Mister Defense

That Saturday I thought I had responded to everyone who had asked me questions, but reading through this thread again, see I missed yours at the end. Yours was posted near the end of a great draft for the Bills—celebrating by then. So, answering the now bold 2 questions above: 1. I think being a head coach in the NFL is itself a job where 'the pressure is on' consistently, and at a high level. There are only 32 of those jobs and they are responsible for ensuring the team, the centerpiece of a multi billion dollar business, is successful. They have to coordinate dozens of coaches, make sure the game plans for all parts of the team are excellent and all working well together, do press conferences, and every move they and their players make is reported on, scrutinized… It is a very high pressure kind of job. How well a head coach deals with that pressure determines how successful his team is. I think McDermott has been excellent at handling that pressure, of making sure his team is run as well as possible. An extremely tight ship, where the pressure on it is to keep making it better and better. But if they make it that far next season I think the pressure will be much less than when the Bills played in the 2025 Championship Game. Last year he and Beane (and almost all watching the Bills) knew the defense was undermanned, in a transition state. And then with Rapp out and Benford very iffy even before that big game, it was going to be an uphill climb playing against the winner of the last two Super Bowls and in their own house. That was real pressure for McDermott and Josh Allen entering that game, knowing they were undermanned on defense on that day. I think that is why Josh looked so wild early in the game. He knew he would need to have a huge game because of the defensive shortcomings. So, smartly the Bills went hog wild on defense in the off season and in the draft. The fastest man in the combine is almost assuredly their new starting corner, with two late round could-be-steals CBs to add more youth and depth, and the many new high quality defensive lineman to infuse size, speed, youth and talent into that group, and a better safety room. So I think the pressure on Josh and McDermott will be diminished in that game now, as rather than a pair of 2s on defense like last year, they now may be playing with a full house. Imagine sitting in a big card game, so much on the line, and looking at your cards and seeing that new hand-- how much more confident would you be? 2. No, I don’t think that if they lose to the Chiefs in the Championship Game again next year it will be a “massive failure”., no matter how the defense plays. I think the Bills would have beaten them the last two years in the playoffs if they were not missing key starters. To me a massive failure would be missing the playoffs completely--not getting within a game of the Super Bowl. That being said, I think the Bills do not lose that game this year, but win going away, no matter who they play. As now they will have not only one of the best offenses in the NFL, if not the best, but maybe a top ten defense to boot.

I am not sure if even the best football radar would have picked up much in the last few years when it came to the Saints or Carr. You have not missed much. A Louisiana Bills' fan! Great to hear. Love it when I find our ilk are spread out all across our country and world.

It will be a different NFL this year without ol' Derek, less crying, less big game heroics, and the playoffs will be just plain weird without his big games, leading his teams time and time again to unlikely wins. The Saints got so unlucky, thought they had the guy who would lead them to the promised land again, as almost all agreed.

Benford looks good too, but Hairston is much smoother, like it takes him less effort to do those things well. Means he may have more of an opportunity to make big plays and such, as he will be in a better position because of his athleticism.

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.