Mister Defense

Interesting how we could see the status of the two current cornerback and safety positions so differently... though I am not overly confident in the safeties. I am happy that Bishop will likely replace Hamlin as a starting safety this year, as he has much more upside (we hope) and athleticism to take him to a higher level. I think that improves safety play, maybe substantially, in itself. (Of course, we don't know how Bishop will play as a full time starter, but should have a good feel for that by mid-season.) And the signing of Darrick Forrest, a recent starter at safety, offers some reputable back up juice if Bishop does not do well or in case of injury. While the re-signing of Hamlin, as a backup, hopefully, also gives them more more depth at safety too. On the other hand, right now I see no viable 2nd starter at the 2nd outside CB position, with the draft coming in three days. And no backup I am confident can come in for a game or two or more, and do the job. I think that sums up why I think the CB position is a much bigger need, a vital need, while safety is not. During the first two days of the draft we may find out which position the Bills think is more of a need right now. I am guessing a corner early and maybe a safety late, but I read they had not brought in any safeties for the 30 player visits. I think an excellent one would have to be available, a player surprisingly available in the first or second rounds, for them to grab one then.

yes, almost bare. They were not good last year, had a poor pass defense, and now are missing their other starter, Douglas. They had Taron Johnson and Benford last year, but that clearly was not enough, as we all saw. The great offense saved the day, the year, though the defense had its moments. Shoot, with Dane Jackon and Tre White, the Bills may not even have viable back ups if a starter goes down, let alone a quality starter on the outside next to Benford. Adding two lukewarm bodies, backups at best, to me means the cupboard at cornerback is almost empty still. You'll see Beford and Johnson when you open it, but then have to look way in the back for Jackson or White, the dust covered options, with expiration dates about to expire. Or expired already.

I think what you say in your first line is what most concerns those with the Jackson and White signings--that it may indicate the Bills may actually think one of those two players may be the starting cornerback for the Bills next season! That would be very risky, a huge roll of the dice, a crapshoot, that either is an NFL starting caliber player. No evidence that either can be anything more than a backup now. And ditto for them doing what they did with Benford, and somehow find a starting caliber corner in the later rounds, and developing him, relying on that. The concern is that those scenarios likely mean the Bills do not improve much in the secondary next year--and may actually regress. That would mean the high level offense would need to have an even better year than last year to make the Bills a contender. Want to see Josh Allen regress next year, for the first time? Give him a defense that is even less dependable than last year's, so he needs to carry more of the weight on his shoulders. I don't believe almost any defensive coordinator would consider Jackson or White as starters in this league, and am hoping that the Bills do not either. A move like that could undermine the entire team next season. Tua looked better this year, and Drake May looks like the real deal. And that is just within the AFC East. The Bills need to do much better at corner than two also ran backups and a mid round pick to improve their pass defense, to take the next step as a team. Hoping more for what you say in your last sentence, and also that the Bills may move up in the 2nd round to get a starting caliber CB. Then one more soon..

If someone had told me, or most Bills' fans, I think, that less than a week before the draft, the only additions to the cornerback room, on a team that had its worst performance in pass defense in recent memory, allowing opposing QBs to to complete 69% of their passes, 5th worst in the league, would be two castoffs, Dane Jackson and Tre White, I would have laughed and wondered what that person was "smoking in their pipe". No way would Beane go back to players like that to improve a pass defense in desperate need of speed, youth, and athleticism. This is not part of any good 'process'. I am not a Beane basher at all, but very discouraging. The draft will need to yield the Bills two high quality cornerbacks now, as the cupboard is almost bare--still. With this, I am waiting to hear the next big news that Jordan Philips has been resigned, and Austin Johnson, and ol' Von too. They can turn Miller's home into a has been halfway house, where they can all live together.

