BillsVet

I recognize there's a lot going on, but when people talk about HC's needing to evolve on game-day it makes no sense considering he's been in the NFL for 20 years. He's 3 for 15 on challenges. Some people think on their feet a lot better. Not saying the HC is slow or not smart, but I get the sense McD thinks he's prepared for every situation and it's not possible. Putting more people in the process may hinder and not improve the game-day management piece.

I think Brady wants to stay, but is angling for more money and thinks he can persuade Belicheck and Kraft. My money is on Belicheck having a plan...and interesting that Brady has people carrying water for him. Perhaps it's Dalton or someone who'll give them an experienced QB. I wish more people understood that everyone has an angle they're trying to exploit. And that's what Brady is doing here. Reminds me of Derek Jeter getting upset near the end of his career when the Yankees wanted to offer less than the ~20M per he'd been paid. That said, Brady's taken less for multiple years and sees QB pay exploding now.

Then why isn't Buffalo in on that conversation? They have the cap room and QB play is the single most important aspect to winning titles. Titles are the goal and sometimes that fact is lost when this franchise has been starting new rebuilds for nearly 2 decades now.

The versatility concept is nice in theory but not as practical even though NE is lauded for it. I'd like WR's who know how to run routes and aren't splitting their time at RB. On defense, sure, some DLinemen kick inside on passing downs, but a team isn't smarter because there's a player they can move around the field. And I think collectively this board would explode if they add another 1st round pick to their defense. It'd reek of a team that's talking about offense and only that.

McD has talked offense up, both at last year's combine but my issue is how he approaches it. It's nice to sign guys like Brown and Beasley and they're still good to decent options. My issue with the HC's perspective is I don't think he values offensive play-makers as much as he makes it seem. He's a defense first, process always guy that believes through sheer-will and his planning that he can win games. That dinosaur stuff right there. OTOH, I think Beane recognizes they need elite talent on offense and it's time to invest there more. Last year we saw that there were few play-maker types available as a reason to go defense in round 1. With some explosive types in this year's draft, I'd expect someone to tell McD his defense isn't getting them to the AFC Championship game. I also believe McBeane understand there's a sense of urgency in 2020 that wasn't there in 2017-18. They should be moving from rebuilding mode into competing for championships this year. They're not 1 guy away, but a top WR really escalates the process closer to going deep into the post-season. The time is now.

They need elite play-makers on offense and I would also note Beane's end of season presser about how one loses the final game of the season. The difference against Houston was they had a guy like DeAndre Hopkins and Buffalo didn't. Buffalo's passing game needs an elite receiver. This is the draft to get one, although it will cost them. Combine that with added urgency in year 4 of the rebuild and I can see them moving up, provided McD doesn't insist on a DE or CB, for someone to help Allen out. Besides, they're not going to find one in UFA/via trade nor would they spend the money. I really think this off-season comes down to how Buffalo gives Allen more weapons in the passing game. After all, they did get down the road with Pittsburgh on Antonio Brown last year. If they decide to (again) go defense in the first and try to fill the WR position with more depth types who'll take time to develop it's going to be no better than an average offense.

Miffed at why Matt Milano would be re-signed at 50M over 4 years. Nice player, but not someone I'm handing 12.5M AAV. Not even Star Lotulelei could garner a deal of that magnitude! ;)

Each time Botterill speaks publicly it sounds like a robot or doll with a string that talks. It's as if he's reading off a script or talking point memo he prepared in advance. Yet, he's been captured throwing a tantrum when the team underachieves. To me, he's replicated with the Sabres what Doug Whaley did with the Bills. He's made some decent trades (Skinner, Jokiharju) but spent big dollars and isolated Buffalo into a cap position that is untenable. And the results are completely mediocre. His record in the draft necessitates signing UFAs and there's little organizational depth. The organization needs an overhaul because what we're watching is the best Botterill can do. I would love to believe the Pegula's cut their losses, but their sense of urgency isn't there.

