Tasker

"cancer" is not fair, since Chris was a hard working blue collar team player. I think Chris like Troy Vincent is a veteran that couldn't be just benched at the season's start, but that we are better off without him playing. And for Kelso's Helmet, your current lineup has Pennington cut completely? I definitely want to improve this line, but I don't think that means that Gandy, Preston, and Pennington need to ALL be replaced at once. Two of them are young with potential, and all three are playing new positions. We have six more weeks to see which of them is our biggest weakspot, and which of them is the most solid. I'm going to wait and withhold judgement, but I would love if one steps up and proves he deserves to play, one makes us feel we could go either way, and we can concentrate resource into one (or two) spots and not all three.

Happy!

Great game by JP, and more evidence that he has upside and can guide us to success. One game is not enough, but I think positive games like this really show that JP has the chance to have a very bright future in Buffalo.

I think he will be better in 2007 than 2006 and that his career is not over. I hope he stays with us and along with Fletcher is a tough veteran anchor to our young talented D. I am disappointed that he has not been a bigger impact this year, but having TKO, Fletcher, Crowell, and Ellison going into the offseason gives us the ability to focus elsewhere in the draft and free agency.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves. I'm very happy with the O-Line, and am rooting for Peters, Preston, and Pennington to all become pro-bowlers, and don't mine if Gandy and Fowler turn into solid veterans who can contribute. But if we can improve at any of those positions in the draft I hope we do. At best, I hope a game like today shows we don't have to panic draft and take the best perceived lineman available in the first round even if he isn't the best player (like the people who wanted us to take Justice this year). But let's not kid ourselves into thinking a good game means that these are the best five we can have out there in 2007 and there isn't reason or cause to try to improve at one or more of these positions.

No, instead of playing the Texans on the road, next week we play at home against a team that the Texans have beaten twice this year. But for now I'm just going to enjoy the win and the 4-6 for now. And get excited that whether he is a future HOFer or a future great QB or a future good QB or a future okay QB, I think we are getting closer to being able to trust JP with the keys for 2007, and can not waste any of our draft picks or free agent dollars on a starting QB. That's the #1 key to us being able to focus fully on the trenches and continuing to build this team into a winner.

I don't think you said anything personal, so no worries. I also don't think he will have a 1800 yard season, but I think it could happen, and I would hate to see it in a Patriots jersey or another team because we sold him low. I'm fine trading him for good value, or letting him walk for big money somewhere else, but only if it is the right move for our team. I think he is better than any value we would get for him right now. He might not be as good as some supporters think, but I think he is better than most people would say right now, including opposing GMs. Running back is a pretty replaceable position with a shorter lifespan, so if change happens that's fine. But right now I see us winning the Super Bowl with JP, Willis, Peters, Evans, Whitner, Simpson, McGee, Lindell, Moorman, Spikes, Crowell, Schoebel, and Fletcher (or as many of those guys as we can keep together as our core), and filling the rest of the roster around those guys.

Well, you should care whether we lose by 1 or 100 because it is a reflection of how the team is prepared to take on the next game. Everybody other than the 72 dolphins has to deal with losses, and having losses represent good football rather than bad football is important to getting to the next victory. Our secondary's performance was very encouraging. Our offense driving and not making mistakes was encouraging. Passing for under 100 yards and not protecting the quarterback was not encouraging. But the "no moral victories", "I don't care if we lose by 1 or 100" is the crap of a discouraged fan, not coaches and players who are building a bad football team into a good one. Winning games is the most important thing toward becoming a winning football team, but it is not the only thing. Hopefully our young team has gotten a lot out of the wins against Miami, Minnesota, and Green Bay, but I sure hope that they got something out of the other six games, because more and more is expected of them each game that passes, not just each victory that passes. There is a big difference between our Indy game and our Chicago game, and this represents progress and achievement for our Bills.

Way too soon for me to think about individual players, but the more of our resources we devote to a new QB the less we have to develop to our other needs. So those options have to be low cost (low picks or not big money) or really really probable to be an upgrade over JP. I'm going to stay on the JP bandwagon and hope we draft a guard, a tackle (unless Pennington shines), a big receiver and whatever other players can best help our team continue to develop.

