KeisterHollow

I think what we're seeing is indicative of what I've predicted we'd see of this offense as a system - similar to what New Orleans ran during their recent Super Bowl run - where most of our WR's are INTERCHANGABLE, where each can more or less line up at ANY OF THE WR POSITIONS, so what we're seeing Buffalo doing is filling up the cupboard, so to speak, with WR's who fit that tall, fast, can catch mold. Sure, he'll be on the practice squad if at all on the roster, but it's the point of being able to go to our last reserves and have them still be THE SAME MOLD - Tall and FAST.

Maybe the staff has told Dareus to beef up a little so he could handle traditional NT duties, but is athletic enough to penetrate when asked to try to do so. I think, of all the players on the Bills roster, Dareus is the most likely NT - unless Branch is penciled in there. That is why I thought the Bills might spend a top 5 (round) pick on a bigger, more traditional NT - because, I felt the weakness (besides LB'ers) of our 3-4 experiment a few years ago, was the absence of a really mammoth NT. Both Dareus and Williams were more penetrating DT's in the 4-3 mold. So, maybe that weight - if it is indeed true that he's bigger - was deliberate to help clog up the middle?

I absolutely agree - CJ has been the professional's professional since he was drafted. He's always said the right things, and always behaved the right way. CJ is one kid whose motivation is TO BE THE BEST; not money. That is why he WILL be one of the best. I'm just so glad we picked him and have him on our team. He's going to pair up nicely with EJ and our new offense!

Imagine what Tom Brady looked like through the first few rounds on draft day(s) - and, we all know it really, really bothered him, since he still cites it as motivation for beating teams down. I have to agree (a bit with both sides, here) - Geno IS only a kid; and, furthermore, none of us really knows anything about him, probably. He might end up being the best QB in this draft, and one of the best in the NFL. We just don't know yet. And, as far as I'm concerned, I don't care - I like that we got EJ, and I DO like EJ's ability to carry himself and the way he'll be the face of our franchise. Time will ultimately tell which was the right pick to make, though - and although these 2 QB's will always be compared to each other, I think Barkley and Wilson will also prove to be good enough QB's to be brought up, in future years, as comparisons to EJ and the Bill's choice.

I think the confusion here is the belief that Pettine's "multiple" defense means players being constantly, or often, substituted. Although I'm sure Pettine will use many of his players and play to their strengths, I think his whole MULTIPLE look Defense has more to do with a base formation that can line up in a bunch of different formations USING THE SAME PERSONNEL. Imagine we line up in a 3-4, and then with the same players on the field we line up in a 3-3-5, and then the very next play with the same personnel we line up in a 4-2-5. Therefore, no huddle will not necessarily adversely effect our base defense. How can this be, you might ask? Well, it's in the fact that Pettine will require some of his safeties to be able to play nickel CB duties, and some of his linebackers to play safety duties, and some of his DE's to play OLB.

That's actually something I hope I do not see - the Bills achieve a small measure of success - like a wildcard appearance - and go out swinging, and the fans are so enamored with finally getting back to the playoffs that they go crazy and celebrate just making it in as a wildcard. I think, as the original post suggests, the Bills need to get back to having Championship standards.

Imagine yourself standing in front of 80 plus grown men, more than half of which are just about millionares, all of whom have been playing football for just about their entire lives, and you're trying to talk motivation, excitement with them. You're trying to convince these guys that you want them all to be excited and upbeat while they go through their practices, and preparation for the season. Now, there are a few ways these men can take what you're saying. They can think, "Who is this guy? He's trying to get me to act like I'm super psyched to go out and do what I've been doing since I was 7 years old!" It would seem like it COULD be a tough sell, trying to get everyone to actually SHOW excitement, once it's been asked of you. Yet, there is a certain honesty that can break through the doubters, and the pessimists - the charm and appeal of football is that every year it's a clean slate, and every year it's a chance for these men to find a way to work together in such a way that they can defy the odds and make a run at a championship. If that is really what they all have as a goal, then that is the common ground to start on. And, if that is their collective goal, then it cannot be achieved in a single step - it's got to happen step by step, beginning in these OTA's, and carrying through till the end of the season. The mindset has to start NOW. If Marrone and Co. can get everyone on the same page and keep it that simple, they can get everyone to buy in, because there's no reason, in the end, for any of them to not give it a try. The older guys know what it's like to lose, and they must feel as though opportunity might not knock again. And, the younger guys have no bad habits or contrary points of reference - which is another reason, I think, that the Bills are going so young - it's easier to get the young guys to buy into all of it.

