BigBuff423

I am a Mason Rudolph believer and there is nothing yet to say he won't be a great QB. He is sitting behind Big Ben and whenever he does start, I think he plays lights out. I'm not saying he'll be Mahomes, but I think he will put up good numbers. And again, Rudolph going to a team like the Steelers or even the Pats, will make him even better. He wasn't ready this year and it was something I also advocated for when I would have preferred to stand pat and keep all the Draft picks and select him, which was to learn for at least a year. That said, I'm not one to boo-hoo over things I can't change. And while I was disappointed in the initial pick of Josh Allen, once he put on that hat and gave his first interview, I was a Josh Allen supporter and certainly see good reasons for optimism for his continued development.

Well, to be fair...just because you're new, doesn't mean he hasn't earned it...it just means you didn't know he already did. As far as you personally, that's fine...but coming on the board and essentially slamming a dude for being polite - as he always is - is no way to treat another person on this board, regardless of what team they're a fan of....

A simple answer to the question: No. He didn't do what was necessary while he was here after he got the big contract. As far as I'm concerned, that makes him persona non grata.

And when you think about Kamara and Hunt in the middle rounds, you can also make the case that while McCaffrey has been worth the 1st round pick and status, getting guys like that in those value rounds are equally impressive.

Funny thing, I'm just reading this post and responses and you went exactly where I was going to go with this.... No idea what Beane and Co. will do on Draft Day, but given how well the Draft picks have played overall, I'm going to trust Beane and his team with...you got it....The Process. By that time of course the FA period will largely be over and the "needs" of the team will be clear. That said, in the same vein, I would not be shocked based on the strength of this year's Draft if the 1st Round pick is Defense, be it CB or DE or DT....Beane seems to be a guy who goes off his board based on value for the most part. And after being a guy for years who thought you take what your team needs, I can say I've been "reformed", lol...just recognizing how it becomes a bigger weakness in the long run.

Here's a little article on him....apparently, a former Dolphin: https://www.thephinsider.com/2017/9/1/16243518/miami-dolphins-roster-cuts-2017-matt-darr-punter-matt-haack Bills Info: https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-punter-matt-darr

Signed P Matt Darr to a one year deal

This is exactly what I was thinking. He can be a QB coach to Allen, but to me Daboll has done a lot with very little. As noted in a week or two ago, Daboll has had the fewest number of the same plays run in the NFL this year and that says something considering the cast he's had to work with...so, I give Daboll all of next year after McD and Beane get him an NFL level Offensive line across all positions, some depth at the line, and WRs that can catch. Now, Zay, Foster and McKenzie have come along nicely, but there is still quite a ways to go for them to be consistently considered good NFL WRs. Add in the dead wood cutting of Clay and Holmes and you see where they need a TE and at least 3 WRs with 1 to start on the outside and two more good ones for depth / STs. Once that happens, let's see how Allen and the Offense responds, and that's also not considering what happens with Shady and Iovry, both of whom I don't think are in Buffalo for 2019 and IF Shady stays, it's in a supportive role, not a featured one. Just my .02

I can't explain it, but I've always held a little resentment for Cam Wake choosing Miami over Buffalo when he came out of the CFL. It just seemed like, 'Hey, you played in Canada and built a slight following, stay close and let the fans see what you're all about'. I know it's illogical without any good reason, but - hey, it is what it is. That said, I don't expect the Bills to be favored in ANY game for the rest of this year. There is just too much damage done thus far to ask any "expert" or Vegas bookie to give them the edge. That said, IMHO, if the Bills Defense shows up, they have a legit chance of stealing this game. If they give up the runs and don't create pressure on Tannehill, I don't think the Bills come out of this one with a W. Unless Josh Allen unleashes all his game and has a sort of coming out party and elevates the Offense to new heights, I think the Defense has to win this game. Go Bills!

