hondo in seattle

We have 7 in the box and you're worried because our 1 MLB seems weak to you? How much faith do you have in the other 6 guys? How much faith do you have in Wanny? While our run D didn't look good last year, we have a new DC and a new defensive scheme, as well as some new players. And Shep was only a rookie last year. Rookie's don't often look good. As eball says, Wanny seems to have faith in Shep and, for now, that's good enough for me. I won't begin my worrying until the preseason.

cmjoyce, you seem knowledgeable on this issue. So what's the answer? Kurt Warner says he might not let his kids play football. In another thread, folks here on TBD are predicting that our grandkids won't play football because it's too dangerous. Is that really the road we're on? Or can we find ways to make the safety of football acceptable?

Didn't Wanny or someone actually say this? That they'd use Scott this year as a hybrid? Maybe in something like a 4-2-5 where he could either function as a DB or LB or something in-between?

For what it's worth, my high school team ran a 5-2-2-2 We had five down linemen, two LBs, two "inverts" and two DBs. Depending on the flow of the play, one invert moved up to play more-or-less like a LB. The other would drop back to play centerfield. We went 8-0 and I think only gave up 2 TDs all season long running this D my junior year. My senior year, though, we went 2-6.

This is an unrealistic proposal, unfortunately, but not a bad one. Lots of us have played football with and without pads and know that people hit differently - play differently - without pads. How was this helmet a good idea when Kelso played but not anymore? What's different now? (Btw, I'm wondering what number you wore?)

It's interesting we have so many players we can legitimately predict will have breakout seasons: A. Williams, Easley, Hairston, Spep, Wilson, Merriman, B. Smith, Batten, Searcey, Dareus...

Intriguing prospect. I like signing guys like this as long as we don't waste draft picks. Work-out warriors (Erik Flowers, anyone?) often disappoint in the pros. Even world class athletes like Renaldo Nehemiah don't necessarily make good football players. I wish this guy luck but would be surprised if he ever played much. Great athletes aren't always great football players and great football players aren't always great athletes. Btw, I kind of saw Graham as a workout warrior - picked primarily because of his 40 time but Nix and Gailey keep telling us he's a 'football player,' not a track runner. I guess we'll find out. In any case - like Nehehmiah - he'll be useful in stretching the field.

Seattle, WA from Cheektowaga, NY (JFK '77)

Coaches can be guilty of happy-speak sometimes but Wanny's endorsement did sound genuine. And that makes me feel a little better about MLB. Who cares if the quote was found on BR??? Shep might indeed be the break out player of the year. But I also might pick Aaron Williams. I'd be thrilled if it was Chris Hairston.

If I did the math right, the chances of winning (assuming each game is a 50-50 toss up) is about 1 in 65,536. Good Luck to all!

I disagree for a couple reasons. First, I want to see what Wanny can do with them. Second, I want to see if Merriman is FINALLY healthy.

Chan is using the passing game to open up the running game. The reason both our backs averaged over 5 yards a carry was not because of our dominating offensive line, but because (1) we do have talented backs and (2) Chan's play-calling. If Turk Schonert, for example, was still the Offensive Coordinator, FredEx and CJ wouldn't average over 5 yards a pop and people would wonder why we run so much when the run game is obviously not working.

Yep. As I remember it, Flutie's "magic" often happened in the 4th Quarter after he stunk up the first three quarters but thankfully our Defense kept us in the game. The Defense won games back then, not Flutie nor Johnson.

There is an intruder - male, Caucasian, possibly armed, certainly weird - in my kitchen... M-my-my-my name is Bueller...

A thought about "context" - it's true that the Bills pass rush didn't do our corners any favors last year. But this is equally true for all the DB's, not just Florence. Yet Florence is the only Bills DB to show up on any of PFF's lists for the poorest performing cornerbacks. http://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2012/01/12/cornerbacks-a-glance-at-the-2011-numbers/

It's either a hometown discount or that Freddie's age reduces his market value. Either way, I'm happy he's locked up for a couple years more. And it was pretty cool that Fitz showed up at the press conference wearing a "FredEx" t-shirt. http://www.buffalo.com/sports/blog/fitzs-fashion-strikes-again-in-fred-jackson-signing/

