Nix and Cornell Green

[mike oxhurtz]

http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2010/9/13/1687344/bills-gm-nix-not-satisfied-with

[DanInUticaTampa]

I agree with you that there was no way Nix could fill all our holes in one offseason, let alone one draft. But that said, the two needs I considered most important going into that draft were QB and OL. Clearly, Nix did almost nothing to address either of those needs.

 

But that doesn't make him a bad GM. It's rare to find a good LT outside of round 1. There were no LTs worthy of being chosen 9th overall. Clausen didn't go until the middle of the second round, so picking him 9th overall would have been a mistake as well. As much as I was annoyed by the idea of going with a RB over a LT or QB in the first round, I can see where the players available would indicate that kind of decision.

 

At least early on, Nix seems to have gotten good value from his overall collection of draft picks, and from his more important free agent signings (except Cornell Green). If he continues with that track record, then sooner or later this team will be rebuilt, and we'll have the holes at QB and OL fixed.

 

 

I pretty much agree with everything here. RT and QB positions are going to need an upgrade, and we definently need line depth. And depending on how bell turns out, we will probably need an LT as well. I think Bell showed enough improvement in this last game that there is a chance by the end of the season, he will be a solid LT. But it is way too soon to say we don't need a starting LT. RT though.... that is an obvious, must have, need.

[thewildrabbit]

I agree with you that there was no way Nix could fill all our holes in one offseason, let alone one draft. But that said, the two needs I considered most important going into that draft were QB and OL. Clearly, Nix did almost nothing to address either of those needs.

 

But that doesn't make him a bad GM. It's rare to find a good LT outside of round 1. There were no LTs worthy of being chosen 9th overall. Clausen didn't go until the middle of the second round, so picking him 9th overall would have been a mistake as well. As much as I was annoyed by the idea of going with a RB over a LT or QB in the first round, I can see where the players available would indicate that kind of decision.

 

At least early on, Nix seems to have gotten good value from his overall collection of draft picks, and from his more important free agent signings (except Cornell Green). If he continues with that track record, then sooner or later this team will be rebuilt, and we'll have the holes at QB and OL fixed.

 

Clearly anyone with a brain could look at last years team and realize the weakest areas of the team were offensive line and run defense, more specifically both tackles and OLB

 

I can only imagine that Chan Gailey fed Nix the same crap that he fed us fans in stating that "" a good RB can make the O line better"" We all witnessed Sunday that statement was complete and utter BS, the only thing that will make that Bills O line better is two tackles.

 

Nix probably watched Sundays game and realized it was a mistake to sign Green and now he needs to upgrade that RT position asap. Still, it troubles me though knowing that Nix thought the team could get by with Bell and Green

[Koufax]

Nix has improved the roster, it's hard to argue with that. But how do you go into the season with only 4 capable linemen? I know you can't rebuild overnight - but you need to do whatever needs to be done to get a serviceable RT. Green is not capable of playing the position. Folks, it's a fact, you don't need to work in an NFL front office to see it. HE CANNOT PLAY. Get someone else in there now and stop messing around.

 

I don't fault Buddy too far on this, because I have not seen Green play enough, or over his recent seasons, and don't really know how he compares to starting Meredith, etc.

 

He clearly seems like a week link, and I hope we find a way to get him out of the lineup soon THIS SEASON. I know Buddy is definitely thinking about that and trying to find a way. I can't imagine Wang or Meredith or Ubrick would be worse, and I think the Bills will make an adjustment here very soon.

 

The Butler situation is definitely what caused this issue, and I don't think Cornell was a terrible signing given the circumstances unless this level of sucking is what really should have been expected. But they have to admit their error and get Cornell down the depth chart or off the team pretty soon.

[KOKBILLS]

 

 

You guys have lived in N.Y. way to long you've got to start looking for the silver lining instead of doom & gloom all the time . LIGHTEN UP !!

 

 

I crack up when I read stuff like this...

 

You don't think the attitude has anything to do with a decade of ineptitude do ya?

 

Lighten up...Sure...

[mattsox]

So true. Lets look at Nixs record so far:

Cornell Green-worst free agent signing in years

Spiller- luxury pick we couldnt afford, already had 2 starters + Bell

QB-Does nothing to upgrade worst QB in NFL and hated by fans, not respected by the players

OT- Does nothing, besides Cornhole, to improve position, actually by cutting Scott made it worse

OLB-no improvement, Kelsay? Really?

