Rubes

Loving the way this defense is playing, but the question is how we can keep this defense together over time given all of the needs on the offensive side of the ball. Presumably we will get some FA's on offense, but there's still the issue of who we have coming up as FA's on defense at the end of the season: Kyle Williams Lorenzo Alexander Jordan Phillips Phillip Gaines Eddie Yarbrough ...and Ramon Humber and a couple of other CBs. Those are five pretty important players on this defense. Kyle is likely to retire, but he's still playing at a high level. Zo is also up there but playing well. And you have to like what Phillips and Yarbrough bring to the table. Gaines may not be back as CB unless he shows more this year, and if Humber sticks around it will be for backup money. Do people expect that we'll be able to bring those four players back in FA and help maintain this level of defense for several more years? Or do the drastic needs on offense mean that one or more of them won't be back? I know we have a ton of cap space, but I don't have a sense of how much those players would take up. And if we lose Kyle and Zo, how much of an impact would that have?

I love having a great defense...the problem is, there's nothing to say that having a great defense also means you have to have a historically awful offense. With even a below-average offense, this team would win quite a few games.

Holmes did do a great job blocking on this play (along with Dawkins)...

Sweep the leg, Johnny. It’s the only way.

If it means no waiting in lines, that’s cool with me.

I hope you're right!!

Seems like it's going to be a pick. Not sure what round that could be, though.

Just depends on which defense shows up on Sunday. The defense against the Ravens/Chargers or the defense against the Vikings? Who knows.

Ass Team Of The Week: The Vikings Reached Hell In 10 Minutes Hadn't seen this posted yet. Good stuff from Deadspin. ?

Bennett should go up first over Freddie since he's been retired longer. Leon Seals?? Seriously?

Boy, you can say that again!

I also want to see Allen start, there's nothing Peterman can do at this point to prove he's a starter QB since there's no chance he will throw for 300 yards and 3 TDs. At the same time, I'm apprehensive of Allen starting because if he stinks up the joint in a serious way then I'll have no option but to be depressed.

I wear a Bills lanyard year-round, and it's fairly noticeable since it's bright blue and a team that basically nobody else around here follows. Today someone I know saw it on me for the first time and asked if I started wearing it for football season. I told them if I had any sense football season is when I shouldn't wear it. ?

Have a great day, SDS. Thanks for creating a place where I have been able to get to know so many people without ever meeting them, and it's not at all creepy.

"Sugar House in Salt Lake City" is exactly where I live. That's pretty cool.

I was optimistic, but moreso because of the defense. Now I'm not so optimistic after seeing them get manhandled.

Awesome! Glad to see the food guide resurrected!

Getting back on topic... I thought it was almost a given that the Bills defense would become dominant this year.

This sounds like it's not a new idea, but I don't recall seeing it discussed here before...I'm not a fan of increasing the season to 18 games, but it's a fascinating idea to limit players to playing 16 games at most. So in a way, both sides get what they want: the owners get more regular season games, and the players still only play 16 games at most. Could NFL use an 18-and-16 approach to the regular season? What do you think? It would really emphasize the importance of quality depth, and make for some really interesting strategic moves during the season.

A compilation of all of Bruce's sacks from the very beginning I dare you to watch all 1 hour and 30 minutes of this masterpiece. At the very least, check out the sack that starts at 2:52. I mean, he just completely blows up a double team in humiliating fashion and sacks O'Brien before he completes his dropback. I'm sure this has been posted before, but has to be worth another visit.

As others have pointed out, it's not just about distance. Dropping them inside the 20 is also important, but another key is placement. I haven't been watching Carter, but the punt he got injured on was a really nice one -- good distance, and pinned the returner near the sidelines. Schmidt isn't bad at that either, but it may be that they're looking for someone with the same leg but a bit more precision placement.

Tough one, really. I think the Browns overall have the better talent, and even though I can’t stand Gregggggo their defense will be quite good this year. TT will give them chances they didn’t have last year. The thing going against them is a pretty brutal schedule. I think the Bills will regress from last year, but not a lot. I’m a little worried about the O line and the defense’s inability to stop the run. I give the slight edge to the Browns.

Wow, that was actually quite good. Better than I was expecting.

If you can access it, a nice article from the Buff News about him. I thought it was pretty encouraging. Bills QB coach Culley endorsed as 'right guy' to work with Josh Allen

Probably because NFL coaches are not quite as impulsive as we are and give newbies more than one chance to show they can learn and improve themselves.