Logic

Dorsey had some good and imaginative play designs. What he lacked, in my opinion, was cohesion and purpose to his playcalling. Plays were called without particular rhyme or reason. Playcalls did not build on each other in a thoughtful, logical way, or in a way that showed the sequencing one would expect out of a top NFL playcaller. As others have stated, his plays also depended too often on flawless execution and/or too many WR option routes that would only work if the WR and QB were on the same page and, as we saw, they too often were not. While EPA and other metrics that analytics majors love showed that Dorsey was a successful play caller, anyone who watched the games saw stalled drives, poorly timed play calls, lack of cohesion and logic and sequencing to gameplans, and a failure to adapt or evolve. Dorsey's playbook and play calling reminded me of giving a sharp play designer a blank slate and allowing him to design plays and gameplans in a vacuum, but those plays and those gameplans lacked real-time response and adaptation to what the opposition was doing, and they did not build on what they had done on previous plays or in previous games. In short, it often seemed like Dorsey was playing next level checkers, but rarely was playing even beginner level chess. On top of all that, the actual COACHING aspects of being the offensive coordinator -- the attention to detail in practice, the motivating of players, helping the QB be in the right mindset or chewing him out when needed, etc -- seemed to be lacking. For all of these reasons, Dorsey -- who drew up some great plays in a vacuum but whose failure to sequence, evolve, and adapt -- ultimately failed as offensive coordinator for the Bills. Will he learn from his mistakes and fix his shortcomings and improve? Maybe. It WAS his first go-around, after all. All I know is that the whole was never the sum of its parts during his tenure here, and the Bills did the right thing by replacing him.

I know he got a late start and had to learn the playbook, but I find it curious that a veteran as tenured as Kareem Jackson hasn't even sniffed second team reps yet. Ditto Terrell Burgess. I would've thought they would comprise the second time by now for sure. Who knows, maybe the youngsters are showing out. Jahleel Addae may turn out to be an ace secondary coach.

I didn't know much about Zach Davidson, other than that he was a 5th round pick in the 2021 draft and that he played both punter and tight end in college. At 26 years old and three years into his NFL career, I wondered what was causing this player to suddenly excel for the Bills in camp. Is he just a classic late bloomer? Was he raw coming out of school? This article shed some light, and I thought y'all might enjoy it. Bills may have found themselves a keeper, and Morris's job may be in jeopardy (if the Bills don't elect to keep four TEs, that is). https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/2021-nfl-draft-zach-davidson-central-missouri-martin-rogers The Incredible Journey of Zach Davidson They love their football in Webb City, just outside Joplin in Southwest Missouri, and a short hop from the borders of Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. They love Webb City’s eponymous high school football team, a 15-time state champion, that serves as a source of civic pride and turns games into de facto community gatherings. And they’ve fallen in love with the feel-good tale of one of their own. Zach Davidson, the NFL prospect who wasn’t even on the radar a couple of years ago, now shapes up as one of the most enjoyable stories of the draft. Assuming he gets picked over the weekend, football fans around the country will soon be playing catch-up, for Davidson’s journey has been remarkable. "Everyone is just amazed and excited by what he has accomplished to get to this point, where his ultimate dream could come true," John Roderique, head coach for 12 of Webb City’s state titles and still in charge of the program, told me via telephone on Thursday. "People see him around town and there is a lot of pride in how far he has come. I’ve told him, I’m going to be in tears when he gets drafted." Davidson is coming out of Division II Central Missouri, but as what, exactly? He punts with a booming leg that can clear the bleachers. He is teaching himself to long snap and place hold. He has even worked out as an H-back. Yet it is at tight end where he appears to have the most NFL potential, and what will likely earn him the call at some point in the middle to later rounds. "I feel like the sky is the literal limit for me," Davidson told KOAM/FOX 14 television. "I’m just waiting on my shot." He is an enigma, and he has an enigmatic story about how it all started. During his sophomore year in high school, Davidson was tall and scrawny and the beneficiary of some good fortune when the varsity squad was hit by a suspension. According to Roderique, a couple of "little knuckleheads had been caught smashing up mailboxes" and Davidson was picked out of an impromptu JV trial. He punted exclusively his junior year and was a depth chart tight end for his senior season, meaning college offers weren’t exactly flowing and the ones that did focused on his ability to boot it miles. Davidson went to Central Missouri off the power of his leg, but never stopped working and never wavered in his belief he could be an elite tight end. He broke out in 2019, with All-American accolades at both positions. He had an average of more than 22 yards-per-catch and a tight end program-record 15 touchdowns. The pandemic robbed him of the opportunity for a final campaign but Davidson committed himself to relentless preparation, both at a camp in Florida and back at Webb City, where he checks in with Roderique and uses the school facilities. His pro day – where he recorded a 37.5-inch vertical, a 4.62 40-yard dash and 6.95 three-cone drill, all while standing at 6-foot-7 – ensured he would be much-discussed among NFL evaluators. Such prospects sometimes go higher than expected and Davidson’s stock has reached a point where it would be a major surprise if he were to go undrafted. "A lot of people didn’t realize he was only 17 when he graduated high school, so he had a lot of growth potential," Roderique added. "He has built his strength and his speed and he is just tireless at it." Webb City hearts were gladdened last year when offensive lineman Trystan Colon-Castillo was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, where he played two games in 2020. But Davidson is the prospect that came from deep. Really deep. Yet here he is. Having needed to show ultimate faith in himself to get to this point, Davidson sees no reason to change that approach now and feels he can still take major strides forward. "I am definitely very confident that once I get there I’ll be able to just expand my game to an all-time high," he added. "And learn from some of the best to ever do it." Davidson is one of those special draft stories, of a player making the absolute most of his potential and overturning the odds. If that magic moment arrives for him this weekend, it will be the biggest step yet in an extraordinary journey. It will spark delight in Webb City, and see a tear of two trickle from his former coach’s eye. "No one gets to the NFL who doesn’t deserve it," Roderique said. "But Zach, and how far he’s come? He really, really deserves it."

