GunnerBill

Which streets are you on?

Strongly disagree on both counts.

Yes he had a bad game decision making vs Seattle (although one of the 3 plays from the Seattle game in that clip was Davis not him). In the other games his decision making has been pretty good. The catch at the 7 against Baltimore was the right decision IMO with Ravens right there. I don't think that bounces into the endzone if he leaves it, it gets downed inside the 5. It was a great punt. The runout on Sunday where he fumbled was also the right call. Can't fumble there but the Bills had that set up there was potential for a big return on that side if he held onto the ball and made a guy miss. So yes, can't fumble the ball. Yes, bad game v Seattle. Otherwise he has been good.

The Bills want teams to run on them in that they are never going to prioritise scheming to stop it. They don't want to be terrible playing the run, that's the difference. They want the front 7 to be able to keep the run game in check. I don't think games like this past Sunday at Indy bother McDermott that much where they give up one big run but otherwise hold Taylor to 2 yards per carry. The Fins game where every run feels like it is 5 or 6 yards that bothers him more because this defense is about putting you in disadvantageous third downs situations and when they can't do that their playbook on that side shrinks significantly.

What's worse is Sal actually does know football. This isn't Joe B who frankly wouldn't spot an X or an O if they punched him in the mouth, Sal actually understands the game much better than the guys he is on with. I don't listen to his own show though because the homerism is off the scale. I don't mind him so much on the breakfast and afternoon shows because I think Jeremy and Mike especially actually debate him pretty well. But even then there are ridiculous narratives like the classic "wide receivers don't matter, pass catchers do" from last summer that he just trots out relentlessly.

Oooo I gotta hear this. When was it?

He has done it some, because the Bills rotate safeties and because we have played a ton of two deep. But he hasn't played a lot of true centre field in cover 1/cover 3.

I do think this season is different to the last three. He has been excellent for the last 3 years even if the numbers don't always jump off a page. The underlying analytics were excellent. But they support the eye test this year, he isn't winning his matchups, he isn't moving QBs off their spot and he isn't making impact plays at the line. The rest of your statement I agree with. His two worst seasons are 2020 (Star opted out) and this season (Jones is washed). I don't think that is a coincidence.

This has been his worst season since his sophomore year in 2020. Yes he had an injury that kept him out but the Seattle game apart (where he was excellent) he has been a no show this season. I'm the biggest Ed Oliver fan going and he has been a terrific player for the Bills the past three seasons even if the sack numbers only came last year, but he has not been good in 2024. The fact that Jones's form alongside him has fallen off a cliff might be a factor, but Ed just has to play better.

The same. That would be my change up rather than go 3 linebackers. I'd use Dorian Williams on the edge as they did Tremaine that night and play a Bear front. Otherwise I'd just play my defense, try and execute my fundamentals better and stay patient. Everyone's attention is on the Henry run but it should equally be on the subsequent two drives when the Bills took Cam Lewis (subbing for the injured Johnson) out and brought Morrow in to play traditional 43 base and the Ravens destroyed us by getting Justice Hill matched up on Nicholas Morrow and throwing little catch and run patterns to him. That was a mistake by Babich, and I doubt he repeats it. Especially if the guy he would be faced with subbing out to do that is Taron Johnson.

If it ends up Cole and Rapp I do wonder who plays centre field in single high looks. That wasn't Cole's game at all at Utah abd while Rapp has done it some in LA he was much better playing closer to the line as a strong safety.

So you are now moving your best player from where he plays best to put Dodson on the field? If I was an OC and you do that I am licking my lips. Im telling my QB all week "you see Dodson out there and Johnson off the field or playing as a safety? Just audible to a pass play and get a matchup you like on Dodson then throw there."

No I don't think Frazier is as good as Spags. But I don't think Spags is close to Dick LeBeau and if he isn't in then Spags isn't in IMO.

But then you are taking your best defender off the field. Just not sure that's ever good strategy.

They don't have a top 10 RB. But yea Wilson, Williams, Gardner are top guys at their positions (although Sauce hasn't had that kinda season).

Hmm is there a single coordinator in the HoF? I'm sure this came up with Dick LeBeau when he retired (if ever a guy was HoF worthy for his work as a DC it's him) and the answer was no.

It was a good play call IF the protection held, but it didn't. Von got there in time disrupted the throw and Johnson picked it off. So I don't think it was just luck. The Colts had a play called that required them to execute and the Bills executed better.

Groot is vital to our run defense. It is an additional concern with Smoot out because I don't really trust any of our other DEs in that spot.

We have been to a Conference Championship game though. Only the Browns, the Commanders and the Dolphins have longer conference championship game droughts than Dallas. There are teams like the Bills and the Lions and the Jags etc who have been dysfunctional for long parts of the last quarter decade but have had periods of being good (some shorter than others) and in their best seasons have made Championship games. Dallas has actually made the playoffs 11 times in 25 years. 7 times they were one and done, 4 times they won a wildcard game and lost in the divisional round. For comparison of those other conference championship drought teams - the Browns have made the post season 3 times in 25 years, the Commanders 6 times in 25 years and the Dolphins 7 times in 25 years.

He knows the defense. This scheme asks a lot of its safeties mentally. Hamlin makes few mental mistakes. I'm on record as saying I think he is a borderline NFL talent physically and I stick by that but he is smart and he knows his job and the idea that you just throw someone out there who doesn't because they are more physically talented is the epitome of fan logic over reality.

He had a poor game in Seattle with decision making otherwise I think his decisions have been pretty solid. I saw him getting some flack in the GDT and I don't get it. Sure he got lucky with a fumble, can't have those, but generally I think he has been decent. We are 2nd in the entire NFL in average drive start at our own 32.6 (Denver first at 32.7) and that doesn't come with a returner who is constantly making bad decisions.

I don't think any of those guys are elite difference makers. Good players, certainly. But they are a level or two in each case below that top level. We have two elite level players. Allen and Johnson.

That is a good point actually. Currently he is cancellong the Samuel signing in the comp formula. I think week 11 is the cutoff for that so it could affect us comp pick wise.

Agree with this. I think they likely think down the line he can be an interchangeable piece - Po could play single high (and indeed 2017 and 2018 he did more of that than Hyde, it was 2019 where they really took off with Micah playing single high and Po coming into the box) - but he was an all pro playing closer to the line and I think that is sort of what they'd hope for Cole. But given he missed almost the entire camp and what we saw at Houston I imagine they are very conscious not to overload him at this stage.

I think post trade deadline everyone does. That certainly was the rule for a while. I'm happy to be told I'm wrong if they have changed it.