hondo in seattle

There are fans out there who seem to take a perverse pleasure in knocking NFL media types. I'm not one of those. I tend to like most guys who cover the NFL to a greater or lesser extent. But there are two exceptions: Sully and Skip - I don't like either one. Though these two exceptions are not created equal. Sully is just a Negative Nancy. Skip is classless, misinformed, and likes to play the contrarian just to be argumentative - my least favorite guy in the entire world of NFL media.

Let's hope we can add to this... Gilmore healthier - net gain Shady healthier - net gain Sammy healthier - net gain Tyrod both healthier and better in Year 2 - net gain Defensive unit understands assignments - and communicates - better - net gain

I agree. Too many if's. That's why I vacillate between 8-8 and 9-7. And I get the pessimism regarding Rex. He did a horrible job on the defensive side last year. I just think his record says he's not typically a horrible defensive coach. So I do expect a bounce-back of sorts. And if the if's fall into place, we're going to the playoffs!

All the guys you mentioned are backups, weak starters (Mario sucked last year), or untested rookies. I'm not sure the roster got weaker, especially when you consider how banged up we were last year. If we can remain reasonably healthy, this is a better squad. Then you have to consider we're in the 2nd year of the reign of our HC, DC, and OC. The team should execute the offensive and defensive schemes better in Year 2. Last year was probably the worst coaching job of Rex's career. I expect him to 'return to mean' this season. I think he's an above average - not great - defensive coach and will get the D to maybe #10 or so this year.

We probably don't know as much about the seriousness of Manny's pec injury - or his looming suspension - as the coaching and personnel staffs know.

This again?

If he's the tire, he'll kick back. From the OP's link: Miller, 29, reportedly tried to check into the Fisherman's Wharf Marriott Hotel on Sunday night but was told all rooms were occupied. He knocked on the door of a guest and was told that he had the wrong room before he proceeded to attack the guest. The guest's father tried to help his son, but was also punched by Miller. The father is 70 years old and reportedly sustained broken bones after being punched in the face.

Man, what a party pooper! But I'm sure you're right. Still, it's interesting to wonder what Greg Roman, the mad scientist, might cook up with versatile athletes.

"There is no way to improve on football beyond the unbalanced line single-wing." — Carl Snavely, college football Hall of Fame, 1872

I think 3 of the early posters got it right... Teddy's knee is so effed up that the Vikes are nervous about next season. But, obviously, the Vikes are really nervous about this season, too, and are in win-now mode. Because they're so nervous about both short and long term, they over-payed for a guy who has never thrown for 4,000 yards and whose career passer rating is virtually identical to Ryan Fitzpatrick's (Bradford: 81.0, Fitz: 80.8).

Interesting explanation and you may very well be right. But it does seem like an odd way to spend a valuable resource (a PS slot). And I think the OP is probably right about Gay. If he hasn't gotten his accuracy up to NFL level by now, he probably never will. On the other hand, seeing Dez Lewis signed to the practice squad is no surprise with the Bills only carrying 5 WRs.

Tim has his flaws, as we all do, but he can be a good feature writer. This was a nice piece. Sammy seems like a good kid - apparently remarkably good for Dunbar.

Nice overview. I disagree with this. I think our OL depth is okay. I think EJ is at least an average backup. I think our WR depth is fine, especially when you consider Roman is typically a run-first guy which makes our depth at RB important.

I agree. I was surprised Manny was cut because based on the little information I had (watching him play in previous seasons and reading what observers said about preseason/training camp), I thought Manny was a lock to make the time and would do well this season. Clearly the coaches have all our information and very much more. There's something in that mysterious "much more" that caused Manny to be released.

Fish swim, birds fly, and Sully whines because that's what they do.

I personally believe the premise is faulty. I don't think "depth has been exposed." The injuries to the rookies are a shame. Nonetheless, many of us don't think our depth is worse than it's traditionally been. In fact, it may be better this season. DW and his team have done a nice job identifying and acquiring veteran backups. Like any other year, let's hope we don't get injuries. If we do get injuries, let's hope they're at a position of strength, not a position of weakness. I worry about depth every year but I may be worrying a little less this year.

I think both the O and D will be ranked in the top half of the league. But neither in the top 5. 9-7 But there are so many variables and unanswered questions. Will we see evidence of defensive buy-in? Will TT take the step forward that he needs to take? Will our injury prone stars stay healthy? And so on. 11-5 wouldn't shock me. Then again, neither would 7-9.

One of my surprises was keeping 6 safeties. Rex explains... Q: You have 11 DBs, six safeties and five corners. Were the six safeties rooted in special teams abilities? Was that the biggest factor and with five corners, are you comfortable knowing (Kevon) Seymour’s still got the hamstring? A: Well I think sometimes you prefer it the other way with the corners over the safeties, so I certainly get that. This is unusual, I’ve never had six safeties ever make a team so this is definitely unusual, and a big part of it is special teams, I don’t think there’s any doubt about that. Last year we almost had an ideal situation for receivers when you had two guys that were big time special teams contributors. This year we don’t have that, so that played into it. Just happens that we’re really heavy at that safety position. http://bills.buffalonews.com/2016/09/02/said-bills-transcripts-roster-cutdown-day-rex-ryan-doug-whaley-glenn-gronkowski/

Somebody hinted at this last week but I didn't believe it. Usually a team goes heavy at a position because they have talent there they can't bear to lose. That doesn't seem to be the case here. Is Rex cooking up some kind of 3-safety defense that he plans to field a lot? If they're worried about AW's fragility, would it have been better to cut him? I guess next to cutting Manny, keeping 6 safeties is the biggest surprise for me. Man I'd love to be a fly on the wall when DW, Rex, etc. sit down to discuss these decisions.

He needs to be efficient, like last year. He needs to protect the ball, like last year. He needs to stay healthy, unlike last year. And he needs to carry the team a couple times when the running game can't get untracked, unlike last year.

Says the Ryan defense is going extinct but offers no analysis whatsoever. Author has no obvious knowledge of Xs and Os and offers no insight into the Ryan led Bills D.

From the Seattle PI: With Lewis in the lineup, the Seahawks offense started to click in the second half of the season, averaging over 50 yards of total offense more per game giving up just 15 sacks over the last eight weeks of the campaign. http://www.seattlepi.com/sports/football/article/Seahawks-cuts-75-man-roster-9192007.php You're welcome. I thought the local Seattle papers might have a useful POV. Sounds like a solid backup.

From the Seattle Times: The Seahawks went 6-3 in Lewis’ starts last season, which included each of the last seven games when Seattle went on an offensive explosion to rally and get back into the playoffs... But with the emergence of Britt, who played left guard last season before being moved to center, the Seahawks apparently decided [Lewis' salary of $1.67 million] was more than they needed to pay a backup center — and since none of it was guaranteed the team will save all of it against the salary cap giving the team a little added financial flexibility as they enter the final week of the preseason, a time when players cut by other teams are often added to the roster, and trades are also commonly made. http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/seahawks-waive-center-patrick-lewis-as-they-continue-roster-cutdown-to-75/

I'm as happy as I can be with our depth chart given we don't have an established franchise QB. This is a good group of unprovens. Oddly, while I know of course that TT, EJ and Cardale are each black, it never dawned on me until now that our entire QB depth chart is black. Or that this is some kind of accomplishment. In the army we used to say we're not black or white anymore, we're all green. All Bills players are the same shade of royal blue.

He might be right with 8-8, especially if we suffer any more key injuries. But he doesn't even acknowledge the possibility of the drought ending.