CosmicBills

Yeah, he threw one really poor pass which started a trend for a short (thank god) time. But then he bounced back well, especially after the INT. Something he hadn's shown before. Then came the fumbles. I was also pleased with the first string line. They gave JP plenty of time.

Except for his four year contract... I was at the game, JP looked better than his stats. His throws (minus 2 poor ones) were all on targets and seemed (from the armchair perspective) to be the right reads. The fumbles -- killers. But he showed he has the talent and is getting a hang of the offense quicker than the rest. Just my opinion. . .

Of course it is. It's an Anti-JP thing since Kelly has looked stellar thus far...

Hahahaha, no shame in that!

One run was 44 yards. The other 5 runs amounted to 15 yards and a 3 ypc avg. Though, the 44 yard run was something special, he showed he still has more speed than 99 percent of the defenders on the field.

Wasn't that the entire game? He was the first QB in a long time to start and end a pre-season game...

He has known JP will be the starter since the day he took the job. So has Levy. So have all the players on the team. This has never been a "real" competition. And it never should have been with the other QBs on the roster.

Or maybe some of the Bengals have branched out from violent crime into computer fraud and have hijacked your band width.

Umm...MM took away Clements play calling early in the season and only gave it back partially towards the end. So that "terrible" play calling was the result of the "compitent coaching ability" of MM.

Turtles also make great soup.

Yes. Any impartial observer can see the clues that lead to this conclusion. (IMHO) The biggest reason: The organization (read: not just Donahoe) has too much invested in JP for him NOT to get the chance to fail or succeed. Levy, Ralph and Juron all know that 8 games does not give a QB enough time to learn. They also know that being "handed" the job last year left a sour taste in some fans' mouths. So what do they do? They make it clear in the press that it's a competition. They bring in another young QB (mind you, one who was thought so little of in GB that the draft gurus there used a first rounder 2 years ago on Rogers rather than continue to groom Nall to be Favre's replacement) to give the impression of competition. But in reality, they know that Nall has no real shot. Sure, he could be a diamond in the rough, and if so, all the better for the Bills. But the realistic possibilities of that were slim to none when they signed him. Levy knew it. Ralph knew it. Now you have a three way contest between a 10 year vet with diminishing skills (a perfect backup) who no one really expects to win, a third string QB with good size and youth (but ZERO experience in this sort of offense -- that is a huge flag) and a first round pick with 8 games starting experience who they desperately need to succeed. Now, do you really think this competition is 100 percent on the level?

Good point -- and it's more proof that this really isn't a competition in the true sense of the word. The front office knew from day one who the starter was going to be. There was only one clear choice. That's why you keep the 10 year backup around and bring in a young guy with size to give the fans the perception he's a real threat -- but let's face it, hamstring or no, Nall has career backup written all over him. So they stacked the deck and made it "appear" to be a fair contest when in reality, there is only one real player. Then they get Brown to do some spin, and presto! But, like you, I'm a JP guy so it doesn't bother me all that much. Another interesting note: "Holcomb got the first 10 snaps ... however, (Holcomb) seemed to have more running plays called when he was under center Saturday." That's a minor thing sure, but still a clue as to what's going on.

Like an undrafter WR who will be sitting on the practice squad and or cut come the end of August.

Logically, Kirwan's conclusion about Holcomb makes no sense: He makes a big point about Holcomb hanging out with McGahee showing how well liked Holcomb is -- then follows that up by saying McGahee is a mercenary looking to bolt to another city come contract time and thus, not really part of the 'family' of teammates. So, I ask you...if McGahee is on the outside of the team looking in, how valuable politically is it for Holcomb to show up during a NATIONAL INTERVIEW with him by his side? Either Kirwan is wrong about his conclusions regarding McGahee, or he is wrong about Holcomb. He can't have it both ways. My take? It is a pointless observation by a Journalist looking to fill up some more of the page.

Even with a Veteran coaching staff in place, the system is still new to the players. And the depth players we added (especially on Defense) are rookies or still a touch green. No one knows how the OL will be, or the DL. And no one knows if JP has put it all together yet (or how long it will take). Till those three questions are answered, we have no way of knowing if the Bills are better or not. That said, I'm going in with an open mind. As a fan, being 0-0 is the most exciting time of year. You never know what's going to happen. A couple bounces here and there, and the Bills are a surprise team. Who knows -- but in 10 days we'll get a bit of a better picture! Thank God football is back.

