Jukester

Doesn't matter who's on the field. We have so many talented players. I've been waiting to see how this season unfolded but I'm convinced now that these guys are being throttled by the coaching philosophy. This staff is (has become?) ultra-conservative and has zero creativity on offense. When they initially came in all they talked about was how innovative and aggressive they were going to be on offense. Instead they're now the usual let's try to keep it close and hope we can pull out a win at the end mode. Afraid of their own shadows, a philosophy they they then forced on a young qb who is now in limbo. No idea how to use CJ (wtf?). Just have never understood that mentality. We've been losing for years - why not be aggressive in your mindset - open things up - go for it once in a while from the opposing 40. Was it just me or did i see Orton yell at the sideline to keep the punt team back on 4th down late in the game down 2 scores. Yes, i think Marrone was going to punt. Orton hit the pass, engineered a touchdown and 2 point conversion and made it a game again. The players are fine. They're being stifled by Jauron II. Oh and did I forget to mention I love the 1 yard pass on 3rd and 3.

Typical officiating for a Bills=Pats game. All of the above - so infuriating. Thre was one where Gronk shoved McKelvin about 5 yards away and came back fo the catch. This was after Woods got called for a push off that was about 10% of what Gronk did. And not sure if anyone else noticed this and I can't remember the exact play but it was in the first half. There were two flags thrown, a big conference of the zebras, then the head guy trots over to the Pats sideline and has a big discussion with Bellicheat. Comes back on the field and calls offsetting penalties on both teams. It almost seemed to me like he was getting Bellyache's consult of what to do there. Offsetting penalties is about as basic as it gets. Why the long conversation with the visiting head coach? Makes me wonder if the two penalties were actually both on the Pats. And as others have stated, this is not just Bills games. You see it in games across the league where certain teams just get the calls (or mostly don't get called). All I ask is if they're going to call ticky-tack crap, do it to both teams.

Both made their respective teams' final 53/54.

I always call in jan-feb and make sure it's not set to auto-renew on my account. Then I call in the summer to see what they can offer. Thanks. It definitely takes some patience - took two calls on different days, both about 35 minutes each. i think i really got lucky this year since I paid $120 for max last year. I'm sure the fact that I was coming off contract and the price of my normal package was going up this month helped. I said I was thinking of cancelling and looking at other options but never had to actually pull that card out. Good luck to all.

Made the call last tuesday, the weren't offering much. Called again on Friday and got ST Max for $90 and $20 off bill for 12 months. Was at end of contract so had to sign on for another year. Overall savings = $480.

To each his cup of tea. But your point makes no sense considering you're comparing it to a game that has only 11 minutes of actual play in a 3 hr game. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704281204575002852055561406

The fact that that we're still discussing this issue in 2014 speaks volumes about the people in charge of the NFL and the general apathy that most non Native Americans have toward the subject. I was at super bowl XXVI in Minneapolis when the Bills played you know who. There was a concerted effort then to bring this to light and change attitudes. Here we are 22 years later, yes 22, and still the same old people saying the same old things as to why the name doesn't need to be changed. Really unbelievable to me. http://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/21/sports/super-bowl-xxvi-notebook-the-protest-that-won-t-go-away.html http://articles.philly.com/1992-01-20/sports/26037056_1_clyde-bellecourt-indian-rights-native-americans

I went to the '92 Minneapolis one which was similar. It was damn cold and scalpers were having a rough go. Even as a college kid, i thought $275 for the ticket was a deal. I think face was aroung $150 back then. Got them around noon the day of the game and my buddy and I couldn't believe we were going to the game. Then of course the game happened....but still an experience that i'll never forget.

That statement alone invalidates everything else you say.

Not surprising a all, considering their relationship. I read a while back that "Danny" was his best friend. Here's an article from a year ago that lays out their history: “For now, Marrone is just glad he got the coach he wanted for his special teams unit. 'The thing I am excited about for what Danny will bring to our specialteams is a system that plays to our players’ strengths-something that we have obviously talked about,' said Marrone. 'For our players, we are going to be able to evaluate what their strengths are and be able to put them in the best position possible for us to win.'"

