jletha

From my perception of San Francisco over the last couple years it seems like the major receiving weapons (Crabtree, Boldin, Davis) underachieved and that Kaepernick drastically regressed when the offensive scheme had him stay in the pocket more often. Im not sold on this hire. I know he always has a strong run game but many aspects of the 49ers offense never seemed to click when CK wasnt running all over the field.

I would love a Bills coach to be this innovative. If it wins games and its legal, sign me up.

I feel bad for the Colts, how do they handle all those pick-6s?

I have noticed a trend when I was thinking who I want as our next coach. Obviously this isnt a set-in-stone rule but a lot of coaches that have won superbowls were on their second team when they did it. Belichek, Gruden, Shanahan, Coughlin, Dungy, Vermeil, Carroll (technically his third but his first stint was so short that its almost his second real chance in the NFL). I just wonder if there is anything to it, if coaches learn a significant amount from one team that they can apply to the next. It makes me feel a little better about someone like Ryan.

If like Rex Ryan with this defense. I'd still be worried about the offense though.

Yea that's the angle that always stuck with me. if I were the red under the hood and saw that there's no way I overturn the call on the field. And with replay refs are more inclined to let things play out and then review them afterwards, which I like, so I don't fault them for not calling it during the game. It is very very close, if it's foreard its not by much. I don't give Schefters eye witness account any more credibility that the video I can see for myself. I just never felt like we were cheated out of anything. Horrible turn of events? Definitely. But no mistakes made by the officials.

I guess we will agree to disagree. But saying person 1 is more valuable than person 2 doesn't mean I'm de-valuing person 2. It's not like I my thoughts and perceived value of Sammy dropped when Beckham came around. If you had a choice between Manning and Brees you would likely take Manning. likewise I think teams would rather have Beckham than Sammy and therefor would be willing to give up more for him. That's all I'm trying to say

I love Sammy and I think he'll be a very good WR for us in the future especially with a good QB. I definitely am not for trading him at all. My point is that he won't draw a first round pick from a team, especially not a team in the top half. I'm not devaluing him and his future but facts are facts. He went for less than 1000 yards, had some games where he was non-existent and dropped way more passes than he should have. If a team were looking to trade for a WR they would likely trade for Beckham first. My opinion of Sammy didn't change at all with Backham breaking out, my opinions were formed by watching him every game.

A team in the bottom of the first round would probably give up a first rounder for Beckham to maybe get over the edge in a push for a Super Bowl but not for Sammy. Beckham had a much better season in less games. WRs are just not valuable except for maybe 2-3 and Sammy didn't prove he's one of those guys this year. I doubt anyone would give a first rounder for him and definitely not a top first rounder

Yea trading him for a second would be a mistake. He's worth more to us than a second round pick because of what you said and also we would need to address WR again after the trade.

I remember watching this play like it was yesterday. I'll always remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when it happened. That said I always thought they got the call right if you look at where the ball left his hand. I know I'm probably alone on that here but whatever. I was much more upset at the special teams unit than the refs.

You're out of your mind if you think anyone would give up a 4th overall pick for him. You talk about teams "overvalueing what they have" and you're doing just that. You're over valuing Sammy Watkins. Look at how many good rookie WRs there were this year. Why would someone give up assets when they can get their own WR in the draft? We may get a second rounder for Sammy and that isn't worth it.

Are we giving up the second in this scenario? Cause that's the only way I see any team making that. Are you still talking about foles?

Foles and a first for Sammy? Seems like you're over valuing what you have. Nobody would make that trade. If this year shows anything it's that productive WRs can be found easily in the draft. Sammys stock has likely dropped this year. He's very valuable but nobody would give up a QB with talent. Nobody would give up a first for him is bet. I'm not even sure he's our most tradeable asset.

I agree that we need to keep the D together at all costs but we really only have next year with this defense in its current state so waiting until 2016 to get a QB will be wasting the defense. The move for QB needs to be made this year and Ponder or Yates is not going to get it done. Ponder having a Sanchez-esque revival means he would have had to show the talent at some point in his career which he never has. It wouldn't be a revival it would be an aberration. I dont see how TJ Yates provides any sort of upgrade at all, he has never done anything significant in the league. He will likely be cut before the season if brought into camp. We need a guy that is clearly more talented than Orton and EJ so its pretty much Cutler or Bradford. Bad blood can be forgotten for money and Orton is never going to get more than $5 mill anywhere else. Unless he is passionate he doesnt want to be on the same team as Cutler and is willing to take a massive pay cut because of it he will take the option and try to beat out Cutler in camp.

