1959BillsFan

Barring any more injuries, Mularkey had better not do anymore shuffling and experimenting with the starters. Holcomb's injury shouls give Mularkey enough of an idea that they need to PROTECT the QB, not get him mauled. The starters should have had time to "jell", they should have developed "chemistry" by know. They haven't for what ever reason, but they need that time playing consistantly with the same players in the same positions. If they want to pay Williams playing Guard, well let him practice the position for a while before they actually put him in. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought this to be a conspiracy to get Losman in to play. BUT, I don't think Mularkey is that scheming. Starting with this lineup was asking for disaster, and it happened in the form of an injury. I am happy Losman got time to play and was able to show his wares, I don't like it at the expense of an injury.

I kind of see Bellicheck/Pioli as running the ship the same way as Reid. I don't think they would be too tempted seeing the way things turned out between Reid, TO, and McNabb. It would destroy the actual team atmosphere NE prides itself on, just as it did the Philly. But we could only dream. It is probably the only chance Buffalo has at bringing down the Dynasty.

Well, the whole game plan was probably blown up when Holcomb went out. I am extatic the Bills won, plus Losman was a big positive contributor. It is too bad it came at the injury of a player, Holcomb. I never like seeing a player get hurt. It looks like the best of both worlds, the Bills won, and Losman played well and got some experience. It will be interesting if Mike "I just looking for a spark" Mularkey keeps Losman or goes with Holcomb next week.

10 Worst Teammates as active "players". Read the article for the 10 worst in todays sports, after the most obvious, terrall owens

I'm betting on the same "game Plan" as with New England. Run it a bunch in the first half, then slowly transition to the pass in the third quarter, then all pass in the 4th quarter. This is the typical approach this "Head Coach" takes when he knows they will be close at the half, but behind by the end of the third and the Defense is leaking like a siv. I was very surprised this was the approach they took against NE. They just did not expect the game to be this close by the end of the third, and even beginning of the 4th.

I apologize for the generalization. Of course the entire Athletic program cannot be based on a lousy football team; but my point is, neither should the actual education the school is responsible for. That is why Ketter refused to go Div 1 in the first place and even before that, they had a Head Coach, Robert Peel, that was of the same mind set. School is for education, not sports.

I worked at Getzville Pharmacy for a while. One of the last Drugs stores to deliver its wares.

I remember when Dr. Robert Ketter was president of UB. He refused to jack it up to Division 1 for two reasons: 1) College is for an education, not to play football or basketball. 2) The reputation of the school should be base educational merit, not athletic teams. It is funny in that he was right. If anything UB is recognized as a "lesser" school because its teams that do not produce. Nobody looks at how well educated the real population comes out of the school. In a way it is too bad, BUT Ketter was right.

For all the cussing I do about Williams' weight, his performance is not all his fault. A good portion of it has to do with the "Front Office". I only say this because it is the "front office" that wiffed on the first "coach". Then, letting him become a lame duck with no support i.e. Drafting McGahee that sat for the year, instead of getting some immediate help. It was Greggles that that brought in two offensive systems and three o-line coordinators. Then came another switch to Mularkey with another new offensive "system" with yet another o-line coach. AND with Mularkey, they have an assistant line coach to boot. In effect, there was a new coach for Williams in each of his years in Buffalo. There seems to be that same lack of identity for all the players that were here during the Greggie years AND the Mularkey transition. Teague is another. BUT, there in lay another "continuity" problem, or really, lack of "continuity. How many linemen have been here for more than two years besided Williams and Teague???? NONE. Ohhhhh, I forget Sobieski, but he should be forgotten. Only SUCCESSFUL lines have that "continuity" that TD talks so much of; Continuity in systems, coaches, and teammates. THIS is where the real problems lay with this line: No continuity and no consistancy make for no chemistry and no leadership. This is exactly the state of this o-line, a mess held together with a rubberband named McNally. Do we really think McNally will be here forever to fix TD's personnel mistakes?? I have a feeling McNally came back here to retire, that could very well be close with the garbage that is handed down thru the ranks. At least we already have the o-line coach, he is the assistant. I would love to know which one of these coaches Williams and Teague listen to most, McNally or his assistant.

OR, the soon to be ex-Head Coach to become the new Bills OC. Just kidding.

I read somewhere that the "Head Coach" got canned. He will finish the season, but will not be coaching in Buffalo next year. Maybe the players are trying to show him some respect. I am happy they did win, especially away.

