Rocky Landing

I wonder if after those public comments from Dawkins, Beane didn't approach him like, "bub, do me a favor..."?

God, I hope not!

Preseason games have various functions, and one of those functions is to evaluate how well potential backup players, or those who are lower on the depth chart, perform on special teams. And that is certainly an evidence-based evaluation.

I'm know you know this, but it's worth mentioning that punt returns are also important, and field position certainly matters. It's also worth mentioning that the games in which special teams will matter the most are against the toughest opponents we face. Maybe we don't need an A-game special teams unit against the Jets, but against the Ravens, Chiefs, Packers, Bengals, and into the playoffs? ST will be far more important than carrying everyone's favorite #7WR, or #4RB.

There is a certain fan-think mentality that really latches onto certain players. But really, how much sense does it make to hold onto fan-favorites who are buried in the depth chart-- a #7 WR, a #4, or #5 RB, a backup LB, or CB-- and sacrifice proven, core special teamers? Field position matters! A lot!!!

Dawkins on Ford after the game: “Cody had a hell of a day-- pancake after pancake after pancake, no pressures.” “Cody is a fighter. Last year, he was upset he wasn’t playing. This year, he’s taking it as a reality check and is handling it the right way." “I’m proud of him. It’s easy when things are going wrong in this league to shut it down and go into a dark place. He’s not there. He’s working.” But also this: "What we want to see is him respecting the challenge and not complaining about it. As long as he’s not pouting and keeping high spirits, as long as he puts his best work on film, he understands what needs to be done.” “(Kromer) doesn’t sugarcoat anything,” Dawkins said. “He’ll tell him exactly what he doesn’t want to hear. He’ll say, ‘This is ***** horrible,’ or, ‘You think that you’re doing it right, but you’re not.’ Cody’s heard that before, but now it’s from a different face. So now it’s not, ‘Oh, that’s Bobby being Bobby.’ Now you have two people saying it, so now you’re the one that’s wrong and not them.” But, I will also take Ford at his word, and believe that Ford's experience with Kromer is quite a bit different than it was with Johnson: “He’s doing a phenomenal job,” Ford said of Kromer. “I don’t know what that means, coming from me. But the way we’ve been coached and the techniques that we’ve learned is why I say there’s been so much improvement.” (All quotes from The Athletic)

I would add that it was good night for Cody Ford. There was some hopeful speculation in the offseason (some even tongue in cheek) that Aaron Kromer could resurrect Ford, and all of a sudden, that actually seems like a possibility. He had some nice play out there, albeit against a group of Walmart greeters. Other teammates were talking him up, as well.

An annual tradition!

I think Howard is one of several players that if another team found themselves in need of a certain position, might be a trade candidate. That is one of the purposes of preseason games.

Where's Tenuta?

I'm just curious if anyone else noticed this, and what to make of it?

Interesting debate on this thread regarding Mac Jones’ emotional makeup. I assume @Bill from NYC is a ‘bama fan? clearly Mac & Cheese exceeded expectations. But a few things have struck me regarding his maturity. I will go to my grave believing that the whole “QB competition” between Mac and Cam last year was a Belichick* ruse at Cam’s expense to build up Mac’s confidence. He was clearly crying at the end of the wild card beat down last season, as Josh Allen was giving him the standard “good game” handshake, to the point that it seemed like he was barely holding it together. I wouldn’t be bringing up that exchange at all (it was a big game, after all), except that I believe I saw the same tears, and expression yesterday, after his second three-and-out of crappy QB play vs. the Panthers. I brought this up in another thread. Did anyone else notice this? Second Patriots* offensive series in the first quarter, for those with GamsPass. I’d be interested if anyone else interprets this the way I did.

Thin, semi-attractive, and smart!

I actually adore Cynthia Frelund. Love her personality, and her statistical analysis is brilliant. I did very well last season in my weekly football pool using her Game Theory analysis. That being said, I understand exactly what you mean.

Maybe if the Bills swapped some positions around-- like maybe some of the RBs play O-line, and they could put Luke Tenuta in at WR. Maybe then they'd stop making plays?

Wonder if anyone knows: Would Cam Lewis be subject to waivers if they wanted to put him on the PS?

Broncos' third string D looks like a bunch of Walmart greeters.

I wonder if Matt Araiza's salty right now?

I guess if you're a Patriots* fan, "looked like warm dog poo" qualifies as "micro-analyzing."

Love Hodgins catch radius. He's won me over. Keenum having a much better game, thank goodness.

Go to GamePass and tell me what you see. Maybe he had sunscreen in his eyes-- that might help explain his utterly awkward incompletions. And btw-- that high-arcing, long hang-time lob to Agholor is exactly the kind of pass that earned Micah Hyde a highlight reel interception in the Pats* wildcard round beatdown. That was Jones' calling card in college, and it might fly against a Panthers' second string corner in single man coverage, but it's not going to go so well in the regular season. I hope we see more passes like that this season!

Diggs with the footwork.

So, I watched the Panthers at Pats* last night, and I'm pretty sure I saw this: Mac & Cheese played in three series-- all against the the Panthers' second string, I believe. In his first two series, they went three and out, and looked like warm dog poo. At the end of the second series, after throwing a truly terrible seven-yard incompletion, I do believe Jones walked back to the sideline crying. Literally wiping away tears. Did anyone else see this? I'm not even sure what to make of it.

I was there!!!

Says the guy named PetermansRedemption...