Old Coot

Ghost to the Post -- a classic Raiders' play

Geez, you guys are very critical of McDaniel. Maybe he didn't know that Tua was concussed. A player will sometimes "man up" and cover up an injury because of competitiveness or not wanting to let the team down. Mcdaniel isn't a doc & if the docs checked Tua for concussion and cleared him, then McDaniel is ignorant of the concussion. Also, Mcdaniel risks losing the players if they see that he values winning more than their health. I don't know what McDaniel knew when he allowed Tua to play on that Thursday night so maybe he did know. It's possible he did not; that's my point.

The OL played very well in the power run game. Cook looked so good because he was able to get through the DL essentially untouched. Not taking anything away from Cook -- just sayin'. The OL had some trouble with the blitz and the Cards blitzed often. Nowadays with the ability of Ds to disguise who is blitzing, it's difficult for the OL. We are lucky enough to have Josh whose escapability makes up for the Os failure to pick up a free blitzer.

With the "Brotherly shove" mechanics 1 yard plays are now gimmies. Ol fires out low and takes down the DL. The LBs and safties need to commit immediately and the QB go straight ahead aided by the RBs push. Of course, it's a bit more complicated than that, but that's the essence of the play.

I hope you do keep giving us your thoughts after each game. I enjoy your perceptive analyses.

This play design is at least 20 years old and is often called "vomit" because the underhanded throw looks like the kind of poor punt that would make an ST coach vomit. Here video of the play: https://coachtube.com/course_lesson/viral-shield-punt-fake-vomit/viral-vomit-pressbox-view/21540734?a=0d90ee66aac64614b00ca7657&utm_source=sendfox&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=the-viral-fake-punt-vomit-by-jeremy-plaa-at-downey-high-school

This is the so-called "Winged" helmet. The red colored part of the helmet goes back to the old days of the leather helmet. Some styles of leather helmets were constructed with front winged leather pieces and three leather reinforcing ribs that were then colored in the team colors. This style of painting on modern helmets still exists at the collegiate level. Examples are Michigan, University f Delaware and Princeton.

This is basically true but they worked so well together as a team. It's like each was living rent-free in the other's mind.

I, too, am concerned about the WR corps. But remember that the Bills were in salary cap jail. They could not keep everyone and they could not spend big on a top quality WR. What are your thoughts on how the FO might have made the WR room better?

We don't have the WR horses we had in the early '90s. The K-Gun had receivers running free in the secondary. When is the last time you saw that with the JAGun? Plus it requires special conditioning to go no huddle for a half or a game. The No huddle might work as a change-up during a drive -- it forces the D to play its base defense, which should make JA's reads simplier.

Keith McKellar. But the "K" comes from his nickname "Killer"

"Got a Hellhound on my trail"

Left out the 3d pass play: Corner blitz. Josh is looking away from the blits and so doesn't see Diggs open short. He takes the sack. Is this on Josh for not mking the hot raed or just a good play by the D?

Watched each of the three plays he broke down. It was Bills vs Jets. Here are my thoughts: 1. First play: Josh is looking at his outlet (TE, I think) who is uncovered but takes the sack. Why? 2. 2d Play: Josh misses the deep cross. Why? 3d play: A running play to the left. Play design requires Dawkins to cross the face of the DT lined up inside him to block him (LG pulled to the left). He can't make the block & the DT blows up the play for a loss. Poor play design? Your thoughts?

You are not wrong. BUT drafting a QB that develops into a good one is a crap shoot (actially the odds are worst than a crap shoot). Maybe if the drafted QB sits behind the starter for several seasons so that he has time to grow into the role you'll have a starting QB. What happens now, even with high draft picks, they get on the filed much too early and get ruined -- their confidence is shot.

Or Kemp and Lamonica! This was light years ago in another galaxy that did not have free agency. Teams need to pay their starters so much more nowthey cannot afford another starting level QB as QB 2.

Tua & Dak are laughing all the way to the bank. FLA & TX have no personal income tax (also Nevada, Washington state and Tennessee)

Johnny Unitas

Shades of Willie Galimore & Cedric Benson.

It is an AOL link but then I'm an Old Coot.

You can't make this stuff up: https://www.aol.com/ex-no-1-pick-jamarcus-155717451.html

The NFL has an antitrust exemption. Without it each team could make its own deals for TV broadcasts and the small market / mediocre trams would have less money to spand on facilities plyers, etc. The salary cap would fall apart. Guess what would happen to the league -- the deep-pocketed teams would out bid others for the top players. What do you think would happen to the small market Bills team? Josh Allen would soon be wearing a Jets, Giants or Cowboys jersey.

Shirt happens!

For you young wipper-snappers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidi_Game Imagine if, in the 2022 Bills' OT loss to KC, the network had cut to Heidi instead of showing the last two minutes of regulation.