dave mcbride
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Posts posted by dave mcbride
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Sorry have to disagree...No reason at all to chance it when a FG puts you up by 23...Coaching 101...There are times to be tricky, that was not one...Any HC should understand when a FG minimum is needed to put a Game away...MM has a horrible feel for how to Call/Manage a Game...he just does not have it...
every good team has a good play action game, and it's a pretty safe play if you can do a quick hitter to a reliable space hogger in the middle of the field. the bills don't have that, of course.
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he was at the game..told me there were 20-25k BIlls fans there....what an absolute embarassment...I hate this team more and more each week...1st and Goal at the 3 and we pass with a 23-3 lead...lol...trained monkeys could call a bteer game...anyone looking for a NE ticket...will trade it for a Bic Pen or handfull of paper clips...
passing on 1st wasn't the problem - play action then is usually a good call. it's *the play* that was called that was the problem, and underscores the embarassing lack of a competent pass catching TE in i forgot how many years.
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The problem is mainly Mike Mularkey. He coaches to not lose. His playcalling is so bad, SOO bad, especially in critical situations, and you can see in those decisions a fear that no NFL head coach should have. Check out the scared look on Mularkey's face whenever a game situation becomes dire. That look on his face is how he coaches.
He wants his team to be mentally tough but he doesn't call plays that reflect a mental toughness. He wants his team to finish games but he doesn't call plays that help them do that.
And the postgame reporters don't do their job, either. They NEVER ask him tough questions. They NEVER challlenge him.
if he's coaching not to lose, then why is he running about the most complicated play action pass possible on 1st and goal from the 3 with a 20 point lead? why not a tried and true pass to a TE in the middle of the endzone?
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The Bills came firing out of the gate and built a 21-0 lead, but from then on the strategy that was working was aborted. We turned into a Marty ball team, settling each drive for just not turning it over. Unfortunately for us when you play ultra conservative any possessions that result in points usually go threw the red zone, and the red zone is the place we struggle most.
We built our lead and scored almost all our recent TD's on long TD's. Mularkey took that approach out, and as it turns out we turned it over twice in the Red Zone, when a FG would have sealed it. What makes it even worse is he took this approach while knowing our defense averages giving up 29 points per road game this year.
Horrible coaching today
the complaint i have is the cutesiness. in particular, the play action pass on 1st and goal is a perfect example. i have no problem whatsoever with a play action pass on 1st and goal - it's a tried and true play that often works. however, when you do it, it should be a quick hitter to a competent TE. the bills don't have one. whatever you do, however, don't have josh reed run to the back of the endzone and then have him cut across so that losman has to throw the ball 20-30 yards!!! that's ridiculous, and is a high risk play by definition.
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or so that epic choke would seem to portend.
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according to jeff burris, he's healthy but riding the pine ...
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The notion that Jammer "fell" was because everyone was sure that the Lions would take him at #3. He filled a huge need for them, and the Lions didn't seem to be in the market for a QB, as they still wanted to see what Mike McMahon had to offer. That didn't necessarily mean that Jammer carried with him a rating of a player worthy of going #3 overall.
Indeed, even at the time of the draft, most pundits agreed that this class looked weak. Peppers was the only genuine blue chip prospect, and he went #2 because the expansion Texans wanted to draft their franchise QB right off the bat.
It is also a myth that teams were interested in trading up for Harrington. His stock had risen rather quickly and late in the game, but at the end of the college season he was viewed as a late first rounder. The Bills were one team that was NOT interseted in him, as they had concerns about his arm strength in adverse weather conditions. Matt Millen REALLY tried to pimp that #3 pick even moreso that TD did, and he also had trouble finding a suitor.
There was no consensus selection when we picked #4. I even recall Chris Berman being at a loss for who the team was going to take -- and he essentially made a guess that it would be an OT, but didn't say which one. We all know that the team has for years told him ahead of time who they were going to take in return for a promise that he'd keep it close to the vest until the final moment. That tells me that TD was not sure who he was taking with that pick either. In fact, he was hoping that a deal would be made to move down. A similar thing happened the following year, when it was actually Mort who reported the possibility of our drafting Willis. That was clearly news to Berman at the time.
