BillsVet

I'm sure Beane has one scoped out in the 2021 draft already. gods at drafting know these things years out, including which players will declare as juniors.. At least that's what I've heard here. Then again, when you've got 3 first round picks on the defense, one wonders how many more will be needed to round out that side.

Well, Beane is a god or a wizard or some other entity...at least I read that on TSW.

I'm sure Beane's thinking first thing in the morning and before he goes to bed how glad he is that it's McD's job to win the games, not him. John, I thought you jumped the shark years ago...little did I know it was only the approach to bigger and weirder takes.

Over the years here I've observed an increasing sensitivity to anyone, fan or pundit, who even comes close to criticizing the team. It could be GR, ESPN, or some NFL personality on Twitter. People rush here to complain the Bills have been put down as if they themselves are the ones being criticized. I cannot understand how anyone so intensely personalizes criticism of their favorite team. It's a game. It's entertainment. And if the team is mediocre, or average after off-seasons of rebuilding, people are going to call it out. This is going to be an interesting season regardless.

It's pointless to debate the merits of McBeane's plan at this point. Heck, they attempted to deviate from it this off-season by trading for Antonio Brown. As a result, I don't think there is a "process" per se, but more of a framework they intend to operate within. Opportunities may present themselves and they evaluate them in terms of where the roster is and the HC's scheme. And T/K Pegs have shown they'll provide all the resources their GM/HC request and, absent results, will move on from those people. They allow these types to prove they can't get it done.

People have way too much time on their hands. Was this post by Alex Jones?

There was a time when Buffalo landed several players: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_All-Pro_Team

For years, fans here have been quick to celebrate average or even mediocre teams. Case in point: During the 2008 season I distinctly remember people happy that after 2+ seasons of Jauron-ball, the Bills were 6-5 after whipping the Chiefs 54-31 in KC. My contention then was the same as it is now...that after 3 off-seasons of rebuilding it was completely unsatisfactory that Buffalo was barely .500 at that juncture. And this was after a 5-2 start. If an entity is not getting better, it is getting worse. It's why going 8-8 or 9-7 is not enough improvement after all the drafts, UFA dollars, coaching changes, and scheme consistency by now. Deep down, a lot of fans here are afraid to expect a 10+ win season because there's a chance that it won't happen. It's why, after all the chest thumping, their expectations remain low. No sense in having a bruised ego from one's favorite team not achieving.

I know that continuous improvement culture and some have the language down cold. Still, as a former consultant I worked with said: "Sweat doesn't count, results do." At this point in the season each franchise is 0-0 and predictably everyone is excited about their team's prospects. Still, it's getting harder to be a good team and if you're not ahead of the curve you're losing. McCoach strikes me as someone who has a plan for everything, but when the proverbial bullets start flying, he's not going to change his stripes. He's a defense first coach who wants to do ball control, perhaps a few throws downfield, and win with close games.

The Bills offense will barely be average this year. Sean McDermott is not an innovative coach, but is adept at convincing people he is.

I don't understand where the assumption is coming from that Buffalo is going to be a pass first offense. The HC is not going to permit a still raw QB throw it 30+ times a game. And, even though I think they were holding back Allen last week at Detroit, it would not surprise me to see a very balanced attack which could involve more passing as the season unfolds. They also don't have the receiving threats available to make a pass first offense work. After Brown and Beasley, the next guy is Zay Jones, who Allen doesn't seem to have a solid rapport with and nothing at TE is proven. I see a very pedestrian offense combined with a good defense that should put them in that 7-9 win area. Teams just aren't winning structured that way.

After Beasley and Brown I don't see someone who's replacement level at the position on the roster. If they trot out Z. Jones as their Z the offense is in trouble. And a large part of that is because there's no answer at TE to help off-set the issues at WR. People assuming the UFA signings are all they need will be sorely disappointed. I can see them being a run heavy team and more than many fans expected.

In other words, you nor anyone here really knows. All we're hearing is Texas wants another WR and Buffalo doesn't have the player to get that done who they'd deal.

Some are acting as though the cost is X or Y. I can't stand conjecture with trade compensation.

You think Houston is taking a 2nd and Lawson to get this deal done? Where is that being reported?

Keeping a defense together for years is not possible. Look at the Seahawks and on how long their group was intact. People want more money, guys get hurt, etc. I doubt Buffalo will trade for him, but investing more resources into the defense is absurd. They already have 3 first round picks, multiple higher dollar UFAs there, and now people want Clowney? It's the fantasy football mindset which has crept into fans far too much. I'd rather see Buffalo continue putting players around Allen and develop him. That is the more sound method of building a sustainable winning team, not more dollars and picks into building McCoach's defense.

ESPN.com is down now. Back up now...at 9:45pm

Whoa. Have to believe injuries have added up and no amount of money can compensate for physical health. Still, a lot to leave on the table for retirement.

John Brown and Beasley are cemented as the X and slot receivers for this offense. Who plays the Z is very much in doubt this late in the pre-season and it's doubtful Zay is that guy after recent performances. If that is the case, no one on the roster right now strikes me as a suitable starter.

What's dumb? The McCoach or clapanalytics reference? And are they triggering words?

Hard to believe the scouting report on Zay was that he had elite hands, but now he's known for his drops. Maybe he doesn't like the physicality of the NFL where you're going to get hit making catches he made without much contact in college. Zay would be an easy cut if the Bills had some depth at WR beyond Brown and Beasley. The trend for Buffalo is making poor offensive personnel decisions as they've drafted only 1 offensive skill position in the 2017 and 2018 drafts (Allen).

McCoach obviously embracing the analytical approach with his clapping rate. In mid-season form already.

The board continues to trend toward the "Super-Fans" perspective on everything. Just waiting for someone to chime in like Todd O'Connor and declare that the Bills will break Pittsburgh's record of drafting four HOFers in 1974 with 5 from the 2019 class.

Said the poster who used to contribute. Now reduced to repeating the same one-liner ad nauseam with zero effect.

Some on this board were apoplectic when NYJ traded 3 second round picks to move up to 3. Yet, Buffalo effectively traded from 21 to 7 to pick Allen using Cordy Glenn to move to 12 and then 2 seconds to TB for 7. Both NYJ and Buffalo needed a lot of draft capital to make that move, yet at this point people have long forgotten the price. I say this because offense is the name of the game and, as you say, QB play is a majority of that. Which is why I don't understand all the resources Buffalo has used on their defense. The Jets understood, albeit with a HC who has a losing record, that offense is where it's at and you need a HC to be offense-first. McD has never embraced that and we're about to see if he's willing to change his spots.