Matt in KC

Me too. The only question here is how much Crowell's injury has slowed him. Not much, i'd say. He has only ever looked good on Kickoff coverage.

...musing to pass the time....

I suppose if you are Lauvale Sape, it's not a comfortable time to hear your phone ring. I would give my family / friends a different # than the team!

So, if more than one team wants to put a player on their practice squad, how does that work? Does one have to outbid the other??

I just read the articles at CNN.com. Unfortunately, it sounds like many kids have been killed so far.... Death and horror at siege school

Hmm... Unfortunately, from what I've seen, Ritzmann, Gildon and McKenzie have all looked about the same. Gildon has hardly been used, and looked dejected on the sidelines of the Indi game (like, "why isn't anyone talking to me? have I already been cut?"). From the LE / RE perspective, it looks like McKenzie has the edge, if these are our only choices (no decent cuts from other teams). Ritzman is eligible for the PS and may be able to compete for a spot next year. For the past two games I played and replayed my DVR and recorded which players were clear positves or negatives on each play (typical play=maybe one player noted in Titans game; 1-2 players noted each play in Indi game). In the Titans game, I saw one good play by Gildon, and two or three negative plays [Late EDIT: one negative for Mckenzie and nothing noted for Ritzman]. For Indi game, I saw one positive pass rush from Ritzman, one good tackle from Gildon, and nothing else for any of them. I remember seeing Ritzman and McKenzie a step out of the play a couple times each, and thought of this as a positive for young Ritzman and a negative for McKenzie. I barely saw Gildon at all. Unless we're planning to use Gildon for creative pass rushes we haven't shown (except a bit in Broncos game), it doesn't look like a viable backup is on the team yet....

So, what makes you think things aren't any better? The number of interceptions, sacks, completion percentage, yards per rush... or just a general sense of doom?

Neither, unless Gildon is doing great in the practices and Mularkey purposesly hasn't shown his passrush in PS. He has been a complete non-factor in any of the games I've reviewed. McKenzie looks barely passable as a backup, but I think we'd go with youth over him.

Everyone else has covered the practical advice pretty well, so I'll just say good luck, stay safe, and be sure to post your pictures when it's all over. -Matt

Morrman at 100% Pressure on opposing QBs Wire playing solidly at SS No personal foul penalties, and few others (pass interference call for aggressive play is okay, but needs to be reigned in by the Jags) Will we see Losman on the sidelines? I'd like to see him there talking to the coaches, mentally engaged. On my unlikely, unwise, self-indulgent wish list, I'd like to see: +Rashad Baker knock someone's helmet off with a clean hit +Bledsoe run in a touchdown on a naked bootleg (or maybe do this against NE or Miami later)! +End-around to Evans I have seen Bledsoe throw the ball "too quick" a couple times, when there wasn't pressure and someone was getting open elsewhere. But, if he can't feel the pressue (or lack of it) he's doing the right thing throwig it quickly.

I didn't think you could sign players from other Practice Squads. I think the competition only comes in from the players needing to clear the waiver wire to be signed in the first place (i.e. all teams have to "pass" before you can sign them to your PS, then they are protected).

Here's what I've seen after watching then reviewing all of the PS games on my DVR: I've always thought of Haggan and Crowell as a pair, but Haggan has really started to seperate himself this preseason as better. Stamer looks to be the next best (and looked like the best last year, I thought) and Crowell and Stevenson are trailing, with Crowell maybe having the edge in ST play, though I did not see him at all on in the Indi game, even though I looked for him. My take: best Haggan (leading tackler in Indi game!? Good hustle, no fear, decent positioning) Stamer (Looks smart and strong, but often a step behind - may be good some day) Crowell (Has looked strong physically, but usually in the wrong place, and not too fast) Stevenson (faster, good hustle, but looks a bit weaker than the others and clumsier) worst

nodnarb's list (alphabetized): Dixon, Gerald Esposito, Jasen Gildon, Jason (might wait to cut Gildon) Graham, Mark Haddad, Drew (could actually make it through this cut) Myers, Jerel Richardson, Lawrence Seals, Richard Shafer, Mike I'd add: Beard, Kevin (PS?) Brown, Antonio Burns, Joe or Simonton (one cut now, one later) Lamar, Johnny Towns, Daryl Trafford, Rod (PS? with Mularkey's comments about him, may survive this cut??) If some of those above stick, here are my alternates for cutsville: Dorenbos, Jon Stevenson, Dominique (Crowell, Angelo?) Smith, Jonathan (so much for boarderline players proving themselves on Special Teams!) Sape, Lauvale I think it's too soon to add Lawton or Ritzman to the list, though they are still up against a wall to make the final cut. Is it a sure thing they hold all players they put on the practice squad until the final cut?

Sorry if I've wasted your time. I meant to mock the Robin Bakay pics threads I've seen. At least twice I read the titles fast and thought they were about Rashad Baker... As penance: Greer and Baker...

Please just don't PM me and let me know. Just wondering.

Oh no, Steve, you've fallen into a pit of doom and gloom. What happened? It's all good (or at least not-so-bad) .

Okay, please realize I'm saying this tongue-in-cheek: I think we should tell Bledsoe we're going to play him until he gets a touchdown. If he goes into the second half it will be embarrassing, but at least the competition should be getting softer....

Wow, that's pitta-ful!

Quincy signed with the Jets last week.

I like them throwing in a flea-flicker in PS, though I hope we run maybe two of these total during the year when/if DB gets time in the pocket. I think doing this could make opposing DBs hesitate for a moment before committing to run support. So long as we stress not turning the ball over on our trick plays....

I don't think you should watch preseason games. Have you been up all night? I haven't seen the game yet (waiting for NFL Network tonight), but it sounds like Bledsoe did pretty well; his stats were okay and he looked pretty good in the first two games. Also, I think Lindell has been solid so far - he missed a 49 yd attempt last night, not an extra point. I agree with almost all the pionts in the "it's not so bad" threads, tho obviously "t's not so great right now either.

Have a great time! I too want to go to Tuscany. It was our first thought for a honeymoon before ending up with Kuaii. Good luck, NJSue! It sounds like you're taking some good classes. (I took Business, Psychology and Philosophy, myself. Twentieth Century Philosophy sounds interesting. You'll have to keep us posted on what you cover.

No injuries goes without saying (...damn, I said it anyway!) 1) Solid Special Teams play, including Moorman at 100% 2) Solid run defense in first half 3) Pressure on opposing QBs 4) No more than three sacks given up 5) At least one TD by our starting offense 6) a flash or two from Evans 7) A few receptions from our TEs 8) Losman there talking to coach/team 9) Continued strong play from McGee and K Thomas (CB could be one of our strongest positions) Wish list: Sack by Kelsay 50+ yard return by McGee or Reed Super-scamper by McGahee Evans reception behind the opposing DBs (play-action?)

I agree with all of these players so far, except I think Bledsoe is a bit questionable as a choice because 1) I think several people still hold him in very high regard 2) his performance is still in question until he plays out of his deer-in-headlights funk (btw, I think he'll do much better this year). [Edit: MikeH added Ruben while I was typing. Ruben was not underappreciated in Buffalo!] Here's the only other guy I think is worth adding to this list for the Bills: Pat Williams. Pat has been a solid warrior for us, yet doesn't seem to get much love from the fans. I really hope he tries the market next year, finds little interest in him because of his age, and re-signs with the Bills. A bit off topic, but who saw him on the Eric Moulds Show last year? The guy looks scary!

Aren't you just inactive for 10 weeks? Can anyone find the rules about IR to post here? I took a quick look, but need to get back to work....