Where's Cole Bishop?

[BananaB]

Just now, Augie said:

 

I almost stopped reading at the first sentence, because that is simply not true. I never said anything about Hamlin being outmatched in the playoffs. That may have been you or somebody else. 

 

Regardless, I’m not at practice every day, and I bet you aren’t either. We have professional coaches there to teach, observe and evaluate. McD may have flaws, but one of his strengths is developing DB’s. I’ll trust him over us in our comfy recliners. 

GunnerBill did

[GunnerBill]

24 minutes ago, BananaB said:

 

Well in the playoffs when Hamlin is physically outmatched like you said he is most games, what options do we have?Plug Bishop in part way through a game and see if watching from the bench the whole season helped him. What’s the point of moving forward if we know the outcome?  
 

I’m not sure how Bishop will handle more time, just like your not. He could be a player that learns quick from his mistakes, but then again maybe he isn’t.  We don’t know unless you give him some more time and see.  If it’s still not working a few games down the road you can always go back to Hamlin. People got this guy pegged as a player who can’t help us based off one ***** start.  I want to see him now in hopes that he’ll make an impact by playoffs. There is nothing you can argue that will change my mind.  

 

I know there isn't but I still think your rationale is off. I will give you this though... if we have the division wrapped up and can't be the 1 seed as we hit the final stretch: Pats - Jets - Pats then I think the argument for giving him more time is stronger.

[ToGoGo]

5 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

I wouldn’t get to riled up over Bishop still learning.  Someone else wrote correctly, Bernard had a bad rookie year, but was forced into it with injuries.  He grew in year 2, just as Bishop may grow in year 2.  Hamlin and Rapp are performing at least from PFF analytics towards the top of the league.

 

Why rush it with Bishop?

Because they need to find something to complain and worry about. 

[SoTier]

4 hours ago, BananaB said:

I believe a player needs to see the field to reach his full potential. Hamlin is who he is, he ain’t getting any better. How does that help us in playoffs when we start playing better teams? How was Hamlins game against Baltimore and what changes from him if we see them again.  People act like we’re getting solid play from our safeties because we have beaten some average teams.  Have we beaten anyone with a winning record? Seems like every QB we play against has a pretty solid game completing a shitload of passes. Even if they’re bad QBs. Bishop got burned against probably the best QB/WR duo we faced all year and the book is out on him. Gotta wait till next year, he ain’t got it 🙄 Makes no sense to me. Hamlin lets Henry run right past him numerous times in Baltimore and everyone still thinks hes doing a good job. 

 

The last time I looked, the Bills were 7-2 not 2-7.   They're seeded second in the AFC right now, and can be the #1 seed by beating KC and getting some help from some other team.  

 

If we fans can see that Hamlin isn't the best safety to wear a Bills uni in McDermott's tenure, certainly McDermott and his staff recognize that, too.  They would love, love, love to have somebody better, but if they're still sitting Bishop, it means he still hasn't shown enough in practice to give the coaches confidence that he'd be even as good as Hamlin.

 

I cannot understand why you have such a problem with this. 

Edited November 10 by SoTier

[TheyCallMeAndy]

On 10/16/2024 at 12:20 PM, T.E. said:

You ever work at a place where promotions seem to be done by seniority rather than performance? I think there is a bit of that element with a McDermott roster.

Hamler and Rapp are actually playing really well. 

[RiotAct]

16 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Hamler and Rapp are actually playing really well. 

jury’s still out on Hamler, he’s inactive today  

[VW82]

12 hours ago, BigDingus said:

 

You think they've only missed once? C'mon...

 

Elam has had just as much time in this defense as he ever had in his college defense, so if he can't see the field at this point, it's because he's just not good. Bishop isn't like that. I think the coaching staff likes & feels comfortable with Hamlin, and because of that they're willing to sit on Bishop.

 

But us fans always want to see the high draft picks on the field, especially when there's room to improve at those positions. I'd be happy to see him starting after the bye, but I'm not sure McDermott would do it unless he thought it was a clear upgrade.

