A Few Thoughts About The Game, in no particular order.....

[Nitro]

After watching this team play and the coaching it just reminds of teams past. Chan is actually worse than Jauron. He ranks right up with coaching geniuses like John Rauch, Harvey Johnson and Hank Bullough. If the offense cannot attack through the air, then attack with the 2 best offensive assets you have and run! Chan watch tapes of how Lou Saban teams ran the ball to set up the pass. The defense is so baffling. It has uneven talent but the "lesser"talented guys are out preforming the supposed stars. Wanny is over rated. The whole defense coaching staff has to go. I have seen bad Bills defenses but this is the worst. I have seen today's game too many times. Can we just get a team that can play one whole game mistake free?

[Matt in KC]

I consider Syracuse as the front lines of the Buffalo Bills fan base. My family, friends, neighbors, coworkers are all Bills fans and it's hard losing games like this. We all feel it.

 

I'm really not interested in the detailed analysis of fans in NYC, ST Louis, Texas or the dark side of the moon. Is your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers Bills fans, too? Likely the answer is NO, so your life after horrible losses like games we had today is:

Forget where you live. What I want to know is what kind of car you drive!

[BuffaninATL]

I consider Syracuse as the front lines of the Buffalo Bills fan base. My family, friends, neighbors, coworkers are all Bills fans and it's hard losing games like this. We all feel it.

 

I'm really not interested in the detailed analysis of fans in NYC, ST Louis, Texas or the dark side of the moon. Is your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers Bills fans, too? Likely the answer is NO, so your life after horrible losses like games we had today is:

 

1. Contained

 

2. Minimal.

 

I get that sense reading your posts. You all seem detached.

 

Make sense?

 

Nope, none whatsoever .....RAC in ATL (born & raised in BUFF for 21 years)

 

(actually, the more you write, the weirder you sound....)

[Shamrock]

Is Mario injured or not? If he's injured, why are we risking our $100m player on contributing further to that injury when 3 weeks of soft tissue work without ballistic activity, resting him, may heal it- alas I don't know the nature of the injury, just my humble med view. If Mario is injured & has reduced strength to disengage, why not put him in a 5 technique than the 4 & give him outside contain only rather than B gap & outside C gap? Makes no sense.

 

Apologees, I'm from Melbourne Australia so my opinion counts the least, apparently. That said, pre kids, I've been to Buffalo every 3 years since 1996 for preseason and then when old enough to games. My sons called Thomas Thurman, my dog Jackson & everyone that knows me, knows about the Buffalo Bills- even my 90 year old patients. So put that in your pipe and tell me it doesn't count!

[bowery4]

If you're in NYC or FL or CA, etc, then you're not feeling these losses like we do up here in CNY/WNY. Was the Bills game even on broadcast television in NYC? It was here in Syracuse - it always is!

I consider Syracuse as the front lines of the Buffalo Bills fan base. My family, friends, neighbors, coworkers are all Bills fans and it's hard losing games like this. We all feel it.

 

I'm really not interested in the detailed analysis of fans in NYC, ST Louis, Texas or the dark side of the moon. Is your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers Bills fans, too? Likely the answer is NO, so your life after horrible losses like games we had today is:

 

1. Contained

 

2. Minimal.

 

I get that sense reading your posts. You all seem detached.

 

Make sense?

 

FU bub! I was born and raised in Bflo and lived there 33 of my 53 year existence (which is the same age as the Bills BTW). My Dad took me to games when I was too young to even remember it and it was dangerous to do so. I don't even think OJ is guilty, I can tell you who Preston Ridlehuber is (whose name your has a funny similarity to). BTW I live in Bangkok and haven't missed a game (thank you internet), in years and I have never even been to Syracuse , but used to live in NYC. . Go suck an Orange and crawl back under the bridge you came from.

Edited October 22, 2012 by bowery4

[JPS]

^ Dumbest post ever. Can we put this in a sticky as a reference point for stupidty?

 

Harrumph!!!

[Bill from NYC]

But the truth of the matter is our major problems relate to the talent level on this team. We are simply deficient.

 

Gotta respectfully, but strongly disagree.

 

Look at the roster. We used to trot out players to block such as Greg Jerman, Jerry Ostroski, a gimpy John Fina, a nearly crippled Joe Panos, etc. Teams would beat us physically. We now have 3 good OTs, 3, perhaps 4 good OGs, and a fine center. There are 2 areas on the roster in which we need lots of help imo. 1 is LB, but the giants won a superbowl with a school teacher back there. The other is obviously qb, which is the most important.

