Lil' Dummy McKenzie.........offical team character builder

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

16 hours ago, 4merper4mer said:

Nothing against Shakir but I don’t think our Super Bowl chances begin and end with him.

What's the harm in testing your theory? 

 

So far he's made no mistakes and looks ready for this. Let's see what happens with more reps- maybe we'll end up with someone we can actually count on.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

Mckenzie had a really bad game - not going to fire him but id probably put him behind shakir to try and spark something.  Can't make that many mistakes in a big game and not expect something.  You get an extra week to get shakir up, and you put mckenzie at the 4 and give him some package plays but his snap count should be decreased. 

 

However... and I want to stress this.  We will need Mckenzie before the season is over, so don't roll the bus over him. 

 

1 hour ago, 2020 Our Year For Sure said:

What's the harm in testing your theory? 

 

So far he's made no mistakes and looks ready for this. Let's see what happens with more reps- maybe we'll end up with someone we can actually count on.

 

Shakir dropped a wide open pass in the pittsburgh game, and concentration drops were an issue for him in his college scouting report.  

 

10 hours ago, Beck Water said:

 

On a fake reverse or a fake jet sweep, you just nailed the job description.

 

 

 

It was a dumb play imo.  We run and pass our way down then try some weird cheeky jet motion read option WITH a pitch - just dumb.  If you want to run it, run it - or hand it on the jet motion... just a really confusing easy to screw up play.  He's still gotta have that ball though.  

[Iverwig]

13 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

He has? I think Shakir has showed much better instincts than I've ever seen out of McKenzie. He has a knack for positioning his body just right at the catch point to make the catch, then immediately find space and pick up YAC. And he's still just getting his feet wet in the pros. McKenzie has had his 10,000 reps. He is who he is at this point. Shakir will keep getting better. It's hard to find any reason McKenzie should be getting more snaps than him.

 

 

So, what is McKenzie's job on that play? To run off to the right and do nothing?

 

His quote on what his job was is already listed in the thread. If you and others want to dispute what he and Josh said then fine have it. Believe what you want and I’ll believe what I want and we’ll agree to disagree. 

[NewEra]

3 hours ago, motorj said:

He has scored 3 TD's compared to Beasley's 1 last year, so he can't be that bad guys

He’s not THAT bad- he just is what he has been the last few years.  A niche target that is capable of moving the chains and making plays but also capable of being terrible and making huge mistakes.  
 

He can help us win, but also help us lose. Hopefully his snaps should be cut down to 10-20 or so a game.  If we cut his snaps and he still makes blunders, this will be his last year. 

[Buffaloflash]

23 hours ago, atlbillsfan1975 said:

Rumor is he had to leave UGA early due to poor grades. It was either move on to the draft or become academically ineligible. 

And this spell what? 

[Beck Water]

3 hours ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

Without being a child the OP, I would like to see a shift to Shakir.  He has a significant upside versus the limitations of McKenzie 

 

I think it's actually a universal sentiment that everyone sees Shakir as having a higher ceiling, and hopes for him to play well and take over.  Whatever you think of his play, McKenzie is a physically limited guy.  He's not gonna grow 6 inches, put on 30 pounds, gain bigger hands, and stay just as fast like Shakir.  I don't think you'll find one single fan, including the fans who are fully willing to recognize and credit McKenzie's contributions this year and previous years, who hopes differently.

 

The question is when.  The average fan sees great catches and run after catch and is like "great! why isn't Shakir playing more?"

 

But take last game.  Shakir was on the field for 15 snaps.  He had 2 targets.  He missed one he could arguably have caught but it was ahead of him - was he in the right place, or was the ball off target?, he made a beautiful catch on the other. 

 

So what is he doing the other 13 snaps?  If his role was to run a clearing route, did he get a clean release and complete the route with conviction?  If his role was to block downfield on a run or after a reception by someone else, did he at least get in the defender's way (more a matter of timing and technique than size/strength)?  Those are the things the coaches are looking at. 

 

And frankly, when I see film and pick out Shakir, the answer so far is a mixed bag.  I have seen beautiful downfield blocks and a couple good blocks in the backfield.  I have also seen total whiffs.  Similar with routes- seen beautiful routes, seen routes where he got taken out or where I could say "you know you're not getting the ball". 

 

I have absolutely no doubt that Shakir will keep working and learning and improving and will take over in time, but fans have to understand that coaches are looking at the entire 15 snaps, not just the 2 where Shakir got targeted, or vs Pittsburgh they're looking at the whole 39 snaps, not the 5 where Shakir got targeted and the 3 lovely receptions.  And it's what he's doing on those other snaps that will determine the time.

[Wayne Arnold]

Wonder what Marquez Stevenson's status is. Haven't heard anything about him. Was eligible to return from IR two weeks ago.

[Beck Water]

10 minutes ago, Wayne Arnold said:

Wonder what Marquez Stevenson's status is. Haven't heard anything about him. Was eligible to return from IR two weeks ago.

 

McDermott said something about it in one of his pressers IIRC, it was to the effect that Stevenson wasn't near to return.

[Wayne Arnold]

2 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

McDermott said something about it in one of his pressers IIRC, it was to the effect that Stevenson wasn't near to return.

 

Safe to say he'll be out for the year. Has one more week to be added to the 53, like Tre and I believe Boettger.

