Fairchild may end QB contoversy!

[HHURRICANE]

Everyone, including me, has been under the assumption that Jauron would make the pick at QB. Although he has final say many considered Fairchild as the best available OC out in the market when we took him. He likes throwing the ball downfield and having an explosive offense. I just don't see Holcomb in a Fairchild offenseive scheme which bodes well for Losman.

[justasportsfan]

Yesterday camp report was the first time I've heard the O concentrate on the long balls. KH has been good for the most part of the camp and arguably ahead of both Nall and JP until yesterday. Now that they are concentrating on the deep routes, I think this is where he get's left behind by the two younguns.

[Earthquake Enyart]

Holcom is not the guy for a Ram style offense, however, the offense Jauron employed in Chicago was more dink and dunk where a guy like Shane Matthews will function.

If Fairchild has control, it is hard to imagine Holcomb being the QB, but if Jauron is more involved it's hard to imagine Holcomb NOT being the QB.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

[HHURRICANE]

Yesterday camp report was the first time I've heard the O concentrate on the long balls. KH has been good for the most part of the camp and arguably ahead of both Nall and JP until yesterday. Now that they are concentrating on the deep routes, I think this is where he get's left behind by the two younguns.

I hadn't heard anything where Holcomb was better in camp at any point.

[justasportsfan]

I hadn't heard anything where Holcomb was better in camp at any point.
Then you haven't been around. This is also why I said 'arguably'

[ICE74129]

Two points of interest...

1) Holcomb being better. Only because until this week, he has taken the meat of the snaps with the first string. As JP got more reps, he started getting much better. Funny how that works.

2) Marv Levy and Ralph Wilson said their Ideal coach is a guy who delegates authority. He lets his OC and DC run that part of the team while just overseeing the overall operation.

IMHO this is the only reason Sherman wasn't our HC, he also wanted to be the OC. Now if this is true, Fairchild will make the decision. If that is the case....its JP or Nall.

[HHURRICANE]

Holcom is not the guy for a Ram style offense, however, the offense Jauron employed in Chicago was more dink and dunk where a guy like Shane Matthews will function.

If Fairchild has control, it is hard to imagine Holcomb being the QB, but if Jauron is more involved it's hard to imagine Holcomb NOT being the QB.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

This is Jauron's second stint as head coach. I have to believe that he has learned a thing or two. He is a D minded caoch. Fairchild's offenses were 2nd in the NFC and 4th overall in passing. Marc Bulgar went to his first pro-Bowl with Fairchild as the OC.

If you bring in Fairchild and than implement a "dink and dunk" offense I think you will be hearing it from the fans!!

[bigbub2352]

I agree again with u Ice, the offense installed here is wide open and attacking, Holocomb is more of a ball control specialist who concentrates on slants/screens and dink and dunk passes to try and minimize mistakes, JP and Nall are suited better for this and that is why i dont think any of the reports mean anything when all is said and done JP will start and Nall will mop up if JP falters

[Philagape]

Especially with all the speed at WR. That would go to waste with Holcomb.

[ICE74129]

This is Jauron's second stint as head coach. I have to believe that he has learned a thing or two. He is a D minded caoch. Fairchild's offenses were 2nd in the NFC and 4th overall in passing. Marc Bulgar went to his first pro-Bowl with Fairchild as the OC.

If you bring in Fairchild and than implement a "dink and dunk" offense I think you will be hearing it from the fans!!

Jauron went dink and dunk and failed as a HC. Fans say with fairchilds wide open offense we wont' have a power running attack.

Guess what? 1) there is no such thing, 2) we dont' want one. You win with the PASS.

Great teams use the pass to set up the run. We will do that. Faulk still put up great numbers rushing in St Louis under this same type of system. The Bills were in the top 2 rushing in the league during a good chunk of our superbowl years doing the exact same thing also.

Look at KC, Green was #2 in passing yards but Johnson still got 1700 rushing (that isn't including holmes numbers). So it can be done.

