Tasker

I would have preferred Sherman, and stated that a lot. But it is important to have someone who will work will with Marv, and there are a lot of cases of HCs wanting to do GM duties not working so well. But the big news guys is this: instead of MM and his Shelton passes at 1st and goal and mishandling Adams and Moulds and JP and Willis, we have a new and better coach, with some proven success. And with TD gone, we have a better chance at drafting well, and having a better time signing free agents. So I bought in to the Sherman better than Jauron stuff too, and I think that might have been right, all things equal, but let's not forget the great news here. We have a coach who will be much better than MM, who just weeks ago was supposed to stick around and ruin another year for us. If we can build a quality staff with good coordinators I look forward to 2006. Also Jauron should be better than Haslett who was another possibility for a step forward, so we got our middle option of three possible improvements on MM Now I have to go read up a little on Jauron because I had the Sherman blinders on, and don't know enough about him... Go Bills.

An unofficial scan of lots of mock drafts, and they all had Mario Williams gone by #8. I would love to see this change somehow, as he is the guy I want, but I have the feeling we will be a couple steps away, just like we were with Peppers. Most seem to have us ending up with D'Brick or Ngata, and while I'm not sold on either, I'm excited to get a star lineman. With Leinart, Vince Young, and Reggie Bush all going ahead of our pick, it means there are really four other players gone before we pick. So we definitely have a chance of getting one of our top guys. My dream is that four other players can move into the top 7 with the three I mentioned, and push Mario Williams to us. You never know with combine performances, but some players who could go in the top 7 and fill that up are: LenDale White, AJ Hawk, Michael Huff, Ngata, D'Brick, and DeAngelo Williams. I'm really hoping that some teams ahead of us will stretch to meet a need, but is hard to picture the Packers, Raiders, and Niners all passing on Mario Williams for people from that short list. So the two questions I have are: Is there anybody else on that list who we would rather have than Mario? What are the chances that four other players join the big three to push Mario down to us?

Like most of you, I saw a lot of Green Bay games this year during the Brett Favre love affair (unlike the Teddy Bruschi stuff, I didn't mind because I'm a Favre Fan). I would go so far as to say that I don't think you need to say "aside from this year", because I think he coached well this season too. They had a lot go wrong with Injuries, etc., and they played tough in a lot of close games. Sure people would say in that many close games they should have won more of them if well coached, but I'm not sure how true this would be. Maybe this team could have done a few things different to be 6-10 instead of 4-12, but knowing the situations they had, they played to win, took some gambles, and lost a lot of close games. I think when you put this together with his previous seasons you can understand that Sherman coached well even during this last 4-12 season, but that personel, injuries, and bad luck worked against him and the Packers. On the topic of the thread, I'm very happy that the Bills seem to not be interested in a first time head coach. Obviously if you get a great coach you get a great coach, but I think all things considered, head coaching experience is an asset to a head coach, and that given the Bills recent history in particular, this is a very wise move in general, and even wiser when we look at the specifics of this potential coach.

What? Fall apart? Indy faced a good team playing their best football, and came out rusty, which many knew was a risk after so many weeks without a meaningful game plus a bye. And they rallied and started to take control of the game. Vaderjackt makes that kick 8 or 9 out of 10 times, and is the guy you want kicking it. Sometimes Jordan would miss a buzzer beater, and sometimes not. And I don't think the Bills fell apart in their super bowl years. They were not clearly the best team in any of those four Super Bowl years, and came up short in each obviously. But Norwood makes that kick maybe 50% of the time, so if that hypothetical coin comes up tails, everything is different. Maybe it is as a lifelong Bills / Red Sox fan (don't ask), but I've always been bothered by the idea that finishing second in a particular event at a particular time has to do with character. Try to be the best, and try to play your best game each time out. But don't turn into a head case when you either aren't the best, or things don't go your way. Indy will probably win it all next year, and we won't have to hear about this stuff. And like the 2004 Red Sox, I hope the Bills can give me one four game post season winning streak (3 if they get a bye) and erase the idea that losing those four games was anything other than not winning four particular games against four very good teams.

