folz

The only guys in recent years (that I can think of) that the Bills should have held onto are: Antoine Winfield Pat Williams Jabari Greer London Fletcher Jim Leonard (maybe not as your starting safety, but as a backup and ST player, the kid makes plays) Did I miss anyone? Other than that, I don't think any other former Bills playing for other teams would have been a big improvement over what we have had.

Agreed (that its a major disparity). And just to add more info, in 2008 he had a 59% comp pct. in 13 games with a poor Cinci team and a 56% comp. pct last year in 10 games with that horrid offense. But I really think with another year in the system, an entire offseason with Gailey, going in as the starter, the progress of our young receivers, and hopefully improvement across the O-line he can definitely crack 60%...I don't know how much higher he can go, but I want to see him get that chance. 17 QBs topped 60% comp. percentage this year, but only 6 QBs topped 65% (Manning, Brees, Brady, Rodgers, Rivers, and Jon Kitna)

I decided to compare Fitz's stats to the big three for 2011, just to see... Yes, I'm on a pro-Fitz kick, but no I'm not saying he is as good as these guys (or ever will be), just wanted to see how the stats compared. Fitz obviously only played 13 games, so I averaged his numbers out to 16 games and I included rushing yards since that is part of his game as well. ...................................................FITZ.................................Manning...........................Brees............................Brady Games....................................16 (prorated)............................16...................................16.................................16 Pass Attempts...............................542...................................679.................................658...............................492 Pass Completions..........................313...................................450.................................448...............................324 Completion Percentage.................57.8%...............................66.3%...............................68.1%...........................65.9% Total Yards (Pass & Rush).............4,005................................4,718..............................4,617............................3,930 Passing Yards...............................3,692................................4,700..............................4,620............................3,900 Yards Per Attempt..........................6.8....................................6.9..................................7.0................................7.9 Touchdown Passes.........................28.....................................33....................................33................................36 Interceptions.................................18......................................17....................................22.................................4 Total 1st downs (Pass&rush)..........202...................................255.................................237..............................199 Comp for 1st Downs.....................186....................................253.................................236..............................189 Rushing Yards...............................331......................................1...................................-2.................................30 If Fitz had the same number of attempts as Manning (with these numbers) he would have had 4,623 yds to Peyton's 4,700 (77 yards less or 5 yards less per game) and he would have had 35 TDs to Peyton's 33; INTs would go up however to 22 for Fitz compared to 17 for Peyton...I know that's all speculative, but its interesting nonetheless. Fitz's yards per attempt were similar to Manning and Brees and he had more total yards than Brady on the season (including rushing). The only major disparity is in completion percentage (8-10%) and TD/INT ratio versus Brady. Granted the big three didn't have career years this season (except for Brady's TD/INT%), but they also all had better offensive lines, more proven skill players, and have been in their offensive system for multiple years. Fitz's stats look pretty good to me for a guy with a lot less playing time and in his first year in a new system. If he can improve his completion % with a better O-line and more experience then we have a pretty good QB (I know a lot of you think he can't improve his accuracy, but I'm not so sure...not having to run for your life helps a lot). Not every team can have an elite QB; at any given time there are probably only 3-5 teams of 32 that have an elite QB. So, I'm happy we at least have Fitz and not another Trent Edwards, J.P., etc. I think Fitz can win in this league with the right pieces around him. What say you? Go Bills!