Yeah, I've wondered that, too - but, I also wondered, why didn't we ever bring in, in one offseason, 1. A new QB, and 2. three or four interesting WR's (Woods, Goodwin, Rogers, and Kaufmann), while Gailey was here? I think had Gailey stayed he would have been arrogant about his ability to coach up people, and we'd still have Jones and Nelson as some of our top WR's. I give Marrone a heck of a lot of credit for QUICKLY identifying where the roster needed upgrading, and for then teaming with our GM(s) to get the personnel he needed.

I think there will be at least one or two WR cuts who get quickly swiped up by other teams - as we now suddenly have a surplus of candidates. Easley and Brad Smith are the most likely candidates.

I'd be surprised if Pettine's approach to defense has us cycling through a great number of players. I thought part of the philosophy or approach was to have a base of players who could be used to line up in various packages WITHOUT having to substitute a bunch of players. I'll admit - I don't know whether Pettine likes to substitute a lot, or not. I, for some reason, thought he was going for a starting group that could stay on the field and do a lot without having to use substitutions.

If EJ Manuel plays somewhere in the range of Cam Newton, RGIII, Luck, Wilson, or even Tannehill, and if our O-line plays well, we stand to have a very formidable offense. Something that appeals to me: what many consider to be a weakness of Buffalo's offense - namely, we have so many untested or new skill position players in a new scheme - I think can conversly be a strength; no one knows what to expect from us, and, when we get rolling, people will not be able to focus solely on Stevie, or Spiller, because we'll have Chandler, Jackson, Woods, Rogers, Goodwin and Graham as alternate, viable weapons. The name of our game will be spreading the ball out, and using our speed to create mismatches and to tire our opponents. I love our chances - because we don't have to have a super complex offense that these young guys would need years to master in order to have success; and Marrone is going to prove that to people this year.

I'm glad you brought up this post - I wanted to very much, but I didn't really have anything to say other than how impressed I was with Pettine's recent Q&A on BuffaloBills.com. As much as I like Marrone and his intelligence/innovation, a bigger reason for my optimism towards the Bills is Pettine! As much as I despised our flip-flopping schemes on defense over the last 3 years, I actually think that indecision will BENEFIT us now; we have players on our roster that are athletic and capable of playing in different schemes/positions. Think about it - Alex Carrington and Mario Williams, both about 6-5, 300lbs, and both have played DE and OLB, and Carrington has played DT, too. Then there's Dareus and K.Williams, who have both played NT, DT, and DE in 3-4. Lawson, Alonso, Bradham can each play ILB or OLB. Hughes can play OLB or DE. Dowton and Scott can both play Safety or LB. Then you have Aaron Williams and Duke Williams who can play both Safety and CB! That is a very, very nice group of players who have enough physical talent to be playmakers, if they haven't been so already. Now, you take those talents and put them in the hands of a guy like Pettine, who is a MASTERMIND of defense, and whose specialty happens to be SCHEME INTERCHANGABILITY / FLEXIBILITY! We will be able to line up in 3-3-5, 4-2-5, and 2-4-5 type schemes that will be able to effectively go after the QB and stop the run, and blitz from anywhere! QB's are going to have fits trying to decipher what we're planning. I can clearly remember watching Jets games over the last 3 years and thinking, "WHY CAN'T WE PLAY DEFENSE LIKE THIS!!!!" Well, now we can, and I for one think we'll be playing excellent defense right out of the gates - which is why I believe we'll have a very good chance this year to make the playoffs. And, as for Pettine - I can't overemphasize how important I think intelligence is in the NFL; and Pettine comes off as very intelligent. But, the one aspect of intelligent men in football that sometimes lessens their effectiveness - they sometimes come off as soft, or not as fierce, as the more brute-ish type guys who are more old-school. Well, Pettine, to me, brings both to the table. He's fierce, aggressive, and intelligent. We need those qualities in abundance if we're going to stop the Patriots.

