Mikie2times

Difference in YPA is Taylor being able to throw a predetermined route with more accuracy. It's no small difference, it is part of the game. Taylors ability to be a threat in the deep passing game is certainly a big part of his game. I just don't see any of that YPA coming from the sources I would like. His COMP % and YPA is established on timing routes and deep balls which he throws a very high % of his plays. Again, sort the box I've described that Roman created for him. His first year without Roman, he was forced to operate as something other than a system QB. This is my contention. Take Roman away, strip the system, make Tyrod play in a standard offense, it will get ugly. Obviously can't disagree with a lack of talent last year for Kaep but I don't see his future getting much better regardless of where he goes.

I was part of the Tyrod will start when we signed him group. I like watching him play. In this system he can be very efficient. Having said all this, like many have discussed, if he has the same season in 2016 as he did in 2015, he could exceed 15 million a year. Please compare the two stat lines..... COMP-243, ATT 416, COMP% 58.4%, YARDS 3197, TD 21, INT 8, RUSH YDS 524, RUSH TD 4 COMP-242, ATT 380, COMP% 63.7%, YARDS 3035, TD 20, INT 6, RUSH YDS 568, RUSH TD 4 One of those is Tyrod and the other is Kaep's first season as a full time starter, virtually indistinguishable of each other. As players, not the same. Kaep more physical talent, Taylor more mental talent. Comparing Taylor Kaep might upset some, but the reality is this type of production is plenty out of the position. SF made multiple deep runs with him and Roman at the helm. Prior to the season I said I hope Taylor can give us Kaep like production and that's what he did. At the same time, I can't imagine any Bills fan being happy about paying Kaep over 15 million dollars. We probably have the most QB friendly OC in the league right now. Paying a system QB franchise money would be a death blow. I'll stay open minded but I just feel Taylor is playing in a box and that works, but if he was asked to step outside it he would struggle mightily.

Mr. Jauronimo, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

Norman deserves top 5 corner money as does Gilmore for those that are comparing the two. Both are young and in the top 5, at the least, top 10 at what they do. Funny how Norman instantly has the feel that he will get a bigger deal than Gilmore. That's what being a "pro" gets you nowadays.

Hard to disagree but can't be applied across the board. Seattle is the best defense of 2010's and registers in a top 10 discussion all time when looking at defensive performance over a couple years when factoring in scoring/yard differences in eras. One thing Seattle defenders discuss across the board is just how straight forward the scheme is. I thought that was illustrated well in the Super Bowl against the Pats. They play man on just about everything and want to force teams to drive 3-4 yards downfield per play with no big plays and emphasis punishing eliminating YAC and hitting WR's. They had a pretty good degree of success against Brady even in allowing 300 yards passing. You could just see how much it took to beat them in that game with one of the games all time best QB's forced to execute on 50 pass attempts as Seattle defenders just pummeled New England's WR's all game. We also saw Buffalo do it's thing with Schwartz in a different scheme than Seattle but similar in it's approach to players not thinking. On the flip side you have the Broncos defense this year. Wade might not run something as complex as Rex but his defense isn't exactly run of mill. Personally, that Denver defense is the kind I love seeing with pressure being it's hallmark. Common theme in all situations is good players in good scheme fits. Seattle has a roster which is very unique as far as how physical it's DB's are. Denver had great edge rushing LB's, outstanding corners. Just a great all around defense. We still have a very good DL, bordering on great if Kyle returns to form. Marcell and Kyle should be at DE, and we need to add a true NT. Hughes is a very solid edge guy who should be a primary rusher, but can drop. We have outstanding corners which is mandatory.I think Lawson is a wild card. Very talented? No, but one thing a Rex defense can do when it clicks is make average players look very talented, specifically at LB. Lawson was moving around a lot at the end of the year and it seemed to work. He played a lot of MLB against the Jets. We can have a good scheme fit with this defense and this roster in 2016 with a couple additions, players buying in, and simplification.

