cwater10

Is John Brown what was lost? Hey, I loved smoke, but it was his time. He was not on any NFL roster until last week when he was added to Denver's practice squad. That lack of interest is no accident. So really, the production loss in 2021 was nill. The great memories of Smoke in 2020 and 2019 are still valid memories. They were fun. They made me smile, especially the dance. As fans, we get to keep them. The Bills, as a franchise with a vested interest in sustainable success, just aren't obligated to keep paying for those feel good memories in 2021.. Salary cap realities... What was gained was a reliable #2 who is a great addition to the team in many ways, tangible and otherwise. Think of him as a WR version of Frank Gore, except that he can still perform at a very high level. I think that if you revisit this thought in December, January or even February you will find in an unnecessary exercise. Beane doing Beane things is to this team's benefit.

Agree on both counts. Respectfully, its also unheard of in Buffalo. Do you think that Miami believes that Epenesa is not a contributor? How about Tua? I'll bet he has an opinion. Do you believe that Kansas City or Houston believe that Boogie is not a contributor? This is a deep and stable roster. At the risk of sounding like Dick Jauron, It's hard to make this 53 and harder still for young players to make the active 48 on every given Sunday, or whatever the specific number is. Depth is a luxury. We have it. Is the roster perfect? Nope. Show me one that is.

I understand the thought. Yet, I do remember in the immediate draft reaction, Boogie was viewed as the more likely of the two edge draftees to make immediate impact. Taken as a whole, the approach, at least to my biased eye, is consistent with the way that McBeane have approached each and every off season. They focus on one or two position groups or core building pieces and just attack it. In 2018, it was all about landing the QB and then throw in Edmunds as the intended foundation of the D. Two foundational pieces, one on each side of the ball. Two big roster building boxes checked. In 2019 they hit their obvious biggest weakness, the OL with a voluminous influx of new talent. They brought in Morse, Nsekhe, Quinton Spain, Brian Winter, Feliciano and drafted Ford. Is it possible that they build a certain bust rate into their calculus? They similarly took some early swings at WR that same year with Beasley, Roberts and Brown. Throw enough resources and see what sticks. In 2020 they attacked what was again viewed as their biggest need, a true #1 WR in acquiring Diggs. They backed that up with depth pieces in Davis and Hodgins and pulled in Kumerow later in the year. Similar to the previous off season, they took an early swing at an emerging need, DL. Remember, at the time nobody saw Star opting out and leaving a hole in the middle of DL. Go all the way back to 2017 and you can see the same pattern applied to rebuilding the secondary. Bringing in new blood in Hyde, Poyer as FA and drafting White has worked out nicely. In 2021, it was easy to see what was coming. Bang, bang, bang... Rousseau, Basham, Obada, return of Star along with Epenesa from last year and you have your volume to throw at the wall and see what sticks. This is simply how Beane and McDermott appear to roster build. I think they've done a nice job. But again, I am admittedly a perpetual optimist. I thought Fitz and Stevie were the answer, so really... take this all with the grain of salt that it merits.

Isn’t this is completely contextual? If you are drafting for the Jaguars or Jets, then you absolutely need immediate return and contribution from 2nd round picks. When you draft for a loaded roster such as Beane has, the opportunity for immediate impact is marginal. You can afford to look for developmental guys and gamble a bit. There was just a narrow sliver of light for starters to walk right in and start on this team. We got one and turned to a more depth focused strategy. Personally, I like the way they future proofed and built that depth. That is not a trash bin deposit. McDermott puts high value on rotational guys and flexibility on D. I think that was missing last year and while not perfect, noticeable improvement this year.

The reactions on this thread go straight to the reality of the NFL as a "week to week" league. Just a few days ago the narrative was focused on the brilliance of Beane's rebuild of the DL in one offseason contrasted with KC's failed effort at rebuilding their OL. And so this week, we lose a last second gut wrenching road game against the most dominant running back in recent memory. Does that dictate Beane's drafts to be considered failures? Just a quick inquiry for the masses, exactly what team, or what GM out there has properly drafted in such a way to stop Derrick Henry? I don't see much evidence of that BigFoot out there. What Beane has built is a team capable of beating any team on any given day, in reality they beat them on most days. Given the constraints of the salary cap era, that's no small accomplishment. Would any of you trade rosters with Tennessee right now?