Nix made this team worse his first year.

If we started a poll on this board to determine our draft, free agents and cuts i think we'd do a better job than Nix, cant do any worse.

 

Yep, great organization all the way through. Gotta love having a 70 yr old GM. Getter Done!!!

[JohnC]

Being a Bills fan is not for the faint of heart. Anyone who doesn't realize that the rebuilding process is a multi-year process is in for a depressing surprise. There are no quick and magical fixes. It is going to take time. Over a period of three years this roster will turn over by 75%.

 

I never liked the Cornell Green signing. It didn't make sense to bring in a lower tier OT and pay him as a starter. But to be fair to Nix there were few adequate OTs available on the market. A number of people (including me) have cited Jamaal Brown as a viable option. The Saints were willing to trade him for a third round pick. Although JB would seem like an appealing addition to a woeful line there are reasons why our front office needed to be cautious. For one reason, he has an injury history. His hip is still causing him problems. In addition, his contract is up after this year making him a potential one year player. Why give up a relatively high pick for a one year replacement player?

 

What this historically disheveled organization needs more than anything is a stable front office and staff which make sound personnel decisions that will benefit the team in the long run. Making expedient personnel moves to address problems in the short-term while damaging the long term prospects is like prospecting for fools gold. It simply doesn't work.

 

Drafting well and steadily improving the roster when an opportunity materializes, such as the Ubrick pickup, is the right course for Nix to take. The fan frustration level is going to increase. The number of empty seats at the Ralph will increase as the season advances and the losses mount. Nix has been around a long time and has worked with people (Polian, Butler/A.J. Smith) who know how to build a franchise. Nix knows that the only way to turn this archaic franchise around is to add talent to this very depleted roster. Whether one likes it or not it is going to take time.

[Sisyphean Bills]

http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/freeagents/fa.php?option=OL&y=2010

 

Seems like there were a few free agent lineman.

 

Beggars shouldn't put on elitist airs.

[Thurman#1]

How does the Cornell Green signing impact your opinion of Buddy Nix?

 

Cornell is making $3 million per year (including roster bonuses) yet no other team showed interest and the Raiders were eager to replace him. He's 34 years old and is not getting any better. This is a terrible decision in terms of the quality of the player and the financial impact to the team.

 

He is clearly much worse than Jonathan Scott, who we could have retained for an $850K tender. More amazingly, he is the worst player on an offensive line that was already the worst in football.

 

The Nix devotees on this board need to take this colossal personnel failure into account when talking about how this guy is going to rebuild the roster.

 

 

 

Wait, you're saying that he's not perfect. I'm shocked.

[John from Riverside]

Nix has also done some things this offseason I would call smart moves.....do I slam him for one of the few wrong ones he has made?

[Thurman#1]

So true. Lets look at Nixs record so far:

Cornell Green-worst free agent signing in years

Spiller- luxury pick we couldnt afford, already had 2 starters + Bell

QB-Does nothing to upgrade worst QB in NFL and hated by fans, not respected by the players

OT- Does nothing, besides Cornhole, to improve position, actually by cutting Scott made it worse

OLB-no improvement, Kelsay? Really?

Nix made this team worse his first year.

If we started a poll on this board to determine our draft, free agents and cuts i think we'd do a better job than Nix, cant do any worse.

 

 

 

He made the team worse in his first year? Yeah, maybe.

 

But you've missed the point. His first year isn't important. The first year in a rebuild almost always sucks, particularly if systems get switched. That's what happens in a rebuild. And while many here wanted to pretend that we were going to be good this year, it sure didn't look that way to folks across the country, or to realistic Bills fans. Only a minority of folks took this year seriously. Apparently you were one of them? If so, your busted expectations are partly your own fault.

 

The important years in a rebuild are the third and fourth years. And while there's no way of proving that the moves he made this year will make us better three years from now, I think they do. We've got several young guys playing part-time and we brought in a number of guys who have the correct physiques and qualifications to play well in the 3 - 4.

 

More amazingly, he is the worst player on an offensive line that was already the worst in football. Point well made. But I have to say Green Bay line almost as bad as ours...

