Buddo

The Bills were supposedly cap strapped, yet somehow they have managed to get Von Miller. Maybe the idea of being cap strapped, is somewhat overblown, especially when talking about the odd few million here or there, as opposed to, say $120m. There is no confusion by the way. I'm well aware that the Bills can match the offer. Much of the argument is about why put yourself in that position, just to save $1.5 million, and potentially lose a player whose worth to the team, is very likely to become considerably more than that, given a continued opportunity. Any offer above $3.9million average, means it's going to cost the Bills more to retain him than the 2nd round tender amount. It doesn't make much sense strategically either. We've cut a guard/center, and a guard/tackle, and then risk either losing, or potentially having to overpay, a guy who can cover all of those positions, who was also clearly our best starting guard, when eventually given the chance. The worst case scenaio, atm, is that Bates could go elsewhere, with the Bills unwilling to match. That probably creates 2 holes in the roster, in respect of guard and center (backup). If tendered at the higher level, worst case scenario would be that Bates goes elsewhere, holes are still created, but the Bills have a 2nd round pick to address at least one of those holes. For a mere $1.5 million extra spent.

It would be a lot easier to find a replacement with a 2nd round pick. It's also a lot less likely that someone would make him an offer, if they have to give up a pick to do it, if successful. The other reality is that if he continues his development, he would command more than the measley $3.9m it was going to cost to keep him here, especially bearing in mind we were on the hook for $2.4m anyway - just by tendering him.

In an odd sort of way, this is 'same old same old' Beane. Holes are being filled, as per usual. DT's who are supposedly better run stoppers than we have, but who also get some push on the pocket. A vet TE #2, who has some pass catching ability, but has also been used previously as a solid blocker. The above are positions we could reasonably expect to fill in FA, but also quite possibly in the draft. There's also a legit vet Guard, whose forte is run blocking. Then we have the icing on the cake, which is a genuine difference maker at DE in Miller. All of the above are areas where many felt we needed to improve. As previously, Beane seems to concur, which is still refreshing to see. Atm I think that McDermott and Beane, believed that our biggest need, was a talent to make a difference on D, and that is why they have got Miller. The reason I say 'same old, same old' Beane, is it's very much, imho, what they did when they traded for Diggs. I think they saw their biggest need at that time, as a genuine #1 WR, and so made the move for Diggs, in much the same way now, that they have made the move to get Miller. I don't know if anything else has happened as I type this, but I'm pretty certain that we will see a vet CB rought in from somewhere, which = another hole filled, at which point it's 'bring on the draft', where we can, in theory, just stay true to our board.

For that comment alone, Cooper has gone up in my estimation. Absolutely priceless.

The chances the Pegulas told Beane to 'make a splash', are, imho, slim to none, and slim has just left town. I can see them letting Beane 'make a splash', and backing him to do so, but I seriously do not see them instigating anything themselves.

Definitely doesn't explicitly say already released 'big name'. If I was to speculate in general terms, I'd be inclined towards the offensive side of things, likely a TE, WR, RB, or more vaguely possible, O-Line. The Bills generally, are an attractive destination for someone who wants a shot at a ring. Having said that, I think it should be pretty obvious that the biggest attraction, would be catching pigskins from #17. If you want a guess as to who could be a likely candidate to 'reach out', who is currently a FA, then Rudolph springs to mind - although I don't consider him to be a 'big name', but I'm not the one making the claim.

Wanted a Jackson/Scwartz combo instead of Ryan. Wouldn't have been as bad as Ryan, imho, but it probably would have ended badly - Jackson being nowhere near the coach I thought he was. Schwartz is still one of the best DCs around imho, and I really struggled with the Ryan hire all long for screwing up the D we did have, when Schwartz was running it. Wasn't exactly in one 'camp' or another, but I seem to remember thinking Rosen would be preferable to Allen. TBH, I preferred Rosen to Darnold, as well, as I thought Darnold gave the football away too much. Iirc, wasn't that struck on Mayfield either, but knew he'd be gone anyway. So right and wrong in about equal measure on the QBs. In my defense, I will say that I jumped on the Allen bandwagon fairly quickly afterwards. There was a point at which I thought Losman had a chance to become a decent QB. Then Fairchild left, and put a stop to that nonsense. Definitely believed in Edwards, until he got Jauroned.

At $7.5million, Berrios could represent good value due to his additional return abilities. As the team was constructed last year, he's more like a 3 for 1, as we often had different returners for punts and kickoffs, and you know our FO loves 'vesatility'.