Guys, anybody who things this is not a great thing is off base. Not as great as it would have been to fire him Tuesday morning after the Miami loss, or the day after the season, or maybe even when he first moved to Holcomb, but still pretty great. We are talking about a guy who might be a decent coach in his second or third try if he gets a chance, but wasn't going to work out in Buffalo. His play calling was rediculous consistently, and as a former offensive coordinator this should have been his strength. He didn't have a clue how to handle young players (JPL and Willis) or veterans (Adams and Moulds), and was terrible in dealing with the media. I assume we will end up with Haslett, which I think will be an improvement, but there are other options that could be even better, but most importantly we closed the cycle of TD/MM, and can start fresh. As I've said in other discussions I would have loved to get Herm Edwards (even at that price and draft picks), and we can talk about the people we missed two years ago when MM was originally hired, but with Haslett and all the other options, I would rather have the best option Marv will be able to come up with as opposed to a lame duck MM. I was one of the people repeatedly calling for the heads of TD and MM (only the firings guys...you don't have to fear for your safety or rush your families out of Buffalo), and I am as happy as can be that they are both gone. I think that a fresh start is of value in itself, but I also think that whoever Marv brings in will be chosen in a way that he will work well and be molded by Marv. We have seen the darkest in Buffalo. Still have to find out if JPL is our future (I'm hoping 16 starts this year will give us a good hint), still have to get both lines in order, and still build a quality coaching staff around our new head coach. But I like Marv and Marv's hand picked coach a lot better than TD/MM.

Herm Edwards. I'd pay the $3M/year, and I'd give up a 4th round draft pick. Too bad MM didn't turn in his resignation earlier, or that could have been an option. Whether we get a better coach or not, this has benefits for the development of JPL, the chance of a return of a productive Moulds (I would like to see it), and Sam Adams because of the personal issues MM had. Additionally, it would be hard to get a coach that would be worse than MM, unless someone manages to throw to Shelton five times on four downs .

JP has a good chance of being fine, and I think he should have started 16 games this season, period. Played against Carolina and Tampa, but didn't get the experience in two starts against the Jets, and a couple other games which would have been easier for him to excel in. I'm really disappointed in Malurky for his decision making, especially the last week of the season, but since he is back I'm going to give him a pass on this one, and hope he makes more sense in 2006.

I didn't see the game, but boy was I glad to see 4 INTs for Holcomb. He is a backup, and I'm very disappointed that MM thought finishing 5-11 with so much playing time for a useless backup instead of a talented maybe-future has us in a bad place for next year. I know Ralph will keep MM around, so I had resigned myself to trying to start liking him, but boy does the Holcomb stuff make that hard. Losman has to be a complete bust forever for MM to not have been an idiot this year, and I'm really hoping Losman will not be a bust.

I wasn't that impressed with him. He failed to come off a block on a big OU touchdown before he left with the injury. Clearly he is big and strong, but I did not see quite as much as I was expecting in terms of agility and speed, and this is the college game. In the faster stronger NFL, I'm not sure he will be a force. But he clearly is big and hard to move, which would still be an asset if he can stay focused and healthy. I see him as being a notch below Ted Washington or Pat Williams, but clearly a useful player given the Bills D-Line problems. I would rather see a powerful athletic DE a little more than a tackle (in the Peppers/Bruce Smith mold, but obviously nobody that talented will be available), but Ngata could be a good first round pick for us. Hopefully the knee injury scares off people picking above us, and then never comes back again during his pro career. That is of course unless TD isn't fired and is able to find a 5'7" wide receiver (no offense Roscoe, I know you can have a great Bills future. It just wasn't the smartest move by our soon to be ex-GM given the total team needs).

