mjt328

I'm against sexual harassment/assault just as much as anyone. But at some point, doesn't there need to be at least some proof about all these allegations going around? New claims against celebrities/politicians suddenly seem to be coming every few days now, but virtually none of them have evidence. Most have happened so long ago that proper investigations can't even be done. Yet if a victim makes a claim, it's pretty much believed without question. The accused loses their reputation, their job, their marriage, etc., without a fair trial even taking place. Honestly, it's a scary place for society to go. Guilty until proven innocent. Especially when the definition of harassment is getting broader almost daily.

Disagree on your first point. The NFL has been about the quarterback first for a very long time. Over the last 30 Super Bowls, the following 5 quarterbacks have accounted for 23 of the AFC appearances: John Elway, Jim Kelly, Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady The Patriots issue is bigger than almost anyone considers though. If it wasn't for never making the playoffs in 17 years, the Bills are roughly in the same boat as several other AFC teams. Have teams like the Dolphins, Jets, Bengals, Browns, Jaguars, Titans, Texans, Raiders been THAT much better over the last 15-20 years? Not really. And without doing the math, I would bet the Bills have a better overall winning record than a good chunk of those teams during the drought. Not very many teams have been true Super Bowl contenders over the last two decades. What sets us apart is the drought, and the Patriots are a good reason why we can't get that extra 1-2 wins each season and push ourselves into a wild card spot.

Investing high dollars or high draft picks in wide receivers is mostly a waste. You need to have the Quarterback first. New England has consistently featured a high-powered passing game. Outside of 1-2 years with Randy Moss and this year adding Brandin Cooks, they have invested almost nothing in their receiver corps. It's all about Tom Brady. You could literally put anyone on that offense, and they will still be Top 10 in scoring. Look at the guys who have surrounded Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Peyton Manning etc. through their careers -- then look what happens when those players go to a lesser Quarterback in free agency. Most of the time, they disappear and are never heard from again. Calvin Johnson was probably the most talented receiver to play in the NFL in the past 10 years. He retired and the Detroit Lions offense doesn't even miss him. In fact, I can't think of a single offense in the NFL where a Wide Receiver carries the team. Even the great Jerry Rice always played with strong QBs during his career. Would he have been so great playing with a bad QB his whole career, instead of Joe Montana, Steve Young and Rich Gannon? Doubt it. Draft a Quarterback who can see the field quickly, then deliver accurate throws into tight windows... suddenly the Bills will have a strong group of receivers.

The continuous turnover of coaches has been disastrous for this franchise. Keeping Doug Marrone would have allowed us to keep Jim Schwartz. Which would have erased the Rex Ryan scheme change, and stopped the wasted draft picks of Shaq Lawson, Reggie Ragland, Adolphus Washington, etc. It probably would have kept Mario Williams and Marcel Dareus motivated. I have no doubts our defense would have played 10x better if the coaching change hadn't been made. The offense is harder to determine. Marrone hated EJ Manuel, so it's likely we would have brought someone else in as starter. Probably not Tyrod Taylor though, because he was a Ryan recommendation. Would we still have traded for Lesean McCoy? Would we have still signed Charles Clay? So many questions that can't be answered here.

It's all about coaching. We have never been able to match up with Bill Belichick, and probably never will. The Bills offense had a nice first drive. Then Belichick and the defense adjusted, and we didn't do anything for the next 50 minutes. That interception sucked, but I don't believe it would have made a difference in the end. The Bills defense kept the Pats in check for the first half. Then Belichick and the offense adjusted at halftime. We let up 14 points on their first two drives in the 3rd Quarter. And just like that, it was over. It's not good enough to have a good plan coming into the game. To beat the Pats, you have to constantly be adjusting and finding ways to keep them off balance. Belichick is the master of football's "chess game" and is 3-4 steps ahead of almost every other coach in the NFL. It's already pretty clear that Sean McDermott is nothing special. He thinks he can defeat the Patriot Way by creating a culture change at One Bills Drive, and copying what worked for him in Carolina. Just another glorified coordinator, who is in way over his head.

