When did Steve Tasker become such a homer?

[Mister Defense]

On One Bills Live Tasker refuses to give or agree with any criticism whatsover as  to how Ken Dorsey has done as an offensive coordinator. By his reactions, you can often tell that Chris Brown is not on the same page, though he often defers to Tasker overall.  Someone like Maddy Glab seems to imply she has her doubts about Dorsey, expecting to see some big changes this year.

 

I am posting this because of Tasker's comments on OBL Monday 8-21, related to the Bills' offense horrendous performance against Pittsburgh.  I was curious to see if Tasker was going to level any criticism at all on the coaching staff for how un-disciplined and un-prepared the Bills looked. After all, the buck stops at the top.

 

But right on cue, and immediately, he made almost shocking excuses for the Bills performance, letting all off the hook.  He said that the Bills just want to play the Jets in the opener and didn't seem interested in this pre season game at all.  He said that over and over, couldn't get that out fast enough to open the show. But not as a criticism at all, but as a valid excuse.

 

Then he took the next step, and said that this successful veteran team is focused on the winning playoff games, indicating that a game like this had almost no importance to them; so why bother?  But again, he wasn't being critical at all, just offering a lame and strange excuse.

 

Of course in his hyper-homer like analysis he offered even more damning criticism of the Bills.  As without the mindset that all games, all plays, are important, there is no way this Bills team can contend for a championship. In response, Brown said something like this meekly at one point.

 

Tasker is one my favorite players in my decades of being a Bills fan, a vital cog in the best teams I have ever seen play in Buffalo, and smart, with great character. I also appreciated his work as a color commentator, as he was objective,  clear, and didn't overdo it, didn't speak just to hear himself talk (see: Kirk Herbstreet, the opposite).

 

But repeatedly saying the Bills are going to be a "wrecking crew" this year, and not seeing the problems most saw as the season progressed last year, and now in this pre-season, has me losing respect for his opinion. Then, his almost comical response to the Pittsburgh fiasco showed me how far down the rabbit hole he has burrowed.

 

I think that objective, honest analysis is the most helpful, and Tasker's  has become lacking in both respects, in my opinion.

 

[MJS]

Well, he has always been a homer but he knows, from experience, that the results of preseason games are completely meaningless.

 

You seem to really care about this preseason game. Maybe you are the one being ridiculous...

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

2 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

On One Bills Live Tasker refuses to give or agree with any criticism whatsover as  to how Ken Dorsey has done as an offensive coordinator. By his reactions, you can often tell that Chris Brown is not on the same page, though he often defers to Tasker overall.  Someone like Maddy Glab seems to imply she has her doubts about Dorsey, expecting to see some big changes this year.

 

I am posting this because of Tasker's comments on OBL Monday 8-21, related to the Bills' offense horrendous performance against Pittsburgh.  I was curious to see if Tasker was going to level any criticism at all on the coaching staff for how un-disciplined and un-prepared the Bills looked. After all, the buck stops at the top.

 

But right on cue, and immediately, he made almost shocking excuses for the Bills performance, letting all off the hook.  He said that the Bills just want to play the Jets in the opener and didn't seem interested in this pre season game at all.  He said that over and over, couldn't get that out fast enough to open the show. But not as a criticism at all, but as a valid excuse.

 

Then he took the next step, and said that this successful veteran team is focused on the winning playoff games, indicating that a game like this had almost no importance to them; so why bother?  But again, he wasn't being critical at all, just offering a lame and strange excuse.

 

Of course in his hyper-homer like analysis he offered even more damning criticism of the Bills.  As without the mindset that all games, all plays, are important, there is no way this Bills team can contend for a championship. In response, Brown said something like this meekly at one point.

 

Tasker is one my favorite players in my decades of being a Bills fan, a vital cog in the best teams I have ever seen play in Buffalo, and smart, with great character. I also appreciated his work as a color commentator, as he was objective,  clear, and didn't overdo it, didn't speak just to hear himself talk (see: Kirk Herbstreet, the opposite).

 

But repeatedly saying the Bills are going to be a "wrecking crew" this year, and not seeing the problems most saw as the season progressed last year, and now in this pre-season, has me losing respect for his opinion. Then, his almost comical response to the Pittsburgh fiasco showed me how far down the rabbit hole he has burrowed.

 

I think that objective, honest analysis is the most helpful, and Tasker's  has become lacking in both respects, in my opinion.

 

In my experience employers aren’t seeking objectivity about their performance from employees. 

[julian]

Helpful to who ? The team doesn’t give a rats a** what Chris Brown or Tasker or you or any fan thinks.

 

 It might just be as simple as plenty of people have a hard time criticizing a rookie OC who was 2nd in scoring and 1st on 3rd down conversion.

[Mister Defense]

Just now, MJS said:

Well, he has always been a homer but he knows, from experience, that the results of preseason games are completely meaningless.

 

You seem to really care about this preseason game. Maybe you are the one being ridiculous...

 

Mega penalties and almost no good plays from their starting unit against Pittsburgh's should concern all. 

[Nephilim17]

One Bills Live isn't journalism, it's marketing. Sometimes when they get outsiders like Greg Cosell, these people make very veiled critiques of players (but never the system) but you'll be hard pressed to see Tasker, Brown or Maddy Glab (she was hired just to have a young female presence; she's not very good at dissecting football) say something bad about the team.

[JoPoy88]

1 minute ago, Mister Defense said:

 

Mega penalties and almost no good plays from their starting unit against Pittsburgh's should concern all. 

well, it doesn’t. I’ll adjust my concern when the games start counting.

