mjt328

The way the AFC is shaping up, a 5-0 finish might not be enough to make the playoffs. And if we aren't going to make the playoffs (AGAIN), then why not hope for a higher draft pick? We are 3 games behind New England for the division lead. If we win out, the Patriots would still have to lose three more games for us to take the division - including another one against us in Foxboro. New England's remaining schedule is one of the easiest in the NFL (Indianapois, Washington, Denver, Miami, Buffalo). The chances of the Patriots losing the AFC East are slim and none. Which means that we have to focus on getting a wildcard. Also not good odds... Pittsburgh and Baltimore are both 8-3. Cincinnati is 7-4 and holds the tiebreaker over us. That means all three teams are 3 games ahead of us, with only 5 remaining.

http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-11-21/matt-moore-making-case-to-be-dolphins-quarterback-of-future This is what the rest of the NFL sees with us and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Not being a Miami homer, I laugh at the idea that the Dolphins would pass an the opportunity this offseason to add a top rookie quarterback (if not Luck, they could have a shot at Barkley, Jones, Griffin, etc). Instead, they might decide to stick with a flawed veteran backup that happens to be on a hot streak right now. We have been waiting since Jim Kelly retired for a decent replacement. They have been waiting since Dan Marino retired.

I like Matt Barkley, Landry Jones and Robert Griffin a lot. If any of them are available, you have to pull the trigger. We can't keep passing on this kind of potential at the quarterback position, even with the big contract we just handed Fitz. This team could also use a massive upgrade at offensive tackle, even though our group has performed a lot better than I expected. Chris Hairston can move to right tackle. Bell and Pears can be depth. The top tackles available are Matt Kalil and Jonathan Martin. The Bills also need an elite talent across the field from Steve Johnson, especially somebody that can stretch the field. You can't get better than Justin Blackmon. He's the total package. A lot of people also like Alshon Jeffery, but he's more of a big red zone target instead of a deep threat. Unfortunately, the 2012 draft class is more loaded on the offensive side of the ball (the opposite of last year). The Bills REALLY need somebody to upgrade the pass rush. They obviously need help at cornerback. A lot of what the Bills do here might depend on whether they fire George Edwards (which they need to do) and revert back to the 4-3 defense (which they also need to do). If they stick with the 3-4, they really need some outside linebackers with speed. If they go back to the 4-3...which better fits the personnel...they would probably look more for a defensive end.

Bills fans always get upset that Ralph is willing to accept losing. But they have NO problem throwing their support behind mediocre quarterbacks...crossing their fingers that we can get by with average talent at the MOST IMPORTANT POSITION in the league. Sure, I believe we can make the playoffs someday with Fitz as quarterback. But it's going to require drafting several more talented offensive linemen and some elite threats at wide reciever (I'm talking Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson caliber). We would also need to field a Top 10 defense that could regularly hold the top teams under 15-20 points. If we managed to draft an elite quarterback, our fortunes would change immediately.

You honestly believe that Ryan Fitzpatrick is almost as good as Aaron Rodgers?????!!!!!!????? Wow... Sometimes I wonder if Bills fans have never seen a football game outside of the 16 played each year by Buffalo. Fitzpatrick is around the "average to above average range" when it comes to starting NFL quarterbacks. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of things to like about Fitzpatrick. But the truth is, he is EXTREMELY inaccurate on throws over about 8-10 yards. That limits his effectiveness to slants, curls and screen passes. And it is exactly the reason that teams have managed to shutdown our offensive production. Watch any Green Bay game and tell me if Rodgers has trouble throwing downfield. Give Fitzpatrick Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley... and he would still have accuracy problems downfield. When it comes to the offensive line, Green Bay isn't known for having the best protection in the world either. But Rodgers is great at rolling out of the pocket, avoiding pressure and still picking apart a defense. Yes, Fitzpatrick also has lots of mobility in the pocket. But it's clear that he struggles finding open receivers when he can't make the quick 1-2 second throws. Watch what happens when Fitz gets pressured. That is when he throws picks and terrible passes into coverage. Fitz isn't even in the same ballpark as Rodgers.

