dave mcbride

I think you're confusing me with hardcore defenders of the regime. I have made plenty of criticisms of their decisions, but I also think that next year is the year they always had lined up as the one where they took a major step forward. In any event, it'll all come down to Allen and the complementary pieces they assemble for him. I'm not worried about the D; it's always going to be at least decent with McDermott running the show. It is way too early to pass judgment on Allen, of course. It's worth noting that Wyoming won 8 games with him in the two seasons he started there; they won 2 the year before he started and are on the road to 2 wins this year too.

This offseason is huge, no doubt. There may have been five-year plans in the USSR, but there are no five-year plans in the NFL. Next season is year 3 of what should be a 3-year plan (4 years max). They have to nail it. To give them the benefit of the doubt a little, they have set themselves up pretty well in terms of draft capital and FA. I don't like the fact that they only have one pick each in the first three rounds, but they will probably be able to move back a little in the first (there are always qb-desperate teams) and pick up another second/third. The Colts' moves last year represent a good model, and their draft picks that they got from the Jets trade are good players. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt/2018_draft.htm

Daboll is not the problem with this offense. Bill Walsh himself would struggle to generate 10 points with this talent.

I can't disagree with this at all. I guess my only rejoinder is that aside from Zay Jones, the guys they acquired were always intended to be time servers until they went in big on the offense. Bear in mind that Matthews and Benjamin were either at the end of or near the end of their contracts. I doubt they would have traded for Benjamin if not for the improbable fact that they found themselves a playoff contender halfway through last season.

I think a couple of things happened. 1) They got the QB they wanted, who is probably the closest comparable to Cam Newton in the league in terms of skill set. 2) McDermott misjudged on Zay Jones. They thought he was a potential difference maker and he isn't (so far). A lot of teams liked him coming out too; the Bills weren't alone. It happens. 3) Wood and Incognito retiring were unexpected moves that had negative knock-on effects. As @BADOLBILZ has said numerous times, the FA market for o-linemen last season was dreadful. The Bills' line is terrible, but there are a lot of shaky o-lines out there and the available talent pool is really, really thin. 4) FA signings/trade acquisitions like McCarron, Matthews, and Benjamin didn't work out. That's on them. I'm sure they're aware of that. Both Matthews and Benjamin had been productive elsewhere, but they both flailed here. Regardless, the plan was always going to be a tear-down/rebuild of the offense. Moreover the plan was also always to upgrade the personnel on D (which they did, to their credit) and get the big-time high-ceiling QB (and please, let's not pass any judgment on him yet) before filling out the offense. My larger point is that these guys are clearly not stupid. They made some miscalculations on talent, but I'm quite sure they see Pittsburgh's offense from 2017 (with a 6'5" QB who can sling it) as a model, not Pittsburgh's offense from 1976, when they had two 1,000-yard rushers. That premise is just wrong.

McDermott coached in the NFC South for years, and it's a division loaded with good offenses and coaches like Payton. He also coached under Andy Reid, who he regards as his mentor. You should also assume that McDermott is highly aware that the Panthers finished in the top 10 in offensive DVOA in 2013 and 2015 (playoff/super bowls seasons), and in the 20s in the years they missed the playoffs (2014 and 2016). Indeed, Carolina finished 1st in points in 2015. He knows that it's the way to win, but at present he can't do it because of the personnel. I fully expect that the Bills will go all in on acquiring offensive talent next off-season. That is the only way to run a higher-octane offense, and he's smart enough to know that. In other words, I fundamentally disagree with the premise of the post.

Really good QBs can pick apart (relatively) complex zone schemes, which is what the Bills mostly run. Young QBs and ones who aren't very good at reading the field quickly really struggle. I felt Rodgers had a poor game - he was relatively inaccurate (for him) even on throws where the pressure was modest. But I also think that the pressure was off of GB and they played out the string given how bad the Bills' O is.

They are, but their defense isn't. The defense is bad.

And that was a pretty shaky call too. I'm shocked the Bills got that call.

Not really true. They spent a 2 on Watkins and a 1 on Cooks.

He was d-line coach for that Baltimore that won the SB. Marvin Lewis was the coordinator.

I am nearly certain he doesn't want to be here. The offense he plays on is terrible, and he loses ever more future money every week given the numbers he's putting up. Also, it wasn't like he chose to be here. Carolina basically shipped him off to what he probably regards as Siberia. He can't wait to get out, and he'd probably love a trade to Dallas. I also think he'd probably step up his game there.

What I've learned from the Bills this year is that when they play elite qbs with experience who know how to read the field and exploit mismatches, they get destroyed. Rivers, Flacco (I actually think he's pretty good, although not great), Rodgers, and Luck all chewed this D up and spit it out. Mariota and Watson? Not so much. The one outlier is Minnesota/Cousins, but that was just a weird game -- punctuated by the fact that one of their best players was (metaphorically, but only sorta) shipped off to the insane asylum right before the game. I think they end up getting annihilated by the Pats (twice), the Lions, and the Bears (because they're not going to be able to score). The D will be able to put up a fight against the Jets (twice), Miami (twice), and Jax. But the offense is so bad that the only way they win is by 16-13 scores. I can't see any better than 5-11. 4-12 sounds about right - splits with Miami/Jets and losing to Jax. They lose the rest big.

I thought "woo hoo" for 303 yards when they scored 3 points and turned it over 5 times was sarcastic!

I hope allen becomes decent (he's bad right now). The thing is, mahomes is one of the 2 or 3 best players in the league right now. It is highly unlikely that allen ever becomes as good as mahomes is now, but it's not impossible.

Do you seriously trust McDermott re QBs over Andy Reid??

Dude. Modern NFL. Get to know it. It's all about the qb. Also, we picked at the end of the first round ... BECAUSE WE TRADED OUT OF THE EARLY FIRST ROUND!

Whaley didn't make that pick.

The point is the trade itself. My view is that Andy Reid saw that he could roll a former novice of his who he knew was conservative, defense minded, and not a little naive (a corner? Really?). It was essentially like taking candy from a baby. The fact that it was Reid (a guy who has ALWAYS been right about quarterbacks) of all people who really wanted Mahomes should have told McDermott everything he needed to know.

Because they're hardcore fans, just like you. Questioning why people watch the bad team they love and who then emotionally complain about said bad team should be banned. But I know it won't. Still, deep down inside you should ask yourself why you condemn fans who say that their favorite team in life is unwatchable. They're going to watch anyway. And that's OK. Best to not say anything.

It was terrible! Are you thick, my friend??

I’m kidding. Sheesh! The performance is pathetic, and 303 yards would be the Saints’ worst performance of the season by a long ways.

I was being sarcastic too! (Obviously, or so I thought.)

Huh???

303 yards to be precise. Woo hoo!