Recall also that MW wasn't even the consensus pick at the time within the organization. There were reports that Gregg REALLY wanted Roy Williams to the point where he was affectionately referring to him as his son, since they shared the same surname. (Does anyone ever remember the same references to Big Mike?)
As I've said before, there is enough stuff for which to blame TD, where I wouldn't necessarily point the finger at him for the Mike Williams bust. I find it funny that many of the same people that want to villify TD for not paying enough attention to our OL, are the same ones that are so upset about the MW pick. Imagine how much better off our OL would be now if MW had turned out to be the perrenial All Pro RT that he was projected to be!
We were picking in a bad spot, where there wasn't much in the way of value. Hind-sight is always 20-20, but we would have been much better off with John Henderson, Roy Williams, or Dwight Freeney. Henderson came with injury concerns -- and the other guys would have been considered reaches. The Colts were mocked for taking Freeney about 7-10 spots too soon. And the Cowboys actually traded down a couple spots to get RW.
Maybe the lesson to be learned here is screw "draft value". Identify the guys you want at a specific position that you think will best fit your team and take them before you think someone else will. That's what Dungy did with Freeney -- and it's what the Pats have been doing for years.
the best offensive tackle in that draft came just a few picks after the bills pick, and his name isn't bryant mckinnie. levi jones went 10th overall, much to the chagrin of mel kiper et al. the bengals were very high on him, and they turned out to be right.
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one other thing: i always try to avoid bringing these things up because ultimately it doesn't count, but has there been a back in recent memory that has had more significant runs called back in one year because of irrelevant wide receiver holding calls than mcgahee this year? i can think of about 5 plays totaling about 150 yards off the top of my head.
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When people talk about the best decision TD has made as GM most people wouldn't hesitate to say Willis MaGahee, and why not? I said the same in some of my posts until the other day I started to think about it a little more. When you look at the value of the RB position is Willis performing like that much of a steal for when we drafted him and the injury concerns?
Some things to consider about the best pick of the TD era
-Travis Henry posted better averages, and overall numbers in 2002 and 2003 then Willis did in 2003, 2004, and 2005 combined. Of course Willis didn’t play in 2003, but we did select him knowing that our first round pick would not play his first year. Even by just counting 2004 and 2005 Henry still beats MaGahee’s averages, which don't factor in carries. He also ran behind an equally bad offensive line. Henry/Willis
Seeing how those two backs compare fairly evenly did Travis ever have the same 1st round value at any point in his career?
- A healthy Larry Johnson was picked up 4 spots after Willis MaGahee
- MaGahee will most likely be seeking a more lucrative deal soon. He says he's the best back in the league, last year Alexander and Edge had 2nd round trade value. Would you rather pay the money to Willis at the cost of a first rounder, or Edge/Alexander and a 2nd?
Willis is a good running back; I just don't think we should call him the best pick in TD history. RB's just don't have much value, and he came with a year off and no guarantee that he would ever recover. Now he says he's close to 100% but does he appear like he has anymore value then the 23rd pick in the NFL draft? That day will only come if he regains his speed, in the mean time lets hope he doesn’t ask for more money.
vis a vis henry, you're not factoring in fumbles. henry was a chronic fumbler; mcgahee fumbles very rarely.
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??? the felony that occurred and the trial itself took place hundreds of miles from baltimore.
the thought of an irsay ("let's load up the mayflowers come midnight") going 19-0 sickens me, so i vote no. i am happy for polian, however.
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I agree with respect to the restructuring of EM, but why not simply keep him for 06 at his present number? I know its high (10.8), but if the cuts proceed as expected, and the cap rises, then we could afford EM and fix our lines. EM provides a nice security blanket for the younger players.
Then, if and when he is cut after the 06 season, he only counts 1.7 in cap room for that season. Seems a bit better than cutting him after 05 and taking the 5.2 mil hit. At least, then you have a productive player for what he counts against your cap.
i actually see your point here. but i keep coming back to the fact that the offense has been train-wreck terrible for 3 years in a row, and this is the worst of the three. they were 28th in 03, 24th in 04, and 29th this year. and this comes after spending a *lot* of high picks on skill positions since 2002 (1 first on a WR, 2 seconds on WRs, 1 first on a RB, and 2 first on qbs (inclusive of bledsoe)). something radical needs to be done in terms of overall direction.