I'm sorry if Ellison is hurt and can't play, but I'm very excited to see Ashton play. Obviously I haven't seen him on one practice snap, so I don't know if he is ready, but we know what Greer and Thomas are, and Ashton has a big upside. His playing is a 2007 move that could pay off in 2006 too (like Ko). I'd much rather see him a bunch this year rather than going into the off season with fingers crossed for next year (like McCargo).

I think that JP is showing the promise and progress that he will get the keys to the camper for next season too. I don't think this is decided yet, but is how I feel the next seven games will unfold. This off season can be about addressing other areas on the team especially the trenches and improving other positions where possible. But if JP stinks up the joint over the next seven games and it is clear we can do better with another option this winter, we make that move this off season instead of after 2007.

I'm right here. I think we are a better team. Last year we got crushed by a 4-12 Oakland team, lost to a very bad New Orleans team, beat a bad 4-12 Jets team and a terrible Texans team. So four of our games including two of our losses were against teams that picked in the top 6 (and the two worst teams). And only one of our losses (@New England, five points) was close. This year four of our losses are against New England, Chicago, and Indy, all Super Bowl top probables, and two of those were very close to wins, and three of our losses are a field goal or less. Last year through nine we had only played two games against teams that would make the playoffs. So putting up points and record and acting like they are proof we aren't better doesn't make sense to me. We are not good yet, and I'm disappointed with some aspects of our progress. Almost doesn't count, so I don't want to get too caught up on comparing two different bad teams and looking for silver linings. But this team is better than last year's team right now, and more important is younger and learning a new system, and poised to improve. And best of all we have a coach who knows what he is doing and how to keep this team on track, and won't put Holcomb in for the last two games.

Willis has not played to his potential. I don't think this makes him overrated, because I think he can explode at any time. He has been disappointing at times this season, but with the line we have and the lack of passing game, his job hasn't been easy, and he has taken the ball over and over and run hard. I think if the team gets better he could be a huge piece, and I wouldn't discard him now for a draft pick without seeing more from A-Train and having a backup plan. The last thing I want to do at this point is having to worry about RB during the draft or free agency. If A-Train is not viewed as a big drop off after a few more games and we think Willis will leave or cost too much when the contract is up, I'd consider trading him to get something back, but NOT because Willis is overrated. I'd rather he has his first 1800+ yard rushing season for us, and not watch him do it for someone else.

The question was not will we make the playoffs (it's not going to happen), but whether we had a chance. The answer is yes. If we win out and finish 10-6 we have a reasonable chance. 9-7 is a possibility but very unlikely. I am firmly focused on winning games to get on track for 2007, but knowing that anything can happen and staying optimistic or even dreaming is fine. Just as long as that doesn't impact being supportive of doing whatever is best for 2007, and not sacrificing development for 2006 hopes. I would like to see Youboty on the field, I am happy With Peters, Pennington, and Preston are playing, so we can start evaluating how each can fit into our O-Line plans. I'd like to see Nall move to #2 on the depth chart but continue to get zero snaps in actual games. I would like to see the ball in Roscoe's hands more often. I would like to see JP roll out, throw deep, have some fun, and turn into the Favre Jr that he can still become.

Right. I would have wanted Losman over Holcomb for both of those games, and that was the biggest problem. I always prefer winning to losing regardless of draft position (would have been nice to be higher and take Peppers, but it would have been cool to pick lower and have Mike Williams already taken).

I'm a Losman fan, but a Bills fan above that. But I don't think you look at Nall this season. Deciding JP isn't the one before the full season is too soon, and giving Nall snaps when you haven't decided on JP isn't the right thing. Nall needs to try to do something to move up to 2nd on the depth chart in the coach's eyes (the same eyes that see him take snaps in practice every day) before this discussion even makes sense. If after the season the decision is made that JP is not the guy, Nall can compete with whatever free agent signee or draft pick Marv and Dick think are better than JP, and may the best QB emerge. But my take is that all the RJ comparisons are way off base, and JP will be a pretty good to great QB, and by season's end we will decide that we want to entrust him with the 2007 season and make some kick ass acquisitions at other positions. He has shown all of the pieces individually and just needs to put them together. I think that experience and a good O-Line will make that easier. I look forward to a good game this weekend, progress through the rest of the season, and hopefully a QB good enough to at least stop focusing on who our next QB should be .

