Nihilarian

Can he play QB?

Listen, if this owner was ready to keep Marrone, and Hackett then there is no way Greg Roman is gone. Unless he gets offered a head coaching job, which I highly doubt. This OC is dealing a bad RT, and a QB that has started only 8 games. While Roman was brought in to build a power run game, and he has pretty much done just that. However the passing game really is lacking except for some big plays, and that is mostly because of that inexperienced QB. So many things wrong with this team that have taken way to long to get under control. Penalties have finally been reduced to a decent amount per game. Although boneheads like Henderson should know where to line up after two years in the pros. It took far to many games for Rex to get his defense to go after the QB, and he did have Brady reeling for most of the game. If the offense could have scored more then 20 points its a win. Clock management was bad in the game. The two minute drill was non existent at the end of the game with a win on the line. I just don't understand why its so difficult to get Sammy Watkins the ball at least 10 times a game? The Bills have two really important games upcoming at KC, and Houston at home. Both teams currently 5-5, and are now the 8th seed behind both KC & Houston @ KC Houston @ Philly @ Wash Dallas Jets

While I love what Taylor can do against a bad team. I'm getting really sick of watching how poorly he plays against good defenses. Yesterdays game is a good example that he didn't even try to target Watkins enough until later in the game. He had great difficulty in running a two min drill at the end of the game, and he rarely throws over the middle. Such a slight build he will always be gutting hurt or playing hurt, and he is showing he isn't a very good pure pocket passer. Time to draft a QB with that first pick, and even trade up to get one of the top three. JMO

Excuse me, I made an honest mistake in responding to... or taking the bait. Carry on.

I don't know if that was panic or down right foolish in just watching highlight films instead of breaking down exactly why Watkins was so successful in college. Because they have yet to use him like he was used in college. So now the Bills have a "maybe" star at WR who is injury prone but the coaches can't figure out a way to get the guy more pass targets. Then I can only wonder if Watkins was seeing ten plus targets a game if he would even hold up under all that work considering his injury history. There is no question to the world outside the Bills fan bubble that trading away three draft picks, and two firsts for a WR was blatantly stupid when the team still lacks that franchise QB.

What game were you watching? Although the general passing stats look similar the two QB's played much differently. One QB didn't get sacked all that much but he was getting hit almost every pass play, and it showed so much that he was screaming at his linemen. Considering how much pressure he was under, and how injured his receiving corps currently was he still managed to be somewhat accurate in hitting his receivers. Then when the opposing defense lost a starter in the secondary this QB managed to exploit it. The other QB was very inaccurate for a lot of his passes, and didn't even throw to his best WR threat until late in the game. This QB couldn't run a two min drill if his life depended on it. Good thing the Bills gave up two first rounders for Chris Hogan who led the team in receiving yardage.

Clearly Watkins isn't getting enough targets to make a difference in a game. 4th best receiver with 6 targets, 3 receptions for 39 yards. Against the Jets last week he was the 5th best receiver with 7 targets, 3 receptions for 14 yards. Sammy had a few great catches at the end of the game, but why did it take so long to get him the ball? You would think that when you have an elite super star player at a position that they (the coaches) would make an effort to get him the ball more often. The difference in the game was the difference at the QB position.

With better QB play the Bills had a real shot at beating the highest scoring team in the league by holding them to 20 points. Its just a darn shame it took this long to get the defense to play like they did on Monday night. Is Rex Ryan the answer to beating the New England Patriots in the division? It doesn't look like any head coach will ever succeed unless the Bills find a bona fide franchise QB.

My take is that Taylor has way to much potential to trade him away just yet. After all it was only his eighth start, and he is still learning / developing. What Taylor has going for him that those other QB's you mention didn't have, and that is a quality offensive coaching staff. If by the end of the season Taylor hasn't improved then by all means draft a QB this year, and let them fight it out in camp next year.

