fergie's ire

He WAS a Pro Bowler in SD, but not only did he suck his first three years, the only reason he had the opportunity to start, and thus make it to the Pro Bowl, was because Rivers held out. The Chargers had already said that they planned to have Rivers start and have Brees permanently sent to the bench, but Rivers missed most of training camp because of contract negotiations. Since he wasn't ready, the Chargers were FORCED to play Brees, who then lit it up....and the rest, as they say, is history.

It's that darn AFC North schedule. It's tough when you have to pull for the likes of Jacksonville and Atlanta to win.

Yeah, I have a hard time understanding why Manziel's was ruled an incomplete pass on review. The only thing I can think of is that they don't think he had full control while bring it back...that it was already coming out before bringing it back. I have a hard time understanding BECAUSE the tuck rule was eliminated. That said, I didn't know anyone thought the refs got the ruling wrong on the Brady play. I remember the day after the play all the commentators reading the rule and saying that with that rule a quarterback could run around pump faking constantly and never fumble, because according to the rule even if the quarterback was pulling the ball back, it was an incomplete pass until the ball was tucked away. Stupid rule...which is why they got rid of it...but since it was in the books BEFORE Brady lost the ball it was the correct call.

So, the point is that in the Manning era the Broncos always lose one home game, but they haven't yet, right?

I agree the guy is a clown and I have no problem with the Bills' celebration...but in an effort to stay classy we should send an apology note attached to a case of maple bars.

Let me preface this by saying that I was one of the wait and see crowd on EJ coming in to this year. I thought I had seen some real promise and that he could develop...but I am starting to think our quarterback just might suck. To those who are defending him based on the 80 yd. touchdown, I'd like people to look at that play again. I don't have the ability to watch a replay...but I will go by memory and others can check it out. EJ gets some pressure and lets the pressure on the right go by him and steps nicely through an opening and rolls to some free space. EJ had seemed unable to find such gaps in the recent past...so that is good, but it gets real bad and real ugly fast. EJ runs horizontally and then angles toward the line. It is on this kind of plays that quarterbacks usually take that big step an really drive into the throw. Even noodle arms like Fitzpatrick can get something on the ball on this kind of play. EJ, instead, takes a weird hop backwards. It's as if a little voice in his head said, "For God's sake, DON'T step into that throw..the ball might come flying out fast. Get your weight on your back foot NOW and throw falling away." Now a look down field. Mike Williams is not wide open. In the NFL getting two steps on a defender is wide open. Mike Williams is completely overlooked by the defense and not a single player is in the same zip code. He sticks his arm up in the air to motion "I'm open" when he sees he has been left uncovered, then he turns to watch the ball....and slows....and stops...and waits. If anyone was even close to him he would have been killed or the ball would have been picked. By the time he catches it a Houston defender has caught up enough to almost cut him off had Mike Williams not been able to out maneuver him with the help of a blocker. In all honesty, in terms of EJ suckiosity the touchdown worries me more than the interception. As for the offensive line problems? There were some problems there, but the "pressure" EJ saw had a lot to do with his own play, too....but that is for another post.

I don't know, if the refs make that call against Woods, they should have made the call against Gilmore when he body blocked the guy about to run past him for a touchdown. The refs allowed them to fight for position...could have called it, but I honestly don't have a problem with the no call...I do have a problem with our teams (and particularly our quarterback's) execution.

Arizona beat the Chargers....and around here the consensus seems to be that the Chargers are the first team that will really test us.

What bothered me most was that it seemed to take EJ out of his rhythm. He looked great on the second drive of the game when they let him throw. In the second half it seemed like every possession was 2 runs and then EJ forced to throw on 3rd and 5 or more. A tough situation and seemed like he just couldn't get going again. I worry because it seems the coaches don't trust EJ. Now, I DO understand why they don't trust him, but if this team is going to win, we need to let EJ play. I don't mean throwing on every down....but more than they are and more on 1st down.

Man, your wife is a bummer. She even pissed in my Wheaties by proxy.

TODAY'S THE DAY!!!!! TODAY'S THE DAY!!!!! I'm a kid and it's Christmas morning.

Pass to Watkins down the left sideline (same play that EJ overthrew in pre-season). 82 yards for the touchdown.

I KNOW this is wishful thinking, but I keep thinking about that Jets team of a couple years ago. Their offense was a joke, had to get some last minute tackle off the scrap heap and couldn't score at all in the preseason. They played us in the first game, and we had just signed Super Mario who was going to crush them. I think the media speculation was about whether the Jets would be able to cross mid-field....and then they went out scored like 85 points against us (at least it felt that way)....I just keep hoping we can have that kind of turnaround from pre-season to the first game and EJ throws 3 or 4 touchdowns. Hey, it COULD happen.

