starrymessenger

Depending upon the offensive philosophy and scheme I might trade our stellar offensive line for the Bengals' line and their #1 and #2 receivers. With those guys, Shakir, Kincaid, Cook and a good bottom of the order to fill out their receiving room (which I think the Bills have) we might score a thousand TD's. I would however never consider a trade like that unless my QB was at the level and had the attributes of Josh Allen or Pat Mahomes. It was a bad bet by Bengals management to take the route they did with Burrow. He goes down and the whole structure collapses. It's just that protecting him is a higher priority than it is in the case of the other two. All QBs need to be protected, but some a lot more than others.

As a league wide thing (not just the Bills), much pain and much unreasonable optimism (just ask a Ravens fan). The way things are shaking out now is hardly abnormal. I think many of us understood that the Pats game could be difficult. It was a real risk of loss even if not likely. What's important is that a team, that is any big team credibly in the running for a championship, make the playoffs and, crucially, have its machine in gear by then. The big team that best does that will probably win. Even now I would consider the Ravens a "big team" (assuming Lamar is soon back) and also the Chiefs. These organizations, like the Bills', are comparatively very good. I expect these teams, including the Bills, to get better as the season progresses (assuming no catastrophic injuries). Bengals chances have faded because of Burrow. I think that's unfortunate. The game is elevated by the play of its greatest players. I want to see all of them play (and beat the ones we need to beat).

I think how Coleman reacts to the benching will tell us a lot. I think he will show maturity and mind his behaviour but we need to closely watch this. To me he's just a 22 year old kid having to grow up and become a professional in an ultra competitive environment, to display all of the attributes that professionalism requires. I take comfort from the fact that he was reputedly privileged with a very good upbringing. That's important. There is no doubt in my mind that #17 is the person he is, and I think we all know by now that he's a great guy independently football, is probably largely because of the child rearing his parents practised. No question in my mind that what the Bills O could well use, and perhaps need, is a Brian Thomas or facsimile. But if we had moved up for Thomas some of us at least would probably be saying, possibly with justification, that we could now really use a guy like Coleman, the guy we passed on. This only makes sense of course if, as I believe, Coleman can become a professional and develop as a big play contributor and a threat that D's need to pay some attention to in their game planning. If, contrary to my expectations, he cannot mature of course they can only get rid of him. Its really all up to him to make the right decisions.

I think it’s hard to complain about the Bills O given its productivity even if many of us feel that the “everybody eats” approach is perhaps not optimal in making the best use of the superstar QB. On the other hand there is nothing necessarily wrong with this approach philosophically assuming of course that you have the players buy in and execute. Just look at the Blue Jays who, playing little ball, just disposed of the Yankees. They’ve got only one superstar on that team. The Bills actually have two. Im not necessarily down on McD’s defensive philosophy either. It makes a lot of sense IMO, assuming again you have the players to execute it properly. It can, and has worked extremely well in the past notably in Carolina. But of course in Carolina he had a strong pass rush from his four down linemen. And while Milano when healthy has been great, and is absolutely, like Bernard, a McD LB prototype, I dont think our linebackers compare very well either with HOFer LK, a young Shaq Thompson and Thomas Davis. My main criticisms of Sean have more to do with his in-game management, some of which has been downright unaccountable. . Not making excuses but lots of HCs get called out for it. Reid did in Philly. IMO McD is a good coach with a good understanding of what can work but If he doesnt lead us to the big show this year I would make the change just because it’s time and hes had his shot.

Diggs had a monster game it is true. The Pats dont win without him. But Maye found him and made the throws. That’s why they won. It didn’t look unlike some of the Josh/Diggs performances we saw in the past.

JMO but I think, and have thought since he entered the league that Maye is the real deal. The Pats are the only competition I see in the AFC East for the foreseeable future.

How does Hoculi do officiating other teams? Do him and his mates just call more penalties than other crews? In how many ways does his management of the games differ from that of other crews? Don’t like him regardless. Really hated his father too.

I can agree with saying Lamar is not articulate in his use of the standard lingo. That’s pretty easy to spot. However his teammates and other people who know him think he is personally charismatic which enables him to be a natural leader, like Josh. That’s what I meant by “great guy”.

Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are big enuf to easily support NFL franchises. The NFL is very popular everywhere in Canada, including in French speaking Quebec. Problem is that it would spell the end of the CFL which for some imports a quasi existential/political crisis. So it's not happening anytime soon and probably never will. The one thing they should have changed in their game is the so-called "rouge" where a team is awarded a point by simply punting through the end zone or tackling the returner there. Makes no sense to have a game outcome depend on that.

Except everyone who knows him says he's a great guy.

Yeah blocks well despite his size. He's a great player. Wish he was a Bill.

The throws were good, windows were relatively small. But St. Brown is an incredible route runner. Anything less than perfect routes and Goff doesn't get clean targets.

Lamar is a comedic genius.

Couple of things I like about him. I’m impressed, and a little surprised, by his ability to gain the extra yard(s) (move the pile) after contact. And it seems to take him a single stride to go from standing still to going full speed.

Thanks Tua.

Im sure that Rosengarten OT guy was happy to see the back of Oliver. Of course he got to see his back a lot during the game.

Brady is almost certainly the smartest QB to ever walk on a football field, and that's why he's the GOAT. They forgot to test his brain at the combine.

Yeah. I saw Mahomes do something similar just the other day in the KC loss. Don't think there was a pump fake but I don't doubt for a minute that he would be capable of it. Burrow might be the best pure passer. It's not his legs/mobility that generally puts him in the same class as the other two indisputably elite QBs. Lamar is elite too and has shown great improvement as a passer but he is not in the same league as those guys as far as that specific attribute is concerned imo. I don't see him routinely making that throw in that way. Im not sure Herbert reliably makes that throw either. He has the arm of course but a noted issue is the trouble he has in generating the right arc on his throws to permit receivers to run under it. His ball is typically flatter than what you would want in a situation like Josh faced. With Herbert I think its a lack of touch that can result in blown timing when the placement has to be perfect.

I can think of only two other AFC QBs who make that throw worth trying and Lamar, great as he may be, is not one of them.

Re separation people harp on his pedestrian 40 time as if that was all she wrote. But all that means for certain is that he's not going to gain separation in the same way that Brian Thomas will. If he's going to separate it's going to be because of route running taking into account his particular physical attributes. As a 20 year old kid with limited college experience coming into the league it's hardly surprising that his routes are in need of development. Could be that explains why the Bills pretty much had him doing the same thing all day long last year which given the predictability did him few favours imo.

They are very talented on D. What puzzled me was their decision to generally rush 4. Bills do have an excellent O line. Even a good front 4 is not enuf to pressure JA. If you can't pressure him he will likely destroy you, as any elite passing QB would likely do. And if you manage to force him from the pocket there is a good chance you will regret it. I get it that Josh can also be a menace when he's blitzed but the lack of a pass rush was what stood out as a weakness to me. I don't know whether this was a personnel or scheme driven decision.

I picked the Ravens to win this game. That was more than enough to put the Bills over the top.

Pre-game I expected the Ravens O to manhandle our D, what with missing #1 draftee, two vet starters and generally being in transition. TBH I was not optimistic about the result. Josh saved our bacon yesterday but McD is an excellent defensive coach. Assuming we play them later in the year we will be a lot better on both sides of the ball but especially on D. Josh Allen will beat them again.

That was a great block. Reminded me of the time Gronk drove one our DBs into the cheap seats.

Josh Allen. He good.