The defense played much better then I expected on the road, and against Brady. They hit him, and hurried him a lot! Then Brady took full advantage when Rambo left with an injury. The difference in this game was the difference in the QB's. One is a future HoFer, and probably GOAT. The other was starting in his eighth game, and was playing injured at the end. The team played with a lot of heart, and never gave up. They were simply over matched in the QB position. This team gave up two firsts for a WR when they didn't have that franchise QB, and I can only wonder how many years will they be paying for that move? Sammy Watkins was the 4th best receiver in this game, and was mostly invisible all game long. 6 targets for 3 receptions for 39 yards. Sure he had some great catches at the end, but why did it take so long in the game to finally get him the ball? It really isn't his fault if he isn't seeing enough targets each game. So meanwhile the team has a great WR that nobody can get the ball to enough, and are still in desperate need of that franchise QB.

The guy has started a total of 8 games so far, and he eventually could be the franchise guy. Just not tonight.

This, exactly! As much as I like Tyrod Taylor he just doesn't have the experience under his belt to win a game on the road against an undefeated championship team. The biggest difference in this game was the difference between the QB's. Brady took full advantage when Rambo left the game.

What a lot of Bills fan might not know is that Thurman Thomas was around 75% of the Bills offense in those glory days, and the Bills usually ran more every year then they passed the ball. Jim Kelly and the K gun offense with the no huddle is what everyone remembers but the real hero was Thurman running the ball so well, and equally dangerous out of the backfield catching the ball. Just to show exactly how dangerous he was out of the backfield catching passes. In a playoff loss to Cleveland in 1989 Thomas had 13 receptions for 150 yards, and two TD's. Thomas is still the only player in NFL history to lead the league in yards from scrimmage for four straight years. Both are great RB's in their own right. I just happen to prefer Thurman over LT

It is the world stage because there is really not much else to watch on TV on Monday night, and no other teams playing. Lots of "IF's" for this game! Like if the defense changes up tactics, and instead of playing cover over pressure like last game (which did not work at all). this game try and dictate where the flow of the game will go, and force them to react. I hope Ryan goes back to his real blitzing scheme he was so noted for, and actually goes after Brady like Pettine used to do with his overload blitz scheme. Or use Gregg Williams Ruby Scorpion 77 dime which is a 3-2-6 look with 6 DB's, and send 5 to get pressure on the QB. While some say five is a dog, and six is a blitz, and others think anything more then four is a blitz. I just hope they throw caution to the wind, and play man while sending everyone else at Brady. The thing is, you can't blitz very much if your DB's can't cover, and the Bills DB's can cover because they have been doing great considering the lack of pressure on the opposing QB's this year. 29th in the NFL in sacks, 29th in sack percentage, and 30th in QB hurries. Looking at those stats you would think the Bills are near last against the pass, but they are not and are currently ranked 15th. That stat would be better if Ryan hadn't played such a soft cover defense against the Patriots in their first game. Another big IF" is with the run game, and can Greg Roman find a way to get Shady 20+ touches while building a great power rushing attack. Let the deranged rhino lose on that unsuspecting Patriots defense.This is the biggest stage that Sammy Watkins can get to show the world he was the right choice for the Buffalo Bills, in the 2014 draft. The last big "IF's" is with the penalty factor and was that game against the Jets with only 5 penalties an anomaly or the future norm? Another is with special teams, and will the coverage teams play up to the level of the kickers because field position is such an important factor in each game. A win in this game would also show the new owners of this team they made the right choice in selecting Rex Ryan as their new head coach in finally beating the teams biggest nemesis over the last 15 years. Conversely another loss to the Patriots might just show them he isn't the answer.

I watched one of those NFL throwing competitions years ago, and there were at least ten of the top QB's there competing. Brees was among them, and just swept the whole thing. He has to be the most accurate QB I've ever seen in hitting his targets like he did. Just phenomenal.

