It's December 31st.
Should Old Acquaintance be forgot,
and never thought upon?
The New Year begins tomorrow, and old acquaintances like Bills GM Buddy Nix and his Head Coach Chan Gailey may be forgot. Along with Gailey's Defensive Coordinator Dave Wanndstedt. All this could eventually lead to the release of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
In addition, veterans like Shawn Merriman, Chris Kelsay, Terrance McGee, Brad Smith, Tyler Thigpen and Bryan Scott may not be back.
The littany of transgressions against the game of football and the fans in Buffalo is long for this year's edition of the Buffalo Bills. And many of them can be directly attributed to the coaching staff.
Everyone in Buffalo knows Fitzpatrick and his limitations, but the game-plan both on offense and defense game-in/game-out put the QB and the offense in situations destined to fail.
Much of the demise of the 2012 Bills, though, can be directly attributed to the defense--or lack thereof.
Much ado was made about Super Bowl winner Dave Wanndstedt taking over the reigns of the defense as coordinator.
But, his defense was an epic fail giving up huge chunks of yardage and tons of points throughout the season. And it wasn't so much that his base defense had holes, it was that he never deviated from the plan.
From the Miami Herald before the December game against the Bills: Wanndstedts unchanging approach finally a plus for Miami. Wanndstedt, of course, is a former Dolphins head coach.
The Herald's Armando Salguero wrote, "[Wanndstedt] still believes in playing a very unsophisticated system that doesn't do much in the way of disguises or blitzes or, well, changing from game to game."
Back in late September and early October the defense collapsed against New England giving up 35 second-half points on six consecutive Patriots possessions. The defense gave up 580 yards during the game.
Not to be outdone, the team travelled to San Francisco the following week. The team, once again, was in a giving mood surrendering 621 yards in a 45-3 loss.
Wanndstedt made little or no adjustments during those six excruciating quarters.
Then again, maybe, as Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports, who covered Wanndstedt in Miami, put it, (a must listen, by the way) "that defense is awful, just God awful. Dave [Wanndstedt] is probably one of the worst coaches I've seen rise to that level [of coordinator]."
Individually, Mario Williams--the Bills huge off-season signing--didn't live up to expectations and his locker room cooler was a source of contention, at least for the media.
Mark Anderson, Williams' opposite on the right side, was largely ineffective before getting injured.
The linebacking corps was extremely weak. They couldn't stop the run nor could they cover, nor were they even in the proper gap.
And, the Bills had no conrerbacks either, at least early on whilst rookie Stephon Gilmore learned on the fly.
On offense, Gailey just couldn't figure things out, whether it was how to use Fitzpatrick, RB's CJ Spiller and Fred Jackson, and/or timeclock management, or even where he was on the field and when to use K Rian Lindell.
Of all the Gailey gaffes, the field goal attempt--"Not. Time Out. We'll punt."--fiasco really took the cake. The kick would have been a 52-yard, but Gailey thought it was 50. Once he found out that it as longer than 50--Lindell's limit in Gailey's mind--he called a time out and punted.
Then there's not using the game-breaking talents of Spiller, because it was Jackson's turn. Or, for some unknown reason, not using Spiller for numerous plays in the red-zone.
All of these things put too much pressure on Fitzpatrick, an average quarterback who lost his favorite receiver--David Nelson--during the first game of the season. And it was ugly.
Individually, things on offense weren't even close to the malaise on defense. Whereas the defense could use anywhere from three to five upgrades, the offense only needs a couple. Unfortunately, both are at key positions--QB and #1 WR.
Gailey and Wanndstedt were clearly out of their league, and maybe GM Nix was as well.
The Williams signing was huge and the Spiller pick, in hindsight, looks to be a revelation.
But his coaches as well as the contract extension and crowning of Fitz as their franchise QB--without a backup plan--may be his demise.
