hondo in seattle

I chose Earl Campbell because I'd love to see a power back in this offense. I like the dilemma it gives DCs. Do you go heavy and load the box to stop the big back? Or do you go light, spread your defenders out, and try to defend the pass? There is no good option for the DC. On the other hand, I can see a different line of thought. We're a passing team so get a back that works well in a passing attack. Someone, for example, like Thurman who can catch, pass-block, and run.

I'm surprised OJ isn't receiving more enthusiasm. I remember watching games where he'd gain maybe 140 yards - a good day for any other back but pedestrian for him. But there'd be two plays where he made some tremendous juke - or broke some tackle - and nearly broke a long one except for a desperate shoestring tackle. And then there was a long run called back because of a penalty. And another because he stepped out of bounds. The 140 yards were nearly 200, maybe even 300 yards. He was a threat to go the distance on every play. But the idea that maybe he wouldn't be the best fit for this offense has some validity. I don't remember OJ being selfish, but you have to wonder how happy and productive he'd be playing in Dorsey's pass-first offense. OJ did like being the center of attention. And he seemed to be the kind of runner who did his best work when he got into a rhythm. And while I remember OJ being a good receiver out of the backfield, contrary to what some others may say, he was not a great pass-blocker. And, in this O, backs need to block.

Anyone who chooses anyone other than OJ did not watch football in the 70s. OJ was preternatural. But I picked Earl, not because he was better than OJ, but because I'd love to see this dilemma presented to our opponents. How do you stop a team with a premier passing attack and a premier power running game?

Just a bit before my time. The earliest Bills RB I remember is Mini Max Andersen. Didn't Larry Felser used to say that Cookie - in his prime - was as good as Jim Brown? You're a lucky man to have seen him play.

Impressive highlights. I'd rather have a powerful downhill runner like Earl, but Lenny would be super productive in our offense - if Dorsey used him right.

Cookie was one tough dude. I've heard 60s Bills players tell different versions of this story... The Bills were playing the Pats. Early in the game, Cookie finds a hole. A 2nd level defender moves forward to make the tackle. Cookie could have tried to slip to the right or left and then broken the arm tackle. But Cookie loved contact. He lowers his head and destroys the Pats tackler in a horrific collision. They had to take the poor schmuck off the field on a stretcher. Cookie then goes over to the Pats sideline and shouts something like, 'Which one of your muthafutzers is next?' (The actual quote might have been R rated). According to Cookie's teammates, the Pats lost heart after that and the Bills cruised to victory. Can you imagine Diggs and Cookie on the same offense? Diggs would love it. Cookie's violent physicality would be an inspiration for the entire team.

The draft is over and preseason hasn't begun so I find myself with weird offseason musings. Today's useless speculation has to do with the Bills' running game. I was wondering if I could pick any RB in history to start for the Bills this season, who would it be? I think Jim Brown and OJ are the two greatest backs in history, so they'd be fun to see in the backfield with Josh. Multipurpose Thurman would be great with this offense. Even Cookie Gilchrist would be awesome. Today's defenders are often smaller than the defenders of yore. It's a passing league now. Defensive schemes and players these days are better at coverage than stopping a battering ram. I'd be cheering, "Lookie, Lookie, Here comes Cookie!" as Gilchrist ran over pint-sized nickel backs. But the guy who really jumped out of my memory was Earl Campbell. If an opponent lined up in a nickel or dime to stop Josh, Earl would obliterate them. Earl was such a strong, violent runner. How would a modern defense stop both Earl and Josh? I don't think any team could. As for current backs, I'd probably most want King Henry. Thoughts?

Statistically, Harris isn't better than Singletary. Yet, when I've watched Harris run, I felt he was bigger, faster, stronger, and more explosive. Maybe it's because Harris has played well against the Bills, but he looks like a better back to me. We've seen so many opponents to stop the pass with nickel and dime defenses and various blitz packages. I never got the sense that opposing defenses took our running game very seriously. If Dorsey schemes it up right, I think they will this year. And that will make Josh's job easier.

Our two safeties - Poyer and Hyde - are interchangeable. They both can play strong or free. This helps us disguise coverages. Maybe our two base D linebackers should be interchangeable. Both good at run support though not Dick Butkus good. Both good at coverage.

Maybe because I'm a Boiler, this bugged me when it happened. Rome's behavior was absolutely classless, and I've never watched him since.

I can only imagine! It was weird to read.

