GunnerBill

I agree with that. I think he is a guy you can throw to without him separating a ton and ask him to use his athleticism and body control to box a DB out and make a catch.

I've not seen a ton of the Buccs yet, but I like McMillan more than most I think around the draft. Will try and catch some of their game this week.

That was the sticking point last spring as I understand it. He wasn't in the market for a shorter, moderate pay day deal. You have to remember the first 4 or 5 years of his career he didn't make a lot of money. He got 3 years $21m from the Packers (the contract we inherited) but that is so far his only real pay day. He is looking to cash in as much as he can his last shot at making money before retirement.

York is awful. One of the worst kickers in the league. Carlson had a rough rookie ride with the Packers last year and was inconsistent at the end of his stint at Auburn after an ACL tear but he has a big leg and the genes in the family with his brother. I think he is an interesting break glass in case of emergency option potentially, but I wouldn't be desperate to cut Bass for him unless it really gets untenable. I think his foot did slip slightly as he landed (though maybe it always slides slightly and you are just not always looking for it) but he just missed his contact point on the ball and almost kicked it with the top of his instep like a soccer free kick technique where you are trying to make the ball move. It was a really funky technique breakdown and that is really concerning.

Belated Tuesday morning reflections (but on a Wednesday, yesterday was manic work wise): 1. It's time people just acknowledge that the Philadelphia defense is bad. Sean Desai carried the can for their woeful defensive performance in 2023 and they finally landed Vic Fangio who (while I think is legend is slightly overblown - in 24 years as an NFL DC and HC he has had a top 5 defense just FIVE times and four of them were with that extremely talented 49ers group which was more about talent than scheme IMO) is a proven defensive coordinator but it is STILL bad. I'm a big Howie Roseman fanboy but some of the decisions he has made in rebuilding this unit are questionable. Not least the Nolan Smith pick which was always a big reach to me. 2. When AJ Brown is missing the receiver group looks what it is - underwhelming. Smith had 76 yards and a touchdown and is a legit player, but Johnny Wilson isn't an NFL talent, the trade for Jahan Dotson was hoping a guy who has been disappointing in the league was suddenly going to "break out" - early returns are he won't, he is who he has shown us he is - and they ended up throwing six times for 23 yards to Britain Covey who is really on the roster as their punt returner. 3. Bijan Robinson is the best running back in the NFL right now and the Falcons need to continue to lean on him. Cousins looked better in week 2 than week 1 and Mooney, London, Pitts is a serviceable trio of pass catchers but Robinson is the star that can make this offense go. They need to ride him. 4. The Falcons defense is hard to work out. I think Raheem Morris can coach and they have some talent in the defensive backfield but I still worry about where the pass rush is coming from. Grady Jarrett is a stud and Matthew Judon can make some plays but beyond those guys I think it gets very thin very quickly and both of them are the wrong side of 30. The likely result of an offense that needs to run the ball to win and a defense that struggles to generate pressure on the passer is a team that is going to be in a ton of close games that go down to the end. I expect the Falcons to feature on RedZone's witching hour pretty regularly. 5. Nick Sirianni is toast. It's when, not if.

That counted. I think there were 6 pass plays called. 2 completions, 2 penalties, 1 scramble and a sack I think.

If Douglas wants a pay day? Yes they will. He is 30. If he is willing to do the sort of deal Hyde and Poyer were doing at that stage.... 2 years, moderate cash, spread over 3 years with a void year.... then sure I can see them bringing him back. But based on how last spring happened my guess is Douglas isn't looking for that. He is either looking for a long commitment or a proper pay day. Fair to say from the rumours out there that was one of the less straightforward conversations Beane had with agents last summer. If he has a better 2024 I don't see how that gets any easier?

I agree with this actually. Not sure it will survive... they have played two questionable Dlines... but through 2 weeks I have seen a LOT of bad offensive line play in the NFL - even from teams where it has traditionally been a strength: Cleveland, Baltimore; Dallas etc. The Bills have been one of the best 4 or 5 lines I have seen. And four of the Bills starters have been very good indeed. O'Cyrus Torrence is the one slight concern.

If the Bills planned to extend Douglas they'd have done it last summer. The fact that they left it a one year commitment and just moved money around for cap relief tells me they don't see him as part of the long term plan. Of course that could change but right here, right now, I say they let him walk.

