theRalph

We all saw the preseason. All of the preseason caveats notwithstanding, there was a prevailing thought that Nathan Peterman looked better in the offense than Tyrod. It was apparent Peterman got the ball out faster. He was poised. He seemed to process the defenses he faced much more quickly than Taylor. We all saw the game yesterday. Taylor does not process quickly. We never saw a three-step drop and immediate throw. We could see his hesitation. We could see how late his throws to the outside were - he was nearly intercepted on two occasions. Opponents know this and in response load up against the run. The counter play to this is to throw quickly. It's been called setting up the run with the pass. We've heard so much about the Bills having no receiving threats. I've grown weary of this. These are NFL receivers and an effective short passing game is possible with a quarterback that can see the field and process options. And why not throw long? Taylor did just that to an OPEN Zay Jones at the end of the game...right at the critical point the Panthers would have needed to defense a long throw. McDermott, as a first-year head coach, is not interested in tanking. He really can't. Had they decided to start Peterman in week one (with a healthy Tyrod) it would have appeared to be a tank. The only reasonable way to insert Peterman is for Tyrod to play himself out of the position. With an offense that's decidedly not Tyrod Taylor's style, that seems to be what's taking place. It looks like a subplot. Peterman starting may occur sooner than later. McDermott cannot possibly want to waste what appears to be a top defense. McDermott needs to see Peterman play to determine his viability. The change is coming soon.

Bill coach Sean McDermott talked about coaching youth soccer this week on WGR. The sound approach to fundamentals that gig requires seems to have also taken hold at One BIlls Drive. These Bills passed the eye test last week. I'm way past dissing the win because of the Jets. Those same Jets will be a big problem for the Raiders tomorrow. Watch. Maybe the national consensus is correct and the Bills are "rebuilding". I believe the truth is closer to them being a team that believes it can compete because they believe they've earned it. And, based on the week 1 league wide offensively offensive offensive performances that are the talk of the in NFL world, should the Bills prevail in Charlotte (34-20 is my guess), be listening for the national press to rant about how Cam Newton and the Panthers are past their prime. Indeed, an NFL season with stunted offensive production would be just the tonic to finish the blasted drought. But patience pays...the Bills won't get any credit until midseason and, until then, any of their successes will be excused away by flawed opponents. Like in week one. If its an off year for offense and the Patriots are really 40, this might, just might, be the year the Bills become relevant.

I never liked preseason college football rankings. They're based solely on "reputation and expectation"...which I see being applied in heaps to rationalize the Bills 21-12 win over the Jets. The overriding sentiment that the below average Bills won because the Jets are so bad, is a little inaccurate. I could try to prove that, but the only real proof or lack of is the results after say, four games. But if today we were talking about the Bills losing to the Chiefs 42-27 and the Patriots beating the Jets 21-12, we would be saying that the Bills are kind of weak as expected, and we'd be talking about how the Patriots have picked up where they left off on their march to 16-0, nicely fitting the national perception. The media would not be excusing away the Pats win because of the Jets ineptness. They'd be all over the Patriots for beating a divisional opponent that always plays them tough. I'm not here to crown the Bills, but let's not penalize them for playing the Jets. The Bills look pretty sound and definitely pass the eye test. It's on to Carolina.

Chad Kelly can't carry Peterman's....um....balls. This is the most accurate thrower to arrive at OBD since...ever.

Not so sure about that. If NFL history demonstrates anything...it is the FACT that most great NFL QBs are not taken in round 1.

Are you kidding me???? This is sick. http://buffalonews.com/2017/04/29/watch-new-bills-qb-nate-peterman-hit-trick-shots-pittsburgh/ Perhaps a round 1 2018 QB will not be necessary. Pretty impressed with McD's draft nuggets.

The national draft press listed 7 to 9 elite talents in this draft. That list did not including a quarterback. That same press has hinted at perhaps multiple elite QBs in 2018. The Chiefs will fall off this season. And the Bills have an opportunity to inflict one of those losses. Why "take a shot" at a quarterback in this year's first round that "might" be great when you have the opportunity next season to select one that "is" great.