Time to own up to some of my preseason perceptions: 1. There is no way we have fewer wins than last year...I WAS WRONG I thought better coaching would overcome the 1st year coach/change in defense and thought everyone who was predicting 1-4 wins was crazy. And while I felt like the offense took a big step forward, the defense did take a big step back. But, I do feel the team is in much better shape than it was a year ago at this time, despite being wrong about the overall record. 2. Anyone but Fitzpatrick should be our QB...I WAS WRONG To anyone who was pro-Fitz at the beginning of the season, kudos to you. Fitz impressed me this year and I believe he absolutely should be the starter next year. We can still draft a QB if a guy we want is there, and groom him behind Fitz, but I want to see if Fitz can keep growing as a QB and this young team needs a leader like him at the helm. 3. Donte Whitner should not be starting...I WAS WRONG Come on guys admit it already, Donte had a great season. 140 tackles (96 solos), 1 INT, 1 FF, 1 FR. If we brought in a FA SS with those stats we'd be drooling all over him. Now, I don't think the team should overpay to bring him back, so he'll probably be gone, but the guy had a great year. Sure his tackles stats were padded because obviously the guys in front of him couldn't tackle, but, he was one of the few guys on our defense who brought it every week...he was hitting hard this year. 4. Switching to the 3-4 wouldn't set the team back this year...I WAS WRONG All of you who said we didn't have the right players to do it we're right. Although I knew we weren't strong at LB and I didn't like how many guys had to switch positions, I thought by the end of the year they could be solid...I was wrong. We need major upgrades at LB and DLine (except for Kyle, Moats, and maybe Poz, and Merriman--If he can play like his old self). And I'm not sold on Edwards as DC either. Well, we all know what went wrong this season, but since I'm always an optimist... WHAT WENT RIGHT: 1. I still think Chan is the right coach for this team. I like what I saw from him this year. 2. We finally have a capable QB...maybe not a superstar, but a guy who can move the chains. I still believe in Fitzmagic. 3. Stevie Johnson...I knew he was gonna be a player...had some drops down the stretch but will keep improving. 4. All of the WRs: Evans, Johnson, Parrish, Nelson, Jones, Naman, and Easley will be coming back. 5. Arthur Moats looks to be a player. 6. Kyle Williams is a beast. Now depending on how you want to go on D maybe you move him to DE, but you find a way to keep this guy on the field. 7. Team chemistry. I think everything went right in this department from Buddy on down...these guys have a good work ethic, gained a lot of confidence, became close through adversity, and will go to battle for their coach and the guy next to him (don't underestimate how important this is). 8. The coaches now know the players and Chan isn't afraid to dump dead weight or start young guys who are showing promise. 9. Experience. A lot of young guys got a lot of good game-time experience. As always, we need to focus on the lines this offseason. Even though its become a passing league, you still need to run and stop the run and we didn't do either well this year. We need to fix that D-line, add a LB or two, and figure out a way to get the offensive line to run block better (maybe leave Wood at center, bring in a real RT, and then decide if you need an upgrade at RG also). But I do still feel this team is on the upswing. And with a good draft and off-season this team could make real strides forward next year. Damn, I think these rose-colored glasses are crazy-glued to my head...oh well, Go Bills!

Wow, I'm really surprised how many fans are down on Fitz. Is it just the thought of probably not getting Luck and assuming Luck will be the next Peyton Manning? Or is it the two embarrassing losses to end the season (one of which Fitz didn't play in) that has people so down? Now this is coming from a guy who at the beginning of the season thought anyone but Fitz should be our QB. But I think Fitz should be our starter next year without question. This doesn't prevent us from drafting a QB to start to groom behind him, even a 1st round pick if the guy you want is there...but Fitz proved me wrong this year and got a lot of productivity out of a weak team with a shaky O-line. I don't care what the stats say, this offense was far superior to what we've seen the last few years. People say, sure he's a good leader and can read defenses and is aware in the pocket and has escapability and gets everyone lined up right and calls the blitzes and knows his hot reads...but he'll never be more than a backup. But that is exactly what the great QBs do...those are those intangibles that everyone talks about that separates the players from the busts. I don't know if Fitz is the long term answer, but I think this young team is best served by starting Fitz next year; the way young players blossomed under his leadership, the way he spread the ball around, the gunslinger attitude. Sure he threw some picks, but just as when Kelly or Brees or Manning or Favre would throw some, I always felt that Fitz could make up for it and still come back (it didn't always happen but I felt it could with him). (And no I'm not saying he's as good as those guys, but he has that same type of mentality.) And then add in the fact that we never had a RT, he played with 2 different centers, at the end of the season we were starting guys off the practice squads and/or street on the OL and he had receivers that were rookie FAs, plus a defense that couldn't stop the run which usually meant playing from behind and not getting as many opportunities cause the D couldn't get off the field. Oh and the fact that it was his first year in this system and he didn't even get the majority of the reps early on because of Trent. I felt like I watched a player grow into a solid starting QB with the potential to get better. Am I crazy? Didn't anyone else feel that despite the record and the way the season ended?