IMO, it's about the level of competition and what Darnold did on a larger stage. While they have the same number of starts in college, Darnold has more yards and TDs at a higher level while playing in big games. I'm NOT saying Allen isn't better or maybe just as good as Darnold, I'm merely saying his experience of playing at USC with better "numbers" demonstrates to me he had a head-start on being NFL ready. IMHO, that first Jets game vs. Allen's first game against the Chargers showed that. And yes, I realize all the things that have happened since, but Darnold has almost triple the number of Allen's passing TDs and almost 1,000 yards more passing. He also has 11 INTs to Josh's 5 INTs, but looking at the other numbers it's understandable for both Rookies. Darnold and Allen are very similar in completion % as Darnold is at 55% and Allen is 52.5%, but with Darnold having better receivers to throw to over the course of the first 11 games, but Buffalo's receivers are starting to come into their own, so we'll see. Essentially, the point being Darnold and Allen are both what most thought they were: Darnold is used to tossing the rock around and gun-slinging it for yards and TDs while also taking INTs which helps in the NFL while Allen has ALL the top potential in the world with maybe the best arm the NFL has seen in decades but is very, very raw. Both will need to continue to develop their game, but IMHO, if Darnold was Drafted by the Bills and all things being the same, the Bills might have a win or two more, but Darnold will continue his frustrating ways for a season or two, while Allen's improvement *could* be something rarely ever observed. That is why I would still take Allen b/c this was never about 2018 anyways, and Allen has the potential to be a HOF QB if he continues his progress over the course of the next two seasons. Darnold could be as well, but IMHO, he will continue to be the guy who in one game throws for 300 yards and 4 TDs and the next game passes for 400 yards 1TD and 4 INTs....Favre-esq....still very good, but frustrating due to the bi-polar nature of his game. I could be wrong...it's just my perspective as of today.

When I think about Darnold, he's a guy who with a great supporting Defense OR a tremendous supporting Offensive cast, can win games. IMHO, Ravens Defense and ground game, along with John Brown, Willie Snead etc. or the 49ers Offense of Goodwin, Kittle, Breida, etc. all provide a type of supporting cast that mitigates his weaknesses. Additionally, for the 49ers, it's the California connection that helps him be even more at ease. NYC is a rough place to start a career, especially when you're constantly under the microscope. I'm NOT saying he's not a good kid or not even a decent QB in his current status, I'm merely saying I think on the aforementioned teams, his stats are even better and he looks even more the part of a franchise QB. To me, NYJ was one of the harder places to go for all the reasons I've mentioned, including the NY scrutiny.

IMHO, Josh Allen was always about the long game. Darnold may have been a bit more NFL ready in terms of pedigree, but I think Josh Allen's potential is unbelievably high. To me Drafting Josh Allen was the equivalent of taking a real, unbroken stallion and turning him into one of the lite race horses of all time. It takes hard work, patience, dedication to the craft, and a refining ability to hone in on the talent and intangibles that can make him great. It also takes a nuanced comprehension that really NOBODY knew / knows if he possesses in that the ability to read and adjust to an NFL Defense pre-snap. Somewhere on the internet, a.k.a. Twitter-verse, a comparison was done of all the collegiate starts among the top 10 QB Rookies and Allen by far had the fewest. So he was the most raw, with the least exposure but with the greatest potential. IMO, the remains true. It will be a few years before we know what Josh Allen truly is or is not, but as of today with the progress I've seen, I'd take Allen for all the reasons listed above. If I were a team like the Ravens or 49ers, probably Darnold. Darnold is more NFL ready in total, or a year ahead in his development, but I just think if Allen puts it all together, we have the makings of one of the best QBs, and certainly the best Bills QB since (maybe ever) JK.

People may take this next statement and make it into a hot take or run off with some rant about blah, blah, blah... BUT, I see some Aaron Rodgers in Josh Allen and think in the future Allen will use his wheels the way Rodgers does: buying time, scrambling to make the play and yes, advance the chains when nothing else is available. Now, Allen of course has a loooooong ways to go to be as accurate or cerebral as Rodgers in pre-snap reads, quick throws and miracle games, but arm strength and mobility is most of what I'm referring to. Josh showed some decent poise in the pocket and absolute cold steel on the throw to Foster, which was one of the best passes I've seen from a Bills QB since Jim Kelly. And that's due to the pressure, standing in and delivering a strike. Just a thing of beauty.

