Jim Monos w/ critical comments on Bills front office, coaching, roster moves

[Thrivefourfive]

Hire that man. Get ‘er done Beane!

[Buffalo Junction]

3 hours ago, FireChans said:

2014 team probably goes to the SB with Allen that year.

Legit shot with Allen on the 14’ squad. I’d actually put my money on this current version of Allen on the 04’ squad though…. Henry, McGahee, Evens, Moulds, S Adams, Big Pat, Schöbel, Clements, McGee, Milloy, Vincent, Spikes, Fletcher, Posey…. Biggest weakness was RT which JA17 could nullify with his legs. 
 

Seriously, if you just add Pat Williams and McGee, Clements, or Vincent to this past seasons roster and this team at least gets to the SB. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

On 2/14/2025 at 1:29 PM, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Makes you wonder.

No it doesn’t. Ask the Chargers or Bengals. Takes more than a great QB. The real criticism is McDermotts performance against the Chiefs, but u can make that argument for any AFC team really. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

4 hours ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

McDermott is a coach that thought Nathan Peterman was good enough to start in the NFL. Multiple times. 

 

We went into Josh Allen's rookie season with a QB depth chart of: 

 

1) Peterman

2) Allen

3) No one. We didn't have a 3rd QB on the roster

 

It's almost like we were intentionally sabotaging Allen's career/development. 

 

Obviously none of us will ever know how much of Allen's development was his own vs coaching, but my money would be on Allen and not the coaches. 

AJ McCaron was the choice but got hurt. Only thing sabotaged was the Bills chances to win that game vs Baltimore. Allen probably starts from week 1 if they didn’t open on the road in Baltimore. Peterman was sacrificed.

 

I think QBs become great in the offseason. That’s when they can work on their mechanics and improve. Allen put in the time and work to develop. He worked with his own throwing coach to improve his mechanics. 
 

The Bills facilitated the development. Good defense, added Diggs, stable environment. Allen put in the work to develop and become great.

 

We will never know what really is the most important part of a QBs development. I think it’s more on the player. If it was more on the organization, head coach, and OC then Mac jones should be winning Super Bowls right now. I think it’s the player. But I do believe you have to put the structure and pieces around the QB so they can actually reach that potential.

Edited February 16 by Buffalo_Stampede

[GunnerBill]

5 hours ago, FireChans said:

2014 team probably goes to the SB with Allen that year.

 

Possibly. 2014 was still a dreadful oline (the Chris Williams, Cyril Richardson and Kraig Urbik shuffle at left guard, Erik Pears at right guard, Henderson at right tackle) and a beaten up secondary. 

 

2015 definitely. That was the best roster the Bills have had in my fandom if you exclude Quarterback. Unfortunately they had a bona fide clown as Head Coach. Even with Tyrod I think McDermott as Head Coach with the 2015 roster would have won at least 10 games. Very possibly 11 or 12. And I think Josh would contribute even more wins than coach. If you leave Rex as coach and just swap out Tyrod for Josh the 2015 Bills contend for a Superbowl.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

7 hours ago, FireChans said:

2014 team probably goes to the SB with Allen that year.

2014 team would be like $20 million over the cap with Josh Allen.

 Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Jerry Hughes, and Marcel Dareus would have this Bills team in the Super Bowl. Probably win by 3 TDs.

 

Edited Sunday at 09:14 AM by Buffalo_Stampede

[NastyNateSoldiers]

18 hours ago, wppete said:

They hit the lottery. Lucky guys. A child could make that pick. It more an indictment on Cleveland and the Jets. Thats why their front offices and coaches got fired a long time ago. McBeane didn’t do anything special. Just got lucky. 

They got lucky twice remember we're the ones responsible for KC winning titles we gave them t the 2nd best QB of all time. 

[CSBill]

On 2/14/2025 at 1:28 PM, Jrb1979 said:

Dunne noted that McDermott is entering his 9th year and only three coaches ever - Tom Landry, Hank Stram, Bill Cowher - have only won Super Bowls that deep into their tenure with an organization. "Even Andy Reid had to leave Philly and draft Mahomes before he got his first ring." 

 

That quote is the one that many dismiss a lot. 

 

This is a logical fallacy (i.e., a polite philosophical way of saying "a stupid argument") because most coaches never get to stay that long. If anything, this information recognizes that they are good great coaches whom their organizations believe(d) in. Coaches are only as good as the players they have. Coaching only takes you so far; at some point, talent plus coaching takes over. All these coaches were blessed to have been given the time to allow their talent to catch up with their coaching. Where would Andy Reid be today without Patrick Mahomes?????

