not into writing anyone off before they have had a legitimate chance to succeed... But that's just me

Well, good luck with all that... As for me, I think I'll just withhold my judgement until I actually have enough information to make a truly informed assessment.

People like you see only what you want to see...I'm sure you were one of those who were calling Aaron Williams and Marcel Dareus busts last year...

Really? EJ is a rookie QB who missed half of the preseason, another 5 weeks during the regular season, and has only played 8 complete games...I think I'll wait before I write him off...

There were a lot of variables that went into what now stands as a 6-9 record. To simply focus on the bad (while providing the assessment of "even a blind squirrel..." to anything good the team does) and say this has been a "whole season of bad Buffalo Bills football" due primarily to an entire coaching staff of "amateurs" is pretty much what dezertbill said: not being able to see the forest through the trees. A lot of bad this year - but a lot of good too. There is a lot to like about where this team is headed under this coaching staff.

Let me see....a rookie QB who missed half the pre-season and a third of the regular season...who has played behind a somewhat questionable interior line...under a 1st year head coach and 1st year offensive coordinator who are still learning the strengths and weaknesses of their personnel...on a team with virtually no tight end...with receivers and running backs that have spent most of the season hobbled by one injury or another...hmmmm.... I am not making excuses, I am simply being realistic. I have no idea whether EJ is going to be a top quality QB or not. There have been times he has looked awful and times he has looked great. My point is, given the circumstances, I do not think it is possible to make an accurate assessment at this point.

Awesome

Can someone explain to me why on 2nd and 17 and 3rd and 17 we would have every receiver run a five yard route?

8 passes in almost a half? At least the Jets allow Smith to try to go downfield and make plays

DeAndre Hopkins made some incredible catches in the Houston victory, including the game winner in overtime. It should really be between him and EJ. Both clutch performances.

Rex Ryan should probably never be a head coach. However, he will always get the most out of his defensive players and I expect them to be tough in this game. We will neeed to be more consistent offensively and cut down on the drive killing penalties. Offensively, their running game managed to average over 100 yds against two pretty good defenses. Geno Smith seems to panic when he feels pressure and that is when he seems to make most of his mistakes. However, when he doesn't get pressure, he has shown he can hit receivers downfield...and he can run as well if containment is not disciplined. I believe we are the better team. However, it is a division game, on the road, against a team that has found a way to hang close in their first two games and steal a win in one of them. If we play smart, disciplined football, and show consistency on offense, we win this game.

Is this Jerry's dad?

I believe the free trial of NFL Game Rewind is good through today. They also offer different packages. I think you can get 7 day access for $10 and I think you can get a package of just Bills games for the season (and archived games back to the 2009) for $30.

I have no doubt that Badol is a very nice guy and a decent person. However, this thread arose out of a previous thread regarding an article written about CJ Spiller. It was in that article that goals of 2000 yds in a season and the HOF were mentioned. They were not put forth by any TBD posters. It then became a debate about whether or not Spiller could rush for 2000 yds in a season. Badol's opinion is very clear on that matter. There are a number of posters, myself included, who happen to disagree with certain foundations of his argument. Debates are debates and intellegent people can arrive at different opinions and agree to disagree. My point to all of this is that I believe Badol would love nothing more than for Spiller to do well, as we all would. However, IMHO, this thread was primarily a shot, with numbers based off of one game, at those people who argued on the side that it would be possible for Spiller to rush for 2000 yds. No disrespect intended to Badol. Like I said, I am sure he is a nice guy. But even nice guys do things like that...and it is well within his right. No big deal - Just be clear about what it is.

New England and Carolina were 9th and 14th, respectively, against the run last year. Carolina actually hadn't given up more than 70 yards rushing in a game in over five games dating back to last season. Both are even better this season. While the going was tough, and understandably so, the Bills rushed for 136 and 149 yards against those two teams. I think the O-line, overall, did a pretty decent job against two teams who might, arguably, be in the top 10 in regard to their front sevens.

You managed to insult him again - while apologizing for insulting him... +1

I certainly am not going to insult you. However, to say the play was lucky and the ball was just thrown up for grabs is stretching your analysis a bit....

I haven't gone back and looked at the turnovers; however, I distinctly recall on Spiller's fumble that he was losing the ball before he ever got hit

You are right. As much as I dislike Brady, he is probably the most accurate passer in the game. The bad misses were clearly the result of receivers not being where they are supposed to be. You need only to watch Brady's reaction after the misses. Without Amendola and Sudfeld, his receiving corps has been embarassing. It is the only reason the Jets are in this game.

Actually, for the amount plays they faced overall and the amount of time they were on the field, the defense played exceptionally well...including against the run. They gave up a few longer runs; however, the majority of those were later in the game when they were obviously feeling the workload. Most of the day they made the Pats work hard for everything they got...