Drunken Pygmy Goat

I'm sure that it plays a role, but it's no different for any other team. But this is year one of McBeane. Jauron and Gailey had hot starts in their second year as head coach. A big part of how teams separate themselves from the pack down the stretch is how they adjust and adapt to the complications they face throughout the season. In week one, the Bills dominated the offensive line and had the upper hand on the defensive line for the most part. That may have given the Bills a false sense of security going into Thursday night, and the Jets clearly weren't going to be embarrassed by the Bills in the trenches in the second go around. You could see it in the Jets' preparation on the very first play. We'll see how this staff and team adjusts from here, but I think this team is better built and structured in the FO than those previous Bills teams. I'm certainly more confident in this team. Thursday's game will have either been what the doctor ordered, or the beginning of the end this year. Based on what we've seen so far, and with key guys getting healthy, I don't see why they can't make a run, but anything can happen.

Before I read through this thread, I'm going to guess that xrushx or whatever his name is has already posted his broken record drivel, failed to provide clear-cut, factual evidence to back his broken record drivel, and has been called out for it by one or more members. Am I right?

Did Shady dress up as Superman for Halloween or something?

Rare, well written, positive article. Thanks OP

Much ado about nothing

No way Cam is a Bill. He doesn't seem like he fits the "character" criteria. One game? Really? I'm not real big on Cousins, but he's still a good QB. You don't set franchise records two years in a row if you're "rubbish".

Clearly, McDermott covets WRs and CBs with a greater wingspan and radius. Benjamin obviously fits the criteria, and probably won't cost quite as much to re-sign as some other, better WRs would have.

That was me. Power rankings are fun, and give outlets clicks, but are irrelevant. The only thing that matters is making the playoffs, and while some teams may be better or worse than their power rankings, at the end of the season, it doesn't matter. You are what your record says you are.

Solid thread yeezus...

I wouldn't look into that too much, but if situational awareness is an issue, I think we have the right staff to help limit those issues. Compared to Rex, it's been night and day. And even though there was the issue at the end of the half against the Bucs, we do have a first year HC and OC after all. Mistakes will happen, but the improvement there from the previous regime to this one is easily noticeable. Trust the process.

A little camp competition may have been the kick in the pants that he needed. He wasn't very good last year, but had shown to be much more capable prior to that, so I'm not surprised he's doing this well. What's even better is the fact that he isn't being asked to punt as much as last year.

My thoughts exactly, which is why I never understood the "trade for Bryant" talk over the last couple weeks. Then again, no one thought Dareus would be traded due to his contract and lazy play, so who knows. I thought the Steelers let him go because he failed to show up on game day, or walked out at halftime.

I wouldn't mind trading for Hyde. He's a very good back on a terrible team. But anything more than a 4th, and I'd pass. However, I highly doubt the Bills trade for him. Next man up, and worry about in in the draft. Because someone said it's the best record since 1993...it's not.

Some people think the Bills should be able fleece any team in any trade for some reason. I get the frustration. Dareus cost the Bills a 3rd overall, millions and millions of dollars, and since it didn't help net a title in the process, his tenure as a Bill was an overall failure. People were probably hoping for more than a 6th/5th to help ease that frustration. The fact that the Bills are shedding some money off the books by trading him is a win in and of itself, since all that money was only good for 8 tackles and a sack this year. Same thing when the Bills released Mario... addition by subtraction. There's 31 other teams. The Jags certainly weren't the only team that had been in talks with the Bills about Dareus. If any of those teams had offered a deal better than the Jags offer, the Bills would have taken it, but there clearly wasn't one. Given the contract, the Bills had no leverage in talks. I don't understand how anyone could think that they could or should have gotten more. Teams don't pay for what a player did 3 & 4 years ago. They lay for what they're doing now and how they think they will in the future. Right now, Mr. 2X Pro-Bowler has 8 tackles and a sack, and exhibits very little effort on the field. The Jags taking on that contract is dumb enough. Tossing out a 1st rounder for that contract and that play would be insane.

If you really understood why they did it, then you should understand how "not dumb" it was.

Sal's just salty because Cookie snubbed him of an autographed rookie card back in the day. I get his points, though.

It says in the rule that was posted earlier (that you quoted) that players from either team can advance the ball on a lateral that hits the ground.

