TigerJ

Sullivan has only gone downhill since his rookie season. If the play of Dylan McFarlandis only nearly as good as that of Sullivan, at least you can figure he's got some upside.

Evans has struggled to get separation from DBs in short routes during preseason. Clearly he's not ready to be a starter. I think he'll come in as an outside receiver in 3 receiver packages, particularly when he gets to run a fly route. He does have a great attitude and is working to address his weaknesses, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him gain more playing time by the end of the season, but he's just not ready to be a starter now.

I think Jarthur's point is a good one. Players drop to the late rounds (or out of the draft) because they have one or more serious warts; poor measurables, offseason issues, a reputation as an underachiever etc. That meeans to succeed, they have to overcome those things. Most don't.

A 7-9 season would be the source of great consternation in the Bills organization. I don't know how long Ralph Wilson's fuse is. Whether the coaching change buys him an extra year or not I can't say. I know it would be difficult for TD to point to Mularkey and say, "It's the coach's fault," for the second time in a row. If Wilson doesn't fire TD, then I think it would be hard for TD to fire Mularkey. He's have to give him at least one more season. Fortunately, I think the record will be better than that. My prediction is for 10-6. I don't think anyone will be really satisfied if the record were 9-7 and the Bills did not make the playoffs, but I think that secures everyone's job for at least another year.

Tight end is a pretty demanding position, not only physically but mentally. You have to know how to block and be aware of blocking schemes. You have to learn the pass plays in the playbook;m routes, reads, techniques for juking DBs to get open, weak spots in the zone for underneath routes etc. When you've got a guy who is both academically challenged and very raw (Peters is both) you're going to have to wait a long time before he can be brought fully into the offence. I think it mainly comes down to the Bills not wanting to use a roster spot on a guy who's going to be that much of a project.

I've also heard the black widow's bite is overrated. Very painful, but it's rarely fatal. Even the brown recluse bite is rarely fatal. Its bite is worse though. I think its venom contains a compound that digests flesh, so it can make for a very nasty sore, and does normally require hospitalization. The coral snake, like a black widow, is pretty docile. Bites are rare. They have short fangs set toward the back of their mouths, so it's much harder for them to bite through fabric than for a rattler (longer fangs set in the front of the mouth). Its venom, however, is a faster acting nerve venom, like that of a cobra though. There is a lookalike snake, that people can mistake for a coral snake. I've forgotten the name of it though.

Actually Travis Henry has one of the better stiff arms in the league. I thinkwhat people want to see, that we haven't yet, is for McGahee to break one long and outrun people in the open field. That'll come, I think. I think by midseason McGahee will be seen by opposing teams as a dangerous threat.

Lot's of people have said it already. Physically he's on a fast slide at 41. He's a shameless self promoter and his very presence tends to polarize fans

What they said.

I forget who it was, maybe Takeo Spikes, but he was called for offsides. They showed a replay and there was no possible way he or anyone else committed the infraction. That penalty helped keep alive a Detroit scoring drive that could have been the difference in the game.

I think the Bills will keep Brown until Losman starts practicing.

Mine: Joe Burns - FB Gerald Dixon - CB Jasen Esposito - OT Jason Gildon - LB/DE Mario Haggan - LB Luke Lawton - FB (PS) Dylan McFarland - OT (PS) Mike Pucillo - G Constantin Ritzman - DE (PS) Justin Bannan or Lauvale Sape - DT Jonathon Smith - WR/RB (PS) Rod Trafford - TE Shaud Williams -RB (PS) Greg Zolman -QB (PS) Additional PS member: Jason Peters If Milloy is deemed likely able to play then Prioleau will be cut and Luke Lawton or Joe Burns retained

I don't know, Labatt, Sullivan is more versatile. He sucks at two positions. Pucillo only sucks at guard.

To contrast two players, apparently Teague had the potential all along and simply needed time and maybe a little solid coaching to put it all together. Pucillo has hadtime and now coaching and he couldn't. Apparently it was a balance issue with Pucillo. DTs have all sorts of little tricks to knock guards off balance whereupon it's easier to move them in order to either get to a unner or rush the QB. Once Pucillo was off balance he stayed off balance. A good guard can recover. Lawrence Smith shows he can recover.

