Luka

You aren't going to build a secondary that can hold up for 6 seconds in coverage. And I don't agree that he wants the other team to run the ball, some of our most memorable losses this regime have been against teams that have absolutely hammered us on the ground. Benford's ceiling is Taron's replacement. He does not posses the elite athletic traits to play CB1 and it showed in the playoffs. For as much flak as Elam was getting, people were clearing missing Benford constantly a step or two behind his man. Controlling the line of scrimmage isn't a fantasy, it's how you win football games at every single level. This team can not do that currently on defense. An elite edge rusher is the answer to this problem. Takes pressure off of Groot and Oliver. Add in an elite interior lineman in the 1st round and the defense would be a night and day difference from last season. Philly was merely yet another example of an excellent front 4 winning football games.

The Bills have been the #1 offense in the league since 2020. I repeat, the Bills have been the #1 offense in the LEAGUE since 2020. When you average 30 points a game and you're still losing games, I'll give you one guess what the issue is... Myles Garrett or Maxx Crosby is the only answer to this question. Another receiver solves nothing. We are at the point of diminishing returns on offense. We have the best player in the league on offense. But you can not guarantee he will have the ball last every time we are in a close game. The defense has to be able to win. That starts with pressure on the opposing QB. Pressure creates mistakes. Pressure reduces the amount of time in coverage. It can cover up what would otherwise be glaring issues in the back 7. The personnel issues going on on the defensive side of the ball currently are frankly embarrassing. No #1 corner, no edge rusher. Those are fundamental to any defensive scheme, McDermott needs to realize that.

Josh needs a Bruce.

Coleman is supposed to be that guy. Kincaid is supposed to be that guy. My point is, if we can acquire someone in a trade or sign a free agent (Godwin would be my choice currently) that would be fine, but we've spent quite a bit of draft capital on trying to find a weapon for Josh and part of me just wants to see what's going to happen on that side of the ball. Does Coleman mature in year two? Can Brady get Kincaid more involved in the gameplan? The defense doesn't even have the "what if" guys right now. We know what they are and they have not been good enough.

Because Kelly was the quarterback in 1988.

Any scheme can be successful with the right players. What we lack is that Josh Allen on defense. The guy that comes up big in big moments. You can argue what position that guy should play, but we do not have one at any level of this defense now. Before you had Poyer and Hyde roaming the secondary, Tre in his prime could shut down your #1 wide receiver and Milano, when he was healthy, may have been the best linebacker in football. When an undersized DL is your star player on that side of the ball, bad things are going to happen when playing the best teams in the league. This draft should be as much defense as possible. We need edge rushers, which hopefully one can be obtained via trade or free agency. We need to get much better along the interior of the line. A zone defense is only as effective as the front 4's ability to control the line of scrimmage. A common theme with McDermott is drafting undersized guys with work ethic. That needs to change. The mentality up front needs to be big, physical, nasty. We need a marquee edge player. We need an interior 1 tech with serious physicality to free up the other 3 lineman. The secondary needs a complete rework. Again, in a perfect world we sign/trade for a true #1 corner. I think we also draft a safety in hopes that we can replace Hamlin and hope that Bishop comes around in his 2nd year. You can never have too many corners and you draft another one this year as well. I know Benford has played well but I still believe his ceiling is Taron's replacement as Taron ages. He doesn't have the speed to be a true #1 corner. Josh Allen is the weapon on offense. Since 2020, the Bills offense is 1st in points, 3rd in yards and 1st in points per game. And that's with a dreadful stretch of play calling during the Dorsey experiment. Claiming that the offense can improve is a stretch at this point.

Cook is Thurman. He's the engine of this offense. He's a great receiver. An excellent all around player. Coaching staff should've recognized this at this point in the season.

