Outlook on McDermott if we turn it around

[Lfod]

I think McDermott is a great head coach.  Like Josh Allen I take the good with the bad because the upside has been better in my honest opinion.  

 

It doesn't matter how you feel because chances are you will have to live through the complete collapse of the team before you ever see McDermott fired. 

[machine gun kelly]

Unless they implode, the Pegulas are not firing McD.  Get used to it. I’m not commenting on what I want, just what I expect so I’m hopeful they turn this around.

[JohnNord]

On 11/20/2023 at 12:17 AM, Mikie2times said:

The better we perform in the short term, the more likely we will maintain the status quo in the long term. I don't see any way that isn't the case. It was already a long shot that we would part ways with McDermott after this year. It was going to take an implosion on the trajectory of what we had seen prior to Dorsey being canned. If they turn it around and threaten the playoffs it's not going to happen. 

 

Do some of you feel strongly enough about McDermott to actual want this thing to implode for the greater good? Do some of you feel if we can somehow get back on track to make the playoffs that it would alter your view on him as the coach next year? Curious what the outlook is on this. 

This is what I’ve always said.  If you want McDermott to be fired, you should hope they lose out.  The more losses would increase the likelihood of him getting fired.  Although, he re-signed this summer, so there’s a chance it might not make a difference. 
 

 

[Chaos]

I want McDermott to win the Super Bowl this year.  But If they don't advance past the divisional round of the playoff game, it is quite reasonable to say he had 6 years (a very long NFL coach tenure for someone who doesn't get past the divisional round of playoffs) and is not owed any further opportunities to try. 

 

As an aside, the Bills have become perenial playoff contenders because Tom Brady left New England and Josh Allen arrived in Buffalo.  It has very very little too do with the Bills coaching staff. 

[FireChans]

16 minutes ago, Chaos said:

I want McDermott to win the Super Bowl this year.  But If they don't advance past the divisional round of the playoff game, it is quite reasonable to say he had 6 years (a very long NFL coach tenure for someone who doesn't get past the divisional round of playoffs) and is not owed any further opportunities to try. 

 

As an aside, the Bills have become perenial playoff contenders because Tom Brady left New England and Josh Allen arrived in Buffalo.  It has very very little too do with the Bills coaching staff. 

McD was the second and last AFCE coach to make the playoffs in two separate seasons with Brady in the division since 2004. 

[PBF81]

15 hours ago, Lfod said:

It doesn't matter how you feel because chances are you will have to live through the complete collapse of the team before you ever see McDermott fired. 

 

Not so sure about that.  The narrative is growing both nationally and regionally that he's simply not cutting it, which is being kind is some cases.  Like it or not, narratives drive much, both positive and negative.  

 

Remember, Pegula's trying to sell tickets to our new and improved stadium, at exorbitant prices by Buffalo standards despite their pitching it as being in line with league pricing elsewhere.  AKA Buffalo's not NYC, Boston, San Fran or any of the other big markets re: median income.  

 

That's why he extended and sync'd McBeane's contracts.  It's a good guess that he was hoping we'd be 9-2 right now, as we should be, and that virtual ST sales process with the VR experience would be going on right now with fan enthusiasm at all-time highs.  Rather, the opposite has occurred.  

 

But if we go 8-9 or 9-8 and miss the playoffs, given that this team's trajectory has been downhill since '21, it presents a problem for Pegula in that light as he needs "Allen" leading a great Bills' team to assist in selling his first round of PSLs as part of "his contribution" to the costs.  

 

And who knows, maybe we'll finish 5-1 and win the division.  But if not, I'm not one of those that thinks that even if we do go 8-9 that McD will be fired.  I think he should be, but don't think that he will be.   

 

How many more seasons of underachievement is Pegula going to sit still for as Allen ages is the question.  We've ultimately underachieved in every playoffs under him despite regular season success from '20 to '22.  Even if we get lucky and "make the playoffs" again, if we lose in the Wild Card or Divisional rounds to a lesser team, that pattern merely extends itself.  

 

Fan expectations are now past making the playoffs, just as they were past winning the AFC Championship back in the '90s.  The expectations now are for prolific offense on a continual basis, AFC Championships, and a Super Bowl win.  If McD can do that, he'll forever be a legend in WNY.  

 

There also isn't much for McD to hide behind at this point.  At the same time, as you imply, Pegula would have to eat a lot of crow if he were to fire McD now because that first year of that extension hasn't even kicked in, which wasn't necessary to provide until at least seeing how this season played out.  

 

Everyone's saying that our offense is back under Brady, but the reality is that three plays separated us from a "meh" offensive performance and what actually happened.  The problem is that none of those plays are likely in games going forward. 

The first was Gilliam's forced fumble setting us up already in field goal range where we lost 9 yards and still managed to kick a FG. 

The second was Douglas' INT giving us the ball at the Jets 23 for our first TD at the end of the second quarter.  

The third was that 81-yard TD pass to Shakir.  What are the odds of that happening again.  For reference purposes, that was Allen's 2nd longest of his career.  98 was the longest to Davis last season. 

Foster had one for 75 in 2018. 

Davis had one for 62 yards also last season.  

We had three such deep TD passes last season in total, those two to Davis and a 55-yarder to Diggs.  This season we have two so far.  Shakir's and Diggs'.  

 

While many here seem to think that's sustainably common, the reality is that last season with three of 50+ was Allen's season max.  

 

Those three plays set-up or logged over half our our points and a quarter of our total yards.  But they're unlikely to recur with even the slightest regularity against good teams the likes of which we face coming up in our gauntlet.  

 

 

[hondo in seattle]

Imagine you're a young man at a dance a hundred years ago.  At the dance, you notice a beautiful young lady.  You watch her, long for her - but so do dozens of other bucks. 

 

Out of all the guys courting her, she chooses only a dozen or so to dance with.  Maybe it was your charm, good looks, or dancing skills - whatever the reason, you are thrilled to be in that elite and fortunate group.  

 

She only accepts a second dance with a few of the young stalwarts and again you are overjoyed to be among the chosen.

 

But you are crestfallen at the end of the evening when she chooses a rival less worthy than you to be her beau.

 

Lady Luck is fickle.

 

McD normally gets us a dance.  If you dance with Lady Luck, things might turn out.  They might not.  You can slant the odds in your favor by doing the right things, but you can never control the outcome. 

 

McD has made us competitive.  Give him enough passes, and he'll get us a ring.  Unless Andy Reid becomes available, I stay with McD.  

 

 

[Chaos]

Please change the title of this thread to:

Outlook on McDermott if the defense craps the bed again. 

[gordong]

mcdummy is horrible fire his ass NOW