Rochesterfan

I will wait until after FA to decide, but unless we find the space to re-sign LBs and get younger DE’s, I would rather go about 5 other positions before picking a RB in round 1. I think all 3 levels on defense, OL, and TE are all ahead of RB for need/wants. The Bills have spent 3rd round picks on RB in consecutive years - that is enough investment - they have a pretty good level and idea of value/return in today’s NFL.

I will just wait and see, but it did not look like a normal concussion to me. Mahomes head really does not get hit or suffer the classic acceleration/deceleration that you saw with say Jackson. With Mahomes what you saw was a Browns player wrap up his head on the hit and then sort of roll and you see Mahomes head pull up at the neck and then his full body weight is yanked upward almost like he was going to be suplexed. The bodies reaction was similar to a concussion with the typical wobbly knees and vacant stare. I don’t think it was blood flow related (like MMA) - to quick and not really a choke move. I think it was more stress/strain on the neck and nerves. I actually believe both sides could be correct and make sense as “neck concussion” are a real thing as studied by UB in the past (https://completeconcussions.com/2017/03/14/neck-causing-concussion-symptoms-part-1/) and if he had those typical concussion symptoms - he would be placed in the protocol and have to clear the protocol - even if it was not brain related. Therefore; Reid saying he is in protocol and has to clear is 100% correct and people saying it was not really a concussion (in that his head was not the focal point), but was caused by his neck (nerve) may also be correct. In the end some people will believe whatever they want and I really don’t care. If he clears - he plays and if he doesn’t clear - then we need to be prepared for that also.

I would rather have Diggs and Bass than Teller. Teller would have been cut here if not traded. Heck last year he was so bad in Cleveland in pass blocking (and run blocking) that he was one of the worst Guards in the league. Does he survive in Buffalo on a pass first team last year? Do you think if we kept him and got rid of Spain last year the Bills make the playoffs? Spain gave up no sacks and very little pressure and Mayfield was calling for Tellers head and the interior of the Cleveland line was awful. What changed was bringing in Stefanski and a run first, run second, and play action offense that allowed Teller to be a run oriented guard. He still is below average in pass protection and was marched straight back into Mayfield several times on Sunday. Teller also has no position flexibility- so he is a liability on the Bills OLine where they want guys that can play multiple positions. Congrats to Teller for what he has done and you can go root for him, but I don’t think or a second the Bills blew it on Teller - I think they recognized his strengths and his Weaknesses and got something for him rather than outright cutting him. His Weaknesses would put him on the bench and his strengths do not fit in with the offensive scheme Dabol runs. So bye bye 👋.

What do you mean we don’t know why? Tyrod had been terrible for 3 straight games and he was looking for a spark. Was the offensive doldrums caused by Tyrod or the team? It made perfect sense to bench Tyrod and made perfect sense to go back to him when Peterman blew. Tyrod was a back-up in Baltimore - not because of his color, but his play. He was a starter in Buffalo not because of his color, but he was the best of a terrible QB room. He got benched not because of color, but because of poor play. The Bills moved on and traded him to Cleveland not because of Color, but his play. Cleveland benched him in game 1 and never game him another chance due to his play. Anthony Lynn in SD left him as a back-up and finally started him after Rivers left, but he was again a poor starting QB. Injuries allowed them to bench him and never look back. Color is not Tyrod’s issue - it is his play and always has been.

Did it all through College. Jackson did not need to make the tackle - he needed to try and at least force a cut back inside. This happens all the time on kick returns where a guy breaks contain - the pursuit has to try and work ahead to cut off the front side or the sideline and force things back to the rest of the pursuit. Jackson early on had the speed to make his pursuit work, but Johnson did a great job letting Tre get in front of him and Poyer cleaned up the back pursuit. I would not expect Jackson to necessarily take on Tre, but if as they are running - Jackson dives across in front without taking on the block you at least have a chance. The stopping and cutting under gave no shot at making a stop.

I will not get into any of the ridiculous viewpoint garbage as that is totally inappropriate, but I will say as you add more fans - you also have to add more support personnel across the stadium. You would need more gates open to flow people in, more spaced out parking and more times to enter, more security to ensure people are safe, more vendors and cleaning staff, more bathrooms would need to be opened and that does not get to the increased testing that would need to happen and space out those. The change in logistics is significantly more especially as you add upper decks. Then you also have to ensure people don’t find ways to sneak down from upper decks like they always do. I mean 6700 fans in week 1 and we had fights already - I think they have done a great job of balancing the fans with the staffing and infrastructure to ensure as much safety as possible. If you upped it to 16000 fans you would have to quadruple the support staff - so you go from like 6700 fans and probably a total of 10,000 people in the stadium and lots to probable 16,000 fans and probably closer to 25,000 people total in and around the stadium.