And I don't want TD or any coach who would start KH over JPL at 5-10. If losing will Sunday will rid us of those two curses I might be happy with a loss. However, if Ralph Wilson thinks that a win Sunday is reason to keep those two idiots, then we are doomed until our next owner with more common sense takes over, and that failed judgment matters much more than the actual win or loss. Coaching and Front Office and Quarterback Controversies aside, it is always better to win than to lose. This isn't fantasy football, and losing breeds losers and winning breeds winners. While last week's win had a negative impact for the TD/MM/JPL/KH sitution, it had a positive impact by showing a bunch of Bills (Fletcher/McGee and many more) that they are capable of playing good football against a good team away from Erie County. I will always root for the Bills to win. But if not, it will be easy to find a silver lining in a loss.

I still can't believe this discussion is happening. We bet everything on JPL, then we shoot our selves in the foot for a no upside old guy who dumps down all the time, even on 4th and 9 with the game on the line. Maybe JPL is going to become a Favre, maybe he is going to become Tim Couch, but it frustrates me so much to watch TD and MM lead this Kelly Holcomb nightmare. I'd rather have Alex Van Pelt at starter...

Also, developing quarterbacks takes time and patience as people point out again and again. If JPL isn't our guy, then TD needs to be fired BEFORE JPL watches one play from the bench.

Holcomb gives us nothing...period. I like 6-10 more than 5-11, but it doesn't matter. The team would have to be much better to have any chance of making the playoffs with Holcomb at any point in the future. I'm not interested in what Kelly Holcomb brings to the table. We bet a lot on JPL, and we need to give that investment a chance to pay off. He should have taken every snap where he was not injured all season long, and MM is basically wrong every snap he put KH in. If we wanted to try to be a team with a KH type quarterback, pounding the ball on the ground and relying on defense, that decision should have been made last year, and we should have saved the 1st, 3rd, and 5th round picks we spent on JPL on three linemen or a tightend. I'm not ready to say that JPL is as big a bust as Mike Williams, and I think he can be good, but obviously the coach and front office are already decided. This team needs to rebuild to make the playoffs, and an upside quarterback is a big piece of that. Play to win on Sunday, but play to win with JPL.

??? Are you kidding? If we win against the Jets we finish 6-10. 10-6 might not have made the playoffs and there is no way (with our lines) that Holcomb would have made us four games better. We would have let another year pass and not done any of the rebuilding that we should have. We should have started JP, stayed with JP, and run the ball a lot more. I would rather go 6-10 under JP than 9-7 under Holcomb, because either way we aren't in the playoffs, but playing JP we have a chance to see if he can develop into something special. Holcomb is what he is and has no chance of developing into more. Nice game today, but it is like his playoff game against Pittsburgh a couple of years ago, a big day, but not signs of what can be expected regularly. What I'm most disappointed about is we are going to head into next year without enough reps for JPL, and without really knowing where we stand. I love the team winning, and gladly give up a couple spots in the draft to win on the road against a tough team, and give the guys who will be back next year a taste of winning and respect. But JPL should have had 16 starts this year. Then we would know if he can be what we think he can be, or if he is the next Rob Johnson. Instead we move into the off season with doubts.

Definitely better to have the higher pick all things being equal. But I like winning on the road against a tough opponent and having a lower pick better than rolling over, calling it quits for the season, just for a couple draft slots. The main issue is still not having TD making the calls wherever we pick.

Yep, winning means more in almost every case. Not sure what the difference in those slots will be, but we'll have to wait a while to find out. But this team is not going to get fixed by one top 5 pick. Better to get a top 5 GM to make something with the picks throughout the draft, and make good player moves. Let's get to 6-10 and start next year with a winning streak.

Professional baseball player. Maybe that's why I'm always an optimist in the game chat room, because I'm used to actually having my attitude matter in the outcome of the game . Never played a single snap of organized football though.

You can tell the difference between Herm Edwards and MM by watching one press conference for each, whether it follows a win or loss. The press conference itself doesn't matter, but it gives you a quick glance into the guy. Herm Edwards is a hard nosed, no excuse, no BS guy, and MM is the exact oposite. Herm would tighten up the ship, and get us into a run and defense team that would allow JPL to grow. I've watched Herm Edwards having winning teams and losing teams, and I've had nothing but respect for the guy each step of the way. Not saying he has to be the one, but the difference in mentality between him and MM is the reason we need a new head coach this off season.

