Williams had some supporters in the Buffalo locker room as the players liked him. The same cannot be said for Gilbride.

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who endured the worst season of his 11-year pro career, refused to criticize Gilbride, but it was clear that he recognizes a change probably needs to be made.

"We were getting so much pressure we started throwing shorter, getting rid of it quicker," Bledsoe said, a reference to Gilbride's protection schemes which usually failed. "If that's what we're going to do, what the hell do they need me here for?"

Bledsoe feels he can still be effective as a drop-back, in-the-pocket, down-the-field passer, but he needs more help from his offensive line and his receivers. Neither unit played well in 2003, and when you throw in Bledsoe's own struggles with inaccuracy and his lack of mobility, it made for an offensive nightmare. Buffalo's total offensive production of 4,348 yards was only seven yards more than the franchise record-low for a 16-game season, set in 1984. Incredibly, Bledsoe passed for 4,359 yards in 2002, 11 yards more than the offense gained as a collective unit in 2003.

"We need to be more precise in what we do on the field," said Bledsoe. "Could there have been more help at times? We can all get better. In the league right now you can make a dramatic change with just a few little changes. A player here, a player there, a little tweak in the system and you can make a dramatic change without having to overhaul everything."

In other words, leave the players alone and bring in an offensive coordinator with a workable system.

General manager Tom Donahoe took issue with all the criticism Bledsoe received this year and without pointing the finger at Gilbride, seemed to indicate that a change was in order.

"He took more bullets than a Packard in one of those Al Capone movies," Donahoe said of Bledsoe. "And I don't think it was fair. I think some other people on our team, some of our coaches, should have stood up. I don't think Drew deserved to be treated the way he was treated this year. He's a quality quarterback and he's an even better person. We didn't help him enough. We put him in too many situations where he couldn't win."

