HappyDays

Hopefully the run game we're seeing tonight is for real. It's going to have to be a major part of our offense this year.

Those are our starting outside WRs... It is going to be tough sledding as offense without a single high end talent outside. We'll have to thread a lot of needles to score TDs.

Hardy has been good too, at CB anyways. As a returner he's been an adventure but he's been locking guys down outside and he was supposed to be more of a slot prospect.

I watched Andreessen specifically there, he immediately diagnosed the play and got running that way to take an angle away from Fields. Quite possibly the most impressed I've ever been with a backup defensive player in a Bills preseason game.

Joe Andresseen taking down Justin Fields 1v1 in the open field. Just like we all predicted.

I think Dorian Willams allowed that 11 yard completion. He got lost in pass coverage. I hope the live reps help him figure out that part of his game soon.

Well, he proved it.

Genuinely think we are a 2-14 team without Allen.

I feel bad for Steelers fans. I know how QB purgatory feels. Watching Trubisky followed by Wilson has to feel like torture, like this is the best your team has been able to find.

Spector is out with a calf injury. I have to think he'd usually be the 2nd MLB. The local kid getting time ahead of Morrow and Jones is meaningful though. He must have impressed McDermott to earn that spot.

I think he has made a poor decision to field punts in consecutive weeks. The last one he caught tonight he should have let bounce into the endzone. Not a fan of what he just did either. This isn't college. You try to get the edge on an NFL special teams and you're more likely to get tackled at the 1.

That was actually a really nice play from the local kid. Is he really in line to make the roster?

Alright I don't need Cook getting tackled on random screens on 3rd and long in a preseason game. Davis the rest of the half please.

God Trubisky is so late with the ball. Stared at Morris wide open for a full second before throwing that one.

Ok I've seen enough of the starting DL. Get everyone out.

Just get all the starters out of the game if the field is that wet. Can't evaluate these pass catchers anyways with Trubisky throwing the ball.

Nice work beating a double block. We need more of that from him.

That isn't true? He's been WR6/7 in camp.

The dream is dead

You can't deny that this looks a little familiar...

I think he needs to develop his ability to have a plan when the CB wins on the initial release. He is never going to be Stefon Diggs as a route runner which is fine but that means he needs to have a plan to win against tight coverage. That is a nuanced skill that takes time and live reps and a lot of coaching. It isn't going to happen overnight. Until he can do that with some level of consistency he isn't going to be a true WR1. My concern is that based on the players behind him he is going to be forced into the primary X role before he's really ready. In a vacuum I don't mind so much because I'm a believer in live reps being the fastest track to development, but when we're talking about spending a whole year of Allen's prime under those conditions it feels like a waste. Ideally we would have a true X WR on the roster and Coleman could be used as mainly a red zone weapon with some sprinkled in manufactured touches in between the 20s while he figures out the rest, but the Bills have made it so that we don't have the luxury. He pretty much has to be our primary outside WR from day one, or at the very least split that role with an even less exciting option in Mack Hollins, and I just can't believe he's ready for that kind of workload from the hardest position in the formation until I see it in live games.

You know I loved the Keon Coleman pick Alpha. But recent reports have not been quite as optimistic as this. He struggled separating in the endzone against Chicago and reportedly struggled separating against Pittsburgh in the joint practice too. I'm not backing down on my initial feelings about him as a prospect, not even close, but we have to be realistic about the expectations in his rookie year. His game needs a lot of refinement. I knew that even when I was the loudest voice in the room advocating to draft him. His physical skills and work ethic make me confident he will get there eventually. As far as this year though I can't see him immediately performing like a true WR1. Those are big shoes to fill for a raw young rookie. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed for Metcalf or Hopkins at the trade deadline.

Yeah that's why I would look to Metcalf, and Hopkins for the same reason. Neither team looks to be competitive this year. That 2nd rounder from Minnesota should be a very good trade chip. I would prefer Metcalf because we could extend him and immediately have our #1 WR for the foreseeable future.

Sounds like the plan is to play them for most of the 1st half, but if the predicted thunderstorms are bad the starters will get pulled.