KeisterHollow

The way I see it, even though Buffalo really isn't in position to be called "rebuilding", there will, no doubt, be a tremendous amount of learning happening this coming season. Why try and get a veteran QB to merely hold down the position for a season, to attempt to be good enough, if that veteran doesn't have enough talent to actually win it all for us? I mean, I'd be okay with Buffalo going after Alex Smith, or even Flacco (although I have no interest in him), and drafting a guy like Glennon or Dysert, Bray or Nassib. Let the QB's compete, and at least you know - whoever wins will be very good. I just don't want to see us draft a guy and pick up someone like Gronkowski, some vet who would just get us by - if we're not competing for a Super Bowl, then I say let the young guys get their growing pains out of the way! Look at Tannehill. I certainly didn't think he was good enough to start, and yet, by the end of the season, he was playing pretty good football. Miami has to be psyched about going into next season. I think all of us would be okay with an offense that wasn't perfect, a QB who made mistakes, if we saw that it was a work in progress, that it was actually getting BETTER, and not, as we've seen a lot of, getting worse or plateauing. As I was saying, we're not rebuilding, but I would think an 8-8 or 9-7 year would be considered acceptable as long as we saw a rookie QB develop, and our defense growing, gelling.

I absolutely agree. First, you've got to be able to recognize talent - irregardless of school/division, etc. - and you've got to know where the openings are at on your own team, where the weaknesses are. Then, you figure out the combinations of available talent, and choose the players that will give you the most talent at each phase. For instance, the Bills obviously need LB's and a QB - I'd say those are the top 2 needs of this team. If the top 2 LB'ers are hands down better than any of the other LB'ers available, yet the distinction between the #1 QB and the #5 QB is small, then you grab the best LB while you can, and get value with QB on your next pick. It IS up to Nix/Whaley to know JUST HOW GOOD THESE PLAYERS ARE, otherwise you can't pull this stuff off. I happen to think Nix is very good at assessing value - he's just been shocked to see QB's drafted so much higher than they would have been just a few years ago - the NFL has changed in that regard over the past 5 years or so, and Nix hasn't, until now, caught up with it. To the point, though - IF Buffalo thinks Ryan Nassib could be a top 12 QB in the NFL for 10 years, then I say grab him now and get it over with - as long as they believe he can do everything they need their QB to do. QB's are just too hard to come by, unless you're willing to tank a whole season, virtually go winless. If you're planning on fighting and finishing around .500, forget about it - you grab the QB you have confidence in while you can. I would have no qualms with this unless a really special talent is available at CB/LB/DE - I mean Von Miller talented - in which case the best value would be to grab him and then trade back to get your QB. This is the kind of stuff I hope the Bills never stop looking into - find the jewels out there that have been overlooked (Fred Jackson, Jason Peters) because they do exist. Why not try guys out from Canada and the Arena League? You've got the time and room in the offseason to do so, and it won't cost them much at all to do so.

Geno Smith QB 1 West Virginia Sr 6-3 220 1 20 Matt Barkley QB 2 Southern California Sr 6-2 230 1 38 Tyler Wilson QB 3 Arkansas rSr 6-2 218 1-2 47 Ryan Nassib QB 4 Syracuse rSr 6-2 228 2 52 Mike Glennon QB 5 North Carolina State rSr 6-5 232 2 60 *Tyler Bray QB 6 Tennessee Jr 6-5 215 2 75 Zac Dysert QB 7 Miami (Ohio) rSr 6-3 228 2-3 80 Landry Jones QB 8 Oklahoma rSr 6-4 220 2-3 94 EJ Manuel QB 9 Florida State rSr 6-4 240 3 116 Matt Scott QB 10 Arizona rSr 6-2 198 3-4 This is a list from espn - I chopped it off after Matt Scott, as he's projected, on their list, as going in rounds 3-4. I don't think Buffalo would draft anyone else this year that isn't already on this list. As for Free Agents, here are a few I could see Buffalo trying to bring in as competition for a rookie, or as insurance for the first year: Matt Moore, Bruce Gradkowski, Alex Smith, maybe Brady Quinn.