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

2 minutes ago, MJS said:

Well, he has always been a homer but he knows, from experience, that the results of preseason games are completely meaningless.

 

You seem to really care about this preseason game. Maybe you are the one being ridiculous...

You sure? Even Dawkins said they didn't play up to their standard at times. I venture a guess other players and coaches would agree in a moment of candor.

 

Are you of the belief they should have no standards for themselves at all in these games? If that's the case then it probably hurts more than helps to play starters at all, opening them up to forming bad habits.

[Royale with Cheese]

Many former players aren’t negative like a fan base because they’ve been through it.  They know that the fans don’t know everything that happened or want to understand it.  They know there are good days and bad days.

 

Tasker does say some confusing stuff and things I don’t agree with.  Oh well. Makes me roll my eyes but it doesn’t bother me like some of you.  Not saying this to the OP, just in general.  It seems to bother some fans when radio hosts/commentators/ex-players aren’t as vocally critical as them.  It genuinely makes some of you angry which is very odd to me.

[Matt_In_NH]

He is much more level headed and pragmatic than the typical fan who flys off the handle over every little thing.

[dickleyjones]

to answer your question, likely some time in the early 90s.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

My unqualified opinion says when CBS cut him free from his television gig.  I could be wrong.  Now it's 'One Bills Live' and the car dealership buying his stogies, but who knows how well off he truly is.

[MJS]

10 minutes ago, 2020 Our Year For Sure said:

You sure? Even Dawkins said they didn't play up to their standard at times. I venture a guess other players and coaches would agree in a moment of candor.

 

Are you of the belief they should have no standards for themselves at all in these games? If that's the case then it probably hurts more than helps to play starters at all, opening them up to forming bad habits.

Preseason games have their place. They are there to get some reps for starters, but mostly for evaluating your players and ironing out kinks. They don't game plan. They are only mildly trying to win the game.

 

If there are problems, you address them and try to use it to get ready for the season.

 

Nothing more. Nothing less. Fans should not make sweeping judgements about the team or even players in the limited reps they get.

Edited August 22, 2023 by MJS

[Matt_In_NH]

7 minutes ago, 2020 Our Year For Sure said:

You sure? Even Dawkins said they didn't play up to their standard at times. I venture a guess other players and coaches would agree in a moment of candor.

 

Are you of the belief they should have no standards for themselves at all in these games? If that's the case then it probably hurts more than helps to play starters at all, opening them up to forming bad habits.

Both can be true at the same time.   The preseason games matter but not for the reasons most fans are thinking.   They are really there to prepare for the season, it is practice.

[Mr. WEO]

When did a PSE employee become a Bills homer?

 

This needs a deeper dive...

[thenorthremembers]

He's been honest when the Bills have been bad.  Despite what many on this board may think, they havent been bad in 3 seasons or so.  

[Blackbeard]

Tasker is one of the better commentators we have.  He has experience obviously.

 

The fact he isn't rattled by the ***** preseason performance should tell you something.  He's been there, done that.

 

 

[SoonerBillsFan]

28 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

On One Bills Live Tasker refuses to give or agree with any criticism whatsover as  to how Ken Dorsey has done as an offensive coordinator. By his reactions, you can often tell that Chris Brown is not on the same page, though he often defers to Tasker overall.  Someone like Maddy Glab seems to imply she has her doubts about Dorsey, expecting to see some big changes this year.

 

I am posting this because of Tasker's comments on OBL Monday 8-21, related to the Bills' offense horrendous performance against Pittsburgh.  I was curious to see if Tasker was going to level any criticism at all on the coaching staff for how un-disciplined and un-prepared the Bills looked. After all, the buck stops at the top.

 

But right on cue, and immediately, he made almost shocking excuses for the Bills performance, letting all off the hook.  He said that the Bills just want to play the Jets in the opener and didn't seem interested in this pre season game at all.  He said that over and over, couldn't get that out fast enough to open the show. But not as a criticism at all, but as a valid excuse.

 

Then he took the next step, and said that this successful veteran team is focused on the winning playoff games, indicating that a game like this had almost no importance to them; so why bother?  But again, he wasn't being critical at all, just offering a lame and strange excuse.

 

Of course in his hyper-homer like analysis he offered even more damning criticism of the Bills.  As without the mindset that all games, all plays, are important, there is no way this Bills team can contend for a championship. In response, Brown said something like this meekly at one point.

 

Tasker is one my favorite players in my decades of being a Bills fan, a vital cog in the best teams I have ever seen play in Buffalo, and smart, with great character. I also appreciated his work as a color commentator, as he was objective,  clear, and didn't overdo it, didn't speak just to hear himself talk (see: Kirk Herbstreet, the opposite).

 

But repeatedly saying the Bills are going to be a "wrecking crew" this year, and not seeing the problems most saw as the season progressed last year, and now in this pre-season, has me losing respect for his opinion. Then, his almost comical response to the Pittsburgh fiasco showed me how far down the rabbit hole he has burrowed.

 

I think that objective, honest analysis is the most helpful, and Tasker's  has become lacking in both respects, in my opinion.

 

I would say he is looking at it from a former players point of view, vs. two others that never played in the NFL. I would think his perspective is preseason means little esp. If you look at the Bills preseason records when he was playing and we went to 5 AFCCG in 6 years and 4 straight superbowls.  Not saying he is right, I just think thats where his perspective comes from.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

He's always been a homer.

And he is correct. 

Bills starters should not have been in this game. Zero upside. Only injury risk. I'd like to blame McDermott but almost all the coaches make the same bad decision.  

[Maynard]

Tasker is a company man. It’s his source of income these days I’d imagine.