Missed on a DB prospect? Yeah, I think it’s only once. Basically, everyone we’ve brought in with any kind of baseline NFL talent has worked out to some degree, and even guys with what I would’ve described as not NFL level have performed reasonably well. McD should’ve earned your trust with DBs by now, notwithstanding they obviously missed with Elam. Edit: and even with Elam, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least to see him blossom elsewhere in a system that allows him to play more man coverage at LOS. 
 

McD might not make the switch at the bye, but even if he doesn’t, I still don’t think it’s a reason to doubt Bishop’s future on the team as a high end contributor. Missing camp as a rookie was a killer. He’s behind at a position where the mental part of the game is more onerous. It may take a healthy camp next summer to get him ready, but folks throwing up red flags because he didn’t look ready off the bench vs Houston are way premature imo. This regime has earned benefit of the doubt with DBs. 

 

Edited November 10 by VW82

[Buffalo_Stampede]

@BananaB I think I could blitz faster than Hamlin did today. Holy smokes. Could really see how slow he is today. I get it.

[PoundingDog]

21 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

@BananaB I think I could blitz faster than Hamlin did today. Holy smokes. Could really see how slow he is today. I get it.

Good observation. BUT, we know luck is a big part of any sports, especially football. Because he rushed slow, way past the QB line AND being blocked right there, the sacked/fumbled ball bounced right to his feet.

[BananaB]

28 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

@BananaB I think I could blitz faster than Hamlin did today. Holy smokes. Could really see how slow he is today. I get it.

You didn’t see it when Taylor blew by him and he was chasing him down the field?

[TheyCallMeAndy]

8 hours ago, RiotAct said:

jury’s still out on Hamler, he’s inactive today  

Every Gosh Darn time 😅

[DCofNC]

I don’t know where Bishop is, but Dejean is balling out , only mention bc he was my wish at that pick.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Bullock another pick.

 

Thats 4 on the year. 

[RiotAct]

2 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Bullock another pick.

 

Thats 4 on the year. 

Pffff : waves hand dismissively :

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, DCofNC said:

I don’t know where Bishop is, but Dejean is balling out , only mention bc he was my wish at that pick.

 

 

Well that was an unrealistic wish.  Dejean wasn't going to make it to pick 60.   

[GaryPinC]

18 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Of course I think players can get better. What a nonsense thing to say. Bishop gave up both touchdowns against Houston he hit the wrong gap for the rushing touchdown and the guy sauntered right through the hole where Bishop should have been. As for playing him a series or two where we have a comfortable lead.... I mean that is what we have done. He got a series late against the Titans. He played late in games earlier in the year against Jacksonville and Baltimore when games were done. 

 

Otherwise the ask is to take a player off the field who is avoiding making back breaking mistakes to put one in who is. 

 

And your argument is actually hurt by your Bernard example. In 2022 he was bad when he played. He didn't then play again and "learn from his mistakes" while getting beat on the field. The Bills worked with him in practice and in the classroom and when he got his shot again in 2023 he earned the right to stay on the field with his play. 

 

The NFL is too hard to have guys out there who are not ready mentally to play in the league. Other teams (even the bad ones) are too clever and well coached and will just spot your weakness and go at it relentlessly. We shouldn't need more proof. The Texans did it with Cole and the week before the Ravens attacked our 2nd level - Spector, Williams, Lewis and Morrow - in the absence of Bernard and Taron with all but one play on offense in that first half on the way to a big lead. When NFL teams know you have a weak spot they go after it.

 

I wanted Cole starting by now. I want him on the field. But he is going to have go some to earn back the trust he lost in Houston. It isn't just with the coaches either. If the other players see a teammate benched for a high draft pick even when that guy is hurting the team they soon let you know about it. 

I don't agree that TB hurts my case, because he didn't have to earn it in 2023.  He earned it in 2022, they made a point in the off-season of saying Edmunds' replacement was already on the roster so drafting one was not a priority. We don't know at what point in 2022 the coaches decided TB was ready only that they didn't act on it until 2023.

