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MarlinTheMagician

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Posts posted by MarlinTheMagician

  1. Two non-lineman I would be open to at #1 -- Bijan Johnson and Antonio Johnson.  But yeah, we need O-Line real bad.  And while I still have hope for Davis, I would draft someone like Cedric Tillman in the second.   Enough with Kumerow already.  Cost us Hodgins.

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  2. Since 1966 I have watched virtually every game this team has played.  I have missed only a handful.  And I am with them, win lose or draw.

     

    It saddens me that we won't get our Super Bowl this year.  Sure hope we get one before I die.  But the negativity is such unnecessary salt in the wounds.  So I am hoisting my beer to a great squad and a great year.  Top 10 in Bills history.  Does today sting? Of course, that is part of it.


    But here is to an incredible squad of young men and coaches.  Here is to all they overcame -- I can't recall a team facing more adversity.  Here is to having faith that Beane will tinker with the roster and get us over the hump.  Here is to believing that his tinkering, plus a good draft and Hyde, Daquan and Von Miller will be enough to put us over the top.  And here is to the best fan base in the world, which keeps it fresh and fun.   Chins up!   And here is to getting a Lombardi in 2024 (I won't even be 65 yet)!!!

     

    Forever, LET'S GO BUFFALO! 

  3. I would work Brown in more evenly with Davis.  Different skill sets can diversify the offense.  I posted back on about December 16 that I thought Brown could really contribute because he was productive not that long ago, then hurt.  He runs quality routes and can stretch the D; and he catches the ball.  Gabe gives us a more physical presence and can block.  There is room for both, with Brown getting a bit more run.  Liked seeing a few more plays for Shakir too - he seems a RAC animal.

  4. Busy with work today - but I just had to post something.  Anything - just wanted to be part of this community today.

     

    So prayers for Damar.  Have always liked his story since he was drafted.  Don't know if you saw the video where he said a couple weeks ago, he squeezes childhood friend Dane Jackson's hand sometimes to let him feel the love and because they don't know how long their time playing together will last.  Praying for a repeat of the Pronger experience - if you watch the video, Pronger went down in a very similar way to Damar.  Worried about how long he was out, but I am assuming that he was treated for 9 minutes does not mean he necessarily mean he had no heartbeat for that long.  Who knows how long until the defibrillator?  I don't think anyone except those who treated him (if anyone has anything please let us know).  

     

    Also prayers for Damar's family and friends, for his teammates, and for Tee Higgins and the Bengals.  All must be in shock.  Bills to the end. 

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  5. On 12/17/2022 at 1:05 AM, 3rdnlng said:

    Beasley made the choice that he felt was right regarding what amounted to an experimental drug that he was going to allow to be put in his body or not. Seems like I've seen a lot of masked people protesting about the same thing. Anyway, many in the fanbase and the media blew his decision out of proportion and deliberately created a feces storm. He was hounded incessantly. He was injured and played through it during several games. People were claiming that he had lost a step and was finished. As recently as two weeks ago posters here were calling him "washed" and doing so with an attitude that put all of their past and present animus on display. By the end of last year Beasley was fed up with the way some of the fanbase and media were treating him. He played through injuries for the Bills with one of those injuries being a broken leg. He was the one who asked for his release and Beane gave it to him.

     

    Cole was considered as one of the top 2 slot receivers in the NFL in 2020. His average per catch went down in 2021 (the year he had to work through injuries)but he still had as many catches as in the previous year. His timing and familiarity with the way Josh read the way the routes should be run was nearly perfect. Slot receivers get a lot or most of the short or medium 3rd down passes.  If it was a 3rd and 7 Beasley would time and again get 8. He was great at knowing just where the sticks were and getting beyond them. He also chipped in with bringing in longer passes and blocking downfield. He's never been a prima donna and displayed a loyalty to the team even when he was being treated like a pariah by many of the fans and instigators the likes of Jerry Sullivan. 

