GunnerBill

No, the Patriots are. But the Bills are a defense that works best back to front, I agree with that. Maybe they will suddenly start drafting loads of day 1 and day 2 DBs.... but to make that a criticism of this regime when that is not what they have done isn't fair.

There is an argument at least that at his best Donovan Smith was a better pass blocker than Orlando Brown (though a clearly inferior run blocker) and that ultimately passing is what it's about in KC. But Donovan Smith hasn't played at that level in a couple of years. As for Taylor, I NEVER bought that they signed him to play LT. They signed him to upgrade RT, hoped to draft a LT early and when that didn't happen they turned to Smith as a dust settled FA.

They have two high picks on their current team - Trent McDuffie (1st round) and Bryan Cook (2nd round). They also spent a 2nd on Juan Thornhill in the relevant time period. During which time other than Kaiir Elam the Bills haven't spent higher than a 4th on a DB. If you include money invested there, I agree. Of their 5 anticipated starters in 2023 only Justin Reid isn't on a rookie deal. The Bills have paid 4 of their guys. But @BillfromNYC goes on and on about the Bills using high draft picks on DBs. Even if you include Tre White in 2017 the Bills have used fewer day 1 and 2 picks on DBs under this regime than almost any team in football during the same period. There is plenty of legitimate criticism that can be made about their draft strategy. Over valuing defensive backs isn't one of them. EDIT: Indeed I have run the numbers.... every team in the top 10 W-L% since 2017 and every team that has played in a Superbowl. Only one other team has spent 2 or fewer day 1/2 picks on DBs since 2017..... the Rams (who always trade away their picks and have made two big trades for CBs in that time in Ramsey and Peters). Okay our first round outlay is higher than some but our overall draft investment in DBs over the last 7 years is pretty much bottom of the NFL in terms of day 1 and 2 picks.

Orlando Brown was a dominant right tackle. He was an average left tackle (and is better than most Chiefs fans think... but hey, proves that every fanbase has whipping boys). Why would you presume an average right tackle is going to be a better than average left tackle?

And you think that is a sign they got better? Signing a league average RT and asking him to play LT? If Jawaan Taylor starts at LT he is a significant downgrade. If he starts at RT he is an upgrade on Andrew Wylie, but then that means Donovan Smith is starting at LT and he also is a downgrade. They have questions at receiver as well. Will Skyy Moore step up? Can Kadarius Toney be a down in and down out starter? On the flip side they have the best defensive back 7 that they have had in Andy Reid's time there. Bolton, Gay and Tranquil at linebacker, with McDuffie, Snead and Watson at corner and Reid and Cook at safety... I think they could have a top 10 defense this year so long as they can muster a pass rush.

I'm optimistic. We still have a good roster. We conceivably may not have as many true difference makers as the teams we are competing against, but we are deep is most areas and the team showed last year that we can survive even when losing key men to injury. I also think too much is being read into the Bengals game. The Bills played a dreadful game all around. It was their worst performance of the season. Otherwise they lost 3 games by a combined 8 points. They laid an egg on a big stage, but that is being seen as a referendum on where they are as a team more than it should be. Oh and we still have Josh Allen. If Josh stays healthy we win the AFCE and it will come down to needing to peak at the right time and get a bounce or two in our favour in the playoffs.

This is closer to where I am. I still expect the Bills to win 12 or 13 games in the regular season, though I get it's a tough schedule. I think they'll win the East. I'm not sure I think they'll win the Superbowl but I do think we might see some of our younger players break out this year so that we are not looking at the roster and saying "hmm the risk here is our best players start ageing out".

Since the Bills drafted Josh they have spent 1 first rounder on a DB and 0 day two picks. Since the Chiefs drafted Patrick they have spent 1 first rounder on a DB and 2 day two picks. So run it past me again, which team has over prioritised DBs?

Nah that is about where he was expected to go.

It's another solid vet depth move. Imagine he, Quess and Doyle are fighting for 2 jobs. And he was a day 3 guy not a round 3 guy.

