oldmanfan

Was a helluva match. The level of tennis was great between the two.

1974. Bill vs. Raiders Monday night football. Fergy to Rashad twice late, then sweating out a last second FG try by Blanda. 1980. Bills vs. Fish and we finally ended the losing streak. I helped carry the goal post and alcohol was involved

I was at the Rockpile for Stratton’s hit, and at the first game at the Rich watching Mul-Key return the first ever kickoff for a TD; took us 4 hours to get in the stadium that day. We’re going to the Bucs game in November so my younger daughter and son-in-law get to see one game in the stadium before it closes. I’m praying for snow so they get the full experience. I’ll be 70 this year and I’m thinking about sharing a season with one of my niece’s that live in Buffalo. But it’s an 8 hour drive for me and I’m not sure how well that would work. Like every year I am excited about the season starting, I think with Josh and an improved D we have a great shot at winning it all, and of course look forward to Shaw sharing his terrific insights every week!

24-23 Bills

He was hurt last year. Now hurt again this year. Injuries deflect from performance.

Tough break for the kid. We’ll likely never know what he could have become for us.

Dedicated return guy

Bills fans at times have a reflexive protection mechanism manifested by pessimism. Some here have claimed nothing has been done to improve the team over last year. I beg to differ: 1. They have added a lot to the D line. Bosa provides more pass rush, so does Hoechst when he returns. And they drafted two DTs that will help stabilize the interior if pre-season means anything. 2. They added to the back end of the D by bringing back a healthy Tre, drafting Hairston and several other DBs. Now, it sucks that Tre and Max are hurt, but that does not mean that the Bills did nothing to upgrade; what we have at CB is better than last year with Douglas and Elam. 3. Safety I grant is the weakest spot, but that doesn’t mean it’s awful. Rapp is good, and Bushop must improve. I expect Poyer will be at his side at every film session and practice. So overall they added more to the D. What about the offense? 1. Palmer gives them improvement at the WR position, a guy that can get separation which is what people demanded. Coleman from all accounts had a great camp. 2. Everything else is status quo, with players that gave one of the best offenses in the league last year. 3. We have the reigning MVP running the show. So I don’t know about you, but I am excited for this season to begin, just as I have been for the past 65 years. Go Bills!

They have a guy on the practice squad now who knows the D, and could jump in should there be injuries. And can help mentor. You are making this way more complicated than it needs to be. And Bishop I think will be better than we think.

Nothing shocking. I am surprised they kept Codrington.

It’s not a schtick, it’s logic. Poyer knows this defense extraordinarily well. He can mentor a second year guy. Unless you’re the type who thinks every second year guy should know all there is to know about football. Which is of course ridiculous.

Sit with Bishop in each practice and film session.

I thought either Davis or Johnson if they cut both Codrington and Shenault. I’m surprised they are keeping a guy just for returns, although he did impress me last season.

Really surprised by Coddrington. Figured Davis would return. And I think my man Ingram is going to surprise folks.

Our new Hollins. He’ll make an impact.

My thoughts: 1. Trubiski is the clear #2, and if Josh goes down we’ve got trouble like pretty much every other team with a great WB 2. O line: There is nothing from camp saying Brown has a lingering concern. He didn’t play much in preseason like every other starter. And we have good backups in Anderson, Grable, and maybe Lundt. 3. If we’re worried about who our 4-6 WRs are that’s a good problem to have. Shavers should clearly be on the roster; he is this year’s Hollins. Shakir should be ready opening day, Coleman had a great camp, Kincaid and Knox are ready, and we have three RBs that are adept at pass catching. Plus the reigning league MVP at QB. Not worried about the pass game at all. 4. Safety: It will be Rapp and Bishop. Rapp is solid and you have to put the young players like Bishop on the field. We were all somewhat spoiled by how great Hyde and Poyer were together. 5. CB: if White is out for awhile I expect Beane to bring in another guy. But I also think Ingram can provide decent play there. 6. Returner: I don’t expect either Shenault or Coddrington; they’ll have Davis or Johnson do that. Shenault May have a shot. 7. We added a ton of talent to the D line. The two rookie DTs look like they are going to be a big help, and Bosa looks healthy. Plus I think Babich is going to use more blitz packages. We should get to the QB more and that will help the DBs. And the increased talent at DT should help the run defense. 8. Bass looks like he has recovered and has two weeks before the first game. No problems there. i don’t see any reason to project gloom. We are a talented team and should have a great shot at the Lombardi.

My fellow UB alums Lewis and Ingram will play, and will do just fine.

On Hard Knocks McD said guys will earn time by their play. Shavers embodies that philosophy; he has busted his butt and made a lot of good plays in pre-season. If he gets cut I don’t know how McD faces the team.

I think they do an injury settlement with Samuel

A member of The Hall of Very Good

Really good stuff here. My thought in starting this thread is that it seemed to me we were vulnerable to the quicker passing game, with QBs getting the ball out quick, and I wondered if that might have to do with a philosophy of more zone schemes. Am I wrong?

Ingram will need to step in if needed, and I think he can do a competent job

No

Just throwing it out there. Even going back to last year it seemed we were vulnerable to the quick passing game.

You start Shakir, Coleman, and Palmer of course. Shavers is the new Mack Hollins as the 4th guy and the gunner on special teams. And having a guy like Davis as the 5th guy that already has a bond with Josh would not be a bad idea. I think they unfortunately do an injury settlement with Samuel, and Moore gets cut unless he showed a lot in the scrimmages with Chicago. Shenault or Hamler might stick as WR/return guy, and you stash Wilkerson on the practice squad.