Not drafting a QB to develop, especially in light of the success second and third rounders like Andy Dalton, Colin Kapernick and Russell Wilson have had, looks to be a major hit against him. Not drafting/upgrading his wide receiver corps or his linbackers really hurt the team this season as well.
Not to mention the personnel choices: carrying two kickers--Lindell and "long kicker," John Potter--forced the team to release reserve LB Tank Carder (Cleveland) as well as reserve RB Johnny White (Green Bay.) Veteran punter Brian Moorman was also released in favor of Shawn Powell. "Wildcat QB/reserve WR Brad Smith was retained despite negligible results during his short tenure in Buffalo. FA quarterback Vince Young was released during camp, and the Bills traded for Tavaris Jackson for a conditional pick (7th-round) only to watch the back-up take up $3M in cap-space because there wasn't enough meaningful practice for him behind Fitz and #2 QB, Tyler Thigpen.
All-in-all, it's the 13th season in a row that the Bills have not made the playoffs--the third for Nix and Co. The team either couldn't handle the high expectations at the beginning of the year or they didn't really have what we, and nearly everyone in football, thought they had in terms of personnel. Either way, the Bills were toast in early December (once again) and the fans are calling for major changes.
Nix is probably in good shape, although he should be moved to make way for up and coming GM, Doug Whaley.
Gailey's record in his three years is 16-32 with very few division wins. He went 4-12, 6-10, 6-10. That speaks for itself, and he should be shown the door.
Wanndstedt is a sitting duck if/when Gailey's gone.
As for Fitzpatrick? The Bills shouldn't waste a 1st round draft pick for a reach at the QB position. As alluded to earlier, they have some major weakness at linebacker, wide receiver and cornerback that need upgrading. The talent level of those positions in the draft look to be far better than any of the QB's coming out this season.
I wouldn't blame this whole season on him, like WGR's Paul Hamilton likes to do, but if there's a change at QB, and it's an upgrade, that's OK too.
All I can say is, what a disappointing season.
The flames of Love extinguished,
and fully past and gone:
Update: Chan Gailey fired and his staff relieved of duties. 11:01 am December 31, 2012
Gailey meets tbe media, briefly.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
#4-overall pick in the 2013 NFL would suit the Bills well
The conversation on WGR 550 this morning centered on the Bills last game of the 2012 season vs. the NY Jets.
The Bills head into the final game with a 5-10 record and are in the #6 spot for the draft. Kansas City and Jacksonville will have the first two spots locked up. Oakland sits third, seemingly solidified in that spot while Philadelphia and Detroit (both, surprisingly) occupy the fourth and fifth slots, respectively. The Bills sit "atop" a bevy of teams with five wins but hold the "top" spot because of a weaker schedule. (For more on their present position via WGR, click here.)
At present, the Bills could reach as high as 3rd with a loss or drop down to as low as #10 with a win, so the issue at hand for the GR boys--Jeremy White and Sal Cappaccio--was whether the Bills should tank in the last and final game.
The answer here is a definitive....yes.
The argument for "integrity," "playing for the coach" and/or "playing to win" are always there and would hold the team and individual players up to lofty standards. But, in this instance one should say, "the hell with it."
Stuff like this happens all the time and one could make a strong case that the Indianapolis Colts--who were probably losing their Hall of Fame quarterback in Peyton Manning after a career threatening neck injury in 2011--tanked the 2011 season in order to secure the top pick in the draft. The #1-overall pick just happened to be a quarterback touted as one of the best college prospects since...well...Peyton Manning in Andrew Luck. The Luck pick allowed the Colts and Manning to part ways this past off-season.
Surprise!!! The Colts went from a 2-14 team to the playoffs with Luck at the helm even though he has not been Hall of Fame calibre this season (although he's has been pretty solid and will probably end up #2 or #3 in Rookie of the Year balloting.)
Also, from Wiki: "The Colts were the first team in NFL history to come off nine straight playoff appearances, and then start the following season 0-13. The Colts were the first team to start 0-13 since the 2008 Detroit Lions; it was the worst start in franchise history. The Colts also had the worst record of any AFC team since the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008."
