mjt328

I completely agree with this statement. If Josh Allen has a chance at playing into his mid-30s or later, he absolutely must become more of a QB that beats you from the pocket with his mind. The legs are going to slow down with age, and it's going to become more difficult to recover from hits as he gets older. Two years ago, the big flaw with Allen's game was turnovers. We usually overcame it. But there were games (Jets, Broncos) during 2023 where turnovers lost us the game, and it almost cost us the playoffs/division. Fixing this last year made the offense and team better. Defenses have adjusted to the deep passing game around the league, so it's not working as well anymore. For virtually anyone. Teams with the most offensive success are those with strong running games and efficient/short passing games. With that said, I do understand where the frustration is stemming from. And fans complaining are not totally off-base. Just because the downfield passing game isn't our PRIMARY mode of attack anymore, doesn't mean we should abandon it completely. There has to be some level of keeping defensive coordinators honest. We can't just go weeks on end without testing teams deep. We can't just roster 6-7 WRs every year and have nobody with deep speed. Because eventually teams will creep up to the line of scrimmage, take out the running and short stuff... and at that point we need to have a way to make them pay. In the same way, I do think Joe Brady needs to have a few timely designed QB runs every single game. They don't need to be power rushes up the middle that force Allen to take a huge tackle. But something to remind the defenses who we have under center, and what he's capable of doing.

What is the job of the Offensive Coordinator? Designing plays. Assembling the gameplan. Making calls during the game. You can always tell when an OC is doing a good job, because there is a flow to drives where the defenders always seem on their heels. My main problem with Brady is that his attack plan doesn't seem to match with how the defense is playing us. For example, the Falcons were very heavy in blitzing us on Monday night. When that is happening, it's vitally important to have quick outlets and hot reads for the QB to get rid of the ball in less than 2 seconds. But it seemed like most of the routes were slow in developing. It's almost like Brady came into the game knowing the Bills were struggling in getting the ball downfield, and decided THAT was his goal for the week, regardless of what the opponent did. The week before, the Patriots weakness was coverage in the short/middle of the field. But instead of utilizing all those Tight Ends, slot players and running backs... that was the game we tried throwing at their top level outside corners.

I don't have access to the All-22. All I know is that I've watched Josh Allen for his entire career, and I've never seen him this hesitant to throw the ball. Every time we do see what is happening downfield from the broadcast, the receivers are blanketed. When he buys an extra 2-3 seconds escaping defenders and is clearly looking downfield for someone to break free, he's not finding an open player. Nobody is perfect, so I'm not doubting that Allen sometimes misses things. But is that the biggest problem on offense? If the true problem is our QB regressing in his ability to see the field, none of this talk matters anyway. This team is dead in the water moving forward.

There are a ton of problems with the team right now, but adding a WR is probably the easiest fix. Yes. The defense will remain a problem. But that side of the ball probably requires 1-2 new linebackers, an outside corner and two safeties... and possibly an entire scheme change. That kind of overhaul requires 1-2 offseasons. Not a bye week. Most of the offensive problems seem to stem from our inability for WRs to separate from man coverage. Everything else is spiraling away from that central issue. So adding a legit #1 could repair that hole. Then even if the defense stinks, you still have a chance to outscore the other team. The question is whether Beane is willing to part with a decent draft-pick, and commit future cap space to adding a really good player.

Turnovers masked this defense's problems last year. Everyone expected a big fall-off in 2024, but we kept rolling in the win column. So everyone assumed we were good. Statistic junkies always warned our turnover rate wasn't sustainable. And they were right. People keep pointing out the Bills have gone through early/mid-season poor stretches before. But this time is different. The fall-off is real.

Older folks here can probably remember the good old 90s Bills. That team exploded on the scene in 1988. Packed full of future Hall of Famers, and a revolutionary new offense. Finished with a 12-4 record, first division win in 8 seasons and made it all the way to the AFC Championship game. Two years later, the Bills were playing in their first Super Bowl. Of course they ended up going to four straight. Then suddenly it was over. The 1994 season saw the O-Line fall to pieces, Jim Kelly suffer a season-ending knee injury and Thurman Thomas hit the downside of his career. That team barely mustered up two more playoff births, but they were never serious Super Bowl contenders again. Kelly retired after the 1996 season, setting off a downslide that took over 20 years to turn around. Two decade runs like Tom Brady are by far the exception. Not the norm. I would like to believe we get prime Josh Allen for another 5-6 years. But there are already signs that maybe he's lost a step running the ball. And even if he's still physically able to do certain things, there may be a point where he's reluctant to keep doing them. And if we can't pull off a Super Bowl run when he's at his peak, why would we do it when he's past his prime?

