AKC

When you're coaching "the best O in the land" and yet on half your drives you've ended up with no change to the scoreboard, I'm thinking it's prudent to start taking your opponent into consideration. Texas may not have the star defensive line some might argue but they do have incredible depth with something like 9 DTs on their roster. I'd argue against the call even if USC had made it and obviously closed the game out- it just seems to me that in the college game you'd like to give your D every opportunity to force a mistake by the opponent. Ceding them 1/3rd of the field ain't the way this guy would go about doing that. In fact, retrospectively I'd add that if you think Vince Young is the biggest danger, adding to the length of the Texas drive is EXACLTY how you diminish his importance- longer drive means the clock forces him to throw instead of running, and this puts the ball in the hands of his receivers. It didn't take me until the 4th quarter to see that the Texas receivers were hardly the threat #10 was- what game was Carroll watching? I understand fully the logic behind "closing down the game", but all things considered I find the argument for kicking the ball far more compelling on that one play. I believe USC would have won had they punted since Texas would have had to convert likley two more first downs and they simply would not have had the clock for that.

Since you've never identified your actual team to us here, now might be a tremendous opportunity. Maybe you can just give us Bill's fans a hint- how about "what selection does Rico the Troll's team have in the 2006 draft at this time?". Let me work it out from there!

If he's the best DT in the 2006 draft then I'll be perfectly content picking another position in the first round.

Due exclusively to Sam Adam's apparent temper tantrum over being asked to play a 2 technique versus his much favored 3 technique I'd agree. There are positive signs from Anderson's play as he got more time and he should be an asset in a rotation of 3 or 4 DTs for many seasons. At the same time the team highlighted Big Sam's skills in the Jets game by letting him play his favored 1-gap. That could indicate they think they might be able to move his 2006 contract for some value to another team. The bad news about it is that Sam, playing alongside a true 2 technique DT is one of the best 1-gap players in football. Picking up a big run stuffer in the draft/FA and moving Sam will simply be another hit to the quality of our DT rotation.

I don't look at college ball the same way as the Pros. 2 minute college offenses are more likely to make mistakes that cost big chunks of time, and the best way to increase the likelihood of mistakes is to increae the number of plays necessary for your opponent. Under 3 minutes, I believe making Texas run the course of the field puts more pressure on them not to make a mistake than it does on my defense to simply wait for one guy to step up and make ONE play. I saw the clock as USCs friend, but the 4th down play took that friend away and wiped out 1/3rd of of the field Texas would have otherwise been forced to negotiate to win. I can appreciate that there is no definitive answer to the right thing to do. My original point was that I didn't second guess anything done on either sideline with any conviction throughout the game, yet the moment I saw Carroll deciding to play another down I thought "This is the first major mistake made coaching tonight". Up to that decision it had been a football game played by a couple very good football teams. For my money the football decision was to keep the clock advantage by putting the opponent as far back as possible and improving the chances of a Texas error.

I'm all for settling the DT issue first and foremost, and if Ngata is the real deal and can play 2 gap while showing some upfield burst I'm all for him. The next guy we'd want would be a great one gapper to take over for the passing of Big Sam and I saw no indication at all that Wright could wear those spikes. There do appear to be 3 or 4 other viable options within the first 3 rounds to get a one-gap player though.

You are correct Sir. Let me purchase your next pint of Porter.

I've seen him on a number of sites like this as a 1st rounder, and somewhere as a "can't miss" 1st round DT. Defensive Tackles

What a coach in his right mind does is tack the extra 25 or 30 yards onto the Longhorns and let the clock finish them off. The bottom line is that you MIGHT pick up the first down and win the game as a result, but giving the ball to the opponent who has some MO on offense and shortening the field for them makes the proposition an very poor one. BTW- Shortly after I said that the Trojan offense proved my point very effectively. This wasn't exactly the Notre Dame defense the Trojans were playing.

In the biggest game of his life so far Rodrique Wright sure looked like a stretch to be taken in the first round of the upcoming draft. In fact, I’m not sure he was the best DT on the Texas defense- one of the non-starters in the rotation seemed to have less trouble with USC single teams than Wright did. Wright has almost flawless form- he sets up and fires low, gets his hands in position and on top of it for a big guy he has very good foot speed- he’s clearly had good coaching as he’s moved up the food chain and he’s absorbed the lessons. At the same time there’s something wrong when the opposing team guesses right when they keep you out of a running lane with merely a fullback block. Far too many single-teams the balance of the night without breaking off the block for a guy being suggested as a first rounder by some of the draftniks. Looked like a high third round talent to me based on this one game. I haven’t seen Vince Young play before but I’m surprised anybody believes this kid will be a pro QB; he’s got great, if a bit awkward, talent and he’s strong and cool as the proverbial cucumber, but the fact is mechanically in the passing game he’s horrendous. In the NFL simply his setup time for a pass will doom him, and that “coolness” he gets away with at the college level would translate to lots of sacks in the Pros. An intriguing WR prospect who will probably be taken too high. BTW- I couldn't have been the only one in a Trojans bar last night who yelled BAD BAD DECISION when Carroll went for the 4th down yardage. Since I had no horse in the race it was my lone outburst of the evening.

More garbage from the Troll. What is it that drives you to come over here to stojan your pants instead of doing it on your own team's board?

I know losing a national election has some consequences, but isn't this a bit extreme?

There's some methods for excercising some control over that; then again they've never been particularly effective for me ;-)

I didn't hear the interview, but by the above account two teams contacted him and "one of them is not the Bills". Marv's comments eliminate "one" of those teams from being the Bills; that does not exclude the "other" team from being the Bills. No?

Mike William's NFL history is likely to look a lot different than his history with the Bills. He's at a position where players 10 years his senior are regularly the most effective in the league, and after only 4 seasons he's relatively young for an OT as far as the NFL is concerned. While his tenure will rightfully end with us since his contract is unsupportable based upon his lack of contribution to date, he's as likely to go on to another team and have a productive career as he is to be written off as a guy who couldn't cut it.

I believe you're referring to either the Assante Samuel or Bethel Johnson sideline shot where they're getting a concussion exam?

I recall the Jets hiring a full-time clock specialist in 2004, I suspect other teams emply someone in this capacity just as some teams have specialists on their gameday staff to advise on replay requests.

What I'll still be in 20 years is something you've never been- A Bill's fan.

Must be quite stimulating for you on Sundays, sharing with all the other Pat's fans how you've spent countless hours the past week on a Buffalo Bill's Message Board. I'll bet you're a real popular guy ;-)

There's a possibility his development will become the single greatest plus of this difficult season.

They're pretty good to Bill's fans around here; now as far as Pat's Trolls like you the bar for tolerance is set a bit lower ;-)

We're trying to keep this a Troll-Free thread; get back to us with the name of one single known Bill's fan has been at any game or broadcast of a Bill's game with you who will vouch for you being anything other than the Patsy Trollscum you are.

Resigning Edwards will in not even a minimal way change the fact that we've got some serious needs to address at DT. Anderson has gotten quality playing time this season and has improved throughout the year. Another off-season weight program should go far in turning him into a major contributor in a rotation of DTs next year, assuming we bring in outside help.

Cumulative Body of Spew left on TSW by a Troll

Share with us Troll- name a single known Bill's fan from this board who has ever been at a game or bar where you were cheering for the Bills? Now the silence, because you can't produce what doesn't exist ;-)