Richard Noggin

My honest memory is that Randall Cunningham was similarly gifted physically to Allen (which is to say absolutely ELITE arm and athleticism), but his release IIRC was much more elongated, and he was more about post-snap reactions than pre-snap reads.

Agreed at least in part. However, 2020 saw a serious reduction in offensive holding penalties and a significant jump in passing productivity. I immediately think of that pass over Fred Warner to Gabe Davis on a play action, deep slant/skinny post/dig up the left hash marks. That immaculate pocket and Allen's calm feet were a signature of that season. Many QBs seemed to enjoy similar advantageous working conditions. I think the numbers overall bear this out? (Could be wrong)

But actually the point made in that quote is super relevant/cogent. As professional, in-person scouting got increasingly over-shadowed (in media spaces) by internet arm chair "analytics" that rely on past-results-predict-future-outcomes statistical models, the Josh Allen anti-hype pre- and post-draft stands as a stark indictment of the PFF/money ball analytical model. So Allen DID outsmart nearly every human and math itself. Including me. I heard Beane mention in person, in passing, how intrigued he was by that kid at Wyoming. "Hoping" he had a bad final college season and/or a bad pre-draft process. He was always intrigued by something the numbers couldn't account for. And he was right all along, mostly thanks to Allen's incredible and humble drive to improve. I never viewed that piece, especially with its original title, as a hit piece so much as a willingness to admit that mathematical models might/will occasionally miss, however unified they might be for or against a given prospect.

It's curious, because I agree for sure, but also I suspect McDermott likes his coordinators these days to show THE LEAST they can and still get wins against lesser competition. I don't know if that's accurate, but they sure have rolled out some refreshingly aggressive and innovative game plans and play calls on both sides of the ball against the Chiefs and the Lions, for example. This would suggest that the Bills won't show many diverse or novel pressure looks on defense against the Pats and their rookie QB. Then again, sure seems like a good week to bring some heat, especially delayed/spy pressures from the 2nd and 3rd levels.

Hmm really thought that was the Dawkins formation call (but not surprised I'm wrong). We were pretty rowdy as we watched last week in my buddy's basement bar. Have to maximize my away game viewing fun before it's back to OP.

Campbell has always been more of a 2-gap, odd-front tweener. Perfect for the Pittsburghs and Baltimores. A 5-technique ideally. But he can definitely play inside in an even-front against the pass and outside in a heavy alignment against the run.

Aside from the LAME and probably incorrect call on Allen's scrambling shove-pass to Kincaid last week (Dawkins called for illegal formation innit?), I've noticed his splits often being unusually wide and moreover his alignment being unusually tight to the LOS, like tighter to the line than the LG a number of times. That's a weird look, traditionally. But then I think of Kromer's novel gameplan for Jordan Mills (at RT) against JJ Watt way back when: Mills consistently lined up tight to the line and then stepped UP to engage Watt on majority of pass pro snaps. And it worked. I forget the specific game. But I remember the unusual and ballsy gameplan that helped a mediocre but aggressive RT mostly neutralize one of the game's most disruptive D-linemen at the time.

Reasonable. Just HATE the idea of Mixon > Chase, Higgins, and Gesicki carving up the Bills D

Eeeek! (what happened when I picked each game for remainder of season)

Felt to this observer that early on in the season, Samuel's targets (when on the field) were VERY obvious/predictable screens and targets close to the LOS. Defenses seemed to really key on him. Looked a lot like the attempted early usage of Hardy the year before. Which also didn't work. Both guys were downhill keys for opposing defenses. Before the Bills had this more fully developed, 2024 diversified offense (with both gap and zone running success, and both horizontal and vertical passing success), certain players and personnel packages had predictable and attackable tendencies. Against Detroit, Samuel's only target/catch that I recall (right to left near the far side of the goal line) was an intermediate route (unless I'm an idiot). More of that usage, which he's capable of, could potentially open up the motion and sweep and screen stuff. *he got banged up on that impressive-ish catch down by the goal line, innit?

Smart topic in that the answer is so obvious. Posters will be eager to offer different perspectives. (Bad topic in that of course the Patriots aren't our most hated rival any longer. Next question.)

Would have been the PERFECT Jim Kelly successor on and off the field. Both during and then after their playing days. The similarities are pretty wild. To be honest, Big Ben probably had the stones to win a 'ship here. And be a menace at the same time. Happy to have waited for the current guy.

