BillsVet

Celebrating street free agent signings. This is where we are now.

So basically, out-execute the opponent? Besides, I'm not clear what Daboll's system is or whether McCoach understands that side of the ball.

Even with all this cap room, McBeane are build through the draft types who focus on getting their guys. In UFA they're looking for certain types (former Panthers, or less heralded team first guys) and not big name types. At the same time, I could see them going full Buddy Nix circa 2012 when they realize their jobs are on the line if the team doesn't significantly improve. They certainly won't make the same mistake former NYJ GM John Idzik did saving all that cap room in a do or die season. If McBeane want the instant results it'll require wading into the dark waters of potentially bad UFA contracts and therefore going outside "the process." Yet, if they don't spend big, it'll mean being less than a playoff team and probably cost them their jobs. I still don't know how they'll spend these cap dollars, but I'm willing to bet most of it won't be on the defensive side.

I was high on McD for awhile, but over time it became clear (like his predecessors) that he was going to rebuild the old-fashioned way. Everyone here should know by now that having the best defense in the league with a mediocre offense gets you to maybe 7 wins per. What remains indefensible is McD is 10-15 years behind the curve and shows no sign of being flexible. I highly doubt he's going to internally decide that they're changing strategy to being a downfield passing team in the way Belichick did around 2006. I remember seeing the Patriots lose to Indianapolis that year with garbage receivers in the AFC Championship game, and from that point forward BB has prioritized offense. His defenses aren't all that special and IIRC, last year they finished in the bottom quarter of the league in most metrics. I don't get the sense McD ever will change his stripes the way NE did. He's going to keep trying to fit a square peg into a round hole with the results to follow.

Seattle Seahawks. Carroll was hired as HC and he essentially hired John Schneider to be GM. While it's collaborative, Carroll has the control over personnel.

I looked at 20 seasons' worth (1999-2018) of HC hires and there were more coaches than I thought who received 2nd HC jobs. It's an incomplete list, but I saw 37 guys hired in those years who at some point had 1 or more HC jobs. Of that group, I'd classify only a few (Andy Reid, Vermeil, Coughlin, Kubiak, and Carroll) having similar or more success in second or later gigs than their first. Roughly put, that's about 85% that didn't improve in their second jobs. Also found it noteworthy that during this time there were 137 HC hires made, so on average 7 teams are changing HCs every year. At this point, I'd expect to see significant improvement in year 3 or it's on to someone else. Turnover is not bad when something shows no sign of improving.

Levy was last HC in KC more than 35 years ago. Point is, the Bills are not trending, after 2 offseasons and 24 games toward being playoff caliber. Outside of Tom Coughlin I can't think of one. With NFL HCs, if they flame out in their first job it's not typical they'll figure things out in the second. That is, if they get a second chance because most don't.

The rule Belichick applies to players to let them go a year early and not a year late should apply to HCs and GMs. They have so much power that letting them continue a flawed plan only makes more work for the next leadership group.

You act like one.

Millennial right?

Imagine scoring less than 200 points and giving up 400. That's 84-85 Bills territory there for a 16 game season. Not even DJ or the Chan/Buddy years rivaled that.

How two guys can enter the season with a such a distinct lack of talent on offense is startling. Pot meet kettle.

This dumpster diving is all part of the process. Nothing to worry about. I think it's in the manual here somewhere.

We're talking about a rebuild where they are on track for one of the top 10 worst offensive scoring performances since the league went to a 16 game schedule in 1978. Here are the lowest scoring teams since 1978 and their season records: 1. 1992 SEA 140 points for (PF) 3-13 2. 1991 IND 143 PF 1-15 3. 2000 CLE 161 PF 3-13 1998 PHI 161 PF 3-13 5. 2006 OAK 168 PF 2-14 6. 2009 STL 175 PF 1-15 7. 1990 NE 181 PF 1-15 8. 2000 CIN 185 PF 4-12 9. 1993 CIN 187 PF 3-13 10. 2011 STL 193 PF 2-14 Buffalo is on track to score 174 points this season, or 6th worst in the last 41 seasons. This isn't a rebuild, it's managerial ineptitude and this ship isn't getting turned around in one off-season either.

