Just in Atlanta

You mean the potentially nearly 100 threads, the ones in which people wrote things without real reflection? That's my point. Further, these threads often have facts, knee-jerk reactions, etc. How about one that allows official sentiment--sentiment only, no facts or questions--after the emotional dust has cleared and after we have some facts? So we don't have to search through a gazillion of them?

As a frequent user of this site, I'd like to start measuring sentiment--on a few "official" targeted threads--for historical analysis. I often find myself wondering the same thing another user asked in a thread Jan. 9 concerning what we were saying about Gailey's hiring three years ago. I just couldn't remember what the overall sentiment was. If anyone is interested, and assuming the mods are OK with some sort of official tag, I plan to create sentiment threads on crucial events. The first one will be on our HC/OC/DC combo in a week or so, pre-draft predictions in March (my theory is only a very small handful will predict with any decent accuracy), post-draft sentiment in May, and pre-season sentiment in July. There will be an allotted time, and then each thread will be closed. At the end of the season, and each era, we can revisit these threads and laugh at each other...or congratulate ourselves...and maybe learn a thing or two about football trends and the psychology of fandom. I think it will be fun, and informative, to compare reality with our past opinions on just a few threads, as opposed to having to search through a gazillion. Does anyone think this idea doesn't suck?

Awesome post. Thanks. Great analysis. I have also not watched one single Cuse game in years, as SEC reigns supreme down here. This made me literally laugh out loud: "...he avoids contact when possible and when he does get hit, he doesn’t enjoy the experience."

Memories... Dick http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2303162 Gailey http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4838361

Prediction, and hope: Pettine will never blame the defensive woes on players simply not "fitting it up." He will attack QBs with multiple schemes. He will also never say "We live and die by our front 4." 3-4, 4-3, 10-1, I could care less what the scheme is, as long as we attack, minimize the run, and prevent big plays.

Chip Kelly is widely seen as a once in a lifetime innovator. I, and many other fans, have never heard of Nathan Hacket before today. Having said that, I'm giving Marone the benefit of the doubt until I see his OC in action.

Wide angle, soundless view of the entire field of play--all 22 players. It lets you watch what the other players are doing outside the normal tight shots. It's what the coaches typically use.

After reading about our OC pick, whose NFL expertise thus far has been quality control, I hear my high school DC might be interested in making the leap to the bigs. He'd make a big splash. In my hometown.

Am just warming up to Marone coming here, after hearing him speak and what analysts and former players have said. But this nepotism of sorts is something we need to be careful about. We will be doomed if we just start transferring everybody over from Cuse.

He's going to the Jets. About the only thing the Jets can do to top the circus of this season. So were about 27 other teams.

Is that some secret message from the KGB?

As a former Fitz backer who was optimistic he could improve under a new QB coach, we've seen everything we need ad naseum, cut in every which way possible: Chopped, julienned, sliced, diced, processed, mashed, pulsed, blended and juiced. 99 percent of Bills Nation knows Fitz juice is jive.

Isn't the "e" silent?

A "full time" role at RB now is rare. Most are 70-30 or 60-40 splits. No one--not a single back--runs every single down. We need Jackson. He will be at an elite level, IMO, assuming he doesn't get injured again, for a couple of years.

Slick. Love the quotes from players and analysts.

May my 8 year old be hit by a car. Fake team made in China. Fit it up.

No one is talking about Marone on TV. A big name would get us some coverage, cred, bigger signings and some national games. I'm settled. How bout you?

Need to bump this thread. I would love me some Lovie. Please, pretty please, can we get a proven winner on D that will give this franchise some national cred?

Well that worked well.

That would be some news I could actually get excited about. So far underwhelmed by this .500 Marone pick.

Forgot to mention continued lack of relevance on the national stage--Chip Kelly or Lovie Smith would have at least have gotten us a few national games a year.

Initial knee jerk reaction to this news I just woke up to: Fresh blood...kinda like that idea. OC for the Saints...kinda like that idea too, but... The guy has a .500 record? In a weak conference? Pinstripe Bowl? What happened to Love Smith, Chip Kelly and Wisenhunt? Is this a pick based on getting a low-priced coach? My reaction was similar when we hired Gailey and Jauron.

Thank God it wasn't Levitre's side boob.

Can't believe there's no thread for this--ESPN just reported the Bills never even got to interview Kelly because the Browns are hogging his time. Why the !@#$ are the Browns a hotter commodity for this guy than the Bills?

Going for it on 4th far more often is a better strategy. But onside kick increases should be looked at too, in conjunction. The combined effect would cause all sorts of stresses. If teams are thinking they need to prepare for these, they are more apt to make a mistake when a normal punt happens. Further, a 40 percent fail rate means we get it 60 percent of the time and that the opponent only gets it where the ball is recovered. All in all, that's not bad IMO.