And let's not forget when Thurman Thomas said quarterback was the weakest position on the team. So, Kelly had a few dark moments as well.

Happy OTA day, everybody!

Don't forget to include Duke Williams in our Dukies collection.

Thanks Yolo...have been keeping up with those visits....just venting because I am like a kid before Christmas who just can't wait to see what I actually will get. I think the later draft date is really getting to me.

I need a draft.....and I need it bad. No disrespect to anyone posting on here, as your interesting opinions keep me somewhat sustained through these doldrums. However, I keep going to TSW and seeing the same subjects (like this one) about whom we should select. Maybe we need a tackle, maybe we need a receiver or tight end....I don't know....I just don't know. Every now and then there is a fresh bit of info (like the Williams trade) but for the most part I am just dying to read discussions about actual players who will be part of the Bills. Sorry for the interruption....please continue....just needed to vent.

Are we wagering pastries on this?

I am also interested to see how EJ plays when/if he can stay healthy. The horrible pass attempt when TJ was wide open (think it was against Tampa) was an eye opener to me. As has been pointed out, his footwork was awful on the play. His chest was facing TJ and so he tried to throw the ball without stepping into it at all. What I have not seen pointed out is what I saw on the play. Pressure comes up the middle but just from EJs left (from the left guard position--surprise) and EJ moves his left leg back and away from the pressure, creating the bad body position. I don't think EJ trusted his line OR his leg....which may have created a lot of the footwork problems.

Yes, the same thing happened to the Patriot's Ridley in our first game this season. Impact with the ground jarred the ball loose but, because he was not "down by contact" and had fallen over his own feet...It was a fumble. As for the Calvin Johnson play, although there are a couple of stumbling steps, he is not "taking steps" in the sense that he is under control. In other words, if a receiver goes up for a ball and "goes to ground" in the process of making the catch, he needs to maintain control of the ball when he hits the ground. If he is under control and "takes steps" of his own volition, even if it is just a couple of steps, and crosses the goal line, it is a touchdown.

I think the belief that Spiller gets his yardage on outside runs is a bit of a myth. In the Cincinnati game, for example, when Spiller was routinely running the ball for 8-12 yards, he would go through the line between guard and tackle and THEN bounce it outside. It is only at the second level that he would run to the outside. Linebackers, and even linemen, are so fast at the NFL level that if a running back runs parallel to the line of scrimmage, he is doomed to be tackled for a loss (as Spiller seems happy to demonstrate repeatedly). A toss-sweep (as described by the o.p.) can be effective, but usually in goal-line and short yardage situations when the defense is bunched in the middle expecting a power run.

They actually used to play two or even three games a year at Milwaukee County Stadium until 1994. I think they are the precedent for what Buffalo is trying to do in Toronto. Green Bay needed to make its fan base regional...and, in particular, they wanted to solidify the Milwaukee fan base, since MIlwaukee is just as close to Chicago.

I am in the "they're both still rookies, let's wait and see" camp....but I did hear an unbelievable statistic on Mike and Mike yesterday. Greenie was angst ridden over his Jets....and he pulled out a statistic which showed, in his terms, how "biblically bad" the Jets offense has been. He said that over the last 40 drives, they are averaging just over 4 plays per drive. Wow. That is bad. Now, when we were starting to hear rumors about why the Bills picked EJ instead of Geno, we, of course heard about the texting. But if you heard what the people behind the scenes (in Buffalo and around the league) were saying the real problem was that Geno seemed uncoachable....that he was above coaching. He had the most ability at draft time....but the Bills were betting that EJ would be better down the road. If Geno really can't be coached and this is as good as he gets....the Jets are in real trouble.....with EJ, though, I think we have seen enough learning AND enough talent that we have reason to hope.

To me, Manual's game seemed like a microcosm of his season. Started out very accurate....but very safe. Lots of running plays and when he did they were to outlet receivers or short crossing patterns. Then, the defense took that the way, and, frankly, he looked a little lost. Not only were his safe passes gone, but he seemed to get flustered and his footwork fell apart. Later, he took some chances deep and while he missed on some (both passes to Goodwin) and hit others (Woods), they were close enough to loosen the defense, and he started making some nice throws (both fumbled catches) and really won us the game (twice). As for the Gilmore haters, I don't see how you can criticize the guy. He has looked awesome.....like the best shut-down corner in the league. ......Okay, some of you are going to nitpick and say Gitlin has only looked that way in OTAs......and well, that's true. But we may have the best spring cornerback in the league....so we have that going for us.