Just wanted to stop in on a monday and say good luck the rest of the season, and it was good to see the Bills close out a game that in the past they lose. It was a little refreshing seeing the team handle adversity with Spiller going out early.
Also I think it would have been a different ball game at times if your WRs could catch a ball.
But either way not here to rub salt..... Good luck the rest of the season.
I am not sure where you are coming off with this "great body of work" that C.J. Spiller has going for him. This is his third year in the league and he has not been all that and a bag of chips so far. His first year in 2010 he gained all of 283 yards. Last year he gained 561 yards. Gee that would be an average of 35 yards a game over a 16 game schedule. I would say he has underperformed, particlularly given his draft status. This year, yes, through 2 games he seems on fire. But not so far in his career. I realize he may have missed some time due to injury....but that is part of the bargain.
in 2011 Spiller started the last 5 games after Fred went down with Broken Leg.
Gained 446 yards in relief of Fred, with a Line that had NO LT, NO Center, LG moving all over the place. In his 7 (counting this years Jets cause Fred went early) games (as a starter) these are his stats.
96 ATT 738 yards (7.6 avg) 6 TDs
26 rec 244 yards (9.4 avg) 2 TDs
So he is AVG over 100 a game with almost a rushing TD a game in the run game
Those numbers over his last 7 games would put him up in the top backs of the NFL
Gipper,
I get your comments, and can agree and understand that. With the Exception of Spiller.
Spiller has been doing it for more than 2 games. Did very well at the end of last season with a makeshift OLine. Think his AVG was still above 5 a carry.
Spiller also has the draft status (though I know it doesn't mean much) but was also a top pick in the draft. I dont know I just tend to lean to the guy that has done it for a body of work in this league. So that is why I would give the edge to Spiller in terms of RB right now.
Though I think Richardson is a very good back and will be a great back IMO if he stays healthy, I am more on the until he proves it over a body of work I could never rank him over someone that has you know.
Richardson is not the one that should be pulling that assignment. It should be the fullback...but we have one that has proved fairly incapable of any task he is assigned.
I completely understand that is should be a FB, or leaving the TE in to help.
But if Richardson does draw that assignment (poor gameplanning IMO) then it is a plus for the Bills.
Couple things about this from the prespective of a Bills fan.
1. We do run out of the Spread, that is really all we do. You will hardly ever see us run out of a power type offense.
2. Talking about Mario and Mark Anderson, the reason the interior had a Big week last week is beacuse Mario and Mark were drawing double teams. He is spot on though about how Mario has played against the Run. Unlike most pass-rushers were you run at them, you cannot do that against Mario.
3. The Bills X-Factor is our FBs?????? Not sure about that we do not use them... IMO the X-Factor is coverage in the Middle of your Defense. If Chandler and the Bills WR can have the inside like they did with the chiefs it could be for a long day against the Bills Offense.
3. The Personnel Breakdown....
For the most part pretty good. Though I think Fitz-Weeden HAS to be a push. I do not see anything that has said Weeden is better than Fitz at this point.
How can the RB be even when Spiller is the Top back in the NFL right now.
I think your LBer play is better by a MILE, I do not like the Bills LBers at all at this point.
I do AGREE the KEY to the Bills Win is to get Spiller going. The WIN will go through him.
That would mean keeping Richardson (who's a decent blocker) in to mop up against Mario in passing situations, or chip and go for a swing pass. They might try our FB Marecic, but the opinion is the guy is a worthless POS, both in blocking and about everything else.
I would not mind that at all. I would love to Limit Richardson's Production because he has to draw help assignments against Mario. That would help with the gameplan for the Bills IMO if they see Richardson having to pull help assignments.
I will say I have been to CLE actually quite a bit, and their fans are no nearly as bad to opposing fans as other teams are.
Even the Dog Pound as mellowed with Bills fans recently, I tie that to all the Browns days we had for them after the lost their team.
Will Mario be over The Schwartz most of the time, or over JT? If he is flexible, obviously you would want him over the rookie and not the 5 time All Pro.
Mario is strictly a LDE and will play over your RT, at least that is what he has been all year.
I have seen them move him around a bit in pre-season and camp, but since the real games started he has been up against the right side with Dareus on the inside of him.
Mark Anderson will go against Joe Thomas with Kyle Williams inside of him.
Nice to see a civilized discussion with an opposing fan... Who'd a thunk it???
Despite our improved run D vs Cinci, I think both teams will run effectively and it will come down to the passing game... and specifically pass protection.
