mjt328

If he doesn't fit the scheme, the Bills need to trade him now. Maybe they can get a player from another team that is underachieving in the wrong system. Maybe they can get lucky and land another mid-round pick. I'm coming to grips that 2017 is a total lost cause. At one point, I was holding out slim hope for a wild card. But after trading away Sammy Watkins and watching Tyrod Taylor struggle to adapt in the new scheme, I realize this team is (or will soon be) in full rebuild mode. Every snap/roster spot used on someone like Reggie Ragland is a waste, because it could be used on a player who fits better.

I don't understand the previous reports that claimed Rick Dennison's offense was a great match for Tyrod Taylor. So far, the passing game seems to be the complete opposite of what Taylor is good at. It's clear the staff is looking for a pure pocket passer. Somebody who can play under center, make quick reads and deliver fast and accurate throws. Not someone with limited field vision, who likes to scramble and extend plays with his feet. Not to mention, Taylor is short and already has trouble with batted passes, even when he isn't playing at the line of scrimmage. From my early perspective, this is a disaster in the making. I understand that Taylor may not fit the mold that Dennison, Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane are looking for. But if the team is "really trying" to win this year, then the offense should be molded to fit the quarterback's strengths and hide his weaknesses. Of course, after 15 years of watching new regimes do the same thing (square peg, round hole, poor fit), I'm really not surprised in the slightest.

Sounds like Buffalo Bills luck. We make all these moves and purge our roster for draft picks, then the top QBs in the draft decide to stay in school. After the season is over, we will probably hear our coaching staff clamoring for "more speed" on the outside. Then we will use our 2nd Round pick from the Rams to overdraft a track star receiver.

Outside of the Buffalo fans/media, I haven't seen anyone applauding the Sammy Watkins trade. Most are questioning why we let a young talent go for such a low pick. Many people have been screaming for us to "tank" for a quarterback for years. So they think would be a step in the right direction.

I believe that coaching/front office style is very overrated. There are many approaches that can work... IF they are done correctly. Marv Levy was a great coach. But he was a terrible GM because he sucked at drafting, and he sucked at adding free agents. It's that simple. It had nothing to do with his personality, or his desire to add high-character players. He just did a poor job at giving the Bills a talented team.

Agree 100% on the tanking comment. The NFL isn't like other sports leagues. There are too many roster spots, too much risk on draft selections, too much fluctuation with injuries, too many outside factors with salary cap, coaching changes, scheme switches, etc. The idea that our best avenue was to purge talent, stockpile draft picks and rebuild a successful roster from scratch is nonsense. I'm highly skeptical of this front office, until they start proving they can properly scout and make smart draft picks.

Some GMs undervalue draft picks. Others overvalue them. It's clear that Doug Whaley undervalued them. This is a big hint that Brandon Beane may overvalue them. To me, the value of a draft pick vs. an established player, comes down to "how likely" it will result in talent of equal or greater value. Stockpiling draft picks always sounds nice and promising for the future. But at some point, those picks become real players. For every Herschel Walker trade that creates a dynasty, there are hundreds of Darrelle Revis for Dee Milliner trades. Dumping Jason Peters got us Eric Wood, which was an OK deal. But dumping Marshawn Lynch only got us Chris Hairston and Tank Carder. When Whaley traded up for Sammy Watkins, it was a bad trade. Why? Because it was very unlikely that a wide receiver (with no franchise QB) would ever be as valuable as two 1st Round starters at other positions. As many pointed out at the time, it would have been smarter to take a "lesser" talent at wide receiver (like Kelvin Benjamin or Odell Beckham were considered at the time) and pair him with a starting offensive lineman, cornerback, linebacker, etc. the next draft. The Beane trade is also bad. Why? Because EJ Gaines is a fringe starter with injury issues, and it's unlikely a 2nd Round pick will be as good as Watkins.

