1) QB is supposed to be the most important position on the team. This year, the least of all our problems on game day was the QB position regardless of what guy we turned to. The Defense was never going to protect our starter with a reasonable/doable margin of error so winning a close low scoring game was never going to be our reality. The more I think about it with Manziel - partying wasn't his only problem coming here. Nobody ever said "NO" all the while he was the most needed man in his 2 previous football programs prior to draft day. My guess is that wasn't exclusive to just football but at home as the son of 2 wealthy parents. He was a brat even before his football talent synergized that quality. The biggest part of Manziel's improvement process (aside from treatment) IMO was getting him to understand that success at the PRO level isn't possible without commitment and preparation at a PRO level. Offensive players here this year look at him as a credible leader on the field if my perception to what I'm watching is accurate.

2) Understanding #1 - the following beneficiaries emerged: Gary Barnidge, Travis Benjamin, and Joe Thomas and Alex Mack (in pass pro). We also had a promising rookie RB Duke Johnson presenting us with a nice prong of attack especially catching the ball.

3) The first 2 points mean we might actually some decent coaching going on at the following positions in particular: Tight End, Wide Receiver, QB, Offensive Line and RB. Let's hope Josh Gordon comes back with a better attitude than he had at the end of 2014; because adding him to Benjamin, Barnidge and Duke makes this a fun bunch to QB. There's 1 more variable that has to work that we haven't had much luck with regarding Gordon. Maybe the full year without football with only so much time left to go after the dream salary finally works in our favor? If that doesn't light the fanny of Gordon AND greedy agent attached at the hip - the alternative becomes curtains on the chance to be a millionaire at something the guy is extremely talented at. Difficult math? Doesn't have to be.

4) Because this defense is one of the worst we've ever seen - there's some obvious things that can be corrected beginning with bringing in a more experienced DC like a Jim Schwartz. Schwartz improved Buffalo's defense in 2014 to 4th overall from 20th overall in 2013 (under Pettine). Buffalo's record also went from 6-10 in 2013 to 9-7 in 2014 so maybe a combination/blend of Pettine and Schwartz could improve the effect and success of varying our fronts. In the process, Pettine wouldn't have to feel like he needs to babysit or hand hold a lesser experienced DC again.

5) This might invite some disagreement but what else is new coming from me? I think it's time for Special Teams Coach Chris Tabor to get his walking papers. I've seen enough of that continuity on Special Teams even though the premise of keeping some degree of continuity was a forgivable mistake. I don't think we've ever had a 2-3 year trend of more flags on our return units for ill-advised blocks. I can't remember if it was Brad Seeley or Ted Daisher or both - but we always seemed to have really respectable STs to the extent Josh Cribbs, Phil Dawson and Ryan Pontbriand made Pro Bowls. Outside of the Baltimore game, the 1 area of STs I didn't have any complaints about was our punt/kick coverage where Bademosi was awarded with a Pro Bowl invitation out of. He may not be a very good corner at this time; but he is very talented at breaking a double-press outside as a punt coverage gunner.

6) Some young/inexperienced guys like Orchard, Gaines (like this kid), Cooper, Shelton and Campbell are getting some experience under their belts. Looking forward to seeing injured rookie CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu playing for us in 2016. I already mentioned Duke Johnson on the offensive side of the ball as well as our 22 year old QB if he stays. Also worth noting was the pleasant surprise of how well Armonty Bryant bounced back from injury.

7) It seems pretty easy to see what side of the ball needs the most help in the draft and possibly in free agency (although I wouldn't complain if we added another offensive lineman at the top of round 2).

In order to get #7 right - Farmer needs to get his walking papers within 2 weeks. He's the one guy that needs to go we all agreed on even when we argued whether Pettine deserved to be held as accountable. While many might not agree with Bill Parcells' "you are what your record says you are" like I do - they might be more inclined to agree with is "if you're going to judge me on the meal I cook - you better put me in charge of selecting the groceries for it." I'd rather have Pettine getting a BIG say on the next corner we need from the research/film collected by our scouting dept in tandem with a better FO guy than having him feeling like he still needs to spend time getting O'Neil up to speed enough to teach the defense the way it needs to be taught so that all the players buy into it. That's what made an idea like an experienced DC like Jim Schwartz an easy one.

9) Injuries can't be any worse to us than they've been in 2014 and 2015. Yeah, I know all teams have injuries but ones trying to overcome 4-12 from 2013 (following the cumulative effect of bad drafting here since 1999) haven't really made progress possible. When people were trying to point this out to me in the last few weeks, I didn't realize I was actually most pissed that Mike Pettine wasn't a miracle worker (not to be confused with Head Coach). Definitely my bad.

That about wraps up my I'm okay with Pettine the Dawg. I know I'm missing stuff so please feel free to add your points of agreement or disagreement.

Merry Christmas folks!