I think both Harty and Sherfield will eat into Gabe's snap count. I'm expecting/hoping for better target distribution this year.

Let me ask because I'm not sure... How good is the Jets OL? Can they protect Rodgers?

I don't think Sherfield will be #2 in targets but I do think he's kind of the forgotten man in the wideout discussion. Some thoughts... * Nice combination of speed and size: 6'1'', 219 lbs, and runs a 4.45. * He had PFF's highest-grade among all receivers as a blocker last season * According to Next Gen Stats, Sherfield had the 3rd highest YAC over expected last season - trailing only Jaylen Waddle and Deebo Samuel. * Had 30 receptions for 417 yards for the Fins last season competing for targets with a couple of superstars. * Can work slot or outside. * Sounds like a guy who works hard but hasn't had a lot of breaks... The Tyler Dunne article makes me want to root for Sherfield - and believe in him. www.golongtd.com/p/the-trent-sherfield-prophecy

That's an interesting thing about the NFL. 32 teams start the season. Only the 14 best teams make the playoffs. 13 of the best teams end their season with a heartbreaking loss. Obviously, I'd rather be the team that hoists the Lombardi. But minus that, I'm glad we're one of the elite 14. The regular season wins get us into the second-season (i.e. playoffs) where we at least have a chance for a SB. That's why I personally care about regular-season wins. One way to think about it is that the best teams win lottery tickets. Each ticket has a 1-in-14 chance of a Lombardi trophy. I'd rather have a lottery ticket than not have one. If you earn enough lottery tickets, the odds of winning it all get pretty good.

You rarely get everything you want for Christmas. Like a lot of fans, I wanted a vet Tackle and vet MLB added to the roster along with a bunch of other positions on my list. But I always knew Mom and Dad had a limited budget. And, I gotta say, I'm happy with what we ended up with. Beane did way more than I expected.

I vaguely remember that. Mostly I remember the Holmes fight when he was absolutely brutalized and yet kept coming back for 15 rounds. His pain tolerance and idiotic stubbornness were off-the-charts. The fight was so one-sided, bloody, and barbaric that Howard Cosell quit working boxing matches. Despite the stupidity of it, I admired Cobb's never-quit toughness.

I read once that noise was one of the design considerations. It's designed to be loud.

I agree - especially since I live on the West Coast now and rarely return to Buffalo.

I'm not sure, Thurm. The OL is definitely better and I'll be happy if they attain averageness this season, given where they've been. But "good" - that's uncertain. Will Brown and/or Bates play better this season in their second years under Kromer and now playing alongside better people? Not sure. How good will Torrence play as a rookie? Not sure. Morse's concussions worry me, and I think some folks overrate him. McGovern is better than Saffold, but that's not saying much. Edwards played decently a couple years ago but sucked last season from what I've heard/read. I don't know what to expect from him. Dawkins is good and a warrior. But he's not elite. But I see potential. I see reasons to hope. And I hope I'm wrong about them being average. I really, really want to be wrong and you to be right.

I don't remember the details but we had something going like that in the 90s, too. After losing to teams in the SB, we'd beat them in the next regular season.

Because we lost 4 games last year including a playoff game that ended our Lombardi hopes. And there were other games that were arguably close than they 'should' have been. It's about continuous improvement in all facets of the game. Beane said something to the effect of we weren't good at attacking the middle of the field last year and Kincaid makes us better. That's something to be excited about.

That Randall Cobb wasn't very talented, but he was one of the toughest SOBs ever seen on television. That man could take a beating!

The details are interesting, but the big picture is this... The Bills spent 17 years of bouncing between mediocrity and horribleness before McD and Beane. Now we're a perennial playoff contender. We can dissect Beane's victories and failures all we want. Some find it entertaining. Once in a while, I do myself. But it's like going to the Louvre and getting up close to some masterpiece and saying, "Well, that brushstroke is a little off!" You've got to step back and take in the whole work of art. Nope, we haven't won a SB... yet. And, yup, both Beane and McD have had some missteps along the way, as humans do. But, brothers & sisters, we're in contention after long years of irrelevancy. Do what you want but I'm enjoying the ride.

I don't know if it's Dorsey's idea specifically to run the ball more. My guess is that he wants RBs to run the ball more with Josh running it less. I also think that he wants to be able to take advantage of teams who play against the pass with Nickel and Dime packages. He wants to have the capability to disincentivize them from selling out to stop Josh.