Brandon Beane is like someone who miraculously hits a hole-in-one on his first ever golf shot. First impression, everyone just assumes he's amazing. But after 5-6 holes full of missed putts and double bogeys, the truth starts to rear it's ugly head. Beane struck gold with Josh Allen right off the bat. Many Bills fans also gave him absentee credit for the excellent 2017 draft class, which landed us Tre White, Dion Dawkins and Matt Milano, even though he hadn't actually been hired yet. But as the sample size has grown, and the final verdict had been reached on his draft selections... it's amazing how poorly he's done for a team consistently considered a Super Bowl contender. Even in free agency. For those early years, we always joked about how many washed-up players Beane poached from the old Carolina Panthers roster. Now he's doing the same with OUR old over-the-hill players. It's almost like he's got no idea what other talent lies on the other 31 teams.

Completely done with this front office and coaching staff. Fire them both tomorrow, and get an early start on the rebuild. We only have one window with Josh Allen at Quarterback. Once he's no longer playing at an MVP level, we will never get that time back. It may already be too late. Beane/McDermott have had enough time and chances to get this right. Longer than most GM/HC combinations. We've gotten excuse after excuse on why they can't get it done. They just need a closer at Edge Rusher. The Damar Hamlin situation was too emotionally draining. It's just not fair that Patrick Mahomes is in our conference. They just need injuries to not exist. It's just bad luck and we are really close. The truth is, our GM has assembled a garbage roster around the QB. Now our defense is also full of holes. McDermott is an expert at an outdated defensive scheme, and has nothing else up his sleeve.

A couple big differences this season. First, the level of opponent is tragically low. Last year our skid was against the Ravens (one of the league's best) and Texans (division winner who was still healthy and playing well at the time). The Patriots and Falcons are nowhere near that level. Second, you need to combine the slide with the rest of our performances this season. We haven't had one solid 4-quarter game all year long. The Ravens were steamrolling us for 3 quarters before choking the game away. The Jets are the worst team in the NFL, barely gave an effort, and we were running out clock by late 2nd quarter. We almost lost to the Dolphins and Saints, who have been awful all year. Third, our struggles have not just been a symptom of sloppy/uncharacteristic play (although that has been an element). For instance, we have been consistently the worst tackling team in football (by far) in pretty much every game this year. For six weeks. That isn't something you can just turn around and fix.

Yes, we probably missed the window. But not for the reason you stated. The salary cap may have been less of an issue while Josh Allen was on his rookie deal. But he also wasn't the Quarterback back in 2017-2021 that we have with him today. He's improved greatly as a passer over the last several years. The lifeblood of any team is the draft. Not the salary cap. Free agents should be the finishing pieces. Not the foundation. The problem is that we continue to waste picks on guys who fail to move the needle. Now that our cornerstone pieces from those early years (Diggs, Milano, White, Poyer, Hyde) are either gone or on the downside of their careers, Beane can't find decent replacements for them. The roster has gotten worse instead of better. We've been saying for YEARS that Allen wasn't going to play at an MVP level forever. Last night I saw a guy who looked done with carrying a subpar group on his back. Not saying the competitive fire is completely gone, but I really can't blame him if he doesn't want to sacrifice his body anymore with nothing to show for it.

Notice that most of the positions Beane actually hits on are "non-premium" positions. It's a lot easier to draft a Running Back or Guard than a #1 Outside Receiver or Left Tackle. It's a lot easier to draft a Linebacker or Nickel Cornerback than an Edge Rusher or Shut-Down Outside Cornerback. Beane was gifted a LT (Dawkins) and All-Pros on the back-end (Milano, White, Poyer, Hyde)... all by the previous GM. He lucked into Allen with his #1 Pick, traded for Diggs... and pretty much hasn't done anything worthwhile since. Benford and Bernard are proving to be one-year wonders. Can't hit on Edge Rusher. Can't hit on Outside WR. Can't hit on CB. Now that his team is aging out, he can't hit on Safety or LB either.

