Richard Noggin

And Gabe last week, too.

You talking about the push-up play? Or just before that

Pretty sure we eventually got two nice tuddies on 1st down play-action, though, didn't we? Or at least one TD and another explosive play. I don't know. I was there. I got a lot of sun today (and I'm a ginger). I get the frustration with such patterned play calling. But if it pays off over the course of a game, then that's kinda brilliant innit

Google: Beach chairs

One new wrinkle in this matchup tomorrow is that Allen's ownership of the Dolphins defense predates the hiring of Fangio. So it might be tempting for Phins fans or our more delicate fellow Bills fans to wipe that RATHER CONVINCING slate clean and act like Fangio is a new, unknown quantity. Good thing Josh Allen is 2-0 against Fangio-led Broncos teams/defenses. One could convincingly argue that those Broncos defenses had more talent than this current Dolphins D, especially without Jaelen Phillips. "Allen has also had success against new Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in two wins over Fangio when he was head coach of Denver: Four touchdowns, one interception, 544 passing yards on 66 percent passing." https://cbs12.com/sports/content/tua-has-a-chance-to-lead-dolphins-over-divisional-hump-of-josh-allen-and-the-bills

Everyone obviously remembers when Miami won the superbowl at home in week 3 against the Bills last year? Just 12 hours until we get a chance to avenge that early-season superbowl loss. I'm ready.

He didn't work hard enough on his positive manifestations in the offseason. This might all be his fault.

I was ambivalent on Ed and a hard no on (re-signing) Tremaine. Happy to see Ed showing out so far (shoutout to DaQuan Jones for the assist). Not surprised that Tremaine isn't making plays in Chicago.

I do not MISS it, no. Was it incredibly entertaining at the time? Like watching the '90s Knicks against anyone else in the East? Yes, of course. Like watching the '80s Sabres brawl with the Bruins? Penalty boxes absolutely bulging with humanity? Hell yeah. I wasn't cognizant enough to remember the amazing violence and gladiatorial brutality of defense (and the heightened, epic beauty of downfield offensive breakthroughs) 70s bloodsport football. Was it irresponsible and salaciously exploitative? Obviously. Probably why it was so narcotically appealing. The era of head-hunting and otherwise overtly violent collisions visited upon offensive skill players who dared go downfield or over the middle was potentially a reflection of the times.

You might mean he's PRODUCING well? Projecting season totals has nothing much to do with efficacy, and almost everything to do with opportunity. Performing well, in my mind, would include a couple more catches already, given the targets he's already seen.

Agree with your first line. Starting CBs are playing well, at least to my untrained eye. But one reason to maybe elevate Elam over Jackson, perhaps, is the same reason why your second line is irrelevant: Elam has the plus speed and length and press-man traits of a 1st rounder (which ultimately matters more than the perceived value and expectations of his draft position), and those traits might be useful against the fastest offense (ever?) who relies on free releases and timing. I know New England followed Hill around a bunch with their 1st round rookie, Gonzalez (sucks he fell to them). Not saying Elam should mark Hill, exactly, but it's also not a wild idea. Let's forget about draft position for the sake of outside expectations, shall we? As if that's even remotely possible.

Probably against the starters? Especially in anticipation of man-to-man coverage schemes and press man matchups? Isn't that what back of the depth chart guys do each week? Maybe it's more the domain of practice squad players, but guys who aren't in the gameplan still have a lot of utility in getting their teammates prepared. But anyways. Elam could have real value in the game this week. Past season's metrics suggest it's not at all a stretch, on one hand. Of course, this season's burying on the depth chart suggests otherwise, on the other hand.

Love the optimism, but would love even more some specific examples of your claims about McD's past defensive creativity and success. Not that I disagree at all. Just looking for something concrete to actually consider, other than "Go Bills!"

Isn't basically every Week One starter essentially "stone cold" under this criteria? (Elam played extensively in the preseason, of course. He's been practicing. The dude is not on the street.)