I agree. 9-7 isn't going to cut it. We need to finish at least 10-6. That means finishing 5-2 against: Miami, Jets, Tennessee, San Diego, Miami, Denver and New England

The problem is not running the ball. The problem is that we can't complete a downfield pass to save our lives. This offense is DESIGNED for Fitzpatrick to make quick decisions on short routes. We haven't been FORCED into it by the blitz. What has changed is that teams are jamming our receivers and crowding the line of scrimmage - taking away the run, short slants and screens. The way to combat this is to make some big passes downfield and force the defense to back up. Chan and Fitz KNOW this already, and it's clear by the playcalling that they are trying to make more big pass plays. Unfortunately: 1. Our receivers can't beat 1-on-1 coverage downfield 2. Fitzpatrick is inaccurate on long throws 3. Our offensive line can't hold the pass rush long enough for deep throws to develop

Ralph wants to have a winning team. Unfortunately, there are a few things that he wants more: 1. He wants the team to be as profitable as possible, so that he can pass a large inheritance down to his family when he dies. That's why a guy in his 90's is acting without a sense of urgency in making the team a winner. 2. He wants to remain in complete control of the business he started 50 years ago. This is why he refuses to step back and allow a football guy run the team without interference. Ralph is also a very proud man that cares very deeply about his legacy as an AFL founder and an NFL owner. He wants to be THE GUY who kept a team in Buffalo for 50 years, despite the odds. There is no way he could ever turn over or sell the team during his lifetime, because if the team won without him, it would taint that legacy.

The Bills don't have the talent to significantly change what they are doing on offense. If defenses are keying on the run and trying to stop the short passing game - then you try to beat them downfield. Buffalo has TRIED to do this. The receivers aren't getting open. Fitzpatrick can't hit them. The offensive line can't block long enough.

When a defense jams receivers at the line of scrimmage and plays bump-and-run, they are usually leaving themselves open for big plays down the field. The problem is: 1. None of our receivers are fast enough to consistently cause separation down the field 2. Our offensive line isn't good enough to hold blocks for that extra 1-2 seconds 3. Our quarterback is extremely inaccurate on downfield passes The offense we have been running for 9 games is DESIGNED to mask all these weak points. Now that teams have figured us out, there really isn't much we can do about it - other than add more talent to the team. Defenses are basically DARING us to beat them 1-on-1 downfield and we CAN'T DO IT. This is why I can't blame Chan for the recent offensive downturn. He has the choice to either: a) Run an offense that goes completely against the strengths of his players b) Keep trying what worked for the first 7 games, despite the fact that defenses now know how to counter it If I was the offensive coordinator, I would probably try to run more play-action (like someone else already suggested) with a quarterback roll-out. This might help a little bit with our protection and getting receivers open. But if Fitzpatrick can't be better at long passes, the results are going to be the same.

I've paid extra attention to the offensive line this preseason. Based on what I've seen so far, I think Demetrius Bell has been BY FAR our worst starting lineman during those 5 or so quarters. Everyone has struggled at times. That includes Eric Wood and Andy Levitre.

A couple recent examples: > Peyton Hillis: He was part of the Brady Quinn trade, so he wasn't cut. But the Broncos had him relegated to 3rd-4th string on the depth chart. After his season last year, he is on the Madden cover. > Cedric Benson: As someone already stated... > Brandon Lloyd: Was a bust for a couple teams actually, before having a Pro Bowl season last year. > James Harrison: Was actually cut by the Steelers, signed and cut by the Ravens, then became one of the top defensive players in football. Not too many players that I could think of. I think the moral of the story is... either somebody can play football, or they can't. Changing teams isn't usually going to make a huge difference.

Unfortunately, it doesn't quite work that way. You can't just assume that because we "lost close games" that this year they will somehow fall in our favor. As someone else said... You don't LEARN to win close games. You get better, so that you have the talent to TURN IT ON in the fourth quarter, during close games. We always lost close ones to playoff teams because they often underestimated us early. But by the end of the game, they had the talent to pull it out. To your other points: > The Bills did upgrade the pass rush and run defense. That should help us out a lot. But that also means that teams will have to start testing our secondary, which might not be as good as we think (ask Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn). > Fitzpatrick can definitely do worse. He doesn't have Lee Evans to help stretch the field. He won't take other teams by surprise anymore. And if the offensive line gets him hurt, we could be scary bad.

