Rocky Landing

If there are issues with the field, I'd feel better about our O-line playing on it than I would feel about the Jets O-line, with Mekhi Becton having left preseason game one after four snaps because his knee wasn't digging the turf.

I believe that in this game, it's really going to boil down to who dominates in the trenches.

At least to some degree, The Det at KC game dispels your equation.

Aaron Rodgers, meet Greg Rousseau.

Well I do now. Thanks a lot…

I always loved how color commentators would refer to him as "blocking tight end Lee Smith," and then he'd go ahead and catch a TD pass. As slow as he was, he actually ran routes a few times per game, and if the defense didn't notice him, he'd make a play. He was a better athlete than people gave him credit for. I saw him in an interview once where he bragged that he could play anywhere on the O-line, in a pinch. But, his real use was in the jumbo packages. That was where the much-maligned Bobby Hart was actually useful. I think it's a wrinkle that this current roster lacks.

There are soooo many media pundits who are going to lose their minds regardless of how this game goes. Whichever team wins, especially if they dominate the game, will be crowned the AFCE champs after week one. But I don’t think this game is as important as all that. The AFCE is the toughest division in the league, IMO. With arms race that has occurred this off-season, I believe it’s going to come down to a war of attrition— especially in the trenches, and the Bills have the advantage in that regard. While all the O-lines in the East are pretty even really, albeit mediocre, the Bills could lose any one of the O-line, and possibly two, without a huge drop off. Neither the Jets, nor Phins can say that. And while the Bills don’t have the best D-line in the division, it is the deepest.

The optimist in me thinks this could be a a great game for Elam, on Garret Wilson, man coverage all day. It is what he excels at.

Could he be our new Lee Smith?

I've considered Boogie to be one of the underrated players on the team, who didn't get as many opportunities as he would on a different team. He had a lot of shade thrown at him his rookie season because he spent so many games as a healthy scratch. But, he was the second DE drafted that year (after Groot, of course), and there were 11 D-linesmen on the team. Of course he was a game-day inactive. His play reminded me a bit of Trent Murphy, who would seem fairly invisible for much of the game, but then would always make a few good plays. But, Boogie never got anywhere near the playing time. We'll see how well Kingsley Jonathan does this season in comparison, and if Boogie excels in another system, I will consider that a validation of Beane's drafting acumen.

They probably forgot he's there.

Wait a minute... you're saying I didn't have my facts straight???

More than once I saw Poyer tap Edmunds on the shoulder and point to something he was missing.

Ah, I miss the good old days when EJ Manuel was firing lasers at the media pop-up tent, causing Kevin Kolb to break his spleen on a rubber mat, while Rex Ryan massaged Maddy Glab’s feet. We really won the off-season back in those days. Good times…

In all honesty, how many red zone targets would you expect Shorter to get? I don’t think he’s reliable enough. Siran Neal is not going anywhere.

Well... I guess the thing that bothers me about this roster is that there really aren't any big surprises. Kingsley over Boogie is the biggest surprise. I was hoping for some surprising development in the WR room. I wonder if Shorter has enough value on ST to have him on this roster. I don't see a spot for him on offense. And I'm a bit disappointed with the RB room. I'm not sold on Harris. I thought Evans showed promise as a K/PR.

Is there any reason-- any game, stat, interview, metric, analysis, expert opinion, amateur opinion-- literally anything that would lead someone to believe that Tua Tagovailoa is better, or even equal to Josh Allen?

Nathan Peterman says, "hello," from the Bears' sideline. And, LABILLBACKER. You must have been at that Chargers game at Stubhub, right? I disagree. The interception was a terrible route, where Davis gained zero leverage. It was also a terrible throw, but one that shouldn't have been made. The PBU was also a bad route with zero separation, and another was a drop. I would love to believe in Davis, but today did little to inspire, IMO.

Somehow, Nathan Peterman is still in the league.

Kingsley Jonathon is certainly a good practice squad candidate. Again.

Let’s see… White, Hyde, Peter, Von, Floyd, Morse, Murray, Diggs… uh, oh yeah, Josh Allen. Oh, and we have some coaches, as well. But, yeah, I suppose we could have a few more leaders on the team…

One has to wonder if you have any idea how little credibility you have on this forum? Or is it just blithe trolling?

I wouldn't count on it.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t one of those games the one where Quessenberry was out there at LT with a high ankle sprain all taped up, and was literally falling over on some plays?

I wonder if we might see some dime formations with Rapp covering the middle of the field, in similar position to where Edmunds would line up?