     

    So, Beasley is back and only time will tell if he can't return to his super effectiveness. I welcome his rejoining the Bills and only regret that he had to leave us for nearly a year. Maybe throughout this stint with the Bills he'll be judged on his play with the team and not by people doing so with their own agendas. 

    Speaking only for myself, I had no anti-Cole agenda.  He handled his vaccine stance poorly, regardless of your politics on the vaccine issue.  He could have stood his ground and kept it within the team instead of taking to Twitter.  I do not believe his concerns about the vaccine were the sole basis of unhappiness with Cole, it is that he took to social media to thump his chest about his choice and his freedoms.  No one wants to hear that.  He lacked discretion.  I forgive him, he knows he messed up, so let's go Bease.  It was a happy moment for me when he got a grab vs. the Fish, and I bet many, many Bills fans felt the same.  

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  6. 2 hours ago, Bockeye said:

    Except that he beat Sauce pretty damn good (but maybe Sauce isn’t as good as peeps say).  Allen steps into that throw instead of a jump throw and that’s a TD.  One pass, one route -  he may or may not have lost a step but waaaay to premature to start shoveling dirt on him. 

    Agree with the sentiment, but it was Reed, not Sauce.

    2 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

    Productive fairly recently as in "he has zero receptions since 2020"?

     

    Brown has lost all of his steps.

    2020 is not exactly 2015, yeah, less than 2 years is pretty recent.  No reason to believe his body has necessarily imploded in roughly two years with no hits.

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  7. 3 hours ago, Spiderweb said:

    With the rain, snow and wind, hard to fault Allen on that one (not to mention elbow and shoulder issues Allen has been playing with). Now McKenzie's issue (bad hands) is another subject... Here's to hoping Beasley and Brown add some positive spark to the offense.

    Not blaming my boy Josh - extenuating circumstances - just pointing out the objective fact that Smoke beat his man clean and if the ball is there it is an easy six.

    3 hours ago, Trock said:

    In hindsight Bease was right. What are you forgiving him for? You should be apologizing. 

    You misunderstood my point, and have the need to apologize backwards  - I am saying, personally, sounds to me like Beasely knows he made some bad choices and he has taken ownership of them.  So, as far as my being able to root for him, Beasely has a clean slate with me!  Was not saying anything about Beane - he did make the right choice at the time, no doubt.  I did not suggest he didn't.  

     

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  8. I am excited to have Bease back, all is forgiven.  I think he will help.

     

    I have always respected the smoothness of John Brown's game and his professional approach.  This popped up -- 2020-21 (playoffs) highlights -- and it reminds me he was pretty darn productive not that long ago.  I am aware of the drop-off and the layoff and the risk he lost it all at once.  On the other hand, I think it is just as plausible he was nicked in his last year here, couldn't find a good fit last year, but is now healthy and could meaningfully contribute.  There is cause for optimism - he had three yards of separation on Bills second possession vs Jets vs a fine corner and Josh underthrew him.  Should have been an easy TD, but the underthrow allowed a goal line break-up.  Thought you might enjoy. 

     

    John Brown Highlights 2020-2021 NFL Season: “Back to Buffalo!!” - YouTube    (Not sure how this will hotlink it, but if doesn't you can cut and paste).

     

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  9. 12 hours ago, Starr Almighty said:

    Welp there goes my dream of them having Rosen,Baker and Sam on the roster all together 

     

    Could have them all on a USFL roster in the not-too distant future.  I am still mad at Rosen - for being wanted by some on this board ahead of Allen!  Can't ever forgive him.

  10. 10 hours ago, Beck Water said:

     

    I'm sure he did come back too early from the ankle, but it had nothing to do with losing Crowder and McKenzie.  They were both available when he came back, as was Kumerow.

     

    Davis came back for 96% of the snaps in Game 3, vs Miami, and played 98% of the snaps in Game 4. 

     

    It was in Game 4 (with Gabe Davis already playing) that Crowder broke his leg and McKenzie went out with a concussion. 

     

    Davis had a "breakout game" in game 5 vs Pitts, for 3 catches and 171 yds (also 1 INT while targeting him).  He had a good game, 3 catches for 74 yds, against KC the next week.