This whole line shuffle is nothing more than Mularkey looking for a "spark". Really, that is it. After 1.5 years, he has still not found the right combination of boys to play the game. I'm not sure if Mularkey, OR Clements, actually understands the intracacies involved. If they did, they wouldn't be shuffling because they would have identified their players AND had GOOD depth behind them. Of course, I am assuming that this "Head Coach" is allowed to pick who plays and who sits. If Williams injury is bad enough for him to miss 4 or 5 games, I wouldn't think that sitting riding the bike will get him to the conditioning required to play in the NFL. Personally, shouldn't the guy go to IR if it's that bad, OR if he is sooooo far under 100%, he becomes a liability????? McNally wanted Williams at Guard when he first got here, but was denied the power to determine who was best capable to fill the spots. It is just now, 1.5 years later, Mularkey/TD figured out that McNally knows his job as an o-line coach. For Williams to be effective in the NFL, as a guard OR a tackle, the guy needs to get stronger in the lower body, AND he needs to loose a LOT of weight. This will help his get his footwork correct and increase his speed. It will also reduce the injuries he has been taking. Williams has neve finished a full season without lower extremety injuries. This is the function of a real "Strength and Conditioning Coach" and this is where we are lacking; a real coach that understands conditioning.

2001 Rd Sel# Player Pos. School 2 46 Aaron Schobel DE Texas Christian 3 76 Ron Edwards DT Texas A&M 3 95 Jonas Jennings T Georgia 5 144 Marques Sullivan T Illinois 7 238 Tyrone Robertson DT Hinds CC 2002 1 4 Mike Williams T Texas 2 61 Ryan Denney DE Brigham Young 5 139 Justin Bannan DT Colorado 7 215 Mike Pucillo G Auburn 2003 2 48 Chris Kelsay DE Nebraska 5 151 Ben Sobieski G Iowa 6 187 Lauvale Sape DT Utah 2004 3 74 Tim Anderson DT Ohio State 7 207 Dylan McFarland T Montana 2005 4 122 OL Duke Preston Illinois 6 197 OL Justin Geisinger Vanderbilt It isn't like TD has ignored the lines, he just has picked well. The picks in red are either no longer here, on IR, should be on IR, OR on the Practice Squad.

I disagree, but only to a certain extent. They should give full responsibility to McNally. It apperas that these scounts and personnal department can ONLY find "skill position" players. That is not a bad thing for WRs, RBs, CB, and LBs. BUT when it comes to the lines, these "scouts" and personnal people are clueless, OR it looks that way. Instead of TD/Modrak telling the scouts what characteristics they wanted scouted, let McNally direct them. McNally is a coach, not a scout, BUT he needs to give these guys a clue. It looks like McNally had a whole lot more to say this past draft: Preston and Geisinger are two really smart PLAYERS that have the actual WANT to play, that includes heart and will to prepare and condition. This past draft looks like the start for an o-line, but it is only the start. They have to select more this draft, and not just one PLAYER, but more like two or three for the o-line itself. BUT, they also have concerns about the d-line. I do think that Krumrie has had a lot more say in the last few drafts, but he needs more guys. Both these coaches realize size is NOT the most important attribute when selecting linemen. There are a lot of other characteristics needed as well: tenacity, athleticism, teammanship, character, heart, will to prepare. It is identifying these characteristics and personnal that fit them where the Bills have lacked for ..... well a decade.

There is a huge difference between Free Agent linemen and Free Agent "skill position" players. Successful T-E-A-Ms draft o-linemen with the idea of not only developing their talent, but more importantly, developing CHEMISTRY. It takes 5 guys to start on an o-line. The "skill positions" rely mainly on talent, not necessarily chemistry and continuity. O-linemen are drafted to build CONTINUITY as others get old or injured, their familiarity with the system and fellow players let them step in without too much fall off. It is important to keep the good ones and get rid of the bad ones. Most thought that NE reached when they drafted Mankens. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't, he is starting as a rookie right next to another rookie LT. The Pats have the idea that they WILL build that continuity and maintain it. Obviously, the Bills have taken a different tact, draft "skill positions", develop them and then loose them to free agency. They band-aide the line with Free Agent cast offs. Really the only Free Agent of value is Villarrial, but he is older and taking injuries. Gandy may be a GREAT pickup, but it still is too early to tell. Bennie........, well that is enough said. Teague, he wasn't able to fit Denver's style so they let him go in free agency. He is an adaquate Center, but outrageously expensive as compared to GREAT centers. Linemen should be drafted consistently to maintain that continuity that TD often speaks of. In the Bills case, they have been drafted, but more as afterthoughts. As someone mentioned, mid rounds is where the consistency should be displayed. That would give the players time to develop under the system.

