oldmanfan

I would not mind our changing our entire O line. They get whipped physically in the run game time and time again.

We need to bump Parker coming off the line

Ok boys, let’s matriculate the ball down the field!

I just don’t think he’s good. Frazier and McD know how to make him look bad.

My one daughter is a musical theater performer based in Orlando and my other is a music therapy major that does shows as well. I’ll ask them about shows, but for sure Wicked is great! Also Tina if you like Tina Turner; one of my older daughter’s classmates is in the cast.

Taking the family to NYC over Thanksgiving to do a couple bucket list items for my wife: Macy’s Parade and Rockettes Christmas show. But I need recommendations for a good Bills Backer’s bar for the Thanksgiving night game. What are my choices and where do you recommend?

I just don't see this as anywhere close. Bills 38-10.

I suspect they know pretty quickly if a guy has to work habits necessary to succeed.

Historically we have two guards in the HOF, Joe D and Billy Shaw. Not too bad a history. But I digress; let me address today’s question: 1. In the bye week it is common for teams to scout themselves. I suspect we’ve noticed our interior can get pushed around a bit. So either some scheme changes or perhaps moving Ike in may be in the offing. 2. There is not a crystal ball bright enough or clear enough to have foreseen what Teller would become. We missed that one. It won’t be the last time because all teams do. Like Ford, I think they’re trying to light a fire under him by sitting him but his time may be limited. 3. Bates is the backup because he can legitimately fill in at C, G, or T if need be. Better to keep him in reserve for now. His time might come if or when Morse leaves (perhaps as a cap casualty). 4. Spain was a part of culture establishment. McD and Beane want their culture, Spain I suspect did not buy in the way they wanted. So bye-bye. And it’s not like we haven’t done well without him (see also Eichel, Jack). 5. Our run blocking could stand improvement. The usual excuse, an excuse with merit, is that guys don’t learn to run block anymore in college. But given most of our guys are vets, and that Brown might be our best run blocker, that excuse holds little if any water. Our guys up front simply have to be more physical. 6. Dawkins is to me showing effects of his Covid infection. He may not get back to his preCovid level this season, if ever.

People keep blasting the goalies but they've been pretty solid so far. Especially Tokarski. I am hoping the Pegulas are repeating what they found with the Bills, a GM and a HC who agree that you have to establish a culture to win consistently, and that you get players that buy in and get rid of players that don't. Adams may not have been a popular hire but he was the kind of player who stayed in the league for a long time because he knew what you had to do day in and day out, knew what effort you had to put forth. Granato is similar, he's been around a long time and knows what it takes to make it as an NHLer. I'm going to be watching to see how these younger kids do and to watch the culture evolve. as much as Eichel might be a gifted hockey player, he did not have any business being a captain and his attitude detracts from the culture KA and DC are trying to establish.

Good points here, as always from you. I think one could make a case for our O line being the main determinant in the two losses. They've addressed it once by putting Brown in the lineup and moving Williams inside (although Brown had a pretty bad outing Monday night). I wonder if during this bye week they are not doing their grading and will consider putting Ike back in at LG or other permutations.

While we agree on 99% of things, and I always look forward to your weekly posts, we must disagree here. I will say again that football is about beating the guy in front of you. Whether it's a WR lined up against a CB, or a DT against an OT, that is the fundamental aspect of football. And our O line did not do so on that play. I think we all at times add too much complexity to things when the answer is pretty simple. And that's what happened. Our O line didn't get it done on the play that was called. We can criticize the play call (and I would have liked to see them call something to get Josh outside with more options), we can try and make excuses, etc, etc, etc. But the O line had to make enough room for Allen to make about 4 inches and it didn't get done. And I do not, unlike some around here, see this as a crisis. We took the shot we should have taken, we didn't get the first down, and we lost. So we're 4-2, firmly in control of the division, with 3 eminently winnable games ahead of us. We will win the division, and hopefully get the first seed. There really aren't too many more games left where we won't be strong favorites, and McD is a master at using losses as a motivating factor. We'll be fine, but I do also suspect they are looking very closely at the O line during the bye week to see if changes need to be made, since in the two games we lost the O line got outperformed by the opposing D line

Of course I can. As I said football is about beating the guy in front of you. None of our guys beat their guy on that last play. With your logic Jerry Kramer isn’t in the Hall because it would have been unreasonable for him to block Jethro Pugh so Starr runs his successful sneak. Your O line has to be able to get a gain of several inches. They have to. They didn’t.

Yeah he does a little. Cookie had the size and speed like Henry.. as did Jim Brown. Henry reminds me of both of them, and a little like Campbell. I think he’s a lock for the Hall.

Football always has been and always will be about physically beating the guy across from you. We didn’t on that last play, and ballgame. We have a very good team, but one of the weaker areas is the O line, literally and figuratively. They don’t have road grader nasty types. Brown should get there but he looked like the rookie he is last night. And as much as we all love Josh, and for good reason, that second last drive showed he still has a ways to go to match his mental game with the physical. You don’t try to go deep three times when a drive like the one against the Chiefs is what was needed. I was screaming for his to make the quick, shorter throws. As I understand it, the coaches grade each game up till now during bye week. I expect another change or two up front. Maybe Boettger and Bates need a shot at LG and C. And I wonder if Brown goes to the left side for Dawkins; Dawkins seems to still be suffering from perhaps long Covid. He is not the normal Dawkins. One thing for sure, we will come out of the bye pisses and prepared. We lost on a last play before byd week last year and went on the big run. I expect something similar this year. If I was on the Fish, I’d be preparing to get my ass whipped.

Tough one. It was the right thing to go for it, but I wish they would have been more inventive with the call. You win games up front, and we just got beat up front last night similar to the Steelers game. Brown had his first game where he looked like a rookie. Interior line play and Dawkins still spotty at best. McD will use this as a motivator.

Have to be able to make an inch

Terrible play calls there.

Bring Ford or Ike in and move Williams out for tonight. Brown is killing them

In the immortal words of Russell from Independence Day: Sorry I’m late, boys!

Ok boys, let’s matriculate the ball down the field!

Thanks guys. They don’t have a TV in her apartment (such is youth today) so she has to stream it. And she has to do it from her room with her favorite Bills shirt on because they are 4-0 when she does that! Some great suggestions her; one of them has to work.

My daughter is at college and we win when she sits in her room streaming the games. Normally she can tie into my NFL package, but since it’s ESPN tomorrow need advice on how she can best stream the game! Help!

Terry and Kim finally woke up and realized they need to copy what's worked with the Bills with the Sabres. Get a GM and HC that are in sync and understand you need to build a successful culture to build a winning team. Adams and Granato have been around hockey for years, they know what it takes to win, and they are getting rid of the bad culture guys that prevent you from doing so. They probably won't break the string of no playoffs this year, but you'll be watching a team that plays hard every night.

Beasley. They will try to keep us from going deep on the outside, so Beas goes nuts in the middle of the field.