billsfan89

This is a serious question. When has officiating ever been considered good? I've been a fan of the NFL for 25 years and I have always heard how bad officiating is. And while there is legitimate criticism to be had of officiating it has never seemed like fans have ever liked officiating or thought officials weren't a problem. For fans in this thread saying that officiating is a recent problem, what years would you say were great years for officiating and why?

Did Dodson play a lot of Special Teams? Honestly I don't remember but I think Bills have mostly considered backup LB's to be key ST players. Buffalo Joe and Spector are on a lot of ST units not sure about Morrow. I honestly would rather have Dodson over Morrow but I don't think the difference is massive.

It is funny how that is so very true. I would imagine that the difference between an average GM and a very good one in terms of drafting non-QB prospects is not that drastic. I do think McBeane hits on picks at a higher rate than the Vikings GM's or whatever other "average" GM has. But I don't think the gap is that wide. But QB is the premium of all premiums. It is why I think Atlanta getting both a solid better than average but not elite vet in Cousins while also drafting a prospect high up made sense even if ATL maybe did it a year earlier than they maybe "should" it is still the position you always want to be investing in or around.

It almost hurt them overachieving in 2022. The Giants should have done what the Bills did in 2018 after they overachieved in 2017. Actually scrap the roster and keep building the team prudently. Keep a few core vets but don't buy into the mirage that was 2022. But they kind of doubled down on that roster and made some bad additions and then in 2023 predictably regressed. But unlike the 2019 Bills who shredded dead cap and accrued younger players the 2024 Giants were left with less assets to work with. Had Schoen/Daboll reset in 2023 it would have allowed them to be in a better position in 2024 to keep Barkley and add more pieces but they just failed to see through their previous success. The Giants are a mess and they are honestly better off letting go of Daboll and Schoen and "resetting" the clock so to speak by brining in a new regime to build around a newly drafted QB. It isn't like Daboll and Schoen have done much to prove that they deserve a second go around. After a very good year one it has been back to back losing season and not much in terms of building a roster. It isn't like the reason they aren't winning in 2024 is because of some unreasonable rash of injuries. They doubled down on a mediocre QB and an overachieving roster send them packing.

I feel like they "pick their spots" to be aggressive esp in 2023 when McD was the coordinator. I would like to see them do those blitzes and stunts a bit more, but McD is a very good defensive mind I think he knows what he is doing.

I do wonder what McD is going to have planned for KC and some of the better teams like the Lions. I think McD likely felt like Flacco was going to make mistakes and at worst kick field goals.

He's been very good. He's been that good WR4 this team has lacked. I get that most teams don't have elite WR's as their 4th WR but if you get a player that can contribute as a WR4 in spurts while also being a very good core Special Teams player that's a very good use of one of your 4-5 WR spots. I think this team has wanted to get just some more production out of that WR4/5 special teams spot. Jake Kumerow and Sherfield while they were solid ST players they never added much to the offense. I don't think there was the expectations that either were gonna be putting up huge WR numbers. But I think McBeane probably wanted them to get something like 300-400 yards 30-35 receptions with a few TD's. Not eye popping numbers but a decent back end contribution. Hollins whose pushing 200 yards and has some TD's is going to get you that extra pop while still being a ST contributor.

The offense felt very "difficult" nothing much was coming easy. It kind of just felt like Josh was making a bunch of "Superman" plays while each skill guy had one or two solid complementary good plays and they were able to piece together just enough offense to make the game comfortable. I don't think this offensive effort wins against better than average teams. This game was won largely by a very strong defensive and special teams effort while also cobbling together a decent but not great offensive effort. The Bills at WR are going to need Cooper and Coleman out there. If the Bills have any hope to beat KC they are gonna need Cooper as Keon's already out.

I’m actually the opposite in terms of what conclusions I drew from the game. The offense at times was struggling because they didn’t have a go to WR.

Two possession lead early, can’t complain too much.

The Dawkins one was a complete “phantom” call. The Cybo one was a “soft” call in that while Cybo may have held it was a hold that could have been called on any play.

It’s a very very good draft. 4 starters and 2 solid reserves is a great return on any draft let alone a draft that wasn’t heavy on premium selections. I know Elam hasn’t had a great time but I think he’s a quality backup and so is Spector. But Benford and Bernard and two high end starters on offense while Shakir and Cook are quality starters on offense.