This and This = This:

I guess I should preface this by letting you know that I am not a very good person. I would be best if you not model any behavior, or form any significant opinions based on this but... WHAT?

The orchid in my kitchen just threw itself at the TV

Watching this mess in London has the voices in my head screaming "Broken Windshield" game. The late great Pete Axthelm used to have a schtick about this. Bills vs Colts came up once or twice in this spirit Anyway, the bit goes that he had two tickets to the game and left them on the dashboard when he parked his car earlier in the week. When he returned, he found that someone had smashed his windshield and left two more tickets. .

Morrie Schwartz, is that you?

Always thought the way his career ended was a shame. That video shows him dancing on the bench, pumping up the crowd after AFC Championship Game win vs Denver. He played great in that game and left the field dancing and partying up a storm. He developed an infection which settled in his knee in the days before Super Bowl XXVI vs Washington and missed the game. He never played again. Loved that guy as a Bill. https://buffalonews.com/news/leonard-smith-status-questionable-defensive-back-remains-hobbled-with-an-infection/article_6b484b53-ea85-547f-bf34-bff51bed15d9.html

Yep, he definitely brought it. To be young again:

Agreed! Leonard was probably my favorite on that defense. Intense was an understatement. I still picture him standing on the bench, facing the crowd and whipping them into a frenzy.

Hopefully this is not redundant. Just stumbled upon this great clip of Daryl and Leonard Smith being interviewed while at the car wash. Great memories. Seeing Leonard Smith all these years later makes me feel ... Well never mind, but great clip!

Is it though? In addition to talent and strategy, focus and preparation are essential to winning. They can often be the edge the gives you the win. In a extraordinarily long season, particularly after a watershed win on national TV that has the football universe telling you that you are the greatest thing since bread came sliced, it isn't hard to see the possibility of a team losing that edge for at least a few days, days that are critical to focus and prep for your next opponent. There is no way on God's green earth that I see McDermott not using every tool that he has to ensure that focus and preparation remain top priority. If you were him, during this week with all the world singing your team's praises, with that objective, would you remind your team that they are preparing to face the team that handed them their worst defeat in recent memory? No way they say it publicly. But I believe it's there all week, and it'll be there on the field Monday.

Is '85 Bears already taken? Let's ask Leslie.

I don't know... I think that he means it more in a we, or a societal context, as in the way we have all been through covid as a societal experience. It has impacted everything and we have all been through it, whether we had the virus individually or not, it has certainly impacted us all. In speaking of the prep for last season in particular when the impact was far greater, this would make a great deal of sense.

One of my favorite terms to grow out of this era of Bills football is "The Josh Allen Experience". It is a full adventure with plenty of highs and a few bumps. We all kind of look and tilt our heads and try to decide what it is we are seeing. He's a bit of a Rorschach test in that way. We all probably see something a little different in his game. And generally, amongst Bills fans, it totals out as all good. I think that the national media has also often seen exactly what they expect to see, particularly early on. They are coming around. A winner? There is no hardware yet, but I do believe it is coming. I sit in the gray area on the "winner" issue. I do see Josh as a winner right now. He is a class act, a good person, highly accomplished at a very young age and a pleasure to root for. I do also see that, in a football sense, he has some unfinished business to fully earn that mantle in full football context. The 90 Bulls comparison seems spot on. I hope I still see it that way in 4 months. Great Thread!

Depends... How big are Mahomes' hands?

Groot rising. The trend continues.

