Week 9 - Dolphins at Bills Game Week Thread

[Beck Water]

5 hours ago, joshallenishim17 said:

may be an unpopular opinion but i think damar hamlin deserves to be benched, he’s out there and yes he has 2 interceptions but they are all straight to him he is just out there , slow and scared to make big tackles

 

This is baloney.  Is Hamlin a top safety in the league?  No, no he is not.  Would I like to see the Bills have better?  Yes, yes I would.

Is he the fastest guy?  No, he is not, though his 4.6 second combine time isn't slug-like.  

 

But to say he's "scared to make big tackles" is "what game are you watching?" level.  He is a sure tackler and not afraid at all to lay out there.  Factually, he's 2nd on the Bills in tackles (to Dorian Williams) and is leading the Bills in charged missed tackles with only 1 (2.1%)  Those aren't the numbers of a guy who plays scared.

2 hours ago, finn said:

FYIW, The Athletic beat writer for the Bills agrees Hamlin is the weak spot on the defense: "Hamlin remains the most significant question mark, as his play-it-safe style, along with hesitance to dip down into the play has cost the team a lot of yardage over the season."

if you're talking Joe Buscaglia, yes, Hamlin has cost yardage.  But that's in part the style he is coached to play.  Coming out, part of the weaknesses cited were that he came downhill way too hot (thus would let plays by him).  This is his first year coming in as a starter and without the safety net (ha! see what I did?) of playing with Johnson and Po. Give him some time to adjust.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Josh Allen and Joe Ferguson are tied at 181 TD passes. 
 

He is one rushing TD away from being even with OJ Simpson

Edited October 31 by TheyCallMeAndy

[JohnNord]

2 hours ago, Simon said:

 

I agree that he is a weak spot on the defense.

But it sure as hell isn't because he's scared or won't tackle.

Not only does he willingly give himself up to absorb contact on a regular basis, he is also one of the more reliable tacklers on this team.

He may be limited athletically and he may not be the kind of guy running around looking for killshots, but suggesting he's afraid is ignorant and wrong.

Agreed.  The knock on Hamlin is a lack overall athleticism for his position.  He has never lacked heart and has a good understanding of the defense

[Coach Tuesday]

28 minutes ago, Beck Water said:

 

This is baloney.  Is Hamlin a top safety in the league?  No, no he is not.  Would I like to see the Bills have better?  Yes, yes I would.

Is he the fastest guy?  No, he is not, though his 4.6 second combine time isn't slug-like.  

 

But to say he's "scared to make big tackles" is "what game are you watching?" level.  He is a sure tackler and not afraid at all to lay out there.  Factually, he's 2nd on the Bills in tackles (to Dorian Williams) and is leading the Bills in charged missed tackles with only 1 (2.1%)  Those aren't the numbers of a guy who plays scared.

if you're talking Joe Buscaglia, yes, Hamlin has cost yardage.  But that's in part the style he is coached to play.  Coming out, part of the weaknesses cited were that he came downhill way too hot (thus would let plays by him).  This is his first year coming in as a starter and without the safety net (ha! see what I did?) of playing with Johnson and Po. Give him some time to adjust.

To be fair Joe B. also does keep insinuating that Damar is reluctant to get dirty.  Today’s article said it this way:

 

”Hamlin remains the most significant question mark, as his play-it-safe style, along with hesitance to dip down into the play has cost the team a lot of yardage over the season.”

 

That’s far from the first time this season that Joe B. has tiptoed around the radioactive assertion that Damar is afraid of initiating contact.  I’m not saying it’s accurate or not but it’s been raised.

[Starr Almighty]

4 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

To be fair Joe B. also does keep insinuating that Damar is reluctant to get dirty.  Today’s article said it this way:

 

”Hamlin remains the most significant question mark, as his play-it-safe style, along with hesitance to dip down into the play has cost the team a lot of yardage over the season.”

 

That’s far from the first time this season that Joe B. has tiptoed around the radioactive assertion that Damar is afraid of initiating contact.  I’m not saying it’s accurate or not but it’s been raised.

Maybe Joe thinks Hamlin takes those horrible angles on purpose to avoid contact. Don't get me wrong I like the guy but he's a major liability out there.

[joshallenishim17]

replying to my bills message that people seemed to go crazy about yes hamlin has made some tackles but i look at him almost every play to see what he’s doing and 75% of the time he runs straight into the blocker and stands there almost like he doesn’t believe in himself that he can make a dent in the defense or do anything, and to everybody that said he made the big hit against tua tagovailoa which gave him a concussion yes that was a pretty good play by him i agree but then i look at bishop our 3rd string safety and he was in for a few plays when we had a blowout and he made a couple great plays it was a fade ball and he stuck one arm out there and separated the pass, all i’m saying is that we should at least give cole bishop a chance, go bills.

