Logic

It's trending that way right now, but there have only been four practices, todays was the first day in pads, and there haven't been any preseason games yet. I'm not prepared to call this one already.

It sure sounds like Tyrell Shavers may be a surprise roster candidate and MVS may be a surprise cut. The former has apparently been quite a standout so far in camp (see coach McDermott's comments from today) and the latter has apparently been pretty invisible and slipping down the depth chart. I don't think ANYONE had "Shavers makes roster over MVS" on the Bingo card, so if it happens, it'd qualify as quite a shock.

The reports out of camp have me feeling bullish about the offense right now. Not just that they've been performing well, but the specific details I've been hearing. Tons and tons of pre-snap shifts, motions, both condensed and spread alignments, interesting personnel groupings, bootleg play-action, throws up the seam, both tight ends being productive, Coleman's early success, Samuel's versatility, Shakir's consistency and silky route running. On top of all of that, all reports seem to indicate that Josh Allen has, more often than not, looked incredibly sharp. Like...2020 sharp. AND that he's demonstrating more vocal and assertive leadership. The ONLY caveat I'll offer is this: The defense is young. It's the first camp in seven years where Hyde and Poyer aren't directing the action in the secondary. Those are HUGE losses. They're sort of the equivalent of if the Bills offense lost Josh Allen. That's the type of leadership and experience void we're talking about. So when it comes to the success of the passing game early on in camp so far, I keep trying to remind myself that the defense -- and the secondary in particular -- are still finding their footing. If this offensive success continues against other teams once joint camp practices and preseason games start, then its wheels up.

It's actually legitimately crazy that the built-in rollout bootleg game hasn't been a big part of the Bills' playbook up until now. Josh Allen rolling out to his right and having the option to either run or pass is arguably when he is at his most lethal. Many of the most impressive plays throughout his pro career have come in this situation. Count me as a big fan of this development.

No me gusta. Would love to see Sed Van Pran get mixed in every now and again.

While I think there is validity to the ideas of leading by example and of letting a player be his authentic self, I DO agree that it's time for Josh to ascend to the role of "unquestioned leader" of this team. I think that part of the thinking behind getting rid of Diggs and going so young on offense and completely refurbishing the WR corps was to give Josh a clean slate and the runway to take over a full and more assertive leadership role. Part of being a leader, unfortunately, is that sometimes you have to be a boss. Sometimes you have to hold guys accountable, to chew them out, to set the tone for how things need to be and let them know if they're not meeting that standard. It may mean giving up a bit of your "just one of the guys" goofiness. If you'll excuse me for using a silly example, I think of Michael Scott from The Office (which, by the way, is a show we know Josh loves). Michael desperately wants to be loved by his employees, to crack jokes and be "one of the guys". But in so doing, some of the employees don't really respect him, and some of them walk all over him, knowing that he doesn't have the fortitude to discipline them or hold them accountable for messing up. Again, I realize that's a bit of a silly example, but you get the idea. Josh Allen may have to show that he can be a real leader and NOT always just "one of the guys" in order to provide the optimal leadership. I don't think this is a "nothing burger" report by Tim Graham. I think there's validity to it, and I think Josh knows it. Multiple reporters have talked about how much more of an assertive, demonstrative leader he appears to be so far in OTAs and camp. Coach McDermott himself mentioned it. I don't think this is by accident. Josh may always be "one of the guys" and may always be a goofball, but starting this season, I think you'll see a much more purposeful, assertive Josh Allen, and it may very well take his game -- and his team -- to new heights.

This is it in a nutshell. If the script is going well or the coordinator is out-coaching the opposition, then Tua is gangbusters. When the chips are down, backs are against the wall, or the script isn't going as planned, Tua doesn't seem to have a "next level" he can access (a la Josh Allen) to take over games and steal victory from the jaws of defeat. It's why, in my opinion, the Dolphins will continue to win 10+ games and make the playoffs, but never go far beyond that. The elite QBs in the 2024 NFL can take over games by themselves, and I just don't see Tua as that guy.

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2024/1/5/24026177/dolphins-bills-tua-tagovailoa-future-nfl-playoffs-afc-east An article from before the second Bills-Dolphins game last year, explaining that Tua performs worse the later it is in games, and performs worse the later it is in the season. He's Mr September. Unless and until he can become Mr December, I will continue not to worry too much about him.

I must avenge this verbal slight you have dealt me.

That's the thing, right? One person reclines, and the person behind him has no choice but to recline in order to be able to even take a breath, and before you know it, there's a chain reaction and the whole flight is reclined. As someone else said, it really comes back to being an airline problem. With how much we all pay to fly nowadays, there's absolutely no reason for the seating to be as cramped as it is. Nothing but corporate greed at the cost of the consumer.

Not necessarily. I'm saying he's gonna be on the move so much before the snap that he'll run over 1,000 collective yards before the ball is even snapped over the course of the season. How much RECEIVING yardage he actually winds up accruing will remain to be seen, because Kincaid/Knox/Coleman/Shakir/Cook will all get theirs, too.