I don't see McDermott going for Baker Mayfield. It's already been established how important he considers character. Mayfield already has an arrest, and the whole crotch-grabbing incident against Kansas this year. Maybe he's not getting busted for drugs or beating his girlfriend, but those actions are going to weight heavily against him.

New England is tied for dead-last in rushing defense (4.9 yards per attempt). The Bills need to attack them on the ground relentlessly. If we can't gain yardage in the run game this week, Rick Dennison should be fired on Monday. Once we start moving on the ground, use play action to push the ball downfield. The coaching staff needs to have the mentality of scoring 25+. Just avoiding turnovers will not suffice this week. On defense, the strategy is always the same against Tom Brady (but difficult to actually accomplish). Get pressure with a 4-man rush, especially in his face. Since our DTs are struggling with Marcel Dareus, I would recommend a lot of stunts and moving around to cause confusion. On the back-end, you have to mix up coverage packages. Don't let Brady know what is coming before the snap. Don't cover Rob Gronkowski with a single linebacker. Be prepared for the short stuff (slot receivers and running backs), and don't miss tackles. In my opinion, the offense could put up some points this week. But the defense matches up poorly.

Patrick Mahomes was taken with the #10 pick in the draft. He is expected to be a franchise quarterback. The whole purpose for Kansas City trading up to get him, was because many believed Alex Smith was holding back a potential Super Bowl contender from getting over the hump. And despite a red-hot start to the season, Smith has settled back into his expected role over the last 2 months. The Chiefs are struggling badly, mostly due to his missed throws. At this point, Andy Reid and the Chiefs can't just be content with a playoff spot. Their window is closing and they should be gunning for a championship. Nathan Peterman was taken in the 5th Round. Very few people outside of Buffalo actually believe Peterman will become a starter in the NFL. Most believe his ceiling is a good backup. And even though Tyrod Taylor was struggling badly at times this year, it's hard to call him the biggest reason for the Bills slide -- when the defense is letting up 40+ weekly and doesn't force a punt for nearly 2 full games. On top of that, the Bills were in prime position to break a 17-year playoff drought. While the ultimate goal should certainly be higher, I think it's vital for the morale of this team and city to just make the postseason.

Honestly, it's probably going to take awhile. One of the big problems with what Bean/McDermott have done to the roster... is they traded away young talent in order to rebuild. Guys like Sammy Watkins, Ronald Darby, Marcel Dareus and Reggie Ragland were supposed to be the foundation of this team's future. Some of the solid young pieces remaining like Shaq Lawson and John Miller are questionable scheme fits, and may need to be replaced for that reason alone. The best players we have left are closing in (or have already passed) 30 years old, and are nearing the end of their contracts. The way I see it, the following positions are huge holes RIGHT NOW and need an immediate upgrade: Quarterback, Right Guard, Right Tackle, Defensive Tackle, (All Three) Linebacker Spots That comes to SEVEN holes that need to be filled in the starting lineup. That is more than enough to handle in a single (2018) offseason, even with multiple high draft picks and plenty of cap space. Then consider that Jordan Matthews, Kyle Williams and EJ Gaines are free agents, who will need to be re-signed or replaced. That bumps the number to TEN starting spots. Ouch. But it gets worse. LeSean McCoy turns 30 years old next year. His dead cap hit drops to $5.2 million in 2018, then to $2.6 million in 2019, and he is a free agent in 2020. It's unlikely he will be around for when this team is ready to compete again. Ritchie Incognito turns 35 next year. His dead cap hit in 2018 is $1.15 million, and he is a free agent in 2019. The team needs to start thinking about replacing him as well, because the age cliff is approaching fast. Based on contracts and age, I anticipate we will keep Charles Clay, Cordy Glenn, Eric Wood and Jerry Hughes for another year (maybe). But all of them have easy contract outs in 2019, and they are all creeping up in age. None of them have solid roster footing moving forward. From what I can see, this team has only a few solid/young pieces to build on. Kelvin Benjamin, Tre'Davius White, Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer. Then we can hope that Zay Jones, Dion Dawkins, Matt Milano and Shaq Lawson develop into good players. But that is pretty much it.