Great post! Why do we have to hate on our players...are we that jaded and gunshy? I root for the Bills (all of them--you dog one of us, you dog all of us ) and right now I'm happy with the progress I'm seeing. These guys are playing their guts out right now as a Team...shouldn't we have their backs as their fans? But no, we have to hate Lee or tear Stevie down just as he's coming into his own, refuse to admit when Whitner or Kelsey plays well...try to run guys out of town before they've had a chance to prove themselves. I like both Lee and Stevie and our WR position is all of a sudden looking like a position of strength (w/David, Donald, and Roscoe and Easley back next year). The more weapons, the more DCs have to worry about, the better for the whole team. Who cares who is getting the actual stats...it's working. And besides, the way Fitz is playing, everyone is going to get in on the action. Teams do have to worry about Stevie now, which will open things for Lee and David and Donald. This is a good thing guys.

What a great TEAM win today...Chan's and Fitz's leadership and the adversity of the 1st half of the season has brought these guys together...team chemistry is at a high and that can' be underestimated. The great Bills teams of the 90s had a ton of talent, but the fact that those guys had the chemistry that they did, like a family, and then of course their resiliency is what made them great. This current team obviously doesn't have all the talent it needs yet...but they have the chemistry, character, and heart and building on that is more important than any #1 pick. Also, Stevie has proven that you can't give up on young guys too soon. After the first couple of games, a lot of fans would have moved him to the bench and left him there...but this kid has taken his opportunity and is becoming a star in the making. And in the TEAM theme, he deflected all of the media praise in his post-game interview to Fitz (for those who have thought that he was an over celebrating ego). And I saw Aaron Maybin (not dressed for the game) on the sidelines, totally into the game, running up to congratulate his teammates, etc. You can see it in the highlights from the game (after I think the Wilson interception and elsewhere). So, he's a scratch on a 1-8 team, but he's not pouting, he's into the game and excited. This tells me that Chan has totaly won these guys over, everyone is buying in no matter what. But also, that Maybin isn't just some primadonna, he's a team guy. He may not be ready to play and may never be...but shouldn't the example of Kyle Williams, Stevie Johnson, Fitz, show us that maybe we shouldn't give up on guys too soon?...to that point Donte and Kelsey have been playing pretty well of late also. Anyhow, here's to hopin' that this team keeps a growin'. Go Bills!

Beyond a QB's physical tools, people always talk about does he have "IT"...there have been many debates about what "IT" is, but my take is that it is a combination of being able to read defenses well (a student of the game), pocket presence, good leadership, and competitiveness. Fitz seems to have all of those attributes...and this is coming from a guy who at the start of the season felt anyone could be our starting QB except for Fitz, who was a good career backup at best. But Fitz's competitiveness and never give up attitude has totally won me over. The great QBs in the NFL all had that fire, drive...competitiveness. Did you see Tom Brady on the sideline of the Pitt game, remember Jim Kelly. You can't rule a guy out just because he went to Harvard and was only a 7th round pick. And don't we as Bills fans have a root for the underdog mentality anyhow? So, I believe Fitz has shown that he has a lot of those QB intangibles...so, it comes down to does he have all of the physical (tangible) tools to do it. I have questioned this myself many times. Well, he's 6'2" and 225 lbs. The exact same size as Aaron Rodgers. Sure there are guys taller (the Mannings, Rivers), there are also guys shorter (Brees, Vick). He doesn't have the strongest arm in the league, but he isn't a noodle arm either. His balls have a lot of zip on them and he can throw the deep one too. That first throw to Evans on Sunday had lots of arm under it. Even the passes I thought he had trouble with last year, the deep outs, have almost become his bread and butter this year. At the combine: Fitzpatrick ran a 4.86 in the 40-yard dash had a 295-pound bench press and 415-pound squat and 325-pound power clean. Seems like he has some good physical tools. And now we (really the Bills) have 7 more games to see if he can not only keep up his good play, but also continue to learn and grow and get better. I think we'll all have a better idea after 7 more games if he could be the guy or not. But I know I'll be rooting like hell for him. I mean, Fitz coming on and playing well is only a positive for the team. It doesn't keep the Bills from drafting the QB of the future. If their guy is there you still take him and then groom him for a year or two under Fitz. But if you're guy isn't there, you're not pushed into reaching for someone else. If you do draft your QB of the future and after a season or two, Fitz is lighting it up, then you have the Brees/Rivers scenario and you trade one of them for good return. If Fitz is just keeping the seat warm for a season or two (not getting better), then you bring the young guy in and still have a very good backup. It's a win-win situation. Some Interesting Fitz tidbits Fitzpatrick is one of only four players to pass for over 300 yards in their NFL debut. The others were Otto Graham, Mark Rypien, and Peyton Manning. As is the case for most incoming NFL rookies, Fitzpatrick took the Wonderlic Test. A draft commentary on the NFL's official website reported that he made a perfect score, while setting a speed record by completing the exam in nine minutes. (It has since been said that his score was actually 48 or 49, but still) Fitzpatrick was recently tabbed as the 5th smartest professional athlete by the Sporting News.

