Steve Tasker
Footballguy
It was a run. EJ time.
Looks like you got your wish....I don't blame guys for taking any money they can get, but if Orton had any pride at all, he would decline his player option and re-retire.
Good for him. Made his nut and is going to go enjoy his family. He didn't have to come play and it was a good thing for the Bills that he did.Orton announced he's retiring?
Wow
I agree, EJ + 1 Rookie + 1 Vet - let them battle it out in camp.Obviously it depends on who is available, and what type of trades you can make, but I'm thinking the team would be better off trying to find a stud guard with their 1st pick instead of trying to force a QB pick in that spot. Would like to see a better line and running game to complement the defense. Someone like EJ could win games in that situation I believe, but they should also bring in a vet and another young QB to compete with him.
Orton retiring is great news for the Bills. Not an EJ believer either, but Orton clearly wasn't the answer.Oh boy. Where do we go from here? Who is going to be out QB next year?
I'm hoping Bradford, RGIII, Cutler or someone else with upside becomes available.
I am not an EJ believer.
Born in Texas and played his college ball there.Mark Ludwiczak @MarkLud12 Follow
Jerry Hughes would like to return to Buffalo, but also laughed when asked about a hometown discount. Hughes: "I've never heard of that."
He's gone. Let him go. He's gonna look for the biggest pay day. We won't be able to do that.Mark Ludwiczak @MarkLud12 Follow
Jerry Hughes would like to return to Buffalo, but also laughed when asked about a hometown discount. Hughes: "I've never heard of that."
That road schedule in particular is about as friendly as it could have possibly been.Bills 2015 schedule looks pretty favorable.
Home games: NE, MIA, NYJ, HOU, IND, DAL, NYG, CIN
Away games: NE, MIA, NYJ, JAX, TEN, PHI, WAS, KC
Why blame Russ Brandon here? He's been incredibly successful at regionalizing the franchise and making it economically viable to stay in Western NY. He (happily) relinquished overall control of football operations to a qualified GM candidate (Whaley) - which GM has done a pretty solid job in his first couple years on the job (QB notwithstanding).After reading this article (which I hadn't seen when it was first written), I'm definitely in the keep Whaley camp. But also in the "Get Rid Of All These Old Guys" camp. I think Russ Brandon should be totally gone as well as he clearly is the one that created that mess.
http://bills.buffalonews.com/2014/02/23/sources-disconnect-youngsters-lifers-bills-organization/
noneWhy blame Russ Brandon here? He's been incredibly successful at regionalizing the franchise and making it economically viable to stay in Western NY. He (happily) relinquished overall control of football operations to a qualified GM candidate (Whaley) - which GM has done a pretty solid job in his first couple years on the job (QB notwithstanding).After reading this article (which I hadn't seen when it was first written), I'm definitely in the keep Whaley camp. But also in the "Get Rid Of All These Old Guys" camp. I think Russ Brandon should be totally gone as well as he clearly is the one that created that mess.
http://bills.buffalonews.com/2014/02/23/sources-disconnect-youngsters-lifers-bills-organization/
What good does it do to remove him?
he's not that good. this team can't keep moving multiple picks for players unless they are a sure thing. jury still out on Cousins imo.What do you guys think of trading a couple mid-rounders for Kirk Cousins?
He's saying he wants to be traded if RGIII is named the starter. I can't see Washington committing to him over Griffin.
Exactly. Cousins was exposed after starting only a few games. There is no point bringing in another mediocre talent at the position.he's not that good. this team can't keep moving multiple picks for players anymore.What do you guys think of trading a couple mid-rounders for Kirk Cousins?
He's saying he wants to be traded if RGIII is named the starter. I can't see Washington committing to him over Griffin.
Because Brandon did a whole lot more than regionalize the Bills. He's the one that kept all those old timers around that have been handicapping the Bills for years and years. He's the one that tied the hands of Whaley and Marrone on a lot of football decisions by giving their authority to old guys with proven failed track records.Why blame Russ Brandon here? He's been incredibly successful at regionalizing the franchise and making it economically viable to stay in Western NY. He (happily) relinquished overall control of football operations to a qualified GM candidate (Whaley) - which GM has done a pretty solid job in his first couple years on the job (QB notwithstanding).After reading this article (which I hadn't seen when it was first written), I'm definitely in the keep Whaley camp. But also in the "Get Rid Of All These Old Guys" camp. I think Russ Brandon should be totally gone as well as he clearly is the one that created that mess.
http://bills.buffalonews.com/2014/02/23/sources-disconnect-youngsters-lifers-bills-organization/
What good does it do to remove him?
Brandon was making all team decisions for at least 2 years before Ralph died. For all intents and purposes, he was acting as team owner.that article was written while Ralph Wilson was still around. New World Order with the Pegula Bills now, so not sure why Brandon doing what Wilson wanted makes him a bad guy all of a sudden.
he said he talked to Wilson on the phone once/day.Brandon was making all team decisions for at least 2 years before Ralph died. For all intents and purposes, he was acting as team owner.that article was written while Ralph Wilson was still around. New World Order with the Pegula Bills now, so not sure why Brandon doing what Wilson wanted makes him a bad guy all of a sudden.
