jahnyc

I did not intend for the original post to become a post about politics. I was surprised by the tone of Cuomo's statements about the Bills. Why did he feel the need to make these statements at this stage, before there is any sense of the cost or scope of stadium improvements? I think Cuomo has aspirations for national office, and he seems all about how to position himself for that future. I do not feel the Bills fit into this calculus. Conversely, I have always found Schumer to be in tune with those who want the Bills to stay in Buffalo. I think he gets it, even if much or all of his motivation is grounded in gaining political support. It seems to me that the Bills and RW stadium have been a bargain for New York State over the last 40 years, particularly compared to other franchises that have received state and local funding for new stadiums during that period. The biggest potential wildcard in all of this is if the engineering study shows that the RW stadium is not structurally sound.

For some reason, I do not trust Cuomo will do the right thing in terms of funding for the improvements to RW stadium. I did not like his recent statements, and I do not think he really understands on an emotional level the importance of the Bills to Western New York. Thoughts?

This was predictable. If Wanny has been involved in the D planning this year, then I am concerned. At least he is familiar with the personnel, which should help in figuring out needs and who should be playing going forward.

I don't think that Spiller is the kind of RB that can be used in a traditional run first offense. He has some speed, but he has difficulty breaking tackles. I think the interior of our o-line is okay, but I am not sure how effective the running game would be if we didn't pass as much as we do.

Some observations below: 1. The game today was a microcosm of our season. Fast start, horrid ending. I think that Chan got as much out of the offense and individual players as possible and if you compare it to where it was prior to his arrival, the offense has made great strides. I know that many will disagree, but it is Chan's system that has allowed players like Fitz, Stevie, Nelson, Chandler and Jones to excel and the offensive line to be effective with players like Pears and Hairston. 2. I don't think that Hairston is a starting caliber LT in the NFL (maybe a RT), but I can't see Pears becoming the back-up at his new contract numbers. I believe the Bills still need to find a starting caliber LT. 3. The situation on defense is confused. Are we playing a 3-4 or a 4-3? When are we going to commit? It should not take this long to move to a 3-4, but we still do not seem to have the players for it. Further confusing things is whether Edwards will be back and if he will be replaced by Wanny. Does this mean we switch back to a 4-3? I think Dareus is a natural tackle, not a DE. If we play a 3-4, does he continue at DE? Seems like we don't have the right players for either scheme. 4. Our kicking game has been horrendous since we lost Lindell. Seemed like we were being set up for a possible change to Raymer until he started missing FGs and got injured. The kid today looked awful, both on the one FG and kick-offs. I know that Lindell is a free agent, but the Bills need to re-sign him. 5. Stevie is immature, but needs to be re-signed. We can't start the offseason with another gaping hole, particularly since the Bills will not spend in free agency to find a comparable quality player to replace him. 6. Building through the draft is only part of the solution. The Bills also need to sign free agents. We have too many holes to use the draft to fill them all. Moreover, draft picks and other rookies cannot be expected to be be quality starters from day one. 7. The Bills also need to start thinking about re-signing Byrd and Levitre. Their contracts are up after next season and we need to keep our own quality players. 8. There are still many needs. Outside LB, DE (I don't think Carrington is more than a back-up), TE, WR (even if Stevie stays, we need a number 2) and LT.

Byrd had another solid game. He has been the most consistent player on defense all season.

What exactly does this mean from the AP article and comment from RW? I hope we are sticking with Fred and CJ and not drafting another RB. This comment makes no sense.

I laughed when I read this article. Several more years to build? We need to have patience? Unbelievable. On a more substantive note, I do think that RW's views about our wide receivers and tight ends must also be the views shared by Nix. We should expect a wide receiver to be drafted early. I thought that Chandler was playing okay, but the comment about tight-ends getting injured was kind of interesting. I would not assume that Stevie will be back. They may think he is part of the problem and that they can upgrade. I hope this is not the case.

He should stay, but why is it that every year we are left wondering whether it is the coaching, the players, injuries or the front office that is responsible for another crummy season. RW should have brought in a consultant like Ron Wolff or Parcells years ago to try to get things straightened out and on a better track.

Seem to be different views on how well Sheppard and Williams are playing. I think Sheppard has been disappointing (slow and poor in pass coverage). Not sure about Williams, but I remember Winfield as a rookie and I thought he was really good in coverage playing the slot receiver. Interesting that all of our draft picks in 2011 were from schools in the South. I think that Nix has a clear bias.

I have tried to focus on his play, and I agree that he does not look good. Slow, out of position and does not match up well in coverage. I understand that he is a rookie, so hopefully his play will improve, but I have my doubts.

