Mikie2times

Groot prevents further premium investment at DE. I would rather take my chances in Free Agency with a Bosa or a Floyd which still preserves the ability to go after a Miller type. I really like Shakir, but he has been a niche YAC player. He hasn’t even been able to fulfill the traditional slot route tree. Pure screen guy. When your entire WR room sucks having him as the gold piece isn’t exactly shiny. Shaq Thompson is outplaying Bernard. A street free agent nobody wanted. Who was going to come in an pay out 15 pound MLB prime dollars at the end of his contract? Beane jumped the gun like he did with Knox when he had no risk of waiting. At which point, if he did wait, he would have found out his market value is in the toilet. Palmer and Samuel are just brutal signings at this point. Somehow Beane thinks you can create a great WR in the slot aggregate with guys that have barely been able to stay healthy or reach high production levels in past lives. Benford was a good signing, but the concussion stuff will always be a risk with him. The Hoecht was also a good signing, but we did so knowing about the PED issues, guaranteed lost time, increased injury risks associated. At the end of the day it’s more of the same with Beane. Ever since Diggs and Von burned him he’s afraid to take any swings. He would rather invest in numbers with the hope a guy breaks thru or avoids injury despite being injured most his career. A whole lot of hope and wishing. Very little that can be counted on. He needs to go back to taking some swings and get out of his little baller ways.

-Darnold will Implode in the postseason -Jackson will implode in the postseason -Allen has no support So my guess is Baker

Rams are legit. I don’t see Darnold holding up in the playoffs. Eagles just aren’t there this year. In the AFC if you eliminate the big name teams like Buffalo, KC, and Baltimore, I sort of like what the Jaguars are doing but think it’s probably Houston. That game Houston lost to Denver was going to to be a blowout when Stroud got hurt. I just think they’re the most dangerous team in the AFC right now. Rams vs Texans, Rams win.

Fair, and I don’t disagree, he’s a good player and we aren’t exactly overpaying. I think that is the prevailing argument around here and it’s incorrect. Even a guy like Bernard I apply the same logic with. That could be a good deal so to speak, but from my view if that deal prevents more aggressive investment at MLB to try and upgrade it’s not a good way to build the roster. You obviously can’t have studs everywhere. I just think we tilt way too hard of late towards B players vs maybe some D/C filler types with some A players. Which really frustrates me because I believe Beane was more on the path if trying to get higher talent in the past. But the conclusion of the Diggs and Miller situations just left him burnt. But to me those were the correct moves even if they didn’t go how we wanted in full. The year Miller got hurt he very well could have been the piece we needed. It’s very hard to separate them, which is why I largely don’t try to do so.

We made the decision to block spending premium dollars on a premium position to “lock” in a run defender. It’s dumb roster building. You would be infinitely better off signing rotational pieces at DE to sub top 45 money and landing a premier player. Same story with how we treat WR. “Bargain” major air quotes with Samuel and Palmer amounting to almost nothing, vs just taking a shot at higher talent. If you want to focus on 16 money vs 15 vs top 20, none of it really matters. It’s enough to prevent future premium investment. That is the problem.

He will make top 15 money the next few years for his position. How many run defenders who can’t rush the passer are going to make that at DE? How many teams have a guy like that making top 15 money and then have another elite pass rusher (which requires top 15 money). It was a bad deal from a roster building standpoint. Classic Beane move. It virtually locks up a mediocre pass rush at DE because he has to be your primary DE from a payroll perspective. If he’s not we have too much $ allocated to the position. He's not a guy you pay if for a discount because he will block impact players in the future. Same with Bernard, same with a lot of these lil baller decisions.

I was sort of messing around with that comment because like most Bills fans he’s certainly a favorite of mine. The main point I was making is Phil was the do everything run defender of that era. To me he’s a very similar player to Greg. Which is why I would still contend that deal is/was a mistake. Phil was not a foundational piece nor is Greg, rather an absolute stud to partner with a premier pass rusher. Phil had Bruce, but Greg’s not going to get anybody. At that contract he’s going to make it very hard for us to sign an elite pass rusher even if we have the chance to do so. It will just be too much locked up at the position. He was the wrong centerpiece like Phil would have been in the same situation.

It’s like giving the bag to Phil Hansen.