Yes - but, remember, any draft where there's a clear cut #1 QB like Luck, or Newton before him, always has the QB going first. Unless we have that pick, or can get it - like the Redskins did - then having one elite QB in the mix means little. Actually, I think the Bills luck out that we've decided to draft a QB this year, because there is no clear cut number 1 guy, but there are 7-10 QB's in this draft, and at least half of them are going to be decent starters in the NFL, I think. It allows Buffalo to maybe get better talent with their 1st pick, and STILL get a franchise QB later. I'd like to see us draft 2 QB's, and maybe before the end of the 4th round - so that we have a little more insurance that at least one of the young guys will pan out. And, it'd make for good camp competition. Either way, this is NOT a bad year for drafting QB's.

LOVE IT! Frankly, although I like the Patriots offense - especially now that they're running more - I just don't think the spread is as favorable as, say, the offense the 49er's run. So, had Chip Kelly come in, I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't have immediate success. That offense hinges so much on excellent QB play. So, the fact that we've got a guy who, for one, WANTS to coach the Bills - that is hugely important! The players would play much better if they wanted to be here, and weren't just here because they were drafted, or offered more than they could refuse. That element of wanting to be there is big, and it'll help turn the team mentality around. Secondly, his offense isn't set in stone - nor his overall team philosophy. He has schemes and preferences, but he's not so arrogant that he'll try to force things. Add to that he, I read, keeps things pretty simple. That, too, is huge! Rather than having an offense so complex our F.A. QB's cannot even make it on the field after being here a year, we're going to see a system that might have less plays, but the players will have mastered them, and will have confidence in them. Again, that's huge! Our K-Gun offense of old was said to have been pretty simple. We need our players to be able to play fast. I could go on and on - we'll see how it goes. I'm happy with the hire. My biggest desire out of the Bills, when it came to finding a coach, was that they find someone with intelligence, passion, and perspective. We needed a coach who would stop at nothing to improve, a coach who's opinion of success wasn't the playoffs, but winning the Super Bowl. Add to it he hires Pettine - perhaps the hottest available D.C., more so, I'd say, than even Rob Ryan or Horton. This guy is going to get his chance to show the world that HE, not Rex, was the reason for the top defenses in NY. That he'd go right to the best, and get him to come in, shows guts and it's the same thing I would have done. What Bills fan doesn't want to see the Bills defense playing nasty, aggressive, and bone breaking? Of course, it's all early and new, but I love it, and I think the Bills are going to be very relevant again, and consistently so!

I'm all in on Marrone - and so far I feel like he's doing good things. Heckart for O.C. is no problem. In fact, I really, really like how young he is - HE WILL BE ABLE TO RELATE to these players. Heck, most of the team is not far from college age. With Marrone, Pettine, and I'm sure there'll be other, older men to come, the staff is YOUNG, but experienced. We fans need to remember: every time the Bills blew things up, in the last 20 years, they turned to men who are all of the same mold, mind, and ability level. If we'd gone and hired Wisenhunt, or Lovie Smith, guys like that who've been in the league, we'd be seeing more of the same stuff we've seen for the last two decades. This staff IS YOUNG, but it is also NEW, and HUNGRY, and together with Brandon's getting control, and Whaley taking a bigger role - the Bills team is NO LONGER the Bills that we're sick of seeing. This team is now severed from the past. The players AND coaches can all start fresh, and they can redefine what the Buffalo Bills are going to be. I am just so impressed with all these moves.