If Josh has two arms and two legs, the Bills can win it. But in the teams current state, it would take a whole lot of luck. Even if we had beat the Chiefs, the Eagles would steam roll this defense. We have the QB, the question is can we build a team around him. Beane has been missing in the first round every year. Free agency has been lackluster. Combine that with a stubborn head coach who's claim to fame is defense and one that has underperformed against every good team its faced and its a mountain that Josh isn't going to climb himself.

Shanahan would take him in a heartbeat, he'd be close to family and friends in his home state, even closer to his future wife's job.

The drought doesn't end until the Bills win a Super Bowl. 35 years a fan and I'm starting to ponder how many die hard fans have passed on without ever seeing this team do anything but flounder in the biggest moments. Thankfully UFL and CFL are right around the corner. Go Argos!

Not sure what's up with the play calling but Kincaid was underutilized today as was Shakir. But player performance was great today as a group. I think we will be just fine this year on offense. The defense on the other hand...

Except in big games like in the playoffs, he plays damn near perfect. It's his coach and the rest of the team that I would call overrated at this point.

Looks like both are full.

I just find it irritating that we commit so many penalties. The simple game plan, losing, all of that is whatever. But the mental mistakes, lack of discipline is something that can definitely carry over into the regular season. Since 2018 the Bills have been 6th, 9th, 6th, 6th, 16th and 7th in penalties committed. That's a reflection of coaching in my opinion.

I think we need a matte blue helmet with Billy the Buffalo as the logo.

I think that out of all the skill position guys, Martinez has made an interesting case for himself. Certainly not starting caliber but as a backup, I think he could provide a team like the Bills or Ravens a suitable athletic QB who can still provide a threat to run or pass. Most surprising to me is coaches like Holtz and Nolan not getting the calls to move on to at least the collegiate level. Skip especially has proven he can run a program. You may argue its spring football but maintaining success at any level of football is not an easy thing to do.

Considering I am a Gators fan and haven't missed a game since 04, I'll stick with my assessment of Shorter. Pearsall had a big season with Mertz at QB last season but had 33 catches in 2022. Shorter started 9 games and had 4 less receptions. More often than not, he was making the big play when needed that season.

The disrespect to Shorter in this thread is something else. He was Richardson's go to target at Florida. Shakir-like in his ability to convert big 3rd downs. Big frame guy with 4.5 speed, not unlike Coleman. Shorter was the #1 receiver coming out of high school. His big question mark is can he stay healthy. Played through or missed time with injuries every season in college. Wouldn't count on him just being a throw away prospect. Coleman wasn't my preference at receiver but all reports say he was Josh's choice at receiver so nothing else really needs to be said about the pick. I'm sure most people have seen the graphic of his 40 time paired with all of his other drill times, in which he was at the top of the charts in most of them. Not everyone is a sprinter. I'd rather have the guy that's quick out of his break at the top of a route than a guy who's quick out of the blocks. It's also something to note, all the small fast guys in Buffalo haven't worked out. McKenzie was the most notable and he was a gadget guy. Coleman, Davis and Pran-Granger all have a physicality to their game and I think that was the underlying theme of this draft on offense. Get tougher. Get more physical. Your star QB can't be the only guy willing to hurdle or stiff arm a guy for a first down.

SDS is such a douche bag. I'd love to meet him in person and punch him in his stupid ***** face.

One of the reasons the NFLPA is pushing for all grass fields.

Completely false. He doesn't like to tackle. That's the issue. He graded out as one of the best cover corners in the league the final stretch of the season last year covering a couple of the biggest names in football. He doesn't play the run. He isn't physical enough to play in an undersized zone scheme where corners are frequently relied on to set the edge. So asking him to come downhill and fill gaps in the run game is out of the question.

Wide receiver in the first when Hyde will most likely be gone and the rest of the secondary is cheeks with the exception of Douglas?

Shakir is the answer. Been saying all season, why have we forgotten the quick slant and pop pass to the slot? Shakir is better with the ball in his hands than Beasley and a much better receiver than McKenzie.

If the whole team shows up. A complete game in all 3 facets, this team is a 13 win team.