I agree, it is a possibility, but those three teams did not see enough in White to keep him around, after he was signed and played. That, to me, is more telling than them willing to give him a shot. It seems a crap shoot at best, a shot in the dark, and likely a big waste on a team that cannot afford to waste money on defense if they want to win a Super Bowl this year.

So, the Bills and Cook are likely a few million dollars a year apart in their annual salary expectations. All of the other young up and coming talented Bills have been extended, except for Cook. And Beane does what he does much too often, overpay dramatically for a player who will make almost no, or even zero, difference for the Bills next year. It makes much more sense to use this likely wasted money, and that on others who will provide almost no benefit to the Bills next year, to improve the deal offered to the 2nd best player on offense and likely the 2nd best players on the team, who scored 20--twenty--touchdowns for the Bills last year and was clearly one of the best running backs in the league. I am a Beane supporter overall, but am losing faith with too many moves like this, throwing good money after bad to players who do not deserve it, who could be had for much less, and who will not make the Bills better. And now, making these moves at the expense of a player who has greatness written all over him, a vital component of the team, and entering the prime of his career. I get it, White's not going to likely make that much etcetera, but White seems done as a quality cornerback in this league. Maybe White will buy Von Miller's house-- and then just sell it to the next wasted expense next off season. The Bills can buy it and call it the Money Pit.

See above.. From a poster who never--ever--lets facts or reasoning get in the way of his shoot from the hip, argue and twist the words of all who disagree with him, hater who hates virtually every move the Bills make. King of the Haters, I crown the! Just in this thread, yesterday, one of the best lines ever: "But the thing about “I don’t like paying running backs” is as a rule, it only works if it is a rule." So, 'My rule, and no exceptions no matter what.'

I apologize!; I need to remind myself you are like a vampire who is exposed to garlic, mirrors, and sunlight when it comes to those two dastardly things. Facts and logic go away--or FC cannot exist. They seem to have been forbidden to you, forever and always. I hope you did not blow up into a cloud of dust.

So HB, if you are still trying to figure out why some are so adamant about not paying Cook and are wholly unconcerned about losing the only elite player outside of Allen on the team, the best running back in the AFC, and top five in the league, a vital cog for this team the last few years, and likely even more dynamic and productive in the next few years, look no further than the comment above, now in bold.. It should answer your question, at least in part. In other words, 'My whim, 'philosophy', is so iron clad, though there is no actual support for my statement, that it is dogma to me, the way it is for every running back. It is the case in every single running back situation across the board, no matter how good or vital the player it. No exceptions. That is my belief and no facts or reasoning can ever change it.' Though I usually disagree, I think some do have good takes and reasoning as to why the Bills should not sign Cook for anything close to what he is asking for, but some seem to have a similar take as the one above. Just as some did with the Lynch trade--same illogical, unsupported argument. "It only works a rule." Yikes. Can you imagine anyone running a business or organization of any kind with the mindset--'I do not care about the specifics, any of the details, anything other than my 'rule'. And that is the way it is.' Your problem is you are trying to use facts and logic and reason to figure out these posters' reactions, as that is what you do in your takes in this thread. But there is none to be found for some, just see above, so you are just spinning your wheels.

I was thinking the same exact thing about Josh. He finally has the elite running back the Bills needed, someone who was extremely important in his first MVP year. He should be more aggressive, either behind the scenes or out front, to get Cook taken care of for the next 3 or so years. Josh says he loves Cook--time to show it rather than just say it. I think he will step up, if he has not yet done so, and be more aggressive. That is what leaders who win Super Bowls often do. I think the reason for the foolish knee jerk disparaging claims are just people repeating what others say, so for them it has become a reality. (It is very common in sports, but more frightening, just as common in society, for the important things...) This despite the fact that I have never seen any solid or clear evidence of it. Very telling. But so easy to do the opposite and show how important high level running games and backs are to high caliber NFL teams.