I mentioned this in another thread, but I think it bears repeating. The only way anyone can support the Watkins/Darby trades is by assuming the plan is to go after a 2018 QB prospect. One of the big problems though... None of the top QB prospects are going to be seniors. Sam Darnold is a Sophomore. Josh Allen, Josh Rosen and Lamar Jackson are Juniors. This means some or all of them could return to school, even if they turn out to be fantastic prospects. Not to mention, the Bills are going to have plenty of competition for draft position, even if they are loaded with picks. The Jets have a terrible roster and seem to be purposely tanking for the #1 pick. The Browns are awful and also loaded with picks. The 49ers will certainly be in the mix. Another terrible season and the Jags could move on from Bortles. The Chargers could be ready to find a replacement for Rivers. Could the Rams dump Goff after 2 seasons? If the next Andrew Luck is poised to come out and these guys are sitting in the Top 1-2-3 spots, why would they trade to Buffalo? There are so many ways this whole plan could backfire, it just depresses me.

As a whole, I didn't like the moves. I understand the concept of "rebuilding" the roster. But it makes very little sense to trade away some of your youngest star players during a rebuild. It makes more sense to shop players like LeSean McCoy, Kyle Williams or Ritchie Incognito. If a rebuild is successful, a front office should plan on being competitive within 2-3 years. It makes more sense to shop guys that won't be around, or may not be effective that far down the road. I fail to see how Sammy Watkins and Ronald Darby fit that mold. The value we got in return for Watkins was not nearly enough. If that pick (probably late 30s or early 40s) is used on a replacement, the chances we get someone with Watkins' talent is very low. If our plan is to package the pick in a draft move next year, I don't think that extra 2nd Rounder is going to be the vital piece that makes it happen or kills it. The Eagles/Jordan Matthews trade was comparable value. This one was a rip-off, which only looks promising to fans using the "Madden mentality" of overvaluing draft picks. It also makes the decision to decline his 5th Year Option look extra foolish, because we probably would have gotten a better trade offer with an extra contract year involved. If the Bills were worried about re-signing Watkins, then I fail to see the value in obtaining two players in the last years of their contract. Matthews is probably looking at a deal similar or higher than Robert Woods, who was ridiculously overvalued in free agency. Smart teams let players like this walk. So the Bills are left in a lose-lose situation. People keep talking about positioning for a Quarterback. I guess that makes some sense. But there are still WAY TOO MANY unknown factors that could completely destroy this plan. We still don't know which prospects will be declaring. Not a single 2018 top QB prospect is a senior. There is a great chance Sam Darnold stays in school. We don't know what scouts will actually think of these prospects by April. Maybe some of these top guys crash and burn over the next 12 months like Matt Barkley or Jake Locker. Not to mention, we don't know what draft positioning will look like. If the Jets, Browns, 49ers are sitting in the Top 3 spots, what are the chances they would trade with us? What if the Chargers, Jags, Rams, Redskins, etc., etc. are sitting there? I like having ammo, but that extra 2nd and 3rd Rounder is going to be pennies in the grand-scheme of things. I have a feeling that in 12 months, Sammy Watkins will be a Pro-Bowler, Jordan Matthews will be on his third team, the Bills still won't have a premier QB prospect, and our front office will be trying to hype a massive new draft class full of unproven rookies as the saviors of our franchise.

So if the Bills weren't going to pay Sammy Watkins next year, what makes you think they are going to pay Jordan Matthews? And even with all the "ammunition" in the world, don't forget: - The Jets have one of the worst rosters in 20 years - The Browns also have tons of draft picks and need a QB - There is no guarantee all the top guys will be coming out of school next year

For some reason, the Bills were desperate to move-on from Sammy Watkins. There is no other explanation for getting so little in return. (A 2nd-Round Pick and below average starter...) I think the Eagles trade was a domino-effect from moving Watkins. The Bills could not enter the season with nothing at receiver. It just happens that the Darby/Matthews trade was actually a decent swap. The Bills make out pretty good on that one. Anyone that thinks this was just about money... Don't forget that Matthews is also a free agent next year.