Thanks for a great topic KZ Mike. Given his path to prominence, and as appreciation for Josh grows, it is a fascinating journey to examine how his reputation as a QB has evolved and where it will go from here. I continue to try to understand the specific nature of what you are trying to convey. And I keep hitting my head on a couple of conceptual brick walls. One key point that we do not share is the idea that the word efficient would be the most common word used to describe Brady, Montana, Young, Brees and Manning. The term "efficient" is defined as achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense. Those legends may indeed have all been efficient, but to me that is far from what made them memorable. To me Trent Dilfer, Matt Hasslebeck, or currently Ryan Tannehill is what I think of as an efficient QB. They are all effective, yet unremarkable in any way other that their result. The legends are more... way more. Brady and Montana were absolute killers, cool and poised beyond all measure with the arm talent, charisma and intellect to power incredible leadership and achievement. Steve Young was an athletic marvel. Think of his famous highlight where he runs all of the field, sideline to sideline for what seems like a full minute before stumbling into the end zone. Brees and Manning both had ridiculous arm talent and understanding of X's and O's to take you down. I agree with you that efficient is not a word commonly associated with Josh, and I am more than good with that. I do think that as he has matured, he has calmed himself considerably and nurtured that killer nature of Brady and Montana. We seen that flash. Interestingly the two most "killer" moments I can think of involve Tyler Kroft. One was the playoff clincher TD pass against the Steelers in 2019 and again last year to complete the last second comeback against the Rams. And I do not think of either of those plays, drives or performances as efficient. Were they winner moments? Yes, obviously. But when you compare "winner" with "efficient", I think that you are comparing apples and oranges. One is a result (winner) and the other is a manner in achieving that result (efficient). I do agree with you that Josh is not a "normal" QB. I think that the word "Freak" was used earlier in this thread by BrownBear. I agree with that. His is a rare combination of attributes, both cerebrally and physically. He's our unicorn! And I think that you may be underselling the national dialogue regarding Josh right now. I believe that early in the season, some remaining skeptics were moved to step forward and say we told you so. Recent weeks have revealed that skepticism as garbage, and now we are starting to see that reflected. Josh is now the favorite in the MVP odds. Buffalo is the odds favorite to win the Super Bowl. Those are both evidence that the narrative is changing right in front of our eyes and ears. You will always have your Nick Wrights. Just like you always had your "Frank Reich should start" crowd. Let them be. Thanks again for a tremendous topic. It's fun to think about these things. I don't miss the days of Captain Checkdown threads. Speaking of Trent, as I write this, I am cracking a smile as "efficient" is the word I remember used to describe Trent when he was playing well early on. Peace...

Alexa must be passing on my data. I received a letter today from the FCC suggesting that I should be fined for my behavior after the Mitch Morse holding penalty.

True, but I do think the dam is breaking and acknowledgement is starting to flow his way. Some people will never give proper due, others will delay until it's just so obvious it cannot be denied. I remember thinking that Reggie Jackson and Terry Bradshaw sucked when I was a teenager. A few short years later I was arguing for their place as the all time greats that they were. I remember thinking that Michael Jordan was just an over rated ball hog. Lol... It takes time. This body of work is still forming. I have to believe that Josh will get his due praise in time.

Agree that Josh is a winner. I also believe that he is the most dynamic QB talent that we may have seen to date, and that this ride is just getting started. For a quick description, I cannot limit myself to just one word. In the moment, 3 words that jump out are competitor, talent and driven. He is by no means a finished work, and that is seriously such a great thing to ponder. But there have been moments where the possible has flashed. And they are breathtaking as a football fan. I think of the original hurdle in 2018 when we all watched slack jawed, including the Vikings, saying WTH did we just see? I think of the Miami game in week 2 of last year, when it looked like everything had just slowed down for Josh. In that game, it was the first time that I looked and saw in Allen, a player toying with the opposition. He flashed that a few more times throughout last year and then on this past Sunday night, there it was again. Josh was in full ownership of the Chiefs in that game. They knew it every bit as much as Josh did. You could even see it reflected in Mahomes face from the bench in the 4th quarter. They had no answer for him. In those moments, all of those traits, the competitor, the talent, the driven individual and teammate come together to create one hell of a problem for a defense. I think that we will see those moments become more consistent and frequent. I joked during the weather delay during the game the other night that if felt like we still couldn't have nice things, even when we have nice things. But it appears that we can. I think that we just might have a steady stream of nice things coming our way as a fan base. Players now WANT to come here. This is going to be nuts for a few years. Get ready!

NFL, you're trying way too hard.