1959BillsFan

Hi Trolls, Football is a 53 man sport, and that is only the players. Once you count in coaches, that is around 67, then the front office, this is about 75 or more people. ONE player does not make a T-E-A-M. I capitalize team because it takes teamwork, character, chemistry, consistance to create a successful team. At this point TO has only demonstrated his ability to shread any T-E-A-M that Reid has built. I really don't think any club would entertain signing TO unles they were desperate and willing to kill any unity they may have. He might be ideal for a team that WANTs to be destroyed so they can move with no fan hate.

TD signed hi to a very low salary for this year, but also gave him some sort of a signing bonus. His next two years here look to be very overpriced based on this seasons performance. The guy flat out is horrible. Fat Bennie's Salary Structure I'm hoping they bring back Tucker and let Fat Bennie go. Tucker is not the greatest, but he at least is better than what we presently have. I also liked Tucker's attempts to lead. This is where he got into trouble with this "coaching staff". He was trying to think and this staff doesn't like to do that. MM says that letting Tucker go had nothing to do with his injuries, but they chose to go in another direction. To bad that direction is backwards. Fat Bennie gets pushed backwards IF he stays on a blocking assignement.

Last week they tried out Rohan Davey: Josh Reed's old QB from LSU, and Patriot 4th rounder, and NFLEurope MVP from last year. The Pats cut him just before the start of the season. TD commented that they really liked the Davey and that he had good on-filed presence. AND that they very well might bring him back in the spring for the club.

In my understanding a "Players' Coach" is a coach that used to be a player at the level he is coaching. He is supposed to understand what it is like being a player and is supposed to make decisions with the players mentality. He is supposed to reflect his experiences in their identity and their systems. Basically, Mularkey treats these guys with kid gloves. Levy said the most important thing about being a coach is not motivation, but to find self motivated individuals and to convince them into the system being employed. The team work will follow. The chemistry will follow. The level attention will be elevated because they believe in the systems, They have trust in the coaches. I don't see that here.

Yes, you are probably correct. There is some reason to be more optimistic, BUT TD has gotten rid of every single player from the pre-TD regime except for Moulds. I find that interesting and suspecious. For that reason, this is a TD built club. I say club because, they have not demonstrated the team work necessary to be consistent. AND now that is the latest buzz word out of Mularkey and TD, "Consistancy". I guess with all the o-line coaches, all the o-coordinators, all the different "systems" brought in, the two HCs; how is THAT consistent???

If Holcomb starts, it almost seems like we would be sacrificing the future at the expense of the present. The reality is: 1) We are heading towards the salary cap hell that was here when TD came. 2) We have "veterans" that are too expensive for their age, like when TD came. 3) We are playing the injured vets, at the expense of developing the new guys. Basically, we are approaching the same point as to when TD first came. That isn't the 3 or 5 year plan I would think Ralph Wilson would buy into. If I were Mularkey, I would stop listening/asking for advice from a biased GM. If I were Mularkey, I would realize it is MY reputation on the line and not TD's. I would play the players that deserve to start, not the injured, or the over paid players.

It isn't no personality, this group of boys has no IDENTITY. They have no LEADERSHIP. They have no CONTINUITY. They have no CONSISTANCY. They have no CHEMISTRY. I guess that is what a "players' coach" brings. I do agree with your assessment on the "Head Coach". He is now praying that he can find another "spark" to save his team, to save his reputauion, to validify his techniques, and to save his butt. But, I also have to give somewhat of a bye on Mularkey. He, like Losman, has no experience and is being judged on too few games. The reality is the grading of the GM:________

I definitely agree with the approach of seeing what we have talent wise: RT=> McFarland RG=> Villarial C=> Preston LG=> Geisinger LT=> Peters Backups: Fat Bennie(RG and LG), Teague(C and LT), Ogden (G and T), Gandy (LT and G) IR: Fat Mike, Jerman It already looks like the D-Line will be making some changes. Apparently after Sam Adams' benching, he said the Bills may be looking in a new direction, when commenting on his benching. It looks like Sape, Anderson and Bannan will be the rotation. Get Jason Jefferson some time in the rotation. Let Haggen play MLB and let Fletcher heal. Apparently, Vincent has a shoulder injury, so either Rashad Baker or Jim Leonhard. Milloy is not very effective, he can't tackle with one hand and he is being out hussled, let him heal and let Wire play. Wire's last game looked ok. He has been signed to a two year extension, let him play.