1. It can't just be offensive coordinators "figuring us out." This team literally went from one of the NFL's elite during the first 6-7 games, to historically bad over the last 3 weeks. I'm a big believer in strategy and game planning. But things don't flip THAT much by simply spotting tendencies on film. 2. It can't just be the loss of Marcel Dareus decreasing our talent on the D-Line. For starters, Dareus wasn't playing a high percentage of snaps. And most of the writers who study All-22 replays will quickly tell you that Dareus wasn't even playing well. 3. It can't just be the lack of turnovers. Although the interceptions and fumbles were HUGE boosts for helping us win those close games, it doesn't explain why our defense can't even make teams punt anymore. 4. The idea they are "tired" because the offense isn't playing well (too many 3-outs) is absolutely ridiculous. Against the Jets, Saints and Chargers, this defense has been getting gashed from the opening drive. Fatigue may be an excuse in the 4th quarter. But the Bills defense has already let up 35+ by that point. From a fan watching from his television... I see a team that WAS aggressive and flying to the ball early in the season, but is now jogging and half-a$$ing it. I see a team that WAS showing fantastic tackling technique and gang tackling opponents, but now uses arm tackles and poor technique. I see a team that WAS quick off the snap, but is now getting blown off the ball. To me, these are all very clear signs of a team that has quit. In my opinion, the REAL question isn't what happened (it's obvious from watching us play every Sunday). The REAL question is why they quit. Why did a team that was 5-2 and in full control of a playoff spot, decided to throw in the towel on a 1st-Year coach? Did something happen behind the scenes that hasn't been reported? Part of me wonders if the trade of Dareus did something to the morale of this team. Unlike the Sammy Watkins/Ronald Darby trades, which actually netted high draft picks and starting caliber players in return, the Dareus trade was nothing more than a mid-season salary dump. You have to wonder if that particular trade sent a message to the other veterans. You could also question how the trade for Kelvin Benjamin was viewed in the locker room. Here you have a coach that preaches family, but seems to want everyone from the "old guard" gone and jumps at the chance to bring in guys from his old team.

Quite simply. Quarterback is not the same as every other position. And any coach who treats them the same is a fool. The starting Quarterback is the on-field leader, and easily the most important position on the entire roster. Anyone who argues this point either doesn't know football, or trying too hard to have a differing opinion. The decision to change your starting QB should never be taken lightly. Smart coaches do everything in their power to avoid the QB controversy. Not only does it disrupt the entire timing and working of an offense, but it mentally divides the players in the locker room. Over the last week, it became very obvious how well RESPECTED Tyrod Taylor is - both in the Bills locker room and around the NFL. There were numerous players from other teams tweeting about how stupid McDermott's decision was. That should tell you something. And how our coaching staff couldn't see it (or refused to see it), is beyond me. And even if you believe Nathan Peterman is eventually going to be a fantastic QB in this league, he is still a 5th Round Rookie - playing the hardest position to transition from college to the pros in all of sports. Use some common sense. At best, Peterman was going to play OK and have some growing pains. At worst (which is what happened), he was going to crash and burn like 95% of the late-round rookie QBs to enter the NFL. There was no way Buffalo had a better chance with Peterman in the lineup.

Yes. Missing out on the playoffs (after a 5-2 start) definitely hurts. Especially with the opening other AFC teams have left us. But what REALLY hurts the most... Somehow Sean McDermott has already lost the locker room. After only 9-10 games as the coach. The players have clearly quit on him. It's not just us "getting exposed" or us struggling with the trading our top talent. The last three games, we have seen an obvious and alarming lack of effort. This is the NFL. The vast majority of games are close. Nobody gets embarrassed like this 3 weeks in a row (two against opponents with losing records), unless there is something else going on. The proof is all there. It's not technique. It's not mental lapses. It's not stupid mistakes. Teams are simply lining up, man-to-man and utterly destroying us. Defensive players aren't flying to the ball anymore. They aren't even trying to tackle the ball carrier, or trying to get off blocks. Both lines are getting physically manhandled on every snap. All these signs point to our guys not giving 100%. Despite what some fans are whining and crying, this team has talented players. I'm just convinced most of these guys just aren't trying. I'm not sure what caused it. But I'm almost certain that something happened between the Raiders and Jets game. Something that killed the morale of this team.

