Levitre demoted / Levitre promoted

[mik]

It's training camp. If you believe that Levitre has been demoted then you would be foolish. This is routine stuff for training camp.

[K Gun Special]

It's training camp. If you believe that Levitre has been demoted then you would be foolish. This is routine stuff for training camp.

 

 

Youre foolish if you think starters are routinely told theyre splitting time with a guy from waivers.

[LGB]

i agree with those of you who've speculated gailey is using this demotion as a motivational tool.

 

---

 

i just erased a long post brainstorming who should be starting where - i'll save you guys the trouble of my meandering stream of consciousness and just highlight the main points:

 

1. i cant believe hangartner isnt able to earn a spot as guard. if the only position he can play is center, switch wood back to G. yeah, hangartner isnt that good but hes better than everyone else save levitre and wood (and bell most of the time).

 

2. pears and urbik suck

 

3. dear rinehart and hairston, WE NEED YOU! get it together

 

4. dear buddy nix, sign stinchcomb or some other obvious upgrade

 

4b. if you think our oline stinks now, wait til someone gets hurt... buddy, we need some more big bodies!!!! sign somebody!!!!!

 

Chan will hopefully get this sorted out and bring someone else if needed, but he needs to see what he has first and doesn't have too much time left.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Pretty hilarious that literally dozens of posters feel more qualified to judge the performance of the Bills offensive linemen than their own coaches.

 

now this is a really funny comment as it relates to the Bills brain trust and the OL

 

 

The team has proven conclusively over the last 18 years that they are completely inept when it comes to identifying, acquiring and coaching OL talent. McNally was the only with half a clue. He's long gone, along with his diamond in the rough

 

We are left with the Buddy and Chan show.

 

After 2 full years of buuilidng the team in their image, Buddy comes to teh conclusion that they are short of OL talent

 

http://sports.yahoo....s-offensiveline

 

So to solve the depth problem, Chan takes his most consistent OL starter in Levitre and makes him a backup - depth problem solved.

 

Of course the interior of the OL now has as many holes as the OTs, but that's why we got mobile QBs.

 

That continuity and consistenty thing with the OL is way overrated - just ask Chan

Again, the last 18 years? This team is entering its 2nd season under a new regime. The 16 years previous to that are irrelevant.

 

And 2 full years? Better work on your math. Nix was hired as GM on the final day of 2009.

 

Gailey was asked yesterday if he was unhappy with Levitre. He said no, this move had to do with Rinehart deserving the chance.

 

But I know you're among those who would rather see this as a negative as opposed to the possibility that the Bills have two decent players at this position.

 

Not to mentioned the hundreds of fans who think they could draft better than the professionals that work for the Bills.

I didn't like Modrak's drafts either but AGAIN, this is a new regime which has been running this club for just 20 months.

 

I do not see how a flip comment equating the futility of the former scouting department has any relevancy to the current coaching staff.

The idea that this football department which eats, breathes, drinks, fights, sweats, and practices with these players, and evaluates their game film AND their practice film doesn't know which players deserve to play is beyond laughable.

Edited August 17, 2011 by San Jose Bills Fan

[Fan in Chicago]

 

I didn't like Modrak's drafts either but AGAIN, this is a new regime which has been running this club for just 20 months.

 

I do not see how a flip comment equating the futility of the former scouting department has any relevancy to the current coaching staff.

The idea that this football department which eats, breathes, drinks, fights, sweats, and practices with these players, and evaluates their game film AND their practice film doesn't know which players deserve to play is beyond laughable.

I would add that there is developing evidence to the current crop's competence. The large majority of the D is now firmly selected/acquired by the current regime - Dareus, Troup, Merriman, Barnett, Carrington, Moats. If what we saw in the Bears game was an example of things to come, we have to hand it to the FO. And then it kinda gets me excited thinking about how the O will turn out once attention shifts to that area of the team. Having said that, I do wish a little more was done on the OL in the past 2 years.

[Beerball]

I cannot say since I d

o not get to see practice or film. I can only belive what Chan is saying. Levitre needs to step up.

 

Common thought is that Levitre is the best of the three but right now that is not the case. I do not believe in hidden agendas to give Urbik and Rinehart more reps. We are talking professional sports here.

