A Little Perspective: Why we shouldn't be down on the McBeane Regime

[folz]

I know there are a lot of knee-jerk reactions after loses, but I have been surprised at how many posters are so down on Beane and McDermott, some even suggesting we need to get rid of them.

 

I get it, the loss to New England, which not only put the Pats in first place for the division, but also in the conference, opened up some very old and deep wounds. Seeing Belichick smile after a win in our house sucked...but it also shows you what he thinks of the current Bills (the hoodie almost never smiles---even after wins, except maybe Super Bowl victories).

 

So, I think we all need a little perspective. First of all, as bad as some aspects of our team is right now (rushing/stopping the run), we are only 4-5 plays away from being 11-1. Take away the blocked punt against the Steelers, if Josh made the 4th down against the Titans, and any one or two plays going our way against the Pats and Jags, and we win all of those games. The margin between the best record in the league and a good/ok record in the NFL is razor thin. Those loses all count, they all matter, but we are not as bad as some are making us out to be. Do we have flaws and warts, players that we need to move on from next year, etc? Of course, almost every team does, but we are still a very good team with a lot of talent.

 

I do expect that we will still make the playoffs this year (whatever seed). That would be 4 out of 5 years of making the playoffs in the McBeane era...after 17 years of no playoffs. The record/win percentage over the last 5 years under McBeane is 45-31 or almost 60% win percentage (59.2% to be precise). And that of course includes 2018 which was an obvious rebuild year where we were depleted of talent (to fix the cap). In the 5 years prior to McBeane, our record was 36-44 (45% win percentage). In the 17 years of the drought, the Bills' win percentage was 41%. McDermott already has the third best win percentage of all Buffalo Bills coaches (behind only Marv and Wade). And Wade only coached three years and lost both of his playoff appearances. McDermott's two playoff wins are the only playoff wins since December 30th, 1995 (26 years ago).

 

This team has fun, exciting players. Great personalities. They are good people, with great work ethics, who like being in Buffalo, and play hard for each other and the fans. A true team with players I enjoy rooting for. There is no way in hell that I would blow things up or get rid of Beane and/or McDermott any time soon. Is there still work to do? Obviously. But in over 60 years of Buffalo Bills football, this is the best we've had it outside of the 4-year AFL run and the 8- to 9-year run in the 90s.

 

Have we already forgotten what New Year's Eve 2017 felt like? That was one of the most emotionally-impactful moments in Bills history, and one of the best New Year's Eves I've ever had (thank you Sean McDermott). Have we forgotten what it is like to have incompetency in the front office? Have we forgotten that they have brought us our first franchise QB in 25 years?

 

There are still 5 games left to right the ship, get into the playoffs, and possibly make a run. In the playoffs, everyone starts 0-0.

 

But even if that doesn't happen, I will be backing Beane and Mcdermott.

 

In that worst-case scenario (missing the playoffs or a quick exit), maybe it would be like the 90s team.  In 1988, they had a great record (12-4; a lot of close wins) and went to the AFC Championship game where they were disappointed by the Bengals. In '99, they took a step back with a 9-7 record and a divisional playoff loss to the Browns. Then they went on the run of 4 Super Bowl appearances. Let's not try to kill the momentum that is building. Most success stories are not a straight line up to the top. There are always a few setbacks or apparent regressions along the way---two steps forward, one step back. 

 

Now, I'm definitely not putting this season to bed...they can still turn it around and make a run (there are no dominant teams in the AFC this year---once in the playoffs, every game will be up for grabs). But ultimately, maybe this team just needs one more season of acquisitions and seasoning/experience to be true, perennial Super Bowl contenders. I don't know about you all, but I want to stick to the process. We're so close.

 

Go Bills!!!!

 

 

 

 

[Nextmanup]

3 minutes ago, folz said:

They are good people

This made me laugh out loud!  

 

With all due respect, who gives a rat's ass who is good or bad on a football team?

 

You think BB cares about that?  

 

He cares about wins.  

 

I wish we had a few more of them than we do have, but of course we are still a GOOD TEAM and I agree we will make the playoffs.

 

All hope is not yet lost!

 

 

[Success]

Great post.  Like you said, the wounds are "old & deep" w/ the Pats.  I don't think any Bills fans can be too rational in the immediate aftermath of a game like that.

 

BB is a better coach than McD, at least right now. And he coached a hurricane kind of game better than McD did (with a team that's more built for that kind of condition).  That doesn't mean McD isn't a good coach, or isn't one of the best coaches in the league.

 

I'm still very optimistic.  If we beat the Bucs on Sunday, this whole board will sound very different.

 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Beane and McDermott have to probably have 3 losing seasons in a row before I would say it's time to change. 

 

They've built a winning program. Need to make some improvements. They aren't going anywhere. A few will cry for change, that's what normally happens. 

Edited December 10, 2021 by Buffalo_Stampede

[What a Tuel]

17 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

This made me laugh out loud!  

 

With all due respect, who gives a rat's ass who is good or bad on a football team?

