The Dean

Now my room has got two windows, but the sunlight never comes through.

I can't understand how people don't understand that. It is OK to say we "used" two first round draft picks on the Sammy choice (but what you say is more accurate than that).

Welcome aboard. Always good to get a new fan. Well, not always... Hope you like it here.

Well, I'm sure he was disappointed they didn't get a TD. In that we are in complete agreement. But what was he willing to risk for that TD? Not to make too fine a point on this, but I'll give it one more shot. Do you think, if the game rested in the balance, where only a touchdown mattered. That is a FG would be meaningless because the Bills would lose the game with a only FG. In that circumstance, to you think Hackett calls two runs up the middle? I don't. Because, at that point of the game, in this particular game, a FG, while not ideal, is an acceptable result. There are more aggressive ways to approach the red zone and if the game was on the line, I wouldn't expect that conservative play calling. Yup. I'm not complaining about Hackett's play calling so far. Whaley's off season moves have proven to be fantastic so far. Too bad Marrone lost the team.

I actually already cited that, but since it's so good I'll let it go. Worry definition: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/worry Making sense of The Dan ain't easy.

No doubt,. And that is as it should be, IMO.

I believe Watkins was held on that route. I would have liked to see a bit more effort from him on that one, but I realize he isn't 100%. But to the point, I know we typically agree. Do you think if the Bills had been trailing, let's say be 14 points, do they run up the middle on first and second down? What if it's late in the game. In-game variables definately make an impact on play calling--which is really my point here irrespective of what drive we are talking about. I'm just pointing out the possibilities on any given drive. But I don't believe the Bills aggressively attacked the end zone, in the same way they would have had they been trailing, on those first three drives. Neither do I think the play calling, in or out of the red zone, would be the same if they expected to be in a high scoring shootout of a game. Or if they had Tom Brady as a QB. Or if their running backs couldn't be counted on to actually gain much yardage, etc. Play calling, irrespective of if it is or isn't in the red zone, is contextual.

Thanks Greggy, That's the main crux of the biscuit. In his original proclamation, Weo (as he does) failed to consider context in any form. But actually I'm saying something more now. Looking at the play selection, I don't really think the Bills aggressively attacked the end zone on any of those first three red zone possessions. Certainly not in the first one, where they ran into the middle of the line of the first two downs. I'm not suggesting that they weren't trying to score. But they were trying to score in the context of their normal offense. They were going about the red zone the same way they drove down the field. And I think that was pretty much the same for the other 1st half red zone drives. Would they have made those same play calls if they were trailing by 14 points? I doubt it. But the defense is stout. The team was moving the ball well for the most part. I believe they were trying to score a TD, but not to the point of gambling with an INT or sack or big yardage loss. A FG, while not optimal in those situations, was an acceptable outcome. Had they been trailing in the game, they may have felt the necessity to engage in riskier play calling. I have no idea how to convince you that many coaches adjust their play calling (inside and outside the red zone) based on in-game variables. But go ahead and believe the Bills would have run up the middle twice and settled for a short pass on third down, if they were trailing by a couple scores at that point.

Seriously. Someone at the bar said, "What is he made of paper" when it was clear he reinjured his ribs. The dude wasn't saying much when he delivered, clearly not 100% and hampered by extra rib padding. Gutsy performance to be sure.

Bravo!

I already said this in another thread, but since this is about Sammy being open.... A guy sitting next to me at the bar said, after Sammy caught a pass: "He was COLLEGE open!" And he was. A lot, All day,

He either simply doesn't understand or refuses to admit he was mistaken in his initial evaluation. I can't explain it to him again.

I get that. [The girls don't seem to care what's on, as long as they play til dawn] Just kidding. I actually like just about all genres of music. But I am a horrendous, self admitted, music snob, so only like about 1% of the stuff in any given genre. It's hard for me to get into music that is more about attitude than music. And by that I mean, if it seems like the musicians spend more time on their stance on stage, the way they dress (up or down), their light show, their sneer, etc, than their musicianship, I have a hard time giving a damn. I think most rock musicians need to practice more often. With that said, some women friends of mine (the "Branch Deanians") took me to see this local punk/grunge band in San Francisco a few years ago. Much to my surprise they were pretty good. They were tight, the musicians were clearly a cut above what you hear from most of these bands, and their music was actually interesting. Just when I started to appreciate it, I noticed they were getting ready to leave. They didn't like the band. I guess they were just too good for the crowd.

They suck. I mean, how could they not? The Bills beat them.

Well done!

He went 22 of 33. How many is "a lot" of bad passes?

Apparently EJ is much better than Kap, as he has just tossed his third INT to this "terrible" defense.

Well we can disagree about aggression if you like, But if you honestly believe many coaches don't adjust their red zone play selection based on in-game variables, you are sticking your head in the sand, my friend.

Mot@#@$@%#$%@#$@Q#!%%TQ#$%@#%!$!@#$^@#$^@#$%^Y@#$%^@#%!!!

Agreed (as the Bears take the lead), Chicago looks like crap!! Hey I don't know who will win the game, but why do people post things like this so early in a game? I will never understand it.

The guy sitting next to me at the bar said this about Sammy: "He was COLLEGE open." True dat.

None, TDs are preferable. But to think that's the end of the thought process is overly simplistic. How much are you willing to gamble to get those 4 extra points? Depending on many variables, some coaches decide to go about trying to get the TD in more conservative, or more aggressive, manner. I think that's pretty obvious and can't quite figure out why you are still confused by it.

But just so I have this straight: You think every time, no matter what the circumstances, teams make no adjustments on how to attack in the red zone? Do I have that right? Because based on your posts, and your reluctance, and/or inability, to consider context, that's what I'm getting. You don't ever seem to weigh the pros and cons, the positives and negatives, of situations. You make pronouncements devoid of context. I was a bit disturbed when the Bills had to kick their third field goal. With that said, I understood Hackett knows the defense is playing well, he has a young QB and a FG is better than a sack or an INT. Later on, the Bills managed to put the ball in the end zone. In the fourth quarter, the reluctance to go all out for a score made sense, even though I'd prefer they play more aggressively. I hope the offense makes different decisions as the year progresses, and when the situation calls for it. But quite honestly, if playing it safe and taking FGs continues to result in wins, then I really don't give a damn.

Well I think by naming the bands whom the Dead Boys were influential, you have already made my point. But I'll take the bait and say Steely Dan is mentioned as an influence, or at least as being admired, by many diverse bands and musicians. They are regularly sampled by hip-hop/rap bands, folk, jazz fusion, and rock bands alike. I can hardly think of a musician I have met that doesn't love Steely Dan. Off the top of my head musicians as diverse as, Joe Jackson, Kanye West. Steve Lukather, Mayer Hawthorne, Gov't Mule, Ben Folds, Boz Scaggs, Herbie Hancock, Rickie Lee Jones and Luciana Souza admit to being influenced by Steely Dan. There are many tribute albums of Steely Dan songs made by respected jazz musicians and even Classical artists. College classes are taught on the music of Steely Dan. But this isn't just about the Dead Boys versus Steely Dan (that would be ridiculous), I understand some don't like Steely Dan (though surprisingly I haven't heard many musicians who admit that), This is about music vs attitude. There are many bands/artists who contribute to the musical progression of our time. I doubt anyone ever accused the Dead Boys of having exceptional musicianship. I doubt their exceptional songwriting is what influenced Pearl Jam (I mean, how could it?).