So, you're saying that right now Levitre is no better than the 3rd best guard on the team. Interesting.

[PDaDdy]

BUT BUT BUT BUT !!!! All these people say that Levitre is great!?!?!?! He is an awesome young player. Not dumping on the guy but I have been baffled by how many supporters he has had and how so many people say that he is a really good young guard.

 

These supporters don't actually know anything other than he was a 2nd round pick and celebrated him as his and Eric Wood's acquisition were tied to Peters leaving for some reason. The hatred for the guy leaving gave Levitre and Wood instant love and blind support. Woods appears to be living up to that love but apparently Levitre is not. Maybe the rest of the board will realize we really do have a bigger problem on o-line than even they were willing to admit.

 

Whatever message they are trying to send Andy I hope gets it!!!! We need players to get better not regress and get our backup level talent starters replaced by practice squad level talent backups. Either way I'm sure the coaches will put the best lineman on the field.

 

I'm sure some that know better than the experts will start to question the coaching staff because their golden boy isn't starting. "It must be the coaching staffs inability to coach not the players lack of talent!" Same thing happened with Edwards. It wasn't the coaching. Edwards just sucked.

Edited August 17, 2011 by PDaDdy

[DaGimp]

Pretty hilarious that literally dozens of posters feel more qualified to judge the performance of the Bills offensive linemen than their own coaches.

I would direct you to the Maybin thread were most of us dumb posters would have not picked Maybin and have had a better draft than the front office

[DrDawkinstein]

After this current "board meltdown" started, I went back and re-re-rewatched the 1st quarter of the Bears game last night.

 

Levitre is far and away our best OL from that game. Not only did he not miss any blocks, but he completely owned his guy once engaged, every time. As a matter of fact, the entire left side of the line (Bell-Levitre-Wood) played very well.

 

But yeah, Gaily wanted to move some guys around in a practice, so that must mean Levitre sucks and hasnt been performing well

[PDaDdy]

Pretty hilarious that literally dozens of posters feel more qualified to judge the performance of the Bills offensive linemen than their own coaches.

 

SERIOUSLY!!! It's a joke. People can't fathom the idea that perhaps their support and praise actually had no basis in fact. We'll see how this all plays out and I hope he gets his stuff together but the arrogance on this board is insane even comparing him to Maybin.

 

Maybin was thought of as a bust from day 1 by most Bills fans. Many hoped he would develop and at the very least become a pass rush specialist. After a relatively short period of time even those who had hope lost that quickly. Levitre has been a starter for 2 years and has enjoyed a great deal of fan support. It's now a blow to the ego of those supporters that he might not be the best guard on the team that they gave him credit for being.

[mattsox]

Youre foolish if you think starters are routinely told theyre splitting time with a guy from waivers.

 

Agreed, but Levitre might be getting held back as a motivational tool, maybe Chan wasn't happy with his effort... I still say besides Wood, Levitre is our second best lineman.

[CardinalScotts]

We still have 3 preseason games to go....why not play some musical chairs. Rinehart played well last year when he was in there. I like taking a look at what you have- Levitre will end up starting somewhere on the line, and if we find another good lineman - it's only because we looked. Urbik is still the odd man out IMO - but jeez there is a lot of camp left.

[USABuffaloFan]

The problem with this move is the explanation from Gailey. Gailey didn't say he was giving Levitre a rest, building depth, trying him somewhere else. Gailey also said Levitre did nothing wrong. There lies the problem, Levitre has been a soldier missing almost no games for the Bills. Besides that he has played Center, Tackle and Guard in games due to injuries for the Bills. He is a respected member of the Buffalo Bills team. So Gailey decides that Rienhart practices well and it is OK to share time with a established starter.

 

This is just wrong the way Gailey is portraying this. This shows Levitre no respect and football players thrive on being respected. If we are lucky Levitre realizes he is getting paid well and sees this motivation to flat out win his job back. I personelly don't think he should have to but I am not the coach. But Gailey is flat out causing himself a problem here because no lineman is going to stick his neck out knowing if he has a bad day Gailey may take him out just because he likes how someone practices. The other real problem is somehow Urbik's playing bad but being big is rewarded. The messages being sent here on this issue out ways someone just trying to build competition. If that was the case all positions on the line would be up for challenge. Gailey has defintely chosen his center and LT.