As others have said, we need to wait to see what happens... I don't doubt that 0-7 Buffalo wasn't on Merriman's short list and when we claimed him, he might have had an oh crap moment...but, sometimes in life the thing we want the least turns out to be just what we needed. So, there are three scenarios: 1. Merriman doesn't want to be here and it stays that way and he uses the rest of this season as an audition for other teams. 2. Buffalo realizes that he truly isn't the player he was and doesn't even try to resign him 3. Merriman comes in, starts to bond with the guys on the team, likes the atmosphere at the Ralph and being a big fish in a small pond. Feels like Buddy and Chan are heading in the right direction and says, "Hey I'm only 26, I can wait a year or two for playoffs, etc. I want to be part of building this team (which will reprove myself to everyone) rather than just going to an already contender with a lot of star players." Hopefully he plays lights out and the third scenario happens and the Bills PAY him to stick around... but, we just have to wait and see. And if at the end of the season he doesn't want to stay, let him go. I'm a firm believer in only keeping players that WANT to be in Buffalo.

Granted, the Steelers LBs are worlds apart from ours...but, Gibson was inactive for the 1st 6 games of the year. Which says to me that the Steelers felt he wasn't ready to play yet (even in a back-up roll), i.e. he's a project. A college 'tweener' DE turning LB. Sometimes you have to give up some projects to make sure you're team on the field has the best tools available. So, obviously Gibson (despite how bad our LBs are) was not going to come in, learn a new system, and make a difference for us on the field this year. And to take him on as a project would mean dropping one of the projects we already have, who already knows the system and has been running the scout team. And if he wasn't going to make a difference this season, and you're unsure if he has the goods or not (no rookie is a guarantee), why not wait till the offseason to pick up guys that are your guys in free agency and the draft. Sure, if he turns out to be an All-Pro someday, we'll say, damn we could have had him...but the chances of that are the same as any other rookie, slim. Plus, there is no way the Steelers give up someone they think can be a stud no matter what the numbers say. He was obviously a player they were waiting to see if he could develop, doesn't mean he won't, but it wasn't a given that he will either. If the Bills FO liked him enough, he'd be on the team right now. It's not because they were asleep at the wheel, forgot their depends today, we're taking a nap, on vacation, etc. Can't we give these guys the benefit of the doubt once in a while...it's still early in their tenure.

Looked at a couple of Packers boards and most ranged from "A.J. is mediocre and we should make the trade" to "He's pretty decent against the run and we're thin at LB so we shouldn't trade him." But there were very few "No way should we trade A.J." And a few saying they'd be robbing us. So, I don't know if he's worth trading Marshawn for (if the rumors were to be true) unless picks were also involved. To be honest though, I don't know enough about him and his situation in GB. A few interesting tidbits I did pick up: A.J.'s house is up for sale (although we've been down that road before with other rumors) A.J.'s agent did announce that A.J. was open to a trade A.J.'s salary for next season is $10,000,000 so I think if he came the deal would have to be restructured Anyhow, I'm against trading Marshawn unless it is for a player who is a significant upgrade to one of our starters (preferably OL or OLB) or the draft pick(s) offered are too good to pass up. It's nice to have depth at at least one position on our team...especially after seeing Fred and Marshawn both go down in the preseason.

