As I prepared to head out for the Buffalo Bills’ first training camp practice at St John Fisher, a tweet from Bills linebacker Kawika Mitchell caught my eye.
“Practice #1 full pads.” [Read more →]
Buffalo Bills Training Camp 2010: Day 1
July 29th, 2010 · Buffalo Bills
→ 1 CommentTags:2010·Bills·Buffalo·Chan Gailey·Dick Jauron·training camp
NFL Quick Hits, Draft 2010 Edition
April 22nd, 2010 · NFL
Yes, Man Meets Football is back. Sorry for the extended hiatus, been incredibly busy. However, since today is Draft Day, it’s definitely time to jump back in and get some of my thoughts out here. So with that being said, let’s get started.
Might as well start with the first overall pick in the draft with the St Louis Rams. I will say this right up front. I do not like Sam Bradford to the Rams. He has little experience under center and doesn’t take hits well. The Rams don’t have someone to protect his blindside. Sounds like a really dicey situation to me. They could draft Bradford with their first pick and grab a left tackle in the second round, but a rookie tackle protecting a rookie quarterback could be bad.
→ 2 CommentsTags:Cowboys·Dallas·Detroit·Draft 2010·Eagles·Giants·Lions·New York·NFL·Philadelphia·Rams·St Louis
George Edwards New Defensive Coordinator for Buffalo Bills
February 4th, 2010 · Buffalo Bills
George Edwards, former linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins, has been hired as the defensive coordinator of the Buffalo Bills. He will be engineering a switch to the 3-4 base alignment.
With the announcement out of the way, I must say I am not pleased with this hire. He does have some experience as defensive coordinator for a year with the Cleveland Browns. In that year, the Browns defense ranked 15th in yards per game and 12th in points allowed per game.
That is his only experience running a defense. I would have personally preferred promoting defensive line coach Bob Sanders to full time defensive coordinator. He has experience as a defensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers and he knows the roster.
Plus there is the matter of the scheme switch. With all the troubles on offense, I think it would have made sense to keep the base alignment and spend more of the time and effort on improving the offense.
Instead, the Bills have now made an emphasis on overhauling basically the entire roster. The Bills will need to get a true nose tackle (actually two, one to start and one for depth), a couple of 3-4 defensive ends (Spencer Johnson should have no trouble transitioning since he’s played both DE and DT), and bigger inside linebackers.
That’s a lot of change on the defense in one off-season. Plus the Bills need to figure out who the quarterback is and need offensive tackle help, especially at left tackle. There’s a lot to be done. It’s ambitious, but I think it’s too ambitious. I’ve made it known I would prefer to stay with the 4-3.
However, what’s done is done. We’ll just have to see what happens.
→ 1 CommentTags:3-4·4-3·Bills·Bob·Bob Sanders·Buffalo·Buffalo Bills·coordinator·defensive·Defensive schemes·Edwards·George·George Edwards·Sanders·schemes
Is Mike Martz What the Doctor Ordered for Jay Cutler?
February 2nd, 2010 · NFL
Mike Martz, former head coach of the St Loius Rams and the man responsible for dreaming up “The Greatest Show on Turf” has joined the Chicago Bears as the offensive coordinator.
So what does that mean for Jay Cutler, the quarterback who will be the trigger man in Martz’s offense?
After the season Cutler had, I have a hard time seeing him succeed in a Martz offense. Cutler has all the physical tools to be a top quarterback in this league. However, his personality tends to rub his teammates and coaches the wrong way.
He also struggles mentally, making poor decisions and never recovering from them. The great quarterbacks are defined by the decisions they make and how they react to the bad decisions.
Also, it will be very interesting to see what the Bears do with their offensive line, which will be expected to hold up even longer in pass protection (and they were poor in that area last season). The Bears do not have a first round draft pick, which would most likely have gone towards an offensive lineman (left tackle if any would be available).
Martz is an offensive genius, but he’ll be working with a quarterback whose football IQ might not be high enough to run the Greatest Show on Sod. I do not know if this will work out, but I lean towards it not. Which further validates my thought that Denver got the much better end of the trade that sent Cutler to the Bears.
→ 5 CommentsTags:Bears·Chicago·Chicago Bears·Cutler·Jay·Jay Cutler·Martz·Mike·Mike Martz
Digital versus Print: How Do You Prefer Your News?
January 28th, 2010 · Uncategorized
While at Borders’ in Victor today, I came across the 2010 edition of Writer’s Market. I thumbed through it to see if it listed any football magazines so I could submit some articles I’ve written (and possible future ones) to actual print publications.
It listed none.
