PBF81

I would in fact call the current situation a failure in the sense that it wasn't addressed in a timely manner. I mean is it a success? I don't see how. If it works out well for us this season, then it will make a huge difference. It will also make a significant difference if it doesn't work out well. Who knows which will happen. I do think that this is a key season for exactly things such as that. Once we play the season we'll find out. Frankly, I think it would be kinda cool if, for instance, they could figure out a D w/o a prominent role for a MLB. I wouldn't bet that it will happen, but I think it would be cool if it did. We'll soon find out. Let's just hope that it doesn't cost us dearly, as I would suspect that it will. Suspecting that it will does not equate to that's my hope.

OK, hedge it however you want, but your answer is essentially that yes, they did choose it. Correct? No one cares about circumstances that every other team is subject to as well. At the end of the day they are where they are due to the way that the roster has been managed. Would you agree with that? It sounds as if you're trying to suggest that they chose it, but it's not because it was planned that way, which seems to be contradictory. Choosing something ("chose") implies that there were other options.

Yeah, that "touch" appears to be a serious issue. I'm sure there were some drops, every team has them. His top two receivers were Pearsall and Shorter. How many drops did they have? From what I've read, Shorter doesn't seem to be the type of WR that drops a lot of balls. Seems like the opposite. What's interesting is that I just watched a few Richardson lowlight and other videos. Some of his passes were real headscratchers. Here's one of the videos; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HI04TAmrqD8 BTW, pay close attention to what he says beginning at the 8 minute mark. That's my thought as well. I sense a Jamarcus Russell/Vince Young career trajectory. You shouldn't walk away from that video thinking that a few drops were the reasons why he'll struggle in the NFL. Either way, I don't really care all that much about a Colts QB. If he's great, wonderful. If not, same. One of his most common descriptors seems to be "polarizing."

Since you ask, here's Allen's from one ofthe same two sources, I can't find the nfl.com one for Allen. I've deleted the identical ones. Here's what's left from each. My take on Allen, and I was one of the critics when we drafted him, was that I held out hope that he could improve because he is incredibly bright. As I recall he got a 41 on the wonderlic, which they don't do anymore I don't think, and was the highest scoring QB. Richardson is far from that. He got a 79 on whatever the test is now, while numerous other QBs scored in the 90s. This is simply the higher profile QBs, not every QB in the draft. https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-draft-rumors-wonderlic-replacement-s2-test-scores-leaked-bryce-young-highest-for-qbs-c-j-stroud-lowest/ But what I noticed about Richardson's weaknesses, which is the first thing I look at for any draftee, was can they easily be coached out. I'm not seeing that with Richardson. He also had only three games in college with 3 or more passing TDs, and two of those games weren't generally good passing otherwise. The one that was was against Vanderbuilt which had the 125th ranked D out of 131. Weaknesses (Allen): - Has accuracy issues - Throws too many interceptions - Played at a low level of competition - Concerns about production and ability to be a clutch performer Weaknesses (Richardson): Weaknesses: - Extremely inaccurate as a passer - Consistently misses routine completions - Has a lot of passes go high - Struggles to throw a catchable ball in the short to intermediate field - Can get rattled by his own play, defenses, the flow of the game - Sometimes holds the ball too long - Plays down to opponents - Inexperienced; only 1-year starter Those are some pretty egregious weaknesses. That's fair, but in that light, Allen is an exception, far from a rule. But again, it was his smarts that allowed him to become who he is. It always is interesting to see how it plays out. I wouldn't bet a confederate dollar that Richardson becomes much. Then again, the odds are in favor of that, so it's not really a bold statement. LOL

You believe you did? I'll tell ya what, re-quote the direct answer to the question only that you say you posted. I'll admit if you did. Perhaps I missed it. I'm open to that.

BTW, I'm not quite sure what's so imaginary about our current MLB situation, or issue as many see it. It was either planned for as such or it was not planned for as such. It's not a difficult question, really.

OK, so you choose not to answer the question. That's fine. I understand. Let's see if Shaw answers it.