To defend the op's POV - even though Marrone has done nothing yet - I'll say: He DID bring in Pettine, who IMO is the best DC we've had since Wade Phillips. Pettine brings INSTANT credibility to our defense, and is the reason the Bills are getting so much attention and positive attention this offseason. If Marrone had hired a no-body or someone who hasn't done anything yet in the NFL as a DC, the Bills would be looked at with the same type of dismissive attitude they've always been treated with these past 15 years or so. Watch Pettine on BuffaloBills.com - there's a video of him being interviewed just the other day after a practice - he really comes off as a SMART, INTENSE, DC, who is also very well spoken. I like what we're going to have around here on D! A lot of times H.C.'s have come in here and gotten rid of a bunch of guys, a bunch of coaches, and then spent the draft picking up a mismatch of players that does not come close to filling the roster on either offense or defense, leaving us fans to say, "Well, it's a new coaching staff, a new "regime", we have to give them a few years...yada yada yada. Marrone comes in and doesn't really take too much off the roster, and he especially, eventually, replaces what he's cut with younger, or more promising, scheme appropriate players. Marrone comes in and after the FA and draft, I look at this roster and there aren't a lot of places I see us needing to upgrade anymore. Sure, there are a lot of question marks, but those are young players who will have a chance to prove they belong. This is, not only a young roster, but a talented one. I don't have the feeling like we'll need 3 years to compete this time around. I am optimistic - as I've said before, not since Williams have I been so much so.

I assume - perhaps with Luck as the exception - that the recent success of these 1st and 2nd year QB's is due to a "simplified" offense. Seattle's coach was recently quoted as saying they starting out with a limited playbook for Wilson, and opened things up as he proved he was capable to execute more. Nevertheless, when a team has as many rookies as we do, and young players in general, asking them to OVERTHINK - as has been mentioned by the Bills staff already - only slows them down. Simplifying and playing fast limits the amount these youngsters will have to process and second-guess, and will allow them to go out and use their physical talents and "just play ball!". So, I'm not going to think anything negative at all about this until they show they can't compete - and I don't expect that to happen. And - one thing that really bothered me about Gailey's offense was the alleged complexity of it. Gailey pigeon-holed himself with an offense that necessitated a really heady QB. Take the tools you have and give them all an offense they can perform at a high level in. Thats what we need, and hopefull that is what we'll see.

You know - money is nice, but as far as credibility stands, you can both look back on this thread and say, "I was right", or, "I was wrong". I happen to take more solace in knowing my POV is right - when winning such bets - than in the money. I like to know my reasoning, my perception, all the things that go into making predictions, are validated, and it reinforces my trust in my ability to percieve things accurately. Thats really what I get out of these types of bets. Just being a fan, it's not always - I think we'll make the playoffs every year. You can be a fan and still say, "I don't think we'll win 5 games this year". But, to say one or the other every year, indiscriminately, just deflates one's credibility, I think. And, my prediction, this early in the game, is 9 wins. Sure, we might only get to 6 - but I feel like we'll be improved from last year, dramatically. If we lose a lot of games, it'll be by close margins. Of course, if key injuries occur, it kind of throws it all out the window. Still, my prediction for this year, no money tied to it, is 9 wins.

It's my opinion - and the reason I think he was talking about Buffalo was because, "no amount of money is worth this -" and the MONEY was from Buffalo. So, that's the logical link I made there. And, I referred to people experiencing things individually - yet, my overall point was, he had a lot less to complain about than many - if not most. I don't want to live in his shoes or be him. I'm saying no matter how you look at it it looks bad for the Bills. Personally - I understand people who have emotional issues and question the sanity of everything. But, if you take 100 MILLION dollars to go play a game for 5 years, and have to live there for half or two thirds of each of those years, YOU MAKE THE MOST OF IT. You go there and you bust your butt to make that team better. Thats my opinion.

What is more bothersome to me is that Russ Brandon was replying to a question, I believe, from Schoop on WGR - and Schoop had been pounding the Bills organization for a few weeks leading up to this presser, saying how behind the times the Bills were. It was OBVIOUS to me that Brandon was replying directly to what Schoop was saying, and trying to quell the opinion of any who thought the Bills would continue to be a backward organization - so, he said they'd instill a robust analytics department to make it look like they were, indeed, planning on being cutting edge. What is bothersome to me about that is that is was obviously a ploy on Brandon's part to gain favor with Schoop and the WGR/Buffalo media. I'd much rather they do what they're going to do BECAUSE they're professionals, and they know better than the media what needs to be done. I mean, if he'd come out and say, now, that yes, they have a department beginning, then it'd look like they really had intended on doing it - but, by saying they didn't have one in place, to me, suggests it was merely said to appease the ragging of certain WGR announcers. I don't like that - I'd rather the GM tell everyone to go to *^#& rather than tell everyone what they want to hear and then do something else. It's a small thing - I think Marrone and Whaley will be in more innovative than most - and I think it is already evident. I think many teams will begin to emulate Buffalo's approach, which is similar to Seattle's, and Philly's, and sounds similar to what Jacksonville is also doing - all relatively new teams doing things a little different now in the NFL.