I just watched the 30 for 30 on the 85 Bears. Found it interesting that the Bears defense came to Buddy a couple years prior to the 85 season and asked him to shrink the playbook. Most players commented that they knew this wasn't what Buddy wanted, but the next day they came to practice the playbook was more than cut in half. It becomes very interesting to now see Rex facing a what would appear to be a similar situation his father did. In his dads situation the players unified and requested that the playbook be reduced with the expectations that it would allow them to play faster and improve as a team. The defense was united and wrote a letter to Buddy and Buddy was smart enough to listen. I don't know if a modern NFL team has the stones or ability to be unified like teams did of that era. I wouldn't expect Bills players to ask Rex to change, it will come more in the form of what we have already seen. Player complaints in the media, etc. His father was smart enough to listen to his players and it eventually led to the greatest defensive season in NFL history. It gives me hope for next season that Rex has seen what simplification can provide. Perhaps we just didn't see it on a wide scale level last year as we already found ourselves too invested in the initial strategy.

Rex has never required elite talent outside of the DB's which we have. I feel as if we have reasons to think Rex has lost it, I also feel like we have reasons to give him the benefit of the doubt. 2015 was clearly a dreadful performance with very few players buying in, confusion, and poor execution. If those things don't happen in 2016, even with less talent than 2015, yes, the defense can have a massive turnaround. I don't think it's even fair to say we will have less talent in 2016 either. We lost Mario who brought little to the team in 2015. Our DB play which was already strong should get even better. Kyle should be back, if not, he didn't play most of 2015 anyway. The LB's should absolutely play better as I'm certain we will look to upgrade that position. Dooming 2016 before it happens is just as stupid as anointing Rex in 2015 before it happened.

It is silly to think the Pegulas, Russ, Whaley, or anybody at One Bills Drive ever thought Rex/Schwartz could work. The statements made about retaining Schwartz was PR mumbo, nothing more. If it wasn't I have larger concerns about our front office and it's ability to judge situations and understand the game. Why the delay? People prioritize tasks in new roles. Letting go a coach was not a priority. It was something he had to deal with and when he had some time after his initial tasks that's exactly what he did. Some guys would make the wheel square if for no other reason just so they can make their mark. You see it in business all the time. You see it in the NFL all the time. Rex is one of the biggest examples of this in the NFL. He is married to the 3-4. He will never change. He is also married to running the show. It has to be a "Rex Ryan" defense as we heard so many times this year (Imagine being a player and having your squad labeled by the HC and not it's players, it would bother me). On our end we didn't riot when this was all playing out because most people looked at 2013's defense also being good and now we would have the master and not the apprentice. It just didn't go that way so people are forcing the Schwartz/Ryan debate as if one could even exist. It was never possible. It's also likely the apprentice was more successful than the master because the apprentice had less you needed to know. All we discussed this year about Rex and what happened to our defense has been discussed and verified by multiple people/players/writers. We played slow, confused, and uninspired. One more season for Rex and given recent history, if we do dump him, the Bills will be switching back to a 4-3 just prior to it's 3-4 roster taking shape.

Both 3-4 legends with lots of defensive coordinator experience and fathers who coached in football. Excluding interim coaching, Wade has a career 79-57 record, Ryan has a career 58-60 record. It's interesting how Ryan was a guy the Bills targeted but nobody touches Wade. All he seems to do is win wherever he is. He's fallen short in the playoffs over and over, but it's not as if Rex has a ring. I know his Bills squads had great records but were somewhat overshadowed following the Kelly years. We were a spoiled fan base during those times. I don't recall what actually severed our relationship with Wade. I'm 34 and those were some memorable years, I just remember the players and games more than situational things like why we lost a player or coach. Anybody recall? Anybody rather have Wade vs Rex? Anybody think it's shocking the guy isn't a HC? He seems to fall victim to high expectations getting fired his first down year everywhere he goes despite success in previous seasons.

