The Bills Mafia has invaded Omar Kelly's twitter, and they're getting boisterous. One of our own called one of them Scott Norwood.
It looks like I'm the second Bills fan to invade your forum. I'd like to congratulate your team on an impressive win over the Evil Empire and would love to see a return to the days when the Bills and Dolphins were the teams to beat in the AFC. This looks like a great match-up and both offences will have their hands full against pretty tough defences. Let me share with you what's new about the 2014 Buffalo Bills... 1. We can stop the run. New Defensive Co-Ordinator, Jim Schwartz has always been tough against the run and the Bills are not getting run over the way we did last year. On top of the scheme change, Brandon Spikes is a solid run stuffer as our middle line backer. I miss Kiko Alonso as much as any Bill's fan, but he was much better in coverage than stopping the run. Even without, Kiko, our linebacking core is better than last year. 2. Our D-line has more depth and rotate a little more than last year Our starting front four are the same intimidating force as last year, but our back-ups are better. Last year, our defence tended to fade late in the game because they were tired as our offense could not sustain drives. We lost the TOP battle with Chicago this week, but our defence was as strong in the fourth quarter and OT as it was in the first. 3. Our O-Line has more talent, but are still gelling We got the steal of the draft in Seantrel Henderson in the 7th round this year. He had some off-the-field issues (marijuana related) that scared teams away in the draft. He spent the first half of training camp subbing in as the starter at left tackle while our starter was rehabbing from injury. Once Cordy Glenn returned, Henderson was awarded the role of starter at right tackle and has looked pretty good so far. Henderson is still a rookie and is making some rookie mistakes and I think Wake will give him nightmares on Sunday. We have new starters in three of our five positions, although our right tackle from last year has moved inside to right guard. 4. We have receivers who can make plays Sammy Watkins has made all the headlines and he seems to be as good as advertised, but didn't have many balls thrown his way in Chicago. Both Robert Woods and Mike Williams made highlight catches in Chicago, which I haven't seen much of since Eric Moulds retired. I would say our top three receivers have large catch radii, which EJ Manuel really needs. What hasn't changed... 1. We can and will run the ball a lot We have a solid stable of running backs with three running backs over 50 yards in week 1. 2. We still don't know if EJ Manuel is very good EJ has been protected with a strong running game and has not been asked to do too much. His accuracy is questionable (which is why I appreciate receivers who can catch uncatchable balls) and is still learning to read defences more quickly. On the positive side, he has been pretty good at being careful with the football and doesn't normally force plays that aren't there, although he did once in Chicago and got burned with an INT. He doesn't get rattled easily and seems to play well late in games no matter what mistakes he's made earlier. Your defensive front will be a huge test for EJ this week. I am pretty excited about this week's match-up and think our teams have very similar strengths. I see both of these teams as up-and-coming teams built in a similar mold. It feels like the Bills, Jets and Dolphins are all build to pressure the quarterback and run the ball which feels like the right formula to knock off the Patriots. I think this game won't be decided until the fourth quarter and will be won by whoever wins the turnover battle. Anyone who loves good defence should enjoy this game. The good news is that one of our teams will still be looking down on the Patriots in the standings next Monday. GO BILLS!!
IFirst of all thanks for coming in respectfully and I hope our fanbase treats you the same. Secondly...I don't think EJ is good at all. Nothing to do with him being a Bill. Going into that draft I viewed him as a 4th or 5th round talent. I think if you guys were able to draft even a slightly above average QB you'd be scary to face each week.
Congrats on the new ownership and staying in Buffalo. Even as rivals, I don't want to see you guys anywhere else. As for Sunday, we owe you payback for last season. I'd expect an angry Dolphins team in Buffalo. Welcome!
I wish I could tell you you're wrong about EJ, but the verdict is still out. He is showing some signs of better decision making and, physically, he has the tools to play QB. I've seen enough good in him to let him develop for another season. I haven't seen much many of Tannehill's games... can he carry your team to the playoffs?
That is a good question. Lazor's scheme is more friendly to the QB than Sherman's system. The early results are better play speed and better decisions. There are plenty of areas where he needs to improve including ball placement and anticipation. I am very hopeful the answer is yes, but we will have to wait and see.
I don't mean to take over your thread, but I just saw this link about your team adjusting to a 5-2 front because of your linebacker situation. http://espn.go.com/blog/miami-dolphins/post/_/id/9831/morning-take-dolphins-defense It looks like a pretty smart move and could really stop the Bill's running attack, while upping the pressure on EJ. You are gambling that EJ can't beat you by getting the ball out quickly. Sounds like a pretty good gamble, since EJ is not known for a quick release. I'll admit, this makes me a little nervous for Sunday. I don't think your win over the Patriots was a fluke.
I think we are to the point where I feel we can make tge playoffs with Tannehill. My bigger question is can he carry us to victory which is TBD.
At this point in the season no team is as good or as bad as the 1st game or even the next couple of games. With the lack of practice time with the CBA you saw what appeared to me in a lot of games some "rusty" play. Some of that I was hoping to say was on Tannahill but his tendency to throw behind receivers was a concern for me the last 2 years. Is it game speed that he still hasn't accustomed himself to or is it just what he will always be? The O line played really,really well. Was that a fluke? I for one didn't expect it. This Bills team will be a real barometer on where they're at as I see it as still a concern for me as they play more games and get deeper into the season. Bills have a rook playing, we have a rook playing. The matchup of Wake on their rook may spell the difference. If the defensive line can disrupt from the middle out to the edges as in the Pats game, a young EJ is going to be making some hurried and hopefully bad decisions. You can almost write that exact same thing on our O line except that Tanny took a pound last year and he wasn't rattled. That experience may help him if the O line doesn't hold up. Getting the running game going is key. Its ball control and clock control. Getting out to a lead early and taking the crowd out of it would be a great help. Road games within divisions are ALWAYS tough. I don't care how bad or good the team is. Something about out division rivals gets the teams to play better.