[ICE74129]

Especially with all the speed at WR. That would go to waste with Holcomb.

3 wide, 1 TE, 1RB needs to be the base set with this talent.

[TacklingDummy]

How is Buffalo going to run a "Rams Style" offense when they

1) Don't play in a dome

2) Play in the wind

3) Play in the cold

4) play in the snow

And what I recall of the Rams style offense was that they used Faulk alot both running and passing, and threw alot of quick passes to WRs and let the rack up YAC. If that's the case, then the Bills will go with Holcomb, since he reads a defense better, better with the short passes and gets rid of the ball quickly.

With the speed the Bills have at WR, this offense will be fit for Holcomb style of play. Get the Ball to the Recievers and let them run.

But let the best man win.

[ICE74129]

How is Buffalo going to run a "Rams Style" offense when they

1) Don't play in a dome

2) Play in the wind

3) Play in the cold

4) play in the snow

And what I recall of the Rams style offense was that they used Faulk alot both running and passing, and threw alot of quick passes to WRs and let the rack up YAC. If that's the case, then the Bills will go with Holcomb, since he reads a defense better, better with the short passes and gets rid of the ball quickly.

With the speed the Bills have at WR, this offense will be fit for Holcomb style of play. Get the Ball to the Recievers and let them run.


But let the best man win.

1) it didn't stop the Kgun
2) it didn't stop the Kgun
3) it didn't stop the Kgun
4) it didn't stop the Kgun

You are incorrect on the Rams offense as well.

[Philagape]

If you're a speed receiver (or any receiver), is it more likely that you'll be open after two seconds or five seconds? If you're not open, I don't care how fast you are, you'll get tackled (especially our string-bean WRs). They're going to have to create separation BEFORE the catch, and that will take time Holcomb cannot give us behind this line.

[justasportsfan]

1) it didn't stop the Kgun
2) it didn't stop the Kgun
3) it didn't stop the Kgun
4) it didn't stop the Kgun

.:up:

Plus you also want the option to throw deep in order to open up the O and make it easier to run the ball. KH limits our O into a one dimensional passing game because he can't go deep. DB's will almost know that we're dinking and dunking the ball everytime we pass. A weak arm defeats the purpose of having speedy wr's that can stretch the field.

[Michael82]

Holcomb proved he can't/doesn't want to throw the long ball in the last day of camp yesterday when he chose to throw it for 25 yards, instead of the 50-60 that other players were throwing it for.

[ICE74129]

:up:

Plus you also want the option to throw deep in order to open up the O and make it easier to run the ball. KH limits our O into a one dimensional passing game because he can't go deep. DB's will almost know that we're dinking and dunking the ball everytime we pass. A weak arm defeats the purpose of having speedy wr's that can stretch the field.

And, you want willis to run? The get guys out of the damn box. Let the OL pick up one good series of teams coming after JP and let him burn them for 50 yards or so on one drive that ends in a TD pass. You will see them back out of that box to blitz/ Stop the run real damn quick.

Its easy to run when you must respect the pass. and that is on the OFFENSIVE LINE moreso than the QB.

[TacklingDummy]

The Rams were not a long ball type offense, like so many of you are implying.

Marc Bulger last year had 286 pass Att. last year and 243 of them were for 20 yards or less. More proof that Holcomb fits the "Rams Style" of offense better then JP does. Since Holcomb excells on passes for less then 20 yards.

The Rams offense was a 0-20 yard pass type offense. letting the WR catch the ball and run after it.

[TacklingDummy]

You are incorrect on the Rams offense as well.

The historcial references show that I am correct. I have fact's to back up my opinion. You have (aussmptions) nothing to back up your opinion other then saying im wrong.

[Meathead]

look fellas jp is going to be the qb on opening day, i guarantee it

now lets talk about something else - how bout those cheerleaders eh

[Earthquake Enyart]

look fellas jp is going to be the qb on opening day, i guarantee it

now lets talk about something else - how bout those cheerleaders eh
:puke:

[Mitchy moo]

Calling Phil, what are the new CL going to look like?