I think people's expectations for what constitutes a good TE, or good TE production, are rather unrealistic. Without going into it in too much detail, Kelce and Kittle, are two guys who regularly go over 1000 yds a season. Not so sure there are any others currently. Gronk has done it a few times, but not even half of the years he's been in the NFL, iirc. Similarly Antonio Gates. All 4 of the above, are good candidates for the HOF, eventually. Gronk and Kelce will probably be first ballots, likewise Kittle if he continues the way he has been going. Gates I think will get there, but it might take a year or two. People are citing 1000yd seasons for TEs as if they grow on trees, which is simply not the case. Ertz has only had one year where he broke 1000. Gesicki hasn't had a year where he broke 800. Ertz being towards the end of his career, and Gesicki at the start of his, both of whom are generally considered to be 'good' TEs. Now, cap concerns aside, it does seem to me, that now is about the optimum time for the Bills to extend Knox. They can afford to be relatively generous, and offer something in the $6 to $8million range, which would be a fair offer for what he has done up to now, with part of the amount being for future 'expectations'. The point about that sort of offer, is that it's potentially a decent deal for both sides. Knox gets paid now with a decent amount of guarantees, and the Bills get a guy they are developing, at a reasonable cost for a few more years. In Knox's case , I think you could throw in a few incentives for yardage, which could come into play if he continues his improvement. e.g. for an 800yd season. A final 'what if', that nobody seems to have bothered with, is that what happens if he just reproduces last seasons form? Somebody might be prepared to overpay him, but those sorts of numbers, probably only put him in the range of that $6 to $8 million per, anyway - and he will have wasted a year waiting to get it.

Hopefully we will see a quicker response to making adjustments. Imho, the Bills coaches generally, have stuck too rigidly to their gameplans for individual games. When they get things right, we win comfortably. When they don't, it seems to me as though they don't switch things up quick enough. There aren't enough 'plan B's ' around, for when their predicted outcomes don't happen. Other than that, I expect better balance between the run and pass, although we are still going to be predominately a passing team. I like the addition/change to Kromer, and with them finally finding a serviceable O-Line, I believe we will see this. Unless we sign someone at WR, I don't think you will see much in the way of additional YAC. McKenzie aside, our guys are TDs or chain movers, and the play designs have largely reflected that. I don't think we have a WR (assuming McKenzie goes) that has the short area burst you need to get more YAC.

If they want a QB, they could do a lot worse than Trubisky. He would have a genuine chance to be the starter, and could be relatively cheap. You would think that Reich would be a good guy to continue his career with, and it gives them a better shot. With Taylor at RB, they don't need a world beating QB, they just need a competent one.

On the one hand, I don't blame him (Leftwich) for wanting to do it that way. It's certainly a method that has worked for us. On the other one, I can see why Khan wouldn't necessarily want to hand that much control over, mainly due to inexperience. McDermott and Beane, had both been in the NFL a fair time. While not actual HC or GMs (Beane did do a stint as the temp GM), they had a lot more experience under their belt.

It is. However, it probably wasn’t expecting to be in such a high quality offensive shootout. That was no ordinary game. The rotation of the D Line, will prevent them being gassed, in a majority of instances, but there are always exceptions to the rule. I’m not advocating for or against it, just pointing out that it does work mostly. I’m sure McD would want better talent to work with, even with a rotation, but it is what it is.

As someone who (like Hapless) has been quite critical of Knox previously, I'm now in the camp of him being worth re-signing. The two simple reasons are his TDs, and his vastly improved blocking. In one of the games against the Cheats, he stone walled Judon on a number of occasions. I think this season has seen him develop into a very serviceable, all round TE - and there's still room for improvement. The biggest problem the Bills have in relation to Knox, is how much to pay him, as the TE 'market' is way messed up - largely due to the silly money the Cheats threw at Henry and Jonnu Smith, neither of which looked worth half of it.

Wasn't Gaine the Asst GM before he went to Houston? Would seem a logical step for him to become that again, now Schoen has left.

I sort of want to root for the Bungles, for their fanbase and small market. Trouble is their ownership is small minded. Definitely the Rams, for Stafford to at least get to the big show once, in a largely unfulfilled career. I fear, however, that the results are going to go in the opposite direction. Chiefs are probably too good for the Bungals, who will need turnovers, and the 49ers just seem to have some sort of voodoo over the Rams.

