LynchMob23

Yeah, and he booted away from it.

And that's the type of plays you get when your QB learns to stay in the pocket! Tip of the cap to Fairchild et al. Flip of the Bird, however to Mr. Preston, who cannot block to save his (or JP's) life....

Agreed. I think if we're going to go the FA route to pick up a LB, I think there are a few choices, but we're most likely priced out: 1. Adalius Thomas - The guy in a word is a freak. Think Takeo at his best, on crack. He'll play corner, safety, LB, or any technique needed on the line. He's the type of guy like Peters who was thought of as not having the capacity to play "big time football" or play multiple positions. He proved them wrong and them some. To acquire this guy we would take care of three things: big time playmaker on 3rd down assuming Takeo cannot recover to that level; a fast (runs a 4.5/4.6 at 270) heady LB that can destroy someone on the rush; and the ability to flip flop as necessary two of our LBs (Him and Crowell) based on offensive personnel, matchups....etc. He's very very expensive, or he will be. Not only will the Ravens want to keep him, but his old DC (Nolan) will want him, the Bengals may want him AND I'm not sure if we will pony the cashola necessary to play with those big boys. 2. Lance Briggs - Plays in the T-2 Defense already and was drafted by Jauron before he was fired. Smart player, fast and tough. I think he'll be either franchised by the Bears or up to the highest bidder. Again, I'm not sure we enter the bid war, though with his connection to Jauron maybe we do! Also, about the Whitner thing - the reason I even knew he helped out with the play calls was because of an article in week one about the Pats game, and how they stopped a TD because he realized that someone wasn't covering a man and changed the play to cover the FB. The play went for short yardage as opposed to a wide open TD. Draft wise, I'd be lying if I said I had a dossier of people ready, but I know a few guys on Florida's D (Everett and Siler) are playing pro style zone defenses and doing it quite well, assuming we don't spend a first round pick on a Willis or Posluszny. I don't think the offense is difficult for a rookie to learn, but I would rather have someone who has been in our version (like Crowell) or a Vet that we could trust (like Thomas or Briggs) calling the plays.

If memory serves, in addition to F-B making play calls, Whitner has been making adjustments to coverages and the fronts as well. He also has playcalling "ability" so to speak, so while he may not be physically there yet in run coverage for example, he at least knows where he and the other 10 have to be on the play. As far as London walking, it's easy to say don't let the door hit you on the way out, when you're just looking at his age and playing with Ralph's money. Why? Personally, at 32 if he can play til he's 35 why not keep him? It's one thing if he's supbar in performing, but it's another if he's playing at the same level he is now. In fact, put escalators in his contract so that if he continues to perform at this level he'll be paid accordingly; if not, his base will have to do. That would make it easier to cut him in time if he didn't perform, yet we can retain him...of course this assumes he wants to be here and doesn't want a megabucks payday. Now, if F-B leaves, Crowell has played all 3 positions and was F-B's backup a year and a half ago, before TKO went down. If F-B leaves, we can put Crow in at Mike, let DiGiorgio back him up, and get a rookie to back up Ellison and TKO. That way we keep a good rotation at LB and hopefully D-Line. IF we want to go with a first round LB, that'd help with the sideline to sideline stuff and give us an out if TKO can't go. But we can also find a later round pick like Ellison (or an UDFA like F-B) and go with them too. As long as they're smart and rangy, this defense is simple to learn...but it ain't easy!

For those that didn't see it - http://thepiratebay.org/tor/3587039/Chuck.....Tito.Ortiz.wmv Also, I'm going to LOVE Mirko coming to make all things right for the Heavyweight Division. He got tired of Fedor in PrideFC and Dana must've flashed some big cash...

Good fight - a little shorter than I thought it would be. If you want me to put the match results, I can, but I didn't want to spoil anything for those who wanna see it.

As an H-Back, Leonard could do the same, maybe not as explosively as Bush, but still versatile. He (to us and really most of the NFL) isn't a first round pick - he's more or less a first day, but not first round. Our first round pick should be something we truly need, a second wideout, a d or o lineman, corner if absolutely necessary, not something we can pick up in the second day or as a UDFA.

Exiled, From day one Marv and Dick J have said you didn't have to be a choir boy to be a Bill - that their idea of character was playing all the way through, not quitting and enjoying football for the sake of football. Need I remind you that our first round pick was involved in some issues with domestic disturbances - which if he didn't play for Buffalo would probably had garnished more of an outcry?

