TPS

I think we can all agree that Groot is not a player who can take over a game, but he's not the bust that some think. He's a solid player. People like to compare him to Karlaftis, but the latter plays with a Jones that's a future HoFer that teams double and triple team. Daquan Jones is a solid player as well, but he's no Chris Jones. We caught a glimpse of what this D was supposed to look like against KC with Hoecht (also the Carolina game). Groot had his best game of the season because KC had to contend with Hoecht and Bosa. Oliver was injured at that point, but, man, that would have been a Super Bowl caliber pass rush.

A couple of things to add. First, regarding the WRs, a positive I'd like to point out is Gabe Davis and his ability to get open when Josh scrambles. He made that key play on 4th down early in the game during the Bills first TD drive. That seems to be an element missing in general among the WRs (Diggs was excellent in this respect). The second thing is I saw some positive plays by both DT rookies. These two are going to be much needed down the stretch. I'm going to watch the re-play tonight and try to focus on their play.

As fans of a single team, we're often hyper-critical of that team, and the criticism of Beane's roster is a great example of that. I think your statement about 65 serviceable players is an indication that this was one of the strongest rosters he has put together, which doesn't suggest there aren't weaknesses--EVERY TEAM has weaknesses, especially when it comes to depth. The issue for the Bills, as you also note, has been the rash of injuries. Hoecht going down was huge. The KC game was maybe the best game I've seen from the Bills-- wrt to pass-rush-- in a long, long time (and Oliver was out). In the passing game, folks complain about the WRs not being able to get open, but maybe it's also the other team's defense? Look at KC vs Houston last night and compare that to the Bills vs Houston. Buffalo out-gained the Texans in yards 326 to 261 (+65 yards); KC out-gained them 274 to 268 (+6 yards), and KC had homefield advantage. Kincaid missed that game, and he may be their most significant threat in the pass game (as Beane likes to point out regarding criticism about WRs). [Edit addition: Mahomes 14/33 for 160, top WR worthy with 55 yds; Allen 24/34 for 253, top WR Shakir w/ 110 yds.] So, again, as fan(atic)s, we get hypercritical. Just look at the posts after a loss like Miami's (I can't remember if this was the loss that had some poster suggest sitting Josh?) vs Pittsburgh's win (or yesterday's). As I've learned here, I give The Board a few days to calm down after losses, then return to reading things around Wednesday, when the posts start getting somewhat rational again... 😄

If they feel they need another outside corner, they'll bring Dane Jackson up from the PS. Not saying this is a great solution, but he's there when/if the need arises.

I assume you see some of Cover1's videos? Two Solomon videos stood out to me this week, one was a pressure on Mahomes, the other was dropping in coverage in which he did a great job. He's a second year R5 pick who is getting better and better. found the coverage video—looks dam good.

The nice thing about him being on the PS is they can play him 3 games before having to sign him to the 53. When they think he's ready, bring him up for one game, then give him a couple weeks before they do it again. Give him enough exposure to see if he can help a playoff push, or not.

This reminds me, as I recall, that someone started a thread complaining about the Bills' lack of a pass rush based on a preseason game.

Let’s amend that first sentence to “the two U of Kentucky rookies are going to be the key to this season.”

Andy Reid is in the top 3 GOAT coaches. Not many people out-coach him in the playoffs. Not that it hasn’t happened, but no one consistently does. it seems clear to me that the main key to beating KC is a 4 man pass rush that wins more often then not. It wasn’t just Bosa this game either. Groot had one of his best games; Epenesa and Solomon also had pressures. KC had no answer for the Eagles pass rush last year. There isn’t much a coach can do when your OL gets manhandled by the DL, especially if you’re unable to run the ball. If the Bills don’t have anymore DL injuries, and they get Oliver, sanders, and Jones back, I would expect a similar result.

Yeah, this is a much better example of what he's capable of doing for the run D.

This play is why I think he's the key to the Bills' post-season because of what he does in the run game, but he's also great at pushing the pocket in the pass rush.

Speaking of Walker, this clip from Cover1 shows him keeping the RTfrom getting to Milano who ends up making the tackle.

I thought Groot had his best game as a Bill. I think Walker may be the most important of all when we get to the playoffs.

Seriously, I do think there is bad blood there, not just with Allen, but some OL too.

nope. I draw the line at “guys who grabbed my qb in the nuts.”