I have been suggesting for a while that getting him to use his mobility more after sticking in the pocket early in the season will be a key to his progress. I'm glad that they kept him in there earlier, because I think it will aid his progression on reads and learning the game. We don't want him to end up Vick (can't run like that anyway), and we don't want him to end up like Bledsoe. So I look forward to him evolving in these next games towrads something more similar to Favre, Elway, McNair. I think his mobility can be used first as a way to buy time to throw, not just gain yardage on the ground. But both hands on the ball and a hook slide before the linebacker gets there please JP.... I think the "if" vs "when" observation was funny too, but "when" can be used refer to the select instances where something happens out of many, and not necessarily implying that it will happen each time, so let's not read too much into it.

I can see a low round pick (and am not knowledgeable to make any comments on the talents of low round college guys) to fit in if someone we like is available. I can also see signing a veteran either to replace Holcomb as the backup or to take the reins from JP if that is the direction decided after 16 games. My hope right now is JP #1, Nall #2, late round diamond in the rough #3, and use all our high picks and free agent dollars for other aspects, specifically the O-Line. One of the nice things I see is that we have a lot of positions covered, and get McCargo and Youboty added in (I hope to see Ashton before the year is over), so hopefully we can address our O-line most agressively, and then look for other areas that can be improved one by one. If JP can progress and we don't have to go back to the drawing board, I think we can expect good things in year 2 of the Jauron system as the young core develops.

Winning is always better than losing. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise. Sometimes the top guys work out, sometimes they don't. Fifty gameday tastes of winning (maybe thirty of which will be with you the following year) is always worth more than a couple slots in the draft finger crossing funhouse. You can drop examples one way and examples the other way all over the place, which only go to show that winning is better. I'd probably rather have Brick instead of Dante, and definitely Peppers instead of Williams, but losing games will not help your team get better in the big picture...just too much benefit the experience of winning, and too much uncertainty in the draft order.

Please don't feed the troll. It makes these forums worse. I'm going to feed the troll just a little because I'm already here and he looks hungry, but I welcome people telling me not to, because I should know better. It is the nature of sports. The Red Sox were somehow supposed to be losers on the inside because they hadn't won, and didn't win an extra single game here or there in 67, 75, 86, etc. Then the White Sox. Too bad Scott Norwood missed the kick, but he did. Not a reflection on Buffalo, but just on the kick. Wouldn't have taken much to switch places with the Broncos in history, and it has nothing to do with Buffalo or Denver as cities. Right now Peyton and the Colts are those perma-losers (which they of course are not) while Brady and the Patriots are the super-champs. Results matter, but results are a reflection of the management era, financial considerations, and luck combined, more than the logo on the helmet. The Bills are in the midst (end, just out of?) a bad management era, while the Patriots are in the midst of an historically great one. Sometimes these things last a long time good (Phillies for decades, Cubs for decades bad, Celtics, Reds good), sometimes they last shorter times and teams go from bad eras to good eras (Colts?) or from good eras to bad eras (Bills?). But the biggest cause of team success or failure (ahead of luck or money or traditions or fans) is the ability for management to make good decisions facilitated by ownership. I don't think Marv Levy is the next Polian, (or that Jauron is as good as Belliceck) and I don't think Ralph is perfect at facilitating success without interference, so I think it is more likely that they will build a good team than a dynasty.

Being here in San Diego, we see a lot of Phillip Rivers, so I'm pretty familiar with both. I think Rivers is better than JP, and surely would have drafted him if he had fallen to the JP draft slot. But Rivers plays with a good line, the incredible LT, and the best tight end in the game. That makes for an easier situation. We need to follow the Colts a little more, even though JP is not Peyton. What got the Colts from 3-13 without Manning, to 3-13 in Manning's first year, to 13-3 in Manning's second year? JP this year (not a rookie, so not a fair comparison) compared to rookie Manning has a better completion percentage, yards per attempt, twice the attempts per INT, more 20+ passes per attempt, more 40+ passes per attempt, and a better passer rating. Manning's numbers went through the roof his second year as the Colts were a much better team (not sure which is the cart and which is the horse). I am still concerned with JP locking onto receivers, not reading pressure, but I think that his performance against Indy was good considering the line and the gameplan, and I think if he can start having some better pocket presence and using his mobility, he is in position to grow as a QB, and be able to have drastic improvements in results with a better line next year. I sure hope so, because I don't want to waste draft picks or free agent dollars on fixing the QB again, when we need work in the trenches more than anything.