Both Wheeeden and Fitzpatrick had horrible openers, but bounced back in week 2. Fitz's numbers weren't as glitzy, but he was very efficient. As goes their pass protection so will their performance and the game. Wheeeden has shown he'll stand in there, but no ability to extend plays if pressured. While not nimble, Fitz can scramble if need be... Yes?
Against Philly Jauron sprung some CB and FS blitzes that produced results... against Cinci not much.
Against Vick the front four put on a display of very disciplined pressure... against Dalton not so much... At DT next to Rubin (who is off to a good start) Billy Wynn, our rookie of of Boise St (doesn't every team have a rookie out of Boise St?), will start ahead of Hughes in place of Phil Taylor who's out. Billy's got a motor and brings good pressure up the middle.
Which brings us to my "Key to the Game"... Mario Williams vs Mitchell Schwartz...
What's up with SuperMario? Contract weighing him down? He's not off to the best start with only 3 Tkls and 0 sacks. Sunday he'll be across from our Rookie 2nd rounder, Schwartz...
I think it's safe to say we are going to try to give him some help. Since our FB hasn't shown much ability to do anything thru 2 wks that could mean Trent R. will be held in the backfield much of the afternoon. You'll also see Brandon Jackson do the same in obvious passing sit's...
Question is.... do the Bills have a DC who can capitalize on the added attention we are sure to give Mario?
On this one he was abused week one but played very well week two against the Chiefs. Though the Stat line is not showing it. Against the Chiefs he was double and triple teamed at times, which left 1 on 1's against the DTs of Kyle Williams and Dareus and they totaled 3 sacks. Additionally, I saw a defense that did take advantage of the extra attention paid to Mario last week with press coverage, some blitzes and heck of alot of inside games. Their Run defense has been steller though the Stat line again does not really show it. Through the entire game last week they really only let up 39 yards until garbage time. Also same with the Jets, played well against the run.
Who is your NO 1 CB with Hayden gone because I would guess that is who would draw Stevie, and what type of game is he an off CB or a Press Guy?
On our defense.
Gilmore has been Targeted often, He laid an egg against the Jets (off Coverage) played very well against Chiefs (Press).
Aaron Williams on the other side has not played as well either.
We have been good stopping the run with our front 4, and saw the disruptive pass rush last week with Dareus, Williams x 2 and Anderson.
Our LBers are AVG.
And like in years past right now looks like we are struggling covering a TE down the field.
Well let's see here. We are a running offense, first and foremost. Weeden played like crap week on and great week 2 so it's a tale of the two tapes, do you get Jekyll or do you get Hyde. Our defense played well in week one for the most part, but not too great week two, same thing there. I don't know if you're going to be able to learn much about this team watching our games, cause we played well on offense one week and then awful the other, same thing with our defense. If they both match up and we have a good showing from both at the same time, we could be a pretty good team. But as young as we are, those days may be few and far between...
We have never been good at stopping the run, and CJ Spiller has been running wild these past couple of weeks, so that doesn't bode well for us. On the bright side, Fitzpatrick looks like a different QB for you guys since he has gotten that new contract (in the bad way for you, good way for us). Without Haden, playing against a mediocre at best QB will help us a lot. I think it will be a very close game, it depends on if we can keep CJ Spiller from busting a long one or two. And with you guys being able to stop Trent Richardson. This game will be won by whoever stops the run in my opinion.
I initially figured this as well because it seemed like when Richardson had the good game Weeden did as well, which I would expect from a Rookie QB.
Question I have is your Defense a Cover-2 that DJ ran in B-Lo or is it still your 3-4?
Also what does your Nickle QB look like, because we run a TON of spread. Actually we even run out of the spread, hardly ever are you going to see the Bills like up in a power offense.
Does your DBs play off (witout Hayden) or are they Bump guys, our WRs seem to have issues right now getting off press coverage at the line, but excel with thier short slants and such when DBs are off them.
Also Chandler (TE) will kill a safety or LBer that struggles in Coverage, the question is and always will be can Fitz actually hit him.
Just your Bills fan dropping by to learn a bit about your team, I have not watched them yet this year but seen some close scores. I have DVRed the games to look at them this week as I see how the Bills match up, but what better source of info than from the fans.
Hopefully a good week of football discussion followed by a Bills Win.
I know normally a Dick Jauron Defense plays bend but dont break, and soft in the backend, (actually soft all the way around from his time with the Bills)... But that is neither here or there.