See I disagree with that. Saffold was clearly cooked. I said as much at the time. I hated that move. There is a risk to a rookie (Torrence), a guard with one good year who might still be ascending or might be a one year wonder (McGovern) and a proven good starter who is hurt a lot (Edwards). But they are not moves akin to Saffold and extending Bates. I was one of the biggest critics of their IOL moves last offseason. Comes down to I just think the guys they have brought in this year are better players. I am cautiously optimistic. He was in pass pro. But his run blocking was an asset in 2021. He didn't even do that well last year.

The problems were mainly on the interior. We had the worst guard play in the NFL. Obviously the guys we have brought in have to work but they can't be worse that Saffold. There is still a bit of a question at right tackle but we will see.

And Isaiah had beaten out Crowder prior to Crowder getting hurt. There is a little bit of re-writing of history that "ah well Crowder was their guy but he got hurt." He hadn't played more than half the snaps in any of the games for which he was healthy. Maybe eventually he would have ended up the starter. But he was not just injury prone, he was a diminished player having suffered so many injuries and came out of camp their backup slot.

He can't. Beane does not have the power to fire Sean. Sean does not report to Brandon by the heirarchy. They both report direct to Pegula. But McDermott weilds the power to the extent either does.

I wouldn't hire Jim Harbaugh if it was a choice between him and Noddy.

Diggs has never been a big OTAs guy. He turned up to 1 last year. He had the best first half of a season of his career. So I am not in the least bit concerned. Diggs' tantrum vs the Bengals was to try and get a reaction out of his sleepwalking teammates. Of course it is on the those two to resolve any issues between them. But Diggs storming off after the game which is the bit I considered unacceptable is for McD and Beane.

I'm bisexual. And no offence taken from the question. All good.

Diggs being absent from OTAs is no big deal. His behaviour at the end of the divisional round was unacceptable but that is for McD and Beane to deal with. But if anything Diggs should be harder on Josh whatever he was trying to do to light a fire up his ass vs the Bengals failed as Josh zombie stared into middle distance.

I am not interested in doing anyone any favours.

Josh Allen is the key so the one that best helps Josh - OL play.

I think she is hotter than Britt. Britt was never really my type. And nor is Josh. Too tall and too cleancut. Anyway I wish them much happiness. I didn't give the personal life stuff much credence when it originally broke but I am increasingly feeling like it was a factor in the Josh Allen we saw down the stretch last year. Not the only factor but a factor.

Beane doesn't have the power to fire coaches. We already had Allen in 2019. Otherwise I make you correct. In terms of a single draft blunder Cody Ford over AJ Brown stands alone. Otherwise 2022 Free Agency is the second answer on my card.

I think Shanny is the best offensive mind in football. Reid is a better gameday playcaller but Shanny's creativity in scheme design is exceptional. But he has warts too as a Head Coach. He has blown two Superbowls - one as an OC and one as a HC - by getting away from the run game that got him there. If Bills fans are going to hold 13 seconds against McDermott (and it's fair) they have to apply that same standard to other coaches when evlauating them. He is also almost universally disliked by everyone other than his little clique of buddies. There is a personality thing there that has always rubbed people up the wrong way. It's why San Fran were really smart to give him essentially his own hand picked buddy as GM. The Pegulas interviewed him in 2015 when looking for a Marrone replacement and could not get him out of the room fast enough. And they are not the only ones around the league to feel that way about him. Both Mike Pettine and Dan Quinn found him a difficult coordinator to work with. While he produced results he was not an easy employee. Similarly he has been accused of giving up on seasons when things haven't gone well through Jimmy's million injuries and of sulking. He is a top 5 Xs and Os coach, for sure. Coaching is about more than Xs and Os. That knocks him down a bit for me. But I do still think he is a top 10 HC. The top 3 for me is Belichick, Harbaugh and Reid. I'd have them in that order.

Jags and Steelers in 21. Jets in 22. But that shouldn't drop a guy to #22 with his track record.

At QB, sure. Otherwise outside of QB he has had the best roster in football the past 3 or 4 years.