 

I agree with you on the rest, I just feel the coaches need to more prioritize getting him minutes.  Not starting, just finding him more minutes to accelerate his development.

 

Bottom line is to this point we are wasting Josh's career and our window.  McD needs to tweak his "process" to take that next step in the playoffs.

 

Best analogous example I can think of is the Cleveland Cavaliers and specifically their last game against the Nets.  Their old coach Bickerstaff was a rigid process guy, not a lot of player development  and limited success in the playoffs.

The change in player development under new coach Atkinson is an explosion.  Multiple players are trying and doing things on the court they seldom did before.

Against the Nets, their 2 bigs starting lineup just wasn't working, Atkinson recognized it and went to a 4 guard lineup to seize and close out the game.  Bickerstaff would have stuck with his starters and lost the game.

 

I'd like to see McD transition from Bickerstaff to Atkinson.  I do wonder if Beane's given him warning because in pressors he face seems more sullen and stressed than in years past.  We'll see.

[GaryPinC]

16 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

 

Why rush it with Bishop?

Because for the playoffs, we really need a safety who can anticipate and close on the ball quicker than Hamlin.  It's going to be a problem.  It already is, it's just less obvious with winning. I understand the coaches if Bishop is making zero forward progress in practice, but if he is progressing they need to do everything in their power to help accelerate it.  I'm also not suggesting he gets shoved into a starting role at this point.

[NeverOutNick]

9 minutes ago, GaryPinC said:

Because for the playoffs, we really need a safety who can anticipate and close on the ball quicker than Hamlin.  It's going to be a problem.  It already is, it's just less obvious with winning. I understand the coaches if Bishop is making zero forward progress in practice, but if he is progressing they need to do everything in their power to help accelerate it.  I'm also not suggesting he gets shoved into a starting role at this point.

Bishop needs to replace Hamlin yesterday. Hamlin is a liability week in and week out. The chiefs will be coming at him all day because he can’t cover 

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, GaryPinC said:

I don't agree that TB hurts my case, because he didn't have to earn it in 2023.  He earned it in 2022, they made a point in the off-season of saying Edmunds' replacement was already on the roster so drafting one was not a priority. We don't know at what point in 2022 the coaches decided TB was ready only that they didn't act on it until 2023.

 

I agree with you on the rest, I just feel the coaches need to more prioritize getting him minutes.  Not starting, just finding him more minutes to accelerate his development.

 

Bottom line is to this point we are wasting Josh's career and our window.  McD needs to tweak his "process" to take that next step in the playoffs.

 

Best analogous example I can think of is the Cleveland Cavaliers and specifically their last game against the Nets.  Their old coach Bickerstaff was a rigid process guy, not a lot of player development  and limited success in the playoffs.

The change in player development under new coach Atkinson is an explosion.  Multiple players are trying and doing things on the court they seldom did before.

Against the Nets, their 2 bigs starting lineup just wasn't working, Atkinson recognized it and went to a 4 guard lineup to seize and close out the game.  Bickerstaff would have stuck with his starters and lost the game.

 

I'd like to see McD transition from Bickerstaff to Atkinson.  I do wonder if Beane's given him warning because in pressors he face seems more sullen and stressed than in years past.  We'll see.

 

I don't care about Basketball so all that is lost on me. They actually didn't hand TB the job in camp. He battled Tyrel Dodson for is and they were hoping one emerged. Bernard won a pretty uninspiring competition and started. It's fair to assume had it gone badly they'd have flipped to Dodson quickly. They didn't have to. Bernard earned the right to stay on the field. That's always how it works.

 

As for Beane giving McDermott a warning... this shouldn't need repeating again but Beane is NOT McDermott's boss. He has zero power to warn McDermott of anything. They both report independently to Terry Pegula. 

[LABILLBACKER]

7 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

@BananaB I think I could blitz faster than Hamlin did today. Holy smokes. Could really see how slow he is today. I get it.

He should never be asked to blitz. He doesn't have the speed or instincts to get near the qb.  It's a wasted call by Babich. Now Milano is a different story.