Mister Defense

Well, I think I definitely failed the quiz. Some tricky questions on there. But i did better on your first question, I think, hope, near the top of this page. But it's too long. Hoping for at least a C on that, and will put it on the fridge.

Wait... You're not implying that because they are short guys they......?

Well, I am struggling with this quiz, I am afraid.. But this question seems easy! 1st and only guess: Because punters, kickers, and running backs are usually the shortest players on NFL teams. I think that one is a 'duh'.

The Jaguars? And my second guess...Redskins?

To answer your question, at least my own take on that... Now is the time, as James Cook will likely be too expensive next year, as he will have a monster year --agree?, and continue to be a huge part of the best offense in the league, one that will likely break more records next year. Now. Soon. Not after the season. Trust the process; the Bills sign players like Cook sooner, not later. They want to lock them up now, saving a lot of money, and strengthening the base--and the culture. Cook is likely the best example they have ever had for why getting ahead of the ball is so important. Because James Cook is a superstar in the making, would be considered one now if last season the Bills had run him more and thrown the ball to him more. Shoot, just doing that in the Championship Game may have done that in itself. And because since they changed to a physical running team under Brady they have kicked a*s on offense, getting better all of the time. James Cook is now leading that charge, and physically transformed himself the last two years to become a much more physical back. It worked. Because they were the best offense in Bills' history, scored more points than any team in the league, had 30 rushing and 30 passing touchdowns, the first time a team has ever done that, finally giving the Bills the balance they wanted, the balance that would enable their superstar quarterback to show just how good he is. The Most Valuable Player in the NFL. It is likely most of us who want Cook signed yesterday, and who won't rest easy until it is done, understand just how vital the running game has been to this team, with James Cook leading the charge. I think those are pretty good reasons, Doc, for those wanting this done now. They are part of mine. (Would like to see how many of those indicating it will be fine to part ways with Cook soon, were agitated when McDermot started using the phrase complimentary football often, saying that the success of the running game would determine the passing game success and visa versa. Their basic argument seemed to be 'we have a great quarterback, let's just throw the ball more and focus on the passing game. But It is not how good NFL football works, and I'm not speaking of some by gone era, but now, today, next year, and the year after that.)

I will never ever understand that sentiment, from a percentage of posters, to talk about letting the young, dynamic talent on the team walk, see above, over and over again. Good players are not easily replaceable, dynamic, great players are of course even more so. Same silly mentality of the drought years, but the difference then was the front office had that bizarre, team killing, let's just spin our wheels flippant mentality, as if they were were playing a fantasy game rather than the real thing. All fans should cross their fingers that no one there now who may have that mentality has sway. It made the Bills one of the worst teams of the first 15 years of this century, a laughingstock. And this craziness still going on when it comes to running backs, even after the previous year, when almost all of the playoff teams stood out because of superior running games. Makes zero sense, and just saying it a zillion times does not make it so, in fact shows the lunacy of it all.

I love the irony of the last two lines especially!

Come on, he is not mocking the new pope or religion in any way, none. Just having a little fun with the fact that the first American Pope ever, Prevost, is from Chicago, home to an NFL team that has been one of the most hapless for decades on end. So it is a team in need of divine intervention, and may be in luck now as the Pope is from Chicago. And it is funny; seldom have I laughed when just reading the topic of a new thread. One of the things that people loved about Pope Francis, may he rest in peace, was his sense of humor. It made him human, approachable. I bet he too would have laughed at this thread if he had read it.

Remember: 1. Zach Wilson was his first quarterback 2. And that KEN DORSEY, the killer of offense, of potential in players, of play calling, of game planning, of scheming wide receivers open, of useful motion, of giving the quarterback clear hot reads when under pressure, of paring the running and passing games to complement each other... was Moore's offensive Offensive Coordinator last year. And his quarterbacks were...??? And now, instead, he has Josh Allen throwing him the ball, and Joe Brady preparing the offense and calling the plays. To me, this may mean all bets are off when it comes to what Moore can become, the 34th pick in the 2021 draft, with 4.35 speed.

Really good analysis of what may be the case this season. I think people are underestimating how much this offense can improve, with the young guys growing into it, the new guys adding new dimensions, and with Brady coming into his own. And all of this after they were the best Bills offense ever last year, and scored more points than any other team in the league. Pretty exciting to think about what this could become. And now, also with the kind of defense they have not had in several years, complimenting, supporting this great offense. By Halloween people may be talking about this offense as one of the best in NFL history. And like so many of the others, as unique unto itself.

