thurst44

You know, I'll wait for someone like Cover1's analysis. I hated the Allen pick, but he's done a lot of hopeful things since he got here and calling him out for a first half when he was on the run on almost every play is a bit over the top. Frankly, he looked about as good as he possibly could. Maybe Tyrod would have run away from them. I loved Tyrod, but he had some truly moribund outings last year. My main concern is the line and hopefully they can do some things to adjust that.

Levi Wallace looks like he'll make the team on special teams alone.

Well, how about wait until they look bad in the regular season before nicking them?

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd go Allen. He might benefit from the adversity and put up some numbers in the second half. He just doesn't seem like he'd be mentally broken, and he's the most elusive of the 3. But he didn't win the job, so I'm open for whatever as a fan. Also, RAFAEL BUSH!!!! (better runner than the other Bush )

He's got to be near the pre-season lead for rushing yards.

He's looking good, but it doesn't hurt that the o-line is suddenly blocking well. Is the Bengals first team still in?

Ok, way to miss the point, but yes they looked bad in the first half. My point was it's possible to look bad in the 3rd game and still be ok. Hopefully, we do some thing abut the offensive line and Murphy and Kyle Williams are ready for Game 1.

I'd say oddly he won the starting job b/c he might be the only one who won't' get killed. Also, he seems like the type who will learn from the adversity. Well, McDermott did say he wanted to see how the team adjusts after the first half. This is going to have to be one hell of an adjustment.

Cold comfort, but fwiw, the Patriots looked pretty bad in game 3. This is brutal though. We are looking like most people say we are. At this point, I'd like to see Teller get a shot somehow with 1s and maybe bring in Joeckel or some last minute free agent and see what they can do.

They did show the receivers not getting any separation, fwiw

Really, they have to bring in Teller at this point. Give him a shot to see if he's ready.

When you're getting zero pressure, even the best secondary has no chance. Ok, Allen, show some mettle, here!

Let's see how he adjusts. This could be the test. Also, I really hope they insert Teller and see what he can do with 1st string snaps. At this point, he could replace either Miller or Ducasse (i've defended both of them, but they are a mess today).

Ha, no (although at that point i might be looking into if the jets really will trade bridgewater in the division). Frankly, Peterman did win something back by his strong performance in the snow game, and he's looked good in pre-season, but there was something (and i'll admit this may not be fair) tentative about his performance last week. If Allen looks truly bad, Peterman deserves a shot. I'd feel way more confident about the future, however, if Allen grabs the reins this week. If he's managed to earn the starting job this quickly after all the question marks (i was very vocal about not drafting him and am excited that he seems to be proving me dumb so far), that's a good sign for his future and the Bills' future.

I hear you, but I don't believe the supporting cast is as weak as many make it out to be. The OL is questionable of course, but it's more of an unknown than a definite bad. Benjamin and even Jones have high upside (and the former is looking like he's ready to show it -- he does have over 900 yards in the seasons he's managed to stay healthy). The tight end unit looks like it could be a standout which would give Allen some outs when pressured. Allen has legs and played effectively while the OL was just brutal last week. If he wins the job, he is simply progressing way faster than anyone expected and they should jump on that.

I don't have any specific statistical expectations. Two strong drives culminating in at least 10 points in the first half along with minimal turnovers --- and if there is a turnover, the ability to show poise on the next drive. Peterman was looking pretty promising in his no-good, awful game and even the first interception was a savvy play and the turnover was wholly on DiMarco; however, the way Peterman fell so completely apart has made it hard to regain any confidence him as a potential starter. It might be even better if Allen does have a rough drive or two and bounces back, Kelly style (anyone remember that one game where Kelly had 3 ints in the first half and looked awful, and wound up leading the team to victory in the second half and threw some ridiculous amount of yards -- i might be conflating a few games into one even). In fact, I'd be ecstatic, and maybe even prefer game manager stats with a solid game from McCoy/Ivory/Murphy/Cadet. If this team can get their run blocking back on track, that will allow for Allen to not have to do as much and take the pressure off him and I'll feel fairly confident about a .500 or better start for the tough-looking first half of the season.

It's a fair point and not laughable. The logic would be that taking him at his word that he really wants to play here and the fact we have the second most cap space in 2019 means if we trade for him we know we're going to re-sign him. If you trade, you get him one year earlier and it's much easier to sign your own players than other teams'. Plus, we would be striking when the iron was hot...maybe in a week Oakland cools and does him right and signs him to a long-term contract or he goes to the Jets and decides he loves it in New York and he wreaks havoc on Dawkins & Allen twice a year for the next few. Best case scenario, he plays reluctantly in Oakland with one foot out the door, comes to Buffalo on the first day of 2019 free agency, signs, and we take a top player in the draft. However, securing him now would be a good use of that first round draft in my opinion.

Why in the world would that be "too rich" for Mack? What are you hoping to get with that Top Ten pick? Likely, a player who will one day be close to as good as Mack is already. Mack is one of the top defensive players in the league, if not the top. The only argument is cap space and we have massive cap space after next year so we could afford a future HoFer who actually wants to play here. Would I trade Tre? No, and obvs I wouldn't trade Allen or Edmunds (yet), but that's about the extent of it.

Wait, are you really calling Tremaine Edmunds a failed pick after two pre-season games (which weren't even as bad as people here are suggesting)?! Matt Milano is a 5th rounder who after a season is looking very good. A.J. Tarpley was an undrafted free agent. Shaq Lawson and Adolphus Washington have a bit more logic to them, but the book has hardly been completely closed on them yet (Lawson has played bits of two seasons). I'm very much pro trading for Mack and the thought that trading a 1st even if you think it's a top ten (which i doubt) is not worth it is insane as with a top ten pick you hope that guy will become close to as good as a Khalil Mack in a few years. Mack could make this one of the top Ds in the league, if not the top. However, by stretching for too many names, you dilute your point (and the piling on 20-year-old Edmunds before he has played one meaningful game is getting tiresome and really needs to stop).

It's a small point, but a big distinction. Everybody's been talking about him playing with the "two"s and that WAS how it was framed beforehand. However, for his first half drives, wasn't it still the first-string offensive line and wide receivers (or is my memory faulty)?

Ah, the pre-season paradox: everything we see that is bad in pre-season is meaningful, all we see that is good in pre-season is meaningless. (Admittedly, it can also manifest itself in the other direction )

Wow, Dawkins has one bad pre-season game against a guy who might be one of the rising superstar pass rushers and he's "trash"?...yikes.

Yet they still somehow managed to mention O'Leary's grandfather. They are brutal. Crawford could not even be bothered to look up who #15 was.

Gotta feel for that kid -- he's having an awful day...at least he got the kickoff in bounds. Nice of them to give him a chance for some redemption.

Agreed. Give him the ball with the starters game 3 and if he plays well, then he's thoroughly won the starting role. I'd be shocked if he does not start next week. It was telling that they kept the starting line and Kelvin Benjamin in with him.