 

You think BB cares about that?  

 

He cares about wins.  

 

I wish we had a few more of them than we do have, but of course we are still a GOOD TEAM and I agree we will make the playoffs.

 

All hope is not yet lost!

 

 

 

Rex Ryan is a douche and it proved detrimental to the locker room. So it kind of does matter.

[folz]

6 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

This made me laugh out loud!  

 

With all due respect, who gives a rat's ass who is good or bad on a football team?

 

You think BB cares about that?  

 

He cares about wins.  

 

I wish we had a few more of them than we do have, but of course we are still a GOOD TEAM and I agree we will make the playoffs.

 

All hope is not yet lost!

 

 

 

I understand that for some fans, they just want talent at any cost because they just want to win. I get it. And no, I don't think BB cares about if his players are good guys off the field.

 

But I do and I think Sean and Brandon (for the most part) do. I want to like the players that I am rooting for. That may seem strange to some fans, but it's just how I feel. I don't want to root for a bunch of divas or guys who are always getting themselves in trouble, or not treating other people well. 

[ProcessTruster]

who is down on the mcBeanes?   no one I know.   Stop posting crap that has no basis.  now that the cap is increased they can get busy this offseason in ways they couldn't do last offseason.   relax people.   think.   

[78thealltimegreat]

Beane just has blind spots when it comes to talent evaluations..since he got QB right I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt…but in order to upgrade the front 7 we kept ignoring holes on offense like 2TE OG RB

I know it may surprise Brandon but Josh can’t play all 11 positions on the field…I mean the guy added 1 whole offensive playmaker in the summer in Manny Sanders 

[GLP]

BB turned a 7-9 team into a division winner and a SB favorite in one offseason. McBeane can't compete with that. They're not that good. The last 3 drafts their top picks were all D linemen. To the detriment of other positions like OL and RB. McBeane can't tie BB shoes.  

[Solomon Grundy]

25 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Beane and McDermott have to probably have 3 losing seasons in a row before I would say it's time to change. 

 

They've built a winning program. Need to make some improvements. They aren't going anywhere. A few will cry for change, that's what normally happens. 

Winning program, good. Championship team, much better!! 

[TheCockSportif]

They brought consistent results over the past few years, and I'm not down on McD because of that.  I just think that McD isn't good enough.  Beane stays in the meantime, though, because when you think about GMs since Butler, he's >>>.

[BillzFreak]

5 minutes ago, GLP said:

BB turned a 7-9 team into a division winner and a SB favorite in one offseason. McBeane can't compete with that. They're not that good. The last 3 drafts their top picks were all D linemen. To the detriment of other positions like OL and RB. McBeane can't tie BB shoes.  

Well with the way Billy boy is looking lately I think he may even have a problem tieing his own shoes, guy has definitely been packing on the pounds.

[TheCockSportif]

10 minutes ago, GLP said:

BB turned a 7-9 team into a division winner and a SB favorite in one offseason. McBeane can't compete with that. They're not that good. The last 3 drafts their top picks were all D linemen. To the detriment of other positions like OL and RB. McBeane can't tie BB shoes.  

True, but Pats were still good (not terrible) last year.  They just didn't have a QB, and some players held out.  Plus he's BB.  They have a system and a system that wins.

 

The Bills have to do their own thing, and let's hope for better results in 2022 or a miracle play in 2021.

[HamptonBillsfan]

Beane did a bad job with our roster this season. I'm sorry, but this is essentially the same team that was humiliated by KC in January, save a couple of rookie lineman we drafted.  It was poor talent evaluation and an emphasis on resigning expiring contract players. Star,Hughes, Addison have been pedestrian at best on defense. The O-line has been ordinary and that is not maximizing our greatest asset, Josh. TE ,RB should have been upgraded for depth if nothing else. We went from SB contender to ? to make the playoffs. Beane should get another offseason to improve but progress must be clear for this great fanbase to have faith in our braintrust going forward. 

[Ross Murdock]

The Detroit lions are also 7-8 plays from being 11-1. So are most bad teams. This seasons has exposed that last years odd Covid season with it's empty stadiums, and many players taking the year off was an anomaly. Josh was able to capitalize on playing in stadiums where you could here the traffic from the nearby highways. This team just isn't very good. The Bills schedule was a laughingstock chock full of pitiful teams, playing 2nd & 3rd string QB's. As soon as the JV schedule was over the Bills have sunk to a wild card slot that didn't even exist 2 years ago. A major retooling is required, and the Bills are in salary cap hell. The pathetic and dishonorable lineman Lotulelei shows nothing but contempt for the team and it's fans. This has become the most disappointing team in Bills history. If they back into the playoffs by beating the lowly Jets and Falcons, I guess it would be appropriate.    

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Im not down overall on McBeane but resigning the same Oline that was horrible last year was a mistake. I was shocked when they brought all those guys back knowing we needed improvement in at least 3 positions. We did upgrade at RT with Brown but i really dont think they were going to get this play out him this soon, so we lucked out there.