I dont think the Bills are scared at all, Im the one thats scared. They can be as confident as ever but that doesnt make Ortons passes more accurate. Im more on the "were not good enough" side right now just looking at the complete team and the site of the game and how meaningful it is. I think were a good team with a great defense, certainly good enough to be in the playoffs. I dont know if were good enough right now to go into NE and beat them when they really have something to play for. I will be rooting for Cincy but with that said I am not going to be upset if we get some help in winning week 17 with a Cincy win this week.

I do realize that but Im just conflicted. I know ultimately we need to beat NE but based on our track record that is going to be VERY difficult in NE if they have something to play for. To me the most unlikely piece of this whole playoff prognostication that is going on is us beating NE. Everything discussed assumes we beat NE. The likeliness of that happening can go way up if Denver loses this week. We will need more help from other teams but it wont matter what help we get if we dont beat NE. If Cincy loses I will be happy because I know it was technically the best scenario but if Cincy wins I am not going to be upset.

The Denver over Cincy game scares me. I know we basically want Pitt to win out and theyre home for both which is good but if Cincy loses to Denver then NE has a lot to play for week 17 when we come to town. I just dont know if we can beat them in Foxboro when theyre really trying to win. If Cincy wins this week, knowing it makes things more complicated moving forward, it greatly increases our chances of winning week 17 which is the most important/difficult part of all of this.

Christain Ponder? Oh god no...please no. You want a terrible first round pick to "mentor" another bad first round pick? Ponder needs a mentor himself. They will just reminisce about FSU and not make each other better at all. Drafting a QB is not going to get us to the playoffs in the first year based on the odds - rookie QBs just arent good enough that early unless they are special, most are not. TJ Yates is hardly a veteran, no chance we get him as an upgrade to Orton and I dont think hes a better #2 than EJ would be or Orton if he stays as a back-up. Cutler is certainly the most talented QB that will likely be available and he is better than Orton. The Bills will likely call everyone offering trades but if it comes down to cutler or anyone else we have to take Cutler. He will be an upgrade. Orton has a $5 mill player option if I remember correctly. Even if we bring in Cutler as the likely starter, Orton isnt going to get $5 mill anywhere else and I doubt someone will bring him in as a starter based on this year. Because of that I think Orton stays no matter what. We could have Cutler as a the likely starter with Orton as a back-up, that seems like the best case scenario to me.

Only 4 years? Thats a long time in the NFL in the absence of a HOF type guy that you get young and those dont come available often. Look across the league and tell me how many teams have had sustained success for 4 straight years, I would take that in a heartbeat and roll the dice that we can find ways to keep it going during those 4 years. If by some strange occurance Eli is available we have to get him. Otherwise I think Cutler and possibly Kaep might be the best available but both are improvements over Orton IMO.

Yea it is very clear that Orton isnt sustainable for a playoff run next year, all the shine from the first couple games has worn off and now he plays like a slower EJ. Everything is a dump off and deep balls are innacurate. The priority needs to be to keep this defense together for another year and then do whatever they can at QB. Keep EJ and Orton on the team but they need to draft a rookie and get the best FA. One guy that isnt technically a FA but I think will come available is Cutler. chicago is really getting sick of him and while I know Cutler makes some really dumb decisions, IMO he is an upgrade from Orton. It may not be a huge upgrade but he may be the best that's out there. Hoyer or Sanchez or Bradford I dont think can get it done next year.

Head to McGearys

Didnt you read, we were playing with a lead. No need for any more points.

this is part of what drives me BONKERS. We run it up the middle, which almost never works, and set ourselves up with some 3rd and long and almost get it with the only throwing play of the drive, on a play when they KNOW we are throwing. Imagine if we ran that play on first when they werent positive we were throwing. How many yards would we get then? Imagine if we ran it on second when they werent sure if we were going to throw it. "What if its incomplete on second down, then what?" you say. Well, it leads to 3rd and long, which would have happened anyway cause we cannot run it. Throw it more often please Hackett

He says they werent conservative and his examples are from the first couple drives when we were in fact not conservative. He shows our throws deep which resulted in touchdowns, praising them even as examples of great plays. Then he doesnt mention anything about the 5 possessions where we didnt get a first down despite only being up by 7, 10 or 13 points. Talking about "playing with a lead"...really? Just in the second quarter Vick marched right down the field and scored a TD, youre going to convince me that we were totally fine run, run, passing it with a 10 point lead? That is bogus. If those throws early were working so well, and Sammy was so awesome how can you justify completely ignoring him until the 4th qurater? I usually really like Jeremy but this one didnt do anything to change my mind. Im not in the first Hackett camp, but I am in the " I want to see more fire power...soon" camp.