Bills Coaches Are To Blame

Oct 3, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback EJ Manuel (3) is attended to by medical staff after being hit out of bounds during the third quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

After the injury and another loss I wanted to wait and hear views and opinions from others to see what stance everyone was going to take. I’ve heard everything from excuses, injuries are at fault and we just have to get better. The problem with that is we tend to hear that from all coaches throughout the league and I guess the Bills are no different.

I understand injuries are a part of the game and it’s unfortunate but it’s the coach’s responsibility to make sure proper precautions are in place. Two examples that come to mind are: a backup quarterback that can actually play and also the cornerback position.

First and most important I believe is quarterback position. Earlier this week I did a piece on if the Bills should have signed a veteran quarterback to primarily backup EJ but also to give him advice and any tips they could to help him. That wasn’t done and we all seen what happened on Thursday as Jeff Tuel took the field. I don’t know about anyone else but I almost didn’t watch after that because I knew it wasn’t going to be good. A lot of people have known about my stance on Tuel as I did some pieces on him during training camp (last week as well). He in no way shape or form is a backup and shouldn’t even be in the league. Practice squad at most but this coaching staff believed he was ready to step in if needed. Hopefully going forward this coaching staff realizes that he’s not ready and that someone who played in this league I believe should always be a backup as a rookie backup especially an undrafted one isn’t the answer if you get in trouble.

On the defensive side of the ball I also have a problem that should’ve been looked at. When Buddy Nix drafted guys he always seemed to take a corner because he said you can always use an extra one. Doug Whaley has now stepped in and don’t get me wrong because this draft class has looked pretty good but maybe should have gone after a one. The two safeties he took are what I have a problem with as 1 they haven’t necessarily played all that much and 2 they aren’t even that good. In one of those spots I would have went with a corner. Seeing what we have had to deal with so far this season I think they Bills would’ve gone about this situation a little different as well. One more thing why wasn’t a veteran corner signed when they had the chance?  Pettine should’ve spoken up about this and demanded it was needed.

Being where we are now in the standings to me has come from these two positions. Mismatches in the secondary and quarterback decisions/calls are I guess things fans will have to deal with until this staff gets it figured out. I think this coaching staff is going in the right direction but I guess we are not only going to have to deal with growing pains with the players but also with this staff as well.