Buddy Nix is the problem

[apuszczalowski]

I disagree with the OP in that I don't think Buddy Nix is the problem. In fact, I think he has done an exceptional job in his role as GM. I will say, however, that I thought it was a huge mistake to draft Aaron Williams over Brooks Reed. Brooks Reed was a no-brainer pick IMO, and I was absolutely stunned when Williams' name was called. That being said...hindsight is 20-20....yada yada.

 

I think the writing is on the wall regarding the QB situation. I suspect you will find that Buddy and Whaley will make upgrading the QB position the #1 priority this offseason.

That has already started, they made the move for Tavaris Jackson

 

If TJ was brought in here to be anything else but the potential replacement #1 QB, he would have been dropped by now for not being able to play yet

Why else would you make the move to trade for him, and then take up a roster spot for him all season saying he will probably stay as the #3 all year if you brought him in to upgrade the #2 spot this year?

 

If Fitz keeps crapping the bed, TJ may get a chance real soon (like after the Bye Week) with a simpilar offence

[Peter]

I agree with those who think that Buddy has done a good job. I have no problem with the job he has done as a whole. He is good at what he does.

 

As for our QB situation, as I posted last week, I like the guys that we picked in the first round a lot more than the QBs that were still available to us when we picked that were picked later in the first.

 

I think that the Bills had planned on taking Christian Ponder in the second or by trading back into the latter half of first round and were very surprised (as were most people) when the Vikings picked him where they did.

 

On one hand, I am a bit surprised by how much patience they have had with Fitz (given how quickly they gave up on Edwards). Yet, on the other hand, at this point, it makes little sense to throw him under the bus.

 

At the end of the season, I suspect that there will be a big push to upgrade the QB position unless something drastically changes. The problem is that any QBs that are available in free agency or by trade are not likely to be "franchise" QBs . Drafting a QB is always a crapshoot. The higher you pick, the less of a crapshoot is it, but it is still a crapshoot - just look at the history of QBs taken in the draft.

 

We have had so much bad luck over the past decade plus, I can only hope that our luck will change.

 

Just my two cents.

[mannc]

 

2011 draft

2nd round pick A Williams, Half of the NFL scouts had this guy projected as a free safety in the NFL. Instead of him we could of taken Brooks Reed, Andy Dalton.

3rd round he takes a mediocre Lb that should have been in the late 4th rounder. Instead of taken a Rocket armed QB like Mallet, or another LB like Justin Houston to help keep building his 3-4 defense.

 

 

You are forgetting about the selection of Dareus in the first round of said draft. He has not improved this defense one whit. Meanwhile, the four players selected after him have already either been to a pro bowl or will be there this year. I'm not saying Dareus is a bust, but he certainly seems to be a Whitner-like selection--yes, a starter, but one who underperforms relative to where he was selected and the performance of players selected after him.

 

Anyone who thinks Buddy is a significant improvement on any of the GMs who preceeded him, is kidding himself.

[NoSaint]

 

The problem is NIX. Not having a viable #2 quarterback falls squarely on his shoulders. Any other team in the league would have pulled their Quarterback in a situation like yesterday. The defense may have lost the game for the team. But, the offense put up 3 points!

They signed another chump who isn't even active for games. yet we have a "kick-off specialist" taking a roster spot. Nix is Gailey's boss he shoulders the blame for Gailey, and the players he assembled. He's an old man who never was a GM before. It shows.

 

Problem is we've had a lot of viable #2s. Fitz is precisely the viable #2. Unfortunately when promoted 3 years ago as our viable #2 that should've been holding things together til we get a new guy to give the keys to, we didn't get a new guy to take that shot with. Whether that's an issue with evaluation, or a product of lack of opportunity (don't list 3rd-7th rounders for me here) I don't really know. We can't win until we push our chips in on a special qb talent. I want fitz around, but I'm tired of fitz with no other plan.

 

With a good chance fitz is gone next year, hopefully Tjack is a viable number 2 while we get a real number 1 up to speed

[mannc]

And yet we always complain the the Bills don't trade up for a high pick. So which is it? You want more picks or high picks?