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I say pay the man his 18 million till the end of the his contract. To me, blowing a hole in your receiving corps the likes this team has ever seen is the alternative and something I'd rather not have happen. They'd be paying his prorated bonus money anyways so why not have the man here rather than having Losman up the creek without the proverbial paddle.
I keep hearing you cut the cord guys but I've yet to hear who you'd see replacing Moulds.
there are about 5 or 6 guys i really like on the list below, some of whom i see getting better in the future. are any of them better than moulds? wayne, but that's really it. a few are his equal, though. as well, they'll be a crop of cuts to come (T.O., etc.). in any event, they will all come significantly cheaper than moulds.
look, i'd love to see moulds stay, and i'd be thrilled to see him take a pay cut that makes his salary commensurate with his production. but let's face it -- his presence on the team hasn't helped the bills to become anything better than one of the worst offensive teams in the league three years going. it's not all him, of course, but it does speak to the fact that he's no longer a difference maker. that's what he used to be, after all. and he's not going to get any better.
as for evans, he has more upside than moulds, is faster, and has better hands. i expect him to be the #1 guy next year regardless of whether moulds is here or not.
2006 NFL Free Agents
Wide Receivers
Player Type 2005 Team
Aaron Moorehead RFA Colts
Andre' Davis UFA Patriots
Antonio Bryant UFA Browns
Antwaan Randle El UFA Steelers
Arnaz Battle RFA 49ers
Az-Zahir Hakim UFA Saints
Brad Pyatt RFA Colts
Brandon Lloyd RFA 49ers
Bryan Gilmore UFA Dolphins
Cedric James UFA Patriots
Charlie Adams RFA Broncos
Chris Horn RFA Chiefs
Corey Bradford UFA Texans
Cortez Hankton RFA Jaguars
Darnerian McCants UFA Eagles
David Boston UFA Dolphins
David Givens UFA Patriots
David Tyree RFA Giants
Derick Armstrong RFA Texans
Dez White UFA Falcons
Edell Shepherd RFA Buccaneers
Ike Hilliard UFA Buccaneers
J.J. Moses RFA Cardinals
Jabar Gaffney UFA Texans
Jason McAddley UFA 49ers
Jerheme Urban RFA Seahawks
Jerome Pathon UFA Falcons
Joe Jurevicius UFA Seahawks
Kassim Osgood RFA Chargers
Keenan McCardell UFA Chargers
Kelley Washington RFA Bengals
Kendall Newson UFA Dolphins
Kevin Curtis RFA Rams
Kevin Johnson UFA Lions
Kevin Walter RFA Bengals
Koren Robinson UFA Vikings
Marc Boerigter UFA Chiefs
Michael Lewis UFA Saints
Nate Burleson RFA Vikings
Patrick Johnson UFA Ravens
Peerless Price UFA Cowboys
Peter Warrick UFA Seahawks
Quincy Morgan UFA Steelers
Randal Williams UFA Raiders
Reche Caldwell UFA Chargers
Reggie Swinton UFA Cardinals
Reggie Wayne UFA Colts
Rod Gardner UFA Panthers
Sam Aiken UFA Bills
Sean Morey UFA Steelers
Shaun McDonald RFA Rams
Tim Carter UFA Giants
Tim Dwight UFA Patriots
Troy Brown UFA Patriots
Troy Edwards UFA Lions
Troy Walters UFA Colts
Willie Ponder RFA Giants
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You're so off on Eric's salary worth it's not even funny. If he were to be cut there'd be a line of teams vying for his services and he'd get about a 3 year contract in the 5 million per year range with a 5 million signing bonus. Other NFL teams know how screwed Moulds was in 2005 with how badly the QB situation pulled his numbers down. Although Eric may be making a million or two more than he's worth, you don't cut your nose off to spite your face. The Bills offense would no doubt be so screwed without him in 2006.
If Moulds is cut who's the Bills #1 receiver?
i'd be willing to bet that moulds will end up making what i say he'll make if he's cut. how much do more productive aging receivers make like galloway, keyshawn johnson, terry glenn, keenan mccardell, etc. make? in the $2 million range if they're lucky.
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that 88 catch season was last year, not this year. he's in decline, and i doubt he'll match those relatively modest numbers again in a bills uniform.
