What areas of the team has Beane actually improved?

[Mango]

7 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

So would I. But that doesn't matter if we see good things from Allen and to a lesser extent Edmunds. The problem is how do we evaluate Allen when we can't get him on the field because we don't trust 5 blokes to stand there and block for him?

 

Probably would want to address that well before August 2018...

[reddogblitz]

19 hours ago, Agent 91 said:

I actually did..... Don't throw anything at me.

 

Doug gets a bad wrap.  If Rex (not Doug's choice) had been able to coach D, the drought would have ended in 2015.

[Peter]

3 minutes ago, reddogblitz said:

 

Doug gets a bad wrap.  If Rex (not Doug's choice) had been able to coach D, the drought would have ended in 2015.

 

That was made more difficult by the fact that the team's star player decided to go on strike that year (not to mention some injuries).  And, in case, there was any doubt about that, ask anyone with the Dolphins what they thought of Mario the next year.

[MJS]

50 minutes ago, Peter said:

 

We really backed into the playoff on a miracle play by Andy Dalton and a delayed controversial call against the Colts on their two point conversion. 

 

We also had a team with many metrics relative to the rest of the league that were worse than the year before.

 

Last year was a mirage.  We were very fortunate to make the playoffs.  It was fun, but it was a mirage.

 

Get ready for some reality this year.

 

If we actually make the playoffs this year, I would be VERY, VERY surprised.

 

If the Bengals had played earlier and the Bills later, the narrative would be different even if the games played out exactly the same. The Bills would have been in a "win and you're in" scenario.

 

They won 9 games. They had a horrendous 3 game stretch that made their defense look a lot worse than it actually was.

 

They got a lot of turnovers, took care of the football, and had a good running game, winning against a bunch of teams that many thought they had no chance of beating.

 

There is no such thing as "backing in to the playoffs". You get in or you don't. You win enough games against the right opponents, or you don't.

[Peter]

7 minutes ago, MJS said:

 

If the Bengals had played earlier and the Bills later, the narrative would be different even if the games played out exactly the same. The Bills would have been in a "win and you're in" scenario.

 

They won 9 games. They had a horrendous 3 game stretch that made their defense look a lot worse than it actually was.

 

They got a lot of turnovers, took care of the football, and had a good running game, winning against a bunch of teams that many thought they had no chance of beating.

 

There is no such thing as "backing in to the playoffs". You get in or you don't. You win enough games against the right opponents, or you don't.

 

I disagree.  Last year was a classic example of backing into the playoffs.  It was a mirage that is about to get very real this year.

 

We are going to find out very clearly this year just how lucky we were last year.

[reddogblitz]

1 hour ago, Peter said:

 

That was made more difficult by the fact that the team's star player decided to go on strike that year (not to mention some injuries).  And, in case, there was any doubt about that, ask anyone with the Dolphins what they thought of Mario the next year.

 

I disagree Peter.  Even it what you say is true, the whole D just flat out stunk.  I went to the Pittsburgh game and it was the WORST display of tackling I have ever seen. I think a big part of the problem was Rex' style.  Club Rex.  He wasn't Coach Ryan, he was Rex their buddy.  After he left, last year the guys could once again tackle.  that had more to do with than scheme IMHO.   That and only 10 men on the field on the biggest play of his tenure.

[Peter]

4 minutes ago, reddogblitz said:

 

I disagree Peter.  Even it what you say is true, the whole D just flat out stunk.  I went to the Pittsburgh game and it was the WORST display of tackling I have ever seen. I think a big part of the problem was Rex' style.  Club Rex.  He wasn't Coach Ryan, he was Rex their buddy.  After he left, last year the guys could once again tackle.  that had more to do with than scheme IMHO.   That and only 10 men on the field on the biggest play of his tenure.

 

I respect your opinion, but disagree.

