For those who doubt Bledsoe:

[Rack]

My questions is what would it take from him to make you happy?
Talk to me about game 1 numbers and then season if you wish.

One of my greatest frustrations with message board culture is the fact so often people refuse to change their mind about anything, anytime. I'd like to know what Drew needs to do performance wise?

Will a 2 TD 220 yard passing day on Sunday with 86 QB rating do the job?
Does no INTs, 1 TD and 200 yards sound good to you?

I would really just like to hear some tangible goals set for him.

I don't care about the numbers. All I ask (or hope for) is that he get rid of the ball on time and only take what the defense gives him. His talent is good enough to where if he does those two things, he'll be fine.

If he starts holding the ball too long and forcing throws, we'll be in trouble.

 

[DLCassidy]

I want to see more plays like the throw last week to Crayton. Virtually a perfect play. The line blocked. Julius pick up the blitz well. Crayton ran a nice pattern and caught the ball. Bledsoe steped into his throw and delivered a strike. Nice. Bledsoe needs good line play. With the way Petiti looks right now I think he may get it. The weapons are adequate to excellent. I think our offense may eventually get to be one of the top 10 units in the league. But people need to be patient. Bledsoe needs to get comfortable with a new team. Petiti needs to settle in. Price needs to learn the offense. If we could somehow win the first two the sky is the limit for this team but I'd take a split right now and be ok with it.

I expect Drew Bledsoe to excel if our line excels. Since I'm optimistic about the line I think he'll do fine: 10-6 record, playoff berth, 3300 yards, 22 tds, 15 ints, 35 sacks.

 

[scottsp]

I don't care about the numbers. All I ask (or hope for) is that he get rid of the ball on time and only take what the defense gives him. His talent is good enough to where if he does those two things, he'll be fine.

If he starts holding the ball too long and forcing throws, we'll be in trouble.

Absolutely. Impact the games by way of directing the offense in the most efficient manner possible. This means, don't take sacks at the worst possible time. Get the ball out!

The worst times to take a sack? Ones that take us out of field goal range or perhaps while in the two-minute offense.

I can live with incompletions to an extent. Can't handle sacks too well, particularly those Drew is known for. And turnovers are obviously a no-no.

I'm not a fan of the 24 for 40, 350-yard passing afternoons when accompanied by a pick and a fumble. Give me the performance boasting less yardage, better game management, and care for the football.

I'm hoping Drew picks his spots when to attack downfield, and as Rack mentioned, takes what the defense gives him.

 

[blindzebra]

It's really simple and goes back to what I first said, and then showed with the hidden stats from 2002.

If he plays within the offense he will be fine.

The problem is historically...even in his good years...he takes sacks trying to make plays down field, and gets frustrated and forces the ball.

Our team is more talented, but not talented enough, that 2 or 3 bad Bledsoe plays won't cost us games.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

My questions is what would it take from him to make you happy?
Talk to me about game 1 numbers and then season if you wish.

One of my greatest frustrations with message board culture is the fact so often people refuse to change their mind about anything, anytime. I'd like to know what Drew needs to do performance wise?

Will a 2 TD 220 yard passing day on Sunday with 86 QB rating do the job?
Does no INTs, 1 TD and 200 yards sound good to you?

I would really just like to hear some tangible goals set for him.

A young 22-24 year old 1st round draftee at Quarterback with high pedigree would be the only thing that would make me change my mind about Drew Bledsoe.

Once again...it's the quarterback stupid!

 

[Hostile]

A young 22-24 year old 1st round draftee at Quarterback with high pedigree would be the only thing that would make me change my mind about Drew Bledsoe.

Once again...it's the quarterback stupid!

I love that article.

 

[Galian Beast]

That Buffalo line was horrible.

 

[jterrell]

JT, you and I always seem to disagree on the value of message board opinions.

I don't want ground rules on anyone or anything as far as allowable opinions. I want open discussion. I think it is healthy. Sometimes a little too healthy.



Fans are never going to come to a consensus. Why try and force one?

I agree with you that 22 + points and 10 wins is more likely. I won't be satisifed with it though. That was the litmus test. In truth the chance sof me ever being satisfied are slim and none. I don't mean to say I am just never happy. Not that at all. I just think what i ultimately want can't be done.

Give me a D that holds teams under 14 and an offense that scores 40+ for a team that goes all the way undefeated and I will finally be completely satisifed. I just don't ever see that happening.

So, until then I will talk about how this could be better, or that could be better, or no one is better than ___________. In other words, just enjoying the back and forth aspect of being a fan.

I am a teleological guy Hos.
I expect forum arguments to be towards some aim beyond getting carpal tunnel.

Part of bringing value to this board or any other is being mature enough to see logical arguments made by other people and accept them as being such. Yet far too often we see people wed to pure opinion based on a subjective take. In those instances discussion is useless.

Anyone on this board who hasn't been wrong and admitted it really needs a reality check.

I am fairly certain Drew Bledsoe will have the best year in a long while by a Dallas QB. I am also fairly certain plenty of folks will argue til their green in the face that they were never wrong about Drew at all.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

That Buffalo line was horrible.

Our line is not exaclty the second coming of the 4 Irishmen and a Scott line in the 70s...

- Mike G.

 

[Paniolo22]

I'll take the points and the wins, but he's really got to show me something when it counts. I mean have a good 3rd down comp % (for 1st downs), good red zone efficiency, and low turn over ratio. Give me that and I'll be very happy.