I understand the frustration, I too was disappointed last Sunday that we didn't win (or even look capable as an offense---except on 1 drive), I'm sick of losing too, but this is where you lost me... 1. We are not the worst team in the league (Did you see the Jets game <cough> Superbowl contenders?..I'm not saying the Jets are the worst team or worse than us, but they looked pretty pathetic on offense as well). 2. Everything is new, have some patience for it to come together. It was game one, with new coaches, new schemes, Chan's still trying to figure out who does what well, our LT still working his way back, it was C.J.'s first real game, action, we're a young team learning on the fly, etc. 3. This season isn't about a Superbowl run, it's about progression and development. I'll still be expecting and rooting to win each week and be hoping to make the playoffs...but we all knew going in that playoffs were unlikely, and yet, you never know if some magic can happen (look at the Jets last year). 4. I'll be expecting to see improvement each week. If by midseason they still look as anemic on O, then we'll have just cause to call for some heads. But don't let the past be your guide, let's see how it plays out. Can't we at least give the new guys more than one game before we're ready to run them out of town? 5. Did you see how many offenses struggled out of the gates in week one...a player recently said "Defense is easier, see ball, get ball". Most offenses take a couple of games to get rolling (not to say we'll be rolling, but one can hope) Am I still worried about our OL, QB, LBs, pass rush like the pessimists (or realists depending on your perspective)? Sure, but I still feel like this team is heading in the right direction and will get better as the season progresses. You're a Bills fan, toughen up, we've been through worse (a lot worse) and I do believe there is some light at the end of the tunnel, it's just a long tunnel that is going to take us a little while to pass through. If we end up with less than 6 wins this year, or are one of the 3 or 4 worst teams, I'll be right here to eat some crow, but I still don't think that's gonna happen. Let's at least see what happens against the Pack this week, before we give up on the season, players, coaches, huh?

A cold, winter afternoon in Western New York...dark, gray, with skeletal trees; A light flurry falling atop the mountains of snow already piled up on the edges of the parking lot; Beer-battered, rabid Bills fans bundled in red, white, and blue as far as the eye can see; The camaraderie swelling around the garbage can fires and grills as would-be footballers sprint down the rows of cars going out for a bomb; Van Miller's voice hanging faintly in the air from all directions as car radios tune in to the pregame show; And the electricity that can be palpably felt can mean only one thing... Buffalo Bills playoff football! Where would you rather be... I guess Senator's post made me a bit nostalgic...and a little homesick on the eve of opening day. I was at that game too...That team was amazing, a well-oiled, unstoppable machine that day. And now? Who knows, but, opening day is here, a new season, new hope, let's go out and squish some fish... and everyone going to the game tomorrow "Shout" twice as loud for all of us that can't be there! Go Bills!

Expect to Win!

I'm a bit nervous about the defense as well after the preseason, but I'm thinking we'll probably start the season a bit shaky and then get better as the year goes on, becoming a pretty good defense down the stretch. And I think I would call Byrd a game changer...he's only played one year, but the kid is no fluke. Love the post OP!

Shanahan is obviously a good coach, no question, and when we were interviewing him I would have been really happy had he been hired...but now, I don't know, I really feel like being spurned by the bigger names (although I really think Cowher was interested but couldn't accept due to his wife's illness) and then hiring Chan may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. I'm just going on my gut here, we'll see how it plays out...but it just feels like Chan was the right guy at the right time for this team. Not to say the others couldn't have turned things around, but Chan wants to be here, has just as much to prove as the players...there's no savior coming in to bail the players out, just a hard work, expect to win, us against the world, they don't believe in me either let's prove them wrong guy.