Yes, overall it has been a disaster, and it continues. With all of the objective information pointing to one inescapable conclusion, one thing I don't understand are all of the apologists and extreme optimists. It has been awful to be a Bills fan for a long time, and I don't see much to suggest that things will change in the foreseeable future. Through it all, still a Bills fan.

The Bills have drafted ten players for the defense in the last two years, consisting of three defensive linemen (Troup, Carrington and Dareus), four linebackers (Batten, Moats, Sheppard and Chris White), two cornerbacks (Williams and Rogers), and one safety (Searcy). In addition, during this period the Bills signed D. Edwards, Barnett, Davis and Morrison as free agents and re-signed Florence. With the resources that have been devoted to the defense recently, why does this defense continue to play so poorly? Why don't we have starting caliber outside linebackers? Dareus should be a solid player (or better) and maybe Williams will develop, but does anyone have hopes for any of the other draft picks? I know that some on the board like Sheppard, but he looks slow to me and seems to have problems in coverage. I understand that coaching is a part of the problem, but I don't tink Buddy has drafted well and it is hurting us badly.

Our best recent draft was 2009. Even with Maybin not working out, we drafted Levitre, Byrd and Wood. All three have been solid to above average players.

1. If Edwards is fired, I hope that Wanny is not the replacement. I have to believe that he has been involved in the game planning this year, and I think the Bills defense needs a fresh start and a new scheme. 2. Good luck to Nix in figuring out this mess. We all know what they will say at season end: it was the injuries. While this may have been part of the problem, there is a lot more going on here. What do you do about Fitz? Is he still the guy? Do the Bills give Fred more money (he will be 31 to start next season)? What about Stevie? Can the team count on Woods being effective next year? How do you fix the defense? There are some daunting issues facing the Bills and the front office, and I have no confidence that Nix is up to the job. 3. Clearly, this team lacks talent, and the 2010 draft looks like a complete bust. Carrington does nothing and who knows if Troup will be healthy and develop. Spiller looks average to me, and seems to go down easily when hit or tackled. The offense misses Fred in part because of his ability to break tackles and make something out of nothing. 4. The Bills planned poorly this year. Did anyone really think that Merriman would stay healthy this year? In the current scheme, Moats and Batten are busts. Using Spencer Johnson and Kelsay as outside linebackers is ridiculous. How does a team go into the season like this? There were free agents that we could have signed that would have been big improvements over this group of outside linebackers. 5. Hairston did not have a good game today. I really do not want to hear from the Bills this offseason that this guy is our left tackle of the future. It would be another excuse not to improve this team. 6. I still do not understand the signing of Brad Smith. WIth so many other needs and the change in the kick return rules, why did this make any sense? 7. Can Sheppard play? I know he had a lot of tackles today, but I noticed that he made some bad plays and seems slow. 8. Incredible that other teams can turn around things in one or two years. We have devoted resources to fixing the defense, and it is still a mess. I really do not want to hear any excuses about needing players for the scheme when the Texans and 49ers can make such significant improvements in their defenses in one season. This defense seems really far away from being a strong unit. 9. A couple of positives: the Bills seems to have found decent players in Urbick, Rhinehart and Chandler. Also, the Bills are not penalized often, which can be a sign of good coaching. 10. I would love to see significant changes this offseason, but there is no way that the Bills could attract a talented GM with our recent history and our ownership situation. 11. As has been the case over the last number of years, as fans, we are left wondering whether the problems are with the players, the coaching, the front office, or the owner. I assume it is a combination of all of these things, and, unfortunately, there is no hope that it gets fixed this offseason.

I thought that Nix basically said after the draft that the Bills would not have taken Von Miller if he had been available. I also recall some noise that the Bills would have been interested in Gabbert if Dareus had been selected before the Bills picked. If both of these items are true, then it confirms our worst suspicions about the competency of our front office. Regarding Gabbert, I thought most of the top picks signed contracts that were fully guaranteed for the full term. I think the front office lucked out with the Dareus pick in that he was a no-brainer after Newton and Von Miller were off the board.

I think RW is still paying Jauron (less any amounts he is being paid by the Browns), so I doubt he would fire Nix and Gailley and incur those additional costs on top of paying a new GM and coach.

I think we should all be past being patient with this team. That said, we really have no choice but to be patient. The Bills are not going to go after high priced free agents in the foreseeable future or hire a top GM to turn things around. The only hope is that Nix's drafting improves dramatically over the next couple of years.