Nice explanation for the methodology behind your mock. I keep thinking McBeane recognize that they need immediate starters on offense and solid depth, especially at DE, on defense. This is their "go for it" year and it's why I see them going bold on draft day. You'd think it'd be in UFA, but they don't strike me as going for broke there and replicating mistakes made before their tenure. That said, I can't see them moving way up for Jeudy or Lamb, but I could see a modest trade up given their history for a Ruggs or whomever they see as a starter out of the gate.

One year has passed since Buffalo considered trading for Antonio Brown, who was and probably still is anything but a "process" guy. That attempt revealed that they see a distinct need and while John Brown is a nice supporting type, they can't just feature complementary WRs. McBeane are all-in on Josh Allen and not surrounding him with better receivers is doing a disservice to their highest draft pick in 3 off-seasons. I would not be surprised to see them go out of the box in either UFA or the draft in a big swing to get a top receiver. If they don't, the offense and their starting QB won't either make the leap they need.

Yes, this is good. But there's a lot of flexibility with regard to standards. As in, you get off to a 5-2 start and a pre-season prediction of 9-7 isn't sufficient anymore. Barring a major injury, Buffalo must be expected both right now and when the season starts to be in the playoffs and get a win there. Other teams are doing it in less time, so why shouldn't the Bills?

Then why didn't McD make that statement last year? A year when they had every intention of being aggressive in UFA? A year when expectations were going to be high? I get that most fans aren't capable of putting themselves in McD's position and their proclivity is to laud anything the team does. My belief is McD said this because he's entering the fourth off-season as HC and this year is critical to his rebuild. He also knows the schedule promises to harder than the 3rd easiest in the NFL. He recognizes a need for more talent and they've got money to spend even if they re-sign Tre, Dawkins, and Milano. He also knows that many of his contemporaries are or close to getting to the SB. McD ain't a surface-level thinker like a lot of fans are.

There's more than the obvious reason why McD is making this statement. The dude is always planning his approach and uses his statements to the media to achieve a purpose. He's not just spouting off on how he feels at the moment. For example, at the combine last year the first thing he talked about with the media was a need to score more points. This happened without even being asked about it because he's knew what he'd be asked about. It's a way to get out in front of something before it gets worse. I used the example from after the Cleveland game to illustrate this. The question is why would a NFL HC play recruiter just prior to UFA beginning? I get that people live at the surface level and want to make the obvious determinations. But I'd love to know why he said what he did today because there's more going on here than simply him playing recruiter.

McD is well-versed in the PR aspect to being a NFL HC and knows how to flip the narrative when he needs to. It reminds me of what went down after the loss to Cleveland. McD and staff were criticized for settling on a game-tying FG that Haushka missed. The following Tuesday, the team made sure via Chris Brown that people heard McD's comment to the offense about playing fearless. It was designed to push the problem off onto the players and away from the staff. And it worked when fans ate that up with a fork and spoon. McD doesn't say or do anything without intention. But statements like this only go so far and are well short of what it takes to build a roster that can win in the post-season. Something he's not been able to finish - yet.

I'm sorry you cannot tolerate others' opinions. But I'm not surprised either. I'm disagreeing with your emotional stance and couching my argument based on McBeane not having completed this rebuild. I've been very up-front that competing for championships is the goal and always has been. Hence, why for more than decade here why I've criticized a franchise that could not get out of its own way. That said, they are showing some signs, but 3 years is a long time in the NFL and they haven't won a playoff game. This, as other teams have achieved this. Eball - we've gone back and forth for years. I'm done trying to have a debate with you. Have a nice day.

I think the Bills have arrived at the fork in the road in this rebuild. Will McBeane finally acquiesce to where the league is going and go all-in on completing the offense or try to feature a balanced team led by a strong defense? There's a lot of talk about scoring points, but the personnel decisions need to be there these next 2 months AND they'll need to get better output from Allen, Singletary, and Knox. We shall see.

I think the truth about Josh Allen is that he's 6'5 and was a first round draft pick in 2018, 7th overall. The truth is also that he'll be the starting QB to begin 2020. And...he has a strong throwing arm.