[HHURRICANE]

Calling Phil, what are the new CL going to look like?

We got rid of them.

[ICE74129]

:puke:

Better start dealing with it or better yet...don't and go root for someone else

[ICE74129]

The Rams were not a long ball type offense, like so many of you are implying.

Marc Bulger last year had 286 pass Att. last year and 243 of them were for 20 yards or less. More proof that Holcomb fits the "Rams Style" of offense better then JP does. Since Holcomb excells on passes for less then 20 yards.

The Rams offense was a 0-20 yard pass type offense. letting the WR catch the ball and run after it.

Get a clue, watch the games. Holcomb is NOT the type of QB for this offense. And holcomb doesn't excel in passes under 20 yards....he can't get it past 15. he excels in passes under 10 yards esp dumpoffs at the 3-7 yard mark. See the NE game

[ICE74129]

The historcial references show that I am correct. I have fact's to back up my opinion. You have (aussmptions) nothing to back up your opinion other then saying im wrong.

You have NEVER on this board proved anything with FACTS. Many of us have busted you way too many times.

[Philagape]

From 2003-2005 (Fairchild as OC), Bulger had 140 completions of 20+ yards. That's about 16.5 percent of his completions. His YPA during that time was 7.75.

In his ENTIRE CAREER, Holcomb has 54 completions of 20+ yards, about 10 percent of his completions. His career YPA is 6.67.

Anyone who thinks those two can run the same offense is on crack.

To show what a wide gap that is, here are some other QBs' career percentages of completions that are 20+ yards:
Culpepper 15.4
Collins 15.0
Manning 14.9
Favre 13.7
Bledsoe 13.1
Those are all long-ball QBs, and Bulger under Fairchild beats them all.

[HHURRICANE]

From 2003-2005 (Fairchild as OC), Bulger had 140 completions of 20+ yards. That's about 16.5 percent of his completions. His YPA during that time was 7.75.

In his ENTIRE CAREER, Holcomb has 54 completions of 20+ yards, about 10 percent of his completions. His career YPA is 6.67.

Anyone who thinks those two can run the same offense is on crack.

To show what a wide gap that is, here are some other QBs' career percentages of completions that are 20+ yards:
Culpepper 15.4
Collins 15.0
Manning 14.9
Favre 13.7
Bledsoe 13.1
Those are all long-ball QBs, and Bulger under Fairchild beats them all.

Oh no, not logic. Hey, that's not fair. Holcomb is still geting used to the NFL. He is going to work on passes over 26 yards next week.

[Earthquake Enyart]

Get a clue, watch the games. Holcomb is NOT the type of QB for this offense. And holcomb doesn't excel in passes under 20 yards....he can't get it past 15. he excels in passes under 10 yards esp dumpoffs at the 3-7 yard mark. See the NE game
Get a clue.

The Rams were the masters of the deep square ins and slants.

[Philagape]

From 2003-2005 (Fairchild as OC), Bulger had 140 completions of 20+ yards. That's about 16.5 percent of his completions. His YPA during that time was 7.75.

In his ENTIRE CAREER, Holcomb has 54 completions of 20+ yards, about 10 percent of his completions. His career YPA is 6.67.

Anyone who thinks those two can run the same offense is on crack.

To show what a wide gap that is, here are some other QBs' career percentages of completions that are 20+ yards:
Culpepper 15.4
Collins 15.0
Manning 14.9
Favre 13.7
Bledsoe 13.1
Those are all long-ball QBs, and Bulger under Fairchild beats them all.

And for those who would say, "Well that doesn't take into account yards after the catch," here are the Rams receivers' average YAC in 2005, 04 and 03:

Holt 2.4, 3.3, 3.2
Bruce 3.5, 4.0, 3.9
Curtis 4.3, 3.7, 2.3

Those are all average to below average. In the Rams' offense, the ball was in the air.

