dezertbill

Also keep in mind I'm sure the Jets game plan changed once McKelvin went out and Smith had the confidence to go more downfield. Heading into the game our CBs weren't the greatest. Once Gilmore and McKelvin are at full strength It will be a different story.

He seems like a humble dude. Being groomed by Fred Jackson is only going to make him more likable as a Bill. He's an electric playmaker, and there aren't a whole lot of those in this league. He's not just a running back. He's a weapon in the running game and passing game, and he can turn any play into 6 points. Hold onto him with dear life.

While I appreciate the effort to stimulate conversation, it's tough to worry about future "what ifs" when it comes to current Bills becoming free agents or aging veterans. Fixing holes are done through draft and free agency...after you have set up your core. (like the Bills did in 88). It takes time is all I'm saying, and it seems everyone is knee-jerk reacting to games and drives as if it defines a player's career after a handful of games? I think that's reaching a bit. All I'm saying is give the team some time and room to grow, without the "sky is falling" mentality that some posters have had with this young team. While dissappointing losses are just that, I realize that this isn't a team at it's peak....nor fully healthy. More growing pains are still to come. I think Manuel has "it". And I'm not alone...and I"m talking people with far more football knowledge than you or I. I also like Marrone, and I'm glad we didn't go after a retread coach. I'm just enjoying the ride, because most of the time with Jauron and Gailey, I couldn't. Thanks!

Unlike some of the other comments I've seen on this board, I think it's important to not get too high during big wins or too low after dissappointing losses with this Bills team. This isn't a Bills team like last year who were supposed to "take the next step". This is a team with a new coach, new QB, and new Offensive and Defensive systems. It's going to take time to build. Whether they are successful or not only time will tell. But certainly three games into the first season with a rookie HC and QB isn't nearly time enough to make that final judgement. The Bills were a game winning drive away from beating the Pats, and I like the fact they went for the kill instead of trying to run out the clock with a bunch of predictable runs up the middle like past regimes have done. Then EJ Manuel drives the team down the field with less than 2 minutes left and no timeouts to pull off a final second touchdown vs Carolina. This after coming back from a fumble and interception that would have crushed the confidence of most rookie...or veteran QBs. I think these are positive things that a young team like the Bills can grow with, and yes...they are young. Against the Jets, EJ Manuel looked like a rookie. He held the ball too long, didn't make good throws and made some bad decisions. But that's what rookies do sometimes. It's a learning process. Our secondary is decimated by injuries and they let up too many big plays that the offense couldn't overcome. Yet they only lost by a touchdown. Not the end of the world by any stretch. Would you rather have been blown out by 38 by a mediocre team like the Giants were. We can all sit here and complain about 13 years of no playoffs, blah...blah...blah. But that's not Doug Whaley, Doug Marrone, or Ej Manual's fault. When you build a team from the Coach and QB up it takes time. Mistakes are going to be made. This isn't Dick Jauron or Chan Gailey after year 3. It's a rookie coach after 3 games. Patience is required. Yes, required. Everyone is dissing Manuel, yet his QBR is better than RGIII, Roethlisberger, Kaepernick, Flacco, and Tom Brady. He has thrown for more yards than Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck, and Alex Smith. He also has only 1 INT, compared to Eli Manning (8) and RGIII, Drew Brees, Roethlisberger, Matt Schaub and Kaepernick (all with 4). Mind you, he is a rookie. Then I'm reading craziness about trading CJ Spiller, arguably our best player on the team (and in the league coming into the season), because Cleveland dumped TR in a rebuilding move. Buffalo isn't looking to start from scratch through the draft. They have their offensive foundation. They need to grow as a unit, not tear it down. Granted Spiller has struggled a bit as of late, but fresh off a 103 yard performance where he averaged 6.4 yards per carry and hearing calls of CJ "returning to form" and all of a sudden we need to dump him? Keep in mind he still has more rushing yards than Frank Gore, BenJarvis Ellis, and Lamar Miller...to name a few. And his yards per carry still ranks higher than Gore, Marshawn Lynch, Ray Rice and Ellis. This is after sharing carries with Fred Jackson. Jackson is not the future of this team. Spiller is. That's plain ridiculous. Stats aren't everything, but they are a good indication of production. For everyone who is down and out because of Buffalo's 1-2 record, good thing you weren't running the Bills in 1986-87, when Jim Kelly only won 10 of his first 28 starts for the Bills, or Marv Levy who lost 13 of his first 22 games for Buffalo. Those that think 3 games is enough to crown EJ Manuel a bust, remember that RGIII started 3-6 for Washington (with a veteran head coach in Mike Shanahan that we all would have "killed" for a few years back.) Eli Manning lost 6 of his first 7 starts as a rookie...Joe Montana 5 of his first 7. Steve McNair didn't have a winning record until his 3rd season as a full time starter. I don't think they are looking to label RGIII a bust in Washington just yet, and those other guys turned our pretty good...I think. For those down on Marrone, besides Levy you can point to Bill Walsh's 8-24 record his first two seasons in San Francisco, or Mike Holmgren who didn't post double digit wins until his 3rd season in Green Bay. Both of those teams hadn't seen playoff success in decades, yet stuck with their coaches. Bill Belichick was 5-11 his first year, and that was with a veteran QB Drew Bledsoe at the helm. All extreme cases, and I'm praying I don't have to endure those losing streaks....but I think a little perspective is in order here 3 games into our young season. I'm not jumping ship, and I'm staying level headed until this team grows more. Can't blame the past on them, only the future. I have to give them atleast this year and half of next to see where they are heading before I can begin to doubt Manual or Marrone as leaders. Being a fan for 35 years, I've lived and died in enough December and January wins and losses to know that week to week, anything can happen. With the existance of 0-3 teams who are grossly underperforming such as the Steelers, Redskins, Giants, and Vikings.....I'm excited about the direction the team is going in. I'm excited about the talent they have. I can't wait until we get healthy and experienced. I have faith that Brandon, Whaley, Marrone and staff has this team headed in the right direction. I won't let one game, or one play, sway that! If you don't have the patience, then don't watch. GO BILLS!