Wondering if Potter make the final roster. Per Chris Brown... Though the Bills finished seventh in the league in average drive start off kickoffs, it was frustrating to watch Buffalo’s return men take a knee for a touchback in the end zone. Not that the approach was wrong. In 2011, 44 percent of kicks returned from inside the end zone at any depth failed to reach the 20-yard line. Taking a knee, though far from exciting, was the prudent practice. What Buffalo’s GM and head coach wanted however, was the ability to force their opponents into touchbacks as much as they were last season. It’s the main reason the Bills chose kicker John Potter in round seven. “This guy is a kickoff guy,” said Nix. “He kicked through the uprights kicking off. If you kick the ball in the end zone and make them start on the 20 it gives you a much better chance defensively.” DeHaven has had a kickoff specialist before. During Scott Norwood’s last season in Buffalo (1991) DeHaven also had the strong-legged Brad Daluiso. “He’d put it six or seven rows into the stands sometimes if there was any wind at his back,” said DeHaven. “If a guy has that kind of leg it can be a tremendous weapon.” In the NFL any kickoff with four seconds of hang time is considered good. Anything over 4.3 seconds is considered exceptional. DeHaven said some of Potter’s hang times went beyond that. “I had him with some hang times of 4.6, which is very, very good,” DeHaven said. “Buddy is right, he puts kickoffs through the uprights and in college they kick it from the 30-yard line. Up here he’s going to have five extra yards kicking from the 35.” “I think any team that can consistently kick it out (of the end zone) saves you from good returners,” said Potter. “So I think I can really provide something to the Buffalo Bills.” Naturally the challenge is finding a spot for Potter not only on the 53-man roster, but as one of the 46 active players on game day. But if Potter proves effective removing the threat of any return will carry a lot of weight. Said DeHaven. “If we can make them start at the 20-yard line every time I know it’ll make Dave Wannstedt real happy.”

There was a reason for the Flutie-Johnson controversy - both did some things well; neither did everything well. Johnson actually put up better numbers. His QB rating with the Bills was something like 86 while Flutie's was more like 81. Johnson had a good arm but was indecisive, a poor leader, and took way too many sacks. Flutie was a great scrambler and had some 4th quarter heroics but was often dismal for the first 3 quarters. I'm glad they're both gone. Fitz is better than either of them.

Here's what Dick Vermeil says about the guy (Russ Lande) who wrote that evaluation... “Russ’s GM Jr Scouting manual is a great reflection of a person with a passion for detail, insight and the evaluation of football athletic skills. I don’t know anyone that puts more of his time and effort into his passion for this evaluation process than Russ. It is easy to call him the BEST!!” Dick Vermeil, Retired NFL Coach

ChanOverChin, this is a good way to look at this. The team we field on opening day 2012 in New Jersey will be very different than the team that produced such dismal results during the second half of the 2011 season. But it won't be 30 (31) players different. Some of the guys you listed won't be on the squad opening day. Nonetheless, I don't think the national sports media fully understands how devastating our injuries were last year. It wasn't just the raw number we had on IR. It was who we had on IR. There was often a huge difference between the play of the starter who was injured and the back up who lined up in his place. And then there was Fitz who never missed a game due to injury. Yet toward the end of the season he had a banged up line in front of him, back ups and street FAs running routes, Stevie playing at half speed while hurt, FJ on IR, and his own ribs torturing him with severe pain. Yep, this year looks to be much different.

Yeah, you are right. Sully doesn't seem to have many contracts inside the Bills organization and rarely tells us anything we already didn't know. Tim sometimes will have some interesting tidbits. Back in his prime, Larry Felser was able to dig up good info.

Letting Rusty Jones move on was a huge mistake. Our new (Gailey era) S&C coaches seem to have good resumes but didn't have a chance last year to really implement their program. It will be interesting to see if they can successfully cut down on injuries this year.

I used to use Roland Hooks as my avatar. Braxton had a couple hundred yard games as I recall, despite being OJ's fullback. Bobby Chandler was my idol because I was a slow receiver with good hands.

I remember last year about this time, some folks here thought the Pats were brilliant for signing Chad and the Bills were asleep at the wheel. Yet look how it worked out.

Although I'm no Sully fan, I can't agree with this. Unfortunately, I've never been able to develop the ability to read minds and just don't know what they think. I do know I like to read what Tim has to say about the Bills and usually avoid Sully's whinings.