Rocky Landing

The AFC East is one retirement away from busting wide open. If Brady retires at the end of this season (a distinct possibility) then the seemingly endless cycle of just praying for a wildcard is over. If it happens next season (and if Brady retires, could Bellichick maybe follow him out the door?), then both Miami, and New York are going into the season with new HCs, and the Bills could find themselves on top of the division. Then, this becomes a very different discussion.

O-line does seem to me to be one of the positions that players often get better beyond their first few years. I think Mills is an example of this. So was Ritchie Incognito, for that matter. I don't think we should lose Miller, for that reason. I think Teller could end up being great. Really, I think this should be a discussion of who our starters are, not necessarily who we simply cut. We need more than five quality O-linemen. That being said, Ducasse is a nine year vet that isn't going to get any better, and IMO is a weak link. Cut him. I wouldn't miss him. Didn't love Bodine, either. Cut him. I know a lot of people were highly critical of Groy when he came in for Bodine in the first Miami game, but he also got better by the end of the season IMO. And, his versatility is what has kept him on the team. I think he should remain, but certainly not as a starter. Dion Dawkins has been an above average LT, but he he did have his issues this season. But, he was listed at guard in the draft. Is it out of the question to move him inside? Could Dawkins/Teller develop into a good guard combo? In my opinion, the best O-lines are the ones that play well as a unit, and I hope this is why Castillo is gone. O-line coach is such an important role. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the offseason.

My thought going into the draft was that Darnold, or Mayfield would be the only two QBs worth trading up for, and if they were unattainable (which, of course, they were), then we should not have traded up and gone for Lamar Jackson. I would have been happy with Allen at that spot, also, but didn't think he would be there, and was wary of his perceived downsides. And I very much didn't want Rosen. Attitude plays big with me, and I don't like his. Looking at it now, I'm a huge Allen fan, period. I'd be a fan of whomever we got. But, as a football fan, I really like being able to root for guys I respect as human beings, and Allen is a guy I can get behind. Great attitude, great leadership. I also like QBs who can be exciting to watch, and man, Allen fits that bill. These are the reasons I liked Tyrod when he was here, but of course, he had nowhere near the ceiling that Allen has. Allen could be the best QB to come out of that draft. I will say that the one thing that did bother me after the draft was the interminable QB competition to see who could be the most consistently mediocre to start vs. the Ravens. What a waste of time that was!

He could be dangerous if they've balanced his meds. A different kind of dangerous if they haven't.

I thought this was the second decade of a rebuild?

I agree with the sentiment. I would not be disappointed if we drafted high for other positions of need if that’s BOPA, but I hope we don’t go too high on defense. As this season wraps up, I think the highest priority has to be providing Allen with all the tools he needs to be successful. I’ve never been a fan of drafting based on need, but this coming offseason is different. We’ve established that Allen is the prospective future. We have to go forward in that regard.

Gray's doing a good job.

I really don't get this. Do you scan the discussion threads looking for an opportunity for a snarky insult? It's a relevant discussion because they're playing each other on Sunday. It's a relevant discussion because they're playing in the same division. It's a relevant discussion because Darnold was rated so much higher during the draft. It's a relevant discussion because so many Bills fans would have preferred Darnold 13 weeks ago. But, if you don't like the discussion, why participate? Just to piss in someone else's punch bowl?

Josh Allen has a much nicer face.

For real.

Man, Zay looks like an NFL WR.

I wonder if Kiko has the discipline for that job?

This is a pretty bad. However, it is no where near the level of Ray Rice. Hunt pushed someone into her, and they both went to the ground. Then, he kicked her over, but not with full force. Ray Rice knocked his fiancé out cold with a closed fist, full force, right to the head. He should definitely be suspended, and I'm sure he will. But, the comparisons to Rice are spurious.

Perhaps the more relevant question would be: Can the Bill's receiving corp devolve into Robert Foster being the #1 receiver?

To be fair, he had one fumble on the KR that bounced back to him. The other one that was overturned was a terrible call by the ref. He was WELL down when the ball came out.

He looks like the best kick returner we’ve had in a while, no?

They keep showing the Vontae Davis commercial. Total slap in the face of every Bills fan watching. F*** you, Fanduel.

Thumbs up on that.

Way to misrepresent people's position.

A little behind him (as was Says incompletion), but I love how fast the ball is getting out.

Really well designed plays. (Don't believe I've ever seen a point-after delay of game.)

I wonder where they would have placed Barkley?

Not learn bad habits behind a terrible O-line that can't offer adequate protection, and wide receivers that can't get separation, or make plays.

A) This misrepresents my position. What I have said is that it is easier to bench Barkley than it is Allen. (Do you disagree with this?) We don't have to worry about Barkley's development. I have also said that Barkley, at the moment, gives us the best chance of winning. And, I see no reason to assume Barkley is going to suck. That assumption reads like a mere justification for your position. If Allen gave us a better chance of winning, that might be an indication that he is ready to take the field. B) Again, I don't agree with the notion that you don't learn from the bench, and that would include learning opposing defenses. Be that as it may, I'd love to know why they are something Allen "absolutely needs to learn quickly." I also will continue to maintain that developing behind a really crappy O-line (which is what we have), and piss-poor WRs (which we also have) is a really good way of learning bad habits. C) Lots of people on this site have said that winning doesn't matter this season. Lots of them. The reasoning is that it is more important for Allen to start in a losing effort than for Barkley to start even if that gives us a better chance to win. How am I moving the goal posts? And, yes I want to watch the Bills win every Sunday. But, I don't believe that is a fool's mission, even if we don't make the playoffs. In fact, even if we are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, because I believe that is part of building a winning culture. And here is my point about when Allen should start: He should start when he gives us a better chance to win. That's how you foster a winning culture. D) Giving up on the regular season before it is over-- before we are even eliminated from the playoffs-- is the defeatist attitude of a losing culture. This culture that has defined the Bills for far too long. *Yes, in the end, I am hoping for a better Sunday. Why would I deny that? Don't we all??? But, equating starting Barkley with not having a plan is a bit obnoxious. I want Barkley to start vs. the Jags, I want our O-line to continue to develop, and I want our WRs to continue to develop. If Barkley continues to play well, I want him to start the rest of the season, as Allen learns from the sideline (the plan when we drafted him). Then, next season, with a decent O-line, and receiving corps, and a better developed, and confident Josh Allen, he can move through TC and preseason without some goofy "QB competition," and start game one. Sounds like a plan to me. Just my opinion, bet we can disagree.

Such is the condition of a Bills fan. Basically, the elements of starting Allen asap that I disagree with are: A) Getting as many reps as possible in a deeply flawed team can't damage an exceptionally raw QB. B) There is no efficacy in learning from the sideline. C) Allen should be on the field before he is ready. D) Not getting Allen reps in this deeply flawed offense will damage next season. E) Winning doesn't matter.