Completely right on about this, and something that we fans sometimes miss. While losing a game can have its benefits (and we will end up losing some, don't worry), the attitude and experience matter. Playing like losers for three games instead of playing like winners for three games will have a much more negative impact on the 30 or so guys who will be back in 2006 than a spot or two in the draft will help. It would have been nice to lose to Carolina and get Peppers, but if instead we had won another game and picked 5th and not gotten Mike Williams? Green Bay went into last night's game 2-10 with "nothing to play for", but Favre showed that at 2-10 he is still a winner and a competitor, and that is what we need to get out of 2005 the best we can. I think the best way to do that is Fire TD and MM THIS VERY SECOND!!!! and replace them midweek. That would mean we are more in disarray, and probably get beaten even worse on Saturday with worse playcalling, but it would be a step towards winning, while keeping those two losers around is letting the whole team ferment in their stench for another three weeks. The high draft pick reality is a nice silver lining we can enjoy in three weeks, but anybody who isn't on the "Let's try to get to 5-9" bandwagon should probably look in the mirror and see if they have an "L" on their forehead (MM and TD first please).

High picks will only matter if TD isn't making them. I think we all know that, so unless we get the two Christmas gifts we all want (MM the other), the difference between 4th and 9th won't really impact the future of this franchise. Although losing to Carolina years ago for a Peppers for Mike Williams swap would have been nice, and I don't know that even TD would have been able to mess that up.

People keep mentioning 10.8mil as a lot of money, but we don't save that much by cutting EM do we? Our savings are less, and we lose a talented receiver. I would rather see him stay than give TD 5mil or so to spend the way he spends.

Depends who we pick. We could get another Mike Williams with TD calling the shots. I certainly like a high pick for one better player, but I also like the combined experience of winning for everybody on the team now. But for now, let's just take it a week at a time rooting for Buffalo and against NE, because a playoff scenario that involves this team (and run defense) winning at Devner (and that run offense) to become an 8-8 playoff team is a whole lot harder than last years "beat Pittsburgh scrubs at home and you are in". And we know how that worked last year. High pick or not, we have to get better on both sides of the trenches for 2006. Despite other changes, we should have Evans, JPL, Willis, and Roscoe all a year better, and get Spikes back, so this team can get good quick if TD has an accidental good year.

Don't get down on Willis. He isn't the best back, but he needs that attitude to become the best back, and he isn't far. The best back is hands down LT, the best player in football (despite the Michael Vick hype machine), and he only ran for 67 yards against the worst run D in football. Everybody has down days, and we should be very very happy to have Willis who is one of the best backs in the game. When we get our O-Line in shape sooner or later (off season) we will see just how dominating Willis can be.

Very true. And we came inches from having that touchback downed on the 1. But JP was much better than stats today, and I am encouraged. I must have missed the third fumble, but the first one was a bad decision of changing hands to run and changing back to throw, and the second one (the one that was lost), was a bad handoff, which I would put on Willis. The INT was just being a half second late on the release of what would have been a good decision and was a well thrown ball. I was a big Bledsoe fan, but I agree with SnakeOiler that if Bledsoe would have been out there today he would have had way more sacks before leaving with an injury.

I thought JP looked light years better than past games, and very promising. His throws were confident and on target (lots of drops). He made excellent decisions. Even his INT was not a bad decision, but just a half second late threading the needle with a bullet over the middle. He got away on plays where Bledoe, Holcomb, Kelly, or Reich would have gone down, looked great on that 30 yard run. The O-Line gave him very little time, and the game got out of hand, but I liked what I saw in terms of progress. He has a long way to go, but at 4-6 we can give him six games before we have to worry too much about the results. But given how thoroughly Buffalo was dominated in this game, I was very encouraged. Very tough road game against a very tough team (their four losses are all by a field goal against good teams), and he showed poise and talent as things crumbled around him.