Marrone was a Whaley hire, wasn't he?Defending Russ is weird to me. Marrone stuck in 1975 has proven to be the total opposite of everything he claimed they were looking for - innovative, forward thinking, analytics..
You want to leave him in Marketing fine, whatever, that's what he was with the Marlins.
At most, Cousins is worth a 6th or a 7th. Trading multiple mid round picks would be a big mistake.flysack said:What do you guys think of trading a couple mid-rounders for Kirk Cousins?
He's saying he wants to be traded if RGIII is named the starter. I can't see Washington committing to him over Griffin.
you've never seen an NFL player improve in year 3 of his career?Do you guys not remember how horrible EJ was?
I'm not saying he can't and I'm not saying to release him or bury him on the depth chart. Nor am I saying any of these other guys are the savour. However, the idea of having EJ as the only option next season is scary. Have a true open QB competition in camp and go with the best option.you've never seen an NFL player improve in year 3 of his career?time to write off a QB with just 14 career NFL starts? with a 6-8 record and 16 TD/12 INT ratio?Do you guys not remember how horrible EJ was?
I don't think he's the answer, but I don't think most of the other retreads people are hoping will come in and save the team are going to be much better.
No, a true scouting failure would be trading to up to get a guy who busts or underperforms his draft position. The Bills gave up quite a bit to get Watkins, but at least he delivered as advertised.I can't for the life of me understand why it's so hard to understand that Watkins can be great and the trade can still be bad. Who cares if he'd have better #s on the Giants or if Beckham's #s would be worse here. The point is Beckham is obviously in the same tier. When Dez Bryant and Julio Jones are in the same draft you don't trade a 1st and say "see? He's not a bust!" You take whichever is available. It's a scouting failure, period.
I could see where he could get an interview, but there is no chance he would be any teams #1 choice.Is anyone buying Schefter's stuff about how Marrone would be teams' #1 option if he left the Bills?
Seems like total nonsense to me and like the fact they have the same agent really is heavily influencing Schefter here.
Ya, I totally buy it... in his second year as a head coach, he brought his team to the first winning season in a decade with marginal talent at the most important position (QB). That's a pretty significant achievement. Bills fans need to have some perspective here.Is anyone buying Schefter's stuff about how Marrone would be teams' #1 option if he left the Bills?
Seems like total nonsense to me and like the fact they have the same agent really is heavily influencing Schefter here.
Seriously? I agree that the QB position is a major problem. But I think he has made enough bad decisions both in game and in personnel that it's hard for me to give him too much credit.Ya, I totally buy it... in his second year as a head coach, he brought his team to the first winning season in a decade with marginal talent at the most important position (QB). That's a pretty significant achievement. Bills fans need to have some perspective here.Is anyone buying Schefter's stuff about how Marrone would be teams' #1 option if he left the Bills?
Seems like total nonsense to me and like the fact they have the same agent really is heavily influencing Schefter here.
I don't see it this way at all. (ETA - I agree that he can be great and it can be a bad trade, but I don't see this as a bad trade)I can't for the life of me understand why it's so hard to understand that Watkins can be great and the trade can still be bad. Who cares if he'd have better #s on the Giants or if Beckham's #s would be worse here. The point is Beckham is obviously in the same tier. When Dez Bryant and Julio Jones are in the same draft you don't trade a 1st and say "see? He's not a bust!" You take whichever is available. It's a scouting failure, period.
Every fan base loves to point out the flaws of their coaches. Packers fans love to #### about Mike McCarthy's play calling and game management too. If you find the perfect coach, chances are a leprechaun and unicorn will also be hanging out with him.Seriously? I agree that the QB position is a major problem. But I think he has made enough bad decisions both in game and in personnel that it's hard for me to give him too much credit.Ya, I totally buy it... in his second year as a head coach, he brought his team to the first winning season in a decade with marginal talent at the most important position (QB). That's a pretty significant achievement. Bills fans need to have some perspective here.Is anyone buying Schefter's stuff about how Marrone would be teams' #1 option if he left the Bills?
Seems like total nonsense to me and like the fact they have the same agent really is heavily influencing Schefter here.
My biggest beef with him is his absolute stubborness in his "system". That has lead to crazy decisions in game on 4th down situations and horrible player utilization. Yeah, the QB position was awful as was the O-line, but instead of acknowledging that and moving to some quick crosses to Watkins or screens to Spiller, they continued to force their "system". So we got Spiller up the middle, or trying to get an edge without a blocking TE, or running Watkins deep over and over. Or leaving the TE completely out of the passing game.
The best coaches use their talent to their best advantage and use scheme to mask weaknesses. Marrone and Hackett have absolutely refused to do that.
And Marrone's complete lack of understanding analytics is unreal to me. To argue with reporters about 4th down playcalling when he was clearly wrong was crazy. And his latest screed about analytics was downright hilarious. It's just an old man jock rambling about something that he realizes is important without having any clue what it really is.