I voted most of it. I agree with your big two points, but for slightly different reasons.

Trent definitely has to be the QB next year. Unless this team wants to something crazy (crazy good, not crazy bad) and go after Donovan McNabb or something similiar, then Trent needs a chance to prove that he can (or can’t) play like he did earlier in the season. I do think this team needs a really solid backup vet who IS comparable to Trent. I don’t think one of those guys will be available though. Gus Frerotte will probably be resigned by Minnesota, same for Kerry Collins in Tennessee. Jeff Garcia is too good to be a backup. Kyle Boller, Alex Smith or a similiar young, failed, Losman like player would come here with a chip on his shoulder, thinking he should be the starter. I would prefer someone better, but how does Charlie Batch sound to you?

I am also alright with Jauron getting another year. I’m all about continuity, but I wouldn’t mind breaking it up. My problem with firing Jauron is, what difference would it make? I’m sure a question like that will lead to a whole can of worms scenario with people listing every flaw that does and doesn’t exist with Jauron, but it’s where I’m at. I don’t think he is that bad of an in game coach. This past sunday was really the first time I was dissapointed with Jauron as a motivator. I thought this team was playing hard until sunday when they really came out flat and played uninspired ball. Everyone said that there was no desperation last week against SF, but I didn’t see that at all. The run defense maybe played the best game of the season, the pass defense was good, the offensive line might have played their best game as a unit too. Sunday was a different story. But back to the point, I don’t think this team is in a different spot with a head coach that isn’t Jauron. The quarterback play hasn’t been good enough for anyone to win, so why take it out on the coaches? There isn’t a scheme in the world that would make it possible for this team to run up the middle. If blitzing doesn’t create pressure, what could? This team isn’t good enough to win with any coach. Jauron has won games where Trent played decent.

How’s this for a stat: The Bills are 6-1 when Edwards averages 7 or more yards per pass attempt. That makes them 0-4 when he doesn’t.

Brett Favre and the NJJ are 7-1 when Favre averages over 7 yards per pass attempt and 1-5 when he doesn’t.

Chad Pennington and the Dolphins are 6-3 when he averages 7 and 2-2 when he doesn’t.

Cassel and NE are 7-1 when he averages more than 7 and 1-4 when he doesn’t.

Let’s give Jauron a decent QB before we overreact and pin all the blame on him.

sireric and kaisertown….you can add me to your side. If Bills fans want to trade in Jauron for some Mularkey, Greg Williams or some other nondescript Bills coach, be my guest…but I’d rather go with what we’ve got, and hope that Trent and the offense can figure it out. Our defense is ONLY going to get better and our Special Teams are solid and explosive. DJ has done well in his control of the team, and GULP player personnel decisions. Regardless of what people want to say about every drafted player and FA signing, you have to realize that teams draft and sign players base on their fit, for their scheme and their team chemistry. This team is constructed in the eyes and hands of Levy, Modrak, and Jauron for the most part. We have needs and they will try to address them in the off-season. But, ultimately it comes down to QB play and an offense that has an identity.

Our offense has no identity. What are we? Carolina is a run team, NYG are a balanced team, Indy is a passing team, what are we? What do we do well? Who are our playmakers?

I will say this. If DJ and co. listen to me, and draft or find a way to get a big-time pass-catching TE, that will do MORE wonders for TRENT than any other single thing. The combo of Royal, Schouman, Fine is just so bad. They are good blockers, fine special teamers, but they cannot dominate in the passing game like we need.

Getting Free Agents to come to Buffalo is almost impossible. So we have to draft well, and keep our players. Keep Greer please.

I could ramble more but i need sleep

just because I wanted to. harf harf harf

I agree with numero uno, but not numero dos. I don’t necessarily believe Edwards is anything more than a mediocre QB at this point, but I do think he could be better if given a competent OC and a commitment to the running game. It wouldn’t hurt if the receivers stepped up for once.

Watching the Panthers/Bucs game tonight, I spent more time just thinking about our situation. It flat out stinks, frankly. I’ve been trying to come up with good reasons to support Jauron in any way and it’s really tough for me. I really can’t think of any reason for me to say “you know what, it’s ok for Jauron to be kept, because of ……”.

I see you and many others talk about the continuity factor, but why is this so important? We talked about it in the offseason, but continuity should be important if there is a strong blueprint in place with a deep, talented roster. I don’t see that. In fact, why would we keep a guy who’s team has consistently played soft, consistently been unable to beat good teams, thoroughly outplayed way too often, and maybe most damning, has shown very little, if any, improvement in his 3 years??? I’m trying to find a reason to throw some support behind the continuity factor, but I can’t because I don’t want to continue seeing this same garbage over and over. Jauron has consistently shown poor time and game management skills, the inability to make in game adjustments, a lack of competency in hiring coordinators, etc etc. Continuity isn’t something I value when it involves keeping a HC and probably his coordinators that have proven to be quite incompetent and unable to find ways to win here. The team has no identity whatsoever and that’s a direct result of the HC.

