GunnerBill

I sort of understand the Panthers though.... they are bound to be confusing... they are on their fifth coach in three seasons including interims and the GM is new as well. Poles and Eberflus are in year 3 in Chicago. There should be some sense of what the build is supposed to be by now.

Me too. If a receiver they like is there at #28 they will take them. But 36 hours ago I said I thought the most likely outcome was the best receiver on their board at #28. I don't necessarily think that now. If their best receiver available is 10 or 12 spots lower on their board they won't pick him. I think defensive line is very much in play and I think even DB is. I have long thought Cooper DeJean might be their kind of kid but had dismissed it. Now, looking at the roster, if they think he is a day 1 starter at safety..... I mean I would not love it but I think the odds have increased compared to 2 days ago.

A little bit. We run a lot of comeback concepts on the outside which are no great YAC opportunities and particularly under Dorsey we seemed to want outside leverage for our boundary receivers all the time which meant less opportunity to use the middle of the field. However, it also a bit a result of Josh not being the best thrower of those swing passes and screens that tend to boost YAC numbers. His precision has never been great on those - he is often high which means a delay in our guys turning up field and allows the defense to rally and tackle. EDIT : should say we have improved ojr YAC performance a little bit just recently. There were a few years there early in Josh's career where we were bottom 3 or 4.

I think Micah is done but I'd still take him back cheap for a year based on what it looks like we might be starting at safety eeek!

Agree. I think they are the most confusing team build in the NFL at the moment. None of it makes much sense to me.

I liked Dodson and thought he was draftable the year he came out. Whenever he got into games for the Bills he looked impressive which is why his struggles last pre-season when given a shot to win the starting job were so odd. But ultimately he got a chance this year and parlayed that into a nice FA deal in a palce with zero other linebackers (their top 3 from last year have all left as FAs) and a great chance to start. Huge credit to the kid.

We won't get one as good as Curl though. *Sobs* Fixing Tom Telesco's mess. Oh and drafting a receiver at #5. Is Blackmon still out there? I'll keep my fingers and everything else crossed.

I still thinm we need a safety. Curl went to LAC for 2 years $13m. Man..... I'd have bitten your hand off for that deal here. Seriously. If we start the season with Taylor Rapp and Cam Lewis I will cry a little.

But that isn't really his skillset. Can you send him on some go routes - sure. But being a vertical receiver isn't just about speed. Gabe Davis ran a 4.54 in the 40 but was a vertical receiver. It is as much about getting off press, using leverage, understanding spacings... Samuel's a guy whose skillset is much better suited to catching a 7 yad pass and making it a 17 yard play than someone who is routinely gonna win v boundary corners. Not strictly. But he has been about 80% a slot receiver in Washington. In Carolina it was more like 65% slot, 35% outside. Yea he is not John Brown.

He sucks

He is more a slot who gives you some flanker flex can play some of that Z receiver.

Yes. But he isn't a vertial receiver really. He is an intermediate guy who offers YAC possibility and makes guys miss.

I'm happy with that move. But it further underlines to me that the need in the draft is for a vertical threat, downfield receiver.

Milano didn't tear his ACL. Was just a leg break.

They are in on Tyler Boyd too

For sure. What should we do then? Close the message board?

I know I don't. Nor do the Bills though.

I accept it. I just disagree with it.

Yea he made a couple of plays at the end of the Miami game, agreed. I think people are rather extrapolating from that.

People keep saying this but I didn't see it.

Poyer is no longer an all pro as he was at his peak, sure. But even now he can play. He was still above average last year. And Rapp was not.

Meh. I think he is a JAG but hopefully a cheap one.

Id bring him back and let Rapp walk. There is no world in which Rapp is better even now than Poyer. Not. Even. Close.

You can understand that from the players though to an extent. They are frustrated and they know instantly who has played their assignment incorrectly. I give Levi credit that I have heard him talk about it twice since and he has owned it and not looked to shift blame anywhere else. But in terms of blame from fans in the aftermath I think he was spared because people understandably were focussed on what the strategy was from the point we scored rather than the individual technicalities of what happened on each snap.

I still think he is a slot. That is where I'd put him. I think it is where his skillset will be seen to best advantage. But I do think he can play some Z for you as a move receiver, as to distinguish him from someone like Khalil Shakir who is a pure slot receiver and you can't use for more than the odd snap here and there as an outside guy (to be clear I think he is more talented than Shakir I am just talking scheme usage wise). As for the comparison to Mitchell - I have them very close on my board. I have Mitchell slightly ahead but I don't have a big gap between them. It's not like I am here banging the Mitchell drum and being anti-Ladd. They are my WR6 and WR7. But I do think when I watch the Bills our needs are someone who can beat man coverage and who does most of their work downfield and they are not Ladd's strongest suits. If he goes to a Shanny scheme and they move him all over the show I can well imagine him being excellent. I don't think that makes him an obvious fit for the Bills.