The Colts Game reminded me why we don't need/want a Diggs/#1 Receiver on our team

[Virgil]

In watching the Colts game where we really only had Samuel and Shakir as solid WR options (no shade thrown at Hollins, but he is more of a blocker and situational catcher for us), Josh looked more like early 2023 Josh in this game.  You could see that they were trying to get Samuel involved early and it looked like he was trying to force some throws.  Both of his interceptions, first real ones all season, came when Josh seemed to be pressing a bit.  Granted, one was an under-thrown ball and the other Josh didn't seem to even see the defender.  Regardless, Josh seemed like he wasn't able to read the entire field and was limited in who he was willing to throw to.  The result, in my humble opinion, was a less free throwing Josh who could get through a variety of reads.

 

There's been a lot of talk that part of Josh's interception struggles last year was due to trying to keep Diggs, and sometimes Davis, involved in the gameplan.  This season, Josh hasn't really needed to care about any of that and has been much better protecting the ball and "everyone eats."  To me, this game was similar to that, but more-so for lack of options.

 

With all that being said, I think this shows that maybe we shouldn't be the team who pays a #1, but has 3-4 guys out there that Josh can trust to get open and make catches.  Cooper, if he is ever healthy again, is that deep threat who teams at least have to respect, but I would argue we don't need a 20 mil per year receiver for that.  In fact, I would argue that if we can draft a burner next season, have him opposite of Coleman, with Shakir in the slot, this offense will be great and cheap.  Yes, this still assumes the compliment of the running game alongside Kincaid. 

 

Just thoughts...

[Simon]

 

I think WR's are currently overvalued by quite a bit.

That being said, you do realize we don't play the Colts every week right?

[Virgil]

Just now, Simon said:

 

I think WR's are currently overvalued by quite a bit.

That being said, you do realize we don't play the Colts every week right?

 

Agreed.  This wasn't to me so much about the Colts as much as how Josh looked out there having to press the ball to certain receivers. 

[Big Blitz]

Ideally you want a WR core where you hit in the draft on a bonafide number 1.  Because we have to pay the elite QB. 
 

Then like you said surround him with a bunch of good WRs at lower cost.  
 

The next big WR contract we give will be to a guy we drafted.  

[Ethan in Cleveland]

Well not sure how you come to that conclusion since the first INT was going to Shakir. 

This team needs a true receiving threat. After they moved on from Diggs I thought that would be Kincaid. I thought they would take the approach KC has done with Kelce. 

But Kincaid has not been the superstar we

had hoped for so far. He's solid but not even close to an elite TE. 

Coleman looks like he may be as good or better than Davis was. But he is not a #1. 

If Kincaid doesn't get better and Cooper leaves in free agency they will need to find another true #1.

[TH3]

Disagree. Beat a bad team with a choppy effort. Bills need a true WR1 to max JA.

[WotAGuy]

8 minutes ago, Virgil said:

 

 

With all that being said, I think this shows that maybe we shouldn't be the team who pays a #1, but has 3-4 guys out there that Josh can trust to get open and make catches. 

Don’t look now, but the best offenses have 3-4 trusted guys AND a # 1. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

4 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

Ideally you want a WR core where you hit in the draft on a bonafide number 1.  Because we have to pay the elite QB. 
 

Then like you said surround him with a bunch of good WRs at lower cost.  
 

The next big WR contract we give will be to a guy we drafted.  

Agree with this. Would love to have seen Beane trade Diggs before the draft and go up and get Thomas. 

[Mr. WEO]

too many are #2

[Mikie2times]

I trust PFF to judge if a pass should have resulted in an INT or not. It's not as complicated as an interpretation as say how an offensive guard run blocks. They measure turnover worthy plays which historically have resulted in INT's 60% of the time. 

 

Allen has 12 turnover worthy plays this year on 262 attempts for 4.58%. Last year he had 23 turnover worthy plays on 648 attempts for 3.54%.  His average air yards a completion this year is 5.0 vs 6.1 last year and 7.5 the year prior. This is the anti Dorsey offense. It's designed to move the chains. Which I'm perfectly fine with. It has been an all or nothing three point shooting team for too long. I think this style of offense actually helps Josh stay in the scheme better and ultimately produces more consistent outcomes. As far as thinking a WR or even Josh has made things dramatically different than years past on INT's I just don't buy it. Data really doesn't support this narrative. 

14 minutes ago, Virgil said:

 

Agreed.  This wasn't to me so much about the Colts as much as how Josh looked out there having to press the ball to certain receivers. 

Bradley plays a ton of cover 3. It forces you to be patient and has been a little more difficult on Allen than other schemes. 

[nedboy7]

I feel like between 2 TEs, 3 RBs, and a solid WR group we are in a good place.  We can attack from any angle really. 

Of course having Cooper as a solid #1 is key.  I agree with filling that need thru the draft. 

This is why everyone wanted another WR in the draft.  To try to hit big.  Sort of like Elam and Benford.  You never know. 

[nucci]

maybe not a No.1 but we need a deep threat

[thenorthremembers]

I agree we dont want a "Stefon Diggs" because Diggs was starting to decline last year.   However, we do need a #1 WR.   The Bills are in desperate need of a playmaker who can strike fast on this team.     Too often this year the wideouts have been completely taken out of the game.    There is no one on the offense outside of Cook that defensive coordinators have to game plan for and its shown.   

[WotAGuy]

11 minutes ago, nedboy7 said:

 

This is why everyone wanted another WR in the draft.  To try to hit big.  Sort of like Elam and Benford.  You never know. 

I was right with ya until the last part. 

[Shortchaz]

The reason you pay a top flight wide receiver huge money is jersey sales. It’s a business move that looks like a football move. Paying a wide receiver $35million a year isn’t going to make your team better. 

[Billsfanatic8989]

A deep threat that can take the top off of defenses would be nice. Cooper is declining. Nobody else has proven they are for sure #1 WR's. 

[Dr.Sack]

Allen is good creating plays off script. Luckily Spags is coming to town and will take away the Bills #1 feature on O - the run offense, leaving Allen the final 3 Qtrs to make magic. 

[Mikie2times]

5 minutes ago, nucci said:

maybe not a No.1 but we need a deep threat

100%, I wanted Coleman but to me the argument for Worthy was just the fact that he brought a skill we don't have. Which you very well could still argue. Having a guy that could take the top off would really change this offense. The fact that Gabe's fairly pedestrian 40 was able to do that so effectively make me wonder what dimension that could bring. You know Beane has to see it as well with Ginn Jr playing that roll so well when he was in Carolina despite having predominantly oversized WR's. 

[nedboy7]

4 minutes ago, WotAGuy said:

I was right with ya until the last part. 

 

Meaning the stud WR can come any round.  Benford made the Elam pick palatable. 

[nucci]

5 minutes ago, Shortchaz said:

The reason you pay a top flight wide receiver huge money is jersey sales. It’s a business move that looks like a football move. Paying a wide receiver $35million a year isn’t going to make your team better. 

Justin Jefferson would make this team better