BillsVet

Chan and Buddy judged Vince Young and Shawne Merriman before they played for real. Personnel decisions are being made even though the end result doesn't matter. And so, it's conceivable that a fan could be concerned as well despite not being a personnel evaluator.

You have to wonder what is too much to pay to have a chance to draft a top QB. Washington paid a steep price, but now have someone they view as the franchise guy. It seems like every rebuilding franchise tries to locate their guy at the outset. We'll see shortly if Buffalo made the right move and eschewed all options in the last 3 drafts. An outstanding QB is a force multiplier. I just wouldn't approach draft day hoping one falls, because that's just not happening in the modern era and there's always someone willing to move up to get one.

Donald Jones caught 23 passes for 231 yards in 2011. He had one big game (NE) and did not have 60 yards receiving in any other game. Hardly the big plays you reference, averaging 10 yards per reception.

I misunderstood. Thank you for the correction.

You're missing the point. It's a trend of decisions which haven't worked out, which, could be the result of interference at OBD as Simon mentioned. If it is Nix and the personnel people making the call on QB's, well, they're not doing well. Either way, Fitz remains the starter and needs to be more consistent for this team to be a playoff club.

It's not that simple, because there's a trend here. It's going with Edwards and then cutting him early in 2010. Then it was signing players like Thigpen and Young, only to cut them. And now they're using a draft pick (which Nix values like breaths of oxygen) to acquire Tarvaris Jackson. Furthermore, they haven't drafted anything and choose to stick with Fitzpatrick who led the NFL in INT's last season and has thrown 48 in his last 39 games. I think fans should be concerned Nix's eye for QB talent isn't that hot, especially with that big contract given to RF.

He was injured. The degree to which is not totally clear but it didn't keep him from playing. And it still wasn't enough to play TT.

If a team can't find an answer at the QB position, have they truly been rebuilt? First Gailey and Nix were wrong on Edwards as the starter. Then they had so much faith in Thigpen that he couldn't play when Fitz was supposedly hurt in the latter half of 2011. Now they're showing they aren't comfortable with VY. That's a lot of swing and misses on QB's in only 3 off-seasons and if RF struggles, they've proven they can't evaluate QB's.

Why then did Buffalo game plan for this "glorified practice." When the first team offense scores 3 TD's in 3 games something's wrong, pre-season or no pre-season.

He freed up others all night long by taking up blockers. And he serves as pro personnel recruitment director in the off-season, clearly making his signing worth it.

Is there a team in the NFL that upon hiring a new GM and/or HC doesn't go acquire someone they see as a franchise QB? Picking a QB is what typically defines a GM and HC, and the Bills made their choice with FItz. Ultimately I think it'll go down as their worst decision.

Only on a fan message board would someone defend a 7-18 for 89 yard first half performance.

From now on, I'm not blaming the 2002 through 2011 drafts on anyone but Tom Modrak. He is clearly OBD's version of Mush from A Bronx Tale.

I'm just waiting for that baby.

I gather you're not a fan of objectivity, correct?

Buddy apparently doesn't remember being the first team in NFL history to be up by 21 or more and lose by 21 points. Giving up 49 unanswered ought to help him remember the lights were out pretty quick in that game.

The LT position continues to evolve, particularly with teams placing an emphasis on passing the ball and rushers who possess great speed and quickness. The days of 6'5-6'7 330+ behemoths handling blind side duties are probably over. http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Is-the-Left-Tackle-position-evolving-in-the-NFL.html Glenn may be able to make up for less than stellar foot speed with his arm length, but he's not the prototype either. That's not to say Glenn can't be good, but he doesn't fit the mold.

If you're going to convert from a Tampa 2 to a 3-4 and don't staff it, what's the point of changing? Buffalo couldn't stop anyone with either defense from 2006-2011, and it only got worse from 2010 to 2011 in Nix and Gailey's first two seasons. It also stands to reason they'd commit to finding the most important pieces to the 3-4, the NT and OLB's. Instead, they miscast Kyle Williams as a NT, Chris Kelsay as an OLB, and signed the now departed Shawne Merriman to be the other OLB. Compare that to how Green Bay went from 40 to 30 front in 2008-09 (hiring Capers, drafting Raji and Matthews Jr.) or Pittsburgh upon hiring a former T2 DC in Tomlin. They either didn't change defenses, or drafted well to hasten the transition.

I disagree. Nix was the more adamant of the two that Buffalo switch to a 30 front. Gailey's no slouch and knew they needed an infusion of talent all over the field. Why would a team with 40 front personnel, albeit the DJ version, radically change their scheme at the beginning of a major rebuild? Even noted 3-4 disciple Bill Parcells moved to it over the course of 3 years, not attempting to do it in one off-season. Furthermore, Gailey has predominantly used 40 front defenses during his time as a HC, and his comments after his hiring indicate that to me: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/20/transition-to-3-4-defense-would-be-tough-for-bills/

In defense to Gailey, I think it was Nix's call to move to a 3-4. It's conceivable that Nix and Whaley's experience running the 3-4 defensively that led to the decision. And it being Gailey's first HC job since 1999, he probably didn't have room to argue. As for the talent evaluation, I think this team is making more mistakes re: starters versus backups than many want to admit.

I'll be here. And if they're 10-6 going into the playoffs, kudos to Nix, Gailey, and company. Should it be anything less than a playoff appearance, the excuses should be about over by now.

It only cost them 10M to find out and 2 defenses to figure it out. You pay a price changing players from 5 tech DE's into DT's, 34OLB's into 43 DE's, 34ILB's into MLB's, etc. Merriman was a casualty of changing defenses and simply not playing the RDE position. For all the Buddy love going on here, it's interesting to note that during his tenure as GM, Buffalo is 10-22, now on their second defense (and DC) not to mention some very questionable draft picks and free agent signings. Every GM makes mistakes, but some make more of them. Merriman is a microcosm of how football management is struggling to build this team 3 offseasons into their latest rebuilding.

Which goes with the point that Minnesota was doing more planning-wise. But it also demonstrates that when the regular season begins, teams are constantly looking for a weaknesses. Right now there are 4 guys in the back 7 on defense who are fairly untested or have question marks about them. I expect teams to look for ways to off-set the front 4 push and how Buffalo counters this will be very interesting to watch. Talent typically wins, but there are times when coaching has to provide the margin. I'm looking forward to see how Gailey and Wannstedt on their respective sides of the ball counter.

But he's wasn't re-signed to that large contract to simply be a game manager. Sure it's one pre-season game, but Fitz has 30 starts in Gailey's offense with receivers who he ought to be familiar with by now. Say what you will about him keeping them in games, but he has a penchant for turning it over when it hurts the most. The Giants game last season was a prime example, and there simply aren't many teams who get into the playoffs with a game manager type at QB. I think Gailey's reputation as a good offensive mind will be significantly tested this year. Furthermore, it took into the fourth game of the season last year before teams figured out Buffalo's offense. No matter how good the defense is, the offense needs to carry their weight.

Now here is the civility which has driven plenty of knowledgeable posters away. You can pat yourself on the back for being wrong more often than not, yet still have the audacity to keep coming back and acting like a total d-bag. Congratulations. This board is worse with you on it. Not every Bills fan has to be a massive homer to post here. Stay classy.