Anyway, a Bills loss in the final game coupled with a win by either Philly or Detroit--or, better yet, both--would move them up another spot or two. And, ideally, that would land them in the #4 spot of the draft. Not only would that give them the fourth overall, but they would also have the third pick in the 2nd-round.
Being in the four-hole should allow them to draft a quarterback--a DEFENSIVE QUARTERBACK.
That player being Manti Te'o of Notre Dame.
Yes, all the boys at WGR, are clamoring for a "franchise quarterback" and a point could be made that the Bills could use a significant upgrade at QB. But it would be pure nonsense to waste a high draft pick reaching for what they, and fans, really want--a savior. The drop-off from the consensus top QB, Geno Smith (likely #1 overall pick) to Matt Barkley (a reach anywhere above the middle first round) to a group of second to third rounders like Mike Glennon, Tyler Bray and Tyler Wilson makes for a very thin QB pool.
Te'o is considered an easy top-five pick in the draft who could immediately have an impact on one of the worst defenses in the league. He's a three-down middle linebacker with football smarts. He's also a ball-hawk who's improved his pass coverage and is a leader on the #1 college team in the country--a team that overachieved all season, especially on defense.
Would you rather draft that, or go for a quarterback with deficiencies that may or may not be corrected?
Just too many question marks with the latter.
An argument can be made that the most glaring weakness on the 2012 Bills, was not at quarterback, it was at linebacker. Average at best is the proper term when describing this group and one could easily make a case that they need at least two linebackers--including middle--more than they need a quarterback right now.
Throughout the history of the Bills, there have been relatively few impact players at linebacker: Cornelius Bennett, Shane Conlan, Jim Haslett, and Darryl Talley come to mind.
But the best middle linebacker in Bills history is from their AFL Championship seasons back in the 60's--Mike Stratton.
Some background.
Mike Stratton (13th-round, #100-overall, 1962 AFL draft)
1st team All-pro, 6-time Pro Bowl selection
"The Hit Heard Round the World" (from the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame)
From that moment, the Bills seized the momentum. The Chargers, already minus star receiver Lance Alworth, had lost their other star offensive performer, and their offense was out of business for the day. The Bills roared back with 20 unanswered points to claim the title, a title they successfully defended the following year on the Chargers’ home turf as Stratton and his defensive cohorts pitched a shutout.
Buffalo players and other observers cited “The Hit” as a turning point not only for one game, but for the fortunes of the franchise. The play was a springboard to the consecutive titles that established the Bills as a dominant team in the AFL; it was also a statement by the swarming, physical defense that paved the way for the team’s success.'
Nothing would help an offensive transition to the quarterback of he future, like a physical defense to pave the way and take pressure off of the QB--whether it be a free agent, draft choice or present quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick . Having a Stratton-like difference maker would go far and that piece of the puzzle could be within the Bills reach this draft in linebacker Manti Te'o.
The Bills head into the final game with a 5-10 record and are in the #6 spot for the draft. Kansas City and Jacksonville will have the first two spots locked up. Oakland sits third, seemingly solidified in that spot while Philadelphia and Detroit (both, surprisingly) occupy the fourth and fifth slots, respectively. The Bills sit "atop" a bevy of teams with five wins but hold the "top" spot because of a weaker schedule. (For more on their present position via WGR, click here.)
At present, the Bills could reach as high as 3rd with a loss or drop down to as low as #10 with a win, so the issue at hand for the GR boys--Jeremy White and Sal Cappaccio--was whether the Bills should tank in the last and final game.
The answer here is a definitive....yes.
The argument for "integrity," "playing for the coach" and/or "playing to win" are always there and would hold the team and individual players up to lofty standards. But, in this instance one should say, "the hell with it."
