K-9

I like the concept and I think Allen could be up to the challenge, but I question everyone else around him, especially the OLine's ability to execute.

Ravens look like a typical Thursday night road team.

I agree he needs to get in, but I wouldn't say he revolutionized special teams as those positions had been well defined before he started playing and are still the same today. When I think of revolutionary players, I think of guys like Lawrence Taylor; guys who actually redefined their positions. But what he did do was play several of them BETTER than any one other player had ever done previously and since. Need a gunner, no problem. Need a return man for kickoffs and punts? Tasker's got you covered there as well. Or how about a guy to rush a kick or a punt when needed? Just put Steve in there. I don't recall any player, before or since, who played so many different special teams roles and played them all at such a high, game changing level. If special teams really are the critical phase coaches have been saying they are for years, then he needs to be in the HOF. That simple.

I think I’m forgetting that SJ’s 2019 1st is lottery protected; if they miss the playoffs we would get their 2020 1st instead. So I’m guessing that their deal with Ottawa is NOT lottery protected and, if by some weird chance SJ doesn’t make the playoffs this year, then Ottawa gets that pick in 2019 and we would get their 1st in 2020.

Why wouldn’t Buffalo have to agree to that? Buffalo’s compensation for Kane was clear if he re-signed with them: their 2019 first round pick and a conditional 2019 4th, which could be 3rd rounder in 2020. What am I missing here?

You make a great point about pad level and leverage, but it has less to do with height than it does technique. There have been some great taller centers over the years. Our best one ever, Kent Hull, was also 6’5”, for instance.

Regardless of what they have planned for Allen passing wise, if we can’t run the ball it won’t matter.

Be fair all you like. But technically and according to official stats as compiled and maintained by the league, the Bills don’t have the worst defense in the league as has been asserted.

I’m talking this past opening weekend. On Sunday, New Orleans gave up 48 points AT HOME to Fitz and Tampa Bay. On Monday, Detroit also gave up 48 points AT HOME, too. So, two teams gave up more points than Buffalo on opening day this season. We suck, but we are not the worst as has been asserted.

Embarrassing, yes. Still, not the worst though. Two other teams gave up more points on opening day. Two teams playing on their home fields to boot.

I don’t disagree, necessarily, but that doesn’t make them the worst.

By what relevant statistical measure is the Bills defense the "worst in the NFL?"

I haven't read all of your posts, so if I'm missing context, I understand. I appreciate the clarification. But "showing enough" is an abstract concept as it means many different things to different people. Especially coaches and teammates who understand what he's showing on a different contextual level. I don't think one season will be enough to answer the question on him, but if there's a QB rated higher than Allen coming out next year, I'd consider him. At the very least as a bargaining chip for teams looking to trade up for a QB. But Bosa's and Oliver's early evaluations suggest they are light years ahead as prospects vs. any QBs currently expected to come out. I'm not sure I'd pass up blue chip talent at premium positions to take a flyer on a QB prospect already not considered as good a prospect as Allen was coming out. I understand the thinking though.

What did I miss? You said he had to show enough before the draft next year. Doesn’t that mean this season? I’m just saying if that’s the case and given his poor supporting cast, especially up front, you may need to temper your expectation of what showing enough means. If you care to expand on what showing enough means, I’d be interested to know your take on it.

Yeah, Kelly could stand in there and take a hit in order to make a play, no doubt. Fearless as they come. But more often than not, he had a pocket to step up into as Hull and Co. weren’t in the habit of getting pushed back and letting the pocket collapse. We’ve seen that a few times out of our current group and I have little reason to think they’re going to improve so Daboll will have to scheme protections to compensate. Kelly was sacked 70 times his first two seasons combined. By contrast, Carr was sacked 76 times in his rookie year alone. Instinctual or not, that’s gotta get inside your head after a while. Carr was ruined as a result.

So you’re giving him the rest of this season? A season playing with little other than Shady as a viable offensive threat. Prepare to be disappointed or dissatisfied with your expectation of showing “enough.”

How long do you give Allen to “show it?”

True. But that’s an entirely different discussion.

Yep. Simple as that.

Time can mean more than just this season? Who knew?! That said, time will mean no more than two miserable series for half the idiots out there.

Of course Allen isn’t miraculously any more ready than he was last week, but that’s really not the point, is it? Are you familiar with the term, “ready or not?” Because that’s the situation when there is no other QB to turn to that is any MORE ready. Idiots or not, the coaching staff has no other option. I haven’t heard any of them proclaim Allen is “any more ready”, either. Like us, they see the situation for what it is: dire.

OK, you lost me.

Somehow I just don't think that having Reilly around would have mitigated one iota of the fan base anger displayed after Sunday's debacle in Baltimore.

Good question and that’s why Daboll makes big bucks. I’d like to see two TEs in the lineup most of the time, Clay and Croom, who can both flex and create matchup problems. I’d at least look at it for a series or two, anyway. But yeah, we are lacking in talent at WR, so the pickins are slim for sure.

Oh, he is gonna get his ass handed to him and sometimes look as bad as Peterman doing so, but as far as debuts go, he gets a good grade. As I said, his most impressive feat didn’t involve any play at all; it was coming back strong immediately after screwing the pooch so spectacularly on a national stage on his very first play as a pro.