 

The more I think about this it STINKS!!!!!!!!!

[PDaDdy]

We still have 3 preseason games to go....why not play some musical chairs. Rinehart played well last year when he was in there. I like taking a look at what you have- Levitre will end up starting somewhere on the line, and if we find another good lineman - it's only because we looked. Urbik is still the odd man out IMO - but jeez there is a lot of camp left.

 

...because continuity and chemistry are incredibly important for an offensive line and especially so with no off season.

Edited August 17, 2011 by PDaDdy

[Coach Tuesday]

The problem with this move is the explanation from Gailey. Gailey didn't say he was giving Levitre a rest, building depth, trying him somewhere else. Gailey also said Levitre did nothing wrong. There lies the problem, Levitre has been a soldier missing almost no games for the Bills. Besides that he has played Center, Tackle and Guard in games due to injuries for the Bills. He is a respected member of the Buffalo Bills team. So Gailey decides that Rienhart practices well and it is OK to share time with a established starter.

 

This is just wrong the way Gailey is portraying this. This shows Levitre no respect and football players thrive on being respected. If we are lucky Levitre realizes he is getting paid well and sees this motivation to flat out win his job back. I personelly don't think he should have to but I am not the coach. But Gailey is flat out causing himself a problem here because no lineman is going to stick his neck out knowing if he has a bad day Gailey may take him out just because he likes how someone practices. The other real problem is somehow Urbik's playing bad but being big is rewarded. The messages being sent here on this issue out ways someone just trying to build competition. If that was the case all positions on the line would be up for challenge. Gailey has defintely chosen his center and LT.

 

The more I think about this it STINKS!!!!!!!!!

 

Think about it another way.

 

Want to really motivate everyone to do a better job? Take a guy who by all accounts is doing well, and demote him. That puts everyone on notice that nobody's job is safe.

 

Maybe this is all a brilliant motivational ploy by Gailey - aimed not just at Levitre, but at the entire team...

[USABuffaloFan]

Think about it another way.

 

Want to really motivate everyone to do a better job? Take a guy who by all accounts is doing well, and demote him. That puts everyone on notice that nobody's job is safe.

 

Maybe this is all a brilliant motivational ploy by Gailey - aimed not just at Levitre, but at the entire team...

 

Glad Gailey and you are not my manager. Great way to motivate. What is the message?

Edited August 17, 2011 by USABuffaloFan

[PDaDdy]

Glad Gailey and you are not my manager. Great way to motivate.

 

LOL I don't think screwing with people that are supposedly doing well is a good motivational tool. I think it is Levitre that needs the motivating not serving as an example.

[Coach Tuesday]

Glad Gailey and you are not my manager. Great way to motivate. What is the message?

 

The message is that this entire team has been underachieving for years. The goal is a championship not mere competence (although that would be an upgrade). Everyone needs to dig deeper - everyone.

[bills1960]

I'm beginning to buy into the idea that they understand what they're getting out of Levitre, but not necessarily Urbik. Let them both get first team reps, if Rinehart proves he can be a first team guy then he'll step in for Urbik, if not then thing will go back to where they were.

[Fan in Chicago]

Motivation may have nothing to do with this. Gailey truly may be wanting to see how CR does with the 1's. Just because the right side of the line sucks does not mean he should shut himself to the possibility of upgrading the LG spot. As of now, Gailey does not know whether or not CR is better than Levitre. As good and consistent as Levitre has been, if there is an opportunity to upgrade that spot (any spot), you take that opportunity. But to do that the coaches have to know whether or not CR is better. Then, as a side benefit, if AL gets more competitive and plays harder to keep his starter spot, it only makes the team better. If AL folds like a pack of cards and gets de-motivated then the coaches know that this is a guy we do not want on the roster. Sorry, but there are NO sacred cows. (if there were, Belichick would have gone back to Bledsoe when he came back from injury and Brady would have been on the bench for a couple more years)