    His timeline doesn't fit your theory, nor has he been on injury report since Week 5, when he was  "FP" all week with no game status. 

     

     

    A lot of players come up limping after plays.  Poyer was gimping after one play vs. NE.  I'm sure a lot of players are playing hampered, where they've gone off the injury report but they're still being bothered by and getting treatment for an injury.

     

    This is now the 2nd year where Davis has injured his ankle early in the season, gone on and come off the injury report, but is said to be affected by the injury for weeks afterwards.  That may be true, but if he's going to injure the same ankle and be hampered to the point where he can't run crisp routes or hang on to contested catches for 2/3 of the season, two seasons in a row, he may not be a reliable WR #2 for a contending team.  I love the guy so I hate to say that, but it's true.

     

     

    I'm not in favor of the TBD fashion for scapegoating a player and for whipping boys. 

     

    I'm also not in favor of excuse making for players - especially as you do above here, where you re-write the timeline to suit your idea.

     

    Here's the thing: we watch other contenting (and even non-contending) teams where multiple WR bring in the contested catches.  Yes, it's unreal athleticism, but sometimes in a crunch, it can swing a close game.  We need more than 1 guy who can haul in a contested catch reliably.

     

     

    Neither of us see how they're practicing that, but Josh has had several interceptions targeting Davis where Davis had separation, but after Josh threw, the DB gained position on him and jumped the route.  So I think that's where Josh has to throw it so it's "Gabe's ball or no one's ball", and it's "on" Davis to get where the ball has to be placed to avoid the pick.

     

    And yes, it's an expectation of a quality NFL WR to run quality routes and not round them off.  It's not as though only the top 5 or 10 WR in the league can run crisp routes.  It may well be that Davis still can't cut sharply because of his ankle - see above then.

    Yes, his TD catch was great.  Great "mind meld" with Josh.

     

     

     

     

    All fair points, and it seems Khan may have got some of the timeline wrong (I didn't remember it as exactly as you set it out either), but that does not change what I suspect are the core facts:  (i) Davis is hurt, at least to a degree that affects his cuts and ability to separate on short and intermediate routes, (ii) if true, he is being a team guy, toughing it out and doing his best to help the team, (iii) while he ain't been too bad, I think that we have seen he can do more, and (iv) it is reasonable to hope that he might after some much-needed time off. 

  11. 22 hours ago, KHAN said:

    He came back too early from the ankle (IMO) because we lost Crowder and McKenzie at the same time. So he gutted it out, and has been healthy enough to be the best option. But I've definitely  seen him limping at times after plays. He has dropped balls he should have caught this year. But he's also become the whipping boy here for a few contested catches where the DB's made good plays as well.

     

    I've even seen him blamed for the end zone play last week because "Diggs ran it better" LOL 😂

    No **** Sherlock. He's Diggs.

     

    He had separation, and Josh threw it out of bounds. His touchdown catch was great!

     

    If Brown has anything left in the tank, Davis may get a good look as WR3 where he could really get a favorable match up.

     

    I think he came back early to help the team too.  So while I notice less sharpness out of his breaks and less separation, I think we should credit that he is a gamer and a team guy, and hope that he can play at an even higher level as he (hopefully) heals during this mini-bye and beyond.  The KC clip posted earlier of him breaking the ankle of Chiefs DB Hughes was a great example of what he can do.  He is also a ferocious competitor, a nasty blocker for a WR.  So I am thinking that while Gabe has been good, he has the potential to be much better - which would be a huge boost for Diggs and Allen.  Go Bills!! 

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  12. 35 minutes ago, TheBrownBear said:

    To be honest, I probably didn't pay too much attention to Gabe's route running his first two years, but watching him this season, it just doesn't look very precise - everything looks very slow and "rounded.". I assumed it was lingering issues with the high ankle sprain, but maybe he's always been this guy?  If that's the case, we definitely need another no. 2 type.