Maybe a few years ago, but so many guys now, and most are young, so I don't think the Bills will be interested. But never hurts to check things out. Liked how he looked for the Ravens a few years ago, seemed rejuvenated.

I like this order the best so far, and too tired to figure it out on my own. If this is the case, I think that is a very good thing for this offense, as it means Palmer really works out, and that both Kincaid and Coleman show what they can do. Two young stars, we are all hoping.. But I think if the Bills are smart James Cook is targeted much more this year, as he should have been last year. He is dangerous as f*c* running now, but Cook in open space? Forget about it. One big play after another, and can break any one of them for long gains--and the defenses will come to understand that. So, more for Cook, and the other backs too, as then it is more likely Coleman and Kincaid ball out too, as they will be open more. I hope you are wrong about Knox, another underutilized player in the passing game. And he seems to have overcome his problem with drops.

Yeah, I know all of that, what you were saying above. At the end I was just stating my views on the other aspect of this too, the over the top stuff--but you did not express that at all in your posts. (I was just too rambling I think, free writing it on a break.) And I am on board with what you say with the WR overall, just changed my mind about its significance as the off season progressed, as the defense needed an overhaul. I would now love that wideout you and others want. Hope Moore and or Palmer can together come close to that, provide some of what we want. But maybe next year the Bills go for it in the draft. Will depend on what happens this coming season.

Well, phew, as I am glad I don't do what you say in part above.. Like years ago when I was so happy, as he 'progressed" here, that EJ Manuel was beginning to throw the ball 'in the vicinity' of receivers, getting the ball consistently within 2-4 feet of them. We were saved.

Early in the off season I was fully on board with a wideout being a pressing need--I kept thinking that if the Bills just had that fast, sure handed wideout, it would have opened things up underneath all game long versus KC in the Championship game. And then maybe Brady would have called many more runs and short passes, and then, well... And ditto after the playoff loss to KC last season, especially the "sure handed" part of the need. So, early this off season I was all about going all in for a player like Metcalf, and posted about it here, someone I had wanted the Bills to draft. And maybe ditto in the draft this year. But then in this off season, once I had time to really let it all sink in, and look at the season stats, and hear from friends and some on this board, it made much more sense to me to go all in for bettering the defense. The reason? My original take would mean the Bills would have needed to overcome a defensive weakness, time and time again maybe, to just outscore opponents. Sort of like we saw this past season in the Rams and Lions games, for example. To me it made much more sense to make the team stronger, to turn the defensive weak areas into strengths. The struggles in the playoffs, albeit mainly against a dynasty in the making, the Reid Mahomes Chiefs, were usually defensive in nature. Trying to just outscore them, and not stop them, began to seem foolish to me, And the defense had the least talent it had had in years. Now, I am not sure what that need is you ask me about. I think I want to see what the safety play is like, hoping Bishop is the real deal. If he is, I think we are in good shape there for now. Better depth this year with Hamlin and the Washington free agent--if Bishop works out. Ditto for the wide receivers, but I would still like that sure handed burner. But now, I would not pay a lot for him like I wanted to do early in the off season, but would want him on the cheap, in the draft, or as the Bills may have done with Palmer and/or Moore. I am not being critical of those just because they wanted a wideout early in the draft, as I was there myself, but instead have been shocked by the bizarre over the top, irrational bashing of Beane and their reasoning. Hard to take seriously those who say he neglects the offense, it has almost no talent, hates Josh etcetera, after the year the offense had last year--best Bills' offense ever, and most points scored in the NFL last year etcetera

Bad business would be letting your elite back, a cornerstone of the offense and Josh's success, one of the fastest backs in the NFl, with elite vision, great receiving ability... leave your team and force them to roll the dice with another back instead, risking the Bills regressing on offense for the first time since before dorsey was thrown out. It is a sport, a business yes, but a sport, where it is very important to look at it as such, and not be so concerned that some say running backs are not worth big contracts. No evidence, reasoning, whatsover that I have seen to support that. But it is a fundamental point in almost all of those discounting Cook's worth to the team--but never supported, never shown to be any truer than saying a wide receiver is not either, or a guard, or a D tackle, or a D end.... Just some nonsense some in the media threw out there a few years ago, and then taken as gospel by some.

