Richard Noggin

Would be super helpful to know what kind of production we've seen out of them previously to have some kind of statistical frame of reference. Seems like an attainable number, but now I have to google a couple things and like, do work. Thanks.

We can't keep getting things wrong on McGovern. The dude views himself as a natural center. Performed really well at LG last season, and feels even better about sliding inside to the pivot. Obviously Beach Chairs agrees. And that's really the measure for me: is the team (coaches and management) making moves it WANTS to make? If so, we as fans should reasonably defer to their collective expertise. This was a sober, deliberate move to move on from Morse and replace him with McGovern. A little more beef up the middle. Plus, McGovern's spot at LG is relatively easy to fill as far as OL positions go. The Bills saw an opportunity to get bigger, younger, and cheaper at OC and went for it. McGovern is at least 13 pounds BIGGER than the guy he's replacing. How is he then considered "smaller"? He's 3 lbs above the NFL average of 315 lbs for guards, and even bigger than that compared to centers.

I'm just here for the free financial advice.

That "If" is doing a lot of work. We liked to imagine that Diggs was drawing all kinds of brackets and doubles, but most of his playoff disappearances, for example, seemed to coincide with physical man coverage to disrupt him early and get Josh's eyes off him, with the defensive hope that the pass rush speeds up the processing. Sure, he faced some extra attention at times, but mostly he got locked up by #1 corners. Diggs was elite Tier 1 for the first 6 games. Like silly production. Then he fell off HARD. Happened each of the last two seasons, as we all well know. So why was he a guy NOT to subtract at his suddenly bloated salary (I know how much they're eating this year)? (Not even delving into the sideline/locker room/social media stuff, or the prevailing subtext that Diggs finally, directly asked to be moved.)

Was there a "starting X" at all in the draft this year at the back end of the 1st round? Obviously Beane didn't think so, exactly, or he would have stayed put and pulled the trigger. Is Worthy that guy in year one? That seems like a reach tbh. (Nevermind how much I wanted the Bills to draft him at 28.) Lamenting the loss of the 5th year option in that 2nd trade back is kinda silly innit? If Coleman actually turns out to be 5th year option-worthy, then the additional trade-back into the 2nd rd will look even smarter. By that point, there is no current WR in the pipeline preventing the Bills from signing Coleman before and/or after year four. It's a "good problem" to have.

But the so-called elite #1 outside WR is not commonly found on SB winners in recent history. You're absolutely right that teams who win the big game have talented receiving options, but the obsession with this narrow definition of a certain type of alpha WR with length and deep speed isn't actually supported by the results.

Reasonable work here. Mostly agree. The majority who crave that undisputed #1 boundary WR also seem to ignore the history of recent Super Bowl winners, the majority of whom did NOT have one of these perceived unicorn #1s. I get the desire to have an attention-drawing beast on the outside, but what if that isn't the answer? What if fantasy football and fan perception don't really matter on the field? What if receiving depth and distribution is the real cheat code?

Can't speak for you, of course, but it seems like most Bills fans and NFL commentators, in general, felt like the Bills in the draft needed a magical blue-chip boundary DEEP threat, and instead they traded those two most realistic, sought-after targets to the Chiefs (Worthy) and then the Panthers (Legette), before selecting Coleman. Feels like if they'd nabbed either Worthy or Legette that the vibes would be much more positive overall. Or even if they'd traded SO many 1st and 2nd day picks for the rights to Brian Thomas, Jr. The public sentiment called for a rigid, even reckless, pursuit of prospects based on 40 times, to be reductive. That, and Yards per Route Run, really influenced/narrowed everyone's WR draft expectations. I'll admit to buying into it. Allen has previously thrived with supposed deep threats on the outside like John Brown and Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis (and even Robert Foster to a flawed extent). So Worthy and Franklin and Legette seemed like legitimate threats. Then again, Allen has also NOT thrived with those same supposed deep threats on the outside like Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis. So who knows what is most important. Beasley was more valuable in his first 2 seasons than many of us typically admit. Allen absolutely COOKED with a reliable, chain-moving slot guy. So who really knows. Why can't Kincaid be a better Beasley, and why can't the rest of the no-name WR crew do their jobs well and help Josh Allen excel? (Because of past performance, I guess. But even that isn't super damning.)

Turns out (should have remembered, but life) Mike Williams and Malachi Corley are definitely additions of note, but one is injured and the other is a rookie.

So, without checking first, what is the depth of their offensive weapons beyond Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson? I'm remembering they drafted a WR I liked, just not sure who without looking it up. Who are the secondary threats that will need to step up when defenses dial it up against Hall and Wilson? (Obviously I will now take a minute or two to get caught up, but who else feels similarly about their offense? Maybe I'm missing something?)

Bass-o-matic to BASStard (2 'S's) Details matter

Where does this line of analysis leave us when looking at Maye's (NE) release? Strikes me as brutally elongated, and with a hitch.

I'd argue they're MUCH better than Joe B, and are roster locks, whereas Joe B is now in a vulnerable position to defend his extended scope with the more national outlet. Matt Parrino is an upgrade, locally. No one disputes that. Like, we don't want Thad advancing his own interests, ever.