The other problem I’m having is the whole “well we can’t get Cowher, Spags, Marty, so why not keep him?” view. I definitely agree we won’t be seeing Cowher or Marty here any time soon, unless it’s as the opposing HC, and Spags is probably going to have his choice of jobs this offseason, but that’s not a good reason for us to keep Jauron and his losing ways around. Really, there are no other qualified candidates that can right this ship and bring a winning identity and an aura of toughness to this team??? Eric, you showed the long string of losers we’ve had in place here, but why should we stick with the guy we have now who is capping that list off? Nobody was talking about guys like Mike Smith, Tony Sparano or John Harbaugh as great HC candidates at this time last year, but they seem to be more than capable. I know none of us want to get stuck with another lemon, but come on. Saying since we can’t get one of the hot names, we better keep Jauron for the continuity is just hurts me Eric. You hurt me. Hahahaha

Of course, none of this really matters anyhow. This team has no chance with Ralphie running things. Jauron should be commended for putting up with him for this long and I just wish we could find a good HC that could also put up with the old man.

While I voted that I agreed with most of it, because I am firmly behind Trent and because without Cowher taking over I think getting rid of Jauron is a mistake, I again have to argue with points brought up on this post, and which were noticeably ignored in your write up eric (on purpose maybe?). And that is the idea that many of us pulling our hair out over a coaching change are concerned primarily with Jauron. I know I am not and I don’t know why keeping Jauron and firing Turk Schonert is such an incompatbile idea to so many people. On top of this, while I don’t agree, I know there are many here who have been calling for the firing of Perry Fewell.

I think many Bills fans are not near as furious with Jauron as they are with either Turk or Perry. Personally, I think we blatantly lost three games down the stretch we would have won if Turk had called a better game plan (Browns, 49ers, Dolphins).

It is not good when I’m watching the game and calling out exactly what Turk is going to dial up (calling it out in obvious pain I might add), what do you think the opposing coaches know!! I can’t believe I have the EXACT same criticism for Turk as I had for Fairchild last year. The only difference is in specifics in that Turk throws way too much. I guess my expectations were too high for a guy who learned behind Fairchild.

I want Trent back. I think he will be a good QB for this team.

On the other hand, I do not want Jauron back, but I think Ralph Wilson will bring him back. I hate the coaching carousel as well, but we need a coach that can get it done here, but that coach is not Jauron. Any coach that shows zero emotion can not get it done in this league.

I do agree with point # 1, I think Trent could be a great QB with the right people directing him. However, I do not agree with point # 2 (which Im sure comes to no suprise to you). Where is Juron’s Heart? Where is his Intersity?

Sure, if I played for him, I’d think he was a gem of a guy too, but would I fear him like you should a coach, no. Why would I? He doesn’t seem to get angry and chew out his players when they roll over and die on the field, or show no intensity.

Listen, I do agree that the “Carousel” effect of coaching changes does suck and would hate to do it as well. But what is the alternative? Keep him and watch him uninspire his team for another season? There’s a big difference between liking your coach and being inspired and getting motivated by him. It’s not like he’s going to come back next season with an attitude change and all the sudden be Bill Cowher. And even if he did, the players would see right through that. Unfortunately, It’s a lost cause with him. But he is a nice guy and I’d buy him a beer any day! LOL

Yeah, I voted A. You stole these thoughts out of my brain.

Trent has shown glimpses of what he can be and I blame the poor offensive play-calling on the crappy production. Also, I personally don’t think that a rookie QB should have audibles. He needs to learn to walk before he runs and I think it was way too much for him. I remain convinced that this guy is the real thing and will be THE guy of the future.

Jauron for continuity? Give me a break! Continuity of what? Mediocrity? I guess if your premise is that you dis-trust Wilson completely and figure he won’t ante-up for a decent coach/GM and that we could wind up with worse than OK but I remain convinced that there is hope after his comments last Sunday. Wouldn’t it be funny if the Toronto series turned out to actually be the savior of this team? With $78M extra $$ Ralph surely has the money to ante-up and get Cowher/Schottenheimer so really it comes down to how cheap he really is and how committed he really is, doesn’t it?

That would be my prediction as to who’s here next year. No Turk.

I bring this up only as pure speculation. On the Zone board a poster who claims inside information says Trent was put back on the field too soon after his concussion. Symptoms came back after his goal line sneak against Miami. He is still suffering from recurring symptoms and that is why he is not playing. If this is the case, his rather dismal play makes sense. We do not know how bad his concussion was at this point. We do know that, depending on the person,l symptoms can recur long after the initial hit and can sometimes take months to fully clear. It may take some time for the facts to come out, but they will. Geronimo, where have you gone? We’re sending up smoke signals now. If you are concerned about your name, come back with a different one. How about – saved by the draft?

not because I agree with you, but because you are probably right.

Point 1 – At this point, Edwards is the QB by default. Bringing in someone to compete with him for the starting job in the off-season would only help him. If we wins the job, great he earns the respect of the players and fans. If not, he is not the best man for the job. If an incumbent QB (JP) losses out to a QB who is new to the team (Edwards) it is because the new QB is much better. Now once the seasons starts, stick with your choice. Pulling a “Holcomb” on a QB is one of the worst things you can do to a QB and a team.

Point 2 – We are on the verge of an epic collapse in the 3rd year of Jauron’s tenure, and all he can say is we are headed in the right direction!!! I would let Jauron watch my kids, but he has proven he is not a good head coach. I would rather gamble on an unknown rookie head coach than suffer another year like this one. At least we would have some hope of winning the coaching lottery. Jauron is a old dog, we know his tricks, and he is not going to learn any new ones.