 

I was NEVER one to blame the scheme on either side of the ball for our losses. In my thousands of post I ripped into poor drafting, weak OLs, and lack of talent. Not as much now John. If anyone (NOT aimed at you) that it is ever OK for Kyle Williams to drop back into pass coverage and stand there alone (as the opponent converts 3rd and long), then there isn't much I can say.

 

PS: The receivers really aren't so bad either. They actually, unlike many past Bills receivers, get open. Giving Fitz better receivers would be like giving me a brand new Gibson guitar. I would be the same lousy guitarist on a better piece of equipment.

Edited October 22, 2012 by Bill from NYC

[JohnC]

I disagree. The Bills have enough talent on Defense. They're just being coached entirely wrong.

 

No team has probowlers at every position. It's an unrealistic expectation that too many people have. We have M. Williams, who nay be underperforming, but he was the #1 FA because everyone knows he has talent. K. Williams has plenty of talent. Darius was the #3 pick and Anderson had 10sacks just last year when properly coached in NE. We have a top pick in Gilmore and Byrd has plenty of talent, and a defensive player of the week award to verify it. Barnett, although not Ray Lewis, is a capably talented LB.

 

Those players are more than enough to be the core of a competent defense. Yet, week in and week out, the defense looks lost, confused and uninspired. That's coaching. Plain and simple.

 

When the Texans let Mario Williams go they drafted J.J. Watt who is immensely playing better. Mario Wlliams is very talented. But he is hurt. He is playing with one hand so he is very handicapped as to what he can do.

 

You can throw out a bunch of names and try to convince me how good this unit should be but you are missing the point. It is not about names it is about how the defensive unit plays together. If there are weaknesses on the unit it is going to be exploited. Our DL is getting shredded. Dareus is in a funk. Kelsay has some limitations. Williams is ineffective because he is hurt. Our LBing corps is below average. Our defensive backfield constantly gives up big plays. I can go on and on.

 

Is the defensive staff the primary reason for this team's dramatic fall off the cliff? Without a doubt it is part of the problem. But the real problem revolves around the talent. The NFL is a big boy league. It is unmerciful for the weak. If you have vulnerabilities, as we do, it is going to be explointed over and over again. Having our defense getting shredded was not a unique expeience. It has happened at the same absurd level for a number of games. Looking for non obvious answers is a way of not facing the truth: Its about the talent.

[RevWarRifleman]

I consider Syracuse as the front lines of the Buffalo Bills fan base. My family, friends, neighbors, coworkers are all Bills fans and it's hard losing games like this. We all feel it.

 

I'm really not interested in the detailed analysis of fans in NYC, ST Louis, Texas or the dark side of the moon. Is your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers Bills fans, too? Likely the answer is NO, so your life after horrible losses like games we had today is:

 

1. Contained

 

2. Minimal.

 

I get that sense reading your posts. You all seem detached.

 

Make sense?

 

Great. Now you're a psychology professor. Go back under your bridge, troll.

[JohnC]

Gotta respectfully, but strongly disagree.

 

Look at the roster. We used to trot out players to block such as Greg Jerman, Jerry Ostroski, a gimpy John Fina, a nearly crippled Joe Panos, etc. Teams would beat us physically. We now have 3 good OTs, 3, perhaps 4 good OGs, and a fine center. There are 2 areas on the roster in which we need lots of help imo. 1 is LB, but the giants won a superbowl with a school teacher back there. The other is obviously qb, which is the most important.

 

I was NEVER one to blame the scheme on either side of the ball for our losses. In my thousands of post I ripped into poor drafting, weak OLs, and lack of talent. Not as much now John. If anyone (NOT aimed at you) that it is ever OK for Kyle Williams to drop back into pass coverage and stand there alone (as the opponent converts 3rd and long), then there isn't much I can say.

 

PS: The receivers really aren't so bad either. They actually, unlike many past Bills receivers, get open. Giving Fitz better receivers would be like giving me a brand new Gibson guitar. I would be the same lousy guitarist on a better piece of equipment.

 

Bill, trust your eyes. Our DL is getting shredded. That ugly reality has nothing to do with schemes. Mario Williams is playing with one hand. He is ineffecitve and shouldn't be on the field. But there is no one else. For me Dareus is one of the biggest disappoiontments as a player. There is little consistent penetration and he is simply in this season a typical anonymous player who can be replaced without anyone recognizing the difference.

