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

[XakarmyX]

Mario finally shut up all his critics with franchise record set. He needs that every game. Lots of stupid penalties on big 3rd downs. Consequence on having such a young new team. EJ looked superb and he still isn't rushing like he's 100% since surgery and I'm ok with that after seeing his poise and accuracy in the pocket.

[Bill from NYC]

Great post, Bill, but for the second week in a row you failed to recognize McCorner. He was one of the best players out there Sunday.

 

McKelvin did play well yesterday. In fact, late in the first quarter he defended a pretty deep pass at the last second, and this was a simply great play.

But I must say, he still scares me.

[XakarmyX]

The problem with mcK is inconsistency. He's either good or atrocious. No in between. He scares me as well. Also I was FURIOUS at the plays called from the 3 yd line when we have 2 clutch RBs. 2 fades??? Ram that ball up their throat with a dive. Hell, CJ can jump the pile from there if he had to.

[mannc]

 

Aside from the A. Williams late hit (ridiculous gaffe - what was he thinking?), I was most frustrated with the playcalling when we were in the red zone on this drive in the 3rd quarter:

 

 

 

Man I was frustrated.

Yep, and the worst part is that they really had three shots at it from the 2 yard line--Marrone should be thinking that they are definitely going for it on 4th down in that situation. That was truly awful. Hopefully, he learned something.

 

. Also I was FURIOUS at the plays called from the 3 yd line when we have 2 clutch RBs. 2 fades??? Ram that ball up their throat with a dive. Hell, CJ can jump the pile from there if he had to.

Or a QB draw. Edited September 16, 2013 by mannc

[The Poojer]

i am sure this was discussed in other threads...but why no challenge on the kickoff where the guy 'clearly' stepped on the goal line before downing it....shouldn't that have been reviewed as a safety???

[bladiebla]

Can we scrap passes to Chandler in the flats from the playbook?? That is by far the worst way to use him... he should only run down the seams.. slowest player in the league and it's not close...

 

This! Everyone is laying it on Chandler but it's the way he's being used versus how Gailey used him that seems to be the difference.

[bladiebla]

i am sure this was discussed in other threads...but why no challenge on the kickoff where the guy 'clearly' stepped on the goal line before downing it....shouldn't that have been reviewed as a safety???

 

Because the ball needs to come out of the endzone, not the player. So it was the right call.

[Beerball]

Because the ball needs to come out of the endzone, not the player. So it was the right call.

I find it "odd" that for a TD any portion of the ball has to break the goal line but for a safety the entire ball must cross the line. Not disagreeing, you are 100% correct, just one of those football oddities.

[tennesseeboy]

Spot on Bill. I'm giving the Bills consideration for getting the bugs out given the new coaching, new personnel etc. But despite that they have managed to win. I suspect this team will get better and better as they work together. This win was a nailbiter against a poor team, but there were some real flashes of what this team can be with a little more experience playing together. Lots of new talent. I think Williams is finally proving to be the guy we wanted to get. 4.5 sacks is outstanding!

[eball]

I find it "odd" that for a TD any portion of the ball has to break the goal line but for a safety the entire ball must cross the line. Not disagreeing, you are 100% correct, just one of those football oddities.

 

It actually makes sense. If any portion of the ball crosses the plane, it is considered to be in the endzone. Consistent both ways.

[Beerball]

It actually makes sense. If any portion of the ball crosses the plane, it is considered to be in the endzone. Consistent both ways.

Not to me it doesn't.

[eball]

Not to me it doesn't.

 

Really? Think about it. It's as if the ball is going into a body of water. It's wet as soon as the point hits the water, but it isn't dry until it's fully out.

Edited September 16, 2013 by eball

[JohnC]

McKelvin did play well yesterday. In fact, late in the first quarter he defended a pretty deep pass at the last second, and this was a simply great play.

But I must say, he still scares me.

 

If McKelvin scares you then some of his DB mates must have you mortified.

Robey is a good slot DB. He has an excellent feel for the game. If he was three or four inches taller he would be a starting corner.

[xsoldier54]

I have no problem at all with A. Williams hit and penalty. This team has rolled over and been the nice guy for entirely too long. We need some guys with attitude and hard hits like that can define a defense! Yeah, he doesn't need to do that all the time, but I honestly can't remember the last time I saw a Bills team look that fired up out there. Clean up the crap holding penalties and I can live with a bone crunching hit or two.

 

It's hard to believe Bruce never had a 5 sack game. But, this was a big time game for Mario. He looked like a beast grinding up Cam and stickin him in the freezer!

 

EJ was everything we could ever hope for in a rookie in nly his second career start. He's got alot of room for improvement, but guess what... so does EVERY rookie QB. But without a doubt, he looks like a legitimate franchise QB. I think the best thing to have happened to him is hurting his knee in Preseason. They seem reluctant to call alot of designed QB runs and that's a good thing. We don't need a runnign QB, that can throw a little. The league is set up for passers to succeed. He needs to learn to pass first.. and run later.

 

Kiko is looking like an awesome pick! Lovin this guy.

Can't agree on the Williams penalty. It was third down. It allowed the Panthers to keep possession and it could have cost the Bills the game. Incredibly stupid penalty. If you want to light somebody up, you don't do it on a pass that they obviously have no chance of catching. Williams should know that. Gotta be smarter than that because better teams will make you pay for mistakes like that.

 

This! Everyone is laying it on Chandler but it's the way he's being used versus how Gailey used him that seems to be the difference.

I agree that it's not his fault he's so slow, lol. They should never throw him the ball in the flat and expect him to gain anything after the catch. He's way too slow. Hit him on those seam routes. He has good enough hands and he can take a hit. But don't ever throw him the ball laterally. It will never end in a good result.