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Buffalo Bills Message Board
aj2c Reputation:78 Level:Pro Since:Mar 4, 2008	November 30, 2009 9:30 am Score: 180 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: 4th Qtr WIN! Congrats Perry on your first win!  I am use to seeing the Bills playing a great first 3 quarters and a tired, over-worked defense lose the game in the 4th quarter. It was great to see the long ball. Isn't that why we paid Owens $6 million to come to Buffalo. Great to see ...(more) Reply to this thread (2 replies)
ScorpionWzrd Reputation:87 Level:All-Star Since:Nov 21, 2006	November 30, 2009 6:58 pm Score: 176 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Why the Buffalo Bills need Toronto Many fans are disgusted with the Bills playing home games at the Roger Centre in Toronto but let's look at why it is. Players have gotten greedy and demand top dollar to play in Buffalo. Football fans are reluctant to go to Ralph Wilson Stadium as the fans behave in poor fashion. When the fans of the Bills tailgate hours before kickoff and ...(more) Reply to this thread (2 replies)
JGoose22 Reputation:40 Level:Rookie Since:Nov 3, 2009	November 29, 2009 11:12 am Score: 234 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Phins @ Bills Normally with the Phins coming into Buffalo with the weather turning cold and gray the Bills should be the favorite. Not this year the Dolphins are a 3 1/2 point favorite, honestly I'm surprised that it is not more. The Bills O-line is in complete shambles due to injuries, the lin ...(more) Reply to this thread (9 replies)
miamifaninlanc Reputation:94 Level:All-Star Since:Dec 19, 2008	November 23, 2009 5:30 pm Score: 163 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Miami vs Buffalo Just interested in seeing how many of you Fans actually pick the usual bottom feeders to beat Miami this week. An if you do predict Buffalo to win dont base it on the fact thast Buffalo plays Miami tough. I know its gonna be hard to find another reason to base this upset but im sure you can find something good in your team. Or maybe you cant i dont. As for me i see this 1 being a little ...(more) Reply to this thread (23 replies)
The Ville 3 Reputation:83 Level:All-Star Since:Sep 14, 2009	November 24, 2009 9:03 am Score: 142 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Eric Wood's leg injury Best wishes to former U of L offensive lineman Eric Wood. He suffered a horrific injury yesterday -- compound fractures to his tibia and fibula during Buffalo's game at Jacksonville. According to a story in the Buffalo News, Wood remained in Jacksonville after the team returned to Buffalo to undergo surgery. ...(more) Reply to this thread (2 replies)
ScorpionWzrd Reputation:87 Level:All-Star Since:Nov 21, 2006	November 20, 2009 1:41 am Score: 147 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: The Bills future Well it appears that Perry Fewell will be coaching the final 7 games as an audition to remove the interim from his title. It was reported that Mike Shanahan is a choice for the Bills to replace Jauron with but I think that if the Bills finish well under Fewell that he stays on and takes the head coach job. It is also sounding like the Bi ...(more) Reply to this thread (10 replies)
Billsfan17 Reputation:91 Level:All-Star Since:Aug 25, 2009	November 17, 2009 6:34 pm Score: 149 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: New Q.B To me this is it for Edwards hes got 7 more games to prove he can be the Q.B of the Bills if not then i say trade or draft a new Q.B. Yes McCoy is probabably out of reach and to me tim tebow will fail in the NFL. Sam Bradford might be there for us and possibly Snead from Ole Miss. Many will probabaly say im stupid fo ...(more) Reply to this thread (8 replies)
Folgers_Ron Reputation:98 Level:Superstar Since:Jan 15, 2007	November 29, 2009 4:32 pm Score: 99 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Congrats Bills fans , Congrats on your 31-14 win over the Dolphins.It was a real good game. Enjoyed it. Good luck next week when you host the Jets. That should be another very good game. Reply to this thread (1 reply)
aj2c Reputation:78 Level:Pro Since:Mar 4, 2008	November 30, 2009 9:42 am Score: 78 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: BOYCOTT TORONTO Keep the Bills in Orchard Park!!!  Even if we have to keep Mr. Wilson alive via life support! One of the oldest teams in the NFL with arguably the "best fans" deserves to stay put. Can't see myself flying to Toronto to cheer on the "Toronto Bills." Reply to this thread
bonadrag75 Reputation:99 Level:Superstar Since:Nov 14, 2008	November 16, 2009 12:12 pm Score: 224 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Can the Bills get the #1 pick next year? I think this should really be the goal at this point. It seems like a long-shot, but I truly BILL-lieve. Generally, we will need a few of the equally horrid teams to win a few more games and the Bills to lose out. Here are the factors: 1. Bills losing out. This could easily be accomplished. All of their games except one are again ...(more) Reply to this thread (7 replies)
Sportsfreak2369 Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Feb 17, 2008	November 18, 2009 10:31 pm Score: 136 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Bills Interested in Mike Shanahan The question then becomes, is Mike Shanahan interested in the Bills? Adam Schefter reported that the Bills had contact with him to fill the coaching vacancy. This would become one of the better moves the Bills front office has made, and if they do it, one of the last. Shanahan is one of those guys that not only coaches the team, but control ...(more) Reply to this thread (8 replies)
peaface Reputation:93 Level:All-Star Since:Sep 7, 2006	November 24, 2009 8:30 pm Score: 137 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Coach? Cowher - Said no...for now. He supposedly turned down 10 million a year. My guess is that he is waiting to see if there is a better job out there for next year (more ready to compete team). Is he interested in Washington? Schottenheimer - I dont think he is interested in anything at all. Of course that could be just courtesy talk. According to ESPN, he doesnt want to coach or GM.....but ...(more) Reply to this thread (2 replies)
DaBombBizzle Reputation:94 Level:All-Star Since:Feb 27, 2007	November 24, 2009 9:50 pm Score: 151 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Going to my first Bills game this weekend!!! Hey Bills fans, I'm going to my first game in Orchard Park this weekend. I went to the game in Toronto last year but it didn't have a home game feel at all. I felt bad you lost a home game to such a crappy atmosphere. So this year I 'm going to the game in Toronto again but had to catch a game in Orchard Park. I' ...(more) Reply to this thread (4 replies)
DannyBoy87 Reputation:97 Level:Superstar Since:Aug 30, 2009	November 17, 2009 6:32 pm Score: 140 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Bye Dick...Now rebuidling take 4 The firing of Dick Jauron made me feel like a kid on christmas mourning opening the big present that I had snuck in the attic 9 times to look at.  It was long overdue but I am so happy we can finally move on.  I had about 30 text messages from friends and fellow season ticket holders within 10 minutes of the news breaking, all of which were filled with things like "I can finally wear my ...(more) Reply to this thread (4 replies)
keptfive Reputation:95 Level:Superstar Since:May 17, 2007	November 27, 2009 10:34 am Score: 104 Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Log-in to rate: Jim Kelly on Tim Tebow OK, I can say with confidence that Jim Kelly knows a lot more about football than I do....but Tim Tebow? Can you picture this guy being a drop back passer? He fits great into the college game, but I can not imagine him as an NFL QB. What do you guys think....I think this is a bad idea. Reply to this thread (3 replies)
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