Still too early for this discussion, IMO, but interesting to see how it turns out. But he and Brady will likely be retired in a couple years, and the **Pats will need to "rebuild" anyways. Nobody's perfect, not even the hoodie. But his track record speaks for itself.

They weren't wrong. They just weren't completely right. The concepts are there. But going into the season, my belief, as well as many others, was that we would see a lot more play-action and bootlegs, and that's pretty much been the staple of the passing attack so far this year. Makes sense when you have a strong run game (we did, and even though not quite as strong now, the play-action depends on your willingness to stick to the run, even when not working), and a QB that is better outside the pocket than within it. Like I said earlier (assuming no one read it), people tend to put too much thought into labels.

I think, first of all, that people get too hung up on labels, just like with defensive schemes. Just because we were expecting the Bills to now be a WCO, doesn't mean that is all that you will see. There are WCO concepts and principles that the Bills have been using, and some they haven't. Remember all those batted Taylor passed in the preseason? Those were all quick strike throws IIRC. The coaches aren't dumb, and it seems like those have been completely eliminated from the playbook (for now, at least). Taylor's lack of height and somewhat elongated throwing motion make those quick, short throws easier for defenders on the line to get hands up and block. In other words, there are aspects of the WCO that Taylor and the offense do not "fit" well with. People might think this sounds crazy, but I compare the Bills offense to what KC runs, although not nearly as strong or potent. The concepts are very similar at times. The major differences are the fact that the Bills don't have a Tyreek Hill, the Chiefs play calls are far more creative (that Taiwan Jones run was something you see from the Chiefs), and they look like a finely tuned machine since they're not a group of first year coaches and mainly the same group of players. If Dennison makes it to year 3 (which, at this point, I think he should), we should see a more diverse, finely tuned offense, hopefully with another, more talented receiving weapon or two. Also, it's still early enough in the year to assume that there are plays that are still on the shelf. Taylor may have some limitations as it pertains to a WCO, but in general, I think the coaches have done a good job of using the talent at hand, and adjusting their scheme to fit that talent, as far as play calls goes. We've also seen some alterations to how the line is blocking on runs, as well as a more diverse selection if run calls as a result. I agree with the timing passes, but why stay away from outside zone blocking? They were pretty successful there last year, and just need to focus on better blocking execution IMO.

Thank you

Someone mentioned yesterday that the play should have been blown dead after the first "fumble"; hopefully someone with more knowledge of the rule can clarify... Under 2 minutes remaining, fumbles cannot be advanced by the offense unless it is by the player that fumbled. Same rule applied in 2014 when Mario Williams strip sacked Rodgers in the end zone to seal the game. As soon as Richardson picked up the fumbled ball in the end zone, it was ruled a safety. On the last play on Sunday, the ball skipped on the ground on at least two laterals before the player "received" the ball...shouldn't the play have been blown dead on the first one that hit the ground??? That play wouldn't have been 45 seconds long if so. Or has this been covered already? ***Edit, answered in the next post*** http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/fumble

I was absolutely deflated after the Bucs took the lead, but kept watching. Taylor had extended plays all day, but none bigger than the deep throw to DT. But even after tying, I thought for sure the Bucs were going to drive down and win with at least a FG. Not just "because Bills, but because that's how that game would typically end, regardless of the teams playing. Just before the Bucs next play on offense, I was saying "we need a turnover, we need a turnover", and sure enough, it happened right away. Then, the 45 second lateral fest happened, and I was a nervous wreck as it seemingly never would end. It definitely felt good to be on the winning g side this time around.

Opportunistic...that's how I'd describe our defense. They are very obviously a "bend, don't break" defense, and clearly emphasize defending the red-zone. The idea is to take away any deep, big plays, while giving up an otherwise occupied area of the field. Teams know this, which is why we see many "easy" completions. They're taking what we give them, and that's why the Bills have given up a bunch of passing yards. But on the flip side, we play a lot of zone, and are able to keep eyes on the QB's eyes. The idea is that, eventually, either the defense is going to make a play or a stop in the red-zone, or the offense is going to falter or make a critical mistake somewhere along the way in the drive.

Same rule applied when Mario Williams stip sacked AR in the end zone in 2014. The ball was picked up in the end zone by the RB and run out, but the whistles were already blowing. It resulted as a safety since the fumble occurred in the end zone.