An open letter to the Jordan Poyer doubters

[Simon]

Dear Jordan Poyer doubters,

Bite me.

 

     Yours truly,

                         Simon

[Simon]

Only two people thought this was funny?

Damn, I must be slippin'.

 

Anyhoo, here is what I think is going on.

Last year I think Mr Poyer learned a very hard (and very expensive) lesson about how to manage his health throughout a long season.

At the very beginning of last year he was absolutely trying to murder any viable target that came within 10yrds of him, repeatedly throwing his body at full speed and exposed, awkward angles at large armored athletes on practically every series.

Needless to say, this is not a strategy that is conducive to playing 16 football games in a row. And sure enough by later in the year, he was a shell of himself being held together by duct tape and bailing wire.

I think what we're seeing right now is a smarter, more veteran Poyer trying to play a much more controlled game, preserve his health and assure that when things get really important later in the year that he will be ready to go at full speed.

Is it a good idea? I think it is, both for Poyer and for the Bills. It may lead to fewer kill shots and fewer turnovers in the short term, but if it leads to a healthy Poyer in the playoffs, it will have been well worth it.

I fully expect to see a transition at some point in December where that heedless assassin begins to re-emerge in games against playoff worthy rivals; and I hope he does it wisely enough that when elimination games start he can step on the field and once again start trying to murder everybody in a different colored shirt.

[RiotAct]

interesting thought - could very well be!  

 

He should be a go for the Jacksonville game, right?

[DrDawkinstein]

Love Poyer and what he's done for this team, but if he has to wait until December to really turn on his A-game there will be a chance that Rapp unseats him for the starting spot by then. Younger, healthier legs sure seem to make a difference back there.

[Nephilim17]

1 minute ago, Simon said:

Only two people thought this was funny?

Damn, I must be slippin'.

 

Anyhoo, here is what I think is going on.

Last year I think Mr Poyer learned a very hard (and very expensive) lesson about how to manage his health throughout a long season.

At the very beginning of last year he was absolutely trying to murder any viable target that came within 10yrds of him, repeatedly throwing his body at full speed and exposed, awkward angles at large armored athletes on practically every series.

Needless to say, this is not a strategy that is conducive to playing 16 football games in a row. And sure enough by later in the year, he was a shell of himself being held together by duct tape and bailing wire.

I think what we're seeing right now is a smarter, more veteran Poyer trying to play a much more controlled game, preserve his health and assure that when things get really important later in the year that he will be ready to go at full speed.

Is it a good idea? I think it is, both for Poyer and for the Bills. It may lead to fewer kill shots and fewer turnovers in the short term, but if it leads to a healthy Poyer in the playoffs, it will have been well worth it.

I fully expect to see a transition at some point in December where that heedless assassin begins to re-emerge in games against playoff worthy rivals; and I hope he does it wisely enough that when elimination games start he can step on the field and once again start trying to murder everybody in a different colored shirt.

Maybe I'm missing the point but the title of the thread sounds like something someone would post after a big game by Poyer and not something that supports your real point of Poyer is now trying to play a more controlled game to preserve his health and be healthy for the playoffs

If you titled the thread "Poyer trying to play a more controlled game to preserve his health" I think you'll get more traction.

[JÂy RÛßeÒ]

Poyer drove to KC with a punctured lung to play.  I'm 100% sure he would have played if required.  But I think wiser heads prevailed - we need him effective late in the season, not damaged in week 4.  And based on yesterday, I think it was a great choice.

[Simon]

3 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Love Poyer and what he's done for this team, but if he has to wait until December to really turn on his A-game there will be a chance that Rapp unseats him for the starting spot by then. Younger, healthier legs sure seem to make a difference back there.

 

There's always a chance of that but a healthy Poyer is so impactful that it cannot be ignored.

Plus if he's doing this with the full consent (or even directives) of the staff, it should not be an issue.

1 minute ago, Nephilim17 said:

Maybe I'm missing the point but the title of the thread sounds like something someone would post after a big game by Poyer and not something that supports your real point of Poyer is now trying to play a more controlled game to preserve his health and be healthy for the playoffs

If you titled the thread "Poyer trying to play a more controlled game to preserve his health" I think you'll get more traction.

 

"Bite me" is timeless and appropriate to virtually all situations.

Plus I just thought it was funny. 

[boyst]

you don't go from savage to saint the way he has without purpose. hyde has always played the smart angles and safer style. if poyer is indeed doing that then i hope he can snap out of it without jeopardizing himself.

 

one could argue he is trying to protect himself for another contract. he hopefully is for his own wellbeing.

 

regardless, i am satisfied that rapp can handle the load while we let Poyer take the time he needs.

[BuffaloBillyG]

7 minutes ago, Simon said:

Only two people thought this was funny?

Damn, I must be slippin'.

 

Anyhoo, here is what I think is going on.

Last year I think Mr Poyer learned a very hard (and very expensive) lesson about how to manage his health throughout a long season.

At the very beginning of last year he was absolutely trying to murder any viable target that came within 10yrds of him, repeatedly throwing his body at full speed and exposed, awkward angles at large armored athletes on practically every series.

Needless to say, this is not a strategy that is conducive to playing 16 football games in a row. And sure enough by later in the year, he was a shell of himself being held together by duct tape and bailing wire.

I think what we're seeing right now is a smarter, more veteran Poyer trying to play a much more controlled game, preserve his health and assure that when things get really important later in the year that he will be ready to go at full speed.

