Judge
10-26-2003, 11:00 PM
Not much about this team can be defended even by an eternal optimist like me at this point.
Travis Henry gets high grades for the last couple of games especially, and the first half in general, playing through pain and injury and avoiding the fumbles.
The D in general has played well enough to win in a couple of losses, most notably Miami. It hung in there a while tonight, but obviously didn't make any big momentum-turning plays.
Bledsoe is an enigma. I'm not ready to throw him to the trash heap, but I can't understand where his head has gone recently.
The coaching staff is a train wreck. This team in my opinion has never been the same since the idiotic HB pass against Miami. Blame the coaching staff for calling the damn play. The coaches have consistently put this team in a position where it was almost impossible to succeed, or at least in positions where the chance to fail was high. Even early on tonight, after a tough yardage run by Henry to make it 2nd and goal at the 2, calling 2 straight passes, whether Bledsoe missed an open guy or not, was bizarre.
The team cannot respond well to adversity, obviously. One bad play and the team tanks.
What to do? There's still a half a season to play, and I'm still not ready to give up on the talent level of this team.
GW must go. Take Gilbride with him, as the offensive strategy isn't working. Give Dick LeBeau the job and make Les Stoeckel OC. No nonsense about benching Drew for the long haul or cutting Sam Adams. Keep them in there, but play hard, smashmout football with the running game setting up play action.
Why the heck not? The worst it can do is send the team out of the postseason, where it looks like it might be a tough order to make a run as it is. Then, Donahoe can find the right guy next season, with a still solid roster of talent. The best it can do is straighten the team out and make a run. It would also enliven the Bills' fans' faith in a commitment to winning.
Nothing to lose, everything to gain. Just do it, Ralph!
Travis Henry gets high grades for the last couple of games especially, and the first half in general, playing through pain and injury and avoiding the fumbles.
The D in general has played well enough to win in a couple of losses, most notably Miami. It hung in there a while tonight, but obviously didn't make any big momentum-turning plays.
Bledsoe is an enigma. I'm not ready to throw him to the trash heap, but I can't understand where his head has gone recently.
The coaching staff is a train wreck. This team in my opinion has never been the same since the idiotic HB pass against Miami. Blame the coaching staff for calling the damn play. The coaches have consistently put this team in a position where it was almost impossible to succeed, or at least in positions where the chance to fail was high. Even early on tonight, after a tough yardage run by Henry to make it 2nd and goal at the 2, calling 2 straight passes, whether Bledsoe missed an open guy or not, was bizarre.
The team cannot respond well to adversity, obviously. One bad play and the team tanks.
What to do? There's still a half a season to play, and I'm still not ready to give up on the talent level of this team.
GW must go. Take Gilbride with him, as the offensive strategy isn't working. Give Dick LeBeau the job and make Les Stoeckel OC. No nonsense about benching Drew for the long haul or cutting Sam Adams. Keep them in there, but play hard, smashmout football with the running game setting up play action.
Why the heck not? The worst it can do is send the team out of the postseason, where it looks like it might be a tough order to make a run as it is. Then, Donahoe can find the right guy next season, with a still solid roster of talent. The best it can do is straighten the team out and make a run. It would also enliven the Bills' fans' faith in a commitment to winning.
Nothing to lose, everything to gain. Just do it, Ralph!