The facts about the Bills
by Corwin Colbert on Nov 14, 2011 6:42 PM EST
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PrintI finally broke down and decided to post after hearing all the young Bills fans complaining and predicting the end of the world. I decided to breakdown the facts of the teams and the myths.
Myths:
1. Before the season started we all thought we will have a winning record. 2. Before the season started we all knew we would have national media coverage. 3. Before the season started we knew we could put up points.
Facts:
1. Fitz is legit. You can put Brady behind our talentless line and the outcome would be the same. When given time, Fitz can dissect a defense. It's hard to put up numbers when your running for your life.
2. Recieving Corps: The biggest blow to the RECCORPS was Roscoe Parrish. He was a legitimate deep threat and our homerun hitter. Everyone seems to forget how well he did when he is healthy. Donald Jones is the fastest WR on the team (healthy); lets not confuse that with being a deep threat. Besides SJ the other recievers aren't great at beating press coverage. The Bills Tightend should be the number 2 look.
3. Oline: {sigh} They did great at the begining of the season. Fans need to stop crying. Injuries have plagued the line and we were already thin. It's not going to get any better, so tighten the old derriere.
4. RBs: This is probably where we need to focus. I agree 2 backs are better than one. Chan needs to use the Pistol formation more that puts both backs on the field and run the hell out of the ball. Run plays are easier on the Oline and it helps build their confidence when positive gains are made. We shouldn't have never drafted Spiller (No knock on him); the combination of M. Lynch and Fred Jackson was fine.
5. Dline: we need to commit back into a cover-2 defense. This hybrid 3-4 doesn't work. It's too much for our lack luster D-fense to do. At best we have one solid DL (Dareus; K. williams is out), one somewhat (carrington) and the rest as rotational players to keep fresh bodies on the field.
6. LBS: Put the young talent out there with Barnett. Put Kelsay back a DE. When S. Merriman is back next season convert him to DE (maximizing his strength and hand skills); he's lost a couple of steps as LB.
7. CBS: The worst of the bunch. McKelvin is always distracted, never fully in the game and he seriously needs to stop ball hawking and worry about the fundamentals. Everytime I turn around I see this guy trying to make a play on the ball instead of knocking it down and everytime he gets beat (example includes last weeks beat down. one more note on McKelvin; he seriously needs to work o his positioning mechanics. He is always repositioning his body when getting beat deep. McGee is my favorite but he is getting old and lost a step. Florence and the rest of the CBS are all support no real number one's on the team. Switching to a cover 2 and abandoning the "3-4" hybrid can mask some of our coverage woes and actually deepning a lb corps. But would leave our Dline thin. Final Thoughts:
1. Dominating 3-4 DEs are hard to come by.
2. We aren't going to have all the pieces to our D for another two years.
3. Decent 4-3 DEs are abundant and so are DT.
4. Cutting Stroud was a big mistake.
5. Try Heard next to Dareus when we call a 4-3 play.
6. Draft lineman in the first two rounds this year, for peets sake. 7. Speaking of drafts no more LBS in the first to mid rounds period. How about a shut down corner?!
P.S. Since I am talking about the 4-3 scheme; Can we give some love to Jasper!
Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.
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Those FACTS are mostly OPINIONS:
Roscoe Parrish wasn’t the biggest blow to the receiving corps, it was Marcus Easley who is the only guy who could have stepped up to be a reasonable number 2 WR. Parrish has been easily replaced by Nelson.
On the DLine, you want to re-commit to a system that didn’t work either?
CBs – McKelvin’s positioning is fine. His ball instincts aren’t.
by MattRichWarren on Nov 14, 2011 7:17 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Easley and DLine
Actually, Parrish was underrated. Last year before the injury he was our best deep threat. Easley is unproven. He only played what 3-4 games before injury?