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read what i said again. he's certainly worth it if he plays for $1.5-2 million a year. his current contract calls for a *lot* more than that, and his production - which, again, has steadily declined - doesn't merit such an exorbitant salary. if he is let go, he is likely to get a salary in the range of what I say above - about $1.5-2 million, which is less than half of what he is scheduled to make next year. since players cut from a team after the season hardly ever go back to them during the free agent signing period (troy brown is one exception), i'd expect moulds to land elsewhere. why would he want to return here? it's a bad team with an unproven qb and it just gave him the heave ho. given how close philly is and the nature of their offense, moulds would be an excellent fit at the $1.5-2 million price (and you can bet they won't overpay).
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Like who? And I'm only talking acquire-able, free agents here. Don't tell me Marvin Harrison or Chad Johnson.
Add in a 48 yard game winning TD against the Panthers and how would he look? How about all those early throws JP missed in the first 4 games? Holcomb doesn't exactly have a bazooka, so maybe that dragged down his YPC a bit. Remember it takes two to tango, don't look at the numbers in a vacuum.
Lets take a look at what happens the next 5 games. JP seemed to be establishing a bit of a connection with EM, and I expect when you compare his numbers from the last 5 games, they will be much improved.
like i said, there are a ton of guys who can grab 75 catches for 710 yards and 4 tds a season. peerless price comes to mind. chris patten. brandon lloyd. bobby engram. peter warrick. in other words, ordinary guys. they tend to come cheap too.
as for the qbs, i'll grant you that, but with regard to the overthrow against the panthers, we're talking about *one* play. how many times have they called a deep route for him in the last couple of years in which he hasn't broken free? a lot, as far as i can tell.
more importantly, you're talking about one play, and i'm talking about a steady seven year decline.
finally, i am absolutely convinced that moulds became a different and lesser player after he tore his groin against cincy in game 7 of the 03 season. that's a truly debilitating injury, and it's the same one that bryce paup suffered. it really cuts into your mobility. paup, of course, was never the same player again. so far, EM hasn't proven to be either. he was great up until that play, and he's been ordinary ever since.
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i'm sorry, but if you're one of the highest paid receivers in the league, you've got to perform like one. that means getting separation, getting open deep, and scoring TDs. 9.5 ypc simply doesn't cut it for the amount of money he's making. there are a ton of guys who do what he does.
like i said, he's a great bill, the best of the last 10 years. i wish him well. but he is simply not the same guy as in the past. that said, in a different system -- philly's -- he'd be quite productive and a real asset. that's what i expect will happen.
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How can you be a game breaker when the team went with a QB with no experience to a QB that couldn't throw the ball beyond 5 yards???? Add in the fact that this team gives it's QB zero time to throw the ball deep. There's more than a good chance that Eric's low production is tied into these facts. Please tell me who will replace Eric in 2006, Lee Evans? Yeah right, he's been quite the game breaker this season! ...and who will be the Bills other starting wideout????
Moulds is one of the few guys on this team that's solid, you don't know this because you're only looking at his stats. Hard to attain lofty numbers when the caliber of QB throwing the ball was an all time low for the majority of the season.
don't get me wrong. i really like moulds. i think that his '98 season was the greatest season by a bills receiver in history - he caught only 68 balls, but the way he caught them and the yards attached were what mattered. so i'm forever appreciative for that.
however, the parade of qbs he's had simply can't explain away this:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/MoulEr00.htm
his ypc has declined *every year* since 1998!!! and now it's below 10 ypc, which puts him into TE/3rd down running back range. i simply can't believe that the bills can't find a guy -- bobby engram, darrel jackson, eddie kennison, etc. etc. -- who can't produce at a higher level. always remember that joey galloway and keenan mccardell are making far less money than moulds, and are significantly more productive than he is.
as for moulds, he's probably better off going to another team, and i'll be the first to wish him well. he'd be perfect for the eagles, for instance -- a far cheaper ($2 mill/year) and more sane version of TO with a similar (although not as talented) skill set.
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Agreed. I actually think Ralph's silence re: TD speaks volumes. I remember thinking there was no way that Ralph was gonna fire Wade Phillips, but he surprised me with his awareness and willingness to swing the axe. And, I think you're right that the comment about "materials" is a jab at Donahoe. In fact, let me be the first to predict it:
DONAHOE WILL BE FIRED.