McDaniel called a good game give him credit he coached like this was their season and it kind of was. Bass hitting a 61 yarder with room for more is just something you didn’t think you would see

I really love that Bass was the “hero” of the game. He could have nailed that kick from 65 or possibly more. This team let Miami hang around with a rather poor defensive effort in the second half minus the one turnover they produced. Josh without Amari there and a defense having a suspect game had to be super man at times more so than I think he should be but good teams “grind out” games that they maybe shouldn’t have won or could have lost. Amari gets a week off to rest his injury as does Benford. Gotta like getting a divisional win.

I really loved the draft right after it happened. I thought that short term and long term it was a nice piece of roster building. Early returns look solid

Looks fun, honestly love to see this team comradery. Only way it could have been better is if Keon went as himself with the yellow jacket.

Is this a serious question?

I think if Edwards wants out and there's another team willing to toss the Bills a late round pick or possibly a late round pick swap for Edwards then I think they are going to do it.

Once Cooper gets going he's gonna be that true breaker route runner. I do agree there isn't that true elite speed burner out there just yet. I am hoping that Samuel can get his toe healthy and be that guy that can add some pop of speed to the offense. Samuel ran a 4.31 and while he's never been more than an average ypc player in the NFL he's also never been utilized consistently from the boundary or in a more "gadget" situation. I think as the Bills offense gets more and more film on it a good way to add wrinkles to the offense to stay ahead of coordinators adjustments is to get Samuel into a role where he's a "supped up" gadget player. With Cooper/Coleman/Shakir as the top 3 WR there is a really good chance to have Samuel and Knox put in more unique situations. The team goes 4 wide Samuel can do things like jet sweeps, reverses, and deep shots down the field. Knox could be used more like a Full Back and out the backfield more. Lots of room for creativity with those two players in more complementary roles.

Dionate went to the Ravens, Not sure Ridley's contract is tradable he signed a 4 year massive deal. Mike Williams is on a much smaller deal. Only hang-up with Williams is that his deal has a lot of void years tacked onto it. He's got a 5.8 million dollar void year dead cap next year and then 3 smaller dead years of 800k afterwards. Not sure how void years work on a contract. But the Jets after the Devante trade have a glut at receiver and aren't using Williams anyway so if they can get a late round pick might as well take it.

He was playing well for the Texans, he was an elite WR2 with Collins operating in the boundary it was allowing Diggs to operate all over the field and make good plays for them. Without Diggs they are missing some serious pop from their offense. The Texans also have 4 less WR's on the trade market so that's also going to be an issue for them. That being said the trade market is still open so they at least have the option to explore a move.

Nice move for the Ravens got him dirt cheap too. Someone that could add some pop to an offense that needs better WR play. Lots of contending teams (and the Jets for some reason) making big WR moves. Texans with the Diggs injury also going to be in the market for a WR.

Injuries are the worst part of football. While it didn't end pretty with Diggs he had an amazing run here. Sad to see that he may have run out his prime with this injury at age 31 (soon to be 31 anyway). He was having a solid year too. He was on pace for close to 100 catches and over 1k yards in an offense with a lot of mouths to feed. Sad to see it happen to him no matter how badly it ended here he doesn't deserve to have that type of injury. Texans will likely be another team shopping for a WR at the deadline. With Dionte Johnson off the market along with Devante, Cooper, and Hopkins where could the Texans go to get another WR to pair up with Collins (when he gets back from his injury) and Dell? Maybe call up the Jets for Mike Williams? It's also the risk of any trade you make. Any player can get hurt. It also wasn't like Diggs was constantly hurt. He was fairly healthy throughout most of his career.

Chargers are for sure going to push the gas to try to make the playoffs. I think he's looking to set a tone with his culture by making the playoffs year one. The Chargers are taking 55 million in dead cap this season which is 7th highest in the league so they will have a chance to really rebuild quickly after this season.

The Bills have missed some of their better D-line players. Von has been suspended the past 4 games, Ed Oliver has missed 2 games, and there's been a few others that have missed some time. I think if this team is healthy it has a quality pass rush.