GunnerBill

I'm not sure I buy the loss is "on the offense" but for all of everything that happened in the game to that point you are absolutely right that at the 2:00 warning the Bills were right where they would have wanted to be. In FG territory already, with control of the ball and the clock and the game in Josh Allen's hands. They just couldn't execute on those two plays coming out of the 2 minute warning. On 2nd down if any one of the three things happens: 1. Dion holds his block another split second; 2. Shakir clears coverage slightly quicker (he just gets held up long enough); or 3. Josh is just able to manoeuvre another 6 inches of space in the pocket to get his throw away...... then the Bills score. The defense played a poor game, undermanned and our executed. But the offense had the chance to make that all moot at the end and failed to execute themselves.

Think the tiers are broadly right but the old meh guys are better at this stage than Wilson who is a replacement level starter now. And if either Stroud or Love back it up next season they are jumping that middle group into the Herbert territory.

Excellent piece Shaw. Stands out on this board at the moment. Kudos.

They are every thread on the sodding board. Instead of adding thoughts to the 15 already open bitching about coaching each person has to create their own to pour their own hearts out.

Yea they were loaded. That is beyond dispute. He still did a very good job in San Francisco, but hat roster he inherited already had: Frank Gore and Joe Staley in their prime (both of whom will get HoF consideration at some point) plus Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, Mike Iupati and Delanie Walker. Then on defense he inherited Justin Smith, Patrick Willis, Ahmad Brooks and NaVorro Bowman. Those guys were all there the day he walked through the door. And while Alex Smith at that point was considered a bust, and Harbaugh deserves credit for reviving him, he was still a former 1st overall pick.

Oh FFS..... make it stop. The same thread 1 million different ways so everyone can express their emotions. Go to counselling.

I never said he wouldn't go there. I said I thought it was a bad spot for him. I still do.

The free agent I can see them targeting is Kamren Curl of the Commanders. Former 7th rounder out of Arkansas, has played in a similar defense in Washington, is a genuine multi-functional safety who has played in the box and deep centre field which allows them to carry on doing a lot of the disguise they have done with Hyde and Poyer. Spotrac has him at $15.8m AAV. If he genuinely gets that much he is probably out of our price range, but I think it is a tad high. I can see him in that $12m range. Draft a guy in the 3rd or 4th, let Curl and Poyer play, bring that guy along so he steps in for 2025.

If he won't re-negotiate we don't have a choice. But we do have leverage for a re-negotiation. He has no new money left on his contract. If he still wants to play surely his best chance of getting back to something like his best is on a team, with a staff and a scheme he knows? So there is I would think a pretty obvious re-negotiation route there. He is a very real candidate for a pay cut.

I think "high-motor lunch-pailer" is an unfair description of Cooper Dejean. He was state 100m champion in high school he is freakish athletically. I am NOT advocating the Bills drafting him in round 1 though. I think he will be a good NFL defensive back and I actually think he can play corner - as long as it is in a zone heavy scheme - but if the Bills draft him in round 1 to play corner they are chasing their own tails for the Elam miss and if they draft him in round 1 to play safety then the positional value is horrible. I want a first round wide receiver. I have wanted one for three years now. The only non-receiver pick I could see a logical defence of is a dynamic pass rusher. But late first doesn't exactly feel like the spot for that in this draft anyway.

Agree. Two years ago when some of us wanted WR early in the draft that guy could be a #2 compliment to Diggs. Last year when some of us wanted WR early we needed a guy who could both compliment and eventually succeed. This year the ask is for a guy who hopefully by the end of his rookie year is our best offensive weapon. That does change the type we are looking for. For example the two Texas guys would (in different ways) have fitted 2 years ago. Now? They are not the answer IMO.

Oh good. We needed another thread bitching about coaching.

Lost his job with the Rams through injury. With the Giants was benched with a winning record to go with Eli.

I don't think the defense played well. That was not my argument. I think it was mainly Kansas City taking advantage of where we were down to backups.

Let's see how long it lasts. I give it 3 years.

Need a WR in the first two rounds. Ideally jn round one. My preferred plan is: Rd 1 - most explosive WR available Rd 2 - best DL (edge or tackle) available Rd 3 - safety Rs 4 - either OT or C with development upside Rd 5 (two picks) - another WR (gadgety fast guy) and a DB Rd 6 (three picks) - depth on both lines and a developmental Quarterback Rd 7 - kicker

I don't actually think he did that great of a job this year.

Doesn't have the explosion for me. Very good hands though.

2020. So four seasons of the new format. Bills have been the #2 seed three out of those four years - 2020, 2022, 2023.

In which facets did he outcoach him? To my eye Mahomes took two deeper shots to MVS (who I am not a massive fan of) and he came up with tricky but makeable catches. Josh put three deep balls in at least as good a spot for Diggs and Sherfield x2 and they didn't come down with the ball. That and the kicking reliability was the difference in the football game much more than any coaching advantage IMO.

There was. His footwork was an abomination in college. The year he sat was very good for him. People forget that first training camp he was with the 3s for the most part. KC played it perfectly with him in their slow play approach.

You are missed @thebandit27. Of all the old faces lost to this forum yours was the one that took with it most value. Appreciate you feel better without it, so that's fair enough. But don't feel you always need be a stranger.

You might think that. No way of knowing.

When it comes down to strength of victory I will grant you that feels harsh. But how often does that happen? Extremely rarely. If it is on conference record, yea I think that is a legitimate reason for the advantage. Divisions should matter and the conference should matter.

I know Beane wasn't here. That was why McDermott didn't want to pick a QB. He wanted to get his guy in the GM's chair to make that pick. In the long run it was certainly a mistake. But a mistake made for the right reasons.