I don't think I'd have a problem with Singletary as the main man, behind a decent O-Line. As others have said, he's obviously not elite, and never will be, due to a lack of top end speed. But he ran an awful lot tougher at the end of the year. However, he's shown he is pretty good, imho, now certainly above average, as he grew into the role, and his blocking etc. was considerably improved. I now have a decent level of trust in him when he's on the field, and that hasn't always been the case. He was also providing much more as an outlet as the season went on, and that played a significant part in some games. I do believe, however, if we are going to continue to feature him, his complement needs to be a bruiser. A guaranteed 3 yards and a cloud of dust type, that can take some of the pressure off of him, and, just as importantly, Josh. I actually think that that is probably our best approach for the time being. Simply because it might be the least expensive, in terms of either a draft pick, or FA. Without trying to find the combination of size and speed that is just about every teams ideal, an alternative would be to try and find a Kamara type guy, who is sort of half RB, half WR, as those guys are often the type who will give you extra YAC. I'd still want to try and find a 'bruiser' as well though, as we are far too reliant on trickery, scheme, or Allen on 3rd and short situations.

well, he’s earned a few bucks along the way, and OC is a lot less pressure relatively than HC. It’s also an opportunity to work with one of the best QBs around. While I think it’s highly unlikely, I can still see that it has an appeal

Pretty sure it was last Sunday when Davis out ran his guy and kept going. So not so long ago really. Fwiw, perhaps you didn't read the whole of my post, where I did mention a RB with speed and good hands being the area on offense where 'speed' is most desirable. Also, I'd rather be sure Allen has time behind a consistent O-Line, because as I explained above, if he gets time, he will find a way to kill you.

Davis is terrific, and has been pretty much from the get go. Coaches and players all raved about how well he understood the playbook, probably from the start of his first full TC. Davis and Diggs are both plenty quick enough as WRs, and both are really good players. We have no need for another #1 WR atm. Will we have a need for a #3 or #4 WR? - Possibly. If we have a need for extra speed on Offense, it's in the shape of a RB, preferably with some size, and good hands. We do need more speed on D, but we also need a true disruptive DE. Groot can still develop into that guy, imho, but we do need another. Another #1 WR would be a wasted pick. What we need more is better O-Line play on offense, because with extra time, Josh will find someone open, and he can sling that rock just about anywhere on the football field.

Terrific write up Shaw. This really sticks in the craw. In some respects, I don't think you can blame the players. (Not that you personally were) The offense was plenty good enough. The defense, well, there's a decent argument there, yet I would argue that they are doing what they are coached to do. Simply put, we were out-coached when it mattered. In all three aspects of the game. Daboll called 3 runs just after we had stopped the Chiefs in the first half, and they all went nowhere. A horrible series. We punted on a 4th and 1, admittedly in our own half, but at the time, the Chiefs were likely to go down and score anyway - and they did. Lots of 'hands in the air' to prevent Mahomes passing in the first half, when he was scrambling with nowhere to go. Just hit him. That one I'd call 6 of one half a dozen of the other. Players should know to nail him, yet they will have been coached to get their hands up, on a regular basis. Not going to work against Mahomes. An awful decision, or bad execution, to not make the Chiefs either bring the football out, or fair catch with a greater distance to go on the last kick off in regulation. A STs howler, really, which wouldn't have been so bad if they hadn't done that sort of kickoff on a decent number of occasions already through the regular season. The final vomit inducing, 'prevent' defense. Not just on one play, but two, when it hadn't worked the first time. Now, on the first instance, it's certainly possible that the players gave themselves too much 'cushion' - iirc there was another game in the last year or two where that has happened, but after calling TO, they should all have been aware exactly of what they were supposed to do. It's galling. Having said all of that, you don't get to see such a phenominally played game, without a lot having been done right. Trouble is, to win those games, of the highest quality, you have to get more of that stuff right - and our coaches didn't.

Bates has made a significant difference. One of the things often talked about with O-Lines, is their need to jell as a group. Bates made that happen. Imho, a lot of it is simply that he doesn't make actual mistakes. Sure he will get beaten from time to time, but it isn't because he's not trying to do what he is supposed to, on any given play. The likes of Ford, Feliciano and Boettger, made too many mistakes in what they were supposed to be doing.

Simply put, we were once again out coached in too many moments, some critical, in this game. 13 seconds left when we kicked off for the last time in regulation- you must be able to put the game away from there, no matter who the opposing QB is. Some poor play calling in the first half didn’t help either. Allen did just about everything that could be asked of him. Davis was brilliant. Oliver played his heart out. There’s still way more right with this team than wrong. For all people are ragging on the D, imho Mahomes needed to play off script an awful lot more than Josh did. Still absolutely gutted, but if we had to lose, at least it was in a game that will be talked about for the right reasons.

Need to tackle Mahomes when he’s scrambling, not keep putting hands up to stop him passing.

At home. Going to be a long day tomorrow, as the game will finish about 3am in the UK, and I have to be at work for 6am. Can’t drink either;(