These players aren’t just some of our early draft picks, they are literally ALL our early round selections the past three years. At what point, if ever does Tom Modrak start to get it right? While Dick Jauron deservedly gets the lion’s share of fans’ wrath, I’m baffled why people don’t hold Modrak far more accountable.
♦ We’re at the quarter point of the Bills season and after four games the team is ranked 25 in the NFL in total offense. Seems par for the course given Jauron’s history here. Sadly, the ranking is actually an improvement. Under Jauron, the Bills have ranked 25th, 30th and 30th the past three seasons.
♦ The least Impressive stat of the day: The Bills are now 3-11 overall and 0-8 versus the AFC East over their last 14 games. None of those three wins came against teams with a winning record.
♦ It’s a shame John Guy didn’t sooner recognize what the Bills had in Fred Jackson. Perhaps had they known they don’t draft Lynch in 2007 and take Darrelle Revis or Jon Beason instead. Don’t get me wrong— Lynch is a fine running back, but color me convinced Jackson is the better of the two. This season is no fluke.
♦ I’ve heard nothing at all today regarding the Bills talking to any veteran offensive tackles. The Bills are off today– after Sunday they shouldn’t be.
♦ I’ve said it before and it’s worth repeating. I defy anyone in the Bills organization to tell myself, any media member or fan exactly how they feel Justin Jenkins or Jon Corto are more valuable to the 53-man roster than Jon Runyan, Langston Walker or any free agent tackle. When CFL product Cameron Wake looks like the second coming of Michael Strahan against your offensive line, it’s time to do something about it. And this isn’t about money?
♦ By the way, as Buffalo News writer Allen Wilson points out, Wake could’ve been a Buffalo Bill. Wake tried out for the Bills this year but left without a contract. A short time later he signed with Miami. His three sacks Sunday are three more than Chris Ellis and Aaron Maybin have combined for in their careers. It’s also more than starter Chris Kelsay had all of last year—or the year before that.
♦ You have to wonder what the organization was thinking when they handed the starting left tackle job to Demetrius Bell despite him missing the majority of the preseason with a sore back. He’s now had back and groin issues since August. It is simply bad luck, or is he injury prone? Other than training camp against his own teammates, what did this organization see with Bell on film to just hand him the job?
Walker would never be mistaken for Anthony Munoz, but he mostly got the job done. According to this report, Walker gave up three sacks last season. Bell, Chambers and Scott have all given that up and there’s still 12 games to go.
Didn’t the Bills learn their lesson about handing people starting jobs after J.P. Losman?
♦ Speaking of Losman, he was run out of town after the organization branded Edwards the future. A look at the stats shows their production has been eerily similar. Losman had a career rating of 75.6 in 42 games, with 33 touchdowns and 34 interceptions. Edwards by comparison has a rating of 78.7 in 33 games, with an equal amount of TDS and INT (33). Sounds like similarly stinking numbers to me.
♦ While the offensive line as a whole is a mess, Andy Levitre is clearly the exception. He came to the Bills with less fanfare after Eric Wood was selected a round ahead of him, but Levitre unquestionably has been the Bills best blocker this early season. In fact, it’s not even close.
♦ Don’t look now, but the much maligned Keith Ellison is tied for third in the NFL with 39 tackles. He trails only London Fletcher and Barrett Rudd. Unheralded Bryan Scott is tied for 41st despite missing the Miami game.
♦ Terrell Owens is ranked 64th in the NFL with 158 receiving yards. That can’t be exactly what the Bills envisioned with their $6.5-million this year.
Then again, the Bills first and foremost foresaw boatloads of ticket sales with T.O, so I guess it’s mission accomplished.
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♦ You’re right that the personnel guys don’t get enough blame. Especially the pro personnel guys. Walker and Dockery were the best they could do? Really?
♦ You’re complaining about injuries, but you want to take a shot at Jon Runyan? No. Special teams has always had too big a place on our roster. It’s how we end up with good special teams and no offense or defense. John Wendling should not be on an NFL roster right now.
♦ Walker is no savior. He had regressed this year, was playing out of position, and wasn’t a good fit for a no-huddle. I’ll take my chances with Bell. Mostly after the Butler injury, I think they should be looking at RT free agents or, *gasp*, trades.
♦ I’ll take Edwards not looking like he’s going to soil himself in the pocket and being conservative over Losman throwing a monster TD pass once every 4 games and being a turnover machine, thank you.
♦ Give Levitre a year in the off-season conditioning program and he’ll be on the short list for the Pro Bowl.
♦ Keith Ellison is also a giant liability. So is Mitchell, for different reasons. LB is our biggest weakness.
♦ Again with the Owens contract. 6.5/yr is not a boatload. It’s actually probably in line with the production we’re getting from Evans for his contract. If they ever figure out how to use either of them, it’ll be magic.