[balln]

Cole bishop needs to turn into something at the end of the year. Hamlin is going to get abused by burrow / mahommes / Lamar 

[The Helmet of]

4 hours ago, Simon said:

 

This is absolutely 100% unfettered bullshlt.

 

Hamlin is a feel good story. For some, feel good stories make them raving mad. They don’t want to feel good, they prefer being miserable and pickling themselves in their misery.
 

Hamlin isn’t all pro but he isn’t all trash either.  
 

Maybe the position will need to be upgraded at some point.

In the mean time, Damar is the starting safety for a 6-2 caliber defense.

[PoundingDog]

Talent wise, Hamlin is the least talent on Bills starting lineup, offense or defense. 

 

But he knows the system and is kind of steady in the sense of playing safe, i.e., not making a big mistake. I don't think anyone else coming from outside can do better even with better raw talent. Cole Bishop is the main logical choice. Had he not been set back by injury in the training camp, he might indeed be the starter. At this point, Bishop might make more splash play than Hamlin but also more mistakes than Hamlin.

 

There are talks about Micah Hyde coming back to replace Hamlin. I don't know Hyde, at this point, will be any better than Hamlin to be honest.

[gordong]

8 hours ago, K-9 said:

No hitch in Bernard’s giddyup from what I can gather from the video, so that’s encouraging. We need him in the lineup, especially with the speed Miami routinely exhibits, especially by Achane. 
 

As for Cooper, bad wrist or not, as long as his legs are ok to run patterns, he’s gonna suit up and play. 

we didnt need him the first time we played Miami.  think we would be fine if he doesnt play. 

[K-9]

14 minutes ago, gordong said:

we didnt need him the first time we played Miami.  think we would be fine if he doesnt play. 

Achane’s speed hurt us several times in that game as they took advantage of Spector’s lack of it. I’d feel far more comfortable with Bernard.

[goober]

1 hour ago, joshallenishim17 said:

replying to my bills message that people seemed to go crazy about yes hamlin has made some tackles but i look at him almost every play to see what he’s doing and 75% of the time he runs straight into the blocker and stands there almost like he doesn’t believe in himself that he can make a dent in the defense or do anything, and to everybody that said he made the big hit against tua tagovailoa which gave him a concussion yes that was a pretty good play by him i agree but then i look at bishop our 3rd string safety and he was in for a few plays when we had a blowout and he made a couple great plays it was a fade ball and he stuck one arm out there and separated the pass, all i’m saying is that we should at least give cole bishop a chance, go bills.

[gordong]

10 minutes ago, K-9 said:

Achane’s speed hurt us several times in that game as they took advantage of Spector’s lack of it. I’d feel far more comfortable with Bernard.

we gave up 10 points in that game, agreed we always want our starters playing.  but we will be fine either way as log as we don't turn the ball over.    

[Starr Almighty]

1 hour ago, The Helmet of said:

Hamlin is a feel good story. For some, feel good stories make them raving mad. They don’t want to feel good, they prefer being miserable and pickling themselves in their misery.
 

Hamlin isn’t all pro but he isn’t all trash either.  
 

Maybe the position will need to be upgraded at some point.

In the mean time, Damar is the starting safety for a 6-2 caliber defense.

Play this video at the 1:42 mark and just watch 3 plays. Please explain to me what Hamlin is doing. While you are at it explain how that isn't horrible play 

 

[Beck Water]

2 hours ago, joshallenishim17 said:

replying to my bills message that people seemed to go crazy about yes hamlin has made some tackles but i look at him almost every play to see what he’s doing and 75% of the time he runs straight into the blocker and stands there almost like he doesn’t believe in himself that he can make a dent in the defense or do anything, and to everybody that said he made the big hit against tua tagovailoa which gave him a concussion yes that was a pretty good play by him i agree but then i look at bishop our 3rd string safety and he was in for a few plays when we had a blowout and he made a couple great plays it was a fade ball and he stuck one arm out there and separated the pass, all i’m saying is that we should at least give cole bishop a chance, go bills.

 

Now you're just speakin' Trollish

[The Helmet of]

10 minutes ago, Starr Almighty said:

Play this video at the 1:42 mark and just watch 3 plays. Please explain to me what Hamlin is doing. While you are at it explain how that isn't horrible play 

 

I’m not an X and O guy. He’s had some poor plays, I’m sure. Most everyone else on the team has had poor plays, too.  
 