 

PTR

 

Not true at all. Very few folks here have urged the Bills to trade up for a high pick. Every time the Bills have traded up, it has been a disaster. I can't think of a single case where the Bills have traded down.

[Saint Doug]

The problem right now is not Nix/Whaley. I think theyve done a good job at getting talent on the team.

 

The issues right now are:

1. QB

2. Coaching

 

I agree. I really can't blame Nix/Whaley. This team has the right personnel, except for QB. This defense is very talented and I know they can do better. Top 10 probably. They just aren't performing up to their potential.

 

If we want to blame Nix for something, we can definitely blame him for hiring Gailey. I don't even know if we can blame him for Fitz though. We don't know what is going on behind the scenes in regards to Fitz, but if during the offseason Gailey was dead set on believing he can win right now with Fitz, do you go against your HC and go out and spend a first rounder on a QB? We had other needs and Fitz still had yet to prove he wasn't the man for the job. Or, perhaps Nix is the one forcing Fitz on Gailey? We don't know this one. But I believe there comes a time when a GM has to go against his HC's wishes and gets him a new QB, which will likely come this offseason.

[BEAST MODE BABY!]

Buddy is so not the problem. This team has obvious talent.

 

Fitzpatrick is a huge problem. Buddy will address that in the next draft. I guarantee it.

 

Also, I don't even know what to say about the defense. I don't think it's a talent issue. It's a scheme issue, and other than a facepalm I have no other idea how to respond to the crappy on-field product.

[Saint Doug]

On one hand, I am a bit surprised by how much patience they have had with Fitz (given how quickly they gave up on Edwards). Yet, on the other hand, at this point, it makes little sense to throw him under the bus.

 

I think Fitz earned the FO's patience when he went out last year and blew every defense up. He earned the benefit of the doubt to start this year and to show his colors. Unfortunately, he has just proved those games to be a fluke. He has proven he is not a franchise QB. Now we can move on.

[apuszczalowski]

Nix isn't the problem

 

Even picking Gailey wasn't a mistake, he came highly recommended by the guy everyone wanted to be the HC here. Cower turned the Bills down cause he doesn't want to get back into coaching, but he gave them the recommendation for Chan because that would have been teh guy he would have brought in as his O Co-ordinator

 

Things haven't worked out well though, and its not easy to rebuild in the NFL or any sports league. Fans expect results right away and have no patience.

The issue know is that things are starting to spiral out of control and the wheels are coming off. They have the talent, and they have experienced coaches on this staff that should be able to right the ship. The test of a good coach though is coming and will be if they current guys can get this fixed soon or weither it completly falls apart where jobs will be lost.

 

Nix will get another year or 2, unless he decides at the end of this year that he has had enough (which could happen with the stress so far of this season). Gailey on the other hand will most likely be given the rest of this season to prove he can right the ship, or else he will be replaced at the end of the year (I don't see them letting him go before the end of this year though, theres just no one on staff that is much of an improvement over him, and they can't raid another teams staff during the season for a new HC)

 

I think Fitz earned the FO's patience when he went out last year and blew every defense up. He earned the benefit of the doubt to start this year and to show his colors. Unfortunately, he has just proved those games to be a fluke. He has proven he is not a franchise QB. Now we can move on.

Exactly, his start of the season last year earned him the chance to show the end of the year was the fluke, unfortunatly so far he is proving that his true abilities is right in between

[thewildrabbit]

I would consider Nix the problem when he allows George Edwards 2 years to prove himself when we the world knew he was bad from the first 5 weeks.

 

Now the Bills are facing an even bigger dilemma with Dave Wannstedt, and him being far worse then George Edwards ever was.

 

Nix needs to step in and show he has a pair, and is he in control!

[mannc]

Buddy is so not the problem. This team has obvious talent.

 

 

What is your evidence for this statement? I keep tuning in on Sundays and my eyes keep telling me the opposite.

