Beck Water

It's not the Vikes account, just a fan

I guess I must have missed the "off season podcasts where he openly criticized the team" while Diggs was still a Bill, but i focus on field. It was pretty clear to me that Diggs and Allen were not on the same page as of the end of 2022 and that Diggs was not taking accountability/ responsibility for anything. The Facts are the Facts: Diggs had 6 games over 100 yds in the first 9 games, but only 1 game over 100 yds in the last 7 regular season games, despite having 55 targets in those games (avg 8 targets per game). I did wonder if part of it was Allen's UCL injury, but I remember more than one commentator remarking that Diggs and Allen were clearly not on the same page or "Diggs should have had that". It wasn't just the Bengals game where Diggs was 4 receptions on 10 targets with at least 2 balls it looked as though he should have had. Meanwhile, Diggs was ducking his league mandated media responsibilities, in contrast to his assertion of leadership on the team. Then, after the mandatory minicamp fiasco, there were the September hot mic comments from Maddy Glab and her subsequent forced penance at the hands of Diggs media team. Whatever you think of Glab as a reporter, she doesn't come across as having a conniving bone in her body so I took her comments as speaking the literal truth about the Diggs she knew behind the scenes. And it wasn't a pretty picture. Then the 2023 season was a repeat of 2022: Diggs 5 games with over 100 yds in the first 6 games but the Bills were 4-2. Next games, Bills lost 3 out of 4 despite Diggs attracting 12, 12, 7 and 5 targets. Moved away from Diggs towards the run game (guy still got his targets, 8 targets per game in the last 7 games). It seemed as though for whatever reason Diggs had become a half-season guy who couldn't get it done in the 2nd half of the season - that seems to be common as players age, they start strong after an off season of healing up, but the beating their body takes every game starts to accumulate. Diggs, of course, attributed that to Joe Brady. Greg Cosell said he no longer had the physical skills to function as a #1 receiver (based on his film analysis) But you can 100% count me in the camp of people who felt that Diggs was functionally un-cuttable or un-tradeable in 2024 because of his contract and the huge dead cap hit it would create, and because of the dearth of other WR options on the team at the time and the fact that the Bills hadn't demonstrated much ability to run the ball consistently in previous seasons. I wasn't unhappy to see Diggs gone, but the move made me think that "Big Baller Beane" is actually an apt nickname and I thought "wow, our D is gonna have to be carrying our offense" going into the season.

You know that's a fake, right?

I see what you're getting at. I agree that the Bills can't use 12 sets with Knox and Kincaid as their TE and mount the prototypical threat in the run game that a 2 TE set poses. My point was that the Bills aren't really in 11 either, because Kincaid doesn't pose the same threat that a good WR poses. True, they could bunch Kincaid, but the Bills already have a good slot receiver in Shakir. I actually think that Kincaid is a better downfield blocker now than he's credited with, using timing and space to get in the way just enough. You're right that he isn't a road grader downfield and he can't block inline, which is why the Bills went to adding a 6th lineman on run plays. Anyway, I hope Kincaid has been able to put effort into improving the release aspects of his game, whatever that takes - sheer physical strength, footwork etc. His basketball background ought to give him the balance and body control to learn how to fake DBs out, I don't think he ever got to the point where he tried because the film was out that if they just jammed him he could be neutralized.

Wondering if you have a linky to that interview with Sal? The Bills got played by Diggs. When he showed up in 2020, he had been "all in" with the off season training his ass off. 2021 off season, same. Off season of 2022, he signed that huge contract extension with Buffalo and I'm not saying he didn't work, but I don't think it was to the same level - more time in Paris and at Coachella and fashion shoots. That was the same off-season Sanders was "one and done" and the Bills moved on from Beasley. So it was Diggs, Davis, and no one else. Diggs had no one comparable in skill or seniority in the WR room. Hindsight is always 20/20 but if the Bills made significantly more investment at WR than 5th round pick for Khalil Shakir and signing Jamieson Crowder that off season, I think it's possible Diggs would have checked himself instead of feeling like he was untouchable and had odorless excrement.