Tell me historically what you think the hit rate for dependable NFL starters (not including K or P) is from the 5th round. In 2012 there were 34 5th round picks and of that, 5 have played in 80 games (out of 104 possible). In 2013 it was 6 out of 32 who've played more than 70 games (out of 88 possible). In 2014 it's 4 out of 36 who've played more than 60 games (out of 72 possible). In a random sample of 3 draft years, that's 15 out of 102 players who have some staying power in the league, not necessarily that they're very good players. Not what I'd call a good bet.

Don't underestimate the fake job this team accomplished convincing opponents they couldn't score during the first half of the season. At any point they might erupt for 14 maybe 17 points and adding the punter change we're talking 10-6.

For years I've seen people on TBD comparing other teams' draft mistakes and how that somehow absolves the Bills. As if the bad teams making questionable/bad personnel decisions somehow are the standard and if Buffalo is just like them it's all good. Sure, whatever.

There isn't a HC out there who, whether confident of his tenure or not, would deliberately attempt to lose games. You people can keep believing this nonsense, but there's no way that McCoach went into the 2018 season with the idea of tanking. McBeane attempted to deconstruct the roster and to win simultaneously. That plan has not worked out the way they expected and now they're staring at an historically bad offense.

Arguing about the org chart and who's responsible is an exercise in futility. There is no one way to structure the front office and successful teams each do things differently. For example, John Schneider has essentially reported to Pete Carroll in Seattle going back to 2010. Green Bay had a more direct line with Ted Thompson down to Mike McCarthy up until last year. Belichick is effectively GM in NE. McBeane are going to keep their jobs beyond 2019 based on what they do on offense and how that side of the ball improves. Because trying to win with tough defense and a run based offense will max this team out at 8-9 wins. McCoach can continue insisting that'll work, but he'll go down just like DJ did because that strategy isn't suited to the 21st century NFL.

Seems like ever since the Air Force was created out of the US Army Air Force, Army football has attacked predominantly on the ground. They've occasionally used some air assets, but it's been a lot of ground and pound over the years. I don't think they'll ever get the aerial game going like they did during WWII, but they can be effective with the current force structure. That said: Go Army!

I wonder if McCoach has a book written called "The Process" and allots space in it for "Dumpster Diving." Because these moves are pretty much out of sheer desperation.

How would you like to be the defensive at this point? I know they're professionals, but that announcement should go over like a lead balloon in the locker room.

If someone cried on the air about this game, what would their reaction be after the MNF game versus Dallas in 2007 giving up 9 points in the final 20 seconds to lose despite a +5 in turnovers? Or the SNF game that same year with NE where they got destroyed 56-10. This loss was tame by comparison and I'm sure others can find other examples.

They do not have the resources in one off-season to surround any QB with the skill position players to win games. Not even with ~80M in cap room and their picks. First, McBeane don't strike me as the types who'll spend big in UFA. Second, because building a competent offense is far more difficult than building an excellent defense. Not to mention, the value for doing the former is far greater than the latter, something McCoach insists isn't the case. He still thinks he'll win with tough defense, running the ball, and playing it safe on offense.

Solid post CT. The only thing I'd add is their plan at QB and how negligent it was to start the season with Peterman backed up by a raw rookie like Allen. And then, when Peterman threw up on himself in week 1, they were forced to play Allen. It took all of one week before their "plan" was upended. I cannot believe that two men with a combined almost 40 years in the NFL thought this was somehow a good idea. At the same time, this is what happens when ownership doesn't know what they're looking for in a HC other than someone who's organized and has some type of plan. Well, I'd say offensively their plan has been flawed from the start, the coach spent far too much on defense, and doesn't appreciate the modern game. I don't long for the days of RW, but the Pegula's have been a huge disappointment as owner. For all the talk about winning, there's been very little and they've failed to hire anyone I see getting them deep into the playoffs.