Many among fans and media have been very critical of Rex Ryan in Buffalo these past two years. The same has been done of Tyrod Taylor. But What about general manager Doug Whaley. At first, he was a breath of fresh air. And he kind of lived on the side away from most of the action. But he wasn't shy from making the big move. The question remains - should he be the one out of One Bills Drive?
OBD has seen some talent through its doors, but none quite like Sammy Watkins. A draft pick higher than University of Buffalo standout Khalil Mack who was taken By Oakland's Raiders from twenty-five minutes up the road at UB's Amherst campus. Mack, by the way, had that strip sack preserving Oakland's majestic comeback against the Bills a few weeks ago. Both great players so far in their own right. But why, if you will be a run-first offense, go for such a pass-oriented position? When healthy, Watkins hasn't really been targeted. Watkins is also the byproduct of the system where Tyrod over throws him, just as Robert Woods, and Marquise Goodwin, and the rest are being overthrown to. From a quarterback who has a great football IQ but hates throwing over the middle.
Rex Ryan's defense is indeed his now. What was one of the leagues best has started to become just "mediocre" so to speak - still solid, but not what it was before Rex stepped onto the campus of St. John Fisher College in Pittsfield for training camp last season. Jim Schwartz, gone. And could've gotten the job over Rex. Might have deserved it even more, dare I say so. But with the looming decision of the sale of the team following the passing of the late Ralph C. Wilson Jr., there was a certain pressure to have some unresolved issues pushed up sooner than wanted and necessary.
Or how about the man that will run the country in less than a month, Donald Trump? What if he bought the team? All of the Bills Mafia would be sporting "Make the Bills Great Again" hats and t-shirts. He wouldn't have ran for office in which case. What if Bon Jovi bought the Bills and moved them to Toronto or elsewhere? They might have been run into the ground and folded, despite his prior (successful) ownership of Arena Football's Philadelphia Soul with Buffalo-area native the "Lackawanna Rifle" Ron Jaworski.
Doug Whaley has lasted through all of those what ifs. Perhaps it is not for Terry and Kim Pegula as it is for Russ Brandon to decide Whaley's future. Whaley is far from the worst GM the Bills ever had though he's not Bill Polian. To Whaley's credit, he started out fairly well for not being too proven or tested, but that began to show with the handling of the quarterback situation. I wasn't one for Rex Ryan nor am I now, but he made a move - firing Greg Roman for Anthony Lynn - which leads me to believe he should stay one season more, under a new GM whose player personnel priorities include a quarterback and the special teams department. Besides, Buffalo is only the fifth most desirable situation for coaches and who is really out there better than Rex. The Bills may just be safer off waiting another year to see what comes up.
-Ricky
OBD has seen some talent through its doors, but none quite like Sammy Watkins. A draft pick higher than University of Buffalo standout Khalil Mack who was taken By Oakland's Raiders from twenty-five minutes up the road at UB's Amherst campus. Mack, by the way, had that strip sack preserving Oakland's majestic comeback against the Bills a few weeks ago. Both great players so far in their own right. But why, if you will be a run-first offense, go for such a pass-oriented position? When healthy, Watkins hasn't really been targeted. Watkins is also the byproduct of the system where Tyrod over throws him, just as Robert Woods, and Marquise Goodwin, and the rest are being overthrown to. From a quarterback who has a great football IQ but hates throwing over the middle.
Rex Ryan's defense is indeed his now. What was one of the leagues best has started to become just "mediocre" so to speak - still solid, but not what it was before Rex stepped onto the campus of St. John Fisher College in Pittsfield for training camp last season. Jim Schwartz, gone. And could've gotten the job over Rex. Might have deserved it even more, dare I say so. But with the looming decision of the sale of the team following the passing of the late Ralph C. Wilson Jr., there was a certain pressure to have some unresolved issues pushed up sooner than wanted and necessary.
Or how about the man that will run the country in less than a month, Donald Trump? What if he bought the team? All of the Bills Mafia would be sporting "Make the Bills Great Again" hats and t-shirts. He wouldn't have ran for office in which case. What if Bon Jovi bought the Bills and moved them to Toronto or elsewhere? They might have been run into the ground and folded, despite his prior (successful) ownership of Arena Football's Philadelphia Soul with Buffalo-area native the "Lackawanna Rifle" Ron Jaworski.
Doug Whaley has lasted through all of those what ifs. Perhaps it is not for Terry and Kim Pegula as it is for Russ Brandon to decide Whaley's future. Whaley is far from the worst GM the Bills ever had though he's not Bill Polian. To Whaley's credit, he started out fairly well for not being too proven or tested, but that began to show with the handling of the quarterback situation. I wasn't one for Rex Ryan nor am I now, but he made a move - firing Greg Roman for Anthony Lynn - which leads me to believe he should stay one season more, under a new GM whose player personnel priorities include a quarterback and the special teams department. Besides, Buffalo is only the fifth most desirable situation for coaches and who is really out there better than Rex. The Bills may just be safer off waiting another year to see what comes up.
-Ricky
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