 

Yes, the Bills have one of the best QBs in football, but they have needs. Wasn't that the narrative all off-season? This team was in danger of not making the playoffs; they were done as AFC East Kings, it's a rebuild, etc., etc.

 

An alternative narrative, and I believe the correct one, is that McDermott got more out of this team than anyone expected, and for them to go as far as they did and to be that close is a testament to his coaching ability.

[Playoffs?]

On 2/14/2025 at 1:27 PM, WNYFAN1 said:

Honestly, this all sounds just about right to me.

 

How much of the success of Beane/McDermott is just getting lucky with Allen?

All of it, truly. If Josh hadn’t been drafted, my guess is that Beane and McD wouldn’t still have jobs in Buffalo, and we’d likely still be playing the QB carousel game… and watching the Dolphins in the playoffs. 

[oldmanfan]

1 hour ago, Playoffs? said:

All of it, truly. If Josh hadn’t been drafted, my guess is that Beane and McD wouldn’t still have jobs in Buffalo, and we’d likely still be playing the QB carousel game… and watching the Dolphins in the playoffs. 

The Bills did not get lucky with Josh.  They spent a lot of time looking at the QBs in that draft, and when they all went out to take Josh to dinner they realized he’d be the perfect guy for the Bills.  Beane moved into position in the draft to get him, and there you go.  It gets really tiring to see the front office criticized when a pick doesn’t work but then give no credit when they land a superstar.

Edited Sunday at 02:33 PM by oldmanfan

[FireChans]

4 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

2014 team would be like $20 million over the cap with Josh Allen.

 Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, Jerry Hughes, and Marcel Dareus would have this Bills team in the Super Bowl. Probably win by 3 TDs.

 

If it was Josh’s third-fifth season, they wouldn’t have cap problems. Just like we didn’t.

[BananaB]

Some clown who couldn’t get it done while he was on the staff making a lot of easy observations from the outside looking in. Most of it’s been said by a lot of people on this board over and over. 

[Yobogoya!]

1 hour ago, oldmanfan said:

The Bills did not get lucky with Josh.  They spent a lot of time looking at the QBs in that draft, and when they all went out to take Josh to dinner they realized he’d be the perfect guy for the Bills.  Beane moved into position in the draft to get him, and there you go.  It gets really tiring to see the front office criticized when a puck doesn’t work but then give no credit when they land a superstar.

That’s only partly true tho — they DID get lucky that Josh wasn’t taken by one of the other QB needy teams they weren’t in a position to leap frog. 
 

When they first swapped picks with the Bengals to position themselves for a top QB, they were comfortable with taking any of the top 3-4 qb’s on the board. Beane has confirmed that previously. 
 

So if Josh gets plucked no1 overall or goes to the Broncos or Jets, bills are “comfortable” drafting Rosen and this regime goes up in flames within 1-3 years, depending on how much goodwill breaking the drought bought them and just how bad those seasons play out. 
 

Unless you think they had Lamar rated over Rosen. But that’s a big, big assumption. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

10 hours ago, appoo said:

Beane’s picks:

 

2018

1st - Josh Allen: god tier pick 

1st - Tremaine Edmunds: Below Average, not on the team any longer

2019

1st - Ed Oliver: Average, he dissapears too often 

2nd - Cody Ford: Bust

 

2020

1st - Stefon Diggs: elite tier 

2nd - AJ Epenesa: good pick (consider the round)

2021

1st - GR: Good pick Solid Pick

2nd - Boogie Basham - One of the worst picks of Beanes Career, there was an All pro center sitting right there for the taking

2022 -

1st - Elam: Bust

2nd Cook: Good pick, takes 17 games to barely get 1000 yards, can't pass block

 

2023

1st - Kincaid: Solid pick who has regressed in year 2 

2nd - Torrance: Elite Tier for 2nd round (100%)

 

2024 - TBD

 

3 busts in Boogie, Ford and Elam. The rest are Average mostly

 

Considering where the bills draft this is likely among the very best in the NFL.  (So where we pick is the excuse now? )

 

Beane is NOT in elite company as a drafter

There I corrected it.