I had seen most of the highlight films before, but what struck me about C.J. rewatching these vids was not his Sanders/Sayers type of jukes, change of direction, etc. (which is what jumps out at you first), but his Thurman Thomas-like ability to not take the big hit. Watch the way he uses his body positioning, balance, and momentum to keep guys from getting a clean shot, or be able to wrap him up. Going into the draft people wondered if he could get yards in the NFL up the gut...I think he'll get them the same way TT did, with balance and body positioning making him elusive even in tight quarters.

Thanks Dog and Wonderbread...the veetle feed worked for me and I got the stream.

I tried this link last game as well with no success. Does anyone know if it doesn't work for MACs or if the vshare plugin doesn't work with MACs...I can't click he link on the page and can find no where to download it for free.

When is the last time we even saw a successful screen in a game? Or a successful slant? Or... Sure, its preseason, but it is already like night and day between Gailey and Jauron's OC stooges (no offensive to AVP). Did you see that hole on Spiller's 2nd TD...the OL did their job sure, but that's playcalling and formation that creates openings like that.

There have been some posters who say we need to go back to go forward, hit rock bottom first. But what they fail to realize is that last year WAS Rock Bottom...even though it didn't secure us the number 1 pick or anything (it did get us C.J. though)...but just listen to what the players had to say about last year. Last year was as bad and as painful as any 2-14 season (fired coaches, QB carousel, pathetic losses, injuries) . I don't think anyone is looking at the preseason and thinking we are going to all of a sudden tear up the league but it does seem like we are witnessing a team pulling itself up off the carpet and finally taking some forward steps rather than running on the sub-mediocre treadmill. And that is cause to get excited despite what our final record will be this year. If nothing else, this team will be more fun to watch...if I had to live through another 3-6 loss to Cleveland when their QB wins the game having completed like 1 of 17 passes or whatever it was...I might have had to shoot myself.

I wonder if that link or plugin doesn't work with Macs. I've tried with Firefox and IE, click on the download link and nothing happens. Tried to google the vshare download but can't find anywhere to download it for free.

What link are you guys on...I had nothing for a while and am now just getting a radio feed.

Good for Chan! Let's face it, heckling at a practice is ridiculous and what does it accomplish? I know we as Bills fans are disgruntled after the last 10 years, but seriously.. these guys were not complaining about throws or the play on the field, they were mocking his haircut, etc. I don't get why people personally attack our own players. You may think he shouldn't start or whatever, but why bash any of the guys personally? If Trent doesn't play well, I'll be right with you on saying he should be replaced but I won't be saying I hate the guy, or his mother, or make some stupid gay joke about him. This is our team for better or worse this year, why can't we support them until proven otherwise. Do you think Trent (or any other player) doesn't want to get better, or isn't working hard? How can you fault a guy for that...if he just doesn't have it, he won't be around long, but it wouldn't be his fault, its not like he's dogging it, or bashing the team, or fans, or city, or anything that should provoke such hatred towards the guy. And for those that think Trent should fight his own battles, have you seen what happens to players in the media if they yell back at or bash the fans? They get killed in the media and reprimanded by the NFL, players don't get much leeway there. I really like the team mentality, us versus the world, bash one of us bash all of us attitude that Chan is bringing to the team. There was also the article about the whole secondary visiting Byrd at the hospital. These guys are becoming a team, they're going to fight for eachother and that's great. Can't we start fighting for this team as well. When I talk about the Bills I always say we, us...maybe that makes me a loser, but that's how I feel. We can discuss who should start or not, who's playing well or not and why, who should stay on the team and who should go, but seriously to HATE any of our players and personally bash them is not being a fan of the TEAM. I know I'll probably get called a homer and Trent-lover for this post, so be it, but I'm not for or against any one player, if Brohm got named the starter, I'll root like hell for him, I don't think Fitz should start, but I'm rooting for him too...I'm for the Bills as a team and right now Trent is our starting QB, so until he's no longer on the team, I'll be rooting for him.

Shaky start on the first few plays: sack, bad pass... But then settled down nicely and played well. Wasn't shy or afraid with the ball, put the ball up for the receivers to go get. Threw a few nice, quick slants. Beautiful sideline pass to Chad Jackson for 26 yards. Overall, he didn't make a bunch of big plays or anything, but he managed the game, kept the chains moving, and looked pretty poised and confident.