Alphadawg7

On a positive note...I will say this...the notes coming out on Keon so far this offseason are very encouraging so far and raising the level of excitement and optimism around Keon IMHO. Earlier this offseason Josh was speaking publicly about how Keon has been in his ear all off season about how he can get better and be better for Josh. Then he shows up with 10 more pounds of muscle and reportedly looking faster than ever in his cuts and just faster overall. It's way too early to put too much stock into anything, good or bad, especially before pads go on. But we are at least hearing the things we want to hear about him thus far. But the one thing I maintained heading into the offseason is that Keon wants it...he wants to be great. And that for me is what I want to see in the young guys, that drive, commitment, extra gear to really push themselves in the offseason to come back and be a better version of themselves. And he has a lot of guys on this team that know what thats like and put that work in during their own careers, including his MVP QB and fellow WR Shakir more recently.

Keon has the most potential/upside on the current roster at the X, but based on where he is right now, he is probably best suited to play out of the Z. Watching him in LA, Palmer can play both, but the Z is what best suits his game. So Keon 100% is going to be given every opportunity to try and demonstrate that on the current roster he is the best option at the X this year. That being said, I also wouldn't be surprised to see them rotate Palmer and Keon some this year between the two either, especially if Keon isn't taking enough of a step forward at the X.

Oh don't get me wrong, its smart to sit him as I know it can lead to other injuries. That is why in my post I said the injury on its own isn't serious and sitting him is precautionary. Just look at what happened to Durant on the Warriors in the postseason his last year there. What I was brushing off is that its May...calf injuries themselves are not hard to get past or heal. When I pulled mine playing basketball it hurt so bad I thought something in my knee popped. I was back to playing full court without issue 4 weeks later just from sitting on my 48 year old butt at home playing with my kids and not doing too much to aggravate it. And this is a 29 year old professional athlete with a full medical and training staff at his disposal. So a call pull its not very concerning at this point and him just sitting out some early parts of the season ins't a big deal and just precautionary.

Fair enough...I didn't pick up on the joke, so my bad. I agree that a little concern is warranted given his history and agree that the sky is falling stuff is way over the top. So agree with all of this and sorry I missed the sarcasm initially, its hard to tell who is joking or over the top sometimes here because the over the top is comically absurd at times.

Why would we cut him though? He is on a 1 year deal and has a calf pull, something I play full court basketball on at age 48 and without the benefit of a training staff.

Im really high on both of them and never expected we could get Landon where we did, could be steal of the draft IMHO. So its even better when we start seeing some early buzz on them and hope that momentum just keeps building throughout camp and preseason

I get this is TSW, so TSW is gonna full on TSW every chance it can add to the theatre of dramatics and negativity... ...but come one...its a pulled calf...hardly concerning. Its better to just be cautious and keep him out, its not a serious injury, on its own. Its just OTA's too Its May...long time until January. Now back to your regularly scheduled program of beating the dead horse on receivers...lol

Gotcha, but I just didn’t take his post as out right blaming Brady, he threw out lots of potential factors. All good

And honestly, Keon has publicly acknowledged this too. As I stated in a post above, it was both a mature and immature moment for him...on the positive, he had the right unselfish mindset where all that matters is they were winning, so he didn't want to rock the boat and just expect his targets now that he was back. At the same time, the immature side and the issue the coaches and Beane had was having less involvement initially on his return affected his intensity and effectiveness. And for me, its just a growing pain really where he needs to learn how to balance that correct unselfish mentality while maintaining the same focus and intensity until his number is called. I don't know how successful or not his 2nd season will be, but I am not too worried about this aspect of it. I think we will see an improved version of the guy pre-injury more than we are likely to see more of the guy post injury IMHO. Doesn't mean he for sure erases everyones concerns, but I do expect we he should him more consistently involved this year and I think 900+ yards and 7+ TD's are probably realistic goals for him this season. Which would be a pretty good season in an offense where we spread the ball around a lot and run the ball a lot.

Thats not what the poster was asking...he was asking why the dip in targets on his return from injury. Keon weighed in on this, and he said the offense was humming and they were doing some other things and he didn't feel he could come back and just be like get me my targets back. They were winning and that was all that mattered. And this was both a mature and immature moment from him, and I think it was also the biggest gripe and area of growth Beane and McD had at end of the season. On one hand, you want that unselfish attitude, but on the other I think what was clear on film is that when he had the mindset where he wasn't gonna get the ball it affected his play compared to earlier in the season where he felt like he could get more opportunities or targets at any given moment. We saw this with how he ran some routes, how he had some mental mistakes and drops, etc. He wasn't as dialed in and that also affected his targets. None of that has anything to do with other perceived strengths or weaknesses. None of that is to debate whether he can or wont get open. But the question the poster you replied to was looking for possible reasons for seeing less targets post injury when he had started to have some stronger games before getting hurt. I mean in week 11 he was on pace for 800-900 yard range and 7+ TD's, which is a solid season for a rookie on a spread the ball around team who still runs the ball a lot too. But after his return, there was a noticeable decline in his involvement and performance as well. Doesn't mean other factors were not also at play, but Keon, Beane and McD have alluded to a lot of what I just said in speaking about it since then.