I quoted what you said, I think it speaks for itself. If not, choose your wording more carefully. Here it is again; If you want to backtrack, feel free. Honestly, I don't care, I'm not in this to make you look bad. But YOU said what I just quoted. LOL You also jumped into the middle of an exchange where someone was defending Williams' ability to play MLB, in defense of the person making that claim. Honetly, what do you expect readers to think. Absolutely no one's going to read your statement and think that you don't think that at some point Williams is capable of playing MLB. Again, all I'm pointing out is that these opinions that he can are unique to Bills fans, much in the same way that they are for many of our draft picks that never own up to expectations of McBeane. No one else out there in NFL circles, at least no one that I've seen, including numerous NFL scouts and GMs having commented on Williams, even if only anonymously as they do for draft profiles, agrees with that sentiment. Why is that so painful for people to accept? I'm not getting it. Again, entirely not the point. Go back and carefully read what I said. Getting tired of restating it over and over. It's impossible to have an intelligent conversation when you're not even responding to the actual points that I make and instead respond to implications that you seem to think stem from those even when I plainly state that they're not the case. Have a great evening Shaw. And I'll tell you what, I'll ask you the very same question that I asked Dr. Who above; Is this situation (MLB) deliberate, or not? Put another way, is the current situation planned by Beane? Put yet a third way, is THIS what they wanted re: our current MLB situation? It's a yes/no question.

Yes, I realize that about what Babich said. But saying things and reality are two different things often. This is one of those times. Look, all I'm saying is that there isn't anyone out there in NFL circles that claims that Williams is capable of playing MLB. You, everyone else, can argue that, whether it's for this season or future seasons. But we're talking about this season right now. Clearly Williams, at this point in time, is nowhere near being slated to play MLB. Do you disagree? If not, great, we're on the same page. At the end of the day, we have an issue now, today, for this season. Either this situation was planned, or not. Those are the only two alternatives, plain and simple. Wordsmithing it into something else does not change the situation for this season in the least. As to what McD wants or what Williams may become is also irrelevant for the time being. McD has wanted a lot of things from our drafted DL-men, Oliver, apparently Edmunds, Ford, Brown, Singletary, Moss, etc. They haven't all worked out to be what McD has wanted. Sad truths. My alternative doesn't matter. Why would it. If I'd been running the team my personnel decisions would have been different and I wouldn't have allowed us to get to this situation. Also, it seems as if they, the same coaching staff that everyone applauds, actually wanted to keep Edmunds if they could have, yet the same people applauding McD & Co., claim that Edmunds sucks, which appears to be in direct contrast with team statements. Allow me to ask you a question. Is this situation (MLB) deliberate, or not?

Well then, I suppose it's time to start questioning Beane's regimen and decision making. We must assume then as well by implication, that he's also thought that our OL has been fine in his five seasons to date since likewise, because he didn't go get any significant help. ... or what he did get sucked. You can choose. Same for WRs? RBs to date? If that's your logic then it's only honest and consistent to apply it across the board to the entire team. Heaven knows we've drafted enough DL-men.

Point is that you claim that he is capable of playing middle, whether this season, next, whenever, when there isn't a draft profile out there even remotely claiming that he has the skills, size, etc. to be able to do so effectively. Feel free to think that, I have no issue with it, but I will simply point out that that's an isolated claim not backed by anyone that knows football. We're also indirectly discussing whether or not McBeane have properly planned for Edmunds' departure. There's ample evidence to the notion that they have not. The only evidence against it is that McD has something unconventional planned, yet no one seems to know what it is in a cart/horse type of thing. He'll have to try something if Dodson doesn't work out, and I'm sure everyone will be claiming what a genius he is for doing it even if his hand was forced and it doesn't work out. Many are asking that as well. Not sure why it's posited that I'm the only one. It's even perhaps the position of most uncertainty in McD's entire tenure here.

"I oughta kick my own ass." LOL The voice of Dale Gribble died recently.

What's funnier is you posturing to suggest that I said something that I didn't say or think. I said the entire football media questioned him. Take it up with them. I am merely doing the same as them, pointing out the inconsistencies in his statements. Take that up with him. I'm relying on what numerous other NFL scouts, GMs, and others perhaps even more knowledgeable than McD, despite the fact that I realize many here think that there isn't a coach out there that's smarter than McD besides Reid, have said. Pardon me for doing that. LOL Honesly, some of you ... Can't even have a simple discussion without middle school inuendo. And here's what Shaw "clearly said;" Pretty clear. I'm not sure he needs you to defend his statements.

Many, if not most, would argue that it's presumptuous to think that someone of Williams' stature and abilities could play MLB in the NFL. Not me per se, but pretty much every scout that contributed to his draft profile. Playing MLB at Tulane is a whole lot different than playing MLB in the NFL. They said similar re: Bernard last season. Did Williams even play MLB at Tulane at all? My understanding is that he was the WLB there, which is why he's backing up Milano. IMO most people are simply rendering inconceivable that they simply didn't plan very well for Edmunds' departure. I'm not sure what that possibility is out of the question.

No matter the opinions, Camp observers and the coaching staff are high on Davis so far from what they've seen with him playing injury-free. It should be encouraging.