They did sign Brown and Beasley, but it was clear during the season that those 2 were limited when teams shaded coverage on Brown. This season will once and for all define whether or not the HC will transition to being focused on building an elite offense. To do that, yes, they need another solid receiving option. Over the past 20 years I've seen coaches talk about offense, but no one has built one here to compete with the elite teams. Hopefully that is coming to an end, because leading with defense paired with a pedestrian offense cannot vault a team into the competing for division titles or more.

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/2019/02/bills-sean-mcdermott-typical-no-1-wide-receiver-doesnt-exist-in-modern-nfl.html https://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/2019/02/what-sean-mcdermott-said-about-being-defensive-coach-in-offensive-era-of-nfl.html These statements are similar to last year: need to score more points and find receiving help. Year 4 of the rebuild...time to live up to the standard they've set and stop talking about it.

Joe B.'s off-season plan is the safe approach. It also ignores that OBD needs to move from being a 5-6 seed to competing for the division and winning in the playoffs. And I am extremely confident that McBeane know they need solid starters or better to get there. I'd also like to see McD finally acquiesce to toward being an offensively dominant team. That means giving Allen as much talent as possible and realizing offense is what will propel the GM, HC, and QB toward the top of the league.

And yet, the defensive backfield was the first position group the current HC chose to overhaul during the 2017 off-season. I understood why, but it isn't the force multiplier that some make it out to be. Beane made an interesting comment at the end of season PC: "And a lot of times, if you make the playoffs your last game is kind of emblematic of—if you don’t win it all, whether you go to the championship game or lose like we did—a lot of times it kind of shows you where your season went, where you’re good and where you need to get better. And I thought we saw that [on Saturday], we just didn’t score enough points." DE is probably the only position on defense this team should be going in round 1. That PC doesn't lock them in to anything and was held before the bulk of off-season amateur and pro evaluation decisions. Yet, it'd be hard to get believe they're committed to offense with another first round defensive pick. They've already placed 3 1sts on that side of the ball, but the HC is who he is.

I've never understood how the Pegula's could purchase 2 major professional sports franchises and not hire someone to guide them. One would think their investment might need someone with subject matter expertise, but they've eschewed this in both cases. At least with the Bills they hired McD who has implemented a better organizational approach. With the Sabres, their executive hiring decisions are anything but that. At the GM level and higher, they retained then fired Regier. LaFontaine was hired and promptly resigned under cloudy circumstances a few months later, but not before he hired Tim Murray. Ted Black was sent packing and replaced with Brandon. Murray was fired a few seasons later, leading to Botterill. Brandon was fired after personal misconduct and replaced with a co-owner. That's a lot of bad decisions in the course of just the past 7 years. Perhaps seeing empty seats and more fans animosity will push them to finally have the right people in place. I'm not counting on it.

Free agency and the start of a new league year also figure to change the draft picture. What I love about the draft is it reveals how the decision makers think. For months we hear a lot of talk, but then everything becomes clear on draft weekend. It's why I can see them going edge provided a solid prospect is available and then moving up for a WR. The real interesting scenario would be if a pass rusher and WR are sitting there and how they decide.

Would you argue economics using recidivism rates? Or the success of a corporation with unemployment? Neither would you debate the W-L record over a 3 year span for a team when they just played in the SB. SF showed tremendous improvement. Buffalo won 1 more game in '19 than they did in '17. Which team is trending up and which one appears to be plateauing in their rebuild? I see this as a willful conflation of the topic at hand and, I also realize has strayed far from the original topic.

I really enjoy the back and forth with fans who cite no statistics or any evidence to back up their opinion. All emotion, no substance. From weeks 1-9, the 2018 Bills scored 96 points. Total. Had that pace continued they were pushing the worst offenses since the passing game opened up in 1978. In year 3 of the rebuild you cite they were in the bottom half of the league and often bottom quarter in offensive performance. Yet, as I've long said, rebuilds in the modern NFL can be done quickly and efficiently. Buffalo hasn't done that. T I get that many fans are emotional, will absolutely not criticize this team, and turn their anger onto anyone who does. It's been going on here ever since I joined and likely before that. Unfortunately, emotions don't win prizes and neither does being a .500 team after 3 full seasons of rebuilding. Your non-sequitur about oranges was weak. Try again Hondo.