Cook is an excellent pass catcher, in fact his receiving ability was one of the main reasons the Bills wanted him so badly. Last season he caught 32 of his 38 passes and this year, as the Bills wake up and use him more as a receiver, he will catch many more. It is a silly worn out illogical cliche that running backs are "an extremely replaceable position". Insert wide receiver, guard, tight end, cornerback..... into that sentence and it would be just as nonsensical and just as impossible to support with actual evidence. Just because some uninformed 'analysts' started saying that a few years ago does not mean it is true. Jame Cook has elite speed, elusiveness, vision, and in the last two years has transformed himself physically into someone who can really run with power and break tackles. Hence his 18 touchdowns last year. And many of them were after first contact. He is an elite back in many ways, one of the top backs in the league and will just get better in the next few years.

A great post on Cook and his value now and going forward. It is so different than the vast majority of the 'let him walk' posts by those not dealing with facts, but only in the mindless cliches that running backs like Cook are a dime a dozen, very easy to replace, you should never pay a running back, how great of running back group there is in this draft, and that Cook is just good, not special etcetera. James Cook was extremely under utilized last year, should have been targeted much more as a receiver and given more carries in many of the games. This year the Bills should not make that same mistake. Beane should do the right thing for the Bills, and for Josh Allen, and get him signed. He throws way too much money at some players who don't deserve it--see Knox, see the two d ends who are already suspended for the first 6 games of this year, and many other players who've added almost nothing to the Bills. If he signs him now he will get a tremendous bargain, as players like James Cook will likely be in the $20+ million range next off season. If the Bills get rid of Cook it will be almost as bad as getting rid of Marshawn Lynch, the worst move by the Bills this century and maybe ever. But go back and read the posts on that trade--some of the same reasons were used for supporting that as there are now for getting rid of Cook. And the same 'logic and some of the same posters, who definitely do not learn from their mistakes.

I cannot imagine any Bills' fans, let alone a big group of them, booing one of the best players on the team, the only elite football player on the team after Allen. And booing after he makes a big play!? He will make lots of them, does so in almost every game. If we boo him after big plays, we are going to need to boo him a lot it seems. He is extremely fast, an excellent route runner and receiver, and runs very smart and very well. He purposely transformed himself physically the last few years to become a better power runner. It worked extremely well, as we saw. The better the Bills run the ball, proven year after year since Allen arrived, the better the Bills become. The Bills are much more likely to have an elite running game, the next step in their evolution, with Cook than without him. You don't get rid of one of the few elite players on the team over the amount of money that is in question.

Those add to the humor and to his point. One of the best satires I have read on this board in some time. Funny how some then use this thread to do exactly what he pokes fun at so well, seemingly (shockingly?) oblivious to his main point. I laughed at those too, but don't think they were supposed to be funny.

You nailed it! Very funny. Bored and frustrated listening to various podcasts and broadcasters saying the most inane and repetitive things related to the draft. And some are doing it every day for long periods of time. Today I was listening to a Bills podcast and one guy was clearly just reading what others have said about the player. He did not elaborate on most of it and I kept thinking he too did not even know what some of it meant. He liked the phrase "violent hands" and said that several times, for example. I laughed. I tried to visualize that, the implications. Later in the podcast he said the ideas he expressed were mostly the thoughts of others. Duh. This was the first post I read tonight. Thank you!

Matt Gay: 18/31 on field goals of 50+ yards the last three seasons. That is 58%. Tyler Bass: 10/13 on field goals of 50+ yards the last three seasons. That is 85%. As illogical fans were calling for Bass's head the last few years, Gay would likely need a full time security detail weeks into his tenure in Buffalo. But I am looking forward to reading this thread to see if the crazy Bass hate is still on!