John Murphy, bless his heart, is without question, the worst NFL play-by-play radio guy in the league. And that's what he does best. What precisely did you expect in nearly 5 hours of draft coverage?

Who precisely is we?? Sean McDermott is the new sheriff in town. This draft already looks like the antithesis of a Whaley plan. The current scouting staff has already cleaned out it's lockers. DW may well be leading them out the door

Tallying up points for draft value is the bean counter's way of assessing it. Foolishness and emotion is rampant in every NFL draft. The bills will take advantage of this. If there is a clear-cut number one quarterback next year, the bills two picks will enable them to select that quarterback. And Kansas City will finish last in the west this season.

Obviously the drought has fried too many brains. We've just seen the most intelligent bills first round draft in decades. With two 2018 first round picks, the bills will be able to select the top quarterback available next year and embroider his name in the red carpet a week before the draft. I've read a lot of negative comments from tonight. The cup of ignorance and foolishness overfloweth.

Obviously the drought has fried too many brains. We've just seen the most intelligent bills first round draft in decades. With the two 2018 first round picks, the bills will be able to select the top quarterback available next year and embroidery his name in the red carpet a week before the draft. I've read a lot of negative comments from tonight. The cup of ignorance and foolishness overfloweth.

Again this year, the head coach search season highlights hiring clubs plowing through the pack of trendy wieners (i.e. now suddenly brilliant OCs and DCs that you hadn't heard of ten days ago) that really don't seem to merit any more consideration than anyone named Ryan. Anthony Lynn will win the job and delver Gus Bradley as DC. Lynn has made it very clear that Cardale Jones is his starter by praising the rookie but making sure to underscore Taylor's limitations. Jones just LOOKS like the starter. The defense will return to a 4 - 3 which served the club well under Schwartz. The two things that held the Bills back this season - the passing game and a below average D - and their resolution - Cardale Jones and Gus 4-3 Bradley - will be what Whaley will sell to the Pegulas. Probably a good move, unless Jon Gruden calls.

Mike Pettine. Almost a certainty.

If the Bill's reveal they're done with Tyrod, his trade value disappears. The best way not to reveal it is to avoid the question by not putting the brass on the stand. Not so much a smoke screen...they're just not saying. On anything. And they don't have to.

The Bills are being mauled in the national media for their apparent botching of the PR side of Rex's firing. At first, I also thought it awkward. Now I believe it was quite calculated, and possibly brilliant. Here's why: 1. If Whaley or Brandon (or even Terry Pegula) appeared before the press, the questions about the in-season firing of Rex and disposition on Tyrod would have been relentless. Buffalo wants to maintain the trade value of Taylor without risking injury to him. A-Lynn was most certainly in the meeting that determined EJ would start, but he was given the out of being able to say he wasn't in the meeting. The Bills avoided answering questions by staging an awkward presser that, for all its Jerry Sullivan induced scandal, revealed little or nothing of the Bills' plan. 2. And they've been accused of not having a plan. I believe they do. A-Lynn's gaffe of replying "Cardale Jones" to the question of the starting QB versus the Jets, was truly a mistake according to WGR550's Sal Capaccio. But it was certainly a Freudian Slip. Although no formal interview has been conducted, you can bet that Lynn has sat down with the Pegulas and Whaley and laid out his plan as concisely as he answered football questions in his presser. His plan IS Cardale Jones who is a WINNER and will start in 2017. He may even be considering bringing Mike Pettine in on the defensive side. He was impressive for situation he was thrust into. That press conference was every bit a part of his audition. He is the next Bills' head coach. 3. And speaking of Mike Pettine... It's well-known he's a maniac about detail and order. And just like a rock band that is good with certain members, but loses something when one is replaced, Rex lost something when he parted ways with Mike Pettine. Rex Ryan needs, in any coaching capacity, a detail-obsessed aide that holds sway over him. Someone that's able to act as a check and balance against Rex's emotion-driven coaching style. Rex's defenses haven't been worth a darn since he and Pettine parted ways.