All indications this morning are that it's gonna be the Steelers, who have been the betting favorites for months anyway.

On the one hand, Aiyuk, Polk, Baker, Douglas, and Osborne is an outstanding WR room. Really good. On the other hand, I'd be happy to see Judon go, if that's the move. I like the thought of Josh Allen having to outscore Drake Maye better than I like the thought of him being chased by Matt Judon twice a year (past successes against Judon notwithstanding).

It also is one of the few moves I've seen proposed that actually help the 49ers THIS season. It's nice to get a draft pick next year and all, but they're firmly in their Super Bowl window NOW. Trading Aiyuk would hurt, but if they could get a high quality pass rusher in return, a replacement receiver who knows their system (albeit an inferior one), AND a draft pick for next year, all while sending him to the AFC and, in all reality, a non-contender? That's a win for the 49ers.

RUMOR: Patriots to send Matthew Judon, Kendrick Bourne, 2025 2nd round pick for Aiyuk. Done deal.

Amazing game. I was a "regular" board game guy my whole life. I knew nothing of "designer" games or, for lack of a better term, nerdy board games. Someone introduced my wife and I to Catan a few years ago (back when it was still called Settlers of Catan). We loved it. We bought our own set, and we still play it to this day against other couples friends (and it can also be adapted to play with three people instead of four). Things I like about it: - The board is different every time, so there is no ONE strategy that's going to win every single game. You have to adapt to the board and use different strategies in different games to give yourself the best chance to win. - There are multiple ways to go about trying to win. It's not just "first one to get Boardwalk and Park Place wins!". - Trading of resources with fellow players adds an interactivity that is lacking in other games. - The game takes skill, logic, and forethought to win. While it involves SOME luck, it involves way less of it than other games. I know there are a bunch of different expansion sets, but honestly, I don't feel the need to use any of them, because the base game is about as well constructed and consistently fun as a game can be. No need to fix what isn't broken. I can see why the guys play it camp. And "a bunch of 20-something pro football playing jocks play it a bunch at training camp" is about as good an endorsement of how fun it is (and the fact that it isn't just for nerds) as any I can think of.

Ah, well that must be my issue. I've only got around .78oz of integrity. It's a genetic condition.

Wait, can our wives see what we post here?! In that case, my wife is very smart and an excellent cook and she does that one thing much better than she used to!

He's tryin to front like she's too skinny. I'm just pointing out that he would abandon his entire life with the swiftness if it meant a weekend of Mario Kart 64 and Totino's pizza rolls with her in a Scranton Motel 6.

