McD: Has your view changed?

[teef]

12 minutes ago, Andrew Son said:

How do you think McDermott would fair managing your fantasy team?

there's joking around, and then there's trying to hurt.  i think we all know what this is.

[DrBob806]

Right now, McD reminds me of Marty Schottenheimer. Great motivator, gets you to the playoffs, yet somehow comes up short. 

 

Maybe this is the year the Bills win it. Maybe not.

 

So many factors to consider, and sometimes it's not the coach. Schottenheimer couldn't get past Elway, but there was a fumble on the goal line, another loss was in OT where one could argue the FG was no good. 

 

McD had the team flat vs Cincy, & the 13 seconds thing is truly one of the worst playoff losses in NFL history. Those 2 games will always linger, even if they end up winning one (or several). Despite that, I'm glad he's here.

[SoTier]

11 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

I meant our talent level. How many of those guys could get as far as we have with Josh Allen at QB? Probably a lot. It's not like we have this incredibly high ceiling to aspire to reach unless your ceiling is built on division titles and consistency. 

 

I feel like our success is more based on Allen than McD but as I said that is a point that could be debated forever and I really don't want to take it down that path. 

Well, we have seven other ones available if this one isn't your thing

 

The bolded statement is simply bull manure, and it indicates that your knowledge of the NFL is superficial at best.  Football is a team sport, and the best current example is Joe Burrow.    Burrow is a great QB playing on a team without a defense or running game.   Despite all his personal statistical greatness, Burrow will be sitting at home in January for the second year in a row.  Can't win the Super Bowl if you don't make the Big Dance.

 

8 hours ago, Einstein said:

 

Jauron was the absolute worst. There was simply no hope. Just grey skies - all the time.

 

Jauron's philosophy was not to lose by too much.  He was the kind of coach who sucked the joy out of football for many of his players, even great ones like Marshawn Lynch.  Tentative Trent Edwards was his choice at QB because they were both pathologically risk adverse.  

 

 

1 hour ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

No. After 13 seconds he has to prove he is the guy to get us to a Superbowl let alone win it.

 

Says the poster who has never made a mistake ever.

[Joe Ferguson]

So far McD and his team gets eliminated in the post season year after year. The reason McD always loses in the playoffs is he always depend on his overpriced defense to win the playoff games. He has  a 6'-5" freaking cyborg of a unicorn at QB but never let Josh Allen to take over the playoff games. It's going on year 8 and he still has not learned.

[Mikie2times]

2 minutes ago, SoTier said:

 

The bolded statement is simply bull manure, and it indicates that your knowledge of the NFL is superficial at best.  Football is a team sport, and the best current example is Joe Burrow.    Burrow is a great QB playing on a team without a defense or running game.   Despite all his personal statistical greatness, Burrow will be sitting at home in January for the second year in a row.  Can't win the Super Bowl if you don't make the Big Dance.

 

 

Jauron's philosophy was not to lose by too much.  He was the kind of coach who sucked the joy out of football for many of his players, even great ones like Marshawn Lynch.  Tentative Trent Edwards was his choice at QB because they were both pathologically risk adverse.  

 

 

Since 2020, 21 QB's have had a QBR of over 65 and 21 times that team has finished with a winning record. Including Josh Allen, every single season. Really sure its that much of a team game chief? Burrow will likely be the only exception to that this year, so I guess 21-1 is enough to form an opinion for some people 🤣

[amprov56]

2 hours ago, MikeSpeed said:

Finding a good HC is difficult.

Here are all the HCs since Marv...

Wade Phillips 

Gregg Williams 

Mike Mularkey 

Dick Jauron 

Perry Fewell 

Doug Marrone 

Rex Ryan

Anthony Lynn

 

Enough said

And dont forget they fired who many believed was one of the greatest defensive minds in the game, Joel Collier, and replaced with John Rauch, and offensive master mind who loved the long ball. Rauch fired three years later.

Edited December 4 by amprov56

[MrEpsYtown]

Just to add, post-game when everyone was all gaga over the 5 straight division titles, when McDermott brought Terry Pegula over he, the owner mentioned that one championship that has eluded them.  That's significant to me. That has to happen IMO. 

[Sweats]

2 hours ago, Augie said:

 

Barry Switzer is not a better HC than McD because he has a ring. 

 

 

 

This is without a doubt, one of the most intelligent things i've read on the boards all week.

 

Bravo, my man........bravo.

[Mikie2times]

8 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

Just to add, post-game when everyone was all gaga over the 5 straight division titles, when McDermott brought Terry Pegula over he, the owner mentioned that one championship that has eluded them.  That's significant to me. That has to happen IMO. 