Well, we don't need a converted LB. We need someone who can cover; something neither Wire or Milloy can do. I would guess how much of an overhaul this D goes over the off season. It is very apparent that this "system" has been figured out. The lack of adjustment, the complexity, and the mismatches it creates (DEs on WRs and CBs on Tackles) are no longer effective. The basic "cover 2" that Greggy brought here has been replaced by a combination of Cover 2 and Dick LeBeau's Zone Blitzing. The best description is deceit and finesse. The traditional cover 2 does use the SS as a blitzing LB. This is why Wire was drafted. Then Milloy was brought in, never known for his ability of cover, only run support. We no longer have the personnel that fits the "system" that is employed here, what ever that system may be. I have doubts that Gray knows the answer to that question. With almost total lack of respect based on the last two drafts, this club is in the rebuilding stages.

That is a really good question. Is is beyond my belief that this "coaching staff" considers a player at 50-60% effectiveness, Fletcher has had a Hamstring injury since Tampa Bay, to be better than a player 100%. Peters played better than Williams; last year, McGee played better than Vincent; hell, it even looked like Wire was playing better than Malloy this last game. I just don't understand why this "coaching staff" doesn't have the confidence in their healthy players.

The Raiders loss showed a club of boys with no heart, no sole, no pride. No nothing except the paycheck they collected. At least with the Pats, even though the Pats were an "inferior" team personnal wise, they are still the champs, and they have had Buffalo's number for years. The Bills did play 3/4 of a game and that is more than they have done all year.

Someone mentioned that Bannan would make a decent DE. That is an interesting proposition. DE- Bannan DT- Sam Adams DE- Anderson or Denney WILL- Schobel SLB- Fletcher MLB- Crowell JACK- Kelsey or Posey Now we have a reasonable roster adjustment, do we think the "coaches" can make an adjustment in the play calling???

IMHO, we should start Losman after NE, even if we win against NE. The Bills need " a spark" no matter which way you look at it. In addition to starting Losman, I also think they need to bring in fresh guys on the o-line. 1) Peters at RT 2) Preston start at RG 3) Teague at Center 4) Geisinger at LG 5) Gandy at LT Backups would be McFarland, Villarrial, and Fat Bennie. Let the injuries heal, the guys playing right now are liabilities and risk permanant problems. AND, how much worse can these new guys be than the guys hobbled with injury or unconditioned like Fat Bennie???? Mularkey needs to do something quick. He would at least be getting the inexperienced backups some experience. Like I said, how much worse could they be??? The off week would give these guys two weeks to get to know each other, which is actually more than the starters have had together all season. This IS a rebuilding team.

This is a team in the rebuilding mode, which is exactly where we are. It's time to consider the future, NOT what we have. If we don't, this team will be in salary cap hell just like when TD got here. Yea, Aiken. I do think he has had enough time behind Moulds and I don't expect Moulds to be back next year unless he takes a huge contract hit. Plus, we've used up way too many draft picks on the skill positions, let's see what they have. Basically, cut the losses and rebuild.

Seeing as how the last two drafts were concentrated with offensive skill positions (10 out of 12 on offense with only 3 o-linemen). I see defense in need as much as the o-line. 1) DT 2) Right Tackle 3) CB 3a) Outside LB 4) Center/Guard 5) Inside LB 6) Center/Guard 7) Strong Safety Free Agents: 1) CB, 2) Strong Safety, 3) ILB, 4) Left Guard 5) Right OT 5) TE WR=> Aiken TE=> Euhus RT=> Rookie RG=> Rookie FB=> Shelton Center=> Duke Preston QB=> Losman LG=> Gandy RB=> McGahee LT=> Peters WR=> Evans DE=> Kelsey OLB=> Spikes CB=> Rookie DT=> Anderson MLB=> Fletcher FS=> Vincent DT=> Rookie OLB=> Rookie SS=> Rookie or FA DE=> Schobel CB=> McGee

BUT THAT LIGHT BULB COULD GO OFF. There is always the possibility that Mularkey, Clements, and Gray will start talking with their coaches and players. This is how chemistry is made. The coaches are supposed to be part of it, not excluded from it. The season is still young, there is time for these "coaches" to become real coaches. The front office is pretty much out of the deal unless some free agent becomes available, but the "coaches" have a little time.