As far as the Dline. You can’t turn 4-3 players into 3-4 players. Until we have decent pass rushers putting 4 on the line is our best option. How many plays has McKelvin made vs. how many he has given up. This isnt an opinion its facts. I watched every Bills game this year. McKelvin is constantly getting turned around and beat deep. Its more than a ball instinct and as I stated he needs to worry about batting the ball than INTS also needs to tackle better. Go back watch the opps. big plays and you’ll see what iI mean. How many times does the safeties have to go a finish a tackle due to his poor “ball” instincts.
by Corwin Colbert on Nov 14, 2011 7:30 PM EST up reply actions
Parrish is overrated not underrated....he has NEVER produced as a WR for a full season
I posted this in July
Still waiting for a response to this post
OK….not to pick on you, but
I went to Pro Football Reference
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/ParrRo00.htm
and looked at Parrish’s receiving stats, specifically R/G, receptions/games played
2005 – 1.5
2006 – 1.4
2007 – 2.2
2008 – 1.8
2009 – 0.3
2010 – 4.1
So if I am reading that correctly, for the first 5 years of his career Parrish averaged 1.4 catches per game. When was Parrish consistently producing as a WR again? Including last year, he averaged 1.8 for his career. For comparison….Josh Reed averaged 2.7, Steve Johnson 2.9, Evans 3.5. If anyone knows where to find stats on drops I would love to see it.
"Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances." - Sun Tzu
If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.
Agree with you with injury proned. However he was starting to come out of his shell but of course he got injured.
I am not saying he was the best. I am saying he was far better than DJ has a deep threat and made teams think when choosing double coverage.
by Corwin Colbert on Nov 14, 2011 8:39 PM EST up reply actions
Losing Easley was a huge loss
Couldn’t agree with you more. Once Easley went down, we lost a huge part of our offense. True he was unproven but we all saw big things for him this season. Hopefully everything with Easley will be OK and he can come back and play (although I highly doubt it).
People need to be patient, we will got 8-8 or 9-7 and that is improvement!!!!
by the buffahoe on Nov 14, 2011 8:52 PM EST up reply actions
these sound more like facts to me
or at least, much better opinions.
ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE
by ThaRealTruth on Nov 15, 2011 10:53 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Cutting Stroud was a big mistake.
He’s out of football and he was cut by the Pats before we could remember they dropp a few hundred k on him. He’s done. Maybe you mean Maybin.
I have low expectations. But high hopes.
Maybin is awful…and he is only having a little bit of success as a situational pass rusher when the Jets bring 8 guys at once. He fits into their system because they have lock down corners. He has one move, which is run around the left tackle and cannot beat any tackle in this league single handedly.
I also think we need to draft some kind of pass rusher at LB. So I would put that on top of my wish list come draft time. I love lineman like you suggested as well, but this team is in need for a Demarcus Ware type player and yes more corners like you said. Its sad when we draft a million corners and we can’t get a solid starter….im praying Williams turns out to be a solid starting corner in this league
i agree with your myths
and i agree with you on fitz. but there is zero point in switching defenses. Another draft and offseason will give edwards the talent he needs to run a 3-4 defense. Dont scrap it yet. and also although i think im in the minority with this point, Spiller will not be a waste give him some time.
Fitzmagic
what did i just read
i disagree with so much of this. i really have no idea where to start.
1) pistol formation? no. no no no no no
2) stroud was absolutely terrible last ssn. heard is younger, bigger, and has played at least a bit better
3) of course domination 3-4 DEs are tough to come by, a dominating player at any position is tough to come by.
4) fitz’s protection really hasnt been too bad even in the last couple games. the problems in pass pro are nothing compared to the problems our receivers have had getting open/catching
5) parrish was never a deep threat.
6) what exactly does jasper have to do with a 4-3 scheme?
7) in 2 drafts buddy nix has taken 1 linebacker before the 6th round (sheppard). conversely, hes taken 5 linemen before the 6th. that point makes no sense from any angle
8) you say that as though a ‘shut down corner’ can be found with ease. i doubt theres 5 of them in the NFL right now in total
this is about half the things i disagree with, but ive run out of steam
by boomsauce on Nov 14, 2011 11:41 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
2. If you read down I corrected my Stroud statement. 4.Really? The Oline is mediocre and mounting with injuries. 5. "never a deep threat" I shouldn't even reply to you anymore. 6. Jasper has nothing to do with a 4-3. I just like him!