I have a couple friends who have worked on this show a while, and you are pretty spot on with what you said here. And there is definitely no one from the team involved in editing or post. You nailed the formula of the show 100%, and its wild to me what some of these people in here think the show is going to go hard after their perceived issues at WR like it was a TSW thread lol. Hard Knocks is a narrative and story based show, its not an analytical show there to do in depth analysis on the team or its roster. Its there to let the fans at home inside what its like to be inside a real NFL camp, and its been that way since day 1. In my personal opinion, I think this season will end up being one of the best ones from an entertainment value overall. Lots of great stories, characters, and a unique vibe in the locker room. Great mix of charismatic vets (Josh, Tre, Dion, etc) and youngsters (Keon, Hairston, etc) with a lot of just good likable people too like Shakir, Josh again, Beane, Davis, etc. Lot of good heart string stories here, the fans, the new stadium, the MVP, and on and on.

Agreed

The issue with PFF is people’s opinion changes on it on every piece of data it puts out based on their own confirmation bias. When the data matches their views, then the data is great…when it doesn’t match their views, then PFF is a joke and sucks. I don’t say that about anything to do with this thread, just commenting on the convenient times PFF is good or bad depending on whether the data confirms or conflicts with one’s bias.

It’s wild watching some of the hysteria going on in this thread. People either really don’t understand the show, have crazy conspiracy theories/concerns, or just believe in too many jinxes. Bills winning or not winning the SB this year will literally have zero to do with Hard Knocks being there during training camp. Some of you seem to forget that cameras and interviews are part of their everyday lives, practices, games, etc. A little bit xtra coverage in training camp isn’t going to decide the fate of our season lol. Just sit back and be a fan and enjoy the show, it isn’t gonna bite lol GoBills!

Never back pedaled on anything I have ever said about Shakir since the day he was drafted. But it still makes my nipples dance having so much free rent your head and watching you obsess over me...never change boo 😘

Karlos Williams was first that came to mind. TO was a fun experience even though I couldnt stand him most of his career prior.

Dude you nailed it. This couldn't be more true. And people making this Elam comment into something need to realize a few things as well: "Benefit from a change a scenery" is a statement that exists for a reason. He was in a rut here, fell behind. Of course being some place new where there is new energy within him and around him is going to feel different and better. What else is he supposed to say? Dallas sucks and he misses Buffalo? He is trying to make this team, start on this team, and amp himself to compete. If he didn't say this I would be more surprised than him saying this. He is gonna leave feeling short changed being a first round pick and just not getting the opportunities because a 6th rounder beat him out and he never figured out how to play in our system. This is a big nothing burger in terms of anything people want to point to the Bills about.

No its not how these things work on Hard Knocks. You clearly don't watch the show or pay attention if you do. This will likely not be covered or just be a blurb in the show, they don't go back and review the past, the show is about training camp. LMAO...now I really know you don't watch the show. Again...you don't seem to grasp the concept of what Hard Knocks is. Does seem to be youre rooting for failure though...so theres that.

I wouldn’t I mean to be fair, I’m pretty sure that’s everyone’s tier 1…and if it isn’t they probably shouldn’t be ranking WRs.

This will sound like a total homer statement, but Bills have a real shot to be the best HK season ever or one of the best because the team top to bottom has fun lovable characters. From leaders and vets like Beane, Allen, Dawkins, Tre, etc to young guys like Keon and Hairston. They are a hard team to not root for or fall in love with. The guys in the locker room have a connection and brotherhood not found in most, not to this level. These guys truly hang out off the field, golf, play poker together, Catan, etc. Lot of great, powerful, emotional back stories too with some of these guys as well like Ray Davis for example. It’s gonna be a fun, good energy, Hard Knocks IMHO.

Coolio...but I really don't think it will be a "major" story line, thats not how this works on Hard Knocks. Ive got friends at HBO who run this show, that is not the format of the show. They don't beat stories to death the way fans do...Hard Knocks is more about the players and coaches as people, journey's, etc. It will focus on a couple vets...it will focus on several fringe guys and their fight to make the roster...it will feature some rookies/young guys...and it will feature the coaches/FO on how run the ship, meetings, make decisions, etc. Remember, we dont have a major camp battle at WR. Keon and Palmer are set outside, Shakir is set in the slot. There is no story there. Hard Knocks doesn't break down film and look for trouble spots or things that arent working. It is very much a story driven series of life in the NFL, they are not there to focus on strengths and weaknesses of the team and point that out. There is going to be almost no coverage about the WR talent (or lack of depending on someones point of view)...they will probably try and follow Coleman because he is young and so charismatic. But honestly, the WR coverage isn't going to be remotely cover all the things people have been beating like a dead horse here.

I can, it will showcase how close this team is, the vibe amongst the players, being around our fans, this city, etc...something our players who come here know so well. Its going to create more interest potentially in future free agents. Almost every player whose played has talked about how special and different it is, and when you are as cold as Buffalo and lack the big city appeal, increasing FA interest even a little bit is a good thing.

I get all the concerns...but can we just have one thread not fall back to the "WR's" again

Wow, RIP that’s crazy. Loss for the NFL, he was a good owner. Prayers to the family