 

[jterrell]

It's really simple and goes back to what I first said, and then showed with the hidden stats from 2002.

If he plays within the offense he will be fine.

The problem is historically...even in his good years...he takes sacks trying to make plays down field, and gets frustrated and forces the ball.

Our team is more talented, but not talented enough, that 2 or 3 bad Bledsoe plays won't cost us games.

It really is amusing that you believe you have a point.
You don't.

Bledsoe put up 24 TDs to 15 INTs and passed for over 4300 yards.
He was playing behind a bad line and took A VERY REASONABLE NUMBER OF SACKS COMPARED TO HIS 600+ PASS ATTEMPTS.
Bledsoe was excellent in those other games you did not list showing that the team relied on his playing extremely well to win. That team with a bad OL was a far above average offensive team in production.

NFL coaches, players and fans disagreed about your hidden stats because they voted the guy to the PRO BOWL.

I already knew you were a guy who would argue nonsensically regardless. I just expected you to do so after a good Bledsoe performance Sunday not prior to the game. But hey at least you are getting warmed up for your predictable take.

 

[jterrell]

Our line is not exaclty the second coming of the 4 Irishmen and a Scott line in the 70s...

- Mike G.

We do have 3 Pro Bowlers and a high 2nd round pick rotating with another high 2nd round pick.

Right now this is the best OL, RB, TE and WR corps Bledsoe has had since he left NE.

 

[blindzebra]

I am a teleological guy Hos.
I expect forum arguments to be towards some aim beyond getting carpal tunnel.

Part of bringing value to this board or any other is being mature enough to see logical arguments made by other people and accept them as being such. Yet far too often we see people wed to pure opinion based on a subjective take. In those instances discussion is useless.

Anyone on this board who hasn't been wrong and admitted it really needs a reality check.

I am fairly certain Drew Bledsoe will have the best year in a long while by a Dallas QB. I am also fairly certain plenty of folks will argue til their green in the face that they were never wrong about Drew at all.

What did you offer other than a subjective take based on your opinion?

You asked a question and got several well thought out answers. When they did not fit your standard of answer, you replied with stats and comments like,"Yeah , he really sucked in 2002."

Funny, when I supplied stats that clearly supported my comments about not taking sacks or forcing the ball, you choice not to discuss it.

You are doing the very thing you are complaining about in this last post.

 

[Reality]

I like Bledsoe and rooted for him heavily in Buffalo (minus last year of course) because of how he was run out of New England. However, what concerns me most is how he performs in big games. When we play Philly how will he play? When/if we make it to the playoffs, how will he play? I've never doubted his ability to rack up the passing yards. I am concerned over whether or not he will choke in big games as he has in the past.

 

[blindzebra]

It really is amusing that you believe you have a point.
You don't.

Bledsoe put up 24 TDs to 15 INTs and passed for over 4300 yards.
He was playing behind a bad line and took A VERY REASONABLE NUMBER OF SACKS COMPARED TO HIS 600+ PASS ATTEMPTS.
Bledsoe was excellent in those other games you did not list showing that the team relied on his playing extremely well to win. That team with a bad OL was a far above average offensive team in production.

NFL coaches, players and fans disagreed about your hidden stats because they voted the guy to the PRO BOWL.

I already knew you were a guy who would argue nonsensically regardless. I just expected you to do so after a good Bledsoe performance Sunday not prior to the game. But hey at least you are getting warmed up for your predictable take.

Nice personal attack.

Your stats are proof, my stats are fluff. Too bad that when Bledsoe got sacked and threw INTs they lost, when he didn't they won.

Of course your excuse is his line sucked, they just magically played well in the games he did not throw an INT.

Typical.

 

[Cowchips]

Not patting the ball, holding it too long, taking drive killing sacks.

Not losing patience with our ball control scheme and chucking it up for grabs deep, with game killing INTs.

You know, not doing what he's been doing the last 6 years.

He's actually only averaged 1 int per game..so that part of your argument doesnt hold up. And had McGahee been in the game since game 1, the Bills would have been 12-4 vs. 9-7. I think he'll be fine if he is protected.

 

[Cowchips]

I like Bledsoe and rooted for him heavily in Buffalo (minus last year of course) because of how he was run out of New England. However, what concerns me most is how he performs in big games. When we play Philly how will he play? When/if we make it to the playoffs, how will he play? I've never doubted his ability to rack up the passing yards. I am concerned over whether or not he will choke in big games as he has in the past.

It should be interesting because McNabb screws up in big games too. It'll be a battle of the screw ups

 

[blindzebra]

He's actually only averaged 1 int per game..so that part of your argument doesnt hold up. And had McGahee been in the game since game 1, the Bills would have been 12-4 vs. 9-7. I think he'll be fine if he is protected.

Look at his stats game by game. It is not the overall number it is when they happen.

Historically they come at bad times and in bunches.

 

[Cowchips]

We do have 3 Pro Bowlers and a high 2nd round pick rotating with another high 2nd round pick.

Right now this is the best OL, RB, TE and WR corps Bledsoe has had since he left NE.

Actually, it's the best offensive group since he left Parcells. Amazing!! But he actually had a pretty good group in Buffalo in 2002 also. 4 or 5 offensive guys went to the pro bowl including Bledsoe.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Like my other favorite Uncle Al says, "Just win, baby!"

Doesn't have to be pretty, doesn't have to have off the chart stats. I just want to win; because of Bledsoe or despite him. Just want to do it preferably without boneheaded mistakes; on both sides of the ball.