7. Quality over quantity
8. Never said it was easy
10. Relax! It’s discussion.
by Corwin Colbert on Nov 15, 2011 12:36 AM EST up reply actions
agree with Boom
1 agree
2 agree. Clarification: Maybin is terrible too
3 agree
4 both pass pro and receivers are issues here.
5 agree. Roscoe is Ted Ginn Jr without the famous NFL Dad. He is not a deep threat, and never was. He is used on short routes and screens in space in the few chances (i say few because in half a decade this guy hasn’t played a season of games) he got.
6 ANSWER: NOTHING AT ALL.
7 you want to avoid taking LBs in the draft, when they were the biggest need, and even now, we have NO OLB AT ALL? this is not faulty logic, this is just dumb. sorry. need for corner doesn’t erase a need for LB. they can both be needs, at the same time. In fact, i can agree we need man corners, but we still need LBs, and like you say Quality over quantity.
8 agree
ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE
by ThaRealTruth on Nov 15, 2011 10:58 AM EST up reply actions
Facts
We started strong, injuries occurred, Fitz landed. Bill’s coaching hit its ceiling (based on talent). FO again did WTF moves, I.E. Fitz, Kelsay, Spiller, no O/L. Surprise were imploding.
im not lol….too say something positive..we are at least better than last year. Dareus,
Sheppard and hopefully Williams will become solid starters out of last years draft. The draft before was awful, but I think they realized their mistakes there. We realized Fred is one of the best in the league this year. O line improved, but now is hurt. Still left with no pass rush and no good corners. We overall improved though. Fitz signing was way to premature and I really hope it doesn’t bite us bad like I think its going gauging are luck with everything. But at least we are better than the year before. I didn’t expect more than 7 wins anyway
the top 3 picks in both drafts
still have opportunity to develop and produce. We can’t write off Spiller, Troup, or Carrington based on their little involvement. That is on the staff. Fact is, they have each shown the ability to at least compete in limited action, so it could be said that if and when they are starters (all these guys are young) then that draft doesn’t look half as bad as many want to see it now. Draft classes need around 3 years, to demonstrate who the really solid selections were. We are 1.5 years in.
ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE
by ThaRealTruth on Nov 15, 2011 11:03 AM EST up reply actions
Draft classes need around 3 years, to demonstrate who the really solid selections were. We are 1.5 years in.
True, but after 1.5 years, you usually have an idea of what direction that class is heading – I still at this point have no clue if any of those guys we drafted are good or bad
by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 12:25 PM EST up reply actions
I think we can say that Carrington has serious potential and is heading in the right direction…other than him, however, I don’t see anyone else stepping up. Moats maybe as a situational pass rusher.
"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.
agree on both points – I like Carrington and I do like Moats, but don’t see him as an every down guy
by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
Wow, I actually don’t really find a single thing I agree with in this post…
by JustAskTheAxis on Nov 15, 2011 9:14 AM EST reply actions 2 recs
None of those are facts
Before the season started we knew we could put up points.
We did? The offense was one of the lower scoring teams in the league last year.
When was Roscoe Parrish ever a deep threat? Just because he ran a nice 40 time back in the day doesn’t mean he was any kind of deep threat. He has never proven that in the NFL, that’s for sure.
3. Decent 4-3 DEs are abundant and so are DT.
No they aren’t. It’s not easy to find pass rushers and legit run stoppers in the league. And it’s certainly not easy for the Bills to do so, as evident by the past decade….
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
This is bad
The “facts” are all opinions.
Sorry Fitz has yet to show he is legit for a full season. Over the past 2 years he has shown that he can start the year strong but seriously struggles come mid-season and down the stretch when teams have more tape and make adjustments, and of course when injuries add up. I’m sorry but we need a legit QB for a full season not one that starts strong and ends poorly.
I really find it confusing how bias people can be with Fitz. When Fitz plays well people always say well he’s doing so great he’s making these bad players look outstanding and it’s because of Fitz not the players. Yet when Fitz struggles and the offense is struggling it’s well look at his line and his receivers they’re horrible it’s not his fault. Yes injuries do occur and some are more significant than others, however I don’t think losing Parrish was that big of a blow….why? Because this offense was still scoring 30 pts a game WITHOUT HIM. Now the offense is stuggling and it’s because we lost Parrish early in the season? That’s a bad excuse. Fitz is an up and down QB he can look really great at times and really poor at other times.
