harmonkillebrew

I think they've given a defensive player SB MVP much more often than regular season MVP. Von won MVP. There have been 9 defensive MVPs. So closest argument would have been Josh Sweat with 2.5 sacks and 6 tackles. If he had scored a TD or had an INT he might have got it.

I agree generally that Beane has had some whiffs, but McDermott doesn't get a pass either. What's a commonality between the Eagles and KC? They both have accomplished, veteran DCs and an offensive HC. The HCs brought in really good veteran coaches as Coordinators. McDermott? eh, he rolls with a brand new DC and a young OC. I get that Babbich is an up and comer, but he's not ready yet and McD could stand to bring in a more seasoned play caller. I also think Brady, while he ran a good system, failed in clutch moments during the playoffs with good play calling.

And he couldn't hit his hot reads. Mahomes is not naturally skittish, but the Eagles had a plan to pressure him with their insane front 4 and press cover with great DBs. Mahomes knew he had 1.5 sec to get the ball out, but he couldn't do it. Masterful combo of talent (Dline and CB) and coaching.

It's true, we have invested major capital in the Dline to beat the Chiefs - Von, AJ, Groot, Boogie, Oliver a few years before - and here we are, back to the drawing board. Beane has had some big whiffs.

That's also where I think Fangio just outcoaches Babbich. Knows how to break coverage tendencies and show different looks to confuse Mahomes on those initial reads. With Mahomes, once you get him skittish he loses discipline. At least he did this game. had no trust in his protection

I liked the matchup. We could have used our King Henry gameplay on Saquon and limited the Eagles passing attack. And I think our stronger Oline and run game would have neutralized the Eagles' D. KC's O coughed up basically 14 points in the first half on turnovers. I don't see Josh doing that. But the Eagles came to play. That was a bit of a surprise. They're a better team than I realized.

That Dline was amazing, but they also have good DBs and an all-world DC. But it shows the Bills need to overhaul the entire D. New DT and DE, new S and CB. and I think pray Babbich keeps growing in his role

Garrett can take Epenesa's spot as starting RDE. Groot has one more year to earn his contract on the left side. This game proved it, need a better Dline to beat Mahomes

Safety. I think a dominating, game breaker of a Safety would shore up our D - both run and pass. I'm not sure who that is, but it ain't Rapp, Hamlin, or Bishop. I think that one position could have the single biggest impact on the team. I agree with this. A guy like Aaron Donald that consistently win in the middle would be more impactful on Mahomes and other QBs than a pass-rushing DE, partially b/c what we have in Groot and AJE is better than what we have in Daquan Jones at this point. But if we got Myles Garrett, I wouldn't be sad

2020 was the height of Beasley and Diggs. Josh tossed it all over the field. 2021 was also pretty good with Diggs, Beasley, Emmanuel Sanders and a young Gabe. But this past year was one of Josh's most efficient and he excelled at ball security and QBR. Not necessarily as fun to watch, but effective. I do think another boundary pass catching weapon with speed is needed to diversify our attack.

I think that makes sense. Hard to get a consistent rush on Mahomes with that quick release and how the Chiefs play the short passing game now. Problem is the Bills have whiffed on some DBs of late.

On Amari, it's really all about the $$. If he will re-sign for a reasonable amount than he's probably better than anything else we can get, given the need to use FA$ on the D. But if he goes shopping, I'm not sure he displayed enough for us to sink top $.

Totallly. Look at the Commanders this year. Turned that 2nd overall pick into a franchise QB who led them to the NFCC Josh wills this team to victory, but will not get over the hump against the very top teams until they get a better D and some more talent around him. Even Jordan have Pippen, Kukoc, Rodman and a range of clutch role players like Steve Kerr.. Oh and an all time great coach

I think Douglas really got worse as the year went on. I'd be surprised if he's brought back, unless there's no market for him. With Benford on a rookie contract we could and should splurge on CB in FA. Maybe one high end and one solid depth option. Elam should be cut or traded, just so they aren't tempted to keep him as the primary backup

In terms of what is keeping us from getting over the hump and beating the Chiefs in the playoffs - it's both. Beane could have done a better job identifying and recruiting/drafting top gamebreaking talent - like at DE (Von was a risk given his age and a big swing and a miss, as was dropping 3 top picks on underwhelming DEs). But McDermott, as good as he is at coaching up players, doesn't have the killer instinct to win it all, nor do his young coordinators which he handpicked and were clearly outclassed this last KC game. They still have the ability to turn it around though. But might need to go against their tendencies. You've already seen McD getting more aggressive on 4th down and maybe Beane goes and gets a #1 WR after having downplayed it last offseason

Torrence regressed this year, unfortunately. He's solid, don't get me wrong, just saying we need some big hits to make it past the Chiefs. not really talking about the other 31 teams here. the future is bright with Torrence and Keon and others that still have room to grow, but we need them to and them to become clutch, or we will never be kings of the AFC

it also coincided with Diggs at his prime. He was reliably open.

I mean it was no secret. Everyone knew that. I'm not sure why the Bills didn't know that and mix it up toward the end of the year in more meaningless games. That said, the one successful 4th down sneak was Josh over the top, where he almost fumbled it. But something else was off. Dion didn't get his usual push - grass v. turf field? illness? Josh was hesitant a few times. We didn't have two guys pushing him. Often it's Gilliam and Ty bracketing Josh. It was just organizational failure as a whole

I think Beane has done a good job at getting mid-round guys that exceed expectations. Part of that is good mentoring by McD's staff, which is where they excel (game day planning and late game decision making..... not so much). But what I don't think this metric captures, is the lack of elite talent hits. What the Bills are missing, is clutch, elite talent that can put them over the top, past the Chiefs, to make up for sub-par game day coaching. We need major hits in Rd 1 and 2 that perform at key positions. Instead we get Keon, Dalton, Elam, Torrence, Groot, AJE, Oliver, Boogie - who aren't gamechangers and don't step up in the clutch. Are they decent players, yet, but we need more elite players. Cook is really the only recent draft pick under Beane that qualifies, IMHO.

yeah that Dawkins - Jones hug was weird given the time left. Our D sucked. It needs to be re-hauled, no question. But I'd like to see us still try to get a #1WR. Amari didn't have it, unfortunately.

he should have been! Nah, no way Josh knew that CB was going to blitz, but he could have called in Ty to block. Cook was out there during the drive, but on 3rd and 10, Ty was in b/c he's much better at pass protection

To some degree, but when you start going up against the best teams, the talent and coaching is just too level. It comes down to who is the most clutch. And KC has proven over and over that that's them. unless you're the '85 Bears and just annihilate lesser teams. Which I wouldn't mind either....

how did that turn out for the Giants? its warranted for special RBs and Cook is special

D was definitely the weak link this year and needs to be fixed. But the O needs a clutch, go-to player beyond Josh. Cook is almost that player, but a real triumvirate of offensive stars would help get us pass the Chiefs in those critical moments.

Elite?: Josh Dawkins Cook Good?: Milano Oliver Groot Shakir McGovern Brown Rapp Benford There are guys, like AJE, Coleman and Bernard that need to and can get better. And there are guys like Milano and Oliver that could become (or regain) elite status. Regardless, I think we are seriously lacking in elite, impact players at very key positions (DE, DT, WR, CB) and should look to add one in FA and maybe trade up to get higher picks in the 1st and 2nd and swing for the fences with guys with elite talent and potential