The Big Cat

Agreed. At a micro level, though, aside from the bonehead penalties, this is a team that fights tooth and nail to win on a week to week basis. I saw a lot of what I needed to see in Detroit, against Minny and even this past week. Our defense has continually stood tall and gotten the ball back for this offense (often to no avail) even when the chips were down. That's a HUGE change from most of what we've seen, dating back to the Jauron era.

Moreso, I'd actually contend that in TWO years, it's precisely what he's done for Buffalo. And next we're poised to make another step forward. I've actually wondered these past few days, as the company line on Marrone was how he was a "culture changer" whether his work in Buffalo is now complete?

What is this a critique of? There's no even playing field for acquiring talent at the college level. To lift a bad program to mediocrity is...something. I honestly don't know what else you might expect in only four years.

Syracuse was 10-37 in the four years prior to Marrone. Oregon was 37-11. Otherwise, the comparison is valid.

Wanna bet who Gronk isn't playing for next year?

what makes that scenario any less probable than pepper johnson benching hughes? Except when Bellichick hammers down individualism, he's a genius.

Since Pepper Johnson made the Hughes call...

I'm genuinely curious what you think our strengths are that should be exploited. I know Kelly will use this as an opportunity to say we should spread defenses more because he takes all those plays in a vacuum without consideration for the formations used to set that up...but I digress. Seriously, this talking point of "play calling that exposes our weaknesses" doesn't mean diddly unless there's a consensus on our strengths. More importantly though, if a receiver running free in single coverage is one of our "weaknesses," well, then...I don't know may be our players suck.

Hey, professional reporter, know what you do when you receive incorrect information? You !@#$ing verify it before you report it. That tweet may have pissed me off more than any of the Bills-bashing tripe he normally defaults to.

I like how we acknowledge Orton's willingness to stand in and take a shot in his first few appearances and say the reason he won't do that now...is because of coaching. I swear you guys are a toggle switch. May be...I don't know...he's not as willing to take shots like he did when he first started...because those shots !@#$ing hurt and that **** got old to a journeyman QB who's north of 30 and whom many questioned in July/August whether he even wanted to play football anymore. But no, seriously, blaming the coaches is a much simpler answer.

I think that's a load of crap. You think a guy with the kind of drive and determination like Tom Brady can get coached into timidity? How bout a guy like Big Ben? When you're a professional quarterback the ball is in YOUR hands. You control what happens on the field. Anything else is a lame excuse.

This level of expectation is ludicrous. You realize this, yes? You've just set the standard for offensive coaching success as preparing KYLE !@#$ING ORTON to be as clear, efficient, accurate and effective in his presnap reads...as Peyton !@#$ing Manning and Tom !@#$ing Brady. I mean...come on. Lets make this very, very simple. If a 10 year QB has a receiver running free in single coverage downfield, plenty of time to throw and he opts to check down to a blanketed receiver behind the line, who's to blame? The guy with the ball in his hand? Or the guy who designed a play that had an open receiver and an effective blocking scheme? How anybody can ague the latter, I'll never, ever understand.

And consistent. He consistently writes/posts/tweets about things that flow against the stream of fan happiness. This report included.

Wait...Rodak was wrong?

Having three LB's on the field played to our advantage... Also...

So you don't think when they switch on the film that someone says, hey, Kyle, throw the !@#$ing ball to the receivers in single coverage? I don't grasp this reality wherein plays are designed to get players open or in single coverage down field, the QB holds it and dumps to a guy covered standing five feet away from him...and we blame the coaches. The guy with the !@#$ing ball in his hands has to make a play. Period.

you do realize that everything you're contending is 100% bunk if WM was injured. and considering there's way more evidence to suggest so than ANYTHING you're arguing in favor of...

Oh Jesus. Thad liked to sling it. He also liked to fumble. But I'll take a slinger at this point, any day of the week (particularly when we're up against Rodgers who can/will score in the blink of an eye.) As for the slide play, it REALLY looks like Hogan screwed the pooch on that one. But Sammy's got to have some better improvisational awareness there. Let's hope he matures into that.

I'm on record--in the thick of Orton's blazing debut--as questioning how sustainable his performances were.

...but it wasn't. Welker caught it. At least Broncos fans know enough to blame their QB. Us? We're left having these stupid arguments because the QB's doing give anyone a chance. Guess what! Sometimes the defense screws up. Sometimes they commit penalties, sometimes they do like Aaron Williams on the play you mention. The only time they don't do those things is when they're NEVER challenged. We were SCREAMING for this at the bar on Sunday. And the tape shows--quite clearly--that receivers were put in a position to force the defense to make a play and nobody, our guys included, was asked to do a damn thing. Instead? Orton dumps it off to a blanketed receiver in the flat for a three yard loss. You can't POSSIBLY think the coaching staff is encouraging that...can you!?

A 10 year vet has to be told when and where he should or shouldn't throw the ball? Sounds like a ****ty QB to me! Yes, it's nice to be corrected, but the complete lack of replays certainly justifies the fans frustration. Also, Lee Smith wasn't wearing a helmet and some dude tried to head butt him.

I just don't understand your logic. So they're going to draw up plays which isolate single coverage deep, and those receivers are turning, looking for the ball, but you're convinced the coaching staff is encouraging the QB to...ignore them? It's clear as day on the tape. He's got guys running free, as has been the case all year. At some point, your QB has to have the sack to get it done. This blaming the coaches **** for the QB's being a kitty, it makes no sense to me. None.

White said what I've been saying for weeks: average ...AVERAGE... QB play would make all the difference.

Yet another explanation that relies on factors that are way more nuanced than something we all know to be true: our QB's suck.

If you remove the games he was a healthy scratch, ignore the plays he wasn't targeted, take out the plays when the pass was incomplete or a dump off, then only count his plays during regulation, he's averaging 80 yards and a touchdown every time he takes the field. I'm so !@#$ing done with this Mickey Mouse organization.