Wait wait wait.... ...WHAT?! She makes ***** Pierogis?!?! Tell me more.

She's awesome, and I'm just being an (admittedly smarmy) idiot. Probably part of the reason I crush so hard on her is BECAUSE she's so smart, so funny, such a talented human being in so many respects. In truth, if I was to have the honor of meeting her, I'd probably turn from a roaring lion into a meek little lamb pretty quickly due to shyness.

C'mon man... The speed with which you would ditch your family, job, and obligations to spend a week doing jigsaw puzzles with Kay Adams in a cottage in Montpelier could not be measured by mortal instruments.

The thing that stands out for me is that in every previous camp I can remember for the past five+ years, two things were true: The defense usually led the way early and was further along than the offense, and even once the offense caught up, the two units tended to trade days back and forth in terms of who "won the day". This year, it seems to me that the offense is being reported as crisp and efficient day after day. It seems the offense is moving the ball and scoring, day after day. Now, I suppose one could look at that and be concerned about the defense, but...we can't rule out the possibility that the offense is just humming right now. It also seems that the ball is being spread around. It's not just "X player is having a dominant camp". One day it's Samuel moving all over the formation and making catches, the next day its Coleman with a highlight reel catch, the next day Kincaid or Shakir (or Knox or Shavers) are drawing praise for their route running and hands. Lastly, and most importantly: Similar to the offense as a whole, most years, Josh has some really good days and a few bad or mediocre days. This year, I have yet to hear of any bad or mediocre days for Josh. All indications are that he is playing in rhythm, making good decisions, distributing the ball to everyone, and that his passes themselves are spinning off his hand with precision and velocity. Some have even said they think this is Josh Allen's best training camp as a pro. That's SAYING something! For me, the optimism is due to a combination of: specific reports of the way the offensive personnel is being deployed (formations, shifts, motions, etc), the effective distribution of the ball to different players, Josh Allen apparently being on an absolute heater, and lastly: there is an intangible element of renewed fun/freshness/opportunity that I didn't feel last year. The Bills have felt...tight...to me for a couple years now. Like the weight of expectation (and the unspoken behind-the-scenes weirdness between certain players) was crushing them. This year? Breath of fresh air. Smiles. Fun. Turning the page. Opportunity. I feel the optimism. I didn't a few weeks ago, but I do now. I'm excited to see this Bills team take the field in September.

I'm just gonna say it. With full recognition of the fact that Kay Adams is a talented and likeable reporter, podcaster, and TV personality and that her physical attractiveness likely should not enter the conversation, lest it show small-minded and caveman-ish misogyny on my part... ...I would like to buy that woman a plate of spaghetti and then lie with her in the adult fashion.

Davidson was a tight end/punter in college. Positional versatility, babaayyy!!

Reminds me of how excited I was when the Bills took Cardale Jones, solely based on his absolute cannon of an arm. Jones was more or less out of the NFL after just one season. Not the same players, of course, but...if arm strength was all it took to be a good NFL quarterback, then Jeff George and Jamarcus Russell would be the GOATs.

Not enough murder or Angela Lansbury for my liking.

Jinx, buy me some coke.

I'm gonna turn that game on and be so excited about it for like...6 minutes. Then I'll remember it's the worst game the NFL presents every year and I'll switch to old Murder She Wrote episodes.

Yeah I have to say that the camp reports of highly effective offense -- and specifically Josh Allen looking the best he's ever looked in camp -- have me more optimistic than I've been all offseason. If 2020 Josh is back, the ceiling for this team is a Lombardi trophy. When THAT Josh is playing, it's hard to beat the Bills.

Yeah I agree. I'm glad they're looking at this. McDaniel and the Dolphins last year, with their "cheat motion" stuff, basically dared the league to call their bluff by -- as you mention -- often having players who sure LOOKED like they were moving forward before the snap. The league does indeed appear to be calling their bluff. Good.

I suppose the reason I was somewhat persuaded by the "character concern" color coding is that they have it on Jermaine Burton and Javon Baker, both of whom multiple draft analysts mentioned as having potential character concerns. It could just be coincidence, of course.

Ah, I read the report wrong. I thought Jackson was the one in the car that was speeding and in which alcohol use was suspected, rather than being in the car which was struck by a speeding and possibly impaired person. My mistake. I take back what I said.