I noticed that. I was a bit surprised to be honest. I thought he had a lifetime pass with Terry. I still think he has a lot of time, but my takeaway from that statement was Super Bowls, not division titles. 

[ddaryl]

I'll still be sweating Bullets in the playoffs during any close game and mostly because I still suffer from trepidation regarding McDermotts past playoff coaching blunders.

I have hope but until we are celebrating the SB win I will still worry

 

[Doc Brown]

7 hours ago, Kelly to Allen said:

I went from a McDermott skeptic to a McDermott believer.

 

He won me over last year during the dunne article after we beat KC in KC. The team was going thru insane injuries and to see the adoration, and respect in the locker room after that win along with the run they went on. 

 

He's highly highly respected by the players and higher ups in the organization and that tells me he's an incredible leader and a honest man.

 

I hope he coaches buffalo as Long as Landry coached the cowboys.

 

He reminds me of Tom Landry 

He used the article as a job performance review to improve on where he was criticized instead of sulking about it being a hit piece.  He knows you either adapt or die in this league.  Having said that, I'm sure he's will aware it doesn't really matter unless we win in the playoffs.

[Real McClappy]

On 12/4/2024 at 12:05 PM, ToGoGo said:

 

You literally just proved my point.

 

"Prove it" and "I'll believe it when I see it" are the polar opposite of extrapolating future outcomes based on changing variables. You know, how every major business or oddsmaker bases their decisions. 

 

You then proceeded to list past outcomes. And I'm sure you're just as grateful for McDermott as the rest of us "McClappy". 

 

Do you understand that extrapolating is estimating the future or an outcome based off historical data?

 

I want this year to be the outlier 100% over years past performances observed in the playoffs based of your "variables". Is it that insane to understand why numerous fans feel the way they do based off the past observations from McD? 

Edited December 9 by Real McClappy

[machine gun kelly]

To the original question, my opinion has not wavered.  McD is the best coach the Bills have hired since Levy, and did it in free agency.  He’s made so much with less.  My problem is I’m 57 and I remember all too well the pain of 17years of heartache.  
 

McD changed everything with Beane.  We’re now 19-2 on a “transition year”.  The best record in 33 years.  He’s the most efficient 4th down conversion guy in the NFL.  
 

All GM’s and HC’s make mistakes, but the idea is to make more good decisions than bad.  Being in management for as long as I’ve been it’s easy to armchair when you’ve never had to make the calls.

 

I don’t care if others can’t stand him as they’ll just have to enjoy as McD keeps winning.

 

Were winning against the Rams, Cheats twice, and the Jests.  That’s at worse 14-3, and a shot at 15-2, but hey keep complaining.  The Lions will be a fun game.  Whether we win or lose, it’s a prelude to most likely the SB.

Edited December 4 by machine gun kelly

[Rocky Landing]

Without apology, I have remained consistent in my support of McDermott, and the belief in his ability to grow, and improve as a head coach. And I feel that his tenure as our HC has affirmed my support. And while I do have a tendency to be a homer, I can truthfully say that I haven't felt this confident in a Bills HC since Marv Levy. Same goes for Beane.

[GaryPinC]

21 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

I feel like prior to the season starting the general vibe around here could fit into four categories 

 

1. Some posters discussed the risk of changing a HC

2. Some felt he would ultimately figure out his postseason issues

3. Some felt his regular season success was enough so far and if nothing else that should buy him more time 

4. Some felt he never would figure it out in the postseason and it was a lost cause

 

I was a #4 (go figure) and still remain in the last group. While thrilled at what we have done this year as I have hope I didn't expect to arrive at this season, nothing we did in the regular season would be able to change where I land in that grouping. We have just been too good in the regular season and that isn't where my concern is.  With all that said, I get a sense that I'm a minority at this point. That based on this years performance McD has largely quieted group #4 and most posters have now shifted into 1, 2, or 3 or at least a combination of them.

 

So I guess it's a two part question here...

 

1. Has the season so far resulted in you shifting from one of the groupings to another?

2. If we lose in the divisional round or earlier will that dramatically impact your perception of Sean and how this season has gone?

 

 

 

I fall in between groups 2 and 4 in that he has shown improvement with things like 4th downs and believes in continuous improvement but come the playoffs he has always seemed to be too content to stay one TD or a TD + FG ahead and go conservative (runs + prevent defense).  He needs to realize that the playoffs require more mental flexibility to look for, exploit and continue to exploit any advantages.

 

So, early in the season I was leaning to group 4.

 

For question 1, yes his strategy vs KC to keep the ball out of Mahomes' hands at the end is new for him and has helped me to lean back to group 2, that he'll figure it out.  I need to see how the season ends to fully commit to that group though.