Some books have Miami as a -1.5 point favorite. But the one I've learned to pay attention to is 5dimes. They still have it as a Pick but with -120 on the Dolphins and +100 on the Bills.
This is going to be one tough game. Their home opener right after they found out they'll be staying in Buffalo long term, that place will be rocking. Also coming off an impressive win in Chicago so they will have some extra confidence. They had our number last year. Time for payback.
Great post man..welcome to thephins..with posts like that I hope you visit through the year..not just on Phins / Bills week Was kinda pulling for Bon Jovis group to win the bid. Gratz on new ownership..also sounds like a new stadium at some point.
let be real here. we cant beat buffalo. theyre just too good up front, and their qb seems on point this year, that coupled by the fact we cant stop their running game spell disaster. i think well be in it for 3 quarters, but it will get away from us in the 4th. final score 27-7 buffalo
You name yourself afc east guru but pretend you're a dolphin fan? lol. I feel like this might be a magical moment in a poster's life. Its possible we're seeing a troll being born right before our very eyes.
From the reports I've read so far, their LBs were pretty horrible in coverage...which plays directly into a lot of Tanny's sweet spots. I could see Clay having a great game, maybe even Gator getting some good action, not to mention being able to take advantage of that with our RBs in the passing game. As long as our line can be close to as good as it was against the Pats, the offense should tick along nicely.
I think it will be a tough game for the Dolphins to win, but it is absurd to say that the Dolphins, "can't beat Buffalo". Buffalo is a bad match up for the Dolphins based on recent results between these two teams, but this is a new season and I think the Dolphins have the talent now to compete and win against any team in the NFL. Playing in Buffalo obviously is going to make it that much more difficult to beat the Bills and a loss to the Bills there would be no great surprise. This has more to do with the Bills having a home field advantage than it does them being the superior team overall. If the game was in Miami instead of Buffalo, I think Miami would win by at least 10.
So you're going to go undefeated all year because a bunch of Pats fans incorrectly predicted a victory? Last year you beat us and got dominated by Buffalo. This is very likely to occur again.
Wow..dont yall have another game this week. Why not go bring your amazing analysis to a Cardinals forum. See you in December.
sorry, must have forgot to put on my rose colored glasses this morning. guess ill have to suffer seeing things as they are today
Good post. I feel like if we block, we win. Period. If we don't allow their defense to dictatethe game it should be a TD difference. I like their roster a lot but think very lowly of EJ.
I find it odd that you choose to come on this forum and berate Dolphin fans. I happened to view the Patriots fan forum after the game this past Sunday and it appeared a lot of the fans on there were ready to dump Belichick and Brady and start rebuilding immediately. No one on this forum predicts the Dolphins will go 16-0. We have just suffered through years of mediocre play and we appreciate that the team finally appears to be headed in a positive direction. We may not be a playoff team yet, but I assure you that I would take our roster over the Patriots over the next several years. Just as we enjoyed years of dominance over the division during the 70's and 80's, while the Patriots were merely mediocre for many seasons during those years. Over the past decade we learned what it was like to have been a Patriots fan during your lean years. Enjoy the coming end of the Brady run, because as you will soon realize, finding another franchise QB isn't easy. In the coming years, I have no doubt Patriot fans will come to understand what it means to have a mediocre team again. Perhaps the Dolphins may go up to Buffalo and lose this week. Maybe they will go up there and win. No matter what happens this weekend won't change the fact that the Dolphins treated the Patriots like a stepchild this past weekend. Now maybe you can go back to the Patriots forum and try and convince all those Patriot doubters that the world isn't ending YET, but it will soon for Patriot fans.
I just rewatched the Jets and Bills game. Before I write up my notes, I will say that the Jets look really awful and the Bills look pretty darn good. If both teams play exactly like they did this weekend, we should win, however who knows who will show up. More detailed analysis forthcoming...
I assume your " not since 73 " is a dig at the fact the Dolphins have not won a SB since the 1973 season. If that is the case, perhaps you should have chosen the tag, "not ever". Because that clearly defines how many SB's the Bills have won in their history.
We got swept by a defense. And don't say we, noone here is dumb enough tothink yyou're a Dolphin fan.
Give it up. No one believes you are anything but a Dolphin hater. There is no way in the world you should use, "we" when you refer to the Dolphins.
Thad Lewis had absolutely nothing to do with those losses...it could've been Terry Bradshaw 2014 and would have been the same result...but troll on...you might actually fall into a fact at some point... Loser.
eh, i like all the teams in the afc east. its just such a great division to watch, not sold on the pats, they are too old where it counts. jets are just bad, phins should win it i think, but the bills are a dark horse because they swept the phins last season with a horrid qb. this upcoming game is going to be very telling.
sorry, qb is the most important position in the game. he should have had a million ints vs the phins tough d. but he won, thats scary. luckily i dont think ej is much better so.....