Davis got rolled up on his first pass attempt - the Raven defender landed on the back of his leg/ankle. I am guessing it was a ankle sprain/high ankle sprain and it really effected his ability to get open. He gutted through and did his best, but that obviously created some issues.

I actually agree and think with his speed - Jackson actually had the ability to sprint ahead earlier and make his way to the sideline to force a cutback. I get the self preservation, but I do not think he gave it his all and this comes after the pregame comments about how he has never used his full speed - just looks a bit bad to me. I have watched Jackson several times with the ball look like the fastest athlete on the field, but that play he looked like he was just trying to find a way to get it over with and the cut up field behind Taron and essentially give up the TD was all self preservation- even a full dive straight in front of Tre maybe gets Johnson to slide out of bounds. The play like this earlier in the season - DK Metcalf gave his all to make a play and prevent a TD on a potential pick 6 showing another level of speed, but Jackson sort of made a Minimal effort in a playoff game.

I believe the Ravens were trying to get the Bills to run a specific play out of that formation. You see the guy coming out from inside and I believe they were trying to bait a slant with an undercut. I think the Bills saw the set-up and had a quick screen option and Josh checked to that giving them an easy TD.

I thought Jackson did a terrible job on that play as he has shown speed and had an angle - he really should have gotten over to the sideline. That was 100% self preservation and not a team play. Could you imagine Josh running down that play - he would have tried to shove the DB into the running lane and would have tried to make a play no matter what. Jackson - who is a competitor- just did not seem to me to give his all on that play.

I think this is key - that entire team is built for strength and intimidation with running and stopping the run as the foundation. That was the key to the NFL - 20 years ago, but that is their strength and they play to it as well as any team in the NFL - it means they will continue to show success for years to come - especially in the regular season where they play with a just about unmatched intensity. I think the OLs pass rushing struggles and the fact that the Bills could get pressure with 4 (and not even 4 rushing all out - they played games to drive lineman back and compress the pocket. It was not all out attacking on pass plays they still tried to contain - which is all the more damning. What I am not sure about is how good or bad their WRs are. I think that Brown obviously has talent that they simply can not use in this scheme. Sneed is a big body guy makes a bunch of plays and seems to get open - again he is a running game supporter and seems like a good compliment. Dez to me was a stupid signing, but I think they were looking for a WR post up guy like another TE more than a true WR. They recognize who they are and sign and draft fit players better than just about anyone. The problem with that has always been course correction is tough because your guys really fit what you do and are not necessarily good at changing the course of the team. Their strength is a run blocking OL, big athletic TEs, and a powerful group of running backs and a run option style QB. That will be hard to shift to a 2020 style offense without some major change.

It was not just while he was here. Roman is a brilliant run play designer, but his passing attack and design is way below average. Several teams have had to go the multi-OC route with Roman calling the plays and designing the run plays and a true passing game coordinator designing and set-up passing plays. The problem with that is unlike a guy like Daboll that seamlessly can intertwine the 2 - when the run and pass game are designed separately- they do not have the same look and feel. I think Roman is very limited, but I also think Jackson is limited. He just does not have enough experience (or perhaps ability) to read the defense and make plays. You can see just how uncomfortable he was in the pocket. When you mix that with poor play design - it limits the team. The athletic ability of Jackson is through the roof and you can really see that in his runs and some escape ability, but what you do not see is what Josh added this year - which is that calm presence in the pocket just knowing he has answers. So of that is the QB and some of that is the OC - not giving him full control and the answers. If I am Baltimore - I think you have to move on from Roman and find out can Jackson improve in the pocket before you sign the mega deal. Not that he isn’t a great player, but they must have questions about his ceiling and his growth especially when you get to games in the playoffs where you need to make that play. Against Buffalo he had no plays. His big play against Tennessee was a long run - not a pass play. That would worry me, but it is not insurmountable as that was JA in year 1. The problem is they may have to take some lumps to find out what Jackson’s ceiling is.

Where do we stand now? Outcoached another guy on your list. great job McD!

I think in the case of Stills and Freeman - it is more the Bills desire to have experience / Veteran players available for an emergency- rather than a look ahead to next season. I think McD would rather have a guy that has played in the league and shown some level of success to be available for an emergency call-up or in case a player of Brown or Beasley re-aggravate their injuries and can’t go. Next year is still a long ways off in these guys minds and yes it could eventually lead to help for next year - I think that is just a plus not really part of their signing plan. These moves are really all about the 4 game run they are in.