[ICE74129]

Get a clue.

The Rams were the masters of the deep square ins and slants.

I know what they do, read the stats above...deep ball. Oh and the deep square in is a 20 rocket shot, something holcomb CANT DO.

[ICE74129]

And for those who would say, "Well that doesn't take into account yards after the catch," here are the Rams receivers' average YAC in 2005, 04 and 03:

Holt 2.4, 3.3, 3.2
Bruce 3.5, 4.0, 3.9
Curtis 4.3, 3.7, 2.3

Those are all average to below average. In the Rams' offense, the ball was in the air.

Damn, I guess TD's 'facts' really weren't facts at all. Holcomb has NO chance in this offense and Fairchild knows it.

[LifetimeBillsFan]

I'm not going to get into the argument about whether Holcomb can run a Rams' style passing game or not, but I do want to point out that having Fairchild as the Bills OC does not necessarily indicate that the Bills will offense will pass the ball as much as the Rams' offense did.

Keep in mind that Fairchild initially came to the Bills after running the offense at Colorado State where the offense was heavily run-oritented: one season he produced two 1,000 yard rushers in that offense! When Fairchild was the RB coach with the Bills under G.Williams, the Bills ran the ball a lot with T.Henry before Gilbride came in and went crazy throwing the ball all over the place. Indeed, Fairchild stated that he went to work for the Rams because he felt that he needed to learn more about the passing game and wanted to learn it from Martz. Which he did. But, Martz called the plays until he went into the hospital last season--by which time Fairchild was left having to run Martz' offense, for the most part with back-up QBs after Bulger went down, on a team with a horrid defense. Even though they needed to throw the ball a lot at the end of last season to try to outscore their opponents, Fairchild still ran the ball more with the Rams than Martz did.

Jauron and Fairchild have talked about the need for balance in the offense and to run the ball in the weather conditions. What Fairchild is bringing is a Ram's style passing game, but not necessarily a Rams' style offense, in terms of the amount of passing vs running that the Bills will do. Indeed, it has been pointed out that M.Faulk did a lot of running and caught a lot of swing passes and screens--which some coaches consider akin to long hand-offs in a spread offense--in the Rams offense before it got out of balance in Martz' last couple of seasons. Just like the Bills ran the ball as much or more than they passed it during the heyday of the K-Gun offense, Fairchild knows the value of the running game, especially in cold weather conditions. So, I expect his offense to be a lot more balanced, in the nature of the K-Gun offense, than most people who are expecting the kind of wide open passing game that Martz ended up running with the Rams that ignored M.Faulk and S.Jackson. IMHO, W.McGahee will get the ball a lot more in this offense than they did. When the Bills do pass, it will probably look a lot like the Rams' passing game--with deep outs and slants and go routes opening up the underneath areas for the swing passes and screens--but with a lot more balance between pass and run like the K-Gun.

[Philagape]

The run/pass ratio isn't in dispute ... I hope we run more than the Rams did. But the long ball is still a significant part, and if Holcomb is the QB, several pages of the playbook will be crossed out. And without the long ball, defenses will be stacked.

[ICE74129]

Ok all of this 'Balance in the weather' is pure crap. I have kelly on tape in a blowing snow storm putting up over 300 yards. So we can end that arguement now.

Teams that can PASS in bad weather, win. Bottom line, you must be able to pass in bad weather. JP has the arm to do so when not injured (NE game last year).

The pass sets up the run in the NFL if you are to be successful. I don't care about stats, the THREAT of being able to pass helps the run.

[Philagape]

Anyone who was at the Miami game in 2002 knows the long ball can work in winter weather.

[TacklingDummy]

From 2003-2005 (Fairchild as OC), Bulger had 140 completions of 20+ yards. That's about 16.5 percent of his completions. His YPA during that time was 7.75.

In his ENTIRE CAREER, Holcomb has 54 completions of 20+ yards, about 10 percent of his completions. His career YPA is 6.67.

Anyone who thinks those two can run the same offense is on crack.