I've waited on and met many world travelers (and celebs) who came to Buffalo for its architecture and history. Many northern Europeans for sure. A fair amount of Chinese and South Koreans. Not to mention the immigrants and refugees who have settled here, some with money sensing opportunity, others with nothing sensing safety. Easy to forget that where we live (or used to live) has been and can be a remarkable place. Shame we didn't have the visionary Bills ownership to muster up the will and the funding to radically recreate downtown by burying the 190 (that UB prof's rendering much like Boston's Big Dig) and placing the new stadium where the cloverleaf 190 interchange is (near Pilot Field or whatever it's called). This would have also re-connected the city to more of its waterfront. Oh well. Orchard Park is fun and spacious.

Nerd question: over time, as new prospects test into the 99th and 100th percentiles (which they invariably will), will past RAS scores need to be adjusted to account for this? (mathematically this would be necessary/automatic) Or, does each RAS score essentially lock in each prospect's historical ranking AT THAT TIME? Seems like it would become harder each successive year to score a 10, for example, because these athletes tend to get bigger, faster, and stronger all the time. So you're forever competing against improving competition (when compared to some prospect from years ago).

I fear the Bills coordinators sandbag against bad teams so they can break tendencies and roll out new twists against better teams. I fear it for the next three weeks anyways. Bodes well for the playoffs actually, if that's in fact the case. (Looked like it against the Lions.)

Imagine what PSLs would be for a stadium costing twice as much. They'd be roughly twice as much. Not to mention how lame an indoor, synthetic surface would be at that price tag. Northeastern teams are meant to play outside on natural grass. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, New England, Chicago, Green Bay...etc. I am anti-dome sentiment. Ta-da

Dome proponents are kidding themselves if they think the stadium will suddenly house additional events in the off-season. New stadiums are like casinos in that attendees tend to stay internal. The additional billion in dome cost won't be meaningfully recouped throughout the year.

Did Bishop leave due to injury? How great have they been in retrospect?

That's odd, because we had a chance to explore all kinds of available seats. Pretty much everyone is in the $6k PSL slot, sounded like, unless you want 50 yard line or premium private bar/bathroom seating, or clubs/heated seats. The price increase for the actual seats was more reasonable than I had anticipated, and the PSLs of 6k/seat were also less evil than expected. Pretty sure I could have asked my rep to show us prices for basically ANY available seats...but he did a great job of zeroing in on similar but slightly better seats in the same pricing tier. We went from goal-line to 20 yard line (lower bowl, Bills side) for same price.

We were told it would be 95% season tickets, with the remaining 5% not for public (away team) purchase but for partnership perks. In the new stadium the sometimes robust visiting side away team fan attendance will be 100% the fault of Bills STH selling their seats. (Will PSLs contribute to higher secondary market prices? Will visiting fans feel MORE welcome in new stadium (as more local fans are forced to reconcile the cold, corporate reality of GameDay attendance)? 3-6k standing room only tickets will be the only single game tickets commercially available starting in 2026 season. Could lead to big boost in resale values of actual seats.

Obviously. Doesn't make them NOT gross. We have 24 months to pay ours off without interest. All costs are kindly passed along to us. Even though our tax dollars were already on the hook for the majority.

Campbell is different from McD in that he is dripping with authenticity, and it feels like his players really respond to that. Of course in the playoffs he could again, authentically, repeatedly attempt ill-advised 4th downs and 2-pt conversions, but it just feels like his guys love the aggressive, full-speed approach. Helps them play free in crunch time, perhaps. I'd say the Lions are closer than the Bills to a SB victory except for the limitation that their QB doesn't move well and their defense is SO injured. (Trading for Z Smith was really effing smart to plug at least one high profile hole.) I do suspect they will HANDLE the Bills this Sunday in Detroit. Hopefully the Bills make me look stupid and prevent a 2nd two-game skid. But Bills defensive issues have a habit of lingering for a couple games at a time. And the Lions are built to shred our defense, like if the Rams had a much better offensive line and more dynamic running backs.

Had our "stadium experience" appointment today, which of course is just an extended sales pitch. Was pleasantly surprised by how gentle the guy with the glove was. But seriously, we're in section 137 now (Bills side, left endzone goalline, row 28) and we got even better seats in the new stadium for just over $2k per ticket and $6k per PSL: section 113 Row 23 at the new stadium (right around the 20 yard line) for like a 25% increase in seat cost plus the PSL. I expected much worse. And while I despise and resent covering Pegula's overages on the stadium construction (they are WAY over budget) with these PSLs, we're not ever going to get billionaires to eat any costs that they can just as easily pass along to us pleebs. Doubt the energy in our 2026 section 113 will come anywhere close to the immaculate vibes of section 137 the last couple seasons, but we shall see. Anyone who I've brought to the games or given my tickets to has loved the loud, standing energy (without too much drunken hooliganism).

Just ask Keith Carradine, Michael Hutchence, etc.