" He may be a four-year guy but he’s a first-year guy in terms of getting experience. " And he is right as Tyrod is playing his first year in the NFL as the starting QB. He still has a lot to learn, and a lot of growing / developing to do. Still, he is 4-2 as the starter. Starter LeSean McCoy, he said, “is off the charts.” Count on Belichick trying to erase him from the equation. And again he is right as Shady is another version of Barry Sanders. Lets hope that Greg Roman that can break McCoy free, and doesn't ask Tyrod to throw very often. Run the read option enough so that Belichick stacks the box, and then have Taylor hit Sammy, or Clay behind the LBers. I would love to see both McCoy and Karlos in the backfield, and have the line work the counter trey to open up the cutback lanes. Gilbride believes teams can win in 2015 with a run-heavy, smashmouth attack. As do I, as do I. I would rather watch a smash mouth team beat down that Patriots defense all game long so that they can't stand up by the end of the game. They should be bending over holding their knees or hands on hips gasping for air. With two, three tight end formations just pounding the rock all game long, and the Bills have the players to do just that. The only real problem will be if the defense can keep Brady in check, and if not we probably won't see much of the run game.

Perhaps if it became "flag" football or touch. But then who would watch it? I think today's NFL games are almost much the same sport as the ancient Roman gladiators who fought in the arena, except now its not a fight to the death. Well, maybe it feels like it is for some games. Fans love the violence the of the hits, the speed of the game on offense, and defense. One of my favorite players was Ronnie Lott because if he got a clean shot at you from a run... the resounding hit echoed throughout the stadium. Needless to say that player on the other side of the hit would be looking over his shoulder the rest of the game. Just ask Ickey Woods Someone recently posted that the NFL took off because of fantasy football, and I say that's BS because the game was becoming the nations number one sport long before fantasy football even existed. What he said, and no one would watch flag or touch football. The current NFL players already have a very difficult time lasting out a 16 game season, and in the end its almost about which team had the fewest injuries.

Really liked the article thanks for posting! It wasn't so much that the NY Giants offense was the reason for the wins against the Patriots, as I think it was more because of the defense!! In 2007 the Patriots were undefeated going into the super bowl by going 18-0, and in that run they never failed to score more then 20 points against any team all year. In their first game against the Giant in week 17 they beat them 38-35. The final score of that SB was 17-14, and Steve Spagnuolo was the Giants DC. Spags is back with the Giants this years as DC. Then in 2011 it was Perry Fewell as the Giants DC who held the Patriots to 17 points in a 21-17 win. (Curious to see the Bills lost 38-7 & 56-10 that 2007 season under Jauron.) On a side note I notice that some Bills fans disagree with a super bowl winning offensive coordinators opinion. I just feel if there is one guys opinion on the planet about the offense you might want to believe in...

Good stuff, and now I like him even more. Great show, and I think one of the most popular shows on TV / cable for the last five years. But what about Glenn?

Those words do have meaning, and are defined as "almost, nearly, approximately"... everyone in the sentence you posted. Bills fans have every right to post their views here good or bad and not be pigeon holed into one of two simplistic degrading groups. But hey, feel free to have the last word as I'm done attempting to get through, and I'm glad I could add some hilarity.

Oh, If i use the term "pretty much" then I can say anything I want then change it around later because I said pretty much? That post of yours was pretty much one of the stupidest posts I've ever read here, and yet you come back to defend it. BTW, this is what Sammy posted that got this topic of conversation started in the first place.

I think the major difference is that Amendola can somewhat fill that Edleman / Welker role, and right now the Patriots have nobody like Dion Lewis who was excellent at both running the ball and catching the ball out of the backfield. In that Washington game Boldin had one rush for 12 yards, and 3 rec for 27 yards 1 TD, and in the next game against the Giants he had one rush for -3 yards, and no receptions Believe it or not Edelman was the reception leader in only one game this year, and that was against Dallas. Steelers-A Brown Buffalo- Gronkowski Jacksonville- Gronkowski Dallas-Edelman Indy- Amendola Jets- Gronkowski Miami-Gronkowski Washington-Lafell NY Giants- Gronkowski Brady makes whomever he decides to throw to the most look good.