I'm really starting to believe it. In the past, Ralph has stood up and supported his president - not anymore. I wouldn't be surprised if Ralph has been talking inquiring around the league about possible replacements. I think it will all happen rather quickly after the season is over - TD will be fired or resign, and Modrak and Rick Spielman will be two of the finalists.
to add fuel to the fire, check out the comment below from SI's don banks in his latest column. In my opinion, he's the best national writer out there (alongside dr. z), and certainly one of the most informed. He's very trustworthy.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writ...off.odds/2.html
"2. Buffalo -- Speaking of general managers who should be or are feeling the pressure, the Bills' underachievement this season has rightfully left Tom Donahoe in a very precarious position as he ends his fifth playoff-less season at the helm in Buffalo."
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Just look at this board, as the losses pile up...there are far more posts about how TD fugged up, and how much MM sucks! I rarely see any fans spending much time talking about what a good player Crowell has turned into. If posts like that are started, they are usually sabatoged by "TD sucks" kind of stuff....Sullivan writes about the things that are "hot issues" with Buffalo area sports fans...the beat reporters are the ones who write the fluff pieces...it is just the nature of his job. If most of the material he has to write about is negative, his columns are going to be negative....everyone complains when he writes about the NBA! The Buffalo Bills are still the biggest game in town...and they are not doing so hot, if you hadn't noticed!
there's even more to it than that. beat reporters who are too harsh see their sources dry up. that doesn't happen with sullivan, who doesn't rely on them. there are, however, guys who do both -- ron borges of the globe, and national guys like don banks, len pasquarelli, and hell, even mike florio (who's a lot more widely read than jerry sullivan, by the way). but sullivan is basically lazy as far as i can tell, and has no aspirations to become a better writer by cultivating sources. as far as i can tell, he has none -- all of his pieces are more or less informed broadsides. to cultivate sources, his critiques and editorials would have to be more nuanced and measured, which he seems constitutionally incapable of. and of course, that speaks poorly of him as a newspaper writer.
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And replace them with...
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I'm waiting.
For one, Milloy was actually one of the few guys on the defense making a presence in the Panthers game. Numerous times he was there making stops that should have been made by Posey. In addition, I think you saw in a big way how important he is (and how he would be missed) on the touchdown play that came right after he exited the game.
Coy Wire is not his replacement. Who is? Leave Milloy alone.
Vincent came to Clements' rescue a few times. I'd say with a real D-line, we might not need to mess with the secondary at all.
Mario Haggan or Josh Stamer haven't been good enough to unseat the laughably bad Posey. Who is? Assuming Spikes returns (to form), maybe Crowell, but he is not much more than average, either.
We need two starting defensive tackles if we sack Adams. Who are they?
Teague, easy, we replace him with Preston, right? Hopefully.
Trey and Bennie are dead weight out there.The rest of the line: tackles might be OK with better/healthier (?) guards. Villarial might be past his peak, but serviceable if we can keep him healthy. Upgrading at RG or at the tackles is at a premium compared to getting a GOOD (really good, like, making-Mike Gandy-look-GREAT-good)LG right now, because Gandy is playing OK and Peters looks to have decent potential.
excellent post. by the way, troy vincent is quietly having a very solid year. he's hardly the problem.
from the miami herald
in The Stadium Wall Archives
Posted
Willis McGahee rushed for 81 yards on 27 carries Sunday. McGahee, a 2003 first-round draft pick after helping UM to the 2001 national championship and an appearance in the BCS title game the following season, has 1,029 yards on the season. This is McGahee's second season to rush for more than 1,000 yards.
''That's my highlight of the day,'' said McGahee, referring to his season total for rushing. ``It's out of my hands. If I called the plays, I'd have 60 carries.''
Despite the loss, McGahee seemed upbeat after the game, laughing with reporters and even holding back smiles as CB Nate Clements became upset after being questioned about Chris Chambers' touchdown with six seconds left.
''[The comeback] was crazy,'' McGahee said. ``You just have to sit there and watch and hope that somebody will make a play on defense. I don't know about the playoffs but I'm going to play for pride and I hope everyone else does, too.''
http://www.miami.com/mld/miami/13329451.htm