Stuff like this happens all the time and one could make a strong case that the Indianapolis Colts--who were probably losing their Hall of Fame quarterback in Peyton Manning after a career threatening neck injury in 2011--tanked the 2011 season in order to secure the top pick in the draft. The #1-overall pick just happened to be a quarterback touted as one of the best college prospects since...well...Peyton Manning in Andrew Luck. The Luck pick allowed the Colts and Manning to part ways this past off-season.
Surprise!!! The Colts went from a 2-14 team to the playoffs with Luck at the helm even though he has not been Hall of Fame calibre this season (although he's has been pretty solid and will probably end up #2 or #3 in Rookie of the Year balloting.)
Also, from Wiki: "The Colts were the first team in NFL history to come off nine straight playoff appearances, and then start the following season 0-13. The Colts were the first team to start 0-13 since the 2008 Detroit Lions; it was the worst start in franchise history. The Colts also had the worst record of any AFC team since the Kansas City Chiefs in 2008."
Anyway, a Bills loss in the final game coupled with a win by either Philly or Detroit--or, better yet, both--would move them up another spot or two. And, ideally, that would land them in the #4 spot of the draft. Not only would that give them the fourth overall, but they would also have the third pick in the 2nd-round.
 |
| Notre Dame's Manti Te'o should be a top-five pick in the 2013 NFL. Hopefully, it will be the Buffalo Bills. |
That player being Manti Te'o of Notre Dame.
Yes, all the boys at WGR, are clamoring for a "franchise quarterback" and a point could be made that the Bills could use a significant upgrade at QB. But it would be pure nonsense to waste a high draft pick reaching for what they, and fans, really want--a savior. The drop-off from the consensus top QB, Geno Smith (likely #1 overall pick) to Matt Barkley (a reach anywhere above the middle first round) to a group of second to third rounders like Mike Glennon, Tyler Bray and Tyler Wilson makes for a very thin QB pool.
Te'o is considered an easy top-five pick in the draft who could immediately have an impact on one of the worst defenses in the league. He's a three-down middle linebacker with football smarts. He's also a ball-hawk who's improved his pass coverage and is a leader on the #1 college team in the country--a team that overachieved all season, especially on defense.
Would you rather draft that, or go for a quarterback with deficiencies that may or may not be corrected?
Just too many question marks with the latter.
An argument can be made that the most glaring weakness on the 2012 Bills, was not at quarterback, it was at linebacker. Average at best is the proper term when describing this group and one could easily make a case that they need at least two linebackers--including middle--more than they need a quarterback right now.
Throughout the history of the Bills, there have been relatively few impact players at linebacker: Cornelius Bennett, Shane Conlan, Jim Haslett, and Darryl Talley come to mind.
But the best middle linebacker in Bills history is from their AFL Championship seasons back in the 60's--Mike Stratton.
Some background.
 |
| The 2013 edition of the Buffalo Bills could use a difference maker on defense like Mike Stratton was during their AFL championship seasons. |
1st team All-pro, 6-time Pro Bowl selection
"The Hit Heard Round the World" (from the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame)
'Otherwise known as “The Hit Heard Round the World”, Stratton’s indelible moment came early in the 1964 AFL Championship game at War Memorial Stadium. The opponents, the defending AFL Champion San Diego Chargers, scored easily in four plays the first time they touched the ball, and four plays later it was back in their hands. Chargers quarterback Tobin Rote floated a swing pass to star halfback Keith Lincoln in the left flat. At precisely the instant Lincoln reached up for the pass, Stratton arrived like a locomotive. Stratton timed the hit perfectly, driving his right shoulder into the ballcarrier’s rib cage and driving him to the frozen turf with both arms. The hit not only separated Lincoln from the ball, but also cracked three ribs, driving him from the game.
From that moment, the Bills seized the momentum. The Chargers, already minus star receiver Lance Alworth, had lost their other star offensive performer, and their offense was out of business for the day. The Bills roared back with 20 unanswered points to claim the title, a title they successfully defended the following year on the Chargers’ home turf as Stratton and his defensive cohorts pitched a shutout.
