GunnerBill

This "not athletically gifted" thing.... where does it come from? It isn't true. Nor is it true that he got cooked on Sunday. There is a misconception with Benford that because he was drafted late he is Jackson or Wallace or Hamlin. He isn't. He is much closer to Kaiir Elam athletically only with the smarts to play the position. He went 6th round because he played at Vilanova. If he'd played at Pitt or Alabama like Jackson or Wallace he would have been a day two pick, no doubt. He has been a top 10 outside corner in the NFL so far this year. I'm not saying you must pay him, but if you don't definitely trade him because he is worth more than the single 3rd round pick you'd get back as a comp pick.

Yep. Targeted 3 times (all vs AD Mitchell) 3 receptions for 31 yards but only 2 yards after catch so it was basically yards given up by scheme rather than by Benford being beat. He definitely wasn't cooked.

Third actually. Fox drafted Trubisky, fired a year later. Nagy drafted Fields, fired a year later. Now Eberflus and Williams. Totally dysfunctional organisation.

Douglas wants to test his market. He will only be back if the Bills put the most $$s on the table.

That isn't true. Ed was terrific last year even after Jones went down, But he hasn't played anywhere near well enough on a consistent basis this season. I thought he might be rounding into form post injury with a decent day against Tennessee then an excellent game in Seattle but the two following games he has disappeared again.

I'd rather chop it off.

I mean they are kind of terrible in every way at linebacker.... but yea more terribly terrible in coverage.

The Dolphins linebackers are really bad, so makes some sense. But they are particularly awful in coverage and I don't know how much Dodson helps there.

If there was a deal to be done I think it would have been done last summer. He wants to maximise his $$s. This contract he is playing on (which was moderate not massive) is is only real payday as a pro. So he is after the biggest number he can get. That comes out at $18.4m AAV. Spotrac has him at $22.7m AAV. I think that is the range and suspect it falls somewhere between the two. AJ Terrell territory - $20.25m is roughly where I think he lands.

I like your wife. It'd be nice if he had a personality..... That's offensive to clowns. He is much worse.

Yes

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.