Yep.

"The Process" isn't about winning now vs. winning later. It's about getting rid of players that don't fit McDermott's scheme (Darby, Ragland, Taylor), don't fit his character/team-first attitude (Dareus) or simply don't make financial sense with the salary cap (Watkins). Our front office has always been looking to the future of the roster... but they also believed they could win in 2017.

I've said this before. Good coaches look closely at the talent around the locker room. They properly evaluate where players are strong and where they are weak. The gameplan is then carefully structured in a way that highlights the strengths and hides the weaknesses. Unfortunately, most coaches in the NFL are nothing like this. Most coaches are brilliant at teaching 1-2 positions, but are completely out of their element with other parts of the team. Most have only proven successful in a single scheme/system, and really don't know how to adjust to something different. Most aren't brilliant strategists or students of the game. They were just fortunate to have the right pieces at the right time, and it helped them move their way up the ranks. Rex Ryan was blasted in Buffalo for pushing HIS SCHEME onto a defense, where it clearly didn't fit. The square peg in a round hole analogy. Around the league, Ryan was considered a defensive mastermind before taking the Bills job. But in reality, he was no smarter than any other defensive coordinator. He was just fortunate enough in Baltimore and New York to have the pieces he needed to run his system. Buffalo's strengths/weaknesses were completely opposite to those Ravens/Jets teams. So Ryan was exposed. Sean McDermott's style is nothing like Ryan. He is quiet and reserved, instead of loud and boastful. He is calculated and organized, instead of wild and chaotic. He is all-business, instead of fun and free. But when it comes to the football field, McDermott is just as hard-headed, stubborn and clueless as his predecessor. Of course, instead of forcing players into his schemes, McDermott just trades them away for draft picks. The quarterback switch (just like the Sammy Watkins, Ronald Darby, Reggie Ragland and Marcel Dareus trades) was ALL ABOUT getting his guys on the field. That's what "the process" is all about. Purging players that don't fit his system, or don't display the character and attitude he wants to see.

Amazing how the Peterman crowd suddenly realized all of this teams problems cannot be pinned on the Quarterback alone. Yes the O-Line sucks. Yes the system sucks. Yes the defense sucks. It sucked when Tyrod was playing too. Benching the veteran starter with a 5-4 record was a stupid decision. Now they look even dumber going back to Tyrod with the rookie falling apart.

Usually we are midway through Season #2 before the new/fresh regime looks this clueless and lost.

When was the last time this defense forced a punt?

Rex Ryan's defense was the perfect example of "confusion" gone wrong. In trying to confuse the quarterback, his own players were often caught out of position and unsure of where to be at the snap. Jim Schwartz used a relatively simple defense. His D-Line was loaded with talent, so he just let them go straight up against blockers. More often than not, the Bills defenders won those matchups. The less talent you have, the more you need to rely on scheme to confuse your opponent.

I disagree with most of the posters here. I'm pretty sure Tyrod Taylor does have trade value around the league. Despite what some fans claim, there are actually a lot of great qualities about Taylor. He's easily the most mobile quarterback in the league, and a dangerous weapon that defenses must always account for. He almost never turns the ball over. He is a hard worker and great teammate. Many Bills fans only want to know "Is he a franchise quarterback?" If the answer is no, they are ready to move on to the next guy. And I can't blame them for that mentality. But the franchise QB pile in this league is very small. Teams looking for quality passers run out of options pretty quickly. That's why mediocre guys like Ryan Tannehill get massive extensions. That's why free agents who have done nothing like Mike Glennon get huge contracts. That's why teams will trade two drafts worth of picks for a strong prospect. That's why journeymen like Josh McCown and Ryan Fitzpatrick are never short of work. Taylor's cap hit in 2018 is relatively small (just over $8 million). Once the dust clears on free agency and the draft, I could see some teams getting desperate. Assuming the Bills land their guy, and assuming they like Nathan Peterman to step into the backup role next year... there may be a market for Taylor. I wouldn't anticipate it going higher than a Day 2 pick, but the idea that nobody could possibly want him is foolish.

