Nix and Cornell Green

[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.