And about 6 percent of JPs completions are over 20 +yards. Again Holcomb beats out JP. Thanks for the tip. Funny how you left that out.

[ICE74129]

Anyone who was at the Miami game in 2002 knows the long ball can work in winter weather.

Yeah funny how that worked out huh?

BTW...in a small blizzard, Jim Kelly tossed for 339 and 3 TD's against Miami in the 91 playoff game. And you know whats funny? with that wide open air attack, TT still had 117 and 2 TD's on the ground.

Funny things happen when you pass to set up the run and make the defense respect ALL of your game and defend the entire field.

[TacklingDummy]

His career YPA is 6.67.

Anyone who thinks those two can run the same offense is on crack.



And Losman's is 5.89. Your point?

[ICE74129]

And about 6 percent of JPs completions are over 20 +yards. Again Holcomb beats out JP. Thanks for the tip. Funny how you left that out.

Humm, funny you mention that since Holcomb can't complete a pass over 30 yards. Stats aside, the proof is on film.

See what JP's % is this year under Fairchild

[ICE74129]

And Losman's is 5.89. Your point?

Uh he said CAREER. 8 games doesn't = a career.

[Philagape]

JP's stats are left out because, as has been said many times, what he did last year is irrelevant.

[TacklingDummy]

Uh he said CAREER. 8 games doesn't = a career.

Not my fault that he's a carreer loser and only played in 9 games.

[TacklingDummy]

JP's stats are left out because, as has been said many times, what he did last year is irrelevant.

OK, WYS.

[The_Philster]

Calling Phil, what are the new CL going to look like?
For the second year in a row, not a bad-looking one on the squad. Their calendar will hopefully be ready in preseason again and one girl will be in the next issue of FHM magazine :up:


Back on topic, I agree with ICE on the QB situation. If Jauron gives Fairchild a strong say in who's on the field on offense, Holcomb will be holding a clipboard because a weak-armed QB won't be respected by the defense. Yeah, JP isn't as good at reading defenses, but that will come with a bit of time.

[ICE74129]

Not my fault that he's a carreer loser and only played in 9 games.

Unlike Holcomb, he hasn't had a career yet. 8 games doesn't = a career. 10 Years in the league with a losing career record does = a career. I can't help it your boy holcomb has sucked his entire life.

[ICE74129]

For the second year in a row, not a bad-looking one on the squad. Their calendar will hopefully be ready in preseason again and one girl will be in the next issue of FHM magazine :up:


Back on topic, I agree with ICE on the QB situation. If Jauron gives Fairchild a strong say in who's on the field on offense, Holcomb will be holding a clipboard because a weak-armed QB won't be respected by the defense. Yeah, JP isn't as good at reading defenses, but that will come with a bit of time.

That comes with having more than 2 seconds in the pocket as well :beers:

[THE END OF ALL DAYS]

1) it didn't stop the Kgun
2) it didn't stop the Kgun
3) it didn't stop the Kgun
4) it didn't stop the Kgun

You are incorrect on the Rams offense as well.

Good come back Ice! POSREP POSREP POSREP POSREP!

[KMA]

Everyone, including me, has been under the assumption that Jauron would make the pick at QB. Although he has final say many considered Fairchild as the best available OC out in the market when we took him. He likes throwing the ball downfield and having an explosive offense. I just don't see Holcomb in a Fairchild offenseive scheme which bodes well for Losman.
How do you define "explosive?"

[jmb1099]

And about 6 percent of JPs completions are over 20 +yards. Again Holcomb beats out JP. Thanks for the tip. Funny how you left that out.
Again using the stats of a first time starter to make your point, funny how you continue to leave that out in every single stinking post you ever make. Fact: Holcomb doesn't have the ability to throw deep accurate or inaccurate. Losman or Nall at least give us that ability.

[HHURRICANE]

How do you define "explosive?"

After watching the Bills offense the last few years, anything over 200 yards!!

