thebandit27

That's just it Thurman: he's already a very good player. Actually, his per-target production is downright elite. As I've said over and over, the numbers every year clearly indicate that quantity of targets is the #1 predictor in accumulation of statistics, and is so by a significant margin. The main contributor to Sammy not producing like the Beckham's and Joneses of the league has been a relative lack of usage when he's on the field. The second-greatest contributor has been lack of availability. We need only look at the difference in the QB's performance when he's on the field versus when he's not to see his impact on the game: http://www.buffaloru...ying-his-impact "Last season, Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel averaged 6.65 yards per attempt when Watkins was not on the field. When Watkins was on the field, Taylor and Manuel combined for a 7.38 yards-per-attempt average." "The disparity is even more staggering when solely focusing on Taylor. Taylor with Watkins: 8.23 YPA Taylor without Watkins: 7.13 YPA"

And again: context matters. He plays on a team that has attempted the fewest passes in the NFL for 2 consecutive years.

Perhaps Kirby trusts that I don't make things up, and he's giving me a chance to explain my statement? The info was a bit old--the article was from almost exactly a year ago, but here's what I was talking about: http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2016/6/14/11924724/on-sammy-watkins-age-production-and-quantifying-his-impact

Don't worry, we get it: it wasn't a comparison, it was simply saying that you could find something just like that for any player.

Hokie, it's NOT a comparison...all he's saying is that anyone can have a highlight video just like that

First off, no, you aren't going to find anything even remotely close to the video that 26 posted for Watkins from James Hardy--a player with 10 career NFL catches. Secondly, it was a comparison. To compare is to draw a parallel between 2 persons/places/things. "James Hardy has a highlight video too"...yep, comparison. Again: it's not what you meant to do; fine. Say so and move on; we're all adults here, and it's not like we're asking you to admit defrauding your bank. As to what it says about me, well, yes, I admit that I can read...you've caught me

Those are all opinions.

Yes, it is... What you mean to say is "that's not how I meant it". Honestly, it's okay. We've all mis-stated things before. So you're still going to go at this topic without a scintilla of factual evidence to support your stance?

Nope...you made the comparison. It's okay if you didn't mean it that way, but that's how it reads.

Gee...how did anyone get that comparison? Oh, I know: you made it. "James Hardy had some fun TD vids too". If you want to take it back, or say that you didn't mean it that way, fine...but let's not pretend that you didn't make it. Except that you continue to miss the point. He's started more games in his first 3 seasons than Julio Jones did...if injury-plauged players just don't make it, then we should've seen Julio's demise years ago, right? And again: I ask that you support your opinion of Sammy being a bust with numbers and context. Do you accept that challenge, or are you content to substantiate your opinion with another heaping pile of opinion?

It does seem to be getting to the point where some folks just want to say the most ridiculous thing they can simply to get a response.

See above I take it that you aren't going to substantiate your opinion with facts then?

Ok...here's a challenge to the folks that want to call Sammy a bust: Go ahead and show me, with numbers and context, why he's a bust. I dare you to put together a reasonable argument that's backed up by facts.

There's no possible way that you just made that comparison.

Looks like it based on the lack of Bills-related content on his social media feeds

It's funny...bring up that his participation and performance numbers are almost identical to Julio and it's met with skepticism. Meanwhile, those of us that simply look at the facts are supposed to just acquiesce to the idea that Sammy is useless and never on the field? Pick one position: are we looking at the facts or should we simply be emotional about this?

I'm sorry, but looking at the actual facts (drop backs, scrambles, runs, passes, etc.), you're completely incorrect. http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2017/5/25/15689906/tyrod-taylor-buffalo-bills-in-pocket-passing-statistics Unless you're counting the 18% of the time that he breaks the pocket as him being "more of a runner"...me personally, I'll count the 82% of the time that he doesn't break the pocket as being more representative of what happens when he drops back to throw.

You could also have pointed out his circus catch that set up the game-winning FG in Detroit, his last-second TD catch to win the game against Minnesota, and him being, quite literally, the entirety of the passing offense in the 2015 victory against Miami if you really wanted to point out how dependable he can be (and has been).

No, it was not "spot on" in any sense of the phrase. He is not "useless" in any way, shape, or form. Sammy has the 4th-most receiving yards in NFL history for a player younger than 24. To call a guy with 2,500 receiving yards and 17 TDs in 2.5 seasons (all before his 25th birthday) "useless" is blatant hyperbole at best...in reality, it's closer to an outright falsehood. As to what can be accomplished with a mobile QB, well, that's simply incorrect. Look no further than Terrell Owens in Philadelphia. The real issue is lack of targets due to an offense that's more focused on the run game than any other in the NFL. Targets are the #1 predictor of WR productivity, and as I said: in the only stretch of games during which Watkins was targeted like a #1 receiver, he was the most productive receiver in football. That he did it on an injured foot tells you that no, in fact, he's not useless even when he's injured.

Go ahead and show me where I said that...I'll wait. On the other hand, you might instead choose to simply take for granted that I took issue with the post I took issue with and go from there. I don't think anyone can put a number on that, but what I can tell you is that during the only stretch of games where he was targeted like a No. 1 receiver (he ranked 4th in the NFL in targets in the final 9 games of 2015), he was the most productive receiver in football. We only later found out that he did it on an injured foot.

Nothing better than blatant hyperbole that borders on insanity. He's started over 70% of the games that have taken place since he's been in the NFL, and has over 2,500 receiving yards and 17 TDs in 2-1/2 seasons of play. Almost identical numbers to Julio Jones through 3 NFL season. "Useless"

Yep I knew someone would get it--it just got lost in the shuffle!

My last question still hangs unanswered: Who was the little-known DB that intercepted Troy Aikman 3 times in a victory by the Todd Collins-lead Bills over the Cowboys at Rich Stadium?

I don't disagree with any of that Sis. I also don't see how items 1-4 on the priority list are anything other than "get a franchise QB". Building a stout D and run game is nice, but without that most critical piece, Brady and Belichick will still have the upper hand 9 times out of 10 (of course, even with a franchise QB, they probably have the upper hand 7/10 times).

Nix's legacy is the same as every other Bills' GM since Polian: failed to find a franchise QB. To say that his tenure is defined by his choices at offensive guard is lunacy of the highest order