No....no.....no. That's it...that's the entirety of my contribution. Just...No.

The other thing is that while this isn't an Offensive Linemen thread, I do think putting Teller in at LG has helped in many ways. Now, Jax is not what they were last year, and that Defense has issues, but it is still one of the most talented groups in the NFL and Josh Allen's first game back was against that D. Overall I think the O-line did fairly well. The D line was getting pressure and Allen had to bootleg, but so does Russell Wilson and Drew Brees (for different reasons of course) and Daboll did a nice job planning for it. IMHO, the WRs and TEs look better when the O-line takes it up another notch because that one second of time makes so much difference. I'd like to see the Bills add two WRs in FA and another in the Draft. But I think Croom is coming into his own and is a well-rounded TE. He blocks well enough for a young guy and he can obviously catch and run, so I think he's a good TE for the Offense. I don't think you want a Graham type TE, you want a TE who may not be super fast or a shut-down blocker, but a guy who is good at both, just not elite because of versatility. I'm not saying you don't want elite, I'm saying that I think versatility for the TE position is even more valuable over the long-term. There will a quality TE or two in FA and I don't want the Bills to use a high pick on a TE because it takes years for them to develop and Allen needs those weapons now. TE in the 4th is fine as you need to develop them like any other position and the Bills have two of them as of today, but not in the early rounds. Those need to be BPA. I know Zay had a quiet day yesterday, but Allen was taking what the Defense gave him and the D focused on Zay and KB leaving Foster and McKenzie to be the difference makers at receiver.

Um no...Coughlin turned that franchise around and there were good players on Jags Defense BEFORE he got there. It was never about is he a good enough coach for the NFL, I think he is....but he's not innovative and he's a quitter. Couch it however you'd like....I could argue, that with new ownership, I would WANT to stick around seeing as how I've invested two years of my life and started putting pieces in place and hope that with new ownership, I'd also be able to move the needle. Additionally, while Whaley made some egregious errors in judgment and was not a good front person for the organization due to his inability to communicate with the media, he also made some decent decisions, i.e. Jerry Hughes. His fatal flaw was going all in on EJ rather than pulling that plug. All that said, Marrone quit rather than continuing to build on something he started. To me, as a HC, that's all I need to know. Hard to get the buy-in from the team when they see quit in your eyes. I may be wrong, and time will tell, but to me that's one reason why this team continues to play hard for McD and his staff. They see his dogged determination to turn this around and they believe in him as a person and coach. Leadership is entirely about the person, and so far, McD has shown he can lead. Offense needs to get better, and with the 2019 Off-season I think it will, but he gets the most out of his players and that says A LOT in the current Bills climate.

That's what SHE said! OH! (ok, sorry...it was just too easy)

With Milano still in concussion protocol, this seems like the wisest decision.

I don't think every HC is meant to be in every situation. I think there are very good Head Coaches that could be put in a poor position based on the organization and they wouldn't be successful, but being put in a different organization with a different climate or culture and with a different FO and Owner, CAN be successful. Anthony Lynn strikes me as he found the right spot for him but I'm not sure he could be a HC of just any team, say the Browns or the Bills and be equally successful. I realize these days I'm most likely in the minority, but I for one think McD was / is the right HC for this Bills team. You need a HC that can hold the line, insulate the players a bit from outside criticism because there are growing pains, a guy who has a cohesive plan and is willing to do whatever is necessary to maintain that plan, can stay positive in the face of adversity and someone who can teach and lead. Now, on Offense that remains to be seen, but on Defense it seems pretty evident he can do that and do it well. Offensively, it's nearly impossible to judge until this time next year when all the excuses are gone and expectations will be reasonable. Do they need to look like the Rams next year? Or the Chiefs? NO....but they DO need to look like a competent and EVER improving Offense. Week 1 may not be great, but by Week 10, they should look like an Offense with a strong identity capable of beating almost anyone and by the end of the year, there should be no question as to whether Josh Allen is your answer to the QB puzzle. That to me would be reasonable growth and expectations when the money and the picks will be there.