Yes, definitely not a leader of men, not a leader. Because of what you say, but also because he folds, almost always, when it comes to the big games. His clear lack of mental toughness is shown in how he behaves on the field, in his crying at press conferences, and his lack of ability to win big games. And so zero playoff wins and zero playoff appearances in his 11 year career. Almost hard to accomplish such a dismal feat. When the Saints signed him to that huge guaranteed contract it also showed what a poor organization that is now. @100 million guaranteed for a guy who has never led his team to the playoffs? Who would ever consider such a stupid move? The Saints. Maybe he signs with the Jets next year or Cleveland. So while Carr had a really good arm, that is so much less important than what is between his ears.

Wow, Saints fans must be completely devastated today, inconsolable, and praying for a good outcome. Or their dreams of Carr leading them to a best case scenario, 5-12, or maybe even a 6-11 season, if everything falls into place this year, will be trashed. Maybe Bills fans can do something for them in their time of need?

Yup, this will do a lot to quell those saying how dumb this guy is.

I guess he is bad guy if you put it like that, but: 1. He just loves pandas. To me that is a good thing. Pandas are adorable and their habitat is being destroyed as well. 2 and 3 . Let those without sin... Who has not messed up and brought a few loaded guns to the airport before? Or missed a curfew? 3. First, that is kind of funny, dissing the Chiefs' fan when you are a Raider. Young kid, yeah, but what will he grow up to be? A much bigger Chiefs fan. And Jones says it was not as it appeared: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxHsWSl2I9o So, go get him Beane!

Cupboard is almost bare at conrner, so the Bills better bring him in for a look. No 2nd starter even, let alone depth. Beane will not go into the draft with such a glaring weakness on a team, one with a very poor pass defense last year. He is waiting for a potential starter to become available. Not too good ln 2024, much more solid in 2023. The Bills are good at moving defensive backs to their potential. At 27, a no brainer for the Bills to look very closely at Jack Jones.

Cook is not holding out. And the Bills will not trade an elite player, one just scratching the surface of his potential, to move up in the draft. He saw how short an NFL career can be with Dalvin and will never waste one full precious year of his career. He plays for the Bills this year, if Beane has any sense at all, and rocks the house, even more so than last year. But hopefully he does this with a 3-4 year extension in his pocket. The second best player on the team. You don't cut bait this quickly unless you don't want to Josh Allen's Bills to ever win the big one.

I agree with a lot of that. But we definitely do not know if what you say in the sentence above, now in bold, is accurate. Some guys, with skills like Milton has, the physical tools, get to the NFL and something clicks. Only one game, yup, and like we both said, lotsa backups, but he looked superb, one of the best first game performances I have ever seen in the NFL. It may not mean much, but it could, right? Like I said, it seems likely the pats saw some things in practice and camp that caused them to not have much hope for him. But you never know. Kurt Warner was bagging groceries at one point, with no one clamoring to even bring him in. Then, MVP, Super Bowl champ, and Fall of Fame.

Well, I assume he thinks he can win big with Geno, or would not have traded for him--and then signed him to a big two year extension. His offenses in the last 5+ years in Seattle have always looked second rate, and now he looks like he is establishing another one in LA. Good defense coach, but seems offense has passed him by as he has aged in the league. You are right, pretty good numbers from ol' Geno last year, the same kind of year that Dak has over and over, that are more mirage than reality--when push comes to shove they crumble. We shall see.

Wow, so Pete Caroll is not back to try to win a Suoer Bowl? Just to cash some more checks and do a job that he likes? This move will likely mean he is done very soon. Extending Smith for two more years is a pretty sad statement, either about his desire to win or mental competence. Smith is never going to lead a team to a championship, anymore than Dak Prescott is. No way. When you play it safe, sticking with an average talent when you know his ceiling will never get you there, you lose. In that division, with QBs Mahomes, Nix, and Herbert, and coaches Reid, Harbaugh, and Payton, the Raiders are set to be one of the worst teams in the league for the foreseeable future . This is why Carrol is no longer coaching the Seahawks. He is a defensive coach who thinks mediocre is good enough on offense and at the QB position. I now say he is one and done, or 1.5 and done.