Rocky Landing

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.

Let me quote McDermott here: "... he's certainly grown during his time out." This contradicts some of the sentiments expressed on this thread that Allen won't develop unless he is on the field. My concern is that he gets brought along too quickly on the field with a team with WRs that he can't trust to make plays, and an O-line that can't adequately protect him. It would be a shame to see him learning to scramble too quickly, not trust the pocket, not acquire pocket presence, not be willing to sling the ball, when the situation called for it, or turn into another Captain Checkdown.

Well, my son is eight years old, and I never lie to him. Ever. I always figure that I'm not raising children-- I'm raising the adults they will become. But, he watches the games with me. He knows the deal, more or less...

Let me think about that... No.

In my opinion, building a winning culture happens by winning games, and if that means bringing along Allen more slowly, then I believe that will be better for his development in the long run. In other words, bringing up a QB in a winning team is better for that QB's development than bringing them up in a losing team. That's just my opinion. I also enjoy my Sundays better when I'm watching the Bills win, rather than lose. Again, just my opinion. I wish I could believe that Allen is a better QB, right now. I do believe he has more potential in the long run, and I don't agree with the notion that he has to be developed as quickly as possible. Personally, just from what I've seen this season, it looks to me like Barkley is a better, more developed QB who is working very well with our receivers. If I'm wrong, I also believe it would be much easier to bench Barkley than it would Allen. I think the coaches know this, as well, which is why I think they're more interested in playing Allan than winning vs. the Jags. And, I don't agree with that decision, either for building a winning culture, or developing Allen.