 

 

Not even close. They look bad because Rodgers holds the ball a long long time. But they're an average line.

 

PFF had the Green Bay linemen ranked well above ours last year, far above them, with the exception of Butler, but no use evaluating him, obviously.

Edited September 14, 2010 by Thurman#1

[Thurman#1]

http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/freeagents/fa.php?option=OL&y=2010

 

Seems like there were a few free agent lineman.

 

Beggars shouldn't put on elitist airs.

 

 

 

Free agent linemen, yes!

 

Free agents who did NOT RESIGN with their own teams? Um, much fewer.

 

GOOD free agents who did not resign with their own teams? Quite a lot fewer.

 

Good free agent RTs or LTs who did not resign with their own teams? Few.

 

Good YOUNG free agent RTs or LTs who did not resign with their own teams. Very few.

 

Hey, Brad Butler is on that list, and he fills all my qualifications. We should pick him up.

Edited September 14, 2010 by Thurman#1

[JPS]

GG and Sisyphean,

 

You both make good points. I think the switch had more to do with the success of 3-4s in the division and the bonus of practicing against it if you run it. Gailey said as much. You're going to have to show me where he said the switch was personnel based, because I don't remember that.

 

My point with guys like Kelsay and Stroud is: They suck, but they are well paid. Since they're going to get paid anyway, why not try them elsewhere and see if they suck less. If they work out,then great. If not, Carrington and the newly drafted rookie will play next year. Maybe Carrington is not strong enough. Maybe Maybin has issues too. I think it's a lot more complex than to say after 1 game, "he sucks, play the young guy". You will see youth served, just not all at the same time in the 1st 3rd of the season.

[Green Lightning]

I love this thread! All the p*ssers and moaners, hand wringers and "woe is us" folks all in one place. You guys follow each other around and dress alike? Jeez, a bad stop gap player, you're right, Nix and Gailey gotta go.....they shoulda brought in an elite LT and QB and some stud linebackers. The idiots...why didn't they just ask TSW.

[Sisyphean Bills]

Free agent linemen, yes!

 

Free agents who did NOT RESIGN with their own teams? Um, much fewer.

 

GOOD free agents who did not resign with their own teams? Quite a lot fewer.

 

Good free agent RTs or LTs who did not resign with their own teams? Few.

 

Good YOUNG free agent RTs or LTs who did not resign with their own teams. Very few.

 

Hey, Brad Butler is on that list, and he fills all my qualifications. We should pick him up.

I'm going to dub this the "Sitting There With Your Thumb Up Your Ass" argument.

 

How many great, young lineman become available in free agency? Very, very few and the reason for that is patently obvious.

 

How many great, young lineman want to come to Buffalo? Let's just say zero for simplicity's sake. Again, for obvious reasons.

 

So, the franchise builder's strategy is sit there with your thumb up your butt until such time as a good, young lineman is available and wants to play in Buffalo? Why? Because there is no other way to get better than to jump on the next Steve Hutchinson that comes available? [Answer: I think the truth is exactly as Nix said in a press conference; he doesn't believe in paying another guy's players. His philosophy is to build through the draft.]

 

That doesn't really explain why they went out and overpaid for a terrible, journeyman RT who's still not "developed".

 

FWIW, the argument that the Bills couldn't find anyone better than Green may be true. But, that's pretty damn sad on many levels.

Edited September 14, 2010 by Sisyphean Bills

[Orton's Arm]

He made the team worse in his first year? Yeah, maybe.

 

But you've missed the point. His first year isn't important. The first year in a rebuild almost always sucks, particularly if systems get switched. That's what happens in a rebuild. And while many here wanted to pretend that we were going to be good this year, it sure didn't look that way to folks across the country, or to realistic Bills fans. Only a minority of folks took this year seriously. Apparently you were one of them? If so, your busted expectations are partly your own fault.

 

The important years in a rebuild are the third and fourth years. And while there's no way of proving that the moves he made this year will make us better three years from now, I think they do. We've got several young guys playing part-time and we brought in a number of guys who have the correct physiques and qualifications to play well in the 3 - 4.

Well said!