If I have one main area I don’t like with how Beane manages the roster signings it’s just how frequently he tries to avoid a player going into his final year or final couple years of a deal to “save” for the future as more cap is added and that contract likely grows. It is a logical strategy in many ways but also ignores elements that can be beneficial when you allow players to enter a final contract year. By allowing that additional year/sometimes two years, you get peak production from the player. You get the benefit of seeing how the rest of your roster is developing and if that signing makes sense. You get the benefit of ensuring that contract is for somebody that is healthy. Waiting is an insurance policy. You don’t always need to use insurance, but to just eliminate it entirely is a mistake. One that has forced us to eat some pretty big contracts, easily making up for any savings from signing guys earlier.

Maybe? I mean, they had three starters out on the OL in the playoff game. It really hasn’t seemed to matter how bad the offensive line play was vs us. The current offensive iteration is way more prolific. It’s not as power centric which does bode well for us. From my view attempts at minimizing them offensively relative to the past is sort of hair splitting at best. In all likelihood, both offenses should be able to do want they want.

I think what makes stat/story compelling within the broader game is the notion that this is no longer the same Bengals team that owned us offensively. Combine with the prevailing thought that our defense is ascending. Historically, even with time to devise a new game plan, we have just not been able to do anything vs Burrow, who from my view is basically the mold of a QB you want vs a McD defense. He will take the 5 yards all day, deliver with accuracy. Rinse and repeat. So while the game certainly won’t be decided on the first drive, if Burrow just carves us up I think that will be rather telling.

It’s not a prediction post, the Bengals are certainly different. I don’t think the Bengals offense is materially worse and despite a week to prepare for all three games, we couldn’t force an incomplete pass. So yes, it will be interesting to see how the first drive goes from my perspective.

I highlighted this in the past, it will be interesting to see if anything changes. In his career so far, Burrow is 17 for 17, 182 yards, and 3 TD’s on opening drives vs the Bills. Obviously the Hamlin game never went official and the stats didn’t count, but we still know what happened.

People can get hit by cars when crossing the road. Doesn’t mean it’s likely people will get hit by a car crossing the road. I just took a random list from NFL.com. Two of Twenty five players have never played in the championship. Most have not only played but won and multiple times. Allen would get added to the list as he will certainly be on it one day if McD and lil Baller keep it up. Citing anomalies as evidence and hand picking players to do so isn’t evidence. https://www.nfl.com/news/top-25-quarterbacks-of-all-time-patriots-tom-brady-leads-list-0ap3000001035041

Except you’re just selecting players at random and wrong in your assumptions to boot. As stated, they all made Super Bowls, several on that list made multiple super bowls. Have we made a Super Bowl? Who cares if it was the wrong era for Cunningham? 😂 because ChronicAndKnuckles declares a guy never made as far as he could because he was born in the wrong decade doesn’t mean he belongs in a list with first ballot half of fame QB’s. Selective logic, based on lala.

What’s funny about this list is all of these guys have played in one outside of system players and somebody that shouldn’t even be on the list in the first place. Randall Cunningham? Give me a break. Moon and Fouts were great QB’s but lessons on why offensive diversification matters. Heavy pass first systems that had defenses that splintered. You could easily argue the systems that made them great were so severely flawed they could never go further, and yes, that is on the coach. Point to them for innovation but not practicality. But those players really have nothing in common with the Bills situation. Watching people try and normalize our inability to even get to the big game is humorous to say the least.

Have you looked at the starting QB’s we have faced in the wild card? These aren’t even playoff caliber teams. Meaningless. Mac Jones, Mason Rudolph, Skyler Thompson, Bo Nix….who cares how we did vs borderline playoff teams starting back ups in home games

Nobody hates McD, that’s just a creative path people use to dismiss the opinions of those that think this regime, Beane included, is fairly average if not worse. Surely such opinions have to be personal and irrational. The whole thing is boring. This team looks like a floating turd in a punch bowl with people hanging onto to hopes that somehow we alter what has occurred like clockwork for multiple seasons and actually perform better in the playoffs. Which we can’t. It’s as laughable a notion as saying the Cowboys will just click in the postseason. Bahaha….man, fear, fear, and more fear. Nobody leave the house. A bad thing could happen.