     

    This.  This is exactly what I am seeing, slow and "rounded."  But that was not at all the case last year.  Gabe takes a lot of pride in his routes, and he works at his craft.  No one is Diggs in route running, but Gabe is normally quite good.  Right now, I am not seeing that - I am seeing slow and rounded.  High ankle?  Did not know it was a "high" ankle sprain.  Usually several weeks - what did Gabe miss, one week? I feel it is very, very likely he is toughing it out, and I hope he gets right for the stretch.  Catch % this year notwithstanding, Gabe has great hands.  When your dinged, it can lead to things like a decreased catch %.  Hoping for more, and I believe Davis can and will offer it if healthy.

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  13. 1 minute ago, Big Turk said:

     

    I think he does as well. There is something about growing into a role also and having to learn how to adjust as defenses paly you differently also. I think he will be fine and likely take another step forward next year, assuming the Bills resign him.

     

    Agree.  And I am hoping that just maybe, with 10 days rest, he can give us a little more down the stretch.  Would be big for the offense.

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  14. 1 minute ago, HappyDays said:

    Davis has never been a separator. He's at his best just running vertically and taking advantage of holes in the defense that come from the attention they pay to the rest of the offense. That was his role here for two years and it worked brilliantly. Ideally he'd be a #3 WR, not a full time #2. They decided to give him his opportunity after his monster game against the Chiefs but unfortunately he hasn't risen to the occasion. That's why OBJ is currently in WNY. Beane recognizes that Davis can't handle the increased role he's been giving.

    Respectfully disagree.  He is very good at gaining separation on out-breaking routes, in-cuts too.  Normally.  I will never forget his sideline grabs vs. Colts in playoffs.

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  15. 4 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

     

    Valid points. I mean Davis is squarely in the 20th-40th range in terms of most WR stats this year and is on pace for 942 yards and 8-9 TDs. 

     

    If there are 32 #1 WRs statistically, #2 WRs would fall between 33-64 logically. He is well within that range. If peopel are disappointed in him, it largely is because they had unrealistic expectations to begin with.

    Yours are valid too, but I am a Davis believer.  I think if he was in his best form, and Allen was too (no elbow ding), 15-25 type ranking is possible for Gabe, even with Diggs as a clear #1.  Maybe I am too optimistic, but I have felt Gabe has the ability to be a 1 or 1A type, and he has not quite been at that level this year.  Having seen him play at that level a lot raised my suspicion on the ankle ahead of thinking "he is just a 2, but a pretty good two."  I think he has more, not that anyone is asking my opinion.

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  16. 5 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

     

    All Hamlin had to do is make the tackle instead of running into a blocker in an almost comical way.

     

    Should have been at best a 2-3 yard gain.

     

    He has been much much better than he was in his first few games in terms of positioning and making plays when he is in space but that was a terrible look.

     

    Players don't always progress in a linear way like they do in Madden Franchise mode. McD is doing what he feels is best for him as a player and as a person most likely. And obviously what he feels is best for the team IN THIS PARTICULAR GAME. 

     

    Bills probably do more week to week matchup stuff in regards to who is inactive(when fully healthy) than any team in the NFL except maybe NE.

     

    People are reading way, way too much into this. It will have zero effect on how good Elam will become two or three years from now.

    Agree, that was kind of my point.  I think short-term decision that has zero reflection on long-term outcome.

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  17. 1 minute ago, Big Turk said:

     

    I dunno...he looked pretty good in the Steeler game.

    He sure did, but that was straight line deep stuff if I recall, at least the big play that I remember where he took it away from Minka.  Very different than making sharp cuts and running precise routes to gain separation short and intermediate, which would stress the ankle more.   Say, like Diggs TD route vs. Pats.  Gabe is not a blazer, but usually he gains separation with good route running.  

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  18. If Elam has hit the wall, or is not tackling well or using some poor technique, giving him two weeks to analyze and work on what he is doing wrong, or just giving him a mental break to get beyond the rookie wall, seems like a great idea.  He seems like he is a very hard worker, so I doubt it is a big discipline issue. 

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