 

Our LBing corps is below average. Because the line isn't putting pressure on the qb our vulnerabilities in the backfield are being explointed with big plays. What is most troubling to me is that there is so much open space behind our DL when the skill players get past the DL.

 

It is so easy to fall in the trap that our hideous defensive problems are primarily caused by schemes devised by inept coaches. Don't fall for that rational. Our coaches are certainly not top of the line. Rememer this is a Ralph Wilson organization so having premier coaches is not going to materialize. The reality you seem fearful to acknowledge is that our defensive players, mostly on the DL, are getting their butts kicked in. They are being moved allowing for wide gaping lanes supported by the next line of defense of a mediocre LBing corps.

 

I told you a long time ago with respect to Spiller to cast off your preconceived notions and trust your eyes. He clearly had talent, even when he struggled. I'm now cajoling you to watch the games, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and trust your eyes. They are getting pummeled. If you want to take the easy way and blame the coaches (who do share some blame) then you are not facing the ugly truth that they are what they are. This is an 8-8 team. Another inconsequential team falling into the same generational pattern.

 

A side note: A lot of people criticize Gailey for his playing calling. You can be doutbtful about a few calls but in my view in this game he called a terrific game. He emphasized a very effective running game and had Fitz passing in a very controlled and short passing scheme. In other words he had Fitz play within his liabilities.

[Fan in Chicago]

Gotta respectfully, but strongly disagree.

 

Look at the roster. We used to trot out players to block such as Greg Jerman, Jerry Ostroski, a gimpy John Fina, a nearly crippled Joe Panos, etc. Teams would beat us physically. We now have 3 good OTs, 3, perhaps 4 good OGs, and a fine center. There are 2 areas on the roster in which we need lots of help imo. 1 is LB, but the giants won a superbowl with a school teacher back there. The other is obviously qb, which is the most important.

 

I was NEVER one to blame the scheme on either side of the ball for our losses. In my thousands of post I ripped into poor drafting, weak OLs, and lack of talent. Not as much now John. If anyone (NOT aimed at you) that it is ever OK for Kyle Williams to drop back into pass coverage and stand there alone (as the opponent converts 3rd and long), then there isn't much I can say.

 

PS: The receivers really aren't so bad either. They actually, unlike many past Bills receivers, get open. Giving Fitz better receivers would be like giving me a brand new Gibson guitar. I would be the same lousy guitarist on a better piece of equipment.

 

I agree with your thoughts.

 

For those saying we don't have enough talent on the D side, they have to look at the O and its success. For a moment, forget about Fitz and see that from the blocking to the RBs to WR, they are performing extremely well. Another true #2 WR will do wonders but still the O is generating points.

Now, consider that Nix and co., built this O by retaining key pieces and adding others. This same team of talent evaluators can NOT have made such major mistakes purely on the D side. I cannot believe that Mario playing hurt, an unmotivated Dareus, a confused Shep, out-matched A Williams etc are coincidences. There is something fundamentally wrong with the D and it cannot be just the lack of talent. They are seriously under-performing.

 

We have a good opportunity with the bye-week. Here is what I would like to see or considered seriously:

- Fire DaveW and perhaps promote Bob Sanders. Alternatively, see if an unemployed DC material can come in and help in short order. e.g. is Singletary still out of a job ?

- Bench Dareus and start Carrington till the kid gets his mojo back.

- MOve A Williams to safety and (gasp) start McK. Not sure I trust Rogers yet. When does Brooks come back from IR ?

- Activate Tarvaris Jackson and give him first team reps in practice. He has had enough time to study the playbook. If we traded for him, give him a chance to play.

Edited October 22, 2012 by Fan in Chicago

[RevWarRifleman]

I disagree. The Bills have enough talent on Defense. They're just being coached entirely wrong.

 

No team has probowlers at every position. It's an unrealistic expectation that too many people have. We have M. Williams, who nay be underperforming, but he was the #1 FA because everyone knows he has talent. K. Williams has plenty of talent. Darius was the #3 pick and Anderson had 10sacks just last year when properly coached in NE. We have a top pick in Gilmore and Byrd has plenty of talent, and a defensive player of the week award to verify it. Barnett, although not Ray Lewis, is a capably talented LB.

 

Those players are more than enough to be the core of a competent defense. Yet, week in and week out, the defense looks lost, confused and uninspired. That's coaching. Plain and simple.

 

Agree!