1. The Bills are not going to win giving up 187 rushing yards at home. It has been two years, and our coaches cannot figure out how to stop the run on a consistent basis. 2. It was depressing watching McKelvin returning kicks and punts realizing that these was the only situations the coaches felt comfortable putting him on the field for. When he played on defense after replacing an injured player, the Titans immediately went after him. I doubt he will be back next season. Another horrible first round selection. 3. Did Carrington do anything today? I did not think Sheppard played well today, getting blocked on some of the long running plays and out of position or too slow on some of the pass plays. I am starting to get worried about our first and second year players. It seems to me that many times young players will make an immediate and noticeable impact. I remember Winfield did this in his first year, shutting down the opposing team's slot receiver. I am not seeing this with many of our young players. Maybe this is partly due to the lack of talent around them. 4. Still not convinced about Pears and Hairston as starting tackles. 5. Is Dareus a fit in the 3-4 defense? Is he a tackle? Does not seem to have the right skill set to be a defensive end. 6. I like Gailley, but five losses in a row is tough in his second year as coach. We need some positive momentum heading into the offseason. 7. I think the interior of our offensive line is set, assuming that Woods recovers this offseason. 8. I would like to hear more often from Nix. Seems like he has not talked to the media during this slide.

I think some of these posts are a bit charitable. Starting to rebuild? We should have started to rebuild as soon as Buddy became GM. It is taking way too long, and we may continue to lose some decent players this offseason (Stevie Johnson), which means once again we will be patching holes rather than upgrading. It has only been one year? Buddy has had two years, and in the second year, the Bills have lost five in a row. Not a good sign for near term success. Need more players for the 3-4 and more time to get them? Houston switched to the 3-4 this offseason and now has one of the best defenses in the NFL (even after losing Williams for the season). I am unhappy with the current state of the Bills and I do not think that Nix is doing a good job.

I have been disappointed in Sheppard. Watching the game at a bar, it is sometimes difficult to see how specific players are doing, but I noticed that he was effectively blocked during some of the long running plays and out of position or too slow in coverage in some of the pass plays.

A fair number of former Bills would be decent starters or back-ups for us. Some have played well this year. Do we lose more players who are decent performers to free agency, trades and waivers than most teams? A quick look (and I am probably missing some): Youboty: 8 tackles, fumble recovery and touchdown today. Poz: Has played well in the middle for the Jags. Maybin: Two sacks today (but I am glad he is not with the Bills). Greer: Good corner for the Saints. Peters: All Pro left tackle for the Eagles. Lynch: Slow start this year, but over 100 yards rushing today. Whitner: Has played well for the 49ers. Evans: Injured for most of the season. Winfield: Out for season (but has been very strong in prior years). Clements: Has played well for the Bengals. Hangartner: Starting guard for the Panthers.

1. Not sure I have ever watched a Bills game where there were so many huge holes for the opposing team's running backs. I believe the Jets averaged 6 yards per carry, and I do not think that Greene is a top back. In the first half, there were a couple of running plays where there was no Bills defender on the outside. Kind of shocked that the Jets threw it as much as they did since they were so effective running the ball. 2. No pass rush, again. Surprised that the Bills cannot figure out a way to bring pressure from blitzing. 3. I know that Sheppard is a rookie, but he seemed to have a really bad game today. 4. Sanchez is not a good QB and he threw four TDs against us. For one of the touchdowns by the Jets, even though it was third down, there was no one within 10 yards of the receiver. 5. Carrington was very quiet today. Not sure if he will develop into a quality player. Troup is a bust. 6. Williams impressed today. Seeing McKelvin on special teams only was depressing and I doubt he will be back with the team next year. 7. Byrd is having a very good year at safety. 8. This defense is really bad, which is amazing considering the number of free agent signings and draft picks that have been made to improve it.

I did not mention QB in my list of needs because there are so many needs and the ones I listed I thought were the most immediate. You may be right about Fitz, but I think he can be better assessed with an improved line and much stronger wide receivers. Clearly, his accuracy is a concern. Our improvement overall (i.e., balancing our start with our recent poor performance) has been incremental. I do not think we will be playoff contenders next year if we continue at this pace of improvement. I understand that people want instant gratification, but expecting success after three years is not unreasonable.

Not sure if Bell will be back. It will be interesting to see if the Bills make any effort to keep him. Nix needs to step it up in the draft and free agency. Some of the picks in 2011 are getting playing time, but (other than Dareus and Sheppard) this is really a function of a lack of depth and the need to insert rookies as replacement starters. What concerns me is turnover. The Bills need to draft better and sign some free agents each off season or we will continue to draft to replace players who are leaving either through free agency or otherwise rather than to upgrade what is already here. This offseason, the Bills could lose Bell, Stevie and Pears to free agency. Not sure if McKelvin will be back based on his play and I can see him being traded (similar to Evans and Lynch) for a low round draft pick. Maybe these players are not much of a loss, but I am not sure that I see replacements for them on the current roster. If Pears and Bell leave, then Hairston is the only remaining tackle, and I have no idea if he can develop into a quality starter. Kind of scary that I may actually care that Pears and Bell could leave.