A year ago, the "experts" said that Tim Tebow was a long-term project that would take YEARS to even get on the field. They said he had to completely re-tool his throwing motion. But he learned enough to end up starting the last three games of the season during his rookie year. In those three games, he had 8 touchdowns and 4 turnovers. The Broncos averaged 25 points a game during that stretch, including those against two of the top passing defenses in the league - San Diego and Oakland. Not bad for a guy that people doubted would ever be good enough to actually PLAY under center his first year. Now was this a spectacular performance. No. But it proved that Tebow was making significant progress during his rookie season. More progress than other first rounders like Jamarcus Russell, Brady Quinn, Matt Leinart, Aaron Rodgers, JP Losman, Jason Campbell, Alex Smith did in their first seasons. A lot more progress than his critics are willing to admit. If Tebow did this for the Bills, he would be the talk of the town. It's no surprise that Kyle Orton give the Broncos the best chance to win now, and of course, the players are going to support the guy who gives them the best chance to win now. Orton had a really good season last year, but fans know that he has likely hit his ceiling. They want to see what Tebow can do.

Full Article: http://buffalobillsstampede.blogspot.com/2011/08/front-office-lacks-urgency.html

I've also spent a lot of time examining possibilities for the 2012 draft class (the Bills have to be in the market for one next year, right?). But I don't think the Bengals are the team we should worry about getting ahead of us. Especially since they snatched up Andy Dalton this year. Personally, I think the Redskins have the worst lineup in the NFL... and it's not even close. And since they are currently debating between John Beck and Rex Grossman at the quarterback position, they will be in desperate need of a quarterback. Another team to worry about is Seattle. They made the playoffs last year with a losing record and weren't even as good as the 7-9 mark indicates. This year, they will be counting on Tarvaris Jackson. I'm sure they will be in the market for a quarterback next year. Miami and Oakland are also entering 2011 with very poor quarterback situations. And I could see the Bills ending with a better record than either of them. Other distinct possibilities are Cleveland and Denver. Colt McCoy will get the chance to prove he's capable of handling the starting job, but if he stumbles, the Browns might be willing to move on. The Broncos drafted Tim Tebow in the first round last year, but then cleared out the front office. I think he will get a chance to show his stuff this year. But the team's new management is not tied to him.

If almost ANY other team traded for Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco, analysts would be calling them "desperation moves." All we would hear about is how these guys are cancer and a distraction to their teams, unmotivated, unpredictable...and a total wastes of roster space. New England makes the move and it's brilliant. Same thing happens every draft. The Patriots stockpile late draft picks and they are considered geniuses. Nobody points out that New England has blown the VAST majority of those draft picks. After 10 years of pulling this crap, New England's impact players on offense are still Tom Brady and Tom Brady. Take Wilfork off that defense, and they are below average. When those top guys retire - Belichek or not - this team is going to bottom out.

Warren Sapp knows a thing or two about playing on the defensive line, so he might have a point. Regardless of what Dareus is capable of playing or even what he played at Alabama, Dareus might indeed project better as a 3-technique tackle. But one point. Nobody knows for sure what system the Bills are planning to run this year. 1. They started with the 3-4 last year, but finished running mostly 4-3. 2. George Edwards (a 3-4 guy) is still the defensive coordinator. But they also brought in Dave Wannstedt (a 4-3 guy) as the assistant coach. 3. Last year's free agent/draft was focused on bringing in 3-4 guys...Torrell Troupe, Alex Carrington, Arthur Moats, Dwan Edwards, Andre Davis, Shawn Merriman. But they also re-signed Chris Kelsay, who should be a 4-3 end. This year's draft was a mix. On top of that...most people would agree that Kyle Williams isn't best suited as a nosetackle. A lot of people thought he should have been on the trading block at the beginning of last season. But he turned in the BEST season of his career in 2010. So if Dareus is as talented as people say, he should do just fine.

Does anybody realize that EVERY quarterback on our roster was drafted in the seventh round? Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tyler Thigpen, Levi Brown I like the Thigpen signing, but it really shows how the Bills are satisfied to go dumpster diving for the NFL's most important position.

Full article: http://buffalobillsstampede.blogspot.com/

Full article at http://buffalobillsstampede.blogspot.com/2011/06/do-or-die-season-for-fitzpatrick.html

Full Article http://buffalobillsstampede.blogspot.com/2011/06/should-bills-re-sign-drayton-florence.html

Quit moving teams. LA has failed with 2 franchises in the past. Toronto can't fill the stadium for ONE game a year. If these cities absolutely HAVE to get an NFL team - expand.

Follow up to Poz post. Full article: http://buffalobillsstampede.blogspot.com/2011/06/should-bills-re-sign-donte-whitner.html

Living in St. Louis, Sunday Ticket is the only way I have to watch the Bills every year. I just can't watch the Rams every week...but the prices are getting way out of line. I might have to become a big fan of Sam Bradford.