Amen brother

I don't know about trading him but I agree with you on everything else. He’s a classic sideline hound. His first thought is to always run for the edge and after 3 years he still doesn’t get it. Yes, he’ll spring one once in a while but it’s so infuriating to watch him try to outrun people to the sideline 85-90% of the time. :wallbash: No instincts/vision to cut back against the grain. How many plays for losses has he had this year because he’s running sideways. There are times when you have to take the 2-3 yarders. Watching Freddie cut it up the field and make holes where there are none and keep the chains moving was nice. Fred should be our featured back and Spiller is good for a change of pace, that’s it. Running out of bounds at the end of the half yesterday was brainless and epitomizes Spiller’s time here. If I were Marrone or the running backs coach I would challenge spiller to go 5 plays in a row without running sideways and out of bounds. I can’t fathom how they haven’t corrected this tendency all year. Injury or not, I see major regression from Spiller this year. Oh and to address the OP, sweep plays would exacerbate the situation because Spiller rarely makes a decisive cut back. He likes to tippy-toe and juke to find a hole rather than seeing the holes develop and make that hard cut back up the field. Sweeps would just get him closer to the sideline.

This is great. Thanks for doing the work.

Wow, zero passes attempted across the deep middle. I know everyone wants to blame Hacket's play calling but this is on EJ. He is very tentative because he doesn't want to make a mistake. Not the mentality you need as an NFL QB.

Well said. Bad special teams play has played a role too but this is the major issue.

Nice job. Did you do this using the all-22?

Part of the problem is CJ doesn't have great vision. He started getting better at it last year but i think the current offensive design with constant shotgun/read option is delaying the handoff and he's slow when he gets to the line. He doesn't see the holes and just falls back on trying to outrun people to the sideline. Unfortunately he still hasn't learned that defenses in the NFL won't let you do that. He needs hit it up quickly the way the play is designed and take the 2-3-4 yard gains, even if there is only a small crease. Way too many negative yardage plays from him. The injury hasn't helped either. Having said that,second part of the problem is offensive design. Draw up plays around your playmakers instead of trying to have them adjust to your plays. Why not an I-formation with a fullback where CJ starts deep and is accelerating when he gets to the line with a lead blocker. I wish they'd also try to get him more involved in the passing game though (especially since EJ is hell bent on playing it safe and dumping off all the time). Unfathomable that any linebacker could stay with him on the move.

Accuracy issues as well, but biggest problem with Manuel right now is the constant checking down and playing it safe...afraid to make a mistake i guess. He needs to grow out of this quickly if he wants to be a bona fide starter. I'm fairly sure this isn't by game plan design as Tuel and Thad have thrown it down the field a lot more. The coaches should be all over EJ about this. Looks like he'll only throw downfield if his guy is wide open instead of throwing it up and letting guys make plays. There comes a point where a QB thinks too much instead of just playing with instincts. I'd rather have him throw two interceptions a game and take chances and learn from them than play it safe throw after throw. I loved the pick on draft day but he's showing basic issues that are alarming. We can only hope that it 'clicks' at some point in the last six games.

No. It was a horrible reach where we drafted him. If Goodwin could only stay healthy, TJ would be riding the bench.

He talks about SJ being the deep threat the Chiefs need to worry about. Ok then.

I'm absolutely with you on all your points. I don't check this thread every week and when I do I'm usually looking for info on the most current game. Makes no sense to have to hunt through the thread to find the game you want.

When a play is reviewed by the booth, everything about the play is reviewed including the spot and time on the clock. Marrine would've gotten a penalty if he threw the red flag. And then the same people clamoring for the challenge in this thread would be the same ones vilifying him for throwing the flag on an unchallengeable play.

There was also a blatant horse collar that wasn't called against Denver during a sack of Romo. I understand missing calls but both of these were impossible to miss.

Huge negative for me was the conservative, unimaginative play calling. Where were the boot legs, play actions, seam to tight end, etc. Run run dink is pretty much what we had today. Hacket needs to get better.

U da man Astro. Thanks for the great reports.