fergie's ire

I agree that mental illness is serious...and that IF that is what is going on with Martin he should get the help he needs, and getting that helps should be a higher priority than his football career. That said, his reaction really sounded familiar to me. I had a friend in college who was a really good guy and then his personality changed. In particular, he had a really hard time with any kind of teasing. We would be joking one second and the next he would flip out feeling he was being picked on. I remember one time he flipped out and demanded to get out of the car....miles from home in a bad part of town. That was pretty much the end of the friendship....not because we cut him off, but even though his behavior had been completely irrational, he refused to admit that. He further seemed to refuse to associate with us any more because doing so would force him to face the fact that he had been acting irrationally....so, he cut off all his friendships over some really mild joking...the kind that is part of almost anyone's daily interaction. Later, we found out what was going on. He had been trying to make the football team as a walk on and had decided to bulk up....and had been taking steroids. It was the infamous roid rage. His behavior was so similar to Martin's....flying off the handle...but then unable to face others and admit flying off the handle...that it makes me wonder.

This was a really well designed play against the Bills defense. I don't think that Gilmore was in man. Gilmore probably has deep third...which means he would take the deepest man on that third of the field....and the receiver hugs the border of that third...running up along the numbers...until the last moment....and then Stills follows behind and to the outside meaning the man with the shallow third has to follow him up. Now, I agree in questioning what Byrd's responsibility. Because, at the very last moment, Gilmore's man does peal off to the middle and Gilmore still follows....Maybe it was too late in the play for him to feel comfortable passing him off? Not sure....but for most of the play the man is careful to, just barely, stay in Gilmore's zone. Now, as for Pettine's call. yes, the coverage got us burned and burned badly. But aren't we all excited that we have a defense play caller who is aggressive and gambles? Well, it aint gambling if you can't lose. With this kind of defense we will get torched sometimes...but the feeling is we will also make big game winning plays instead of dying from 1,000 paper cuts.

Does anyone know when Gilmore will be back? I think this defense will be something special when we have him. I know....there was some guy out there wearing his uniform and wearing a Gilmore wig....but that was not Stephon Gilmore out there. My working theory is Justin Rogers in disguise.

Somebody always has to take it TOO far.

Nickell Robey was playing for USC last year.

And I actually lived in Milwaukee and remember when the Packers had a young quarterback who sucked. Couldn't win a big game and threw way too many interceptions. Every caller to talk radio was screaming for the Packers to dump him and get another quarterback. His name? Brett Favre.

Yeah, just like the stupid Browns. They decided they wanted to tank the season and they even got rid of their best player before, ridiculously, elevating an inexperienced third string quarterback to replace their injured starter. Clearly, they had just decided to throw in the towel and wanted to loose, so they had it coming when they played the Bengals with that great defense. We all KNEW they would get crushed and they did.......oh wait.... Sorry if someone else thought to post a similar sentiment...I am at work and can't read through all 10 pages of the thread.

I guess if he is straight and true enough, we could take him to the lumber yard for a rough cut 2x4.

Bowery4 said A.M. I'm thinking someone is in Southeast Asia?

How about the coaching staff? It's clear our offense needs to build off the run, and the run wasn't working. So, they installed a game plan with power running...two tight ends and a fullback. They couldn't stop the run for the last several years, but somehow managed to hold the Ravens to about 20 yards (still not sure how that trick was done). And yes, Aaron Williams impressed. However, several people have suggested that he has been taught to play d-back by this staff. One play provided really good evidence of that. Williams was running full speed down the sidelines with a receiver. As the ball arrived, he turned, saw the ball, jumped and tipped it. I was aghast. That is what Aaron Williams can NOT do. That is why he is no longer a corner (except in extreme emergency)...and there he was doing it perfectly. That has to be coaching.

A playoff game against Miami (1990, I think) in which Bills in general and Thurman Thomas in particular just ran wild. At one point Thomas broke free and looked like he might go for a touchdown, but Carwell Gardner, who was blocking down field, turned around right in Thomas's path and just flattened him. Afterwards, Thomas said it was the hardest he was hit all day....very funny and nice mocking of the phins. I think that it may have been the same press conference where Thomas said, "We kicked their ass." Which, at the time, many thought would be bleeped...but it wasn't. Playoff wins and against the phins. Good times.

I remember in OTA's and early in training camp all we were hearing was how TJ was lighting it up. Certainly that has an impact on the coaching staff's decision. Also, when he was performing well, I remember the description being that it looked like EJ had overthrown TJ but he somehow managed to put on the jets and track it down. That is what you want him to do. Not sure why all the throws to TJ now are short....maybe it is timing issue, maybe EJ is being too careful in game situations, maybe it is because of the rush...but I think for this offence to work, it needs that kind of threat. No, the throws aren't working now...and the offense is not working very well now. However, you don't give up on your offense two weeks in the season...especially when you have a bunch of young players who are learning. Except in special games (like any time the Bills played the Steelers), Don Beebe was not catching a ton of balls....but he caught enough deep balls to make the opponent nervous about the threat...which opened things up in a fast paced offense for the likes of Reed, and Thomas and Metzelaars.