Well against Miami Coleman had I believe 1 target and it was probably an uncatchable. But I watched every route back. I saw one route where I genuinly think he had separation. I agree the numbers should be taken with a pinch of salt but through two games I think the concerns about him seaparating are showing up on film. That isn't panic time. It doesn't mean he is worthless. But he is going to have to make plays when not necessarily open and the Bills are going to have to start thinking about trying to scheme him open and get him some free releases.

That is true, they are measuring different things. I'd be interested in how many of those "wins" they granted him vs the Dolphins. I think I saw one on tape. He did have a little more success against Arizona.

Honestly I find that difficult to believe. I have watched back every Bills offensive snap on the all22 and particularly at Miami I saw very little separation from Keon. I'd be interested to see how they are calculating "win rate". By Next Gen stats separation rate he is at 2.3. The only qualifying rookies worse than that are Harrison at 2 (which I can believe because he had a pretty wretched week 1) and Legette at 1.8. That feels more like what the eye test is telling me. (In average yards of separation by next gen) McMillan 3.8 Nabers 3.3 Worthy 3.3 Thomas 3.2 Mitchell 3 Odunze 2.7 McConkey 2.4 Coleman 2.3 Harrison 2 Legette 1.8

It's a big game for them, for sure. Other than Ronnie Stanley their oline has been gross through two weeks and their receiver room is a mess. They want to play Flowers wide because they have nobody else. But he is waaay more effective from the slot (no shock there) and it means teams are defending them narrow and cramping the middle of the field. It's kinda the worry I have had about the Bills offense but demonstrating itself in Baltimore. Right now I'd take the Bills receivers over the Ravens and that is a swap from where I was pre-season. Defensively I don't think they have played poorly and the Raiders got a tad fortunate at the weekend but still... they are 0-2 for a reason.

This but Love in tier 3. And I think Stroud can make tier 1. He just isn't there yet.

He has been the Bills best player not name Josh Allen through two weeks. He is playing at a really high level. This could be a true breakout year for him.

We had him as a pundit on the UK NFL coverage for a couple of years though.. brutal. His kid was DRAFTED by the Bills. Think it was Beane's first draft in 18.

He then jumps into him. That was the most questionable call IMO.

In general, sure. But when that approach leaves you relying on converting a 4th and 16 to not lose Im not sold its a great strategy. Reid never really tried anything yesterday to dictate to the defense. If theu were up 10 points all day, fine. But they weren't. It was poorly coached game that they got away with on offense.

The DB makes clear contact before the ball arrives. That is what I see even slowed down. It's DPI.

I see the Josh example but I raise you Jared Goff. He looked awful as a rookie behind a bad oline. The Ramd upgraded big style and he was a good Quarterback. But I think perfectly conceivable anothet year behind that line would have finished him. I still think there are guys who have been ruined by being hit too much their first couple of years. Josh wasn't. But there are not many Josh Allens. He almost relishes getting hit.

I agree, Richardson was nowhere near a top 10 talent IMO.

I said that elsewhere two weeks ago. That win over Green Bay in 2003 and arguably beating the Giants with Eli in 2008 are the only two of Reid's 10 playoff wins with the Eagles where he beat a better Quarterbacked team. It's just a fact that the AFC where the road generally went through Brady, Manning and Big Ben was the tougher road at that point. So when people say "he had playoff success with McNabb" which is true, he did, you have to put that success into context. He lost to Delhomme, Kerry Collins, Brad Johnson and when he faced Warner, Brees, Rodgers, Romo - the top NFC QBs of that eera - he was 0-5....

He is although he is still, at heart, a Shanahan offense guy and I've never been persuaded that offense is a natural fit for Josh. It's way too paint by numbers. I think Josh needs more of the freedom created by the E-P or spread branch of the WCO. But as I said the other day if Mike McDaniel ends up out of work and I needed an OC I'd consider him because of his creativity and maybe Kubiak is in that same bucket.

One more thing from yesterday - Klint Kubiak is going to be a Head Coach this time next year.

While largely I agree I do think you can "ruin" a young QB is they are getting hit a lot and early. Because QBs lowering their eyes to the rush is a real thing. And once a QB gets there they are in trouble and it takes a lot of rebuilding to ever bring them back. It happened to Darnold in New York. If the Bears are not careful it will happen to Caleb - although he can help himself by getting the damn ball out.