Rocky Landing

Madden was great, and there’s always been something comforting about Al Michael’s play by play. Love his voice. I also really enjoy Tony Roma’s color commentary. I feel like I’m learning something when he’s there. Howard Cosell was a classic. At 57, I’m a little young to have a strong opinion on him, but I did know that my father hated him like nails on a chalk board, so that tainted my opinion a bit.

Completely agree with this. However... i kinda feel like we are in a very similar situation to last year, when there was basically one significant hole to fill (last year it was DE), and beyond that we were basically drafting for backup positions. Last year, six out of eight made the 53 (which is a pretty good record, frankly), and the remaining two were poached off the Practice Squad. And compared to last season, we actually may have fewer backup positional needs to fill. If we finish the draft with only having six, or even five draft picks? Trading up (and losing some future dead cap/weight in the process), could not only mean the right number of draft picks, but the elite player we acquire (whomever Beane thinks that may be) might just be a big piece of the future we want to build.

There was a great play in the Bills thrashing of the Patriots* in the Divisional round where the ball was immediately handed off to Motor who breaks off to the right, and Morse, also breaking to the right, runs in front of him like a full back. That dude can run, and he's only 29. I strongly suspect that with the addition of Kromer, and Saffold, the run game is going to be vastly improved from where it began at the beginning of last season, and I believe Mitch Morse will be a big part of that. IMO. Morse will retire a Bill.

How many have you met?

If there was a line for Consistent, Milano would be my choice.

With the exception of Davis, these are all pretty bold takes.

Country Sweet Chicken & Ribs Who's with me?

Ascending: Isaiah McKenzie: I believe he has earned the trust of Allen, and with Dorsey as the New OC, he will get more opportunities than he did last season. Groot Rousseau: We saw flashes of elite play early in the season, and then his production seemed to fall off into what some pundits referred to as a "sophomore slump." With another full training camp, and Von Millar in the house, he will develop into an OC's worst nightmare. Descending: Dane Jackson: With the departure of Levi Wallace (due to black and gold shorts...!), it's easy to assume that Beane, and McD have lots of faith in Dane. But, I suspect that there's a plan A, and probably a plan B that don't include Dane as the solid #2 that many assume he will be. I also am of the mind that Tre White will be active week one. Ike Boettger: I assume he will remain on the team as depth, but I don't believe we will see him as a starter again in '22. Shocking: OJ Howard: I don't think he will surpass Knox. But, I think his athleticism makes him a perfect fit in Buffalo's offense, and we will see some really exciting plays from him. Von Miller: He just will. Packing: Zack Moss: In '20, he was the best running back in pass protection in the league. But, he was underutilized in '21. I have to believe that there are teams out there that would see value in him, and Beane could use him in a trade. Matt Haack: Just get rid of him already!

Not even sure where this belongs. I don't want to grace it by giving it its own thread. Cam's a free agent, so I'll just leave this here. It's pretty ugly:

Remember this time last year when there was a big, hypothetical debate on whether we would be down for a trade between Allen and Mahomes? Someone should find and bump that thread.

This study seems somewhat anecdotal to me. There are too many variables from one player to the next to really apply this study to Tre White’s situation. That being said, from the “evidence” I have read regarding Tre’s injury, I would bet a month of my avatar that Tre will be active week one of the regular season.

Does anyone know the justification for some teams, including the Dolphins, starting two weeks before us?

Yes. The worst part of an ACL tear (assuming there aren't other related injuries that have gone along with it-- MCL, meniscus, etc.) is the rehab. For several months, training, and conditioning become much harder, and some people might lose strength. But, reports have suggested that Tre's ACL was a clean tear. If he stays on top of his rehab, and takes advantage of what I assume are state-of-the-art rehab facilities at the Bills' Sports Performance Center, there is no reason he shouldn't return to full form.

The average length of a cornerbacks career in the NFL is only 2.9 years, so I suppose Tre White is on on borrowed time in the first place? https://www.statista.com/statistics/240102/average-player-career-length-in-the-national-football-league/

Love that picture. But, also we seem to be at the stage of the offseason where Bills fans just be looking for old threads to bump.

Never drink, and drive, and speed, I always say.

I would guess that most of these are DUI/DWI.

Crowder, Howard, and Saffold are all offensive upgrades. Re-signing Bates, and McKenzie helps Allen. Plus, Bates, Brown, Davis will continue to develop. The run game will continue to develop under Kromer. That helps Allen also. I would be pretty shocked at a trade up for a linebacker, no doubt. But if Beane, and McD see, and have met with someone that they thinks makes a significant impact on defense, I'm not going to complain about it. We are once again drafting predominantly for backup positions. Josh Allen scored 15 points in the last two minutes of regulation against the Chiefs. The Bills were ahead when he left the field. It wasn't the offense that lost that game.

If anyone needs an illustration of what the OP is talking about, go to a Pats* fan forum.

...without a flag.

Boettger at LG? I’ll be surprised if he starts the season. He’s rehabbing an Achilles tear.

I would assume the rumor is coming from other teams that don't keep such a tight lid on things?

Christian Wade, Efe Obada, Duke Williams-- I'm a sucker for these "feel good" stories. I root for them, follow them on social media, talk about them around the craft service table, hoping... but they never seem to work out. So, who's the underdog story going to be this season? (Please don't tell me Isaiah Hodgins. I'm bored already...)

IMO-- Yes, and no. I doubt the Ravens have the buyer's remorse you're suggesting here (I mean, the guy was 2019 MVP for Chrissakes!), and it is by no means out of the question that Jackson can develop into a much more effective packet-passer. In fact, some of his numbers from last season (cut short by injury, of course) would suggest that sort of improvement. But, I think you're definitely spot on on suggesting that the Raven's FO would be wary of the sort of deal that he probably hopes he's going to get. If I were Ravens brass, I would definitely want to see much more improvement in term of being a pocket passer, as well as improvement in self-preservation with his running acumen. He ain't no Josh Allen! (Full disclosure-- I am what most would call a "Bills Homer") There used to be this pundit-driven narrative that the way to shut down Allen was too "keep him in the pocket." There may be some lazy pundits still peddling that nonsense, but suffice to say that in '20, and beyond, Josh put that notion to rest. Leave him time in the pocket, and he will slice you to ribbons. But, Jackson (who I think you have to admit, is a better runner) certainly has yet to prove that. So, all of that being said, I would imagine that any contract that he and his Mom would find acceptable would have to be some sort of long-term agreement. And that puts them all at a bit of a conundrum, doesn't it? The timing couldn't be worse! There's no question in my mind that the guy is hella talented. But, there's also no question that he's an inherent risk. Poor guy was born about 20 years too late!

I loved him too. I remember a play (I don't remember the opponent) where Fitz completed to a receiver ahead of TO, and TO sprinted ahead of him to lay a perfect block to get him another ten, or so yards. And that was at age what, 36? Great player, and I was thrilled to shake his hand.