Ayjent

“I’ve gotcha, the Dougs are on speed dial.”

We are going to be hoping for the Browns to finish 9-8 and it’s not inconceivable that would get them into the playoffs. I doubt it will happen but I can see them as a spoiler in a good number of those games. It’s pretty clear that the Browns and Steelers really don’t like each other, and the Browns match up well with the dirty ass Ravens. And who doesn’t love a Jameis interview where you are left to contemplate what just happened and your sobriety.

Having Milano, Williams and Bernard is a great thing and will give them a way to add wrinkles if they are so inclined including traditional 4-3 and a capable backup. It may be the key to better handling a good running team too.

The Bills are a fun team to watch and I’m not sure that any team matches up with KC better than the Bills. I would have loved to be at the game, because I’m guessing that was a pumped up crowd. The last time I went to a game that big may have been when the Bills beat the Dolphins for the AFC East title in 1990. I know it wasn’t tear the goal posts down type of game but all bets are off for the goalposts staying up if that’s the same outcome in AFC CG.

Ray Davis and Quentin Morris on Offense. I think the TEs and RBs are going to feast as they focus on trying to shut down Shakir. Taron Johnson and AJE on D - really the DEs in general and how the Bills can utilize blind side pressure to attack KC's achilles heel at LT.

He did hit Knox on a similar route on the other side later in the game. They clearly wanted to attack the Colts with those routes. The difference seemed to me to be a better throw to Knox. If he hits Kincaid on that route the game may have been an even more lopsided win than it was. Its funny because i think the national media saw that game as closer than it was. The Bills completely controlled the game once they got the ball back after going down 13-10. The only valid criticism is that they never should have found themselves down and their weaknesses on both sides were highlighted during that chunk of the game. But it also highlights the adaptations this coaching staff is able to put together. Maybe they arent the team that is going to be able to elevate their game against better competition, but i also think that is what makes this game against kc interesting. Id love to have kincaid available for it, but if not i still think the TEs are going to be a big factor.

I’m speaking more about the Tampa 2 where seam routes are designed to be in the spaces in the zone scheme and as you point out these are commonly routes that do need to go to the space between the safeties and lbs or the safeties and the corners and aren’t straight into the coverage. I probably used bad wording saying ‘down the seams” as if I were talking relatively vertical routes on the hashes, although running outside vertical clearing routes can make those effective routes as well when you have good TEs or run a delayed route where another route has pulled coverage away making the seam a bigger target. TEs are the biggest weapon against a Tampa 2, and I understand that the Bills are seeing a variety of 2 high safety looks not just Tampa 2, but they also have been most successful when they’ve stressed opponents reliance on playing two high with effectively pushing the ball downfield to TEs in the seams and balanced it with utilizing the backs in the passing game when teams try to adjust dropping cbs deeper, leaving the lbs exposed and putting our good blocking WRs in position to make a crucial downfield block.

I think Kincaid and TEs in general might be more effective if there was more emphasis on getting designed routes down the seams when teams play 2 high safeties. That also starts with the backs running effectively drawing up the LBs and being receiving threats in the short passing game. These are things that the Bills have the perfect personnel to use, but haven’t quite been consistent in exposing. They should be abusing teams with lbs that don’t have enough speed and yet the seem determined to run plays that are attacking the intermediate flats and not using their backs as much as they should in passing game. It’s working but there is another level that they can reach to be more consistent. Kincaid stats are a product of that in my opinion and he is getting targets but also a good share of those targets aren’t necessarily good throws or easy catches because the coverage is there or the throw is off due to pressure.

I didn't say he was bad, I said he wasn't the piece we needed at the place we need it most against the better teams. He's playing fine and we aren't getting killed by Hamlin or Rapp's play against most teams, but there are noticeable weaknesses in the defense because they have to play deep and there is a lot more room for QBs to work underneath. I'd also say that Hamlin is not great against the run, not because he is a poor tackler, but because he can find himself out of position to make the play because he isn't quick athletically or in reading where the play is going unless he is deep. The point about Taron Johnson and Bernard is right, those two players cure some of that issue because the are great in coverage and against the run.

I've not watched enough film of Ja'marcus Ingram to know if this is a good idea, but he seemed to play well earlier this season and he seems like he could be a good fit to move to safety because the nickel CB position does seem a like an easier transition to safety than boundary CB. I really like his ability to blitz and track the ball. He's also capable of playing man if they want and is a pretty decent tackler from what I've seen (again I may be wrong upon review of All 22). His 40 wasn't blazing, and is the same as Hamlin's, but I think he is noticeably quicker on the field. Maybe it is just wishful thinking.

Its unfortunate that there isn't more athleticism with Hamlin and Rapp as a Tandem. Its a place I think the D is vulnerable and will get exposed against better teams (and was against Ravens in both run and pass game). I wonder if McD would be likely to plug and play any player that they would acquire in a trade at Safety even if they gave Edwards his wish and acquired another player. They did immediately insert Douglas into the line up, but Safety on this defense is different than corner, so its hard to say. I think it is a place the defense could be upgraded a lot and could make the difference from in the pack of contenders to the primary challenger for the AFC to the Chiefs. Right now the Offense is where it needs to be, but the D is the big question. McD will always put a capable D on the field, but its also been the achilles heel of the team getting over the hump, and I don't think this iteration is the one that can do it without another piece or two, and the glaring one is at safety.

it’s a good question, but at 1-2 with that imbalance, it says maybe you have a problematic weakness rather than an advantageous strength. There really just aren’t enough games to draw any meaningful conclusions. The Chiefs moved the ball pretty well however they wanted, the Raiders offense is limited and of you’ll take your chances with Minshew beating you, and Dallas is one dimensional on both sides. I’d test their pass D early and often. I remember Bills teams with similar ratings where one part of their D was so bad that the other part looked good, but it was just a function of why bother testing the one part of their defense when you can beat the clearly vulnerable part consistently.

Mediocre Giants team is generous but your point is valid. The Giants pull that game out if Jones doesn’t hurt them but that is the Daniel Jones experience. If anything the Cowboys are the definition of mediocre so far this season if not on the less than mediocre side due to the inability to run and the inability to stop the run. As far as the Ravens are concerned, they have the weapons to pose problems for anyone on Offense but generally making Lamar beat you with his arm and keeping him contained in the pocket is the strategy to limit how they can hurt you. Keeping Henry from getting a full head of steam past the LOS is the other key. The Bills have the speed to keep Lamar hemmed in, and it really is going to be about how well the D plays up the middle on stopping Henry. On the other side I think that is where the Ravens are a worse team than last year by a lot, bc they lost some important pieces in their prime and have had trouble stopping teams in the passing game. I think the Bills showed against the Jags that if you want to stop the run they are very comfortable throwing the ball to beat you. In fact you might be better off as a Defense when the Bills run rather than pass. The Bills backs are dangerous weapons in the pass game. The Ravens played their best game against KC, but they relied on Lamar’s legs a lot. Like Josh that can carry them but it comes at a high cost if a hit injures or impairs them. It really comes down to can the Bills continue playing the way that they have so far. The Ravens are a good team. However, Im not sure that they are as good as they were last year, but teams do figure things out as seasons progress.

Sometimes looking like you just stepped out of the Barbie movie, Ken Mojo Dojo, doesnt work out. And by sometimes i mean always.

When i put this headband on im just as good as Trevor at QB