cale

I was glad Fine was reliable yesterday. But I just don't trust my instincts. The book on him is good, solid reliable player in college. But I wonder if we have been dying of thirst for so long that even just the tiniest drop of water is beginning to look like rain. He looked good to me. But ask me in 4-6 weeks. C

I hear ya...

I say we steal AJ Smith's filing cabinet come draft time. Who's with me?

I don't know - maybe. But to me this is just simple physics. Big mass + momentum should be able to push smaller and lighter objects out of the way. The thing that is so frustrating is that this OL should be able to go after anyone mano el mano and simply obliterate them. Thus far they can't seem to get out of their own way.

In all fairness to the above players, this staff doesn't let guys play until their level of play is a 2x4 against the HC's side of the head. I think almost everyone on this board saw how much better Jackson was than Anthony Thomas before the coaches said - hmm, maybe this guy *can* play. Jauron is loyal to a fault. That's why the guys love him. But I'm up for Ellis being in there more. Can't be any worse... C

Whaaaaattt? So you're saying Hardy would be *more* productive in a system that asks him to do *more*? When thus far he hasn't produced in a system that just asks him to go up and get the ball. Wow! Since when is Edwards rookie?

I know this board is bipolar or schizoid about Peter King. But read the MMQB article today about drafting for the future and winning now. Our front office/scouting has to come through on this. We waited 3 years for Eric Moulds. Bu in today's NFL in a small market team we just don't have that luxury: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...eek9/index.html C

Have you looked at Eddie Royal, De Sean Jackson and Donnie Avery's numbers recently?

The Bills OL needs to watch tape this week - of the Titans OL. See what a bunch of committed, full of heart not as talented but much more productive line looks like. Sean Kugler needs to earn his paycheck this week. C

This O-line have a bunch of phonies in it. I do think Butler & Walker are our best OL this year. But how a line this big can't create holes for our runners is beyond me. The coaches and players that have anything to do with this line should be embarrassed. But what galls me even more is that sometimes TE seems to have all day to throw back there. They are downright bipolar. But in those cases either TE can't find the open guy or the receivers can't shake coverage. Weird. C

For crying out loud, maybe it's just me, I don't think anyone here is saying Whitner can't play. He obviously has been a real leader on this team. But when you pick 8th, the guy IMHO has to be a game changer. Someone people game plan for, someone people take into account. That Raiders CB Asama-something is such a player. Haloti Ngata is such a player. Jay Cutler is such a player. Even Haynesworth is such a guy. Whitner IMO still needs to earn that and hasn't done anything on the field, that I if I were an OC would not be able to counter. He's a very good cover safety. Nothing more than that. Maybe that'll show in years to come. But his play isn't game changing. Further, that draft needs a context. We until we got Stroud this year needed a good DT. Ngata was such a guy. Because we got Whitner and passed on Ngata, we overcompensated and got McCargo while trading an extra pick. I think we need to factor that into the Whitner pick. DTs - especially blue chippers - are terribly hard to find. I would argue that we could have found a lesser talented safety either in the draft or thru FA who could have contributed adequately because someone like Ngata was collapsing pockets or stopping runners up front. A safety like Whitner is crucial to a Tampa Cover 2 system With his speed, I'm sure the Bills brass thought they needed him for that system. Fine. But please, let's stop this talk about how he was so worth that pick and that we *did* not reach. We did reach cause we needed *that* player for *this* system. It wasn't the best available player mantra at that point, it's that "we need someone like that and we don't do this now, there's no guarantee we'll find someone to fit" OK. I disagree with the decision. But I'm glad we have him just because I think he's a good guy and a good influence on his peers. I'd rather not he came at such a high price tag. But what the hell do I know. Now, this is the same FO that spent a high pick on a DB this year that they don't think they can trust to start when their starter CBs are out of commission. The guy is taking some time to learn his part. Same with the 2nd round WR Hardy. It's OK. I trust that the FO knows what they're doing. But in this league there's a balance between a guy's upside and what his immediate contribution can be. There are players like Eddie Royal and Chris Johnson from the Titans who are immediate contributors. So is DeSean Jackson. Defensive players are supposed to have an easier time. At some level, we're all Monday Morning Quarterbacking here on who we should have picked and whom we shouldn't have. That's fine. But just because I disagree with where we picked a player and why, doesn't make me an idiot. And please don't point to a toy newspaper's mid season review to justify your gripe. I'm glad we have Whitner. He's a very good player who is showing leadership qualities. Good for him. I'm awfully grateful we had Daryll Talley alongside Bruce. But we didn't have to spend a 1st rounder on Talley. So please could we stop anointing him as the next Ronnie Lott or John Lynch? I am of the opinion we reached for Donte and could have had him later. So what? Until he lays out a WR or RB cold as he's coming across his zone and that changes the tenor of the game and the opposing offense has to change the way they would normally go about their business, please, please can we just agree to disagree? C