Nothing 90% of the board couldn't have gotten at some point. Before the flood of "I don't drive drunk" posts, sure. Neither do I. Have I done it in my life at least once? Sure. Has 90% of the board done the same. Likely.

I think Goodwin is even worse

Great character, great athleticism. The most injury prone player I have ever seen.

WR's are never playing a large role in this offense, but we lose all of our vertical passing game if Watkins is injured. The vertical passing game needs to be in play in all of our games. It's a huge part of Tyrod's game and the main area Roman seems to pick up yardage in the passing game. If the vet minimum with an incentive based contract is an option I don't see how that hurts us. That type of money is just as likely useless elsewhere on a retread, which is what I would consider Harvin. Just with upside and very specific upside that relates to this team.

That's it. Even in the normal job market if you held a high position, quit before you established yourself, then applied for another similar role, I just don't see it going well. You gave up on exactly what you're seeking. You also put your employer in a difficult position when you quit. Marrone made a very poor judgement call on how this would play out and that's on him. I don't think the scenario requires hindsight to see things going this way.

Gilbride spoke to a lot of the reasons people still think the verdict isn't out on Taylor. Taylor really didn't show all season that he could read a coverage and throw to a man who was was covered but about to become open after his break. That is what all the best ones do. It's also the hardest thing to do as a QB. Only 3-5 guys can do it consistently and about 5 more can do it inconsistently. Then you take in the other comments and it's the balance of what Taylor did do well. We already know most QB's in the NFL don't pass the test Gilbride was holding Taylor to. So now you have 20 or so QB's that will be a blend of arm/accuracy, deep passes, 1 or 2 read passes, improvisation, limiting turnovers, and running. In these areas Taylor probably had the best seasons in the NFL. In fact I would argue we didn't lose a game all year with because Taylor was the starter. He had better games than others, but he never was so bad he was the predominant reason for the loss. Tyrod might not ever be a true franchise QB but if he's the next best thing to one he's might just be as valuable.

If we got anybody who fits into the DL it would the Jets NT Harrison. He's a beast 3-4 NT and very young.

What came first the chicken or the egg? It takes a great model to build leaders. I don't know if Rex is providing that model. As far as the players, so few individuals are natural leaders. I don't know how many we have. The combination is not good.

We build a 3-4 defense and if Rex doesn't work out we hire a coach or DC that runs the 3-4. We have excellent corners. Damon Harrison of the Jets would be great at NT. He is young and will be available. Dareus used to be a 3-4 DE at Alabama. I hate saying it but I could see Mario and Kevin Williams being cut. We need the cap room. LB is a huge focus, both a middle and either a balanced or edge OLB. That would be a start.

That's the other part. All speculation, but no Rex and I don't think we get Richie or Tyrod, no Roman and I don't think we get Clay.

You can measure yards, yards a play, sacks, passer rating, it doesn't matter how complex the formula, the only one that matters is points and in the defenses case, points allowed. This is how Rex lead defenses have ranked in points allowed since 2011. 2015- 16th 2014- 24th 2013- 19th 2012- 20th 2011- 20th Rex has a combined record as a head coach of 32-46 in the last 5 years. He has not posted a winning season in 5 consecutive years. I know the only way for me to find balance and hope that the next 2-3 years of my fandom aren't ruined is in chalking this year up to a new scheme. Feeling as though our players will "get it". That Rex really is this special mind and once we get a few more "3-4" guys we will turn the corner. The truth is I feel like I'm lying to myself. Where is the basis for this hope? Rex was good with multiple hall of fame players at Baltimore. Then Rex had his success with the Jets those first two years. Rex has a famous last name associated with defensive greatness. He captures the national medias attention which allows him to always stay relevant. This reinforces his defensive guru status as a result of the previously mentioned reasons. That is the Rex loop that the hope of a better future is based off of. So the question becomes how much of the Baltimore period and the Jets AFC championship runs were Rex? If the answer is a lot, the next question becomes, how much has the game changed? Is what Rex is used to doing being offset by rule changes and changing offensive philosophies? What Rex is doing, for going on a half decade, is not working and the objective information showed that pretty clearly prior to his hiring. The more I type, the more frustrated I'm getting at the front office for this hire. They got sold. Sure, so did we, but it's not our jobs to make these decisions and with the roster/system fit on top of it it's just hard to see why they bought. Horrible decision by the Pegula's and all involved.

