K-9

I’m more concerned about Allen’s rustiness after weeks off than I am his injury. Jets D on the road has the potential for a rude reawakening. While I think it could get ugly, there is little to gain by coddling the man. Get him th reps if he’s good to go. And be prepared for more ugly offensive football. We need to ask Dr. Chao. Only he knows for sure.

The aforementioned journalists above were often more critical, more scathing in their reports on the Bills and Sabres than Sully or Bucky ever were. But they had class and knew that certain venues, like bars and restaurants, were not for pressing matters, being rude, and acting unprofessionally. As critical as they were, they had the respect of people in the organizations, from ownership on down. And they knew how to turn it off and have a pour of scotch with their subjects once in a while, which is why they could maintain relationships and be privy to more information. Bucky and Sully were the antithesis of that behavior. Being rude and insulting got them nowhere.

I don’t think it’s difficult to assess Reinhart at all; it’s easy to say what kind of player he is: wildly inconsistent and often not fully engaged, especially when it comes to puck battles along the boards. I don’t buy the excuse that it’s becsuse his line mates don’t finish, either. There is no shortage of players that would benefit if their line mates could just finish. Jack is a better example of that, but Eichel keeps generating chances. Samson is just not creating enough opportunities, period. Again, that’s reflective of his inconsistent effort to create them. Anyway, these reports about needing to “find his game” and to “get going” are tiresome. He’s been a pro for five years now. I had hoped he’d have a better idea of what it takes by now. And I think he does. I just don’t think what he has is good enough. Maybe they can package him and Scandella in a trade. ?

Well, yeah. But that's the ethical question, isn't it? I'd be interested in knowing if there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in a taxi. It's not public transportation, it's transportation available to the public. Great. Yet another screed about how Reinhardt needs to jump start his game early in the season. Might as well wait until January again. Although this year, he won't be on Jack's line to get him going. JBots was smart to sign him to a short term deal. At this juncture and as much as I like certain aspects of his game at times, I wouldn't care if he was traded.

They could have done a multitude of other things with those picks. If I were interested in that aspect of the argument, I'd say that QB and MLB, especially in McD's defense, targeting who they targeted made a lot of sense. There is no way in hell that we can determine if getting those guys was a mistake or not at this juncture. But I'm not interested in revisiting draft strategy. I am only contesting that given all the picks we retained in the process of executing that plan, however good or bad it may turn out, did not cost the farm in the traditional sense of the term as we had two #1s and and still have our premium picks in next year's draft. Good or bad, Beane acquired the draft capital necessary to do what he did. I don't fault him for that aspect of his strategy. And the Jets gave up more than #6 to Indy. They gave them 3 second round picks for the privilege of moving up three spots.

Damn right they blackballed them. It’s personal. Maybe Bucky or Sully would like to write about the various times they’ve been in public venues like a bar or restaurant and treated various people from PSE, the Sabres, or Bills rudely for no other reason than they carry grudges.

Case in point.

Outstanding. Especially the last paragraph. I still can’t appreciate calling Belichick a defensive coach just because he came into the league and made his initial reputation on that side of the ball. He’s just as much a master of offensive football as well, as you alluded to. But I won’t quibble. Good post, Alpha.

Introducing Trump had nothing to do with it as Ryan was still in a honeymoon phase well before his second season kicked off. Hell, I don’t think the draft had been held by the time Trump came to town. If it were a single offense for too many men on the field, Ryan would have gotten more slack but it happened several times. There were also several instances when our defense was confused on the field when communicating with each other and the sidelines, often when personnel was being run off the field while a sub package was running on. I haven’t seen a lot of McD being a master organizer, either. His in game decisions have been questioned numerous times.

Rex got two years because that was the maximum sentence the law would allow. Thank goodness.

When it comes down to numbers at the end of preseason coaches, especially ours, typically place a premium on special teams ability and Wallace, given his skinny frame, lack of speed, and lack of strength, just doesn’t offer that package. He does offer damn good technique as a corner though, and that’s why I like his chances.

He plays small.

I won’t count this kid out. Hope he flashes enough to stick.

Talk about short term Gaines.

In 2000, the year he was drafted, history had shown Tom Brady wouldn’t develop into a good QB. Can’t argue with what history shows. Ever. So it is written, so it shall be done.

Grind indeed. Kid hasn’t had a decent break from the game in over a year and there are times in games when he looks tired so I’m not surprised. I think he’ll benefit the most from the 10 day break in January. The kid is a sublime hockey player. That simultaneous spin move around the opponent and pass to himself off the boards to keep the puck in the O zone vs. Ottawa on Saturday was amazing. That just can’t be taught.

Thank you. I’ve read several mentions of Belichick and his being a “defensive” coach as an example for giving those guys some leeway. That misses the point by light years. Belichick knows more about EVERY phase of the game in EVERY situation of the game, including coaches like McVay and Nagy. If and when guys like McD can demonstrate that kind of all around command of the game, then Belichick comparisons will be more appropriate.

It’s fricken schizoid. Not sure I understand it, otherwise.

History has shown Josh Allen hasn’t developed? Have you patented that time machine yet? How much to take it for a spin? Josh Allen will write his own history. NOTHING about past QBs and their development or lack thereof applies, no matter how much we have to conflate their experiences to support a certain narrative.

Like I said, if you want to argue the decisions made with the draft capital specifically acquired to do what they did, fine. But that’s a different argument vs. “giving up the farm” as was suggested. Doing what they did while still maintaining first round picks last year and this year is not the definition of giving up the farm. You have to mortgage future high picks in the process. The Bills simply didn’t do that.

I wish Chao would just STFU and stop spouting off on medical situations he is not intimately privy to.

Sad commentary on the fan base. As inspiring as the Dalton and Chicago area charity donations were, this is just as embarrassing.

Poop as metaphor has never been more appropriate.

Fair points. And McBeane’s philosophy in that regard remains to be seen, especially Beane’s, who I can’t judge on one draft and one free agency period. He made getting a QB his top priority and then screwed the pooch with other aspects of securing the position, so he’s been a mixed bag so far. I was looking at on field coaching philosophy given the assertion that the Rams and Saints “try to score” every possession while their respective offenses play like pinball machines marching up and down the field. I think every coach would have that philosophy given the kind of talent to do so. Even McD, who, as a lifelong D coach, presumably understands its easier to play defense when the opposition has to play from behind late in games.

Do you believe the Bills aren’t trying to score? There’s a difference between not trying to score and not being able to score. Also, do you really believe the critical difference between the Bills and the Rams and Saints is the philosophical difference between the head coaches? That may be true, but it would be nice to have the Rams and Saints offensive personnel in order to make a better determination.