 

The 10 on the field was the result of Gilmore (if I recall correctly) getting hurt.  We had a number of times last year when we did not have the proper number of players on the field as well. I seem to recall one time when we actually had 15 guys on the field or some crazy amount like that.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

3 minutes ago, Peter said:

 

I respect your opinion, but disagree.

 

The 10 on the field was the result of Gilmore (if I recall correctly) getting hurt.  We had a number of times last year when we did not have the proper number of players on the field as well. I seem to recall one time when we actually had 15 guys on the field or some crazy amount like that.

 

Talent means nothing if it’s accompanied by a lazy attitude. See:

 

gilmore

dareus

 

glad theyre out the door

[Ayjent]

4 hours ago, dneveu said:

 

He did a good job adding cheap talent, but his drafts were poor - and he always seemed short-sighted.  You have to balance that win-now philosophy with building for the future, and thinking about future cap ramifications.  

No dispute about that from me.  Unfortunately we always seem to have the pendulum swing too far in the other direction when the team makes changes.  I think we may see the same thing unfolding again - they have gutted this team too much to have any consistency and now they better be damn good at talent evaluation or this team isn’t going anywhere.  You can cut and replace with many positions, but dropping your talent level at QB and OL will hurt you bad for a long time unless you hit on your replacements and that is where many GMs and FOs have tried this route and failed because they couldn’t get it all to work out with the right pieces at the same time.  Odds are not in their favor, but maybe they got it right. I just have a hard time seeing how going with guys that have less than 10 starts combined is better than keeping around a QB that may not be great, but provides stability and continuity to the most important position in the sport.   I said the same thing with Fitz and it’s not because I particularly thought he or Tyrod were great (Tyrod is better btw), but they are guys that can play decent QB and it’s better to keep them until you know you can bench them for the better option you’ve added to the roster.  It signals to the team that you are keeping the path while trying to improve.  

 

When you make the playoffs and then hit reset at QB with the only returning QB being a 5th round draft pick from the year before with one of the worst halves of QB play in NFL history and having full knowledge of the losses on the OL that would plague you if not adequately addressed (but still ignored) - what exactly is the expectation?  It’s like saying hey we know this looks bad, but we’re really awesome at this, just trust us.  Some are willing to trust and some are skeptical.   Let’s put it this way - I’ll trust someone who shows me they know what they are doing and I’m not willing to trust this process quite yet. 

[Agent 91]

7 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Whaley built the 2015 roster which was infinitely more talented than anything Beane has got close to building yet. His greatest fault was not saying "No" on the Rex hire. 

You said it way better than me.

[BADOLBILZ]

5 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

So on the one hand Beane is getting criticized for not beefing up the O line this past off season, and now it's that he won't be able to next year either because guys aren't out there even if you have cap space? 

 

Makes perfect sense.

 

 

He traded a high quality starting LT in Cordy Glenn and signed Bodine and Newhouse......."not beefing up" is a pretty vague/unrepresentative way of putting it........he's made his moves..........now it's about the results.

 

Beane has gotten a lot of credit for trading away highly paid players.........but the reason they were trade-able is because they were talented guys who can alter game results.

 

And contrary to popular belief here those moves helped those teams get to places they haven't been in a long time.........division titles, championship games, a SB victory..........none of those teams got shafted.

 

It's easy to sell players that help other teams win........it's time to get on the buying end of difference maker market.

 

[Agent 91]

9 hours ago, SoTier said:

 

What is "the right way"?  What I see is McDermott and Beane bringing in their pals from Carolina or gambling on guys with injury issues or guys who've failed on other teams.   I see them basically trying to copy the Carolina Panthers, but somewhat on the cheap.   I'd rather have them try to copy the Philadelphia Eagles ... a team that went from 7-9 under Chip Kelly to 13-3 and Super Bowl champs two seasons later.

I was just playing on a typical McDermott sound bite. They always say we want to do things.... the right way. I think interpret that to mean our way. Morally and Faith based

[oldmanfan]

15 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

He traded a high quality starting LT in Cordy Glenn and signed Bodine and Newhouse......."not beefing up" is a pretty vague/unrepresentative way of putting it........he's made his moves..........now it's about the results.