I agree the line is questionable and have been saying this for some time now. They are great at opening up holes for our RBs and holding their blocks for 3-4 sec. for those short slant routes, but when defenses start keying in on those and deeper routes are needed they just can’t hold up. For whatever reason they are just not strong enough, agile enough, or technically sound (footwork etc.) to hold their blocks for those deeper 5-6 sec. routes like deep posts, fades, etc. This does limit our offense some but as I said it’s not just the O-lines fault Fitz does deserve some of the blame for the struggles.
Merriman is not a defensive end he is an OLB. There is no way he should ever be considered to switch to a DE.
You’re McKelvin “facts” are also just opinion. There is no way you can prove that McKelvin is always distracted or not really into the game. Also I’ve never seen him really ball hawk. Most of the time he just gets beat it’s as simple as that. He either bites on a pump fake or double route and when he does get himself in position to make a play he just gets beat. Best 2 examples of this are last week against Dez Bryant and in week 2 against Danarius Moore. He had himself in position to make the play but just got beat out by the receiver making a better play.
As far as releasing Maybin being a big mistake that is highly questionable. He couldn’t beat out people for a special teams spot here in Buffalo. In New York he is used only on passing downs and only rushes the passer. He has no other obligations or “complex” schemes to worry about. That’s pretty sad to me that the only thing you can tell this guy to do is rush and get the QB. Most of his sacks have been after he has been knocked to the ground and receivers can’t get open. They are coverage sacks….not great play sacks. That being said, I will say he must have a high motor because I will give him credit for getting knocked down but still getting up and making the play.
For the draft. Let’s just take the best player avaiable at a position of need. I’m tired of 1st round busts or reaching for players. If there is a great talent there…no need to overthink it. Linebacker is just as much a position of need as corner right now.
"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes
by panekattack on Nov 15, 2011 7:03 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
i agree with you for the most part but
I think we need someone to compliment Stevie before we say Fitz is bad (not really bad, but maybe inconsistent?), they dont have much talent at the WR position. Also fitz had one bad game and three okay games. I personally dont think he was the reason we lost against the cowboys game but im done arguing about it. Either way i agree with just get talent for this team, and i think that is what Nix has done thus far.
Fitzmagic
I would say Fitz has had 3 bad games
The Bengals, Jets, and Cowboys games were all below average. Some worse than others of course. I do agree that Fitz could use a real #2 WR and also it would help make a case for Stevie as a legit #1 as well. I agree that Fitz wasn’t the reason why we lost against the Cowboys, I mean we all know this defense is bad. The offense however the last 2 weeks has looked bad and can’t win by scoring such few points. Fitz did have good games against the Chiefs and Patriots. But everybody is having good games against those 2 defenses for the most part. The biggest part to me though is that Fitz seems to only play well when the ground game is doing well, when there isn’t a ground game to keep defenses guessing or balanced and we have to rely on Fitz and the passing attack the offense and Fitzpatrick seem to always come up short. That’s why I don’t believe he’s a franchise QB, when he needs to carry the team on his back he just isn’t getting it done. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t have a #2 WR…maybe not hopefully we find one next year and will prove it 1 way or the other.
"I promise you, ... When I come back, I'm going to be like a mad dog in a meat house." -Takeo Spikes
yea i agree with you,
I think if Fitz had a better #2 option instead of DJ (someone who can catch consistently) he would be much more consistent. and consistently above average. I feel like those 3 teams you mentioned have pretty good secondaries, that probly match up well against our receiving core. We aren’t creating many match up problems with our offensive talent (lack there of), which i think if you are down big and forced to be one dimensional really hurts. Although he shouldve been better the Bengals and Giants game. For the jets game just all around offense fail ( I dont like saying fail, but what else could you call it?).
Fitzmagic
by tomcs on Nov 15, 2011 8:38 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
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