[KMA]

After watching the Bills offense the last few years, anything over 200 yards!!

To many simply moving the ball forward would be considered explosive.

Anyway, just curious what was so "explosive" about the Rams offense when Fairchild was there. The last three seasons.

Fairchild also took a relatively decent O and moved it backwards. I can't wait.

[acehole]

I agree again with u Ice, the offense installed here is wide open and attacking, Holocomb is more of a ball control specialist who concentrates on slants/screens and dink and dunk passes to try and minimize mistakes, JP and Nall are suited better for this and that is why i dont think any of the reports mean anything when all is said and done JP will start and Nall will mop up if JP falters

Agreed...but do you all think K Warner was a canon arm?

Just asking.....

[ICE74129]

Agreed...but do you all think K Warner was a canon arm?

Just asking.....

At the time he took over, yes. He could throw 65+ yards no problem. Holcomb can't hit but maybe 1/2 that

[TacklingDummy]

After watching the Bills offense the last few years, anything over 200 yards!!

Then you must be rooting for KH to be QB, since 4 of his 8 games he had over 200 yards. JP had less then 200 yards in 8 of the 9 games he played in.

With such a strong arm you would think JP would have mutliple games over 200 yards passing.

[X-Era]

Then you must be rooting for KH to be QB, since 4 of his 8 games he had over 200 yards. JP had less then 200 yards in 8 of the 9 games he played in.

With such a strong arm you would think JP would have mutliple games over 200 yards passing.

Your too smart for your own good....yeah right.

Facts are facts. Id rather have a youngster who makes bad decisions throw 3 long TDS's on Miami and and show he can throw the long ball, then a short throwing QB who can move the chains only to NOT score TD's and end up going 3 vs. 0 up on the defending world champs (Pats).

Say what you will, but Losmans potential is what makes him the better option. Holcomb has NO potential, only what he has proven, and THAT is that he is a career backup. Only takes one game withj 4 int's against a sub-500 team to prove that to me. How many 4 int games does Losman have? NONE!

How many 3 TD games does Holcomb have, NONE!!!

Thanks, but no thanks, Ill take a roller coaster youngster with all the potential in the world over a career backup, rock solid vet who cant put your team in the playoffs any day of the week!!!!!!!

[ICE74129]

Your too smart for your own good....yeah right.

Facts are facts. Id rather have a youngster who makes bad decisions throw 3 long TDS's on Miami and and show he can throw the long ball, then a short throwing QB who can move the chains only to NOT score TD's and end up going 3 vs. 0 up on the defending world champs (Pats).

Say what you will, but Losmans potential is what makes him the better option. Holcomb has NO potential, only what he has proven, and THAT is that he is a career backup. Only takes one game withj 4 int's against a sub-500 team to prove that to me. How many 4 int games does Losman have? NONE!

How many 3 TD games does Holcomb have, NONE!!!

Thanks, but no thanks, Ill take a roller coaster youngster with all the potential in the world over a career backup, rock solid vet who cant put your team in the playoffs any day of the week!!!!!!!

I see JP Era gets it.

[ublinkwescore]

Holcomb proved he can't/doesn't want to throw the long ball in the last day of camp yesterday when he chose to throw it for 25 yards, instead of the 50-60 that other players were throwing it for.

How in the hell is this guy even in the NFL - I can throw for over 50 yards - not much over, but I can throw an official sized ball at least 55-60 tops...

[1959BillsFan]

I kind of have to laugh at everyone making ASSUMPTIONS on the system and scheme Fairchild will be using. He was mainly a run sets up the pass kind of guy in his college coaching career. Fairchild was the RBs coach for the Bills under Gregg Williams. Then, Martz annointed him as OC, BUT it was Martz's system. Rarely did Fairchild game plan or call the plays under Martz.

When Martz went out due to medical reasons, we saw that Fairchild plan a much more controlled offense. I really think that Fairchild will fool a lot of people with his scheming this year.