Here's some insight. I don't know - for a vet minimum or something close with incentives maybe - I'd take a look: http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/309457 C

Easy there Oak. I wasn't saying Reed wasn't valuable. But he's almost a specialist type WR. He's a third down guy. That's all well and good. But we need someone who is a good counterfoil to Evans on a consistent basis. Ala Boldin in AZ for Fitz. I think Hardy might end up being that (please God). But right now he plays like a wimp. I think Jenkins and Johnson are possession type guys who if they get into a roll, could cause Ds headaches. I'm thinking kinda like how Jackson has become Lynch's lynchpin. C

You know I won't be surprised if they use him as an extra WR. He was pretty effective in one of the games that we used him in that capacity. was it JAX? C

Our receivers with the exception of Evans and possibly Reed have underperformed. I'm looking forward to what Jenkins and Johnson can do. I like how Jenkins plays except for the boneheaded ST gaffe in one of the games this year. But I really think Johnson can be something special. He was All Fisher this year. C

OMG - he's right

The Colts could have easily won the game yesterday. At 14-6 it's a field position game. I can understand the 4th and 1 try. The run was a smart call. Unfortunately the Colts OL was slow to pick up their blocks. But why would you go for it at 4th and 2 with a low percentage play. I would have even tried to draw the DL offsides and take the delay of game. The smart money there is to punt and have them drive the entire field. It was still 14 all at that point, at least I think it was...at worse it was 17-14 Titans. The Colts just played and coached bone headed last night. C

There things - stability,stability, stability...The same head coach since they moved here. Same defensive system. Practically the same offensive system for 5 years since Heimerdinger came back. Lots to be said for that. But more than anything the HC has some cajones. Also same OL scheme since what seems like the Stone Age...

I agree with most of your observations. We should have had that game yesterday. We were simply flat.

Over and over again we hear from the FO on how we need a TE who can block. I humbly submit that it's easier to find a pass catching TE and teach him to block than to find a TE who can block and teach him to catch. TE simply hasn't been a priority for the FO the last few years and it shows...Sure wish we had Courtney Anderson now... C

Lynch might be bigger, stronger and more talented. He also gives is all. But Fred Jackson for whatever reason hits the holes cleaner & gains more yards. I don't know why. Maybe he just fits the blocking scheme better. Regardless I'm glad the staff used him more yesterday. C

Too bad our D was on the bench sipping Gatorade and looking at the scoreboard...Maybe if they tackled and took their heads out their a**es we'd be at 6-0 - just like the Titans... I'm an Edwards guy - NOW - but c'mon for a Defensive leader to come out and say that...That's just scapegoating...

Per CNN http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/...ex.html?eref=T1 Holy Cr*p...This is way cool.

As good as Ryan was - I thought the real superstar in the game yesterday was Roddy White. He caught everything thrown his way. C

After playing us, he might feel like he can play 10 more seasons...