Alphadawg7

Last year once McD was named the DC again and calling plays, I said I thought the Bills had the potential to lead the NFL in sacks under McD and with that roster. Bills finished 3rd, only 3 sacks behind the first place team KC and that is with losing Milano and DaQuan in the same game early in the season and then losing Bernard for the last part of the season. Not to mention the ghost of Von taking so many snaps and the early loss of Tre which also helps the D get sacks by playing better pass defense and having the QB hold the ball longer. All in all, Bills likely do lead the NFL in sacks last year if even just one of those things Don't happen. This year though, I am not as confident in exactly what this D will look like for obvious reasons. Its a major overhaul from a personnel standpoint...out are Hyde (but might be back), Poyer, Tre, and Floyd...all guys who had big roles on this defense. Then we have guys like Benford, Bernard, and Milano all coming off injuries and the concern with Bernard and Milano is that they are undersized, so will injuries be something they can avoid this year or not is a question. Major questions remain: Who will call the plays? McD indicated we are not likely to see them make a decision on this until sometime in the preseason. Who starts at CB opposite Rasul? Will Benford be back from injury and hold that spot down, or will Elam finally be healthy and ready to win that battle and take over the starting role who has shown potential in spot starts in the past. Who starts at Safety? This is already a legit question before we know if Hyde comes back or not as it seems he will be back if he elects to play again rather than retire, which seems to be 100% medical decision by Hyde regarding risks with his neck. Can Bishop win one of the starting Safety spots, he has 2 starting level veterans ahead of him as it is before knowing if Hyde is here. Would Hyde start or be a reserve if he returns? If I had to guess, this is one spot where the Bills can bring the young player along slowly if they choose, so I think Bishop will have to flat out win the job clearly to start week 1. What are we to expect from our Edge rushers? I think AJE flirts with double digits this year in an expanded role after back to back 6.5 sack seasons primarily as a rotational guy. But what Groot are we getting? The guy who put up 8 sacks in 2022 and looked poised to be a double digit guy in 2023, or the guy we actually got in 2023 who only put up 5 sacks? Then there is how much does Von and Solomon bring to the pass rush and the edge rotation early? While I do remain somewhat optimistic about the defense this year, its more of a cautious optimism vs confidence that I had last year. Lots of questions to be answered heading into camp about roles, starters, play callers, etc leave this a harder defense to project than we have had the past few seasons. While as of now we are looking at 2 new safeties (Hyde still might come back), I am not too concerned either as I think our safety room is still pretty good with the vets and Bishop as it is. I am concerned however on how thin we are at some positions like CB and as I mentioned Edge (at least until we see if Von or one of the young guys can bring anything to it). If I had to guess today, I still think McD wants to see this be an aggressive defense again this year. I expect we will see a good dose of Cover1 and Cover3 again as well, and from a players perspective, I expect strong or big seasons from guys like Rasul, Oliver, Milano, Bernard, Taron, and DaQuan. I think the deciding factor on how good this defense will be is going to come down to how effective our edge rushers are at getting to the QB, especially Groot and AJE who are the likely starters.

I agree on Safety and Cornerback, and don't worry about the WR crowd...they will soon realize there is no major WR moves coming. In regards to Safety specifically, I think the fact both Beane and McD have made it clear Hyde has a roster spot this year if he decides to play again probably indicates at least a move at Safety is coming at some point...either Hyde if he comes back or someone else if he decides not to. So, I think part of this money is currently reserved and set aside for Hyde on an already agreed upon deal between both parties and the decision is on Hyde on whether or not he wants to play one more season. Hyde has made it clear he would ONLY play this year for the Bills, and that appears to be a 100% medical decision for Hyde who seems to "want" to play another season, but is weighing the risks with his neck and stuff. And based on the fact that both McD and Beane have basically said if Hyde wants to play again this year he is welcomed addition to the team tells me they are not worried about agreeing to a deal or cap space if Hyde does play again, which is why I feel pretty confident that the two sides have already confirmed terms and that money is being reserved until Hyde makes an official decision and probably given him some deadline for that decision in terms of reserving the cap space for it. If Hyde doesn't come back, then there is probably a strong chance they look to add someone else who is available given they seem already willing to add Hyde. At cornerback, I do think its possible, might even say probable, they add someone as well as we seem pretty thin behind Rasul, Benford, and Elam. But I will say this, this regime has run thin in the past at CB too, so if they think Cam Lewis and some of the young guys are showing enough, maybe they won't. But the group feels pretty thin outside the top 3.

I couldn't believe that Wilson's name wasn't called on that pick. I think the only other time I was that upset over a pick was when they didn't call Ngata and instead called Whitner. Rex was a disaster in every capacity. Exactly

Nope. Not even close.