Amateur Scouts? nfl.com? All the major draft profilers that do that for a living? ... LOL He did? I recall reading the opposite. Do you have any sources for those quotes from camp? I'll give you that he said that earlier in the offseason prior to training camp starting. But I don't believe that Williams was in contention for the role in Camp, I'm not even sure he got any reps at MLB? Did he? Even the football media was questioning what McD was thinking as well. It's definitely odd to suggest that a player that not a single notable draft profile, if any at all, said was capable of playing a position, yet that a coach declares that he'll be playing that position. I'm guessing that this falls right in line with Oliver being the next Aaron Donald. McD's recent statements have indicated that Williams will not be given a chance to start at MLB. Whether he changes his mind once again is anyone's guess. Tells me that it's questionable as to whether McD even knows what he's doing at this point with that hole in the middle of the D. Speaking for myself, it doesn't exactly inspire confidence. Here's a piece on it; https://billswire.usatoday.com/2023/07/27/buffalo-bills-dorian-williams-training-camp-brandon-beane/ You and Shaw aren't arguing with me, take it up with McD. And FWIW, Williams was Milano's backup on the only depth chart that they've released to date.

So you think that even though McD said that Williams won't be playing MLB, the he in fact will be playing MLB? Well, OK. I'll take McD's word for it however. I'm not sure what to say otherwise other than if a player's not suited to a position, then it's likely he's not suited to a position. You say what you think that McD is doing, but then ignore what he's said. I'm not sure that's a wise way to form opinions as to what will happen. Do you? I guess time will tell.

$10 from the sale goes to charity. WTH are these things selling for? And their new Redskins song can be Short People by Randy Newman.

It's pretty likely that we won't get Pro Bowl play from our MLB spot, which you say. But that's not really the question. The question is whether or not we'll even get average play at the position, and if not, how much below-average play we'll end up getting. Then given that, if it does end up being below-average, how will McD compensate for it. A huge resultant hole in the middle of an NFL defense is hardly somethng that one can so easily step over and ignore should it turn out to be the case. I don't recall ever having seen an NFL defense without a capable MLB or at least one capable ILB. Right now we've not proven that we have that. Hope and coachspeak lipservice doesn't equate to proven. We don't know how this is going to play out, we don't even know what McD's solution to the issue is. Not arguing, simply supplementing. But of all the uncertainty on this team, this has to be the most relevant uncertain issue heading into the season, indisputably.

Well yeah, no doubt, particularly as an MLB, a player that often has the high tackles in a game and for sure in a season. Last season the 9 top solo tacklers and the top-10 combined tacklers were all LBs, mostly MLB/ILB. 19 of the top-20 combined and 18 of the top-20 solo tacklers were LBs as well. Every player makes good plays here and there. ... aka even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while. It's not strong enough to support the argument that the team didn't miss a beat w/o Edmunds. I realize he only started 3 games, but Dodson ranked 384th in Solo Tackles last year and 416th in Comb Tackles. Edmunds has a lot of detractors here. What McD does is going to be interesting for sure.

I haven't seen a single draft profile out there that even approaches agreeing with that. They say the exact opposite, that he does not have the skillset/phyique to play MLB and is essentially a WLB. I'm not sure that you realize that. Bernard was more MLB than Williams is.

That's where we needed to put the resources, better late than never.

So Basham and Jackson didn't "end the game" on the subsequent 4th-and-1? See how that works. Either way, presumably you are using a single play to sum up that Dodson was no worse than Edmunds then?

That's the rule though, not the exception. I don't disagree. And here are his negatives according to NFL.com's draft profile; - Inconsistency and inaccuracy made it hard for him to have sustained success. - Could use a better feel for the timing of his progressions. - Needs to take some spice off short throws. - Below average touch and ball placement rolling out. - Hasn’t learned to manipulate coverage with his eyes. - Struggles to paint intermediate zone holes with anticipatory throws. - Accuracy issues are often a function of poor footwork. - Loses track of coverage and will throw into danger. - Too willing to flip the ball out instead of taking a sack. From another draft profile; Weaknesses: - Extremely inaccurate as a passer - Consistently misses routine completions - Has a lot of passes go high - Needs to improve ability to make finesse throws - Struggles to throw a catchable ball in the short to intermediate field - Can get rattled by his own play, defenses, the flow of the game - Sometimes holds the ball too long - Ball security - Decision-making needs to improve - Plays down to opponents - Struggled against good defenses - Inexperienced; only 1-year starter Those are very difficult things, particularly collectively, to coach up to the extent that he'll be worth the 4th overall pick.

He was among the SEC's worst passers. That's why Shorter may be underrated. Josh is a whole lot more intelligent than almost all QBs coming out though too.