Which will be good for him if he plays. Big Boys don't get to be Big Boys if they're constantly coddled. It may be ugly and rough, but he needs to see what a really good Defense looks like, how fast they are, how they anticipate, how they are relentless and how they scheme. These are only things he can learn by doing. So IMHO, the better the Defenses look, the more he should be ready to elevate his game which only advances his development.

Fair enough and all valid questions / concerns related to the Offense and the prognosis for the remaining schedule in 2018.

And we won't know for more than a season if the bold portion is accurate. But, we CAN look at three recent examples of Wentz, Goff and Trubisky. They've all had Offensive minded HCs, but they've also had GMs who've gone out and found them much improved Offensive players. O-line to WRs and TEs, and even RBs to a lesser extent, have all been added or augmented to surround the QB with a better cast of characters and the results have been promising. Does that automatically mean Allen will take a huge leap forward like those 3 have thus far? Absolutely not...but I think it adds some credence to the argument that how that new / young QB is complimented really does make quite a bit of difference. Mahomes as well. He's in his first year after having a year to learn, but getting Watkins to pair with Hill, Kelce and Hunt while investing in the Offensive line have all made a difference.

As fan, you're entitled to root for whatever you'd like....wonderful America we live in. That said, for me, I'd prefer they continue to win. IMHO you only accept the abysmal season when: 1. you know it's going to happen 2. you're looking for your Franchise QB. Now, no one really knows if Josh Allen is *that* QB, but we do know it is way, way too early to decide that he isn't. So, with the young guys on the roster, with the playoffs last year, with the coaching staff being in just their second year and Beane on through his first real Off-season, I see the winning as a culture setter. An establishment that accepting losing for ANY reason is unacceptable and to push the limits of talent, hard work, attention to detail and team chemistry to create the winning culture where accountability is demanded not due to threat of being fired or released but because the larger environment commands it's due process.

I disagree that it isn't as good as advertised according to ranking. The two first game were absolute blow-outs and it was the second half of that Chargers game where McD took over and D hasn't really looked back. It was put in continuously bad spots in the Green Bay game with the turnovers and on the road yet played admirably. In Indy the same thing, Anderson kept turning the ball over and the Offense was more like a game of relay to the Indy's Offense, against Andrew Luck who has had a great season thus far. Keeping all of that in mind and that you sandwich in the Pats this ranking, and I think it's not only legit, I think it only tells half the story. All of the factors I mentioned lead me to think that the Defense has drastically improved, Star is underrated, Trent Murphy is fine but he isn't *that* missed, Shaq Lawson really did come to play this year, and the LBers have been total studs. CB2 is something very much on the Bills radar. If you follow Astro - or Dean Kindig - on Twitter he just put out a graphic yesterday that the Bills have been scouting CBs something fierce. I could totally be off base, but if Beane is as smart as he has been so far (QB position needs ironing out for Allen and poor mistake to not have a better QB2 - but pretty good so far in other areas), I think they go as heavy in FA on Offense as the players will let them. Meaning, just because the Bills want a guy, doesn't mean that guy wants to come to Buffalo. But, I suspect they'll throw money at the Offense in FA and use the Draft for Defense because all experts tend to agree, this Draft and its superior talent is entirely about the Defense.

I believe I understand your point, and essentially we agree as I went on to say I don't think it's intended to be that complex but is essentially borne out of necessity due to the lack of talent. In other words, it's a lot of smoke and mirrors simply because half of the Offense isn't where they need to be as far as talent and abilities are concerned. I also went on to say that I think 2019 will be quite different in terms of that complexity and how Daboll schemes the Offense. So, essentially we agree on the larger philosophy just maybe disagree with Daboll's decision to use complexity to present an illusion to get around the lack of talent on Offense. All of that said, I was reading about one of the former Patriot players who are now in the media i.e. Bruschi or McGinest etc., talk about how Belichick would install all new plays and designs every year. He went on to say / write (honestly I can't remember if I read it or heard it, man I'm getting old) that this is a reason why the Pats have a tendency to come out slow each year because they're still perfecting and working through the new wrinkles every year. He said it's how they stay fresh and that the Pats get better as the season goes for this same reason. I offer that just as food for thought about being over complex and multiple changes.