Go check my thread history. Weeks BEFORE that game I started a thread when we were 4-0 and said that if Trent Edwarda keeps playing soft like this we will miss the playoffs. The Cardinals game wasn’t for 2 or 3 more weeks. We missed the playoffs. Edwards was afraid to pull the trigger on the field before that game and after that game. Those who bought into the mirage of Edwards want to blame the Cardinals game for their bad take, but he was a pedestrian, conservative and safe QB before that game (hence the coward comment) and after that game. He was a maddening QB to watch play. Because we started 4-0 against 4 of the worst teams in the NFL that year people think he was good. Yet they failed to recognize his production was pedestrian and we won multiple of those games thanks to defensive and special teams TDs leading into the AZ game. Trent got all this credit despite being pedestrian because our record was good thanks to a squishy easy schedule to open the season several defensive and ST TDs to help us win some of those games. He played scared to make a mistake, and that is why I said he played like a coward and he played that way before he got hurt in AZ.

In all the years you have watched Bills football, who was the one player and the one coach (HC or Coordinator) that just frustrated or pissed you off the most on game days and couldn’t wait to see gone? For me: Player - Trent Edwards (Kyle Orton, Zay Jones, and Kelvin Benjamin were all in the running for me). Watching a coward play QB was the most frustrating thing I can remember enduring here and couldn’t wait until he was gone. Coach - Nathaniel Hackett - I don’t know I’ve ever hated a coordinator or coach as much as I hated him. Was not a surprise at all to see him be one of the worst HCs ever in Denver, although it did surprise me he was still even in the league.

Yes, and the guy who started it did a TED talk to reveal it’s a hoax he created as a social experiment to test hoaxes. And now people STILL believe the hoax and think the government or some dark shadow government actually forced him to say that and do that TED talk. This is a very dumb age of humanity.

I also liked the signing because he is not only an excellent addition to STs but he helps replace a lot of the blocking we lost with Davis because he’s an excellent on field blocker.

This is easy for me…my first Bills Mafia tailgating experience at the first and only game I’ve ever been to in Buffalo! The home and season opener against the Steelers in 2021. My girlfriend, now wife, bought me tickets as a surprise for my first birthday dating her. Little did she know, I had already purchased an engagement ring and would propose to her a couple weeks after my bday. So it was also our first trip together as engaged and the whole trip was just incredible. Thanks in part to a lot of good tips here on the board as well. Tailgating and getting to meet some of the posters here in person was really cool. I had also lost a dear friend that June who was a Steelers fan and got to wear a Steelers color patch of his initials on my Allen Jersey to honor him at the game too. So was fitting that one, my first game in Buffalo was a loss and it was to his favorite team. Also got to meet Diggs family and Levi Wallace best friends who I am still friends with today on social media. It was just a great trip and experience regardless of the outcome.

Exactly, they tried to make him a WR when he was a gadget player. He is fine as a WR4/5 gadget guy, he is terrible as a top 3 WR on a depth chart where you need to rely on him to try and get consistent production and move chains.

Lol it was a joke referencing when everyone ran wild with some social media nonsense Diggs was mad at Allen because he knocked up some waitress or something that never happened lol

While I agree that there could be some adjustments made, its a very challenging problem to deal with. What you don't want to do is make it worth it for DB's to just tackle or blatantly commit PI on every deep throw because the penalty is far less severe than the catch being made would be. It would completely eliminate deep ball throwing as a DB would just grab any WR starting to run by them rather than get beat for a TD or just severely interfere on what looks to be a sure catch if not. On the flip side, you don't want it to be something so easily exploited by a QB to bail a team out by heaving a ball down field to try and get PI called. To me, there is one BIG culprit in this regard, and that is the PI that is called when a ball is short and the defender is in the path of the WR trying to reach back or jump back towards the ball. And quite honestly that is the MOST exploited play from an offensive point of view. QB's know that if they throw behind the WR and DB that PI is highly more likely unless the DB gets their head around on a throw they don't even know is coming or coming short. Result is incidental contact by the DB who has forward momentum running while a WR is reaching back or trying to jump up and reach back to get the ball. To no fault of the DB, it causes contact that creates an automatic PI call unless he managed to time it perfect and get his head around to make a play on the ball, something very difficult to know and do as they most often don't know the ball is there or short. So that is where I would start. I would eliminate automatic PI calls where a downfield WR makes contact with the DB trying to come back for the ball. I would only allow PI to be called there if the DB intentionally holds, tackles, etc, and not throw a flag because the DB and WR incidentally collide because the ball is short of the WR and he is trying to reach back for the ball. You take that out, and downfield PI calls will go way down. You could also make the PI call at the spot of the foul, or 20 yards, which ever is less. 5 yards is wayyyyy too little and so is 10 yards to discourage blatant PI on deeper throws. Im not sure you need to change it being at the spot of the foul if you take away the cheep PI calls which are the ones thrown behind the DB and WR and get called because of the incidental contact.

This reminds me when they made the 2nd Star Wars Trilogy (Episodes 1-3) and went from puppets, costumes, modeling, stop motion animation, etc to over the top technical CGI and it sucked all the life out of the movies. "Moving the chains" is football...stop over modernizing the game and keep its character in place

Personally I think he opens week 1 as the starting Center. I loved this pick, in fact, I think Beane really nailed his first 5 picks and believe this draft class has a legit shot to go down as Beane's best overall.