 

ALso McDermott has regressed to more conservative game planning and decisions making. He says he reviews himself everyday so i hope he figures out that what he's doing right now is a step in the wrong direction and becomes more aggressive, otherwise we aren't going anywhere this year.

 

We need to play like we did in the 4th quarter of the patriots game all the time.

 

 

[Niagara Dude]

57 minutes ago, folz said:

I know there are a lot of knee-jerk reactions after loses, but I have been surprised at how many posters are so down on Beane and McDermott, some even suggesting we need to get rid of them.

 

I get it, the loss to New England, which not only put the Pats in first place for the division, but also in the conference, opened up some very old and deep wounds. Seeing Belichick smile after a win in our house sucked...but it also shows you what he thinks of the current Bills (the hoodie almost never smiles---even after wins, except maybe Super Bowl victories).

 

So, I think we all need a little perspective. First of all, as bad as some aspects of our team is right now (rushing/stopping the run), we are only 4-5 plays away from being 11-1. Take away the blocked punt against the Steelers, if Josh made the 4th down against the Titans, and any one or two plays going our way against the Pats and Jags, and we win all of those games. The margin between the best record in the league and a good/ok record in the NFL is razor thin. Those loses all count, they all matter, but we are not as bad as some are making us out to be. Do we have flaws and warts, players that we need to move on from next year, etc? Of course, almost every team does, but we are still a very good team with a lot of talent.

 

I do expect that we will still make the playoffs this year (whatever seed). That would be 4 out of 5 years of making the playoffs in the McBeane era...after 17 years of no playoffs. The record/win percentage over the last 5 years under McBeane is 45-31 or almost 60% win percentage (59.2% to be precise). And that of course includes 2018 which was an obvious rebuild year where we were depleted of talent (to fix the cap). In the 5 years prior to McBeane, our record was 36-44 (45% win percentage). In the 17 years of the drought, the Bills' win percentage was 41%. McDermott already has the third best win percentage of all Buffalo Bills coaches (behind only Marv and Wade). And Wade only coached three years and lost both of his playoff appearances. McDermott's two playoff wins are the only playoff wins since December 30th, 1995 (26 years ago).

 

This team has fun, exciting players. Great personalities. They are good people, with great work ethics, who like being in Buffalo, and play hard for each other and the fans. A true team with players I enjoy rooting for. There is no way in hell that I would blow things up or get rid of Beane and/or McDermott any time soon. Is there still work to do? Obviously. But in over 60 years of Buffalo Bills football, this is the best we've had it outside of the 4-year AFL run and the 8- to 9-year run in the 90s.

 

Have we already forgotten what New Year's Eve 2017 felt like? That was one of the most emotionally-impactful moments in Bills history, and one of the best New Year's Eves I've ever had (thank you Sean McDermott). Have we forgotten what it is like to have incompetency in the front office? Have we forgotten that they have brought us our first franchise QB in 25 years?

 

There are still 5 games left to right the ship, get into the playoffs, and possibly make a run. In the playoffs, everyone starts 0-0.

 

But even if that doesn't happen, I will be backing Beane and Mcdermott.

 

In that worst-case scenario (missing the playoffs or a quick exit), maybe it would be like the 90s team.  In 1988, they had a great record (12-4; a lot of close wins) and went to the AFC Championship game where they were disappointed by the Bengals. In '99, they took a step back with a 9-7 record and a divisional playoff loss to the Browns. Then they went on the run of 4 Super Bowl appearances. Let's not try to kill the momentum that is building. Most success stories are not a straight line up to the top. There are always a few setbacks or apparent regressions along the way---two steps forward, one step back. 

 

Now, I'm definitely not putting this season to bed...they can still turn it around and make a run (there are no dominant teams in the AFC this year---once in the playoffs, every game will be up for grabs). But ultimately, maybe this team just needs one more season of acquisitions and seasoning/experience to be true, perennial Super Bowl contenders. I don't know about you all, but I want to stick to the process. We're so close.

 

Go Bills!!!!

 

 

 

 

Got the most important position on the field right and everything you can fix but he has been really bad in how he has spent money in free agency .  Other then Beasily he has wasted huge money and average to below average players.  He really needs to stop over paying for fringe talent players

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

Rationalize all you want. Last year was the a Great shot with a rising QB small cap hit and all the roster Talent.  This season the team and roster already hint at a decline and now there is the burden of a high cost QB, corner, wr and LT. It’s going to require finding more surprise upside guys. 
 

it’s really disparaging how far they look away right now from even last years squad.  

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

1 minute ago, Buffalo619 said:

After another failed Challenge. This coach coaches from pure emotion and He’s too emotional.  He needs to right ship and fast, before he loses the locker room. 

That challenge was fine. A change in possession there would have swung the game and gave the d who was getting steamrolled a breather. I think he might have been right but there was no camera angle to help.
 

 

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

Many good young teams fall back and learn valuable lessons before they ascend to their peak … that is what I keep telling myself with this edition of the Bills. Hopefully I’m correct for a change 😂