McDermott knows secondary play better than I do. He’s clearly the best option right now, and they’re riding with him. I wish him the absolute best and hope he continues to improve.  I don’t think he’s costing us games and I’m sure the coaches like some of the plays he’s made.

 
If ultimately he gets benched and they find an upgrade, that’s the natural course of events in the NFL.

 

But I don’t have my pitchfork out for him like a growing chorus of fans seem to. The D has been solid this year (except against Baltimore) and he is 1/11th.
 

This Joe B guy, he has a background in football, right? Just checking cuz I don’t know him from Adam.

[Richard Noggin]

1 hour ago, Starr Almighty said:

Play this video at the 1:42 mark and just watch 3 plays. Please explain to me what Hamlin is doing. While you are at it explain how that isn't horrible play 

 

 

Maybe there is some confusion here, but the three plays you're asking us to critique go as follows for Hamlin: 

 

First play after suggested 1:42 mark: Hamlin buzzes flat to defense's left but play goes to D's right; Hamlin hustles and makes solo tackle on in-breaking RB before he gets a serious chunk.

 

Second play: Hamlin drops as deep safety, and is mostly off-screen due to assignment. 

 

Third play: again running play away from Hamlin that he admittedly doesn't sell out to chase down on far sideline, but also he isn't responsible for Hall getting the edge or getting a chunk. Only play of the three where criticism is merited, despite fairly minimal impact. 

[Utah John]

From a Miami Herald article:  Tua Tagovailoa could be lost for the entire season instead of making his return last week from the concussion the Buffalo Bills caused.

 

Excuse me?  Tua drove his own head into Damar Hamlin's chest.  Tua was trying to make an important first down, and he had succeeded when he wasn't satisfied with that, and kept trying to move forward when no advance was possible.  

 

The only way the Bills can be considered of causing a concussion for Tua, is for Tua to beat his own head against a concrete wall at the frustration from losing to the Bills so many times.  

 

 

[Sierra Foothills]

12 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

They traded a third round pick for Cooper to play less than a full season here.

 

Now personally I think they will be fine regardless but the team does not and this board certainly does not. Two weeks ago he was the savior of the franchise now if he doesn't play they will be fine regardless.

 

that is a lot of shifting in two weeks.

 

I think everyone thinks we'll be fine. The Bills won last week with virtually a minus contribution from Cooper and it seems like McDermott didn't even want him practicing today. The "shift" towards non-concern also has to do with playing a weak opponent at home.

 

It's pretty easy to understand.

 

9 hours ago, Magox said:

Tua has been salty af since he's come back.  Truthfully, I'm more convinced now than before that he'll never be a true franchise QB that can lead his team deep into the playoffs.

 

A large part of why he's salty is because the 4 point favorite Dolphins lost to the visiting Arizona Cardinals. The truth of their situation is obvious to everyone... they're not a good team and he's not suddenly going to change that.

 

2 hours ago, Starr Almighty said:

Play this video at the 1:42 mark and just watch 3 plays. Please explain to me what Hamlin is doing. While you are at it explain how that isn't horrible play 

 

 

31 minutes ago, Richard Noggin said:

Maybe there is some confusion here, but the three plays you're asking us to critique go as follows for Hamlin: 

 

First play after suggested 1:42 mark: Hamlin buzzes flat to defense's left but play goes to D's right; Hamlin hustles and makes solo tackle on in-breaking RB before he gets a serious chunk.

 

Second play: Hamlin drops as deep safety, and is mostly off-screen due to assignment. 

 

Third play: again running play away from Hamlin that he admittedly doesn't sell out to chase down on far sideline, but also he isn't responsible for Hall getting the edge or getting a chunk. Only play of the three where criticism is merited, despite fairly minimal impact. 

 

@Starr Almighty, the first play Hamlin makes the tackle. The last two plays he's the last line of defense.

 

Seems to me that he's executing his assignments.

 

[The Helmet of]

1 hour ago, Utah John said:

From a Miami Herald article:  Tua Tagovailoa could be lost for the entire season instead of making his return last week from the concussion the Buffalo Bills caused.

 

Excuse me?  Tua drove his own head into Damar Hamlin's chest.  Tua was trying to make an important first down, and he had succeeded when he wasn't satisfied with that, and kept trying to move forward when no advance was possible.  

 

The only way the Bills can be considered of causing a concussion for Tua, is for Tua to beat his own head against a concrete wall at the frustration from losing to the Bills so many times.  

 

 

Heinous framing from the writer. Just feeding into the celebrity of trauma and victimhood. It’s always someone else’s fault.