I am pretty sure many/most mean he is the 2nd best skill player on the offense, weapon, and likely on the team. I agree with that, and that he is not easily replaceable, which is clearly the opposite of so many who are indicating we should 'let him walk'.

Great, fact and reason filled post--the antithesis of so many of the 'Let Cook walk', posts Love it all, but just bolded two important points you make above, for all those who are so flippant in their views. This issue had made me want to go back and see how many of the posters you are referring to above, are also those who comically, ignorantly, were, and likely still are, up in arms when they hear the words "complimentary football", related to the aspect of this whereas a great running game fosters a great passing game and visa versa. I think of this because if they don't value the running game, despite all of the concrete evidence that it has been a vital element in the Bills' best teams over the last five years, then it is reasonable to believe that they want to "Let Cook walk" too, I think. Same side of the same coin, same ignorance. And it also has me wanting to know more about those posters lambasting Beane for not drafting a wideout who are basically calling (once again) for his firing. (Ignoring the fact the Bills had the best offense they ever had last year, scored the most points in the league....) How many of this group, so desperate for our super neglected, almost talent-less offense to get the help that is needed, are also the ones almost clamoring for the Bills to "Let Cook walk? Would love to know that, how it stacks up. It would take a lot of time to get those answers to my questions in bold above, but it could be fun and maybe very telling to do so. I am too lazy. But I will pay a poster big $ to get that data and post it, or a big thumbs up emoji at the very least, my call. To me it may reveal a lot, some of the interesting connections and contradictions on these issues.

Like so many of the let Cook walk posts, just babble,, things made up out of thin air, with zero support, zero concrete, to back it up. Such a revealing tell of bad ideas, and lazy thinking, when looking at anything in life. Like I said before, it is sounding just like the crap from those shouting, 'Let Lynch walk', he's not special, not that good, we have Jackson and Spiller, we don't need him... For what I said at the time was the worst move I had ever seen the Bills make, and a take that clearly was supported with facts after that. The kind of thinking that was a vital element in the many years of consistent losing, desperation, and an almost two decade playoff drought for the Bills. It results in a team spinning its wheels, not improving.

I aint know a lot of what you say above, but a few things did catched my eyes... Yup ta you, on a main aspect of complimentary football. But it can be more finite than that, more specific to various elements of the game, rather than only one big broad idea. For example, as I imply, it is of course the way a good running game promotes a good passing game, and visa versa. And how a good pass rush supports a secondary and visa versa. I won't elaborate on that as it seems obvious. And we'll likely see that coming to fruition much more this coming season, with the new Bills' defensive players taking over the D line and significantly bolstering the secondary. And etcetera etcetera on complimentary football. Secondly, not sure what you are talking about when it comes to Doc? I don't know who the heck Christopher Lloyd is, but know who our Doc is--Doc Brown, from Back to the Future, of course. Duh. So obviously one of the most respected, and maybe the only true genius, on here. And thanks a lot for attempting to shatter my reality about several other posters as well. It won't work, I don't believe you.

At first I was going to make a joke about getting Davis back here, but now I may feel differently. Have not read the thread yet, but have thought it through a little. He is kind of maybe on his last chance (though maybe a bit premature-?) and his confidence is likely shattered. If you were Davis and wanted to resurrect your career, now in shambles, which quarterback would you be thinking about right now? If he is ultra cheap, with almost no guaranteed money, but big incentives, I think it is in the Bills' interest to bring him in, see what he has left. How motivated would he be next year, with Josh Allen, the man who made him a multi millionaire, throwing the ball to him again? He was one of the most respected men on this team, from all accounts, so some players likely are already in their leaders' ears.