 

And if Fitz is the problem, why didn't Buddy address it in the LAST draft, or the one before that? Shouldn't he be the first person, as opposed to the last, to know that Fitz is not the long-term answer? And where do I go to collect on your guarantee in the event that Buddy does not "address" that issue in the 2013 draft?

Edited October 8, 2012 by mannc

[John from Riverside]

You guys can B word about Buddy Nix if you want.....personally I think Nix IS doing a good job.....this team is much more talented then it was when he got here........

 

There is a lot of talent on this defense.......but I am coming to the grim reality that the game may have passed Dave Wannstadt by.......and that he is using schemes that are easily exploitable and has not ability to adjust when this happens.

 

We are playing checkers......the rest of the teams are playing chess

[CarolinaBill]

You are forgetting about the selection of Dareus in the first round of said draft. He has not improved this defense one whit. Meanwhile, the four players selected after him have already either been to a pro bowl or will be there this year. I'm not saying Dareus is a bust, but he certainly seems to be a Whitner-like selection--yes, a starter, but one who underperforms relative to where he was selected and the performance of players selected after him.

 

Anyone who thinks Buddy is a significant improvement on any of the GMs who preceeded him, is kidding himself.

Dareus led the team in sacks as a rookie

[chris heff]

When Buddy took over the team he spoke about putting together a big physical team that plays to the blue collar mentality of western NY. He spoke about a big strong armed QB that Can ( throw threw those winds!! ). He laughed at Jauron`s cover 2 Defense. Last But not least he Spoke OF BUILDING THREW THE DRAFT.!!

 

So if we grade those promises after 3 drafts.

Big armed QB= F

Blue collar Physical team= F

Draft= F

The Stache Defense awfully reminds me of Juaron`s D= F

 

I`m pretty sure in the real world if anyone had this many failures at work they would be fired.

 

Outside of the first round of the Draft what has this Guy done.

His first draft was horrible he reached in the 2nd and 3rd round. T Troup, Carrington. This is the way u start a new era? Instead of drafting Gronk a hometown product that is mismatch from hell. Btw TE was a big area of need for us. In the 3rd round he takes Carrington from a small school. We could of gotten Carrington in the 5th or 6th round.

 

2011 draft

2nd round pick A Williams, Half of the NFL scouts had this guy projected as a free safety in the NFL. Instead of him we could of taken Brooks Reed, Andy Dalton.

3rd round he takes a mediocre Lb that should have been in the late 4th rounder. Instead of taken a Rocket armed QB like Mallet, or another LB like Justin Houston to help keep building his 3-4 defense.

 

These are just a few examples of Buddy blunders. Point of the Matter is He Gotz to GO

 

Ralph Wilson is the problem.

[qdawg in philly]

The problem right now is not Nix/Whaley. I think theyve done a good job at getting talent on the team.

 

The issues right now are:

1. QB

2. Coaching

 

I understand the FO's plan to get the team built up before going after a QB, and I expect them to make a big play for one this next offseason.

 

However, when it comes to upgrading the coaching, we are screwed. And that is completely thanks to Ralph. No matter who Nix wants to hire, or how much money Ralph is willing to spend, a big-time coach will not come to this team which has zero stability. Ralph is living on borrowed time, and once he goes, the whole thing is up in the air.

You got it Dr. D!! Hit the nail on the head. Its is coaching and qb play. We have good talent on this team. However, the coaching and player developement is a giant joke. Look at aaron williams and mckelvin. Where the !@#$ is the developement and coaching. If they make the same mistakes, then what the !@#$ have they been doing in practice all these years.

Nix/whaley have done a good job. Nix hired who he could. Well actually, whoever wanted to come here. NO ONE WANTS TO COME HERE.

 

Just a small example I have. The team that just smashed us had a hall of fame linebacker as a head coach. The team added a couple of pieces and a NEW HEAD COACH!! Need I say more??

[apuszczalowski]

What is your evidence for this statement? I keep tuning in on Sundays and my eyes keep telling me the opposite.

