Mark Long Beach

Have you watched Pettigrew? I only remember him have a couple drops this year, not so many in the previous two. I hope that our QB (singular!) can help our receivers out more than they did last year.

But not us. Have you forgotten the horror show of our TE drafting in the last 15 years? Let me remind us all: 2013 -7- Chris Gragg 2009 -4- Shawn Nelson 2008 -4- Derek Fine 2007 -7- Derek Schouman 2005 -3- Kevin Everett (medical miracle, but terrible NFL tight end) 2004 -4- Tim Euhus It doesn't get much better for the 10 years before that with 8 tight ends drafted "High"lights: 1996 -7- Jay Riemersma 1994 -2- Lonnie "fricken" Johnson 14 tight ends drafted in 20 years with only Jay R worth a hoot. Since we got Chandler we've only had to throw 1 7th round pick away in 4 years. I'm quite happy having Mr. Chandler thank you very much.

I'm pleased. One less spot to worry about. Chandler had a couple rough spots this season with a couple of bad drops and being tragically misused in the beginning of the season. (I thought I was going to break my TV whenever we sent him out into the flat for a 0-1 yard pickup) He can't juke my trash can, but he has good hands and gets open in the middle of the field. Seriously, he's not a run-after-catch kind of guy, why flair him out into the flat for a 1 yard gain???? Thankfully they stopped throwing to him on that route. But he's a competent Tight-End and better than what we've had in YEARS.

UM, KIKO ALONSO HAD 4 INTERCEPTIONS in 4 GAMES! Just imagine how many he'd have if he played 16! Oh wait, he had 0 in the last 12 games. Is 7 fumbles bad? Yup. A cause for concern? Yup. Would he be amongst the worst? Likely. HE's a BACKUP level player. Is anyone arguing this? Nailed it.

Yeah Hopkins won the competition last year, but it was a competition between two new guys. The fresh draft pick always gets an edge in such competitions. Now we'll see how much he 'won' last years competition. Carpenter had a _fantastic_ year. edit: really? He beat out Lindell? I thought we got rid of him earlier. So much for memory. Yes Carpenter's not great on touchbacks, but then again our coverage was just terrible, If I was the other team I'd tell my returners to run it out from half deep in the endzone.

For one of the first times in YEARS, we're actually a pretty desirable place for a linebacker. He'd play behind THREE pro-bowl defensive lineman (plus a 10 sack guy), alongside a Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up LB, and a reasonable likelyhood of a probowl safety behind him for at least a year. It isn't a wasteland at cornerback either with both starters high first round draft picks. We've got lot of talent in our defense. Great players want to play with great players.

Well, I think you are vastly oversimplifying this. The Wide 9 trades off a weaker up-the-gut run defense for stronger pass pressure (not necessarily sacks which are a little more randomized). It's biggest run defense weakness is actually draw plays and QB runs up the middle. But I'm happy to let the QB run up the middle if I can take his head off. Modern NFL yardage is gained 2 to 1 via the pass, so it's not unreasonable idea. The _actual_ pass defense is much more independent of wide9. It's designed to give more pressure faster on the QB and make him make decisions faster and therefore more error prone. But if your corners suck, they suck. Defensive lineman can't run fast enough at the QB if you can't cover. As for Philly? If you're a sucky Defensive Coordinator, it doesn't matter what scheme you're trying to implement. Schwartz has shown he's not a sucky DC. Unlike our Special teams Coordinator.

I didn't see this posted here, and enjoyed this article and learned a bunch. Even though it's very long, and gets hung up in details that we don't care about (Vikings personnel) it's got some really good stuff on it's theory and it's strengths/weaknesses, and how players can fit into it. http://www.dailynorseman.com/2013/5/16/4316146/should-the-vikings-switch-to-the-wide-9 One of the bottom line quotes: After reading this, I feel better about using it, as long as it's not the only thing that you do. Creativity and adjustments out of it is still required, and supposedly Schwartz has it: A post in Buffalo Rumblings also addresses use of adjustments to the wide9 by Schwartz: http://www.buffalorumblings.com/buffalo-bills-analysis-all-22/2014/2/13/5407624/jim-schwartz-defense-wide-9-43-under-adrian-peterson

Yep, I'm not sure the love for TJax. He's a career backup who has been given up on by at least 4 different staffs and likely won't get any better than that. We were only going to keep one mediocre veteran backup QB and the coaches liked Kolb better. Sadly he was too brittle and is done. Thad is very much like TJax but unlike TJax, he hasn't proven he can't do it yet. I'm happier with Thad, and he will very likely that he'll have a better career than either of those new guys mentioned. Hopefully Thad will get better than the Fitzpatrick zone of "just good enough to get you beat."

Ouch. The truth hurts.

I wouldn't put it past them.

We are in the dreaded net-loss area since we signed as many as we lost. Because the comps are limited to 32 picks we're at the mercy of what all of the other teams have done. We may get a 7th rounder, we might not. This made me flinch when we signed Branch because we now couldn't get a good pick for losing Levitre. But, on the other hand, we got good stuff from Branch (and Lawson). Probably better than a 5th or 6th rounder.

Mr. Wilson was an investor in my company (through a VC fund). We didn't help him out there. Sorry Ralph.

Of course Pittsburgh WAS the AFC team with best team finishing 15-1 and we found out that their backups were pretty good too, led by rookie fast Willie Parker who seized the starting role for them for the next few years (1200, 1500 & 1300 yards) setting numerous rushing records for them before injuries took him down. Oh and they were superbowl champs the next year. So while it sounds horrible about how we blew the season against 3rd stringers, they were a much better team, period. Don't get me wrong, I was as PO'd as anyone, but hind-site clearly shows how much better Pittsburgh was.

I was 100% sure that keeping Lindell for a second season was a horrible disaster and that we couldn't get rid of him fast enough. Crazy wrong on him.I thought that Wannstache teamed with the Chanster was going to be the catalyst to make us a fantastic team. oof.

Beerball, thanks for that read. I also took notice of the Rogers comment. It would be really nice for the Bills to have a lil good fortune for a change.

I know Stephen A Smith is aggravating to most, myself included, but I watched his response to OchoCinco getting tossed into the clink and I found it so hilariously spot on, I thought to share. He just really summed it up perfectly. http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/9360765/chad-johnson-serve-30-days-jail

Maybe, and not I.

Wow. Great video. He sure comes across as likeable! Go kid go.

Notice that half of that "reach" list are defensive backs. Probably because it's harder to get film on those guys since cameras aren't watching them.

yeah

pick submitted quickly again. We don't mess around.

crud. I wanted minter

Yeah, I agree. My wife might object though.

That play was horrible. I woke my wife up with my swearing fit after that play.