Maye is playing better than Allen right now. He might not BE better, but he is playing better. They have a more dynamic offense as whole, as far as the WR group, and McDaniels calling plays. They have a better defense. Specifically a better run defense. They clearly have an edge with attitude and confidence. I believe they’re overrated, in fact, I believe they’re the worst 10-2 team from a DVOA perspective since the late 70’s. But they’re also young, and while they have benefited from the schedule they’re also learning how to win as they go thru it. It was very similar to the Patriots first year with Brady. They were likely overrated for most of that year, until eventually they were a pretty good team. Not to say they’re anything like that Pats iteration as far as upside potential, but just because they have had an easy schedule and are overrated relative to the record, it doesn’t mean that is the only narrative that can exist. Meanwhile, we really don’t have a lot of room to talk about other teams being overrated. Our marquee win is what, Carolina? The Chiefs and Ravens games aren’t exactly aging well. While I know YOU just dismiss it all to SOS, eventually you do need to win games to be considered good. Something the Ravens and the Chiefs just aren’t doing and something we have struggled with at times vs far worse teams. It’s Intersting that people here are making an argument that the AFC is just paper tigers when it’s pretty obvious the Bills are as well. Virtually no quality wins (unless you use quality based on past years) inconsistent play all over the place. Sure, it’s always any given Sunday, but we have a long way to go to string together multiple wins in a row against teams that have been able to close out games and win multiple ways, regardless of those wins have been against flawed teams (as the Bills wins have as well).

Crazy to be how much this board swings week to week. Despite what we saw against a back up QB and a guy collecting social security with one arm, this defense can/will revert to against more functional offenses. All the focus is on the offense right now, but this defense is far from “book it” level. Forget about the obvious lack of playmakers outside. Within that, Brady’s scheme has regressed and teams are much better prepared for it now. Allen is not playing with confidence, accuracy, or any degree of decisiveness. Not saying this to place blame, he needs more help, clearly, but he’s also missing layups at times. His energy level is total dog crap for long periods which is a reflection of the team as a whole and its inconsistent play. While most the AFC teams have some serious flaws and are capable of being beat, I’m not sure if this team can win 3 in a row against .500 level teams at this stage. They’re a wild card caliber squad, not much more. I don’t think winning out is possible, they just aren’t consistent enough. Even with the flawed contenders, they’re playing with far more consistency, swag, or unit specific dominance. Things we just don’t have. We don’t have a unit as dominant as Houston or Denver’s defense. We don’t have the confidence/swag of the Patriots, who feel more like the early iterations of the Bills before the fun got sucked out. Jacksonville and the Chargers are just playing better football on both sides and again, more confidence, swag, youth. This Bills team just looks like it’s been battling to stay on top of a mountain all year. But it’s stopped trying to climb higher for awhile now. Other teams might not be world beaters, but they’re clearly trying to continue the climb.

One drive away from knocking off the Eagles last year. Beat us last year. Several points to credibility if anybody thinks they aren’t lapping us in team building at this point

He watches others go to parties

That is wild. It’s crazy to say the least, especially with all the big 4 leagues pushing it so hard. I’ve always dabbled and for most my life it was something I just didn’t discuss because so few people understood any of it. Now it’s just standard recreation for many. But this peer to peer stuff is way out there. I remember before the offshores were basically banned, we had some peer to peer places get shut down in the US. Then they just disappeared. That followed the sports books lobbying for almost a decade to get it legal. Then they finally start winning at the state level. But now even Robinhood is offering straight spreads and totals in all 52 states saying they don’t need any betting licenses because they aren’t a bookie. Hard to imagine this is sustainable.

I think you’re largely right. My view is pretty simple, who would I in the playoffs? The underperforming Bills, Chiefs, or Ravens or the over performing Broncos, Colts, Jaguars, or Patriots? It’s really not close from my view. The historical cream of the crop is still the cream of the crop in a single game elimination.

For this team, I thought the vision of complimentary football was better in the first build. I’m happy we want a more consistent running game, but the entire defensive system is meant for defending the pass. We have barely cared at any point over fortifying our run defense. So to me, complimentary would be less ball control, developing an offense that is more dangerous and explosive enough to more routinely force teams to be one dimensional on offense, and into more passing situations. Which we saw a lot in the first build. Which is what our defense is designed for. We seem to run counter this, shortening the game, trying to win low possession games, higher variance events like turnover margin. Which has not gone well this year. We have the foundation to really build an elite offense, yet even if we did, it seems like we want to focus on being ball control. I really don’t get it to be honest. This team has lost its way from my perspective.