That does speak volumes as to her intentions. Still - how pathetic is it that Mario claimed, "no amount of money is worth this..." as if he had it soooo bad. Are you kidding me? The guy has more money than a hundred normal people make in a lifetime, is in a place where if he plays well he'll be idolized - I just think its absurd for him to feel sorry for himself when there are so many people who'd climb mountains to get to experience his life for just a short time. I know - everyone expereinces things individually and alone, but he just makes it sound like he despised being in Buffalo - and to me, that is almost shameful that a guy can't suck it up and be excited about what he has, compared to, say, the thousands of soldiers who're in REALLY nasty places, at near poverty level pay, WITH NO CHOICE of leaving - and doing it VOLUNTARILY. Really makes him look like a puss, to me.

The first Bills head coach to win a Super Bowl will no doubt be considered the BEST head coach in Bills History. The difference between Doug Marrone and all the other head coaches in Bills history thus far: Doug has yet to prove he's incapable of such a feat; likewise, the reverse is true. We'll have to wait and see, but I know I like Doug Marrone's attitude and coaching staff, and I like the players we have on this roster, and the schemes we're purported to run. So far, I'm happier with this hire than with any hire for head coach I can remember. We'll see where it goes.

Is that you, Tom?

I see it like this: Nix was asked to come in and help restore the Bills to respectability, help turn around a putrid roster - and, despite missing on the coach, he did upgrade the roster - which we'll see evidence of this year. Now, when he got here he knew he was only going to be doing this for a few years, so he looked around the NFL landscape and saw a couple capable young men who would be in demand as a good GM option, and instead of risking letting them get scooped up by another team in the interem, he went ahead and brought Doug in as the GM in waiting, allowing him to get accustomed to the area, to the roster, and after this past offseason, Doug certainly had a hand in hiring Marrone and Co. It was a very wise decision by Nix - and now the Bills have one of the youngest teams in the NFL, both roster-wise, and front office-wise. We have a salary cap that is managable, too. This team went from old, ill run, with a poor roster and no prospects, and in three years has evolved into one of the youngest teams with a ton of potential. Nix did great in that regard. We are a complete 180 from then to now.

Just having the ability to hit guys deep will force the defenses to play us differently - not to mention having more capable guys running those deep routes! Remember how many yards per run Spiller had last year? That was in an offense that defenses DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT being beat deep in. Spiller and Jackson might be the biggest winners with this draft and FA period - those guys should put up even better numbers this year than they've done in recent years - THAT is SCARY!

No doubt Hackett and Marrone are thinking the same thing. Besides the aforementioned Rogers, Woods, Graham, Goodwin, and CJ, we also have Dickerson and Easley who run about a 4.4. The slowest guy on our roster of offensive weapons is Johnson, I think. That is NUTS. I have to believe their plan will be exactly as you implied - make the defense defend the long ball, the intermediate, and the run game, while respecting the screen and the option. That is what they refer to when they say "dictate to the defense" - and, the defense will just about have to stay in a Nickel or Dime for most of the time, as we'll be running the NO-HUDDLE a lot. The biggest weakness our offense will have is pressure defenses who can get to the QB early. If our O-line plays good, this offense will be shredding teams.

I think Graham is going to have a big year... and that bodes well for the Bills - our own Wallace without the drama. If Woods and Rogers pan out, and Johnson just keeps it up, we're going to have a tough cut process with this WR group. A nice problem to have, for a change!

Oh man! Another thing about the Bills resurgence - should we begin to get competitve and good again, which I believe we'll be even this year - is that we can begin to cherish old rivalries again! It's been SOOOOOOOO long since I've felt anything close to a rivalry for Buffalo, with the exception of the Patriots. In fact, I'd say the Patriots is Buffalo's biggest rivalry - despite the fact that they'd disagree. Yet, if we beat them good a few times and challenge for the division, I think the Patriots could quickly come to hate us; in fact, I get the impression the Patriots really despise Buffalo more than most teams. Anyway, with the Dolphins coming up - which, by the way, I think they'll definitely be improved; that coach is potentially to them what Marrone will be for us, which is to say he was the brains behind an excellent system in Green Bay and is implanting that system, and the excellence, into the Dolphins - we should be able to look forward to the next decade of Miami vs Buffalo, two young QB's growing together, both drafted in the same range, two new coaches... It's going to be great to look forward to games that matter again! And, of course, there's the Jets - who Buffalo will play very tough since they're so frequently beating us good, and since we now have Rex's pupil/protege here - that'll make for excellent story and build-up.