We didn't even get a 1st Round pick out of the deal.

It's only preseason, but I came away with several early impressions as well. First, the good... Running Game This team is still going to be a monster on the ground. Even with Shady taking the night off, there was no drop-off from what we saw last year. Jonathan Williams looked great. Mike Tolbert looked good. And the offensive line was opening huge holes. Defensive Line Everybody knows that our team was a better fit in the 4-3. The lack of pass rush under Rex Ryan was obvious to anyone. If last night was any indication, our front 4 may soon return to 2013-2014 status. The group was relentless after the QB from the get-go. And how about that Eddie Yarborough guy... Secondary Not much to say here. Coverage was very good on the back end. Nobody was complaining after the game about the loss of Stephon Gilmore. And our first round pick was a non-story, which is usually good for cornerbacks. Tyrod Taylor/Sammy Watkins Sammy looked healthy out there. Which is great. Tyrod targeted him early and often, and was accurate when the pocket was clean. Which is great. We all know what Sammy is capable of, and it starts by making him a target and not a decoy. Now the bad... Pass Blocking As good as the run blocking was, the pass blocking was just as bad. Specifically the tackles getting beat off the edge. No Cordy Glenn wasn't playing. But with his foot injury, there is no guarantee he won't miss time during the regular season. Seantrel Henderson was a poor fill-in, and I wasn't impressed with Jordan Mills or Dion Dawkins either. Linebackers I have a feeling, this spot is going to be a weakness. While our pass rush was good and our coverage was good, our pursuit at the second level was not. Screens and covering tight ends could be a problem. And anyone that isn't worried about Reggie Ragland going forward isn't paying attention. QB Depth TJ Yates was awful. Let's hope that the rookie steps up, because things could get ugly if Tyrod goes down for even 1-2 games.

Not sure why this is alarming or groundbreaking in any way. At this point, I think everyone knows what Taylor brings to the table and what we are hoping he improves upon. The Bills have also made it very clear to everyone what they think of Taylor, based on their refusal to give him a true long-term contract.

People need to understand that coaches see more than fans and the media. EJ Manuel only got 14 starts, but he had 4 years to prove himself to two different coaching staffs. Nobody questions his physical potential or attitude. Or that he made nice throws occasionally. The problem is, EJ just never got better. His biggest flaws as a rookie in 2013 were still his biggest flaws in 2016. Look at the last game in 2014 (against the Texans) before he was benched for Kyle Orton. Look at his big chance to step in for an injured Tyrod Taylor in 2015 (against the Bengals and Jaguars). Then finally his last appearance against the pathetic Jets in 2016's finale.

Coaching is a problem. But even with great coaches, I don't think Buffalo would have much success with the Quarterbacks we have fielded the last 15 years. - Rob Johnson was a backup before he came to Buffalo. After we let him go, he was a backup in Tampa Bay and never did much. Out of the league within 2 seasons. - Drew Bledsoe was declining before he came to Buffalo. He went to Dallas after us, played about the same as here, and then got replaced by Tony Romo. Out of the league within 2 seasons. - JP Losman never started a game after leaving Buffalo. Out of the league within 2 seasons. - Trent Edwards started 1 game after leaving Buffalo. Out of the league within 2 seasons. - Ryan Fitzpatrick has been the same guy for the last 9 years. Puts up decent stats, but is inconsistent with accuracy and destroys his teams with bad decisions and poor accuracy.