I have to disagree...I think Daboll signed him because McKenzie knows the system and I am not even sure he makes the roster, and if he does, its doubtful its a meaningful role. McKenzie is just not a good WR, and for a guy whose speed gets talked about so much, he really does not play that fast on the field. He is more quick than fast, and when "speed" is your only sign-able trait (because its definitely not his hands, route running, toughness, or special teams play), being more quick than fast is why you bounce from team to team. I mean being one of the most desperate teams in the NFL for WR's and speed is probably why Giants signed him, and may be the only reason McKenzie has a real shot at a job this year as he likely would have been nothing more than camp fodder on any other roster outside maybe the Pats with no real shot to make the active 53 most places because he just doesn't add much on ST's.

While I don't disagree with your sentiment, he is a lot more than Andy Isabella. He has elite traits and ability, Andy does not. He had a blazing start to his career posting over 850 yards both seasons with a broken Big Ben as the third WR. When he was traded to the Bears, the Steelers got back a first round pick. He got in the doghouse in Pittsburgh thanks to immaturity which persisted in Chicago where he fell down the depth chart over it on a team that couldn't pass the ball well. Tired of the immaturity, Bears dumped him for pennies on the dollar to Miami where he was deep on the depth chart for a team that just didn't have a role for him. If this kid can get his head on straight he has top end WR1 talent and potential...Isabella is a gadget or role player at his best. Now...that is a TALL ask that someone who had previous immaturity issues and effort issues can change their spots long term, so nothing is for sure with him. But I will say this, if he can continue doing what he is now, which is accepting his humbling, remaining focused and committed in all facets of the game (which includes ST's) and put the work in as a team first player, he very well has the potential to emerge as a starting boundary WR here in Buffalo. The test will be can he keep that effort, enthusiasm, etc up if he doesn't find that success or opportunity early. If he is still running with Trubisky late in the preseason and looking more like a WR4 or WR5 to start the season who plays ST's mostly, will he keep that positive energy and attitude up. Its easy to be all smiles now and say the right things while the potential to get a bigger role is still there, but he would likely have to surpass Samuel to get any relevant WR minutes as Shakir is set in the slot and one of Allens and Beanes favorite players.

Get rid of Sudden Death OT all together. Give each squad the ball on the 50. No XP allowed in OT, only 2 point conversions. Play it like college each team gets the ball until the game is no longer tied after equal possessions.

Not only allow touchdowns, but allow taunting, smack talk, etc. These are grown a** men playing a game for a living. This need to protect their feelings and egos like they are kids is ridiculous. Let them have fun...let someone talk smack and chirp all they want and either back it up or pay for it later like men, like all men who play any type of competition at home from all sports to dumb bets on mundane stupid things. Its part of the male eco system and to take it out at the highest echelon of male testosterone team sports is so pathetically soft.

He wants out and to be traded to the Cowboys to play with his brother. He is pissed at Stroud for cheating on his girl clearly after he knocked up a waitress and has to keep it now because it's Texas.

Even if they just made it reviewable it would be better.

Yes exactly. Absurd to have 2 structures.

They already did this…it’s called RUGBY. That’s not bringing back defense, that’s eliminating passing offense. Defenders would just tackle all receivers before catching the ball for a 0% completion rate. So yeah, you need to rethink the absurdity of the extreme this suggestion is or just watch Rugby. I get wanting defense to matter more, a concept I agree with, but it’s impossible to play football without some form of PI enforcement unless you want to get rid of QBs and just make this a run game only sport mostly - just like Rugby.

Fair enough

Obviously its not about week 1 lol, like any OC he needs to show he can do it all year. But the beauty behind Brady is that his style is one that carries over well. The biggest thing he did was incorporate movement with purpose to scheme guys open and balance the offense with a run game. Now this year, we got more weapons who can excel in that style, guys who are smart, unselfish, sure handed, good route runners and we added an exciting young back in Davis who is going to thrive in the run style we showed last year. I think Davis will play more than people think by years end where it may be a 50/50 split by then, if not sooner, with Cook. Especially in cold weather and post season games. I don't agree at all that the general consensus is that the team is all "JAGS", but I do agree that Josh will be seen as having to work with a whole new group where there isn't a proven dominant WR1 like he had with Diggs. But here is my question...especially to someone like you who has been complaining about the weapons around Josh so much. Let's say Josh wins MVP like you said he might, and I do agree this could be his year as I do think there is a good chance this might be his best year of his career. Are you going to admit you were wrong about the group around Josh...or are you just going to say what you just said now that "Josh dragged this team" to success and it was all Josh because he had nothing but "JAGS" around him?

Interesting, for all the melt down around here all off season about the receivers, only 8% of the poll was "worse" or "worst of his career". I for one am quite excited to see this group on the field together. Name of the game is move the chains and then convert TD's instead of FG's in the redzone. And with Coleman here to go along with the additions of Samuel and Davis to play along side ascending guys like Kincaid and Shakir, I think this offense is poised to be even better in 2024 than it was in 2023. Especially with Brady getting to really install his offense the way he wants to run it with these tools he gets to work with.