 

The first question you have to ask with a rebuilding effort is this: did we lose anyone who could help us significantly three or four years down the line? Brad Butler retired, but Nix can hardly be blamed for Butler's decision to abandon football in favor of politics. Aaron Schobel and Terrell Owens were aging players nearing retirement. Very unlikely to be useful in 2013. Whatever young players we may have lost seem like backup quality at best.

 

The next question you have to ask is, did we gain anyone who can help us significantly three or four years down the line? The answer there is yes as well: Spiller, Troupe, other draft picks, and some free agent signings.

 

The third question you have to ask is, are we gaining new talent at a fast enough pace for the rebuilding effort to succeed? Every team in the NFL is always losing talent due to retirements, career-ending injuries, aging players not playing as well as they once did, etc. A strategy of "add one good player a year for the next 22 years" won't get you 22 good starters, because the starters you acquired in the early years of that plan will be retired long before year 22.

 

At least this early in Nix's tenure, it's difficult to determine whether the pace of talent acquisition is fast enough. But at least thus far, the pace of talent acquisition seems pretty good.

[GR8PRKN]

I love reading this board, you got to be kidding. He forgot more about football than 50 posters on this board combined and you want US run the team?

Unbilleivable You don't read the board if you think that.

 

Yep!! He has forgotten more than I will ever understand, I dont like Green but we needed a stop gap Wang hopefully will be that guy...

 

Well said!

 

The first question you have to ask with a rebuilding effort is this: did we lose anyone who could help us significantly three or four years down the line? Brad Butler retired, but Nix can hardly be blamed for Butler's decision to abandon football in favor of politics. Aaron Schobel and Terrell Owens were aging players nearing retirement. Very unlikely to be useful in 2013. Whatever young players we may have lost seem like backup quality at best.

 

The next question you have to ask is, did we gain anyone who can help us significantly three or four years down the line? The answer there is yes as well: Spiller, Troupe, other draft picks, and some free agent signings.

 

The third question you have to ask is, are we gaining new talent at a fast enough pace for the rebuilding effort to succeed? Every team in the NFL is always losing talent due to retirements, career-ending injuries, aging players not playing as well as they once did, etc. A strategy of "add one good player a year for the next 22 years" won't get you 22 good starters, because the starters you acquired in the early years of that plan will be retired long before year 22.

 

At least this early in Nix's tenure, it's difficult to determine whether the pace of talent acquisition is fast enough. But at least thus far, the pace of talent acquisition seems pretty good.

 

Totally agree!!! Teams are not made in one year... As Nix said He started in January, He is moving forward from that date.... So lets see how it goes 2 of our draft picks are on IR already the team can not get thoose picks back...

[T master]

And so far, their method to improve the team have come by scouring the waiver wires and practice squads of other teams. Yet, we haven't seen those guys cracking the lineup other than in emergency situations. Is Cornell Green really that much better than Jamon Meredith? Yes, Urbick is an interesting prospect, but getting cut by Pitt, which also has a bad OL isn't inspiring confidence.

 

They also said that the best way to build a team is through the draft. Hard to argue with the logic ... except that if you do that, you better have a higher hit ratio on those draft picks.

 

People love Nix's straighforward demeanor. But the early results aren't as colorful as his tongue.

 

 

Was the kid we let go from Iowa that bad ?? It sucks that we basically wasted a draft pick just to let the kid go . Was it Calloway ?? I didn't get to see hm in any of the preseason games but would have thought his upside would be better than Greens , and if the kid knows our offense why wouldn't they bring him back ??

[JPS]

I love this thread! All the p*ssers and moaners, hand wringers and "woe is us" folks all in one place. You guys follow each other around and dress alike? Jeez, a bad stop gap player, you're right, Nix and Gailey gotta go.....they shoulda brought in an elite LT and QB and some stud linebackers. The idiots...why didn't they just ask TSW.

Harrumph!!!

[nonprophet]

No offense, but after seeing Kelsay at 4-3 DE last 5 years, how would anyone think that he would be ok as OLB in a 3-4?

 

Very few people focused on Gailey's comments on switching to a 3-4. He said that the reason he did it is that in his observation of the roster, he felt that the talent was more condusive for a 3-4. Then they go ahead and draft entirely for defense, even though the talent at hand was better suited for a 3-4? The story doesn't wash with the actions.