 

Beane has gotten a lot of credit for trading away highly paid players.........but the reason they were trade-able is because they were talented guys who can alter game results.

 

And contrary to popular belief here those moves helped those teams get to places they haven't been in a long time.........division titles, championship games, a SB victory..........none of those teams got shafted.

 

It's easy to sell players that help other teams win........it's time to get on the buying end of difference maker market.

 

Glenn was hurt pretty much all last year.  He was good and I'd like to still have him but if he'd have gone to RT or inside to G.  Dawkins will be OK.

 

They have a plan.  They needed QBs on offense and defense.  They drafted both this past draft.  Hopefully.  To do that they needed to move up and Glenn was the price.

 

Next year I hope they draft a solid WR and a bunch of linemen.

 

 

[reddogblitz]

The decision to take a QB at 7 and then NOT take a stud WR high especially when the cupboard is hard still baffles me. I figured it was Riddley with the 2nd 1st.

 

The only thing I can think is they aren't planning on Allen playing this year.

[John from Riverside]

8 hours ago, Yeezus said:

 

cap space means NOTHING unless a front office knows how to use it. 

 

Judging from past moves this current front office doesn't have the eye for talent that Whaley and his crew had. Beane is in way over his head right now. And what teams have ever been successful building their team through FA? We have so many holes on this roster its going to take multiple offseasons to fix. 

 

Just when I think that you could not possibly put out a more moronic post.....

 

You prove me wrong......I owe you a beer

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

Beane traded a lot of established players (Dareus being the only one on a bad contract) and ended up with a lot of draft capital that he spent all of to get Allen and Edmunds. All those trades left a lot of holes on the roster. If Allen and Edmunds pan out and we have a strong 2019 draft / FA then we really could be a contender. If that doesn't work out we're probably looking at a new GM in 2020. 

 

The Loulelei contract in particular is a major red flag to me. Grossly overpaid for a guy just because they knew him from Carolina. 

[COTC]

35 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

Just when I think that you could not possibly put out a more moronic post.....

 

You prove me wrong......I owe you a beer

 

John, there was nothing moronic about his post. Take off the blinders and see. 

 

You make yourself look foolish with comments like this. 

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, oldmanfan said:

Glenn was hurt pretty much all last year.  He was good and I'd like to still have him but if he'd have gone to RT or inside to G.  Dawkins will be OK.

 

They have a plan.  They needed QBs on offense and defense.  They drafted both this past draft.  Hopefully.  To do that they needed to move up and Glenn was the price.

 

Next year I hope they draft a solid WR and a bunch of linemen.

 

 

 

Well Trent Murphy and Vontae Davis were hurt pretty much all last year and that didn't stop him from investing in them.

 

Bottom line is stop making excuses..........Beane made his moves...........now it's about results.

 

The early returns on Vontae Davis, Star Lotulelei,  Trent Murphy, Newhouse and Bodine...........basically ALL of the free agents of note that he signed......have been disappointing.

 

 If that remains the case throughout the season it would be remembered as perhaps the worst FA class the Bills have ever signed.

 

 But hopefully that changes and the preseason proves to be a mirage.

 

 Davis might get healthier and regain some explosion in his stiff old legs and perhaps Lotulelei is just doing his best Alan Branch imitation(laziest preseason player ever) etc...

 

We shall see.......but Beane will be judged on his results.......as it should be.

[BringBackOrton]

9 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Whaley built the 2015 roster which was infinitely more talented than anything Beane has got close to building yet. His greatest fault was not saying "No" on the Rex hire. 

Buddy Nix.  Not Whaley.

Edited August 28, 2018 by BringBackOrton

[The Frankish Reich]

12 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

 

Humber.  It just fell to me.

Whoah, I just got that. A literary joke ... on TBD!  Some might high-brow humor there. Please don't explain it to the BBMB types.?