A lot of people seem to think our problem is mental. The one year we were too overconfident and bought into the hype. The next year we were sad about Damar Hamlin. We need to be an underdog to have that fire. I just can't buy any of this. I've come to the conclusion our #1 problem is talent. Second is coaching. Key players have gotten old/retired (White, Poyer, Hyde, Milano). League-wide tendencies have gradually made our defensive scheme outdated. Our outside/downfield WRs are terrible and can't get open. Josh Allen is finally tired of destroying his body playing Superman for 5 months every season. In terms of health, no team is ever going to be 100% healthy. Especially a team that purposely drafts undersized players. Terrel Bernard gets hurt all the time, because he's too small to be a MLB. Taron Johnson is always hurt, because we try to use him like a third linebacker. We also want CBs who rally and tackle over guys who cover tight and defend passes.

Ultimately, this is the problem with Brandon Beane. He's not a great scout, and so he doesn't have any real conviction on players. From all his post-draft news conferences, you can tell that he pretty much just identifies a position of need, puts a bunch of players into a general tier, and then hopes he gets one of those guys. Doesn't really matter who. At the end of the day, his goal is to fill-out a roster. Before that draft, Kansas City boldly identified which WR they felt would best fit the team. Then they aggressively traded up to make sure they got Xavier Worthy specifically. There was nothing special about Keon Coleman to us. Beane clearly would have been just as happy with 3-4 other guys at that spot. He was drafting a position instead of a player, and crossing his fingers that player would be good. The Chiefs did the same thing when they specifically targeted Patrick Mahomes and Trent McDuffie. We traded down in 2017 because we had no convictions about the QB class (although that was before Beane), and then just sat around in 2022 waiting for one of the cornerbacks to fall to us. It ended up being Kaiir Elam, who is clearly a huge bust now.

Josh Allen scrambles around to buy an extra 4-5 seconds, and STILL can't find anyone open. Anywhere on the field. That is absolutely pathetic. Yet when we are on defense, the QB takes a 3-step drop and our defensive backs have already totally lost coverage.

So how do you judge a General Manager, if not for the success of the players he brings in and the construction of the roster? How many failed players does Beane need to bring in (let's say at the WR position), before you start to question whether the guy actually has any clue what he's doing? His draft selections at the position (in order) include Ray-Ray McCloud, Austin Proehl, Gabe Davis, Isaiah Hodgins, Marquez Stevenson, Khalil Shakir, Justin Shorter, Keon Coleman and Kaden Prather. In other words, he hasn't picked a SINGLE STARTING CALIBER outside WR in his eight years of running the team. I like Shakir, but he's a slot who doesn't seem to be good for more than catching screens and getting YAC. His first year with tons of cap space, Beane landed Cole Beasley (another good slot receiver) and John Brown (solid #2 and deep threat for 1 season before completely falling off). Since that point, he's wasted money on names like Emmanuel Sanders, Jamison Crowder, Deonte Hardy, Trent Sherfield, Mack Hollins, Curtis Samuel and Josh Palmer. Again, almost zero help on the outside. In trades, he watched Kelvin Benjamin up-close for years, and decided he was the trade target for his rookie QB. That worked out great. Beane's best decision ever at the WR position was then trading a 1st Round Pick for Stefon Diggs. And even then, we got to watch the Vikings use that same pick on Justin Jefferson, and then have Diggs force his way off the team 4 years later. So in 8 years, Beane's only success at finding an outside WR for his future Hall of Fame Quarterback was to trade a 1st Round Pick for a disgruntled veteran with a history of throwing teammates under the bus. Which of course he eventually did here too. He got one good season from Smoke Brown. One solid season from Sanders. Nobody else he's brought in is better than a #3-4 WR in the NFL. I can do this at almost any position on the roster. How many infinite resources will it take to finally assemble a strong D-Line? And how was Beane doing at building that O-Line before Aaron Kromer single-handedly fixed everything. How has that secondary been since the players Beane inherited (Tre White, Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde) aged out?