The Bills are being mauled in the national media for their apparent botching of the PR side of Rex's firing. At first, I also thought it awkward. Now I believe it was quite calculated, and possibly brilliant. Here's why: 1. If Whaley or Brandon (or even Terry Pegula) appeared before the press, the questions about the in-season firing of Rex and disposition on Tyrod would have been relentless. Buffalo wants to maintain the trade value of Taylor without risking injury to him. A-Lynn was most certainly in the meeting that determined EJ would start, but he was given the out of being able to say he wasn't in the meeting. The Bills avoided answering questions by staging an awkward presser that, for all its Jerry Sullivan induced scandal, revealed little or nothing of the Bills' plan. 2. And they've been accused of not having a plan. I believe they do. A-Lynn's gaffe of replying "Cardale Jones" to the question of the starting QB versus the Jets, was truly a mistake according to WGR550's Sal Capaccio. But it was certainly a Freudian Slip. Although no formal interview has been conducted, you can bet that Lynn has sat down with the Pegulas and Whaley and laid out his plan as concisely as he answered football questions in his presser. His plan IS Cardale Jones who is a WINNER and will start in 2017. He may even be considering bringing Mike Pettine in on the defensive side. He was impressive for situation he was thrust into. That press conference was every bit a part of his audition. He is the next Bills' head coach. 3. And speaking of Mike Pettine... It's well-known he's a maniac about detail and order. And just like a rock band that is good with certain members, but loses something when one is replaced, Rex lost something when he parted ways with Mike Pettine. Rex Ryan needs, in any coaching capacity, a detail-obsessed aide that holds sway over him. Someone that's able to act as a check and balance against Rex's emotion-driven coaching style. Rex's defenses haven't been worth a darn since he and Pettine parted ways.

If it had been any team but Buffalo... We spent much of the past week worrying about the Bills-Jets game. We worried because: 1. The Bills had a very shaky win over the Vikings. 2. The Bills have a poor record vs. Rex in NY. 3. Despite their record, the Jets had played Green Bay, New England, Denver, amongst others to a standstill. 4. The 1-6 Jets were due to win. The Bills were actually an underdog! And yet now, after the rout, it's all about how terrible the Jets were, especially in the National media. There's very little about how well the Bills played. That's to be expected on the National level, but I even see it happening with many Bills fans. It is so interesting that its in light of a big win over the Jets - not a loss - the chronic playoff drought/mediocrity is really exposed. In other words, its been so long since we've had success, that many can't be convinced this team is actually pretty good. One thing's for sure: If it had been, say, the visiting Colts beating the Jets 43-23, a week after the Pats barely got by those same Jets, the Colts would being hailed as a big contender today.

8 questions posed at 1230PM that we can ask now: 1. Just how bad (is) was EJ Manuel was as the Bill's starting quarterback? 2. How good does Kyle Orton look as a Buffalo Bill...and another 30+ year old NFL starter? 3. How much better did the O Line look with a QB that didn't telegraphing his every move? 4. How smart do the Bills look for taking Sammy Watkins? 5. How good is the BUffalo defense. 6. Just how much impact can replacing one player on a team have? 7. How misleading are the Lions defensive billing and 3 wins? 8. How much trouble are the New England Patriots in? That looked like a playoff team.

Now, I'm not really into conspiracy theories...but consider this: The brass had to be thinking in terms of the benching after last week. Is it possible that the Bills pass to run count of 45 to 23 was by design...designed to either let Manuel flourish with so many pass reps - OR TO FAIL MISERABLY, so that there would not be a bunch of second guessing on the benching?

Nix was still at the helm when they signed Manuel. I believe that was by design....do the math.

Bad picks have been made by every team in the league. Whaley is not immune. Looking at this in the present tense, I admire the move to switch to Orton...many have stated that the Bills management would look like fools for making such a change. I am more concerned with how foolish they'd have look for NOT making the change.

WGR Reports Orton will start in Detroit.