7 on 7 is QB, WR, TE, DB, LB and a center usually. It is for the passing plays on Offense and Deffense (Pass Skeleton is the same thing essentially) 11 on 11 is full team practice. Running and Passing plays for the offense

Very true!

Can Heath Ledger make people forget about Jack's version of the Joker? Nolan better hope so. Otherwise this movie's dead before it begins.

Also, for the Bills, WR is perhaps the deepest position on the team. No need to trade ANY picks for ANY WR in my opinion.

Ah, but the ladies like to read Maxim more than the bunny. So it works out for the better when you have chicas over to the crib.

A foosball or bumper pool table. And a stack of Maxim Mags in the bathroom.

If Nance was banging BB's wife when he was just 8 years old, then he deserved to be the number one pick overall.

A couple of reasons come to mind (well, those that haven't been mentioned): 1) First, you have to remember that pro teams are always more advanced in schemes and offenses than 90 percent of colleges and High Schools. And at the HS level the old logic of "the best athlete on your line plays on the QB's blind side" still remains etched in stone. That is just how it works. So, the best athletes begin their careers playing LT. This carries over to college. By the time they are entering the draft, the best players have spent over 8 years putting their left hand on the ground rather than their right. This is something that shouldn't be overlooked. Yes, you can switch sides in college, but it's not an easy transition from the left to the right. Footwork, technique, hand placement is totally different from one side of the line to the other. Not to mention your role in the running and passing attack. So, if the best players are starting at the LT when they are young, it stands to reason that they are still going to be the best players when they become pros, (at least 90 percent of the time). If your argument about this notion being outdated is right, and it may very well be, it will take time for that to filter down throughout the system as colleges and high schools adapt more modern offenses. Till then, the best linemen will primarily be LTs coming into the draft and thus will be selected higher and receive higher salaries. 2) The blind side is NOT a myth. Even on rollouts to the right, the blind side is of paramount importance. Not only are the LTs on an island, they are going to be facing OLBs and DBs who are quicker than DEs when the pocket is moving away from them. Thus, it helps to have a more atheltic, complete player in that position than you would need on the Right side. When you roll to the right, the RT has the advantage over the DE and DT because he is getting chip help from the guards and WRs as they start their routes. Also, it's usually an unexpected play call which puts the strong side defenders on their heels. This is even true when you are playing in trips or spread offenses without the benefit of a TE on the strong side. Further more, blind side protection is more about happy feet than injuries to the QB. Every Bills fan has seen what happens when your QB has happy feet. Happy feet don't result from pressure on the right hand side where the QB can SEE the rushers coming and can judge when to get rid of the ball. Happy feet result when a QB FEELS pressure coming and cannot see it. Most QBs develope this FEEL, and it can seriously mess up a rythm of an offense if your QB is constantly FEELing (and not seeing) pressure. It's even worse if your QB has no faith in his blind side being protected because a scrub has been put in at LT rather than a stud. 3) Weakside run blocking is primary concern of coaches. Sure, if the majority of run plays go over the right side, the RT is the first line of defense. But he has the help of TEs, OG and Cs to create that initial hole. But what is it that springs a 3 yard run into a 20 yard run? Blocking at the second level. That comes from the opposite side G and T and WRs making tougher blocks on more nimble LBs and Safties. This is a solo job. So, using the logic that the majority of run plays go right, that means that the majority of the time the RT is not blocking one on one, but getting assistance. Whereas, the crucial blocks at the second level are being performed solo by the LT. Whether running or passing, strong side or weakside, the LT is called upon to do his job one on one against quicker, better defenders than the RT is called on throughout the game. That is why LT is still the premier position on the OL. Second is the Center. Then the RT. In my opinion anyway.

32 WR is what every draft expert called one of the weakest classes at the position in years. Makes you wonder even more.

My hunches (for what they're worth): -JP has a strong camp and wins the "competition" easily. Still, he takes a few weeks to get into a rythm in game-situations due to the new offense. -Preston pushes CV hard throughout the whole camp. He wins the most improved OL award (if there was such a thing), but CV holds onto the job going into NE. -The Bills will keep 7 WR (Evans, Price, Parish, Reed, Davis, Aiken, Nance) -Royal wins the starting TE job, Everett shows flashes but is too raw to be the number 1 heading into NE. -Vincent is the starting FS heading into NE, outplaying Ko and Baker due to experience. -TKO's health is still unknown heading into NE, but Crowell has a solid camp. -The interior DL, led by Tripplet and Anderson, play above expectations. -Kelsay has a medicore camp, still a hole at DE.