Mmm. Except one of Kincaid's problems (in my observation) is releasing off the line against physical coverage. As of last season, he hadn't learned to release like an NFL WR

You remind me of a joke. I bet your wife knows this one. A man notices his wife's butt is getting big. "I bet your butt is as big as my grill." He tells her. His wife rolls her eyes, but he gets a tape measure, measures her bottom, measures the grill, and teases her that they're about the same size. That night, he tries to see if he can get lucky. "Not tonight," says his wife. He asks her why not, to which she responds, "Do you really think I'm going to fire up this big-ass grill for one little wiener?" https://www.ba-bamail.com/jokes/comeback-jokes/?jokeid=1269

I agree, Pitts. cut him loose quickly. It was a rather strange decision for a team that has been patient. I think there was (and is) a strong element of win-now-itis in Steeltown. Their defense is still good, but the core of their DL and other key players are getting long in the tooth. Greats TJ Watt and Cameron Heyward are well past 30. Fitzpatrick is 28. They had several other older starters (Ogunjobi, Roberts) who left in FA. Smith came in and believed he could rescusitate Russel Wilson and Get 'Er Done. Now he hopes he can get 'er done with .....Rodgers? Maybe? It's the model Denver rode to one Superbowl victory with the Ghost of Peyton Manning, after all, and fizzled on doing again with Wilson. Anyway, it's my impression that it may not have been "on" Pickett that a normally patient organization cut him loose. I could be wrong. But the same NFL teams that give chance after chance to veteran has-beens, will surely look hard at Pickett if he's cut and signed to a PS

That's a goood question. Much better question than you may realize. Once upon a time, meaning a couple years ago, you could go on buffalobills.com and find, if not everybody who worked for the Bills, certainly all the heads. Player engagement? Head trainer? Assistant trainers? Strength and conditioning coach? Assistant S&C coaches? Ticket sales? Maintenance? All right there on buffalobills.com, some under "coaches" some under "front office" Last year (may have been earlier, but I noticed it last year) only the coaches and position assistant coaches were listed, and for the "Front Office" it's just the Pegulas, Beane, McDermott and EVP/COO Pete Guelli. Not saying it's a bad thing, not saying it's a good thing, but it's definitely a thing.

Yeah, it kind of reads like "I've Heard of Him" or "PFF graded him well" Greenlaw played 34 snaps last season. It's not just Greenlaw - Okereke missed 5 games. Edgerrin Cooper didn't just miss games with a hammy, he didn't take over as the starter until the last 3-ish games. They acknowledge TJ Edwards wasn't so good last year and they included him based on previous history. Pace only played 10 games. Mosely is a FA, which kind of says how NFL GMs see him (eg not as a top 32 LB) TUNE OUT THE NOISE...TUNE OUT THE NOISE Indeed. There is a reason Bernard won the starting MLB gig over Bernard, and that the Bills moved on from Dodson. I see no lies

Heh. Flacco is "fools gold" as a QB at this point, IMO. He can still master the playbook and he knows where to go with each throw, so he looks great wearing a red jersey. But put him on the field with young fire-eaters coming full-speed-ahead for his liver and lungs, and it all falls apart. I could be wrong, but I don't think a team will manage to keep Pickett on the practice squad. Guy had a winning record, completed 63% of his passes, and threw more TDs than INT (though only slightly) in 2 years at Pittsburgh. If Cleveland wants to keep him as an option, they'll need to find a roster spot for him. Edit: Pittsburgh has a pretty storied history of good personnel decisions, but I have to wonder if Pickett isn't going to prove to be their Geno Smith.

Here's an observation. Kincaid was #3 among TE for YAC per reception - 6.2 Y/R after the catch. Only Tucker Kraft of GNB (9.1) and George Kittle (6.7) had more. But he's tackled upon first contact. Huh.

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/911-call-highlights-tensions-in-tyreek-hill-domestic-dispute-im-so-scared/ He should be suspended 6 games

Actually... weren't there a couple years when we did that here? In 2013 with EJM, Tuel, and Lewis IIRC, maybe 2015 as well. Might differ in that it wasn't ESPN, but rather the local media tracking every throw that occurred during the portion of the practice open to media.