I can respect that. I recently flew from Portugal to Philly, a 7 hour+ daytime flight. I witnessed the person in front of me and to the left (luckily not directly in front of me) INSTANTLY recline their seat the full amount, and then proceed to leave it reclined for the entirety of the flight, the vast majority of which she was awake for. I thought that was a pretty ***** thing to do to the person behind her.

- Bare feet. I will kill a *****. - People who talk non-stop all night or keep their overhead light on all night during a red-eye. Like...B word, we're all in a tacit agreement that this flight counts as sleepin' time. Don't be selfish. - Winding up next to an extra-large human being whose extra-largeness spills over into my seat and personal area. - People who recline their seats for the entirety of a flight but aren't even sleeping. It's one thing if it's a red-eye or you're trying to nap, but doing it just to do it is chump behavior. - Parents who let their kids kick the back of the seat of the person in front of them over and over or generally let them run amok all flight. - Someone asking me to switch my aisle or window seat for their middle seat so they can sit next to their loved one. Sorry bub, ain't happenin'. An even switch, like aisle for aisle? Sure. Otherwise, no dice. - The fact that pilots say "rough air" now. It's turbulence. Just say turbulence. - People who watch (or allow their children to watch) something on their device (or play a game with sound effects) without headphones, subjecting those around them to the noises from their personal entertainment. Are you kidding me? We used to live in a SOCIETY. There are probably more, but I better stop because I'm gettin upset.

I think Keni-H Lovely might push to make this roster. Every year there's a late round or UDFA corner that stands out, and I think it's Lovely this year. JaMarcus Ingram might be ahead of Lovely in the pecking order, but I at least expect a practice squad spot for Lovely at the very worst.

Whatever else happens in camp today, this is the best news of the day.

I expect that if there was a way to track the amount of yards that Curtis Samuel runs/jogs this season BEFORE the snap, it would surpass 1,000. I think Brady's gonna have him moving around CONSTANTLY, and that even when he's not the primary read or a big part of the play, his pre-snap actions will play a big part in IDing the defense, forcing coverage shifts, and helping the QB know what he's looking at. In a certain sense, I expect Samuel to be the most important skill player on the offense. Not necessarily the most productive or most heavily targeted, but I think he's gonna play a huge role overall with the way his movement and deployment helps the offense dictate to the defense overall.

Yeah. 12 personnel (with four 6'3"+ guys). I imagine them coming out in a pro set, forcing the defense into base personnel, then shifting to a spread formation, isolating Kincaid, Knox, and Cook on LBs and Safeties. Me gusta mucho.

YESSSSS!! HALLELUJAH!

Should Brady turn out to be a successful OC and sought after head coaching candidate, I would love to see him take the Ben Johnson route -- sticking with the Bills as OC rather than taking the first head coaching offers that come down the pike. If it's the RIGHT offer, a good situation, then yeah, of course you have to take it. But if the Panthers or Commanders of the world come calling, you tell 'em to get bent and call plays for Josh Allen for another season or two instead.

In all seriousness, I do believe that the future of offensive football is "positionless" to a certain extent. To call Christian McCaffrey a running back does not accurately describe all that he does. To call prime Deebo Samuel a wide receiver does not accurately describe all that he does. To call Dalton Kincaid a tight end does not accurately describe all that he does. You get the picture. I think Brady plans to be "Mr Matchup". He collected a pile of skill players with different skillsets, and -- based on the camp report from day one -- plans to employ a multitude of motions and shifts to get certain offensive players matched up against certain defensive players in isolation or against certain coverages, and expects Josh to simply find and exploit the most advantageous matchup. That may sound like an obvious, "duh" sort of statement, but it's not exactly how things worked under Ken Dorsey or Brian Daboll.

I never knew you liked baseball. Huh.

Totally agree. Pre heart episode, I considered him a guy that's great to have for depth and special teams and who can get you through a few weeks if your starter is injured. I even thought he had the upside to develop into a plus starter, though he wasn't there yet. Post heart episode, he did not play as well, but I will absolutely cut him some slack for the immense mental hurdle he had to overcome to play professional football again and all the distractions that must've been happening in his life. Now, a year later, drama behind him and able to concentrate solely on football, it won't surprise me in the least if he makes a run at a starting job or at least a prominent sub-package and reserve role.

That I can agree with. I'm not so sure I'd enjoy the guided session either, particularly if it involved other people. I'm definitely a "sit by the river" guy when it comes to this stuff. Give me a napsack with some bottled water, citrus fruits, and an Alan Watts book and leave me alone. I'll be back in 7 hours.

On the contrary, I think "set and setting" are very important to the outcome of a psychedelic trip, at least if therapeutic or medicinal results are sought. That is, one's mood/state of mind/intention when taking the substance, and the setting in which one takes the substance. Taking a heavy dose of psilocybin in a quiet, candlelit room with classical music playing and a comfortable temperature and a pitcher of ice water nearby, when one is in good spirits and has a had a bit of quiet reflection beforehand...can bring about a PROFOUNDLY different experience than taking them with a group of friends or at a concert or when one is stressed or agitated about something. I don't think a trained guide, is practically speaking, necessary, though it can be helpful. Nor do I think it's necessary to undertake the experience in a sterile medical environment. I DO think, though, that some preparation, a good mindset, and agreeable surroundings are vitally important to a good psychedelic experience.