R. Rich

A little advice to all opposing safeties remaining on Texas Tech's schedule: keep receivers in front of you @ all times. Don't go for the pick, unless it's a duck and there's no Texas player near you. You may have a shot @ keeping them under wraps if you do.

That's the key. Fix the problems, and then I'm sure we'll see some improvement. I'm not in the best of moods after watching this team implode yet again, but I do remain hopeful that they'll turn things 'round.

This place is slacking. I only saw one of those, "It's only one game/We're still 5-__" type threads on the Wall this morning. Does this mean that all isn't well? The offensive line looked pretty bad yet again. Derrick Dockery; what is up w/ you these past couple weeks, man? You look like you're lost scheme-wise and are getting physically beat down often. I expect to see stuff like this from Jason Whittle (he got walked back into the QB a few times yesterday....though, to his credit, it was Kris Jenkins doing the walking) or Duke Preston (whiffed on a couple blocks as well yesterday), but not our big bucks free agent addition. That other line wasn't all that either. Kyle Williams gives his all, but maybe we need a lot more than his all. Marcus Stroud even got blown off the line yesterday. A few times. As for the ends, well, they did a better job of getting their hands up to deflect passes when they don't get there for the sack or pressure (way too often). Still, there's aggression, and then there's recklessness. Ryan Denney needs to learn the difference. Recklessness is taking off down the line and breaking containment; aggression is maintaining discipline and being there for reverses. I know the difference; I see it every game. If you need someone to point it out for you Ryan, ask Marshawn Lynch. He sees it every game, too. Far too often. Speaking of, nice effort on the pick six by Lynch. Really, it was. Too bad that kind of effort was needed in the first place. Like many of you, I'm sure, I just didn't get the challenge by Jauron on the catch. Maybe they had a poorer camera angle than the TV replay. I dunno. I'm just trying to give the coaches the benefit of the doubt. Broken record time: I would LOVE to see our huge offensive line just maul the people lined up in front of them and pave the road for Marshawn and Fred Jackson (Freddie is the singer; then again, it's tough the fight the lazy a** mentality that still refers to LaDainian Tomlinson as LT when that moniker belongs to a Hall of Fame LB already). Those two deserve better. I'll bet as tired as I am of seeing this finesse crap, they're 5 times more tired of it. We're not done w/ these faulty records: I would LOVE to see the Bills' defensive scheme altered to the point where our LBs are put into positions where they can be more effective and where we do a much more consistent job of pressuring QBs and forcing off target throws. It seemed like we tinkered w/ the idea for a bit, but then abandoned it like we abandon everything that doesn't give us tons of points immediately. Hmmm.....we haven't scored tons of points all season, so maybe we're too quick to abandon things that could work given more time and attention to detail, like running the ball and conjuring up creative blitz schemes. Keep @ it, guys. It can work w/ more of a committment. After the last couple weeks, I take exception to anyone singing the praises of any wideout on the Bills save for Josh Reed. Why? They all, to a man (again, save Reed) seem to have great difficulty getting open. Maybe I'm just not seeing this right again. Maybe they're just facing a fantastic collective of top notch cover corners. Maybe they had too much to eat and were sluggish. It didn't seem to matter which routes they ran, there just weren't many Bills receivers running free against either Miami or the Jets. Maybe they need to work a little harder @ getting open. Sigh. I guess we can take solace in the fact that we're still (there's that phrase again) 5-3 and in a 3 way tie for the division lead. Wait. Hold on. We're also 1-3 in our last 4 games and are 0-2 in the AFC East. Have the Patriots won a division game? If so, I guess that means we're in 3rd place, a game ahead of the team that just beat us. Objects (wins) in the mirror don't appear to be as close right now, do they? Despite all the depressing trends and sights of the recent weeks, there is still time to turn this around. But, the Bills need to realize they have some serious fundamental issues to work on. They can't just "shake off" another bad game. It's not as simple as just "turning it on". They need to work on things like the WRs doing a better job of getting open, the LBs doing something, anything, in run support, and the O line actually using that average 6-6, 335 frame to dominate the line of scrimmage and help out our beleaguered running backs. Otherwise, it'll be another week of "it's only" and "we're still" threads coming up. I don't know 'bout you all, but I'm tired of there being a reason for those threads to be created in the first place. Go Bills!

Wine and stromboli all 'round! Enjoy.

Robert Royal

Sorry. I do think she's very attractive, but I also think Kara Henderson is attractive too.

I remember when the trade went down. I was in my freshman year @ college. Way back when.

Then again, I pick the Bills to win every week.

Well, I should hope so.

I'll bet I can think of somone who will agree.

