BillsVet

With all due respect, I'm guessing you've never seen a real two-way live fire. That being the case, using military terminology is more like hyperbole to get clicks than anything else. In terms of expectations, I really don't know what to say to the results-optional crowd at this point. I don't understand why people aren't willing to have big expectations for a team that's been in rebuild mode for 3 off-seasons. If Buffalo is a 7 to 9 win team this season, how does anyone reconcile this when several NFL franchises have gone from starting a rebuild to going deep into the playoffs in 2-3 seasons? The only answer is the strategy was too heavy a lift and removing talent to meet the HC's needs was a net loss. They should be expected to win 10 or more games this deep into the rebuild. Only certain fans are demanding less results. I'm sure ownership, GM, HC, players, assistants, and all the way down to the kid who gets the tee after the opening kickoff are expecting playoffs.

There's no need to employ phrases like when the "shooting starts" to describe a team's season. I laugh when fans start talking about football as a battle because real shooting isn't anything like football. This reminds me of a Marv Levy quote when someone asked him (and I'm paraphrasing) if a certain game was must-win. Marv responded by saying no, World War II was a must-win. Second, anyone who mentions 2020 at this point is hedging their bets and not fully confident the off-season was productive enough. All commentary will stop short of having a defined expectation as a result. Additionally, there is no indication at this early point what the talent level will be next year...in large part because players are constantly leaving, injured, and/or aging. Bottom line, the Bills need to be in the discussion to win the division this year, and short of that, win 10 or more games.

It's mind-numbing how a NFL HC thought he would be their guy for 2018 not only to win games, but to teach their first round QB the game. The same NP who had all of 1 season of NFL experience. It's decisions like that which give me pause about McD. The NFL isn't a league where people have much time to learn on the job and from their mistakes.

How do you a troll an organization that goes 3-13, 8-8, 6-10, 9-7, 5-11, 7-9, 7-9, 7-9, 6-10, 4-12, 6-10, 6-10, 6-10, 9-7, 8-8, 7-9, 9-7, 6-10 from 2001-2018? They barely won 41% of their games during those years. I guess Jerry shoulda had more unicorns, fairys, and leprechauns for everyone to feel happy during that stretch.

O'Brien's Belichick impression as combined GM and HC may not work out. Still, with Luck gone, that division is wide-open and BOB probably figures he's got a window to go for the SB. It's a big gamble to deal first round picks, but given that Watson was hit as much as he was, QB protection was an impediment to the team moving beyond 9-7. I also like that the team values WR and providing their young QB with more options in the passing game. There's more strategy behind these moves than what appears on the surface.

Agreed that McBeane have really made some questionable personnel and on-field decisions these first 2 seasons and now into the third off-season on offense. 1. WR Management: Trading Watkins and letting Woods go in UFA and still, 2 years later, have not found replacements outside of perhaps John Brown 2. Trading a 3 and 7 for Benjamin 3. Starting Peterman at LAC, seeing him toss 5 INTs and having to put TT back in for the second half 4. Expecting Peterman to be the starter for 2018 - he was benched after 1 ineffective start leading to Allen needing to play before he was ready 5. Not acquiring a veteran backup QB for weeks after Peterman was benched 6. The approach to the OL and bargain bin signings/late picks there in 2017-18: Bodine, Ducasse, Newhouse, and Teller. This after Wood retired. 7. Entering 2017 and 18 with big receivers who couldn't separate, then turning around and finally embracing the speed trend for smaller WR's by the time 2018 was almost over. 8. Other 2017-18 offense UFA's not mentioned: Andre Holmes, Jeremy Kerley, AJ McCarron, and Tolbert. This, and spending more on the defense at the expense of the offense. 9. Cody Ford: they moved up in the 2nd to take him as an OT and already has been kicked inside. May do well, but the value in taking a RG at 38 is not good. 10. Signing Mitch Morse to the largest UFA contract for a C who had a fairly sizable concussion history. Big gamble that he'll remain healthy for the duration of the contract.

Offensive rebuilding in year 3 of the overall rebuild? Not quite. The reality is, contracts end, players age, and injuries happen. You don't wait to pass the line of departure, i.e. go for the SB, because you're a little weak at WR or LB. You make the moves to win now (at year 3 of a rebuild) and try to win it all. Look at what Houston did today. They're going for it, and while they might fail, O'Brien's gotta win now.

I understand that as both the GM and HC contribute to organizational success in different ways. If Beane is not a part of the success, as with any GM, he will be held accountable. And if he is not building the roster, he could be let go, as Dave Gettleman was in Carolina, before the HC was.

If his duties are completely exclusive of winning games, what then does he do? Make coffee for Kim and Terry? Set up the draft board for McCoach? Teach personnel assistants how to write scouting reports? I think you waited about 3 minutes BTW. (EDIT: Sorry, 7 minutes)

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.