Pros know you can't play the game half-speed. Best way to protect yourself is to play fast and physical, through every whistle. Some accomplished pros might have the luxury of a bigger picture perspective on the game and their careers, but the majority of guys out there are DESPERATE to put the best reps on film no matter what the game situation is. They MUST take full advantage of every rep and put the best effort on film, every time. Rapp, a guy who has started a bunch of games for a VERY successful franchise, is now a backup and subpackage guy playing on a relatively modest, 1-year deal. He doesn't have the luxury of throttling down, ever, if he intends to get back on the field full-time. Davante Adams, in the prime of his career, forced his way OFF a winning franchise in order to get big money from a mediocre team. That's his right, for sure, but we can see that his perspective on the game differs dramatically from the vast majority of players. He can eff right off.

By what objective measure was Edmunds "above average"? Maybe last year he was in the top half of MLBs, maybe. But look at his stats. Come on. "Above average" LBs show up on the stat sheet beyond combined tackle totals. The dude simply did NOT make enough impact plays out there to justify anything close to the cap hit he now commands. That is an objective truth, and not really up for debate. (And I'm not one for such declarations. But people need to move off their positions and see the established, measurable truth. Tremaine Edmunds looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane. A regrettable football cliche, but apt here.)

This deserves emphasis. The real secret to Miami's exponential offensive explosion is being balanced, multiple, and dangerous through the air and on the ground. It's difficult to defend that kind of attack. If Miami can gash a defense on the ground, then whatever they do through the air becomes so much easier. The middle of the field, especially, really opens up as LBs and even safeties/slots get sucked towards the LOS. Defense has to be incredibly disciplined and physical, and tackle very well. Cannot over-pursue or over-commit against the run. Ends have to stay home, etc.

This last bolded point is where I got frustrated with Daboll at times. He was calling plays and formations and alignments based almost exclusively, it seemed, on perceived schematic advantage. But sometimes, many would argue, you need to call plays in order to help out your guys on the field, especially your offensive linemen. Remember that awful home-opener against Pittsburgh? Their rushers could just tee off, play after play, and that really exacerbated the already difficult job of blocking talented guys like TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward. There are so many reasons to seek at least a semblance of balance and unpredictability in play-calling, and in my opinion it has EVERYTHING to do with giving your guys that tiny modicum of advantage off the snap.

I know today the Commanders were getting the ball first in the 2nd half; had the Jets also won the toss and deferred? That could help to explain the conservative clock management in both cases. Can't leave too much time in case your drive stalls, which then gives the opponent a chance to "double-up" their way back into the game. I know the infamous Belichick "double-dip" thing was deferring the opening kickoff on the road, aggressively scoring on the final possession of the 1st half, then getting the ball to start the 2nd half when the stadium is quieter and they could operate more comfortably for a couple minutes as fans return from their final beer runs. This Jets/Commanders clock management was intended to PREVENT getting "doubled-up" on while also extending the lead, however modestly. It's a good plan on the road, when you lose the coin toss.

I think "disturbing" is a...strong characterization.

Great win for the entire team. Fun to watch when the whole operation is dialed in like that. If you don't want any yellow rain on your/our victory parade, then read no further. Fellas, if this isn't the most Gabriel Davis stat line (25% catch rate but an explosive TD): I know they won, and I know he scored the first TD. But each game is a fascinating addition to ongoing debate: is Gabe Davis deserving of the AAV he's probably after? (Feels like Edmunds math should apply here, in my opinion.) It's a joke in my household to look at Davis' hands on every re-played target. You might have noticed his hands on the TD? That weird clapping at the ball thing is really something he does almost every time now. In the next frame, he catches the ball with hands mostly opposing, like an RB taking a handoff. His fundamentals have oddly regressed. Which means his (W)Receiving production will be inconsistent. His ceiling is impressively vaulted, but his floor sags in spots. My opinion: his efficiency numbers are just not good enough for a large cap commitment. (Would LOVE for Davis to just absolutely EXPLODE and make me look dumb, btw. Don't get me wrong.)

By Buffalo I mean Buffalo. Or maybe buffalo? I don't know. Bbuffalo.

Only Buffalo stops Buffalo.

Heck-of-a-sentence incoming: Is it generally agreed-upon by Bills fans that IF the OP is correct, meaning Allen/the offense actually improves all season and peaks in Jan/Feb, that our defense is probably just good enough to carry its weight just often enough?

I recite this when I meditate, unclothed, in the late-day, low-angle sunlight. The PG "piss" in line 3 tickles me.