I am a member of several Message Boards, but I have to say, this board is THE BEST with good football analysis. This thread, with AKC's analysis and other posters comments, is far and above everything I have ever seen. Thank You.

Jerry Sullivan is an a**ho** because he enjoys it. There are people in this world that get their jollies off on being that type of "person". His "commentary" is basically opinion with nothing to back it up except attempts to make real people believe him and his lame attempts. "Believe me" is a manipulation technique to try to get real people believe him while he laughs at their truthful nature. Answering a e-Mail is again another manipulation technique to convince a real person and real people that he is an actual "person". Typically, I refuse to read his crap anymore for the mear fact that he says the same thing over and over and over again. Sullivan's "journalism" has become just as predictable as the people that he hates the most, the Bills owner and "Front Office". Kind of funny how that works out, Sullivan is the same as that he hates.

Wasn't it Billy Shaw and Stew Barber doing that for Cookie Gilchrist???? OR Reggie McKennzie and Dave Foley for OJ. Billy Shaw revolutionized the guard position by pulling . He is still recognized as one of the best along with Reggie McKennzie. I wish we had either of those guys right now.

It seems like the Snews has gotten some experienced writers over the last year or two. Gaughn and Willson do not necessarily write with a positive or negative infleuence, but more realistic. They don't take sides, they don't even write about their opinion, they just present the facts as those facts are shown to them. These two give us the context behind the varrious situations they report on. Sullivan writes with a mad hatred for the "Front Office" and "Coaches". I put these two entities in quotes because I don't necessarily think they have the best interest of the club at heart either. BUT, Sullivan has an adgenda that HE is trying to fill. Generally, I don't read the Sullivan garbage because I already know what he writes from two years ago. It always the same; just like Tom Donahoe, predictable.

BBOregon, I don't think it is a problem with the "coaches" thinking out of the box, IMHO, this "coaching staff" is over thinking. They are trying soooooo many fancy blitzing schemes, it creates mismatches AGAINST the Bills. If these clowns would settle their "scheme" down, let the players play their position, cut the cutsie stuff, this D would have a chance. The FUNDAMENTALS is where they are lacking.

The funny thing about Breez is that he wasn't worth much according to the San Diego fans for his first two years as a starter. That is why they drafted Rivers. Now comes the dilemma: Brees, Rivers, Brees, Rivers. How much are they paying QBs, and who should they play????? Brees has turned into an incredible QB, but it took him two years. Now, every teams fans want him. He was labled as a total bust, but he sure matured pretty well, once given some decent coaching and talent around him.

Good O-Line are built based on consistancy; consistancy with the "system", consistancy with the players, and consistancy with the coaches. Consistancy with ht eplayers includes both the starters and the developmental players, the backups. IMHO the o-lies that examplify this characteristic are : KC Philly Indy Cinci Denver It is interesting to note that when I answered the "best D-Line" thread, 4 out of 5 were with the NFC, while looking here, 4 out of 5 are with the AFC. It almost looks like the NFC are trying to build on that old addage that "Championships are won with a great Defense". The AFC has dominated the playoffs for the last few years, many times with offense. It is looking like the NFC is bringing back history from the NFL.

I didn't look up any stats but I considered it a better idea to look at who has the most up and coming line, the lines built for sustained success. The lines that are built around a system where the system is built to fit the players. Not a "system" that tries to fit players into its system; fitting square pegs into round holes. In the Dallas case, they rebuilt their line with players that fit the 3-4 that Parcells want to run. Lovie Smith did the same thing with Chicago. He rebuilt thru the draft, but he selected players with those paticular talents AND the intangibles to make it work. NE just makes great adjustments to the system that fits the players that are being used in a situation. AND with the injuries that NE experiences, almost year in and year out, they bring in players off the street and make adjustments. Right now, NE has the second worst D, but IMHO they will recover, if not this year, definitely next. Atlanta, it looks like they have made necessary adjustments to meet the players, plus they drafted to fit those NEEDS too. Atlanta seems to draft based on NEED rather than on best available. To me drafting "best available" restricts the players. The PLAYERS never turn into the players they can be if using When using their best attributes. Dallas Atlanta Carolina Chicago NE (when healthy)

Just look at the club, extremely mediocre. That is how I would classify TD's "leadership" and management performance as a GM and President, extremely mediocre. He definitely not that same level as Pioli or Rich McKay Ozzie Newsome Andy Reid TD is neither the likes of Matt Millan

Thanks!!!! Whoever did this must have done quite a bit of work making it. Thanks to both you for posting AND the person who put it together.