Is it a good idea? I think it is, both for Poyer and for the Bills. It may lead to fewer kill shots and fewer turnovers in the short term, but if it leads to a healthy Poyer in the playoffs, it will have been well worth it.

I fully expect to see a transition at some point in December where that heedless assassin begins to re-emerge in games against playoff worthy rivals; and I hope he does it wisely enough that when elimination games start he can step on the field and once again start trying to murder everybody in a different colored shirt.

You may have some valid points. 

 

My thoughts on Poyer last year were twofold. First, it felt like without Hyde he was trying to do too much. Trying to make up for both his and Micah's production.

 

Second, he was playing for a contract. Being with the Bills or another team...he was in full out contract year mode. And I think that actually hurt him both physically and financially in the long run.  He (and moreso his lady) seemed DETERMINED to go play elsewhere. The land of lower taxes. But there was a reason he was signed back here instead. His body is shot IMO.

 

I really appreciate and respect the job he's done here in Buffalo. Guy has been really good for a really long time. But I believe those injuries have mounted up. It happens. He's still a very intelligent player and he may be able to make it through the year being smart rather than try and fly around and that's ok, too.

 

 

[noacls]

Rapp looks better in one game! Poyer has only been noticeable for his bad angles, missed tackles, and 2 steps lost this year. 

[Yobogoya!]

5 minutes ago, JÂy RÛßeÒ said:

Poyer drove to KC with a punctured lung to play.  I'm 100% sure he would have played if required.  But I think wiser heads prevailed - we need him effective late in the season, not damaged in week 4.  And based on yesterday, I think it was a great choice.

 

That was a true boss moment form Po. Guy's an absolute dawg. 

 

Is he on the downtown of his career? Yeah, probably. He is 32 after all. 

 

But the day the tandem of Poyer and Hyde comes to an end will be one of the saddest days this fandom has had to deal with since the drought years. I'm sure not looking forward to it. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Dear Jordan Poyer,

 

Prove the doubters wrong.

[Saxum]

14 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Love Poyer and what he's done for this team, but if he has to wait until December to really turn on his A-game there will be a chance that Rapp unseats him for the starting spot by then. Younger, healthier legs sure seem to make a difference back there.

 

The best thing is for Rapp to rotate in for Poyer and Taron Johnson.  Those two players are difference makers in back 7 and we need they to make the plays only they can.  Hyde plays a different role and not see anyone who can substitute well for him; maybe Cam could relieve him sometimes.

[Simon]

1 minute ago, Limeaid said:

The best thing is for Rapp to rotate in for Poyer and Taron Johnson.

 

I don't think there is any way that Rapp can play the nickel.

I think Taron is fine right where he is.

[Saxum]

2 minutes ago, Yobogoya! said:

 

That was a true boss moment form Po. Guy's an absolute dawg. 

 

 

The true boss moment from Po was when Bills did a stunt pulling DT around end and Po engaged lineman on line; lineman looked at Po with look "Who do you think you are boy?" and Po pushed him into backfield. 

I  was at a bar showing multiple games and someone asked me who that LB is and I said that is our STRONG safety.

[DrDawkinstein]

6 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

I don't think there is any way that Rapp can play the nickel.

I think Taron is fine right where he is.

 

I love Taron, but I'd think of it as more of a Heavy Nickel. Not that Taron can't handle it, but spreading some snaps around might be a smart idea with the way guys were getting dinged.

[dave mcbride]

25 minutes ago, Simon said:

Only two people thought this was funny?

Damn, I must be slippin'.

 

Anyhoo, here is what I think is going on.

Last year I think Mr Poyer learned a very hard (and very expensive) lesson about how to manage his health throughout a long season.

At the very beginning of last year he was absolutely trying to murder any viable target that came within 10yrds of him, repeatedly throwing his body at full speed and exposed, awkward angles at large armored athletes on practically every series.

Needless to say, this is not a strategy that is conducive to playing 16 football games in a row. And sure enough by later in the year, he was a shell of himself being held together by duct tape and bailing wire.

I think what we're seeing right now is a smarter, more veteran Poyer trying to play a much more controlled game, preserve his health and assure that when things get really important later in the year that he will be ready to go at full speed.

Is it a good idea? I think it is, both for Poyer and for the Bills. It may lead to fewer kill shots and fewer turnovers in the short term, but if it leads to a healthy Poyer in the playoffs, it will have been well worth it.

I fully expect to see a transition at some point in December where that heedless assassin begins to re-emerge in games against playoff worthy rivals; and I hope he does it wisely enough that when elimination games start he can step on the field and once again start trying to murder everybody in a different colored shirt.

My recollection from last season is that he never really recovered from that elbow injury, where the swelling made it look like he had a small mammal living inside of it. He got that injury in camp (August 3), and we were still seeing this in November: 

.

[boyst]

Rapp in on heavy nickel and spelling Poyer when needed is very important. Johnson plays nickel very well, very smart. Simon, you are right that he cannot be replaced but when we need a run heavy nickel we don't need to replace Johnson - we need to supplement the defense to the matchup we face with Rapp. If we were simply looking to spell Johnson than I am 100% onboard with Neal coming in to get reps. Rapp simply offers coverage from someone who can play downhill smart and fast enough.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

It's a young man's game. Rapp is better and we all know it. Rapp should start the rest of the year. 

[Simon]

2 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

It's a young man's game. Rapp is better and we all know it. Rapp should start the rest of the year. 

 

Keep it coming, baby.

I love y'all doubting that fella.