Wandering thoughts on the Bills season and game vs. Chiefs

[Danger Mouse]

8 hours ago, Magox said:

- Von Miller was playing without his brace this game and even though he started off the game vs the Chiefs ineffective, he was a difference maker in the latter parts of the game.  He had a key pressure which should have been an in the grasp sack against Mahomes, he also an extremely important pressure on a 3rd and 7 near the goal line where he almost caused a fumble, which ended up leading to a FG.   I would argue the Von Miller that we saw in the 4th quarter was the Von Miller that we brought in to close out games.

 

- Even though the Offensive line was gashed by pressures by the Chiefs, they were still effective in run blocking and this is the best offensive line we have had in well over a decade.  I like this O-line and I don't believe we need to look to actively upgrade it next year.

 

- James Cook is becoming the real deal, it is a bit of a mystery that we stopped using him midway through the 3rd quarter, but Brady has brought out the reason why he was seen as a potential blue chip NFL prospect.  His elusiveness, speed, vision, route running and his ability to break tackles tells me that he can get 15-20 touches a game and the Bills should look to take advantage of that.

 

- Something seems off with Diggs.  I have never seen him ask to be taken out for breathers/or what have you as much as I have seen over the past month.  His productivity has dropped and he was not able to get himself open against Sneed.  Maybe he has an undisclosed injury but he's not been the same Diggs we have seen over the past year. 

 

- Gabe is way too inconsistent, even though Josh totally missed him on a play that was setup with those WR bubble screens and he had an easy TD.  Aside from that, when he plays against top end DB's, he is a non factor.  I think part of it is on Josh where he just doesn't even look his way because I believe he's lost confidence in him.

 

- The Bills need to draft a WR with their top pick, lots of really good WR's are available to be had and we not only need a #2 but an eventual replacement to Diggs and now is the time.

 

- McDermott actually changed up the aggressiveness of the D late in the game and it paid off, so kudos for him for that. However, the clock management was terrible.  With that said, a big reason for that debacle near the 2 minute warning was Diggs fault. That bubble screen was viewed like a handoff and if he catches that he probably gets a few yards and it goes to the two minute warning.  It probably impacted the next call as well.  Brady had to make the decision after the drop, they are facing a 2nd and 10, he's probably thinking if we can get the 1st down we win, Chiefs won't get the ball back.  With that 2nd and 10 he calculated the best way to close out the game was to get that 1st down and passing was the best option and it didn't work out.

 

- The Bills could easily be a 10-3 team right now, but we've allowed games to slip through our fingers too much.  With that said, if we can beat the Cowboys, there is a good chance that the Bills could actually win the division and be one of the AFC favorites to reach the Super Bowl.  None of the AFC teams scare me, the Ravens I think are probably the best of the bunch but they are beatable.

 

best post i've read in ages. 

[wakingfane]

15 minutes ago, JerseyBills said:

Diggs is in a lull. He was solid vs Philly- 6-74-1 but ya we need him back to that elite player. 

 

I was going to start a Von thread but no need now, i 100% agree he played his best game all year and will only continue to be a difference maker

 

Cook is awesome 

 

D did a helluva job , losing more pieces in Hyde/AJE

 

Looking eerily similar to 2021 

Agree it's odd to see Diggs dropping multiple passes a game

[wettlaufer]

11 minutes ago, JerseyBills said:

Diggs is in a lull. He was solid vs Philly- 6-74-1 but ya we need him back to that elite player.  

Why isn't Shakir lined out in Davis' position? Guy has caught 26 of 31 targets for an average yards / reception of 16+ and first downs on 17 of his receptions.

 

Davis' reception rate is 56% of targets with 69 (nice) targets. Move his bigger body into the slot, where he can block and let Shakir do his thing on the outside.

[AuntieEm]

1 minute ago, wettlaufer said:

Why isn't Shakir lined out in Davis' position? Guy has caught 26 of 31 targets for an average yards / reception of 16+ and first downs on 17 of his receptions.

 

Davis' reception rate is 56% of targets with 69 (nice) targets. Move his bigger body into the slot, where he can block and let Shakir do his thing on the outside.

 

 Probably could set up a nice bit of musical wrs once we get a few more young guys preferably with speed.  

 

[Ralonzo]

1 hour ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

I gasped and my heart momentarily stopped when I read: "we don't need to actively upgrade it [the OL] next year."

 

I don't care about analytic ratings which I don't believe.  In my eyes, this line improved from bad to average.  That's progress and I'm grateful.  But you don't win a Lombardi with average position groups.  When our best player is our QB, I want a line that keeps him upright & healthy while giving him time to find an open receiver.  

 

All the money on the line is on the left side, which makes sense with the constraints of the franchise QB in place. McGovern was the splash signing so he's here a while although in retrospect Edwards would not have been a disaster there I think. Dawkins has mostly earned it this year especially on those lead counters to the right. Morse is the obvious replacement candidate for cap purposes, which could cause a short term downgrade as his long-term replacement ramps up. Still, he's a technician and can be bullied in the middle. The Bills identity on the line under Kromer has shifted to power and athleticism. Bates is also a technician and is assumed to have the inside track, but my gut feeling is they like Anderson there as he's a hoss who can stand up 1T's and fits their power/athletic identity.

[JerseyBills]

1 hour ago, wettlaufer said:

Why isn't Shakir lined out in Davis' position? Guy has caught 26 of 31 targets for an average yards / reception of 16+ and first downs on 17 of his receptions.

 

Davis' reception rate is 56% of targets with 69 (nice) targets. Move his bigger body into the slot, where he can block and let Shakir do his thing on the outside.

Agreed!! Hope Brady implements these unorthodox but likely effective combos

 

Harty and Sherfield are no bums , they both should have at least a little role and Knox/Kincaid could be lethal, it hasn't yet but the potential is there