 

For question 2, it could impact my perception, it depends on how he coaches the game more than the win or loss.  If he's coaching smart and dynamic, well that's what's important because sometimes luck and injuries just can't be beaten.

 

One of the other things that gives me hope is the last few games he seems to finally be loosening up and that's huge to me too.  I understand the value of his structure and rigid system but it doesn't always fit the game situation.  He has to be willing to adapt.

 

I deeply appreciate the amazing culture he has set up and want him to win SBs and be the man.  OTOH, we have been stuck at a level and Josh's career is moving quickly by.  At some point we may have to rely on his culture and find a different voice and perspective to get us to that next Superbowl level.  But I hope to hell it's all McD!

 

 

[Virgil]

Can't ever single fanbase in the AFC make the same argument as to why their coach sucks?  No one has gotten past the Chiefs in the last 4 years besides the Bengals. 

 

We aren't an anomaly.  If we were in the NFC or the Reid/Mahomes Era, then I truly believe we would see very different outcomes.

 

With that being said, the output McD has gotten from this team during a "transition" year is fantastic.  Seeing the payoff the depth and experience has paid off, with those such as Ingram, Lewis, Williams, Hamlin, and others really shows how good a job McD and Beane have done here.  Our first run was after they purged us from salary cap hell.  Now they are doing it after building a roster, moving on from some players, and still have created a top 5 team.

 

Yes, I want a Super Bowl, but just because we can't do the one thing lately than no one team has been able to do besides the Chiefs, doesn't mean we failed. 

[<bills4life>]

21 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

 

 

I don't know how old folks typically are here, but I'm old enough to have followed the Bills through most of the team's existence. This regime is as good if not better than we've ever had. You can cling to your negatives if you want. We are in the Golden Age of Bills football. Appreciate it. It's not going to be this way forever. Look at New England.

This is yet to be determined. 4 afc championships in a row and 4 Super Bowl appearances has blown away anything this regime has done.  With that being said one Super Bowl win outshines everything. Will they do it?  That remains to be seen. But I will admit they have far surpassed my expectations this season.

[Mikie2times]

40 minutes ago, Virgil said:

Can't ever single fanbase in the AFC make the same argument as to why their coach sucks?  No one has gotten past the Chiefs in the last 4 years besides the Bengals. 

 

We aren't an anomaly.  If we were in the NFC or the Reid/Mahomes Era, then I truly believe we would see very different outcomes.

 

With that being said, the output McD has gotten from this team during a "transition" year is fantastic.  Seeing the payoff the depth and experience has paid off, with those such as Ingram, Lewis, Williams, Hamlin, and others really shows how good a job McD and Beane have done here.  Our first run was after they purged us from salary cap hell.  Now they are doing it after building a roster, moving on from some players, and still have created a top 5 team.

 

Yes, I want a Super Bowl, but just because we can't do the one thing lately than no one team has been able to do besides the Chiefs, doesn't mean we failed. 

It's really not that simple. His biggest supporters want to make it that simple but the reality is the Colts and Bengals had offensive performances vs us in the playoffs that would have been among the best the entire season. Not playoffs, the entire season. Same goes for those Chiefs, again in the context of the whole year, the playoffs vs us was near the very best. That's not an opinion either, its all in the EPA of those performances. 

 

So is it just injuries and the Chiefs when it stretches multiple years, multiple teams? I don't think that's likely. I believe it's a schematic issue. As our ability to to perform worse in the playoffs in DVOA vs regular season is indeed a historic combination. What those defensive playoff performances coincide with is a lot of yards being given up on the ground. Which is fine in the regular season when you have a lead most of the year. Teams just keep throwing into our strength and most don't have very good QB's doing so. It's not as fine in the playoffs when QB's with 3rd and short will kill you and running games are capable of being methodical. Did the Baltimore game not take on the exact image I just described? We will see in the postseason. I think we are at much greater risk than people seem to think. 

Edited December 4 by Mikie2times

[Ray Stonada]

I’ve moved from 4 to a cautious 2. I really do see him growing as a coach and a person. Letting go a little more and trusting Josh and others. 

[NewEra]

11 hours ago, FireChans said:

I consider not being able to beat Mahome in the playoffs with Josh Allen at QB and not being able to beat Mahomes in the playoffs with Jimmy Garropolo or Brock Purdy at QB to be far difference scenarios. Jmo.

I hear ya-  but he had more talent all around the board at solid QB play-  and then his play calling goes to **** in the 2nd half and his teams lose.  
 

but I do agree that shanny is one of the best in the business-  I just wouldn’t choose him to be “the guy” to beat Reid/mahomes.