8 hours ago, Buffalo Junction said:

Legit shot with Allen on the 14’ squad. I’d actually put my money on this current version of Allen on the 04’ squad though…. Henry, McGahee, Evens, Moulds, S Adams, Big Pat, Schöbel, Clements, McGee, Milloy, Vincent, Spikes, Fletcher, Posey…. Biggest weakness was RT which JA17 could nullify with his legs. 
 

Seriously, if you just add Pat Williams and McGee, Clements, or Vincent to this past seasons roster and this team at least gets to the SB. 

You add Allen to that team and its in the Superbowl. Add Moulds, S Adams, Big Pat, Spikes, and Fletcher to this team, We would have won the Superbowl this last year

[SoTier]

8 hours ago, FireChans said:

Um 2014 Sammy Watkins might’ve put up 1700 yards with Josh throwing him the ball.

 

The OL wasn’t great but it wasn’t much worse than the 2022 Bills OL.

 

If there were only 2 good DB’s and 2 JAGs on that team, how many good DB’s and JAGs do we have on ours? are we arguing Damar Hamlin is better than a JAG (spoilers, he’s actually worse lol)

But you’re right. The strength of that team was a DL that could be dominant on their best day and make HoF QBs look silly. When have we ever seen teams like that win a SB, especially with competent QB play. Lmao

 

Allen wouldn't have played as well as he did in 2022 behind that 2014 OL.  It was significantly worse than the Bills 2022 OL. 

[OldNMBillsFan]

Let me get this straight. The OP is quoting Monos, a man that was partially responsible for the drought. I couldn't give my season tickets away to the games I couldn't make it to starting in the month of November because his teams sucked so bad. During his tenor with the Bills his teams never made the playoffs and only had a winning record one year. He gets canned, In comes McDermott and makes the playoffs his first year with the low talent that this man was responsible for. Then, Bean and McDermott draft the most important person in Bills history. A selection that was criticized by numerous so-called experts including many on this board saying that they selected the wrong Josh. McDermott and Bean can do better, and I am sure that they would say the same. But quoting this looser on McDermotts and Beans failures is a joke.

 

Can't wait for preseason.

 

Go Bills!!!

[FireChans]

12 minutes ago, SoTier said:

 

Allen wouldn't have played as well as he did in 2022 behind that 2014 OL.  It was significantly worse than the Bills 2022 OL. 

Was it?

 

Kyle Orton managed to do okay. Something tells me Josh would be fine, especially with a defensive line that could pick him up if there was an off day.

Edited Sunday at 03:09 PM by FireChans

[FireChans]

7 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Possibly. 2014 was still a dreadful oline (the Chris Williams, Cyril Richardson and Kraig Urbik shuffle at left guard, Erik Pears at right guard, Henderson at right tackle) and a beaten up secondary. 

 

2015 definitely. That was the best roster the Bills have had in my fandom if you exclude Quarterback. Unfortunately they had a bona fide clown as Head Coach. Even with Tyrod I think McDermott as Head Coach with the 2015 roster would have won at least 10 games. Very possibly 11 or 12. And I think Josh would contribute even more wins than coach. If you leave Rex as coach and just swap out Tyrod for Josh the 2015 Bills contend for a Superbowl.

Your point is well taken but how much worse was that OL compared to 2022?

 

Saffold at LG, Bates at RG etc.

 

2014 vs 2015 is a tough debate. I think 2015 offense was significantly better. Richie was a huge addition to an IOL that really sucked. Weapons were better too.

 

Problem is that the 2015 defense fell off a cliff. Mario went from All-Pro to mutineer and washed before our eyes and he was our elite edge.

 

For me, I’d rather have the elite DL and bank on Josh making a little more magic on O, than Josh with a better offensive supporting cast but a defense that didn’t have difference makers. 
 

We’ve seen that already ha

[Buffalo_Stampede]

1 hour ago, FireChans said:

If it was Josh’s third-fifth season, they wouldn’t have cap problems. Just like we didn’t.

Any team with a defense that hunts QBs would win a Super Bowl with Josh Allen version 2020-present.

 

 

[T.E.]

12 hours ago, SoTier said:

 

Wrong again, dude.  I was a season ticket holder during part of the Drought.  Most of those seasons, the best part of Bills games was the tailgating.  So, what were those "3-4 teams that would've been legitimate SB contenders" that had "more talent than we have now"? 

 

 

 

Off the top of my head...2002, 2004, 2014, 2015. The 07 and 08 squads would've both made playoff runs with Allen.

 

I'm probably missing a few.