So I went over to the sports magazine section to see what was over there. ESPN the Magazine, Sports Illustrated, a bunch of fantasy baseball magazines, and Pro Football Weekly. Only one football magazine.
Why is that? Football is one of the most popular sports in the US, yet no specialized publications? Is there even a demand for a magazine about football?
So I submit a series of questions to all of you.
First question is the title of this post. Do you prefer getting your news, specifically football news, via the internet or newspapers and magazines?
Secondly, would you read a magazine covering nothing but football? This isn’t limited to the National Football League. That means college football, the UFL, even high school.
Thirdly, would any of you want to contribute to such a venture, be it by helping write, edit, or publish it?
If I can get enough people together, I would love to launch a football magazine. Even if it has to be local to Western New York, it’s got to start somewhere.
4-3 versus 3-4: What Scheme Should the Buffalo Bills Run in 2010?
January 22nd, 2010 · Buffalo Bills
There seems to be a growing trend among Buffalo Bills fans that the team needs to switch to the 3-4 defensive scheme this off-season. One of the major reasons they espouse for this change is that our run defense is horrible, therefore we need to change our scheme to one that is becoming more and more popular around the league.
However, the 3-4 defensive scheme is designed more to blitz and disrupt the passing game than defend the run. The Bills pass defense has been more than adequate this season, posting one of the best totals of interceptions in franchise history. No opposing quarterback has dominated the Bills, not even Drew Brees.
The Bills struggled against the run this year, and in order for the 3-4 to be successful against the run, a big dominant nose tackle is needed. The Bills do not have one of those kinds of players on the roster, so that would be even another need added to the list that’s already long enough.
Also we have no idea how many of the current defensive linemen can make the switch to another position. Most likely the current defensive tackles would have to make the transition to defensive end. The current defensive ends would either have to put on weight to stay at end or move to a stand-up outside linebacker.
That last transition did not work out well for the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Kampman. A former Pro Bowl defensive end in the 4-3, he was moved to outside linebacker and asked to drop into coverage. A very big change for a guy used to moving into the backfield on almost every snap. His production dropped dramatically and was a general disappointment.
Kampman and others like him are a reason not to switch to the 3-4 and not just because they didn’t make the transition well. Kampman and others who are successful in the 4-3 but can’t make the transition to the 3-4 will soon be released by their teams as they make the transition.
Teams that remain in a 4-3 scheme will get more talent that is suited to their style of defense. That alone is a good enough reason to stick with the 4-3.
One last argument that proponents of the 3-4 switch use is that a number of the top defenses in the league use the 3-4. However, three out of the four remaining teams in the playoffs are 4-3 defenses (Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, and Minnesota Vikings) and all three of those teams beat teams that used the 3- (Colts beat the Baltimore Ravens, Saints beat the Arizona Cardinals, and the Vikings beat the Dallas Cowboys).
The defense was not the reason the Bills lost so many games last year. The biggest problem was that the offense stalled most of the time in the second half, leaving the defense on the field for so long. The team needs to concentrate on rebuilding the offense, which would help the defense.
Switching to the 3-4 would only set this team back further. The Bills have more than far enough to go, no need to dig a deeper hole.
→ 1 CommentTags:Bills·Buffalo·Buffalo Bills·defense·Defensive schemes·scheme
Patience and Chan Gailey
January 21st, 2010 · Buffalo Bills
Or “Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither is a winning football franchise.”
I will say this. Chan Gailey wasn’t on my radar, wasn’t a consideration. When I heard the news, I was surprised and not happy. Then I spent some time reading up on him.
He’s what the Buffalo Bills need. They needed someone with head coaching experience (he has both NFL and college experience) and an offensive background (offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, and Kansas City Chiefs).
Just because he isn’t the big splash or big name does not mean he’s a bad choice. Far from it.
The Bills have a lot of problems to address and one man is not going to solve all that. Bill Cowher would not solve all those issues.
So get someone who has experience and has a track record of making improvements to the offense everywhere he goes and start building the offense. All I am saying is give Coach Gailey a chance. It takes time, but I think he’s another piece in the puzzle at One Bills Drive.
While this move does not having me jumping up and down with glee, I am not jumping off the nearest bridge.
Neither should you.
→ 2 CommentsTags:Bills·Buffalo·Buffalo Bills·Chan·Chan Gailey·coach·Gailey·head·head coach
2010 Buffalo Bills Head Coaching Candidates, Part Four
January 18th, 2010 · Buffalo Bills
This is Part Four in an ongoing series profiling candidates for the Buffalo Bills head coaching position.