Ok, OK, OK!!!! I'm going to be a homer. This season isn't close to being done. There are still 60% of the games to play yet. There are all the + and -'s ever team has to go thru: Every team still has the bad game days, every team can have injuries to key players, every team can have the graces from heaven on any given game day. THIS IS BEING REALISTIC. Yep there have been a lot of things going wrong. Yea, there have been a lot injuries. Yea, our "coaches" do not have a handle on making adjustments. Yea, our drafting has been flawed. Yea, there doesn't seem to be any chemistry. Etc, Etc, Etc. BUT, "it isn't over until the fat lady sings". Stranger things have happened, like the Bills going 2-6 in the first half of last season, then finishing with 7-1 in the second half. I'm not saying this group of individuals will actually become a T-E-A-M, but they did it last year. I'm not saying the playcalling will improve, but it did last year. I'm not saying this o-line will ever become even adaquate. I'm not even saying the "light bulb" will go off with TD, BUT stranger things have happened. The season isn't over yet. There is a lot of football to play.

I guess Greggy has learned, because he most likely has more options to excercise disciplinary measure with another team. LaVar Arrington!!!!! Their star LB has been riding the pine for most of this season. He finally get his chance to play because Greggy actually made Arrington work in practice, and Arrington had a good game under the terms Greggy set down. I'm sure that would not be allowed on the Bills; actually sitting a "star" player down until he worked in practice. Unheard of. Could this be a main reason for the undiscliplined play???

Weiler...... gasp, gasp, gasp!!!! I guess I stand corrected. If it was from him, I know better than to even read his crap. I formally apologize for my actions. Weiler...... gasp, gasp, gasp!!!!

That doesn't seem to stop Pittsburgh. But again, Pittsburgh has a lot more chemistry in their o-line than Buffalo does. These Bills haven-t played one full game together since the preseason. OK, maybe Texas, but I seem to recall Villariel had to go out in that game too. I think Mularkey wants to think this is a ball control offense. Ball control suggests they mix up pass equally with the run. The only concern is to keep the 3rd down conversion high, just move the chains and stay on the field. There is a problem with this in that the linemen HAVE to be in good physical shape. With all the injuries and the size of this line, they are either injured, OR tired. When you are tired, you begin to have mental lapses and take penalties. The Bills do have a conditioning problem. Mularkey is consistently saying how tired the linemen are getting, but I have to question, how can these guys get tired when the D is on the field all the time???

It is an interesting proposition if you have the personnel to do it. The key is not only players, but more on the coaches. Wade Phillips did that a while ago. Because of injury to a DT, he was forced to go from a 3-4 to a 4-3. The next game, the Bills won. He then kept mixing up the 3-4 and the 4-3 with fairly good success. Kind-of-like Bellicheck. He probably got the idea from Phillips. I would have to believe it is easier to do from a 3-4 to the 4-3, just because of the personnel types. A lot of times, DEs in a 3-4 were converted DTs, while LBs were converted DEs. As far as this team, it couldn't work, because these "coaches" can't make adjustments now. What makes anyone believe they could make an adjustment of this magnitude???

I should have provided some definitions to the different types, sorry for that. Smash Mouth=> Run the ball up the gut, run it off to the left, run it off to the right. Just smash their D and take no prisoners. Ball Control=> Keep a balanced attack while moving the sticks. Maintaining a high third down conversion. Run, pass just move the chains. Finesse=> Gimmick plays and lots of passing but only limited time for passing.

OR, building the Defense at the cost of the Offense. Now, we are building the offense at the cost of the defense. 10 of 12 players drafted over the last two years were offense. With this "front office" it just looks like the properties of a pendulum. Pay me now or pay me later. In this structure, one will loose out. In other words, there is no balance to build a WINNING culture on.

SDS, I'm only going by what I've read. But, this, out of a "reporter", I do believe. A while back, I read an interview or article with John Fox and he was less than supportive about his interview here. OR, was it Fassel??? It was one of the potential head coaches, and he mentioned a problem with control of the players, and INSINUATED a trust issue. Also, many say that TD didn't get this guy or that guy, so TD is a jerk. Many people don't realize that when someone interviews, the person doing the interviewing is being interviewed just as much as the potential employee. No, I have no links, it was a while back.

BUT, what of the line??? You can have all the talented, high draft picks you want at the skills positions (like the Bills have), but you still need the time to pass OR the holes to run thru. Games are won/lost in the trenches. It's always been like that and it will always be like that. Any wonder why this is such a mediocre team??? We do have talent in the skills positions, but not to much anywhere else.