BillnutinHouston

Think about how outgunned the Bills were coming into this game. I think Dick had this team prepared well and I give him credit for that. We were right there at the end - who would have expected that? I hate losing as much as anyone but, strategically, and based on what he's given to work with, I think he has this team in a position to win every week. I give him credit for that. OK, tell me how wrong I am.

White 50th anniversary Edwards. Yes, DH Gate came through for me pretty well. Dang these white jerseys are sweet!

For all of the negative press and NE's overconfidence, the truth is, nobody knows what's going to happen. Maybin has a sack in both games he's played, and nobody knows whether that was a fluke or just the tip of the iceberg. The offense looked weak in preseason but there was no game planning, no D. Bell at LT, and no TO. The defense looked OK, but again no gameplanning. NE's defense is rebuilt and who knows how it will hold up? I think back to week 1 last year, when the Bills stepped out (granted, at home) and dominated a Seattle team that people THOUGHT would be decent. Bottom line, as Jim Mora would say: "You think you know, but you really don't know..."

Nice thread Bill! Thanks everyone for helping me through a LONG offseason. Especially those who try hard to keep it classy...

The only way he becomes a Bill is if the Bills agree to sign him before the roster cutoff thing. Otherwise we are just a bargaining chip for him with Philly.

It's a team ranking. There is no way Vic would rank Bills fans that low and think he could walk around WNY without an escort.

27-21 Pats*

Seems to be adding up - Jauron's confirmed desire to speed things up, Schonert's rube-goldberg-style offense getting the axe, Walker getting cut and the recent quotes from TO and Fred Jackson seem to indicate that they are fully committed to a high octane, fast paced, down the field passing attack. Let's hope the no huddle can hide the inexperience of the OL.

Got it. Not an apologist for Donahoe, just wanted to emphasize Marv's role in the Royal debacle. I think Marv's reign reign as GM will go down as one of the worst in the franchise's history.

Don't hang Robert Royal on Donahoe. That was one of Marv's prize FA pickups.

This is the key fact that people seem to be missing. DJ is not going ANYWHERE, folks.

I suspect that the timing of this has EVERYTHING to do with the change in coordinators. From all indications Jauron wants the no huddle run faster and the offense simpler. Here's my guess: Turk: More complex offense + Walker advocate = slower pace to offense AVP: Simpler offense + Bell advocate = faster pace to offense

Thanks for the props guys! It's nice to be right but I wish I was right about something POSITIVE.

Um, remember who was rushing the passer when Trent was making those throws in practice.

I totally expect Trent to actually release one long ball within the first series or two against the Pats, maybe even on the very first play. I think AVP will MAKE him throw it (assuming he's still vertical), even if the receiver isn't open.

Renting Rhodes seems really Mickey Mouse to me, considering the total payroll is $129 million. Just because you CAN do something according to the rules, doesn't make it right. Low class, IMO.

Let's face it - this team insists on giving us relatively inexperienced coordinators who have to learn on the job - and this is probably a reflection of the quality of our head coaches. The only notable exceptions in the post-Levy era that I can think of are Joe Pendry (who actually fielded, statistically, a decent offense) and Kevin Gilbride. All others on both sides of the ball seem to be those promoted from the position coach level. I think this accounts for a lot of our problems. Here's hoping that AVP can buck the trend - but I'm not hopeful.

My guesses are Derek Fine and Langston Walker. And it BETTER be tense over there!!!!

My son and I flew in for the opener last year, from Houston obviously. I was accompanying him in the men's room at the time the play of the year went down - that being Roscoe's amazing punt return against the Seahawks. On the plus side, my son was filmed by an in-stadium camera (and I was alerted to it in advance) so I was able to snap the scoreboard photo above - a pretty cool souvenir of his first time ever at RWS! Funny, at 9 yrs. old the kid has no appreciation for what the long odds were of that happening. We're heading to the opener again this year - would like to take him every year as long as the Bills stay in Buffalo. It's an experience I'm glad to be able to give my kid. The rest of the year we are glued to Sunday Ticket!

Billnut bows to almighty Joe In Macungie!

I agree that Schottenheimer would be a good fit for this team - a transitional coach to at least get you to respectability. Then you need another coach to take you to the next level after that. And he has "the gleam"....

Fixed. If nothing else, this shocker shows that Jauron knows he's on the hot seat and has to produce this year. Clearly he's learned from past failures to make OC changes before it was too late (see John Shoop in Chicago).

Nobody should EVER mistake me for a DJ fan, but how do we know that DJ hasn't changed his approach to game management this year? I don't care about his postgame quotes, I want to see how they do on the field. The O is showing a no-huddle look in preseason, and who would have expected that from a Dick Jauron team? I'm not saying he's a coach of the year candidate but I'm willing to see what he puts on the field (no huddle, aggressive play calling on both sides of the ball, taking the game to the other team mentality) before I write him off for good. One thing's for sure, if the results don't change he's going to be replaced. You have to assume he knows that too, so it will be interesting to see how he responds. Surely this will be his last shot as an NFL head coach, and he knows it.

Well, I can confirm I just saw the same thing you did on NFL Total Access. For those who didn't see it on the NFL Network, the show did not elaborate on what info they have to suggest the possibility that he's out. Here's what the worst source in the world, the Pats* website, says: "Wes Welker has been a regular in the locker room these days, but not on the football field. Since starting the Cincinnati game in Week 2 of the preseason, the Pro Bowl wide receiver has been out of commission with an undisclosed injury. “It’s pretty much team policy that we don’t speak about those things,” he told curious reporters on Tuesday. Is there any concern that he might not be ready in time for the regular season opener on September 14? If there is, Welker wouldn’t admit to any. “Right now, I’m just working hard to get back out there,” he offered. “That’s my goal right now – just continue to work hard on a daily basis and get back there as soon as possible.”

Well said!