It is SOOOO EXCITING!!!! I think any defensive minded coach would love to take over this roster. We are one offseason away from being a good defense (top 10) and two offseasons away from being top 5, I think. Why two years? I say that because year one we'll no doubt be walking away from the first three rounds of the draft with a QB, and a LB or two, maybe a WR. Either way, if I'm looking at our roster and trying to make the defense into a historically great defense, which any new coordinator is shooting for, then I'm looking to keep our D-line, Bradham and Bennett, and most of our secondary. I could see us really having a great secondary if Williams, perhaps, warms up to the Safety position - unless he can catch on to the CB spot - and Gilmore/Brooks being a terrific CB duo. Basically, two linebackers and maybe a CB and we're in great shape. Now, if we go 3-4, we're 2-3 linebackers away, plus a huge NT. Those players could be aquired in 2 years. I'm in agreement with the original poster: Pettine will be able to do any system he decides on, and we'll be just fine. Another thing to think about - and smile while doing so - Pettine and Ryan will be COMPETING, now, every year, for the better defense. I LOVE IT!!! Our players - heck, the whole football world - knows about the JETS reputation for defense. Our players will buy into this new system. They'll finally be able to go out onto the field knowing their coach might be the best there is. That kind of belief in the system and in the preparations has been visibly lacking for almost 2 decades. No more.

If Petine was merely taking orders I don't think he'd of been so anxious to get out from under Ryan's shadow - and, then to come here, to a rival, so he can face off against his former boss - I think all that speaks to more of a matching of wits than a "yessir" attitude. I can't wait!

I don't want to see 2 year growing pains out of this defense, and I don't think Petine or Marrone want to, either. I'd bet they want nothing more than to come out of the gates bangin! So, I wouldn't be surprised to see Petine modify his preferences to the personnel he has. In fact, that was a big thing for Marrone - play to the strength of the team - and, I have to imagine its what he was looking for in assistants. Still, I'd love to see a truly Hybrid defense here. I want the Bills to be able to think outside of the box, to be the trend setters - and, as long as we're aggressive, mean, fast, and hard hitting, I'll be happy. That nasty, tough element of good defenses has been lacking here for a long time. Even, these past few years, when the Bills would be playing lights out football on defense for, say, three quarters, you still got the impression that it was a soft defense PUTTING ON A SHOW - that before long they'd revert back to getting smoked. And, sure enough, they always did. I want a defense whose nature is MEAN, TOUGH, HARD HITTING. Like the Jets, or San Fran, or Pittsburgh - a defense that is always good, no matter which players are on the field. That is a reflection of coaching. And, I'm sooooo happy to finally know we've got one of the coaches now to make that happen!

I really don't know which of the group of 8 to 10 college QB's coming out is going to end up good - I'm sure half or more will end up playing and playing well - the draft might not have the clear cut elite QB's, but it's got a bunch of guys who fit into the Russell Wilson, Kaepernick, Dalton mold, the kind of QB's you can see are 2nd or 3rd round talent, but who might climb up into the first, and any of whom might end up playing great. So, if they go Nassib then I trust they know what they're getting. Frankly, if Marrone is sure that Nassib has all the tools necessary to be successful in the NFL, then I'm sold. It does have to be considered a plus that he likes the cold, that he is tough, etc. - those are traits that Nix definitely looks for in guys who might come to Buffalo.

I really couldn't have asked for more since the end of the season! I LOVE what the Bills have done! Marrone was a very good hire in many ways. I understand and support the whole O.C. hire - since Marrone's the one who'll be running the offense - at least it'll be HIS offense - he's going to want someone who knows it. I think that'll translate fine into the NFL, and actually may help us since we won't be predictable right off. But, to then decisively go after Petine, that tells me Marrone knows a good defense when he sees it, and he wants the Bills defense to have that Jets flair! I LOVE IT!!!! I love that our defense is going to be better, while at the same time it makes our division rival weaker! I couldn't be happier if we'd of hired Jon Gruden - really. And, I'm beginning to think this is a better overall move than if they'd of brought in Chip Kelly. I just really feel good about all of it so far. It feels like the Bills are, finally, going to be different. It feels like we're moving out towards the front line, like we're a NEW, YOUNG, HUNGRY organization. I don't think we'll have trouble luring F.A.'s here anymore, either. With the players we already have on Defense, and the Coordinator... I can't wait for the rest of the offseason to unfold!