An important topic, as to me it was the seminal reason the Bills became a legitimate Super Bowl contender--and will be the reason they win it all. But, okay, sorry I was not more specific in my response to your first post. Hard to do it briefly, so here it is, (and then I will eventually respond to your new post!): 1. To your point that there’s a “huge black spot” on the Cook orange and that the Cook orange costs “$500”. First, there is no “big black spot” on Cook. He has been a great teammate to his team members, according to them, and quiet, humble, never seeking the spotlight as a player, ever, except in his (wish he didn’t do it), summersaults in the end zone after scoring sometimes. I assume you are calling his publicly calling for $15 million a year that “big black spot”. But he is just trying to get paid what he thinks he is worth as a young elite back in the NFL. If Beane signs him before the season to a contract in which one or more of the years is for @15 million, I can almost guarantee you that next off season that will look like considerable bargain, as the running game continues to grow importance, and so the running backs. And Cook clearly gets better, noticeably better, each year. He will do so again this year. And the Bills know what they have, and will use him more, both running and catching. And most oranges cost about $1.00, maybe $2 for the bigger, premium ones. But your analogy is that it would be like paying $500 for this Cook orange. So, let’s split the difference; say the real price is $1.50, and that means that the Cook orange in your analogy costs 333 times the going price. I think most reasonable folks would say that is at the very least a slight exaggeration, really undermining your point—showing that extreme, over the top exaggeration is the only way to support what you are saying, in this case. (I find that is true with so many who say, “Let Cook walk….”, not that you are saying that, and flippantly discount his value to the Bills.) 2. Referring to my words you say: that in 2021 that when they lost to Tampa and then, according to you, they “ran more than any other team becoming the best running team in the league. They did not lose again.” You say: That’s an extremely clear case of letting a pre-judgment deeply twist your conclusions in ways the evidence just doesn’t support. Not even close. I don’t remember the exact stat but I remember hearing that again and again after that Tampa game, as the season progressed, something such as the Bills ran the ball a higher percentage of times in their offense after that game than any other team in the league, or perhaps it was they ran for more yards than any other team for the rest of the season. (I am not good at using stat sites to find more complicated stats, such as who led the league in rushing percentage or yards for the last 4 games of a previous season, but I clearly remember that being said, over and over. And that the Bills became much more focused and committed on the run. And clearly ditto for the other two years I mention.) A lot was made of this, as until that point it was more of a running back by committee, with Moss and Singletary. I wanted more of a featured back approach, with Singletary, as he seemed to become better and better as the game progressed if he was the guy. And I was angry that the running game was not getting more play in general, believed The Bills would not be hovering around a 50% win rate if they ran the ball more, and took that part of the game much more seriously. As the yards per carry at that point indicated that they would be very successful in doing that if they ran more, would have a more balanced and productive offense. Meaning: a much easier time for Josh, less hero ball, less running for his life… In fact, as you know, there was quite a bit of talk at that time that it was a philosophical difference between Daboll and McD, and that the head coach wanted the Bills to be much more committed to the run and that Daboll was not on board. And the Bills did exactly that, focused on the run more, made Singletary the featured back, and then they did not lose again for the rest of that season. It is a sport, you can believe what you want, but hard to argue that when a team does what they did, with the intention to turn their season around, and with fans like me calling for exactly that, and then the changes that they and the head coach wanted pay off as they did, as those calling for this expected it would, that it was not a vital reason for the much better team and no losses. The head coach won, much to the chagrin of those who (comically, ignorantly) hated the words “complimentary football”, and the Bills did not lose another game that season. I believe that post season was when they lost to the Chiefs in KC that year, very late in that wild game. 3. I did not come to my points after the Bills committed to the run and became a more successful, more difficult to beat team in any of the three years I point to. I was screaming from the rooftops, at games, on this forum, in my living room, and at sports bars as I watched Daboll drop the ball and then, much worse, watched the incompetent clueless dorsey neglect the running game, causing our superstar leader to revert to old, fly by the seat tactics, running for his life, with a running game that scared no one, trying to do anything he could to pull games out of his kiester. In each of those three examples, three different years, I knew if the Bills were more committed to the run they would become much more dangerous, almost unstoppable. Check my posts on this forum. In fact, it was the main reason I was calling for dorsey’s firing, in my real life and on here. For him, the running game was an afterthought, though they had the horses to do it very well even then. Go and read my OP on his firing the week before Brady’s first game, and my thoughts in that thread on the running game. It was a seminal reason for wanting a new OC. And I predicted Brady would oblige and do the clearly needed thing—run like hell. So my thoughts did not change, are not 20/20 hindsight when it comes to the importance of the running game, but were what I saw as the most important change they needed to make, which were then clearly supported by the evidence after the commitment came by the Bills—all three times. 4. I notice you don’t say a word, not one, about the other two big examples I give, the year Brady replaced dorsey, and the Bills again became the most run centric or running yardage team in the league after that, with only their one loss to Phili in overtime, for the rest of the season. In a season that before that fundamental change, was clearly slipping away. And you don’t say a single word, on what happened last year when the Bills became a much more run centered team from the outset-- and had their best offensive year ever, breaking a Bills’ scoring record and scoring more points than any team in the league for the entire year. And the first time in NFL history, running for 30 touchdowns and passing for 30. (That last stat was not just happenstance, but because of a clear, sharp change, commitment to the run—agree with that?) But I would not mention those two other main examples, two other years I point to either, if I was going to end my post saying: “Pretending that they did really well down the stretch of that season because they ran a lot? Flat-out ridiculous.” Rather, I think it makes perfect sense, and that the facts support it, as much as they can in something as subjective as sports analysis. I wanted it, I was saying why the lack of commitment to the running game was undermining our team and our quarterback’s great potential. I got what I wanted each of the three times, and the team was almost unbeatable—all three times, with the new found commitment to the running game, supported with concrete evidence. Clearly it was the biggest and most obvious change each time. The most important change. And this coming year, I am calling for even more of a commitment to the running game, with maybe the 3 best back combo in the league now. As on offense it is all about the running game, as with a superstar quarterback in place, once the Bills have added a better running game they became a powerhouse. This year, with a newly created defense, and with an elite running game there for the taking if they want it (and I think they will), it makes sense that the Bills are even better than last year. And that they take the next step. It is at the very least a clear pattern. (You would agree with that, I hope.) But most importantly, I am shocked and confused—you are an impostor?! Not the real Thurman? Unacceptable.

