TigerJ

Coming out of college he was said to have decent measurables, (he's got good size and athleticism) but very raw and a poor college pedigree. Lost his first season to a ruptured achilles. He spent his second NFL season on Atlanta's PS and part of his third on Miami's PS until he was activated late in the year. He's 26 years old now. We'll likely see next summer if he's learned anything as a fringe player the last couple years.

Of all the receiver names I've seen, I think I'm most intrigued by Laviska Shenault. He is used like a Deebo Samuel, but he's about three inches taller at 6'2." He s got a muscular build, and one publication predicts he'll run a sub 4.4 40 at the combine. That is the kind of versatility to make one drool just a bit. The love child of Deebo Samuel and DK Metcalf?

That sounds like a good start.

It's well accepted to be a real thing. Elite athletes in many fields use a sports psychologist to prepare for the pressure of important competitions. The question is, to what degree are they employed in football? I raise this question because it would seem as if it could be helpful for a young QB like Josh Allen. He has spoken at press conferences about the the importance of him of not getting too amped up for a game that to fans at least seems to have greater than normal pressure - a nationally televised game or (as in the case of this weekend) a playoff game. At the same time we've seen where in such games he will sometimes wrestle with overthrows. So, I wonder, does the team employ a sports psychologist to help players, especially young skill position players, cope with pressure, or does Sean rely on his own experience in that regard. I know he puts great stock in maintaining routine, and emphasis on the one game at a time focus that is a part of the culture he's brought to Buffalo. If he does not employ a sports psychologist, I wonder if it would be to Allen's benefit to use one. Maybe he already does. Does anyone recall anything that's ever been said by the team about the use of sports psychologists? Do you think they should employ one? I think it would be a great question for someon in the media to ask McDermott some time.

Football has come a long way since the Bengals GM would buy the Sporting News Draft Edition to figure out who he should be drafting. Now Gettleman will have an entire IT staff scanning the internet for mock drafts and lists of prospects from all the draft websites.

I think he gets the most out of limited ability. Good for him. Between Yarbrough and Mike Love, the two defensive ends on the PS I think Love has greater upside. Yarbrough was signed, I think, because he has more of a track record in the pros. I wonder if Buffalo will try to replace him on the PS.

I like this idea. I don't really see the point of making teams play a WR at CB because they've run out of warm bodies at CB for example, if they've got the guy on the roster who can help.

Vegas is Pacific time zone. I remember having to change my watch on a vacation to Nevada, Arizona and Utah a few years back.

I assume you're labeling the Rams and Steelers as playoff caliber even though they didn't make the playoffs this year. The nice thing about a schedule like this is when Buffalo gets to the playoffs, they can look at the other good teams and think, "We don't need to be afraid of you. We've already faced and beaten you guys.

Agreed. He seemed to leave something to be desired in the hiring of assistant coaches, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Then he demonstrated loyalty to people who should have been canned. He has a nice offensive system though. It's both QB friendly and productive in the running game.

Baker's going to lose his brand power in advertising if he keeps that crap up.

Except for throwing one pick, McCarron didn't have a really terrible day. He completed 21 of 35 passes for 225 years. He also had 39 yards rushing on 5 carries. It was mostly the running of Derrick Henry that did the Texans in. AJ Brown also had a real nice day catching passes from Tannehill.

It couldn't hurt, but I doubt that there are a lot of deep dark secrets the Texans are trying to keep hidden anyway, besides their game plan for next Saturday.

It would have been better to come out of the game with no injuries, but Levi Wallace is less of a key player than a number of other starters. It would be very hard to replace Tre White for instance. Losing Levi leaves the depth a little thin, but there is no reason that Kevin Johnson can come in and a decent job in a starting role. Same thing with Nsekhe. I'd love to have him available against Houston, but Ford has been coming on in the last couple weeks. If he can stay healthy, the line should be OK.

Buffalo got through the game with relatively minor injury losses. They identified a couple guys who could be contributors in the playoffs and a number of players who are unlikely to be contributors ever. All in all, not a total loss.

Higgins may be in the discussion late in round one. I'm pretty sure Ettienne is a reach when Buffalo is picking, and probably Dobbins too. Dobbins in round 2 is probably a good value. Chase Young will no doubt go top 3 in the draft. Okudah from Ohio State and Simmons from Clemson will get drafted by the middle of the first round. Higgins might be a good pick for Buffalo. I'd also like Laviska Shenault from Colorado. He's not as tall as Higgins but he's probably faster, and can be used in a lot of ways.

I'd like to see Buffalo dress three real running backs every week next season. I'm OK with Hunt if Beane thinks he fits the culture and budget. I expect to see a guy drafted too.

I think you should change your username to Spagstrodamus since you make such accurate predictions. Oh wait. Forget I said that.

What I recall is that from the get go, McDermott was all about the Process and building culture. It is integral to his coaching style. In contrast, nothing was mentioned in Miami about culture during Gase's first couple years in Miami. Then McDermott joined the Bills and began to out play the predictions of prognosticators. So, in 2018 Gase announced to his team and the Media that Miami was going to "change the culture." It struck me that he seemed to regard that as just another coaching strategy, something he could add to his coaching toolbox to try and make things work. It didn't and he found himself out of a job. I believe he has no understanding what culture is really about. It works for McDermott because it is ingrained in him. He can't coach any other way. Culture is about everybody in the organization all pulling the same way, working toward the ultimate team goal. When Gase was hired by the Jets, he went out and hired a defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator that hate each other - more proof he just doesn't get it.

Like most people who make their living on an NFL practice squad, there is never any news. When the Bills are no longer part of the playoff picture (after the Super Bowl?) look to see if he's offered a futures contract. That will tell you whether or not the Bills have any interest in him going forward.

Henry Anderson, a defensive lineman who doesn't have a lot of talent was the the primary hit man for Greggo. He happens to be listed on the injury report as questionable for the game.

It sore of depends on you definition of "great". "Ground" Chuck Knox was pretty highly regarded, though his Bills tenure left something to be desired.

The Jets are out of the playoffs and Gregg Williams has a reputation for coaching his players to go overboard. I can see the Jets seeing the game as a chance to hurt the Bills' playoff chances by roughing up the skill position players on the Bills' offense. I know McDermott intends to play starters for part of the game. I hope Josh Allen, Beasley, Brown and Singletary will maybe play a couple series and then watch from the sidelines. It would be nice too if Rogers and his crew would call personal foul penalties against the Jets when the Jets commit them. It may also help that Henry Anderson, a starting defensive lineman for the Jets, and a noted cheap shot artist, is on the injury report. He's been a limited participant in the Jets practice sessions for the last two days. Even if he ends up as questionable, the Jets may decide there not reason to risk more injury in a meaningless game, and sit him.

I know that a lot of fans like to talk about Nsekhe being superior to Cody Ford at right tackle. It may be true, but it really doesn't matter. Ford is going to get every chance to demonstrate he can be a starter at right tackle moving forward. He generally got better over the course of the season, especially while Nsekhe was out with the ankle sprain. I think against Houston the Bills will probably go back to having Ford and Nsekhe split time at right tackle, but they'll have the option of playing Nsekhe more if Ford is struggling. JJ Watt might be lining up across from the right tackle, so it will be good to have options. Next year will be completely different. I don't know if Buffalo will try to have a new potential starter at right tackle, but If they don't, I expect Ford to be the starter, and I think he will be enough better that we won't be speaking of him as a liability.

It may well have been something Phillips said. If that is the case, no video is ever going to show anything. Unless Phillips or the official who threw the flag talks about it, we'll never know.