I'm not concerned he picked up his old Syracuse OC. Sure, Marrone will not call plays, but this offense will be his. Might as well have a man who already knows what you like to do, and how you like to do things. The defense, on the other hand, will be someone else's. I like that he went right for Pettine. If I were trying to describe what I thought good defenses in the NFL look like, I'd be describing the Jets, the 49ers, Steelers, Seahawks. IF we can install a defense like any of those, and an offense that looks a little like the proficient Saints offenses, I'd be thrilled.

I don't think it applies quite like it used to, merely because the demand increased so much in the NFL for franchise QB's, that any college QB risks millions and various other benefits by staying in school beyond eligibility (Matt Barkley is a recent example of the senior year reducing draft stock (hypothetically), although he didn't get hurt). Sure, those Parcells rules are good guides, making any QB who possesses those traits more likely to succeed. Nevertheless, there are guys every year who come out early and end up being good.

Sounds interesting. I trust Marrone to make the right decision. I hope, really badly, that he gets some really awesome Coordinators. If he brings in the right Coordinators, and they coach this team to it's potential, we could see winning football next year! Good Coordinators would really just crown this week's developments, and I think really ennable this organization to start fresh. On the field it's all about Identity, and the ability to change or adapt. A winning team has to be thoroughly prepared - something our coaches have failed to do for about a decade, now. Against good teams and great coaches we have a dismal record of late. Here's to us changing that now!

So much of what Buffalo should do depends on what they want to do in the draft. If they want to try to pick up a stellar LB or DE in the 1st round and try to get their QB of the future in a later round, then they need to decide whether they want to have a rookie starting this year, or whether they want to get their starter - at least until the competition pans out - in F.A., someone like Alex Smith. If they want to get a guy in the draft that can start successfully immediately, they'll have to be willing to trade back up into the first to get him, and even then he'll likely be the 3rd or 4th QB taken. I happen to think this is the best approach: pick up a guy like Alex Smith, if he's available with a moderate salary demand. Then draft your star LB in the first round, add to that star talent in the front 7. Draft a guy like Landry Jones, Tyler Bray, Glennon, Nassib, Boyd, Dysert - in the second or by trading back into the later part of rd 1. Then add as much top talent (even by trading up, if need be) to the defense and WR corps, and even a QB with potential who might fall, like Dysert or Boyd. I think we can look forward to seeing enough talent across the board on this Bills team by the start of next season to be really excited about. And, frankly, when it comes to drafting a QB - I happen to think there are potentially 7 or 8 QB's who could end up playing in the NFL in this year's draft (Geno Smith, Mike Barkley, Tyler Wilson, Landry Jones, Tyler Bray, Mike Glennon, Ryan Nassib, Tahj Boyd, Zac Dysert, and E.J. Manuel) - I just think it's really difficult to choose which ones will be really good, and which ones will end up being second stringers. I wouldn't be surprised to see Boyd, Nassib, or Bray ending up being the next young star QB, and so it's almost a blessing that Buffalo has this draft this year. We can potentially get a good QB in the 2nd or even later rounds.

That is precisely the kind of coach I want to see brought in. Young, innovative, FLEXIBLE, without having run into any situation he couldn't find a way to succeed in. There's got to be a handful of guys like this around the NFL, but the only two I've bought into thus far are Bevell and Chip Kelly. They seem like the right mix of determination, energy, intelligence, and success.

I happen to believe any coach, walking into the Bills situation, who DEMANDED his players play up to a certain level - and doing so by having no loyalties to any players, but always looking for upgrades - and by getting rid of guys who aren't "all in". Its an attitude, a standard - that quality in a coach who is very known or very little known will change the culture. I'm gunning for Chip Kelly. He is the guy who sounds to me most likely capable of creating a sustainable winner.