Definitely not a fan of jones or his girls, but I think it is a great move. I am not upset that the Bills did not sign him, though I would not have been averse to it if the cost was low, which it will likely not be. The girls seemed to have almost no reliable weapons after Lamb last year, and with 24 year old George Pickens they may have struck gold. Now ol' Zak can maybe get his girls into the playoffs again, this year or next. And lose again, of course.

I heard Joe Marino speak on him as well. But it is interesting that Marino said this year that he has turned his attention almost exclusively to the pro game, the NFL, and so watched very little college football this year. And so when he did his draft analysis shows he seemed to just be reading others' words about college players, one after another after... Very boring, cliche stuff, repeatedly. I just stopped listening, as I was doing that myself. So don't take too much credence in what he says. He is very definitive in his one man show, with no one there to push back at all on him. And because it is every single day, I think, so much is just filler anyway.

Not fact based? In every one of this three examples over the last three years once the Bills changed their philosophy, and focused much more on the run, they turned their seasons completely around in mid season two times--and then last season speaks for itself, an entire season where the run was not just an afterthought, scared almost no one, like it was under dorsey. You can have your opinion, but for most objective observers the Bills changing, committing to the run, was the catalyst each time. In fact, that is one of the main reasons incompetent dorsey was fired---and Brady's most obvious change, clearly, was running more, adding more diversity to the running game, and almost never going away from that. It is what our great coach wanted, what he got, and then in last year we saw the result of what happens doing that for an entire year. One of the most balanced teams in NFL history, the first ever with both 30 rushing and 30 passing touchdowns ever, leading to the most points scored in the entire league--and the most ever scored by the Bills, and Josh Allen finally won the MVP. Etcetera etcetera. The changes in the running game were an essential, vital element in those turn arounds and in last season's record breaking offensive success. Yup, Singletarry was a good back then, and when they finally started using him more, after the Tampa loss, ending the committee approach that worked against his strengths, he really shined. Last year we saw what could now happen with that same approach, but now with a much more dynamic back, a much faster back, with elite vision--and making the run a much more important part of the offense for the entire season. See the bold above, please. That is the difference, and why he likely will be signed to an extension You comically parse and use stats, in this half of these game... and ignore the important ones, that do not fit your (made up already) mindset. And, let me guess again, the concept of "complimentary football" once set you flying over the edge. What you are saying, Thurman, is that without your contributions in the 1990s, the Bills would have been just as good, no problem, and that that the great running game, year after year, with one of the best backs in NFL history, thank you!, was not that vital. Bizarre that you can say this, after your running and receiving was the engine that seemed to make it all work so well..