Cap Casualties with savings over 700k I would think these are likely Mario Williams- Cap Savings 12.9 million Dan Carpenter- Cap Savings 1.7 million Anthony Dixon- Cap Savings 1.2 million Marquise Goodwin- Cap Savings 710k Given who we sign, how injuries heal,I think these are possible Kyle Williams- Cap Savings 5.0 Million Eric Wood- Cap Savings 2.5 Million Leodis McKelvin- Cap Savings 3.9 Million Manny Lawson Cap Savings 2.7 Million Kraig Urbik Cap Savings 1.8 Million Key Free Agents: Richie Incognito, Cody Glenn, Bradham, Alex Carrington Free Agents to consider on Defense NT- Damon Harrison, Haloti Ngata, BJ Raji among others. This is a deep class of 3-4 NT's. Slip in an actual 3-4 NT and Dareus can move over to DE and be more of a Wilkerson type player. OLB- Calvin Pace is a former Rex player, old. Maybe worth a 1 year deal if he comes cheaper than Manny. MLB: Demario Davis is another former Rex player and is much more in the mold of the ILB you want in this scheme Harrison and Davis are both young, both would make an instant impact. Pace just seems like a possible swap for Manny depending on money. Neither are solutions, we just likely need one more year out of either. At this point I see Mario as gone and the likelihood of us building toward a 3-4 roster as strong. If Rex gets canned one day that's fine, let's have a solid 3-4 roster built out for his replacement. (Who with our luck will play the 4-3)

These are my thoughts as well. Nobody can say how much influence Rex had on Taylor coming here, certainly a chance to be the starter weighed heavily. From what I have heard, Whaley and Roman never gushed over Tyrod. Even in the preseason, you never heard much in the way of praise. I could easily see this thing being something along the lines of Rex getting a bone from Whaley. Cheap QB, another guy for the competition, but it seems the main guy who has been consistently high on Tyrod has been Rex and that started before he came here. I hate what Rex did to our defense and I agree with a lot of people that it will need rebuilding. LB's specifically and we likely lose some talented players, as some just have too high a price tag for the role they have in this scheme. It's easy to say we lost a year in 2015. It feels that way. But if Cassell or EJ start, I still feel we lose 2015. Then we enter 2016 asking once again who will be our QB? Obviously I'm not sold on Taylor completely, but I'm sold enough on him that we can make the playoffs with him and a top 10 defense. I suppose I would rather enter 2016 with the challenge of being a top 10 defense than the challenge of asking who will play QB.

Would you trade the combination of Roman as HC and Schwartz as DC, for the combination of Rex as HC, Roman as OC, and Tyrod as QB? The scenario I'm proposing is Tyrod never coming to Buffalo if Rex doesn't.

Very rare for me to post about a non call on the forum as it seems just about every non call is always a hot topic. I suppose it's being outdone by the cementing of our playoff fate. I thought this was a very bad non call. Graham had an angle to make a play on Ertz but got completely taken out. This led to the game winning FG for the Eagles. Was it just as obvious a pick play to everybody else?

Like the thread a lot just as far as keeping perspective, it's not easy though as you have to essentially erase the past to arrive at that place. People are angry that they felt we had a much better team and I can't say I disagree with them. I can also appreciate the need to allow a staff time to build a team, but that feeling is somewhat offset by the fact that Rex has not been successful in a long time. This would make 5 consecutive seasons in which he could not eclipse .500 with a record during that time of 32-45. I'm with you in the sense that we seem to be our own worst nightmare as far as not showing patience and always ending up in this head coaching loop but at the same time I just don't think Rex is a very good HC.