As we have not heard about contract money or length - both of these would seem to be only under contract for this post season. That does not mean they could not get a contract after the season and before FA begins, but at this point they are just PS for depth in the playoffs.

Not really a loophole- something a bit different this year. Teams were allowed more veterans and more players on the practice squad. Teams got 2 free call ups that allow you to use a practice squad player, but not elevate them to the true active roster. Therefore these players at the conclusion of the game revert back to their practice squad designation and can be signed. Teams could not take a normal roster player - like let’s say a back-up DE like Murphy or guard like Winters or an All-Pro in your example - and move them to the PS. Those players would have to be cut (which then reverts them to waivers and any team could grab them - not one specific team you want) and claimed to the active roster. If the player clears waivers then any team is free to sign them to their roster or their practice squad. This case is unique because Veldheer was signed to the Colts practice squad from retirement due to injuries (like Freeman and Stills with the Bills). He was activated and played because of injury, but was still a practice squad player and therefore eligible to be signed to another teams active roster. Green Bay though is showing the dangers of this as he is uncontrolled as he comes to your team and you are introducing a potential issue just for a little depth. If he mingled with other OL or the QB room - this could end the Packers season.

I still think it was a big thumb your nose at management that forced him to bench Wentz and play Hurts.

I think it had more to do with Jalen Hurts. I don’t think he wanted to bench Wentz and I don’t think he felt Hurts was the answer. I believe he was told to finally get Hurts some playing time and then he was ticked Hurts looked ok - He decided to play his guy Sudfield as a get back as soon as Hurts struggled. I think Hurts was thrust on him and it ticked him off enough that he pulled the stunt the last game.

Not surprising with the way the end of the season went down and the QB garbage in the last game. I thought this was where the Jets wanted to go if they got rid of Gase. I even thought that they may hold onto Gase one more season to line it up with Pederson, but this is 1A in my mind for the Jets. Look for Bienemy (Reid disciple) to get the Philly Job. They loved and miss Andy there.

I think it was great to choose 500 yards - let’s go sign Ben - he hit 500 yards in that great come back - uhhh - loss to Cleveland. I mean the effort he showed on that first high snap - man what a leader. The confidence his head coach had to punt near mid field on 4th and 1. We need Ben 🤢. 🤮

Teller was traded last year - unless the Jets traded Teller - Winters was not kept over Teller.

Actually decided to watch the Nick version with the Kids and it is not bad. A little crazy with the graphics, but I like Nate and Noah Eagle (Ian’s son) and the girl from All That has been not bad.

Yes either you watched a different game or don’t really understand how things work. So the fact the through 3 quarters when the game was within 1 score the Colts had run for 70 yards on 24 carries (or 2.9 yards per carry) you believe has no bearing at all. Once the Bills got up by 2 scores in the 4th quarter and shifted how the defense was playing - the Bills gave up 82 yards on 3 carries. The Colts got over 60% of their rushing yards on 3 rushes in the 4th quarter when down by 2 scores. So yes the overall numbers look bad, but through the first 3 quarters - no they were not getting run over at all.

I also believe that referee was really commenting about his feet being in bounds and he made the assumption it was caught. You see it all the time where one guy comes up and rules it a catch because from his angle he is looking for feet and where he goes out of bounds. The 2nd ref comes up because his focus is supposed to be on the ball and realizes he bobbled or dropped it and the call gets overturned. They also consult with other officials if needed and try to piece it together. Look I give them a ton of credit because they are trying to judge split seconds toe taps and fingertip grabs and decide the exact second they happen and they usually get the call right. On the Hilton play - the refs called it incomplete long before the TV team knew what was going on. That was less on the refs and more on the announcers. The refs got together and the one guy had clear visual that the ball landed on the ground next to the receiver and over ruled the other ref that could not see it because of the Bills defender.

The defense did not play well, but the fact is the defense held them below their season total for points and you can say the offense scares no one, but that was the #9 rated scoring offense in the league - averaging over 28 points per game - so it must have been pretty good - it obviously scared some teams as they won 11 games including beating the Packers and Titans. The fact remains - it was not Indy’s running game that hurt the Bills - their average per rush was below 3 and they were routinely stopped for very short gains when the Bills focused on the run game. Where the Bills struggled was in the short passing game and even that takes some looking at because the Indy TEs made a ton of contested catches right at the first down markers. It is not like guys were running open all game - they made some great catches that converted short and mid level 3rd downs - with a Bills player on their back or with a hand in there trying to knock the ball away. The Bills did have some major breakdowns - most notably once up 2 scores - they shifted the style they were playing and that led to some big runs and a couple of broken coverages, but they also forced the Colts to move down field in small increments most of the day and that lead to mistakes in the red zone that won the game for the Bills.