I think most of what I'm going to say has been said already in this thread, but I want to agree with those who have said it and summerize what I think: 1) The #1 weakness on our team is our O-Line, which is one of the most important components of a winning team 2) There is no perfect script to building an O-Line, but what matters is the results - getting talented players who play well both individually and as a unit. The reason that Gallery is not a fix in Oakland and Mike Williams was not a fix in Buffalo is because they are not great football players NOT because they were high picks. Taking Orlando Pace early is a great move, taking Mike Williams early is not. Taking Petyon Manning early is a great move, taking Ryan Leaf early is not. I think upon closer study there might be some evidence (which I will not try to present here, I just think you MIGHT be able to make a case) that certain positions like O-Line are easier to get value on later in the draft, but the absolute most crucial thing is to get value, to get good players. Our attempts this off season were to focus on the D with our high draft picks and bigger free agent signings (Triplett and draft day 1), and on the O-Line with smaller deals and day 2 (Reyes, Fowler, Pennington, Butler) and largely ignore skill positions (I think a good move all things considered). I don't think that is a flawed strategy fundamentally and we should have flipped it around. But I do think we are not getting enough benefits from our line moves yet. Reyes isn't good enough to keep an out of position Gandy on the bench, Fowler is only okay, Pennington is an unknown, and Butler has played sparingly. Whether they come from high draft picks, low draft picks, trades, or free agents, the key is to get great players and coach them well. Sounds simple, but whoever is best at evaluating the options and doing the actual coaching is going to end up with advantage. My hope is that our young tackles can develop into excellent players (but if Pennington is not the guy we need to decide and replace him as well), we replace the guards with the best options available, and we wait and see with at center if there is room for improvement, or if Fowler is our best choice for now to add some stability.

I think the fact that we are starting two rookie safeties makes it harder to get him in, but I look forward to him being activated and seeing the field, even if in a backup role (let him cover Harrison if we are down 24-3). I think the kid has a bright future, and he hasn't missed more time than a bad ankle sprain, so I'd stop worrying about him being a bust.

I agree with the topic starter that JP has shown that he has the physical ability to make any throw, and that is a very encouraging ability if the rest of his game develops like we hope. I agree with those who have said that stellar should almost always be spelled correctly, especially when including in a sarcastic response that will almost definitely create some comebacks. I think that JP not rolling out and scrambling is very likely intentional by the coaching staff to help him learn the reads, etc. and not become a Michael Vick clone (since he can't run like Vick). But I think this pendulum has swung too far towards being stationary, and hopefully once they think he has progressed with his reads, they will encourage him to start using his mobility more when the situation calls for it. I think eight games is enough time for this transition back to happen and for him to start to evolve into the mobile quarterback he can be and not a Drew Bledsoe clone either.

Juaron decided that the first O-Line reshuffle wasn't working through most of a game, so he decided to reshuffle on the fly. Word is for next week we are going to draw names out of a hat before each quarter to keep the Colts guessing. Although we might start the 3rd quarter with the surprise line of McGee, Parrish, Whitner, Shaud Williams and Lee Evans for the small line that can really chop block (because they are already at knee level), and you should see how fast Roscoe can pull on runs to the right. Joking aside, I hope Pennington can develop into a great player, but if he does get replaced, this is very valuable experience for a backup future. On the sack where I saw him get beat, it wasn't blatent, and it was the kind of think that JP could have stepped up if Villareal hadn't collapsed so much. I thought Peters looked good, but it is hard to get the camera angles to really see what is going on consistenly (and I didn't have any Tivo breakdown opportunity). But check out the Bills Cam on bb.com for some different angles on things.