BillsVet

But do seasons of 2-5 wins really affect the franchise that negatively if you can promise hype and hope later? 2001 and 2010 were the first years of a rebuilding and everyone knew it. Didn't keep the fans from coming. And when it's clear a rebuilding plan didn't work, like by mid-season 2012, you reinvent yourself with a new HC, hype the GM in waiting, move some deck chairs around and just like that you're new. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I think casual fans happy to have a team just like having something new to point to. Brandon's delivering, and if that doesn't work, well, they can do something like get a QB.

We will see if Brandon truly wants to implement a more data driven decision operation versus scouts providing all input. Most likely it's somewhere in the middle. Nix meanwhile continues to stand out front and explain himself while Russ remains in the shadows As for the 2009 draft, I don't see Brandon being the one who orchestrated that. After all, by late 2009 he was admitting how the GM job was beyond him, prompting the Bills to promote Nix from within. He knew he was clearly not set up for success given that he had absolutely zero experience in personnel. Buffalo drafted for straight need in the 2009 and got some guys who filled those needs. They needed two guards badly, taking two of the highest ranked interior OL in Wood and Levitre. They needed help at safety, taking Byrd. They needed a DE and took Maybin. And given that the 2008 draft was dreadful, I think it was pure luck combined with drafting easier to fill positions like guard and safety in 2009 that made that year.

I still see Nix's remaining for the 2013 draft as part of Brandon's overall plan. It's not something some can wrap their arms around, but Nix will be the scapegoat when things inevitably aren't good this year. After all, the current GM owns this roster, hired the previous coach, went with the now released QB and now they're moving on from him. Nix does more for Brandon hanging around than he would be gone. Strange as it may seem, that's the modus operandi I see taking place.

Brandon is very adept at selling this franchise to the fans. He realizes it'll take more to sell it to a new HC, which he apparently did with Marrone. How much analytics is driving decision making is clearly debatable at this point because it's so early. It's good to have more data, but who is analyzing it right now is highly questionable.

The Patriots didn't want Welker, knowing that players at positions like WR which require speed and quickness are wont to break down after 30-31 years old. Belicheck and Floyd Reese decided retaining him at his price was not the most value added decision and let him sign elsewhere. They then signed a lesser known and younger player who they believe can adequately replace Welker's production.

He can manhandle Winston Justice with a good wrist. 7 of his 10.5 sacks this season came against IND, STL, JAX and AZ. Buffalo needs better production in key moments from their best known player.

You're extremely adept at conflating the argument. All GM's make mistakes on draft day, but some are worse and as such have teams that reflect this. Is Nix equal to an Ozzie Newsome, Jerry Reese, Ted Thompson, Kevin Colbert, Thomas Dimitroff, John Schneider or Trent Baalke? No, and yet those men have all made mistakes on draft day.

Nix was southeast regional scout from 93-00. Not sure he worked much for Polian. Whaley's an unknown despite what some want to say. He may turn out to be a Jerry Reese type or not, but assigning credibility is something people with little to hang their hat on do. I understand that, but it's clear that Nix couldn't get it done and they're undoing what he did from 2010-12. I do often wonder why Whaley left a successful franchise where he admittedly wasn't going to be GM for a GM apprentice job in Buffalo for someone who isn't the talent evaluator many fans claimed.

It's collusion this year if teams still operated like the Cowboys and Niners did circa 1995. Teams have come a long way with the cap and have adjusted accordingly to the point of not handing out all the big contracts and, when doing so, spreading the hit out a more evenly.

I am continually amazed at how short memories are on this board. Seems like after the Lombardi is awarded people magically forget what prevents this franchise from becoming even average. Sure, the defense was completely putrid in 2012. Yet it's the QB play most responsible for Buffalo remaining anchored at the division basement. How many game-ending turnovers does Buffalo's QB have to make before we remember why they are 16-32 in their past 3 seasons?

We have not yet begun to dumpster dive yet. Not even close. Buddy found Kraig Urbik AND Erik Pears AND Shawne Merriman. Why have people lost faith already?

31 other NFL teams allowed him to languish on a practice squad pretty much all of last year rather than add him to their 53 man roster. I think Easley is what he is: a fringe NFL player. Any team needs 3 viable receiving threats. Buffalo has 1. Maybe they're planning on going wish bone this season.

Nix couldn't figure out that three years of tape on Ryan Fitzpatrick should predict his future ceiling, not 3 games. He's not a savvy man. Not on who to re-sign or who to draft. His claim to fame is not completely missing in the first round and perhaps his skill at dumpster diving on the UDFA and waiver wire given the likes of Erik Pears and Kraig Urbik. Aside from that he's a half-step up from his two predecessors who weren't personnel guys, one of whom is now his boss.

Colon blows.

They're trying to win now to help renovate an aging stadium. In WNY you sign Mario, trust in Buddy, hope to win, inevitably lose, and still wait for the check despite the results.

No one should care about Asper save for one point. The current team is not stacked with talent at positions despite what Brandon said in January. And so, when you take a guy in the 6th round who you like in the early part of the year only to cut him in August, it speaks to the point the personnel team isn't on the same page. And given the lack of a vision advanced by the cell phone challenged GM, I should think this really isn't surprising.

I would agree turnovers can partially be aided by scheme and thus coaching. But as far as QBR is concerned, teams were beating this team running the ball all season long. I chalk that up to a lack of personnel and less on coaching. Of course Wannstedt was completely inept, but his LB play was pretty awful too. Right now we know that Pettine is an improvement, based on the past few years, over his predecessor. Marrone/Hackett are something of unknowns but people hope they're better than Gailey. .

And the the 2013 regular season might well resemble Gailey's first in 2010. People aren't buying Nix anymore. And someone dares compare Ozzie Newsome who built or helped build 2 SB winners to Buddy Nix. Whoa.

Good coaching can cover up some personnel flaws, but it'll never completely do so. It doesn't make up for poor QB play, not protecting the QB, not having receivers, not getting a pass rush, not making tackles, and not creating turnovers. Marrone is still in the honeymoon phase of his tenure. Pettine is a proven DC with a good track record (unlike his 2 predecessors) and the OC we're told is an offensive prodigy (we'll see). Still, the HC and his staff cannot make up for bad drafting, which has been a hallmark of this organization for years.

Can Marrone still play guard? If so, it'll allow them address the other 5-7 positions that need starters and depth.

Draft Chance Warmack. Hopefully the Chiefs don't take him #1 and he falls to us.

Yep. Scheme versatility is something good DC's are looking for. NE drafts for it, and so should Buffalo. Pettine is the first coordinator in years I've got some faith in.

It's pretty well-known when a team contacts a player to re-sign. And typically you try to get the player under contract before the current deal is expiring, which it appears the Bills didn't do with Levitre in 2011/early 2012. I don't recall the Bills attempting to get him under contract last year, which speaks to the GM's plan. He's looking for guys who can win in the phone booth, not be mobile like other teams want in their OL. Now they can insert player A who weighs 325-335 who fits the Nix mold.

I would love to know why did the Bills not fire Buddy Nix when it became clear they had flamed out in 2012? Did they need more evidence his plan failed? Given the nature of this franchise and their almost iron-curtain like lock on information they may have retained Nix to avoid further embarrassment. Which plausible reason does anyone provide for having the guy who failed in his first rebuild hang around for the second? That he has info on RW? Sure. Smithers won't be taken seriously until Nix is gone. And as always, they're late doing that because the franchise is concerned about how things look.

Sad that it'll probably take another year to learn this. Meanwhile, buy your season tickets for 2013. Wonder what the slogan will be this year? Change is good, even when it's the same.