[C.Biscuit97]

Spot on Bill. I'm giving the Bills consideration for getting the bugs out given the new coaching, new personnel etc. But despite that they have managed to win. I suspect this team will get better and better as they work together. This win was a nailbiter against a poor team, but there were some real flashes of what this team can be with a little more experience playing together. Lots of new talent. I think Williams is finally proving to be the guy we wanted to get. 4.5 sacks is outstanding!

 

1) Are we sure Carolina is a poor team? They barely lost to Seattle, who might be the best team in the NFL, and shut down Lynch.

 

2) The biggest thing that impresses me about Manuel is the stuff you can't put stats on. I love before the last drive, he went up to every olinemen and gave them a fist pound. I love that he shook off 2 potential game killing turnovers. It's stuff like that that plays up big in the lockerroom.

 

3) McKelvin always had this. He just was inconsistent. He didn't back down from Smith and that says a ton.

 

4) The scary part is this team is trying to give away games with dumb penalties. But IMO, the talent is so much better now that games they would have gotten blowout in, they can stay in them. The Bills outplayed the Panthers and only their stupidness made it a close game.

 

5) This is crazy but maybe Mario was really hurt. I believe he is averaging like a sack a game since his surgery. It also helps to have a DC who moves him around. And the best way to handle a bad breakup is to improve and he's done that.

[Joe Miner]

I was/(am?) one of McKelvin's biggest detractors coming in to the season.

 

I'm happy to say that he's playing better at CB than anytime previously in his career.

 

I don't know if it's him or the scheme, or both, but good job McKelvin and keep it up.

 

Maybe he's better as a pressing CB instead of a CB who has to play off his man and react?

 

But either way, he's exceeded my expectations of him through 2 games so far.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

1) Are we sure Carolina is a poor team? They barely lost to Seattle, who might be the best team in the NFL, and shut down Lynch.

 

3) McKelvin always had this. He just was inconsistent. He didn't back down from Smith and that says a ton.

 

As to your first point there are many Bills fans here who don't have perspective and need to find fault with any performance.

 

Yes, Carolina hung with Seattle who demolished San Francisco last night.

 

As one poster here has made the point, the law of transitivity doesn't translate 100% in sports but it isn't meaningless either.

 

As for your last point, even his harshest critics always said that McKelvin could cover his man well but he could never make the play when the ball was on its way. My point is that he's continued to be a good cover man except in this defense he doesn't have to cover his man for as long.

 

A result of this might be that he'll be able to look back for the ball occasionally instead of trying to stay with his man for an eternity like he's had to since his NFL career began.

[DallasBillsFan1]

5. I was more upset with the two fades that were called from the Carolina 2 yard line. That is Fred Jackson territory. Was happy to see him get the ball from there on the next possession. Result? TD!

AMEN brother ... my feeling exactly. That was a nice drive, then on 3rd and goal we throw a fade? Out of bounds? Run Fred!!!

 

8) Hey, I never complain about announcers, nor much else about telecasts. But today, I think that the camera man was on drugs. He was missing key shots. Am I the only one who noticed this?AGREED, I have nocticed that across many games the production (camera Shots) is not good. Is CBS hiring newbies to produce these games? Camera shot often late coming into the play. It's like they are not aware there is a hurry up offense on the field.

[C.Biscuit97]

As to your first point there are many Bills fans here who don't have perspective and need to find fault with any performance.

 

Yes, Carolina hung with Seattle who demolished San Francisco last night.

 

As one poster here has made the point, the law of transitivity doesn't translate 100% in sports but it isn't meaningless either.

 

As for your last point, even his harshest critics always said that McKelvin could cover his man well but he could never make the play when the ball was on its way. My point is that he's continued to be a good cover man except in this defense he doesn't have to cover his man for as long.

 

A result of this might be that he'll be able to look back for the ball occasionally instead of trying to stay with his man for an eternity like he's had to since his NFL career began.

 

Carolina strikes me as the type of team that will fire their coach and make the playoffs the next year. Their front 7 is among the best in the NFL. For people to short change what the Bills did against them is foolish.

 

Also, it's worth noting that Cromartie is a similar player to McKelvin. Ton of physical talent but underachiever. Cromartie became a great corner under Pettine. Right now, McKelvin is underpaid. It's scary to think of this defense with Byrd and Gilmore. If I'm Byrd, I want to get on the field with a team with a pass rush and increase my value.

[bowery4]

I find it "odd" that for a TD any portion of the ball has to break the goal line but for a safety the entire ball must cross the line. Not disagreeing, you are 100% correct, just one of those football oddities.

 

What gets me is the, if you knock down the thing (what is it called anyway?) on the corner of the endzone, it is a TD. Sometimes the ball doesn't break the plane and it goes down, TD. What the F is that? I get the idea it is better to have something there so you can see if it breaks the plane but guys just hit it and it is a score, more often than not, never overturned on review either.

 

As to your first point there are many Bills fans here who don't have perspective and need to find fault with any performance.

 

Yes, Carolina hung with Seattle who demolished San Francisco last night.

 

As one poster here has made the point, the law of transitivity doesn't translate 100% in sports but it isn't meaningless either.

 

As for your last point, even his harshest critics always said that McKelvin could cover his man well but he could never make the play when the ball was on its way. My point is that he's continued to be a good cover man except in this defense he doesn't have to cover his man for as long.

 

A result of this might be that he'll be able to look back for the ball occasionally instead of trying to stay with his man for an eternity like he's had to since his NFL career began.

All good points, Mc Kelvin looks much better since about 2/3rds of last season (when the rest of the D started playing better, even in Wanny's failed POS scheme, too). He tackles well too.

I don't understand why he is back for punts honestly, we'd be screwed if he gets hurt doing that. I vote Easley for that job.