Thanks, but don't worry. I forgot to add Woodson. D'oh! Well, they can do 6 if they want to... It would be great if he did get in, and if I could, I'd lobby extremely hard for it. But, like we both said, it's probably not going to happen. Too bad. We're including Shannon Sharpe in the "receivers" category here, right? If so, you're probably right in that they'll vote him in. He does have the stats, even if he's more a wideout than a tight end (they do block, right?). Then again, I've always said that if it wasn't for the neck injury, Sterline Sharpe would be a shoo in for the Hall. The telling stat for this guy: he set the NFL record for receptions in a season where he was unable to practice due to turf toe. Amazing. And, he missed out on Brett Favre's prime years. Instead of seeing Brooks, Freeman, and Driver grabbing those throws from Favre, he would've been the top option. Wow.

Nicely done, Kenneth. As usual. Here's my take: Quarterbacks Ken Anderson Boomer Esiason Jim Plunkett Phil Simms Ken Stabler Joe Theismann Doug Williams Running Backs Ottis Anderson Larry Centers Roger Craig Terrell Davis Brian Mitchell (also KR/PR) Greg Pruitt (also KR/PR) Herschel Walker Ricky Watters Wide Receivers Cliff Branch Harold Carmichael Cris Carter Wes Chandler Gary Clark Isaac Curtis Henry Ellard Irving Fryar Roy Green Harold Jackson Herman Moore Stanley Morgan Andre Reed Sterling Sharpe Tight Ends Mark Bavaro Todd Christensen Ben Coates Russ Francis Brent Jones Steve Jordan Shannon Sharpe Frank Wycheck Offensive Linemen Tony Boselli, T Lomas Brown, T Jim Covert, T Randy Cross, G/C Dave Dalby, C Dermontti Dawson, C Ray Donaldson, C Russ Grimm, G Jay Hilgenberg, C Kent Hill, G/T Chris Hinton, G/T Kent Hull, C [My bias is certainly showing here; I realize it ain't happeing and certainly not before Dawson] Joe Jacoby, T Mike Kenn, T Lincoln Kennedy, T Bob Kuechenberg, G Jim Lachey, T Henry Lawrence, G/T Mark May, G/T/C Randall McDaniel, G Max Montoya, G Marvin Powell, T Steve Wisniewski, G Defensive Linemen Ray Childress, DT/DE Richard Dent, DE Chris Doleman, DE/LB Carl "Big Daddy" Hairston, DE/DT Charles Haley, DE/LB Ed “Too Tall” Jones, DE Cortez Kennedy, DT Joe Klecko, DE/DT/NT Steve McMichael, DT/NT Leslie O’Neal, DE John Randle, DE/DT Fred Smerlas, NT Bruce Smith, DE Art Still, DE Dana Stubblefield, DT Linebackers Jessie Armstead Cornelius Bennett Robert Brazile Kevin Greene (also DE) Ken Harvey Rickey Jackson Tom Jackson Clay Matthews Karl Mecklenburg Sam Mills Hardy Nickerson Chris Spielman Pat Swilling Darryl Talley Derrick Thomas Defensive Backs Eric Allen, CB Steve Atwater, S Joey Browner, S LeRoy Butler, S Deron Cherry, S Raymond Clayborn, CB Kenny Easley, S Lester Hayes, CB Albert Lewis, CB Ken Riley, CB Eugene Robinson, S Donnie Shell, S Darren Woodson, S Rod Woodson, CB/S Louis Wright, CB Kickers, Punters & Special Teams Rich Camarillo, P Ray Guy, P Nick Lowery, K Reggie Roby, P Steve Tasker, ST/WR Coaches Don Coryell Tom Flores Jimmy Johnson Chuck Knox Buddy Parker Dan Reeves Clark Shaughnessy Contributors Bud Adams, Owner Gil Brandt, Administrator C.O. Brocato, Scout Leo Carlin, Administrator Ed DeBartolo, Jr., Owner Ben Dreith, Official Bob Harlan, Administrator Jerry Jones, Owner Art Modell, Owner Art Rooney, Jr. Administrator Ed Sabol, NFL Films Steve Sabol, NFL Films Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner Ralph Wilson, Jr., Owner

Well, 1-2 is better than 0-2, I suppose.

True, we'd still be in decent shape for a playoff spot, but you'd still have this situation though: 6-3 (Half Good) 0-2 in AFC East (Half Bad)

Sure it was.

Yeah, but it's not really necessary. Just give Marshawn the ball 20 plus times, as was mentioned earlier. Maybe he and Roethlisberger can heal up together @ the same hospital from the beatings they take, or they can end up spending time together @ the same rehab due to their addiction to painkillers.