Just looking at the map, if Francis holds to the projected course, I would guess you'll be looking at winds in excess of 100 mph. If it shifts just a little south, luckty you, you get a direct hit with the very strongest winds. I would guess the decision on whether to evacuate or not would depend on how sturdy the structure you live in and how close to a body of water that might flood. You're obviously not on the coast so you don't have to worry about storm surge.

I understand officials are trying to discourage people from evacuating unless your area is told to evacuate. I guess they don't want available hotel rooms and shelters filled by people who don't need them so they're available to those who do need them.

I think North Carolina is considered out of the target area for landfall, but, depending on what happens after landfall you could have a pretty bad rain event on top of what Gaston just left you.

Albany's got it right. I think the WR corps is set: Moulds, Reed, Evans, Shaw, and Aiken. That makes five. Terrence McGee has proved he can handle KR duties. They'll line someone else like Simonton back with him. At this point it looks like Clements handles punts. Buffalo doesn't need Haddad. With the injuries at QB Buffalo needs to have people like McGee who can pull double duty. Haddad just doesn't have enough value at WR. Jonathon Smith same deal, but he gets a gig on the practice squad since he's a rookie draft choice.

Got a laptop?

I think Sullivan would get the nod over Pucillo since he's proven he can be bad at more than one position while Pucillo sucks at only one position. Also Sullivan was a higher draft choice.

If Bledsoe doesn't get a TD on one of the first two possessions he's not going to get it period. I'd like to see it too, but if it doesn't happen I can't give it as much weight as going a half without a TD. I think the practical thing I'd like to see is the Bills able to run and stop the run.

When you consider he started at around 400, we're not talking about a high percentage. LOL As long as he can keep his strength, I'd like to see him lose about another 20.

Great post. The blurb about Vincent and Evans is really gratifying. From other reports, that kind of help is exactly what Evans needs. It's nice to see he's willing to put in the extra work and that Vincent is willing to help him.

Boy, Tatonka12, if Francis stays the course, you could be close to ground zero, maybe on the southwest side which is a lilttle better than on the northeast side.

Here's your list with my reactions. Greg Zolman, QB - I think you may be right. Buffalo will resist keeping more than 4 QBs on the roster even if 2 are injured. He will go on the practice squad where he can be activated on short notice in an emergency. Joe Burns, FB - Probably, although Jason Peter's release gives him higher odds of making it. Shaud Williams, RB - He's in competition with Simonton for a spot and Simonton has gotten more reps. He has performed pretty well when he's had the chance so Simonton is not a slam dunk to win this battle. Drew Haddad, WR - Yup! The Bills seem to have a solid return man in Terrence McGee. Wonder of wonders he's also a solid CB. Haddad is a return man and nothing more, at least to the Bills. McGee saves a roster spot, an important factor with the injuries to two QBs that Buffalo want to keep on the active roster. Tim Euhus, TE - Dead wrong on this one. Rod Trafford has played well, but so has Euhus and he gets the nod because of the draft factor. Jasen Espisito, OT - Camp fodder - as good as gone. Mike Pucillo, G or Marques Sullivan OT I think you may be right on this one. Neither has shown they can do it on the field. Dylan McFarland, OT - Yup. Practice squad material as you correctly note. Jason Gildon, DE - Quite possibly. He hasn't lived up to the hype. Lauvale Sape, DT - Quite possibly. I actually think he's in a battle with Bannan. Bannan may win that one, but it's not a done deal. Constantin Ritzman, DE - Yup. More practice squad material. Ron Edwards, DT - Dead wrong again. He's played pretty well this preseason and appears to be living up to his potential and athleticism. Gerald Dixon, CB - Yup. Camp Fodder. Pierson Prioleau, S - Probably, though the injury to Milloy might delay the inevitable. Jabari Greer, CB Probably not. I think the Bills carry 5 and Greer is #5. My alternatives: Rod Trafford, Jonathon Smith (will make practice squad), Luke Lawton (practice squad) Mario Haggan might get cut to save a spot for Prioleau Buffalo would love to find someone who can long snap, and thus save a roster spot, but so far no one seems to have it. No one has yet proven you can just manufacture a long snapper. Some people just have it and some don't. If other needs don't seem too accute next off season TD will look for someone who can do double duty, but I don't think there is a viable alternative to keeping Dorenbos this season.