Sounds like a lot of fans are upset with this trade. But Cardale Jones was always a tremendous long-shot to have success in the NFL. Regardless of his physical ability or potential. Most of those who cover the team believe he was very unlikely to make the roster this year at all. Tyrod Taylor is our clear starter at QB. TJ Yates gives us an experienced veteran. Coaches obviously believe Nate Peterman has a better shot at NFL success. Odds are high we are targeting a 1st Round QB next year. This means that Jones was probably looking at the practice squad (at best) in 2017 with very few reps, only to be in a similar or worse position to make the team next year. If a team was willing to give up a draft selection, can you really blame the Bills for taking it?

Despite what some believe, the Bills are not tanking this year. They will try to make the playoffs. Once you understand that, it's not hard to figure out why the staff likes TJ Yates. If the starter (Tyrod Taylor) goes down, you want a veteran guy that can potentially win games in his absence. Not an inexperienced developmental project like Cardale Jones or a rookie like Nathan Peterman. And if your backup is forced into action, would you rather have a guy that has been working in the current system, who knows the playbook and has been practicing with his teammates.... or a guy that was signed off the street on Monday afternoon?

It's good that he recognizes the frustration of the fans (not to mention some of the players who have been here a long time). But taking blame in something that happened before he arrived is kinda stupid. The only thing that matters is what McDermott does going forward.

I think Chiefs management just isn't content with being a 11-12 win team, then exiting shortly from the playoffs. And good for them. They shouldn't be OK with that. So they aren't afraid to make the changes necessary to "potentially" get them over the edge. Most people have correctly identified Alex Smith as one of the key pieces holding them back. He's an OK quarterback, but probably not the guy who will win you a championship. That is the reason for the Pat Mahomes pick. It's possible the move backfires badly. But at this point I think they would rather be aggressive than sit on their hands and be stagnant with Smith. The front office changes are questionable, because Reid bombed his last time with more control. But the Chiefs seem to be confident that he learned and will be better the second time around.

So the team is worth roughly $100 million more than when Terry Pegula bought the team 2-3 years ago. Sure wish I could make a "bad investment" like that.

It's possible. But after being let down by this team over and over again, I think most fans are going to be skeptical until the Bills actually do something on the field. I keep seeing predictions that our defense gets back to 2014 form with the switch back to a 4-3 scheme. It's not going to be that easy. That defense had Mario Williams playing at a Pro Bowl level. This defense has a completely unproven Shaq Lawson. That defense had Stephon Gilmore and Nigel Bradham. This defense has two starters (Tre White and Reggie Ragland) that haven't played a snap in the NFL. Not to mention our safeties have been overhauled, Kyle Williams is aging quickly and it's fair to question Marcel Dareus' commitment since his big contract was signed. Some believe the offensive changes and simplified passing concepts will benefit Tyrod Taylor and the passing game. Maybe. But it's not like our passing schemes were really complicated to start with. And it's not like we made a big upgrade in weapons. Improvement in the passing game is up to Taylor's development... which seemed to stagnate last season. It's also fair to question whether offensive changes (new blocking scheme for example) takes our rushing attack down a notch.

Even with the posted article, some people just don't get it. The difference between a "good" team in the NFL and a "bad" team is not very high. So many things can change during the season, especially injuries. Just an example. Last year, Arizona was supposed to be one of the toughest teams on our schedule. They ended up with a losing record.

Still, he CHOSE to pursue an NFL career. So he should accept the salary limitations and health risks of an NFL career. One of the problems in today's American society is that most people spend too much time jealous and envious of people with more.

If Sammy wanted to get paid like an NBA player, he should have worked harder at basketball and become an NBA player. Honestly, I don't have a problem with athletes making the money they do. Good for them. But it does come across as selfish when a guy making almost $5 million per year acts jealous of how much other people are making. Watkins decided to join a sports league and play a position where the highest paid WR of all-time (Calvin Johnson) made roughly $18 million per year. And Watkins is nowhere close to Calvin Johnson level. He barely cracks the Top 20 in the current NFL, in my opinion. NFL rosters have over 50 players. NBA rosters have less than a dozen. It's pretty simple to understand why NFL guys don't make as much.