 

That's why the thread "Why not clean for real" makes esnse. If you're committed to rebuilding, then do it right. Why continue with the charade that Kelsay has a spot on this revamped roster? You can look equally pathetic with project rookies that can hopefully grow into the new system that you're putting in.

They kept Kelsay because they use 4 down linemen in the nickel.

[Sisyphean Bills]

Harrumph!!!

I'll email you some matches so you can set fire to his straw-man.

[JPS]

I know I'm gonna get killed for this, but is it possible Green just had a bad game and could raise his level of play to the serviceable level? He was in the league for 10 years before the Bills.

[spartacus]

How does the Cornell Green signing impact your opinion of Buddy Nix?  

 

Cornell is making $3 million per year (including roster bonuses) yet no other team showed interest and the Raiders were eager to replace him.  He's 34 years old and is not getting any better.  This is a terrible decision in terms of the quality of the player and the financial impact to the team.

 

He is clearly much worse than Jonathan Scott, who we could have retained for an $850K tender.  More amazingly, he is the worst player on an offensive line that was already the worst in football.

 

The Nix devotees on this board need to take this colossal personnel failure into account when talking about how this guy is going to rebuild the roster.

 

Green is just further indictment of the total ineptness of the Bills talent evaluators when it comes to the OL.

 

 

Probably a good thing they did not waste any high picks on the wrong OL project who would surely bust just as bad as Green.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because you have no film on them in their current system under the current (read "any") coaching.  Have they seen Kelsay at LB? Stroud at LDE ina 3-4? I'm not supporting these players because I think they are all gone soon enough, but you can't kill Nix for taking a look at them, especially when he has nothing to replace them with.

 

I love how these board geniuses think this can be done in 1 year. If we just woulda drafted a starting QB, 2 OTs, and 4 LBs, we'd be a lot better off than with Spiller and Kelsay.  I know it sucks, but it's going to be another 2 seasons of good drafts and expiring contracts before this team really competes.

 

This is a sound plan to check out the players on the roster until replacing them with something better.

 

 

Using this same approach, Nix should have kept both Incognito and Scott - both who they controlled as restricted free agents for little money. Both would be upgrades to what the Bills are rolling out at OL this year. 

 

However, the Bills front office has never met an OL they could not properly evaluate

 

 

 

I'm surprised in all the discussion nobody picked up on your point.  He all but said that we'll likely see Urbik at RT before long.  I bet before the end of the season...

converting a guy that failed at OG to play RT is not exactly a slam dunk improvement

[DanInUticaTampa]

I know I'm gonna get killed for this, but is it possible Green just had a bad game and could raise his level of play to the serviceable level? He was in the league for 10 years before the Bills.

 

I doubt it. He seemed servicable when he was in oakland, but he was only a starter for one year I believe and was just a backup beofre that. And he looked bad in preseason as well. I don't see him improving much, if at all. The only hope I have is miami as a great D line... so he might look better at teams with a weaker line... but this guy is bad and it is going to suck see him play the phins again and the jests twice.

[spartacus]

GG and Sisyphean,

 

You both make good points. I think the switch had more to do with the success of 3-4s in the division and the bonus of practicing against it if you run it. Gailey said as much.  You're going to have to show me where he said the switch was personnel based, because I don't remember that.

 

My point with guys like Kelsay and Stroud is: They suck, but they are well paid. Since they're going to get paid anyway, why not try them elsewhere and see if they suck less. If they work out,then great. If not, Carrington and the newly drafted rookie will play next year.  Maybe Carrington is not strong enough.  Maybe Maybin has issues too.  I think it's a lot more complex than to say after 1 game, "he sucks, play the young guy".  You will see youth served, just not all at the same time in the 1st 3rd of the season.

 

funny thing-

 

 

Kelsay does not get paid if he is cut

 

Stroud does not either, but they sunk so much in his signing bonus, there is more incentive to keep him

 

 

 

 

 

[BobChalmers]

Very few people focused on Gailey's comments on switching to a 3-4. He said that the reason he did it is that in his observation of the roster, he felt that the talent was more condusive for a 3-4.

 

I have no idea what you are talking about. Link?

 

I heard Gailey repeatedly state that he chose the 3-4 because he found it the most challenging to go against as an offensive coordinator.