Pittsburgh ran a variant? Wasn't it the late Bud Carson, then Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator, who really introduced the scheme to the NFL? I do hope the coaches make a few adjustments to help things. Not sure how much that hope will help, as they do seem a bit rigid in regard to making big changes. A traditional cover 2 can be neutralized by multiple WR sets. Problem w/ that theory nowadays is, w/ the way safeties are becoming hybrids, it's tougher for teams to force those mismatches, as guys like Whitner can cover the slot if necessary as well as cover a tight end. Starting??? For the short term, they can do things such as devise blitz schemes to confuse blocking schemes (like how the Giants and the Iggles did to Pittsburgh). Aside from that, the Bills may need personnel changes in terms of their pass rush. Either way, I'll hope for the best.

Who's Schopp?

Only a TD favorite against Miami? Heck, they should be favored by @ least 20.

It must've been those lighter, quicker, svelte DTs he had like Tractor Traylor and Ted Washington.

Erin Andrews is very nice looking, even though she's got that blonde hair. I saw Kara Henderson (NFL Network) last week @ the San Diego game, and she's pretty hot too.

It's hard for me to review the performance of Derrick Dockery and say he did anything positive in terms of good pass protection (nice chip on the Porter safety) or run blocking. This could've easily been the worst game he's played as a Bill. Whittle getting one of those ill timed penalties that's reminiscient of the "same old Bills" we thought we were rid of also doesn't give them a ringing endorsement. Peters did get flat out beat by Porter on those sacks, but I guess since Porter is good it's no big deal. Funny; I thought Peters was good too. Now, I am not saying Peters sucks, but I also don't think the "Porter is good" defense is much of a defense @ all. It was a substandard performance by the entire offense, from the coaching (for whatever reason, the Bills' offense is like an open book to opposing defenses; watch the pre-snap recognition and the defense's reaction and flow to the play) on down to the players. Nobody can say they "did their job" in this one. As for the coverage guys manning up, if you mean in the masculine sense.....well, they could be a bit more physical (like Youboty was w/ those great open field tackles earlier this year). If you mean by playing more man coverage........have you seen our (lack of a) pass rush? Putting those guys in man coverage and playing more of a press coverage w/ the level of pass rush we currently have would be to QBs what blood in the water is to sharks.

The Fixx

It's just one game! It's not the end of the world! Calm down, everyone. Okay, now that I've gotten those out of the way..... We suck! We're hopeless! The end is near!! Alright, now that both polar extremes have been placated, on w/ the show.... My first thought on what took place comes from my thought on Week 1: Seven weeks later, and we still don't have a consistent, scary pass rush. People, it's one of the main culprits in BOTH of our losses. Pass protection was awful today also. Jason Peters........uh boy. Oh, and did Derrick Dockery block anyone today? Ever? Langston Walker did get a block on the FG, and that was great. Other than that, he didn't do much either. Preston got yanked; I wonder if it was for the shotgun snap? Just curious. Here's a question to ponder: were those inexperienced corners just that good, or did Evans have some trouble getting open today? Hmm... Robert Royal....yikes! Dropsies abound, and not much in pass protection either. You couldn't have had a worse game for us, unless you were.... Trent Edwards.....ugh! This was a clunker of a game from a guy many people think has the potential to be one of the very best QBs in the game. Let's just chalk it up to Trent still learning on the job and hope we don't see a repeat of this. Ever. Okay, ever is a bit unrealistic. Then again, we're Bills fans. We thrive in the realm of the unrealistic. Marshawn Lynch did have that great TD run though. Hey, it's something. As I've said before, I just wish the guy had more of the chance to take on LBs and DBs instead of getting met @ the line of scrimmage by D linemen so often. The biggest line in the league certainly can do better by this kid. Another positive was the contributions of Fred Jackson. He gives the team a nice compliment to Lynch and is a very effective runner 'tween the tackles. Well, we're 0-1 in division play so far. It's still a long ways off, and we're still tied w/ New England for the top spot. Still, unless this team develops the kind of pass rush that can force quicker throws, get more sacks (especially in critical situations where we need 'em..........like third downs), and force some turnovers, we could see more of the same. I don't think this team will tank the rest of the way, but they have to work on those issues to even hope to remain as the frontrunner in the AFC East. Protect Edwards better, open up some holes for Marshawn (PLEASE!!!!), and get after the QB to where our guys in the secondary don't have to cover for a year or so, and then let's see what happens. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll finish watching the Stillers-Giants game, then get in a bit of Madden as the Bills and whoop up on Miami in my futile attempt @ petty, meaningless revenge.

Okay, I've posted the results of Week 16. I'll also post the polls for Week 15 and 16 players of the week some time today, probably after the afternoon games and before the night game. Also, we will be looking for 3 or 4 people to take ownership of some teams this offseason. I hope we can find a couple interested participants from here. Check out our forum and see for yourself.