In my breaking this game down I think Brady will miss WR Julian Edleman, and RB Dion Lewis a LOT! But the Patriots also have WR Danny Amandola who is used to playing in that Wess Welker / Edleman type of roll. They also have WR's Brandon Lafell & Aaron Dobson who have both been quiet in the offense this year because Brady would throw so often to those two that are now out injured. Then there is the unquestionable best tight end in today's game in Rob Gronkowski who no team has been able to stop, and also they have TE Scott Chandler who they use in the red zone for another big target. The Patriots now have LeGarrette Blount at the starting RB position who is a hammer of a RB much the same way the Bills Karlos Williams has been for Buffalo. The biggest loss to the Patriots in terms of a player is probably RB Dion Lewis who was so adept at running the ball, and catching passes out of the backfield like a wide receiver. After only 9 games Tom Brady is currently the leading yardage passer in the league with 3,043 yards, and 24 TD's. The Patriots currently are fielding the #2 team in the NFL in total offense, and they are the #3 passing team in the league. This game will be about slowing down Brady by getting pressure on him, and now allowing him to get into a solid rhythm. It will also be about protecting Tyrod Taylor who was sacked 8 times in the first game. But then we all know what happens when Brady gets into a funk, and has difficulty throwing it at all. Belichick will start pounding the rock to help stabilize Brady, and once the defense then works on stopping the run then Brady starts throwing again. The Bills played a soft cover defense in the first game unlike any team I've even seen coached by Rex Ryan. He was having the Bills DB's play ten yards off the line of scrimmage while having the front four play a passive aggressive style with the ends rushing, and DT's in gap control. The Bills had Jerry Hughes dropping into pass coverage on Gronkowski at times, and also had Kyle Williams dropping back to cover an area like in a zone blitz scheme. When this happened the Bills would then at times only rush with three. Brady then scorched the Bills secondary to the record setting tune of 466 yards passing allowed because of that craptastic Ryan scheme. I was so used to seeing the Jets run that overload Blitz scheme under Pettine where he would always send one more then the offense had blocking to get pressure on the QB. This years defensive scheme is a total turnaround from that scheme, and is currently 30th in QB hurries, 29th in sacks, and sack percentage. The Buffalo Bills are currently fielding the 16th best defense in yardage, 18th against the pass, 8th against the run, 15th in scoring allowed. What the Bills defense has been good at is getting turnovers, and are currently 6th in the league with a +5 turnover differential. The Bills are also #3 in "toxic differential" which means Its not merely good enough to avoid turning the ball over, you need to generate big offensive plays as well. The holy grail is having a double positive, in other words a team is winning the turnover differential AND the explosive play differential. That stat was created by ex Raven HC Brian Billick. This game for the Buffalo Bills will be like climbing Mt Everest without oxygen. Meaning it can be done, but its an almost impossible task even on a good day.

You basically said otherwise by putting anyone who is down on Sammy into one of two categories by saying they are either angry or don't watch games while comparing stat lines. Then "pretty much" means that they pretty much fall into one of the two categories you impose.

Could it be possible that some fans simply didn't like the idea for giving up three draft picks, and two of them first round picks for a WR when the team didn't already have an established franchise QB? When they voice their opinions on that subject it automatically makes them "angry", and anti Whaley / Sammy? Last week Sammy Watkins was the 5th best receiver on the team with 7 targets for 3 receptions for 14 yards. ​ That is a lot of targets for only three catches. There is nothing wrong about the fact that Bills fans want, and expect more from a player that cost the team three draft picks. I highly doubt anyone here is saying that they aren't rooting for Sammy Watkins to start putting up the numbers equal to some of the top wide receivers in today's game. The reality is that he isn't even consistently putting up numbers that a single first round draft pick puts up much less a player that cost the team three draft picks, and two firsts. He did manage to do that in his first year even with all the injuries and the Bills using him as a decoy a lot of the time. Most fans can see the potential in the player and are frustrated because they see other players doing so much better this year. Bills fans want, and expect to see greatness from this player and shouldn't be chastised by other fans when they voice their views. Bills fans have every right to B word and complain, and it doesn't make them any less of a Bills fan when they do B&C because it shows they really only want to win games. Fifteen years man! Fifteen years of being a no playoff losing team, of being a laughing stock bottom feeder in the division can create a lot of frustration. BTW, putting fans who are down on a Bills player for any reason into two category's is just lame, and says more about you then it does them.