Most of the candidates the Buffalo Bills have officially spoken to have been defensive-minded. However, the next candidate on the list is Arizona Cardinals’ assistant head coach, run-game coordinator, and offensive line coach, Russ Grimm.
Grimm is a winner. He was a member of the Washington Redskins offensive line nicknamed the “Hogs”, was a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ coaching staff when they won the Super Bowl in 2005, and then went to the Cardinals with Ken Whisenhunt and helped put an offensive line together to get the Cardinals to the 2008 Super Bowl.
He brings a toughness that truly only a lineman can bring to the game of football. He knows how to put together a running game to make a really good offense.
However, that’s primarily his focus. The offensive line and the run game. He has no experience calling plays or evaluating players outside of the offensive line and possibly running backs. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though.
He’s a tough motivator who demands respect. He teaches his players well. That’s very important with a head coach. If the Bills could work with him to get experienced offensive and defensive coordinators, he won’t have to call plays. Instead, he would be able to concentrate on motivation and keeping the players in line.
The Buffalo Bills could certainly use that kind of mentality. They’ve been sorely lacking in the motivation and toughness department for a long time. Russ Grimm would go a long way towards reestablishing a tough mindset for the team.
NFL Divisional Round Predictions, Part Two of Two
January 17th, 2010 · NFL
Part Two of my NFL divisional round playoff predictions. Went 2-0 for the Saturday games.
Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings
The Cowboys have been on a tear as of late. They finally started winning in December and won their first playoff game since 1996. Quarterback Tony Romo is playing some of his best football ever. The Cowboys are running the ball well, and their defense is putting a lot of pressure on the quarterback.
The Vikings stumbled towards the end of the season and did not protect quarterback Brett Favre well. Their defense has been struggling as of late as well, especially after the injury to linebacker EJ Henderson.
However, with the time off, no doubt they have been focusing on protecting Favre. They also need to run the ball more with running backs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor.
Also, with rest their defensive line should play good football. If anyone can slow down the Cowboys’ rushing attack, it’ll be the center of the Vikings’ defensive line, the Williams Wall (Pat and Kevin Williams, no relation). Plus at home in Minnesota, the home crowd will be loud and supportive. If the Vikings can get Peterson going early, they’ll win.
While momentum is going in the Cowboys’ side, I still think the Vikings will win.
New York Jets at San Diego Chargers
The Jets are riding the best defense and running game in the NFL. That’s a championship-winning combination.
The Chargers have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL, along with one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Defense trumps offense, generally. However, not many teams in the NFL have the offensive depth of the Chargers. Two very good wide receivers in Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd, one of the best tight ends in Antonio Gates, and the running back tandem of LaDanian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles.
I don’t think there’s a defense in the league that can cover that many targets. If the Chargers can jump out to an early lead with those targets, the Jets will be forced to put the ball in rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez’s hands.
That’s been a very risky prospect this season. At times Sanchez looked very good and at other points, he looked like one of the worst rookies.
So I’m going with the more explosive offense and the home field advantage in the Chargers.
That means I took all four home teams this weekend. The one I feel least confident about is the Vikings, but I still think they’ll do it.
→ No CommentsTags:2010·Chargers·Cowboys·Dallas·Jets·Minnesota·New York·NFL·playoffs·Saan Diego·Vikings
NFL Divisional Round Predictions, Part One of Two
January 16th, 2010 · NFL
Been a little while since I offered up my predictions, but here are my divisional round predictions.
Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints –
The Cardinals are coming off a great shoot-out with the Green Bay Packers in their Wild Card game. The Saints are coming off a week of rest after limping their way to the end of the regular season. Obviously the Cardinals have momentum, but they’re also banged up and tired after such an emotional game.
The Saints have had a chance to rest and to work on their weaknesses. The game is in New Orleans and the crowd will definitely be a factor. Hard to go against the rested home team in this one. Saints should win with fresh legs and on the arm of star quarterback Drew Brees. Make no mistake, though. This will be a shoot-out.
Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts –
The Ravens are coming off one of the biggest games they’ve played in a long time, dominating the New England Patriots in Foxboro in the playoffs. Not many teams have done that in a long time.
The Colts were well on their way to an undefeated season before rookie head coach Jim Caldwell and the front office decided to pull their starters in the second half of Week 16. Peyton Manning, the Colts’ quarterback and league MVP, was not pleased with that.
The Colts did lose their last two games of the season, but have yet to lose this year when Manning plays all four quarters. Yes, the Ravens dominated the Patriots. However, the Patriots of this year and years past are not the same. Manning and the Colts offense is about as good as they’ve ever been.
It’s going to be very hard for the Ravens to duplicate last week’s success this game. Colts will win.