 

I have NEVER heard Gailey or Nix say that the talent on the roster they inherited was better suited to a 3-4. That would be seriously weird btw, since it's been drafted to be a 4-3 under the previous 3 coaches. Big attacking Titans-style 4-3 under Williams, then later a small/fast Tampa style 4-3 under Jauron.

 

converting a guy that failed at OG to play RT is not exactly a slam dunk improvement

 

Unless you're replacing Green.

[robertpaul49]

I don't understand the animosity toward Kelsey and Stroud. The team needs to find replacements before they release the players. Would the team be better off with Adielous Thomas? What kind of contract would they have to give him? Are they keeping Kelsey because they plan on drafting OLB's next year so why not keep him, give him a chance to play LB since he is an undersized DE?

 

Stroud was considered one of the best DT in the league. He has been enthusiastic about moving to DE. He played well in pre-season, and it is a position that doesn't get big numbers. I don't understand the hate.

[Paup 1995MVP]

It's always refreshing to see a bunch of anonymous internet experts criticizing the choices of guys that have spent their entire live around football. You remind me of the screaming dads at little league games. Always hoping that your son will succeed where you failed so miserably.

Seriously Mike, Nix has done NOTHING to improve the team. We were horrible at OT and QB last year. And we brought NOONE in to improve the position whatsoever. That is ridiculous. And than we go ahead and draft a RB with the ninth pick when we already have two excellent running backs, one who was drafted 3 years ago as the 12th pick in the draft!! There was absolutely NO NEED to draft Spiller. Especially because by drafting him, a talent like Joique Bell will not see the field this year. We needed upgrades at EVERY position on the roster but RB, CB, P and K. We could have even used an upgrade at strong safety more than we needed another RB. Especially, when we did not bring anyone in thru free agency that can play a lick on the O line. So yes Nix has done an awful job so far. I think the proof was in how bad the offense looked on Sunday my friend.

[seadog]

If your rebuilding why bring in a 34 year old to start at RT?. I would have gone with the youth movement by resigning Scott to play RT. If your going to bring back Merideth, Bell, Chambers, Hennesey, all guys whom we know can not play and not resign Scott and Incognito is beyond me. For this team to be fielding the same OL as last season, probaly worse, is obscene. Great we have starting running backs and teams are going to stack 8 in the box and dare us to throw. Good luck Trent I almost feel sorry for you.

['64 Bills]

So true. Lets look at Nixs record so far:

Cornell Green-worst free agent signing in years

Spiller- luxury pick we couldnt afford, already had 2 starters + Bell

QB-Does nothing to upgrade worst QB in NFL and hated by fans, not respected by the players

OT- Does nothing, besides Cornhole, to improve position, actually by cutting Scott made it worse

OLB-no improvement, Kelsay? Really?

Nix made this team worse his first year.

If we started a poll on this board to determine our draft, free agents and cuts i think we'd do a better job than Nix, cant do any worse.

 

Sadly it is a poor record so far. Green was an embarassment Sunday to the Bills uniform. How could any scout not know he couldn't be left alone on the corner???? A nine year veteran needing help.

[JPS]

I don't understand the animosity toward Kelsey and Stroud. The team needs to find replacements before they release the players. Would the team be better off with Adielous Thomas? What kind of contract would they have to give him? Are they keeping Kelsey because they plan on drafting OLB's next year so why not keep him, give him a chance to play LB since he is an undersized DE?

 

Stroud was considered one of the best DT in the league. He has been enthusiastic about moving to DE. He played well in pre-season, and it is a position that doesn't get big numbers. I don't understand the hate.

Watch the Miami game again and focus on Stroud. When you do, you'll know. He's 2 yards off the ball in the 1st 1 second after the snap. He's playing on name alone. At the risk of being annoyingly redundant, I'll end my criticism of Stroud by just saying...watch him and how little he does to influence the play.

[Billsguy]

It's a 16 game season. Some of these posts sound like January posts.

 

I can't blame Nix for wanting to see what he had on his roster. They have alot invested in Kelsay, Stroud, Ellis, Edwards and others. Why not watch them over a 16 game season before cutting bait because you just don't know. I suspect you'll have HUGE roster turnover over the next 2 years.

 

I suspect the same arguments will still be relevant in January. I agree there will be a huge turnover as well, but will it be for the better?