I thought that clip was a setup where the guys were primed beforehand with the answer to prank Diggs. But it had an edge underneath it. Back in (I think) 2017 when it was filmed, Diggs had just had a daughter with one woman. But another woman went public that she was also pregnant and Diggs forced her to have an abortion. Taking it with a grain of salt because exactly what did he do, hire goons to frog march her to the clinic? it was pretty sordid. Def. wouldn't want my sister around that. https://www.instagram.com/p/BPx9dGfD8VI/?hl=en

To be fair to Pats fans, while I agree with almost everything you say here: during the championship years, the Pats did have a pattern of "washed" players coming to NE and finding a "second wind". No doubt due to clean living, avocado ice cream. and whatever Alex Guerrero told them to do.

Hear me out They have some good content on One Bills Live...notably regular features from Eric Wood, Dan Orlovsky, and Greg Cosell. They aren't going to say anything harshly critical of the Bills but when needed, it's there if you read between the lines. And these guys know their stuff.

You are correct, McConkey played primarily from the slot.

I'm not challenging the truth. I'm asking for the data which establish what IS the truth If it's truth, you should have no problem providing the source of the data which establish that. You started out talking about 3rd and long. Now you're talking about 3rd down conversions in general Where are the data about 3rd and long? How do you define 3rd and long (since you reference your eyes watching the games), and how do the data about 3rd and long define it? Last, since you mentioned what a "casual observer" would be able to tell, I asked what a casual observer tells you about the Chiefs 3rd down defense results?

Hmmm. Wondering if there's a free source for these data? Also how you define "3rd and long"? What does a casual observer tell you about the Chiefs 3rd down results? I want to respect you, but I'm struggling to respect someone who puts lemon ginger kombucha in their cup. Do you drink it after you put it there?

I disagree on the "not a huge one". Morris is 6'2". I think the Bills hope was that he'd develop as an in-line blocker, but he never did. So the problem became, with Morris in the game there were a limited number of plays the Bills might run, and defenses had enough film to decode that. Rookies are almost never NFL quality blockers out of the gate, but Hawes has pretty glowing reviews as a blocker. https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jackson-hawes/32004841-5706-0991-3db0-4aa9a5a35e4b https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Jackson-Hawes-TE-Yale

Q was a converted WR. So he actually had release moves off the line - just not the suddenness and speed to compete as a WR in the NFL. And while he stayed on the team as a core STer, he never became a good enough blocker to see more than cameo appearances. But he could run a route and had good ball tracking and hands. I remember watching a OBL segment with Greg Cosell where Q ran a route and caught a TD in the end zone and Cosell was like "who is that tight end?" clearly impressed by the quality of the route, and Tasker told him he was a converted WR and he was "oh, that would explain it." That would apply if he'd attended Harvard.

Yeah, I think it's pretty inevitable. They used a 5th round pick on a TE who looked comfortable in rookie minicamp, Knox Kincaid and Hawes are gonna be their 3 TE. Question is gonna be how Hawes does on ST It's the TBD version of <EOM>

I honestly don't think so. I do think he manipulates teams to move on, but I don't think it's coldly calculated to add bank. I think he starts out great in each new situation. Then he starts to feel unhappy about this and that, and instead of working it out or letting it go, it builds to a big grievance in his mind, while his own behavior is never under an internal microscope and he never feels he has to apologize or make amends for a thing. So then the grievance has one solution: GOT TO MOVE ON. I think he misplayed his hand a bit with Houston. He accepted a 1 year deal because he was so certain he'd have a magnificent, 2020-like year with Stroud then be able to "make bank" this year with a final big contract. Well, thanks to the Patriots, he did get a big contract, but looking at the details, it's not what he would have gotten had he had a big year. It's basically like a 1 year, $16.8 M contract with a team option to keep him 2 more years. Don't get me wrong, it's still great money for a 31 yr old WR coming off an ACL injury. It puts him 25th overall as an "average salary", so he's still being paid as a #1 WR. But he was expecting, I think, to be paid as a top-10, maybe top-5, WR again.