[dave mcbride]

If you're in NYC or FL or CA, etc, then you're not feeling these losses like we do up here in CNY/WNY. Was the Bills game even on broadcast television in NYC? It was here in Syracuse - it always is!

 

Bill has been posting on this board for like 15 years. He is friends with many of the longtimers here. I'd refrain from criticizing his opinion.

[Maddog69]

I disagree about Chan being an excellent OC. His play calling and refusal to stick with the run make him horrible. He does not have a good grasp on game theory. He is passive when he should be aggressive (calling short passes with 40 seconds on the clock when you need to move downfield for a FG). He is aggressive when he should be passive (Throwing a bomb out of the wildcat when you have the lead in the game, the ball in your hands and the clock is running down). He clearly does not understand when to go for two (when you score a TD to take a 5 point lead with 4 minutes left in the game, you go for two because the PAT is pointless, no pun intended). All in all, he is not a good OC.

[MDH]

Bill has been posting on this board for like 15 years. He is friends with many of the longtimers here. I'd refrain from criticizing his opinion.

 

It's fine to criticize his opinion, just have a logical rebuttal and not the idiotic stance that poster had. If that poster had Crayonz track record I would have found it funny it was so ridiculous.

[RevWarRifleman]

No -- it does not make sense.

 

I'll humor for a minute. I grew up in Buffalo and went to college in Rochester. Graduated in 1981 (Chick Knox era) and knew many fine people from the Syracuse area while at RIT. The overwhelming majority of them were Giants fans and could care less for the Bills or the AFL/AFC. For that matter, most did not really follow pro football very much. Fast forward 3 decades and things have changed. Since the Super Bowl years lots of "die hard Syracuse fans" such as you, your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers have emerged to join Bils Nation. My allegiance goes back much further.

 

I fly back to Buffalo and attend two games a year. I have a huge family still in the area. I sit in a Bills Backer bar with 30 to 40 other devout Buffalo expatriots and we watch the game every Sunday at this new invention called a "Sports Bar". Sorry if that does not meet your standards.

 

You can go back to you misery now and rest assured that you feel more pain than the rest of us.

 

Agree, big time, Bob! Pearl, in all his narrow, negative attitude is missing all of this. I grew up in Niagara county (hell of alot closer to Buffalo than Syracuse) & followed the Bills since its beginning,1960. Which is probably way longer that Mr. Pearl-jammed has been following the team. Saw a few games at the Rockpile when in highschool & later in life at the Ralph. With my degree from Oswego, I embarked on my career a few states away from NY. But loving & following the Bills never left me! Its in our blood, man. But Pearl has this warped view fan-hood, is just simply.....ignorant.

Edited October 22, 2012 by RevWarRifleman

[JPS]

Bill has been posting on this board for like 15 years. He is friends with many of the longtimers here. I'd refrain from criticizing his opinion.

 

I'm all for criticizing anyone's opinion, but not with that garbage.

[Juror#8]

Great thoughts as usual Bill.

 

As you so astutely pointed out, props should go primarily to those on the offensive side of the ball. They kept us in the game despite a woeful defensive effort (and planning).

 

Just think...if we could have invested in a couple more weapons on offense to win shootouts - and give up some of these overpriced cogs that any 6th round mannequin could replicate the utility of?

 

To be sure, what country ever won a war by focusing primarily on having garrisons aggressively defend their land against advancing infantrymen?

[timba]

3) Please Bills Fans, do take this seriously. On the opening play of the 2nd quarter, Kyle Williams dropped back into PASS COVERAGE. Kyle is a penetrating defensive tackle. There is NO scenario in which he should be in pass coverage. He, btw was standing alone in the middle, and they did give up the first down. Wanny is every bit as bad as Jauron. Perhaps even worse, and I never thought I would be able to say this. Sorry to repeat this, but he should be fired, and escorted out of the stadium, as well as Western NY. Maybe he should be escorted out of the country. He is as bad as anything I have ever watched.

 

This was the single worst play call of the game. It was tied 14-14, ball at the TEN 33, 3rd and 9. The D hadn't had a stop yet in the game, and our O only had one possession at the time. So the logic is to take the guy who gets the most consistent penetration on the line and put him into zone coverage. What the F. Can't get pressure with 4, so lets do 3 instead? Having KW rush may not have yielded a different result on the play, but at least you're putting your best players in a situation where they can do what they do best.

[PaattMaann]

Bill From NYC, I get up on Monday solely because of this post....