[jmb1099]

I kind of have to laugh at everyone making ASSUMPTIONS on the system and scheme Fairchild will be using. He was mainly a run sets up the pass kind of guy in his college coaching career. Fairchild was the RBs coach for the Bills under Gregg Williams. Then, Martz annointed him as OC, BUT it was Martz's system. Rarely did Fairchild game plan or call the plays under Martz.

When Martz went out due to medical reasons, we saw that Fairchild plan a much more controlled offense. I really think that Fairchild will fool a lot of people with his scheming this year.
Nobody is making assumptions. Dick Jauron, you know the head coach for the team, said in his interview on buffalobills.com that Fairchilds offense will feature the long ball. Seems to make sense that if the head coach has said it, and the OC has them practicing it, that maybe, just maybe, it is what might, possibly, potentially, happen.

[LifetimeBillsFan]

Nobody is making assumptions. Dick Jauron, you know the head coach for the team, said in his interview on buffalobills.com that Fairchilds offense will feature the long ball. Seems to make sense that if the head coach has said it, and the OC has them practicing it, that maybe, just maybe, it is what might, possibly, potentially, happen.

Agreed...when they pass.

But, what 1959BillsFan and I are reacting to are the comments and comparisons here and elsewhere with the Rams' pass-first offense (there have even been some comments about Fairchild's offense being like Gilbride's in that respect). What we are trying to bring to people's attention is that, given Fairchild's background and the comments by Jauron and Fairchild about this being a balanced offense, this offense is likely to have a closer balance between run and pass plays than was the case in Martz' offense the last couple of seasons. And, a better balance can impact the effectiveness of the QB: just like defenses can stack up to stop the run against a team that doesn't pass enough or pose enough of a deep threat in the passing game, which can hurt the stats of a RB; defenses can sit back and key on the passing game if an offense doesn't run the ball effectively enough, which can hurt a QB's stats unless he has a game-breaking go-to receiver (look at Philly with and without TO).

We are all speculating here because none of us has actually seen the offense that Fairchild is going to run with the Bills. At best, we are trying to extrapolate from those games that Fairchild was in charge of the Rams' offense last season. But, that was Martz' offense and it was built around his offensive philosophy--which was different from the philosophy the Fairchild followed in his college and previous NFL coaching stints. And, Fairchild was working with receivers like Tory Holt, Issac Bruce and Kevin Curtis, with an offensive line anchored by Orlando Pace, playing their games in a dome. The players and situation in Buffalo are very different. So, what we are trying to say is that it may not be that wise to make direct correlations and extrapolations between what Fairchild did in St. Louis last year in trying to predict what he will do with the Bills this coming season, which is what some people are trying to do at this point in making their argument about who will or should be the Bills' QB.

So, yes, it is fair to expect that the Bills will throw the ball deep and with more regularity than they did last season because, as you point out, the coaches have already told us that. But, they have also said that the offense is going to be a balanced one between pass and run, which the Rams' offense was not. So, based on that, it is just as fair to expect that this is not exactly going to be the Rams' offense--which is what 1959BillsFan and I are saying.

My own speculation is that this offense may look a lot like the Bills offense that Ted Marchibroda ran under Marv Levy--without the hurry-up aspect of the K-Gun and the reads that the QB had to make at the line of scrimmage--when they had Lofton, Beebe and Reed, all of whom could go deep, and a RB who could run and catch the ball in space in Thurman Thomas (and a somewhat undersized, athletic center in Kent Hull). In that offense, the Bills threw the ball deep a lot more than they have in recent years, but they also ran the ball as much as they passed it. The Bills have similar speed, although by no means similar credentials at WR, and a RB, in the trimmed down McGahee, who can catch the ball and should benefit from being in an offense that is designed to put him in space with the ball. The questions are whether their offensive line is going to be good enough to run such an offense effectively and whether there is a QB on this roster who can throw the ball accurately enough and deep enough to make the passing game work (the QB doesn't have to be a Jim Kelly, but he does have to be accurate enough to get the ball to the WRs consistently). But, again, like everyone else here, I'm just guessing about this because, we really don't know what Fairchild's offense is going to look like and won't until we see the Bills running it in the preseason and the beginning of the regular season (I doubt that they will show all of their offense in the preseason, so we'll have to wait until the games count to truly see all of it). And, without knowing what the offense will look like, it is impossible to accurately predict just how any one of these three QBs will perform in it.