Buffalo players and other observers cited “The Hit” as a turning point not only for one game, but for the fortunes of the franchise. The play was a springboard to the consecutive titles that established the Bills as a dominant team in the AFL; it was also a statement by the swarming, physical defense that paved the way for the team’s success.'
Nothing would help an offensive transition to the quarterback of he future, like a physical defense to pave the way and take pressure off of the QB--whether it be a free agent, draft choice or present quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick . Having a Stratton-like difference maker would go far and that piece of the puzzle could be within the Bills reach this draft in linebacker Manti Te'o.
Friday, December 21, 2012
And w00t!!! it is
Is there a better way to start this blog?
First off, as of right now, the Mayans were wrong--the world still has not ended.
Secondly, news just broke that the Buffalo Bills, Erie County and NY State have agreed to a new lease to keep the Bills in Buffalo.
The Buffalo News', Tom Precious, broke the story that the Bills and the county agreed to a new 10-year lease to keep the team in Buffalo. In addition, Precious stated that the agreement included a "hefty buyout."
Come to find out that there will be a $400M relocation penalty paid to the county should the Bills relocate.
Yes, you read that right, $400M.
In addition, $130M will go into renovations to Ralph Wilson Stadium.
The negativity directed towards Bills Owner, Ralph Wilson, has been some of the most vile ever perpetrated against anyone outside of mass murderers, genocidal dictators, and child sex offenders. Many Bills fans hate him and some have expressed their desire for the 94yr. old to kick the bucket to start a complete rebuild of the team.
But, that's just outright wrong.
You could loathe him for a variety of reasons pertaining to the running of the Bills, and you could even call him senile, lost, perplexed, apathetic, money-grubbing, etc, and you may not be too far off. Basically Wilson, in a Christmas analogy, was/is the Grinch who continually stole Christmas from the fans of Buffalo.
Right now this is good news for the diehard/loyal fans of Western New York.
And I'd like to thank the Mayans for being wrong and Ralph Wilson for doing the right thing. Because of this, I was able to kick off a new blog with some very important news and with the hope that this is the beginning of new Buffalo Bills era.
 |
| According to the Mayans, or the interpretation of their calender, (above) December 21, 2012 was to be the end of the world |
Secondly, news just broke that the Buffalo Bills, Erie County and NY State have agreed to a new lease to keep the Bills in Buffalo.
The Buffalo News', Tom Precious, broke the story that the Bills and the county agreed to a new 10-year lease to keep the team in Buffalo. In addition, Precious stated that the agreement included a "hefty buyout."
Come to find out that there will be a $400M relocation penalty paid to the county should the Bills relocate.
Yes, you read that right, $400M.
In addition, $130M will go into renovations to Ralph Wilson Stadium.
 |
| Hall of Fame Owner Ralph Wilson is "solid!" with the move to sign a 10-year lease with the county and the state. |
So, just what on earth happened here?
But, that's just outright wrong.
You could loathe him for a variety of reasons pertaining to the running of the Bills, and you could even call him senile, lost, perplexed, apathetic, money-grubbing, etc, and you may not be too far off. Basically Wilson, in a Christmas analogy, was/is the Grinch who continually stole Christmas from the fans of Buffalo.
 |
| "...and the Grinch's heart grew three times that day." |
Is this new lease agreement, the "Grinch's" change of heart?
There are plenty of agreement details to be released and there's a press conference set for 11:00am with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo headed to Buffalo.
There are plenty of agreement details to be released and there's a press conference set for 11:00am with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo headed to Buffalo.
Right now this is good news for the diehard/loyal fans of Western New York.
And I'd like to thank the Mayans for being wrong and Ralph Wilson for doing the right thing. Because of this, I was able to kick off a new blog with some very important news and with the hope that this is the beginning of new Buffalo Bills era.
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