Yes, Chandler is slow. However, to me it was not his speed but his lack of strength that was a problem today. When you pass the ball to a tight end in the flat, you expect him to be able to bulldoze his way for about 3 or 4 yards. It seemed that Chandler would get hit once (and not terribly hard) and go down. I wonder if he lost some strength when he was injured.

Are you saying that Marrone is not above a little Belichickanery?

I think the reason that the competition is over (barring some kind of crazy reversal in the next game) is that EJ has been better at what they brought in a veteran to do. He has had the plays called quicker, made better progressions, made good decisions (even in throwing the ball away), and taken what the defense has given him. He, like Kolb has had some bad throws. His receiver bailed him out at least once....but he was throwing to the open receivers which gave them space to make those adjustments. So, Manuel just looks better in precisely the areas where he is supposed to struggle and for which Kolb provides insurance....which makes Kolb a bit superfluous....though only carrying two rookie quarterbacks seems a bit scary and very ballsy.

http://www.playcornhole.org/whatis.shtml

If we are to trust the posted depth chart, I think it answers this question. Aaron Williams is listed as the starting SS, and Jairus Byrd is listed as the starting FS, with Searcy as his backup. I also think that, minus Byrd of course, this has been how they have been lining up in training camp: Aaron Williams at strong, and Searcy at free.

Fitz went on an 80 yard drive with 3:41 left to beat Oakland. Then Fitz lead a great two minute drive against New England to put points on the board before halftime....which helped sparked a second half comeback and finally ended our long string of futility against that franchise. We all crowed that we finally had a coach and quarterback with the courage to lead such a drive with little time on the clock....a few weeks later Fitz was crushed by London Fletcher and was never the same again. Trent Edwards lead the Bills to three exciting come from behind wins...we all marveled that we now had a quarterback with the savvy and skill to lead the Bills in pressure drives....then he was crushed by Adrian Wilson and was never the same again. jp Losman leads the Bills to an exciting come from behind victory over the Texans including and amazing two minute drill culminating in a last second touchdown. We are all excited that we have found a gunslinger quarterback who will lead the Bills on many future comebacks. The next year, Losman gets hurt, Edwards steps in and does better...everyone clammers for Edwards. Losman's confidence seems rattled....and he is never the same again. Drew Bledsoe....too much baggage and history to go into. Rob Johnson steps in and replaces Doug Flutie who had struggled to score all year. He leads a great two minute drive to set up a field goal to beat the Titans....a Titans team, by the way, that went on to shut EVERYONE down that they would face in those playoffs with the greatest show on turf barely scoring enough to beat them (23 pts) and Peyton Mannings Colts scoring no more than Johnson and the Bills......but wait...a throw back on the kickoff run in for a touchdown. Buffalo looses...the next year starts with some injuries, some stupid one yard sacks...and that after the devastating loss destroys Johnson's confidence and he is never the same again. Buffalo, you seem to have a good one there in EJ Manuel.....Try not to break him.

Fitz went on an 80 yard drive with 3:41 left to beat Oakland. Then Fitz lead a great two minute drive against New England to put points on the board before halftime....which helped sparked a second half comeback and finally ended our long string of futility against that franchise. We all crowed that we finally had a coach and quarterback with the courage to lead such a drive with little time on the clock....a few weeks later Fitz was crushed by London Fletcher and was never the same again. Trent Edwards lead the Bills to three exciting come from behind wins...we all marveled that we now had a quarterback with the savvy and skill to lead the Bills in pressure drives....then he was crushed by Adrian Wilson and was never the same again. jp Losman leads the Bills to an exciting come from behind victory over the Texans including and amazing two minute drill culminating in a last second touchdown. We are all excited that we have found a gunslinger quarterback who will lead the Bills on many future comebacks. The next year, Losman gets hurt, Edwards steps in and does better...everyone clammers for Edwards. Losman's confidence seems rattled....and he is never the same again. Drew Bledsoe....too much baggage and history to go into. Rob Johnson steps in and replaces Doug Flutie who had struggled to score all year. He leads a great two minute drive to set up a field goal to beat the Titans....a Titans team, by the way, that went on to shut EVERYONE down that they would face in those playoffs with the greatest show on turf barely scoring enough to beat them (23 pts) and Peyton Mannings Colts scoring no more than Johnson and the Bills......but wait...a throw back on the kickoff run in for a touchdown. Buffalo looses...the next year starts with some injuries, some stupid one yard sacks...and that after the devastating loss destroys Johnson's confidence and he is never the same again. Buffalo, you seem to have a good one there in EJ Manuel.....Try not to break him.

Long time lurker....first time poster. Help me out....I'm jonesin' for info. I just need one little news tidbit to get me through...and I promise I won't bother you again. Just need some kind of report about actual players actually doing something. If you live in Buffalo and you see EJ in Wegman's tossin' a tub of Cool Whip in his cart...just share with me a little about his throwing motion. If you see Kiko attacking some wings...just write up a little analysis of his aggressiveness. Can't make it 'till training camp......