Simon

If I remember right, I think that the other defender whom Allen threw a guy at was none other than Leonard Floyd

Checking up on his route on the first TD was exactly the kind of progression we need to see from him. That recognition will start putting him on the same page as Allen if he keeps it up. Last year he wouldn't have slowed a beat and would have run himself right into coverage. This year he ends up with the ball in the endzone. Granted he was probably a half step slow to recognize and react to it, which put Allen's throw off a bit because he probably thought Kincaid wasn't going to check it, but slow or not, he did it. It wasn't perfect, but we're not looking for perfect yet; we're just looking for better. And that is happening. That was Minkah Fitzpatrick, a legit killer that the Phish gave up JRamsey and Jonnu Smith for. This is going to pay off in spades if Brady plays this right.

Agreed with all this, but they also desperately needed a spark at that point in the Baltimore game and I think McD was trying to give it to them from the sideline.

Yeah, they called and executed that game very conservatively on both sides of the ball. I looked at it more like a don't beat yourself sort of gameplan vs a team that you clearly outclass, but they may have also been making a conscious decision to keep things close to the vest.

It did. I have no problem with the TO on 3rd/7. And I'd ahve no problem with the TO on 2nd down if it was 2nd/long. And I'd have no problem with the TO on 2nd/5 if Miami was down closer to the 10yrd line. But with it being only 2nd/5 and with the ball being out around the 25 with plenty of room to operate, I think that gamble accomplishes nothing but giving a helping hand up to an inferior team.

I think he had Coleman singled up over there and I thought for sure they were going to take a shot at that skinny white boy.

There's more on this at the Sabres website and Facebook page

It was 2nd/5 when he started calling them. He was trying to repeat the success he had in a similar situation in the Baltimore game, but this was a different scenario and he should not have done it. Nor do I want it to become a habit for him.

The fact that you want to bring a stat sheet into it is part of the you problem. He's doing exactly what he's being asked to do and doing it very well, as per usual. If you want to chew on McD and Babich for chaining him to the LOS, have at it. I agreed with it the first two games and understood it to a point last night, but it's becoming excessive.

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That's a you problem

I get this if it becomes a trend. But a division game early in the year on a short week is a breeding ground for unpredictability and inconsistency. I'm really hesitant to draw any sort of long-term conclusions from a matchup like this.

I don't mean at all to downplay the improvements he's made; they have been significant and I respect the hell out of the work he's putting in. But there is still fruit on the vine here.

I want Hoecht to be taking some of Epenesa's snaps the minute he's allowed to.

I think he is already moving better than in any of the college film I saw of him. Would it be gruesome to get an O/U going on how many RBs he's going to knock out of games this year? Cuz it is going to happen.

That swim forced a half-blind throw from a Tua in full retreat which Bernard was getting hands on regardless.

That's a concern for me. He struggled hauling some of those in last year and he doesn't seem to be securing them at a particularly high rate so far this year. It should get better as he gets better, but I'm worried that it also should have gotten a little better already.

No

I think it's kind of a wash right now. You might be right as time goes on if teams figure out how to create seams that are perfectly timed.

I think that was the only f bomb I dropped all night. It got him 3 points vs Baltimore, but it's not something he needs to be making a habit of. That wasn't the spot for it, imo.

I'm done hijacking the Groot thread after this one, but I'd add that that confidence also probably stems from the fact that his body feels like it's supposed to again and he's willing to cut and drive because he's not worried about further injury. And that is massive news, imo. The bad guys make good plays too. That was a great no-look escape that beats 90% of blitzers who have the pedal buried, imo.

I would not make that switch at this point and I bet you McDermott won't either. Agreed with all of this. His strength, conditioning and confidence are all on point and he's really attacking offenses successfully. The big turnover out of nowhere is coming.

He looks pretty live out there to me. You may be right about the step in regards to long speed, but he's making a lot of short area plays that are negatively affecting offenses. I'm very pleasantly surprised by what he's been showing.

Watch him. It's not like he's getting blocked or pushed around; he's setting the edge or rushing contain on most of his snaps. He's nto getting opportunities to make plays that people see (i.e sacks or tfls) because he's rarely being allowed to actually attack the backfield. This is what McDermott wants from him because he wants his defense responsible to a fault and Rousseau is also really good at it.