 

And if Fitz is the problem, why didn't Buddy address it in the LAST draft, or the one before that? Shouldn't he be the first person, as opposed to the last, to know that Fitz is not the long-term answer? And where do I go to collect on your guarantee in the event that Buddy does not "address" that issue in the 2013 draft?

Because Fitz earned the chance to show the team which QB from 2011 he truly is, and there were plenty of other holes on this roster they needed to work on trying to fill before QB.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

 

And yet we always complain the the Bills don't trade up for a high pick. So which is it? You want more picks or high picks?

 

PTR

 

When the team looks this lousy it's easy for anyone to "think" they have better ideas.

[BillsCelticsAngelsBama]

When Buddy took over the team he spoke about putting together a big physical team that plays to the blue collar mentality of western NY. He spoke about a big strong armed QB that Can ( throw threw those winds!! ). He laughed at Jauron`s cover 2 Defense. Last But not least he Spoke OF BUILDING THREW THE DRAFT.!!

 

So if we grade those promises after 3 drafts.

Big armed QB= F

Blue collar Physical team= F

Draft= F

The Stache Defense awfully reminds me of Juaron`s D= F

 

I`m pretty sure in the real world if anyone had this many failures at work they would be fired.

 

Outside of the first round of the Draft what has this Guy done.

His first draft was horrible he reached in the 2nd and 3rd round. T Troup, Carrington. This is the way u start a new era? Instead of drafting Gronk a hometown product that is mismatch from hell. Btw TE was a big area of need for us. In the 3rd round he takes Carrington from a small school. We could of gotten Carrington in the 5th or 6th round.

 

2011 draft

2nd round pick A Williams, Half of the NFL scouts had this guy projected as a free safety in the NFL. Instead of him we could of taken Brooks Reed, Andy Dalton.

3rd round he takes a mediocre Lb that should have been in the late 4th rounder. Instead of taken a Rocket armed QB like Mallet, or another LB like Justin Houston to help keep building his 3-4 defense.

 

These are just a few examples of Buddy blunders. Point of the Matter is He Gotz to GO

Can't argue with that.. but I think #1 and #1A is: Highly inferior coaching. We simply don't develop the talent once it gets here and 1A WE DON'T HAVE AN NFL QB !!!!!!

I believe with goOd coaching these players have the talent to win............ but we don't. and we have one of the worst QB's in the league. I won't say worst until JACKSONVILLE LEAVES THE LEAGUE

[BEAST MODE BABY!]

What is your evidence for this statement? I keep tuning in on Sundays and my eyes keep telling me the opposite.

 

And if Fitz is the problem, why didn't Buddy address it in the LAST draft, or the one before that? Shouldn't he be the first person, as opposed to the last, to know that Fitz is not the long-term answer? And where do I go to collect on your guarantee in the event that Buddy does not "address" that issue in the 2013 draft?

 

Then you need new eyes. The Dline obviously has talent based on past production.

 

And if you can't see the way Buddy is building the team, then I don't have time to explain things to you in Romper Room language you'll understand.

 

He obviously made the lines a priority and addressed them first. And you can bet we're getting a QB in the next draft. I guaran-damn-tee it.

[Best Player Available]

Problem is we've had a lot of viable #2s. Fitz is precisely the viable #2. Unfortunately when promoted 3 years ago as our viable #2 that should've been holding things together til we get a new guy to give the keys to, we didn't get a new guy to take that shot with. Whether that's an issue with evaluation, or a product of lack of opportunity (don't list 3rd-7th rounders for me here) I don't really know. We can't win until we push our chips in on a special qb talent. I want fitz around, but I'm tired of fitz with no other plan.

 

With a good chance fitz is gone next year, hopefully Tjack is a viable number 2 while we get a real number 1 up to speed

 

Cannot agree more with your comments. You know as well as anyone here. Most quarterbacks being picked in the first round are now being thrown into the fire day 1. We need Gailey gone with his 400 page playbook. A roll of the dice on a first round pick, put him in and see what happens.