It was obvious the Bills coaching staff/front office wasn't 100% sold on Tyrod Taylor back in the offseason, when they were considering letting him walk out the door. This is not something that has popped up suddenly after a few bad games. The problem is, Taylor still almost certainly gives us a better chance to win than Nathan Peterman. And until the Bills are knocked out of playoff contention, the goal is still winning. Not trying to develop a 5th Round rookie. Regardless of what Peterman may have done against preseason 3rd stringers, or in garbage time with a 40 point deficit... it's not going to be anything like that against a real/regular season defense. Look how great Mitch Trubisky and Deshone Kizer played in the preseason. Once Week 1 kicked off, they looked like lost rookies. Sure. Maybe Peterman will find immediate success when the real bullets start flying. But the odds are very much against him. Even if he turns into an eventual starter in the NFL, it will probably come with severe growing pains. Unbelievable as it seems, the Bills still have a very realistic chance at landing a playoff spot. Maybe that means nothing to everyone expecting a quick exit on Wild Card Weekend. But I'm a believer that 17 Years is mentally looming large over this franchise. From the owners, to the front office, to the coaches, to the players, to the fans, to the entire city. The pressure in that locker room to JUST make the 6th seed is tremendous. I think that landing a playoff berth in McDermott's first year (especially when everyone expected us to totally tank) may have better long-term benefits than most would give credit.

All the scenarios for making the playoffs seem to be falling into our lap. The problem is... the Bills still have to win at least 4 more games this season. There are still 4 games against teams with losing records. But at this point, I'm not sure the Bills stand a chance against any of them (and that includes the Colts).

I would like to think this news gives us an advantage. But after watching us the last 2 weeks, the Chargers could probably just run the ball up the middle every play and score a touchdown on pretty much every drive. Our D-Line is soft, our linebackers are slow, and everybody on defense forgot how to play tackle football. It also wouldn't surprise me to see a backup QB drop 30 points on us.

Trying to work the facts to fit an agenda. Yes, Tyrod Taylor was pathetic yesterday. There was no excuse for his play. Even when the Bills were trailing by multiple touchdowns, he was still throwing short of the markers on 3rd Down. I'm not personally a believer in benching him for Nathan Peterman, but after performances like yesterday, I may be getting there. With that said, the defense was equally horrific yesterday. It had nothing to do with the offense struggling. The Saints moved the ball every time they had it, from the opening snap on. If the defense is spent in the 4th quarter, it may be an excuse. But our defense had already let up 40+ points and almost 300 yards rushing by that point. Our D-Line was getting put on their @$$ on the first drive, and it never stopped. So quit with the bull excuse. Let's just cut the crap. If the O-Line has a bad game, just admit it. Don't try to come up with a reason why it should be blamed on the Quarterback. And vice-versa. If Tyrod plays like he did yesterday, don't make excuses. Just admit he sucked. Pretty much everyone on the team has been a flaming pile of turds the last 2 weeks. If everyone could just open their eyes, watch the game, and stop trying to fit everything to make their opinion "right" -- this board would much more intelligent to read.

Logically, the Bills are very much in the playoff race. Behold. Their competition for the #6 seed: - Browns with 9 losses. They are done. - Colts with 7 losses. They are pretty much done. - Broncos with 6 losses and would lose a tie-breaker with us. - Jets, Texans, Chargers with 6 losses. Unsure about tie-breaker. - Bengals with 6 losses, but would win tie-breaker. - Raiders with 5 losses, but would lose the tie-breaker. This leaves the Ravens (5 losses) and Dolphins (4 losses with game tonight against the Panthers) as our primary competition. Both of these teams suck pretty bad. The Dolphins schedule is just as tough as ours, and they play us twice. But of course, the Bills are the physical manifestation of a sports choke job. They have literally been the NFL's worst team for 2 weeks in a row. They other AFC teams are practically shoving a playoff appearance down our throats, and the Bills are vomiting it back on all of their fans. The look on Sean McDermott's face says it all. He just found out what being the coach of the Buffalo Bills means. He was on top of the world to start the season, thinking he was the cure for our pathetic franchise. Then his team forgot how to play tackle football. There are no answers Sean. It's all downhill from here.