Mike, That's exactly what I should have said, instead of just mentioning the Vikings. The only caveat to having the big bodies is having em run around (maybe not as much as the Tripplett/Williams/McCargo tandem) but run nonetheless. Heck, look at the Falcons - they're running the T2, but they added Grady Jackson, who is two M & M's shy of darn near 400. I think if we can get a guy that's a big 'un that can haul without going offsides a ton we can shore up the run d a ton. Also, if we can get faster at LB (with TKO recovering, Fletcher either being let go or being out in run downs, etc) we can help out the over-penetration that sometimes occurs in the Tampa 2.

What about Minnesota this year and Chicago (while not top 5) being in the top 10?

And the Jets - better division record and like opponents

He was WR/RB at LSU under Saban, so it's not crazy - I was hoping they'd use him a bit when Willis went down.

and from a few people from bb.com, the missing seats were those allotted for the Jags/visitors fans...so that's really really good in perspective!

Merriman's coming back after his suspension and may also be injured still. They already lost another outside backer to injury and their backup Michael Turner Overdrive, who would have been LT like in his own right. We have to watch out for Jackson too - another 6'5+ receiver that Rivers can use.

peters-gandy-fowler-preston-pennington No sacks allowed, first time in JP's career. They all played well, in particular to me Fowler, as he was constantly getting a push on I think Stroud.

I think to beat them, in addition to what was already discussed we have to contain Merriman, and pick off the one LT pass. We do that, we give ourselves a chance.

Quick note from today's paper: Attendance for Buffalo's blacked-out game Sunday against Jacksonville was 63,608. That was a larger crowd than Miami at Detroit and Tampa Bay at Dallas on Thanksgiving Day, Arizona at Minnesota Sunday afternoon and Philadelphia at Indianapolis Sunday night. It seems particularly unfair to have games blacked out in Buffalo but not in Dallas, a major market with a smaller stadium.

Also first time in NFL History someone has had two 80+ yard receptions for tds in one quarter. ONE QUARTER. Don't let that kid leave til his legs fall off!!

25 - give him a full year and build around him

Good topic and here's a little bit to add to it: a few years ago when we played NE on SNF, they brought up the timer they used for Bledsoe and the time he had. When they showed it, he had 3.9 seconds before he could get the pass off and they said he took too long. Then, later they showed Brady and he had, amazingly enough 3.9 seconds for a play and they said he had a quick release and great protection. It was quite funny and as always an ESPN half-stat. I would say time is relative to the drop-back of the pass and the protection called. I have a book by Walsh that breaks down the times, and when I get a chance I'll copy it and post it here to add to the discussion...

If they are going to be committed to this style of defense, if they can find a guy that is as big as you want and can motor, we'll pick him up if at all possible. Look at the Falcons, they run a tampa 2-like defense and picked up Grady Jackson, who is imploding any part of the line he touches. The question becomes, how long can he do it? Sam Adams has been discussed ad-nauseum with respect to this defense and Pat is doing quite fine in the Vikings version. Our problem right now is, TD kept the wrong DT. Til we can find another planet that moves like a lineman within the first 5-6 steps we'll have to deal.

Oh, and in case some were serious above in their belief that the Pats are the only team that does 3rd downs/GL/RZ/Situationals on one day, they aren't. Most teams do.

Alex Smith, as Urban Meyer mentioned in an article is the type of QB who has to know the whole offense before he is effective in it. Look at him last year compared to this year and it's obvious. Simms is forever associated with Mike Williams for me, so by bringing him in that tub of goo somehow appears in my brain...never clean...never clean.. Oh and Picard lost his heart in a fight, so Picard >= Kirk depending on the situation.

I'm not one to jump down anyone's throat on suggestions, but I'll say this about the Shotgun Spread Option: you have to practice it from training camp at a minimum if you want to get it down. There are too many sightlines, too many techniques with ball feeding to the back and when you should run, etc. to just throw it in one week against a team. I think something like a draw would help suck them in and that TE screen we used on the first TD drive. We need plays that make them overpersue (which they will do) and allow our guys to get open. JP should not be running. Scrambling maybe, but not running. Take a look at what they did to Vick last year when (again) he'd been running on the league. They whupped him like a government mule! I think if we can get a lot of YAC and a lot of Willis getting big yards after first contact we'll slowly win the trench war.

Acor, Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that's what Crowell is going to eventually do? If mem serves, Mike was his natural backup position but he can now do all three.