[Beck Water]

2 minutes ago, Wayne Arnold said:

 

Safe to say he'll be out for the year. Has one more week to be added to the 53, like Tre and I believe Boettger.

 

How do you get that "one more week"?  I don't think that's correct.

[FilthyBeast]

4 hours ago, motorj said:

He has scored 3 TD's compared to Beasley's 1 last year, so he can't be that bad guys

 

If that's the only measuring stick for you great, but he's nowhere close to Beasely overall in what he meant to this offense at the time and the longer this guy is on the field the greater chance it will cost us an actual game.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

4 minutes ago, Wayne Arnold said:

 

Safe to say he'll be out for the year. Has one more week to be added to the 53, like Tre and I believe Boettger.

 

He was not on PUP.  He made active 53, then was placed on IR.  Once he start practicing i think theres a 3 or 4 week window to activate. 

[Wayne Arnold]

2 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

How do you get that "one more week"?  I don't think that's correct.

 

I could be wrong but I thought the IR rules stated that when a player is placed on IR, after being out four games a player has a three-week window to return to the 53-man roster. Otherwise they have to be placed on season-ending IR.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

3 minutes ago, FilthyBeast said:

 

If that's the only measuring stick for you great, but he's nowhere close to Beasely overall in what he meant to this offense at the time and the longer this guy is on the field the greater chance it will cost us an actual game.

 

He's been pretty good all year - had a bad day in KC.  I think justifiably you can argue he should have a reduced snap count.  He needs to earn back trust with his performance on the field.  

 

Focus on 10-15 plays that you want from him, jet motion stuff, some man beating concepts etc.  

Just now, Wayne Arnold said:

 

I could be wrong but I thought the IR rules stated that when a player is placed on IR, after being out four games a player has a three-week window to return to the 53-man roster. Otherwise they have to be placed on season-ending IR.

 

That was if they didn't make the active roster i believe.  

[Beck Water]

3 minutes ago, Wayne Arnold said:

 

I could be wrong but I thought the IR rules stated that when a player is placed on IR, after being out four games a player has a three-week window to return to the 53-man roster. Otherwise they have to be placed on season-ending IR.

 

Ah, OK, I see. 

 

So 2 things getting mixed here. 

 

PUP - which is what Boettger and White were on - is for players who started TC unable to practice.  When a guy goes on PUP into the regular season he needs to stay there for at least 4 weeks, but he can stay on there as long as the team wants though - 8 weeks, 12 weeks.  Can't practice while he's on it, can attend meetings and watch film with the team, use facilities.

 

When the player starts practicing, he gets a 21 day window (I think it's days, not games) to practice with the team, at the end of that 3 weeks he either gets placed on the 53 man roster OR go on season ending IR (of course there's a work around.  Player can go on the 53 man roster as an active player for a couple days, then go on IR eligible to return.)

 

IR - which is what Stevenson is on - player must start the season on the 53 man roster to be eligible to come off.  Player can't practice with the team until he's off.  Like PUP, the player must be on IR at least 4 games (games not weeks) but there's no maximum - he can stay on IR 6 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks.  BUT, he has to go onto the 53 man roster once he starts practicing.  And, this year the team gets a maximum of 8 players who can return.

 

So Boettger can stay on PUP for many weeks, and Stevenson can stay on IR for many weeks, and still be eligible to return.  It's a minimum of 4 weeks, not a 4 week deadline to decide.

[Bronxbomber21]

On 10/16/2022 at 10:10 PM, Captain_Quint said:

He had an embarrassing game today. It was obvious that they were trying to lean that way early, and he couldn't get out if his own way. 

 

I've been on the fence, but today he was a glaring issue. 

Mckenzie played like he still had a concussion 

[WideNine]

On 10/16/2022 at 7:23 PM, Aussie Joe said:

Bad luck seems to follow him….

The only big game he has ever had was against the Patriots last year..

 

I would be happy with very limited time on the field rest of season and then cut bait at the end of the year…

 

No more kick returns either 

 

 

 

 

McKenzie can be a boom or bust kind of player and he needs to work on more consistency.

 

His speed and the fact he was money for us against the Pats when we needed him to step up last year does go a ways with me.

 

Have been hoping that more time featured in the offense would lead to that consistency, as I like to see our players succeed.

 

Don't blame him for not being ready for what was likely an improvisational shovel pass from Allen, but he was off in his timing and routes with some drops in other area of the game and has had a few brain farts this year.

 

I am willing to chalk this last game up to just being back a bit too early from his concussion protocol and not being in sync with Allen and the offense.

 

But with Shakir waiting in the wings, the hook will be faster if he keeps struggling.

 

 

 

[BillsfaninSB]

I understand the concern about his body of work this year but I’m not convinced the fumble and the TD drop was 100% him.

 

It seemed like Josh had to pitch that ball to him sooner than expected.  He had a wall of Chiefs in front of him.  The play design may have required more time and the o-line didn’t do their job.
 

The pass was behind McKenzie.  It reminded me of the 2020 Barkley pass  against the Pats that broke Beasley’s leg. 

[zow2]

He needs to stop being a goofball ALL the time and start paying attention a bit.  His KC game was Pfffft.    I still say he could've gotten out of bounds vs Miami and given Bass a long chance for a FG,,  OR he could've used some intelligence and immediately dropped to the ground like I'm sure has been coached in final second situations.  

[Starr Almighty]

Let's just say I almost ran on the field to kick him in the ass 🤣