Shakir was thought of as a steal when drafted, and has since shown steady improvement despite limited opportunities early in each season. Had some rookie year issues, and also had some issues with drops and whatnot in camp and preseason of year two. Nevertheless, Shakir became a supremely reliable and explosive target down the stretch last season. He's not a prototypical (?) deep boundary threat, though, so we're supposed to find only fault? Even though "prototypical #1 WRs" don't win many championships. Even though Tyreek Hill and Jalen Waddle and Amon-Ra St Brown and Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp and the San Fran WRs and blah blah blah all seem like the perfect options in reality (despite their measured limitations off the field). I'd argue that having Shakir and Samuel moving around from Z to Y to tight to the backfield, with MVS, Claypool (or Shorter), and Coleman lining up wide, and Kincaid and Knox as interchangeable and moveable TEs...is a pretty great headspace for the elite #17 to be in this year. Just scheme and leverage and who gets open. No more insane egos that outlived their usefulness. Sign me up.

Personally I prefer the prospect of veterans McGovern and Edwards being the default OC and LG until definitively proven otherwise. Morse was clearly a finesse/movement OC, and it appears the Bills might prefer a beefier IOL after all. McGovern has been pining to play C since he got moved in college. I'll bet the guy can do the job and do so with a little more mass in the ass than the last guy. Although that last guy was pretty damned mobile and ostensibly a great locker room influence. I like to judge the Bills on the moves they CHOOSE to make. They definitely CHOSE this o-line reshuffle. So let's judge them on how well it works. Shall we?

Is it fair to say the majority of fans are comfortable with the Bills most likely moving on from almost any RB after their rookie deal expires (or possibly even before, like with Moss)? Seems like a position you can spend a day two or three pick on every other year to keep the pipeline stocked up on the cheap.

Totally agree, to be honest.

Maybe too many witnesses indicated, too much subtle suggestion that this isn't a new or unexpected story to emerge around the accused, etc. But also, you're not wrong to maintain some degree of reservation until all is known. None of us commenting here actually KNOWS anything at all about this story.

I don't think anyone is RELYING on Solomon right now (even though the Troy pass rusher pipeline is actually historically legit in this millennium). However, a valid NFL depth EDGE guy (like Smoot, Toohill, or Jonathan) will NOT make the Bills' 53 because of Javon Solomon, so he WILL then be relied upon to contribute on special teams and/or hopefully pass rushing sub-packages. If Javon Solomon was even just a couple inches taller, he'd have been drafted on day two, even though his functional length (wingspan) is better than Latu, Verse, Robinson (Chop), Trice, Ellis, and others. (Lotta those dudes aren't much heavier than him, either.)

Reluctantly agree with all this, especially the bolded. Just found myself imagining a world where the underlying reason Ben Johnson eventually ended his candidacies for any remaining 2024 job searches is that he realized Sean McDermott is entering a make-or-break season in Buffalo. Best job ever (coaching Josh Allen in his prime) could have an opening during/after the 2024 season, and meanwhile Johnson gets to continue to run a high end offense with a better than average QB on a projected-to-be successful team. (Lotta respect actually for a guy who ostensibly turned down multiple HC jobs...waiting for the right fit. Super rare.)

What about points per game and turnovers per game? And win-loss record? Brady did seemingly stabilize the offense and field a less self-destructive attack. Everything you share here is worthy of review, but isn't the bigger picture also important?

I get it, I was feeling it a little bit during day two and three, but overall it's not really rational.

This before-and-after breakdown basically illustrates the Bills offense employing more balance (without sacrificing passing attempts) and more ball security under Brady, while surrendering about 1 ypa. They tightened things up, found balance, played it closer to the vest, and won a lot more games. Scoring and wins went up, while turnovers went down. That's fundamentally more sound football being played under Brady. (I acknowledge room for more nuance than this, but the measurable productivity was what it was.)

Why can't Solomon, who is already in Buffalo, have a similar impact as a pass rush specialist by season's end? "Obvious" passing downs they could slide Groot inside and have Solomon line up wide, possibly even as pseudo-OLB/5th DL. Lots of pass rush personnel flexibility if they can first stop the run effectively.

It really feels like fans are mostly shook by "giving" the Chiefs Worthy (and passing on Legette) before selecting Coleman. So it's really about WHO they've invested in (top picks each of the last two drafts), rather than how much they've invested. I guess not double-dipping at WR also ranks for many fans, and I can admit to relentlessly rooting for Franklin on day two and three. As a counter to that mindset, however, I'd ask everyone this question: realistically, would fans have been happier with Franklin at 33 over Coleman? Would his speed and EXCELLENT advanced metrics and former recruiting by Brady have quieted the crowd a bit? Of course the Diggs trade is a huge part of all of this, but I'd argue it's obvious that the player finally just forced his way out. It became untenable, and the team had to take its medicine. Plus, that dude was an effing GHOST the 2nd half of the last two seasons and always in the playoffs for the Bills. That really mitigates the loss there for me, at least.