[evol4276]

i'd think he'd be the one to do it anyways since he's led one of the best passing offenses for years and has a great idea of how a qb should play. Let's hope he sees what he needs to in the right person though.

[John Doe]

Agreed...when they pass.

But, what 1959BillsFan and I are reacting to are the comments and comparisons here and elsewhere with the Rams' pass-first offense (there have even been some comments about Fairchild's offense being like Gilbride's in that respect). What we are trying to bring to people's attention is that, given Fairchild's background and the comments by Jauron and Fairchild about this being a balanced offense, this offense is likely to have a closer balance between run and pass plays than was the case in Martz' offense the last couple of seasons. And, a better balance can impact the effectiveness of the QB: just like defenses can stack up to stop the run against a team that doesn't pass enough or pose enough of a deep threat in the passing game, which can hurt the stats of a RB; defenses can sit back and key on the passing game if an offense doesn't run the ball effectively enough, which can hurt a QB's stats unless he has a game-breaking go-to receiver (look at Philly with and without TO).

We are all speculating here because none of us has actually seen the offense that Fairchild is going to run with the Bills. At best, we are trying to extrapolate from those games that Fairchild was in charge of the Rams' offense last season. But, that was Martz' offense and it was built around his offensive philosophy--which was different from the philosophy the Fairchild followed in his college and previous NFL coaching stints. And, Fairchild was working with receivers like Tory Holt, Issac Bruce and Kevin Curtis, with an offensive line anchored by Orlando Pace, playing their games in a dome. The players and situation in Buffalo are very different. So, what we are trying to say is that it may not be that wise to make direct correlations and extrapolations between what Fairchild did in St. Louis last year in trying to predict what he will do with the Bills this coming season, which is what some people are trying to do at this point in making their argument about who will or should be the Bills' QB.

So, yes, it is fair to expect that the Bills will throw the ball deep and with more regularity than they did last season because, as you point out, the coaches have already told us that. But, they have also said that the offense is going to be a balanced one between pass and run, which the Rams' offense was not. So, based on that, it is just as fair to expect that this is not exactly going to be the Rams' offense--which is what 1959BillsFan and I are saying.

My own speculation is that this offense may look a lot like the Bills offense that Ted Marchibroda ran under Marv Levy--without the hurry-up aspect of the K-Gun and the reads that the QB had to make at the line of scrimmage--when they had Lofton, Beebe and Reed, all of whom could go deep, and a RB who could run and catch the ball in space in Thurman Thomas (and a somewhat undersized, athletic center in Kent Hull). In that offense, the Bills threw the ball deep a lot more than they have in recent years, but they also ran the ball as much as they passed it. The Bills have similar speed, although by no means similar credentials at WR, and a RB, in the trimmed down McGahee, who can catch the ball and should benefit from being in an offense that is designed to put him in space with the ball. The questions are whether their offensive line is going to be good enough to run such an offense effectively and whether there is a QB on this roster who can throw the ball accurately enough and deep enough to make the passing game work (the QB doesn't have to be a Jim Kelly, but he does have to be accurate enough to get the ball to the WRs consistently). But, again, like everyone else here, I'm just guessing about this because, we really don't know what Fairchild's offense is going to look like and won't until we see the Bills running it in the preseason and the beginning of the regular season (I doubt that they will show all of their offense in the preseason, so we'll have to wait until the games count to truly see all of it). And, without knowing what the offense will look like, it is impossible to accurately predict just how any one of these three QBs will perform in it.

This is the definative post on the pre-season speculation about the type of offense that the Bills will run.