[Thoner7]

Ok so its ok Green sucks bc he was a stop gap.... well WTF is a stop gap? its a player who is supposed to play well untill you can fix the position.... We could have skipped the stop gap and played Meredith/Scott all season. Or anyone cut from any other team. Or even the kin bang Tony Washington. Hell we could get anyone too.

 

Mark my words, Urbik will be playing RT in the near future.

[EastRochBillsfan]

It's always refreshing to see a bunch of anonymous internet experts criticizing the choices of guys that have spent their entire live around football. You remind me of the screaming dads at little league games. Always hoping that your son will succeed where you failed so miserably.

Nice!

 

I love this thread! All the p*ssers and moaners, hand wringers and "woe is us" folks all in one place. You guys follow each other around and dress alike? Jeez, a bad stop gap player, you're right, Nix and Gailey gotta go.....they shoulda brought in an elite LT and QB and some stud linebackers. The idiots...why didn't they just ask TSW.

 

Misery loves company.

[GG]

I have no idea what you are talking about. Link?

 

I heard Gailey repeatedly state that he chose the 3-4 because he found it the most challenging to go against as an offensive coordinator.

 

I have NEVER heard Gailey or Nix say that the talent on the roster they inherited was better suited to a 3-4. That would be seriously weird btw, since it's been drafted to be a 4-3 under the previous 3 coaches. Big attacking Titans-style 4-3 under Williams, then later a small/fast Tampa style 4-3 under Jauron.

 

I recall Gailey talking about it during the winter, maybe on one of the BB video clips. That's why the comments struck me as odd. Odd in the same vein as the 15 calls a day the team was turning away for the head coaching job.

[Orton's Arm]

If your rebuilding why bring in a 34 year old to start at RT?. I would have gone with the youth movement by resigning Scott to play RT. If your going to bring back Merideth, Bell, Chambers, Hennesey, all guys whom we know can not play and not resign Scott and Incognito is beyond me. For this team to be fielding the same OL as last season, probaly worse, is obscene. Great we have starting running backs and teams are going to stack 8 in the box and dare us to throw. Good luck Trent I almost feel sorry for you.

At least on paper, the OL is significantly worse this season than it was last year. We lost Butler to retirement and Incognito to free agency. We added . . . Cornell Green?!?!

 

Eventually, I think Nix will get things turned around. But this season, expect the offense to look a lot like it did against the Dolphins: plagued by the combination of bad OL play and bad QB play. It's going to be a long season.

[JustMaxx]

So, let me get this straight, you guys think Jonathon Scott is better than Green? Scott couldnt beat out Butler or Bell last year. Green has experience, way more starts, FOR A REASON.

 

Someone also noted that Nix did little to change the team where they need it? Well, lets see. He didnt want to reach for a player in round one, a la Dick Jauron and end up w a maybin. So, he took best player available. Im fine with that. When spiller goes for 150 yards and two tds here soon, so will you. In rounds 2-4, he took a DT, DL, and WR, ALL AREAS OF NEED. I think he drafted fine, and only years from now we can tell.

 

in free agency, who were those guys who were so much better than kelsay we could have signed? And D Bell played well yesterday, it was meredith who got blown up, so dont say we should of addressed LT yet.

 

Nix made sound football decisions. He went best players available on his board in the draft, and filled holes in the offseason w Green, Davis, and Edwards. WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT?????? MAYBE THE BILLS SUCK FROM PRIOR YEARS OF DRAFTING!! ITS ONE GAME FOR CRYING OUT LOUD AGAINST A VERY GOOD DOLPHINS TEAM

 

Don't blame nix, at least not yet

[Chris in Syracuse]

It's a 16 game season. Some of these posts sound like January posts.

 

I can't blame Nix for wanting to see what he had on his roster. They have alot invested in Kelsay, Stroud, Ellis, Edwards and others. Why not watch them over a 16 game season before cutting bait because you just don't know. I suspect you'll have HUGE roster turnover over the next 2 years.

+1

[Ralonzo]

Green has experience, way more starts, FOR A REASON.

Unfortunately that reason is: he was playing for the Raiders.

[Sisyphean Bills]

Unfortunately that reason is: he was playing for the Raiders.

And he got tossed by the Raiders because they favored ... wait for it ... Langston Walker.