Thus far, after Chip Kelly Horton would be my second choice. I like his squads, I like that he was mentored by Dick Lebeau, and I like that he professes he'd allow his coordinators to call plays - he believes the coach and the two coordinators need to be experts, and being so, he'd trust them to call the plays - although he'd obviously have input. After having done research, watched interviews, looked at stats and previous performance, my H.C. wish list is something like this: Chip Kelly, John Gruden, Ray Horton, and Gregg Roman. I'd be ecstatic with any of these guys.

I gotta hand it to you - Dysert looks very good to me. I'd be excited to see him in a Bills uniform.

I can't agree with you more! I've always had a real genius for reading people. I can identify character and he has what it takes to be successful. Very smart - and that is so much a necessity in our division. He reminds me of a Bellicheck, actually. Just listen to a few interviews. He uses the right words to clearly and concisely communitcate, and he speaks very fast, which reflects how quickly he thinks. And he believes you have to build your offense around personnel! We need that FLEXIBILITY to be open to finding ways that work in defeating Bellicheck. He's actually (Chip Kelly) of the opinion that you need to base your offense on your personnel. And, just because they are a fast offense, doesn't mean it doesn't play good in the cold outdoors. I love the idea of having a team that is OVERPREPARED, that has practiced MUCH harder than everyone else, and is putting the defense on its toes. BTW - another thing Chip said, paraphrasing, is preparation is the key to success. I've heard that mantra spoken before, but you see it working in places like Denver and N.E. - where dominant personalities push everyone else to be as committed.

I tell you, of all the potential H.C.'s the Bills might interview, I've watched a bunch of interviews of these guys, trying to get a feel for their intelligence, their personalities. I read a post about how much of a jerk Chip Kelly is, how he's rude and condescending, and so I thought I would check out an interview. It turns out he not only seemed polite, but he came across as THE MOST intelligent, capable candidate on the list. I can tell a lot about a person by how they communicate - my favorite candidate now is Kelly. I almost wish I hadn't watched them - because he was so much more intelligent seeming than any of the others (I know, it's not a science, it's opinion, but I have always been good at reading people), if we don't get him I'll feel like we've been robbed! Reminded me of Bellicheck.

I have learned you never know what will happen in the NFL until it happens. There are always instances of "surprise" last minute moves and decisions. However, if Alex Smith were to come to Buffalo, I think it'd be great. I think he could have top 12 numbers, and is the ideal game managing type QB. We are in position to also draft a QB high - If we came out of the first 3 rounds with a QB, LB, and WR, we'd be looking pretty solid, I bet. I can't help but think that is how we go. And, as far a a year to need a QB, I think this is a good one. There is lots of 2nd round talent at QB, and if we have to pay for a QB in F.A., Alex Smith should come less than many other good QB's would.

Yes - still, I would be really disappointed if they walked away from Arizona with Whisenhunt as coach without really having "left no stone unturned".

Forgive me - I think in paragraphs. Despite writing online for years, I still haven't been able to chop my observations down to single words or sentences. My point was specifically Nix's view of what IS successful. That is a critical point when discussing a GM. Thought that was a valid observation.

What comes to my mind when I hear these two things: The Bills have a list, AND, the Bills say they'll offer a contract to the first guy that appeals to them - IF I were looking to fill a position and really believed I'd offer the first guy a job that I liked, I would be certain to interview the BEST options FIRST! Doing anything else only suggests ONE thing - they don't know who they want, or who fits a mold they would like! That scares me! Why? Because, if I'm interviewing for a job, I would go almost 100% on JOB PERFORMANCE, NOT on how well someone interviews! I mean, if they can't look at WHAT guys have done with their teams, and decide who they'd like to have doing that same stuff with them, and instead are just throwing names out to fill up a list, that sounds really lost to me. They've got to have a few guys who they really want - and, there can only be 2 factors in that, the money they'd demand, or how good a coach they are. Tell me, if you were looking to fill a coaching position in the NFL, wouldn't you immediately look to interview Cowher, Gruden, some of the best Coordinators, and then a few top College H.C.'s - only THE BEST. I don't know exactly what they're thinking at OBD, but I will be able to tell you if the coach they do hire is "one of the best available", or if it's just more of the same around here.