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Straight Hucklebuck

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    Shady throwing shade at Bills O lineman

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted · Edited by Straight Hucklebuck

    Who cares.

     

    Shady I know you think you’re Barry Sanders and the Bills/media treats you that way, but you’re washed up. 

     

    The Bills need to stop kissing this guys butt and get some more speed out of the backfield. 

     

    The days of the “get Shady going” gameplan should be made long gone. 

     

    • Haha (+1) 1

    Buffalo's reputation amongst free agents

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    Eifert is uninformed and I don’t want his son on the Bills anyway. Multiple serious injuries have sapped him of his athletic ability. 

     

    The Bills root problem is poor drafting due to the wrong GM choices. The wrong GM does not acquire a viable Coach, Quarterback or players on the cutting edge of the league.

     

    Beane is the first GM with no connection to Ralph Wilson/Russ Brandon and they have taken a real swing at Quarterback.

     

    Now to Free Agency. While it’s not the primary way to properly build the team, I think the Bills have done well over the years.

     

    Mario Williams produced 40+ sacks in 4 years here, Alexander has produced 20+ sacks, Incognito made two Pro Bowls, Hyde and Poyer have been Day One starters. Bush is a competent NFL backup, Clay has been so-so, but the Bills haven’t been able to find a replacement in 3-4 years. 

     

    When the Billd don’t hit on Free Agents, it has not been disastrous. Joe Webb, Mike Tolbert, Vlad Duccasse, Star L, Trent Murphy. 

     

    Supposed laughing stock signings like Anquan Boldin or Vontae Davis never really got started to hurt much at all. 

     

    Overall I am making the case that the Bills have done better than average in Free Agency  over the years. Sure Derrick Dockery was a big miss, but guys like London Fletcher and Takeo Spikes were hits. The GMs for the Bills over the years did damage to the team by letting those guys walk. 

     

    Reputation on is not reality. 

    Can't teach accuracy? Cam Newton interesting case study...

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    On 1/3/2019 at 1:11 PM, matter2003 said:

    Cam Newton has a career completion percentage of 59.7%...prior to this season he had 2 years with at or above a 60% completion percentage, with a high of 61.7% and the other exactly at 60%.  This year he well exceeded this at 67.9%.

     

    So what is going on? Did he just learn how to be more accurate? Or was he just making easier throws to McCaffery more often leading to higher completion rates?

     

    I watched a few Panthers games down the stretch and I think you hit on it in the last sentence.

     

    Christian McCaffery is a talented player, but The offense relied on him so much that the net effect is he hurts the Panthers. Combined with Cam’s bum shoulder as the year went on, the Panthers offense went less and less vertical. Always checking down to the safe McCaffery throw. The ball was constantly in his hands and there was less play mix. 

     

    I think the Panthers offense became simple to defend because every team knew that a checkdown was coming and that the WRs were not going to get the ball. Blitz Cam, he’ll checkdown, then tackle.  

    Don't expect a "true WR1" to end up in Buffalo for this year...

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    3 minutes ago, MJS said:

    I think everyone knows this. But bringing in 2 or 3 #2 guys would be a vast improvement. And instead of having garbage as your 4, 5, and 6 you have guys who actually belong in this league (and who can contribute on special teams).

     

    We simply didn't have enough money to have a competitive unit. Now we do.

    Yeah, I like this point. 

     

    Given the Free Agents that are coming available, do you sign say a Golden Tate, or start putting together a package of assets for Antonio Brown or AJ Green?

    Don't expect a "true WR1" to end up in Buffalo for this year...

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    2 hours ago, metzelaars_lives said:

    You do realize that Tom Brady is the greatest football player to ever live, right?

    Understood.

     

    I guess my only point is that I am not convinced a high end #1 WR is a requirement to win big in the NFL. Maybe they are similar to a #1 corner. They do make a difference, but an offense can target other corners and throw away from the shutdown corner. In that way a #1 WR can absorb a double coverage, but can't dictate an entire defense, especially for the Bills under McDermott, who are seemingly always going to try and run the ball. 

     

    Of course you'd prefer Beane's philosophy of drafting and developing your own Antonio Brown, rather than paying the premium price (draft picks and  his contract/salary) to pry him away from the Steelers, is ideal, although he is one of the best players in the league regardless of position. 

     

    It's an interesting debate, I like reading the other comments about would you do it. 

     

    A PFF article comes out about Levi Wallace and now their is attachment to including him in a deal, along with first round picks. The Bills did have the #1 secondary in terms of yardage this season, so would you potentially weaken that to bolster the WRs. 

     

     

    Don't expect a "true WR1" to end up in Buffalo for this year...

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    Ever since Tom Brady took Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney to the AFC Title Game, I have tended to believe you don't need a superstar WR to be a Playoff team. 

     

    When I watch the Playoffs, I think they tend to boil down to Quarterback play and Defense. 

     

    So I think its important that the Bills improve the depth, but chasing a true #1 who is "open when he's not open" has not been a fruitful venture for the Bills in the last 5 years. 

    • Thank you (+1) 1

    How Much Pressure Was Doug Whaley Under To Win?

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    2 hours ago, BillyWhiteShows said:

    It makes you wonder how much pressure Whaley was to win and the effect that the change in ownswrship (or potential change in ownership) had on the decisions made.

     

    This is a great topic, thank you for presenting.

     

    I think with Whaley you have to trace his time with the organization back to the beginning. 

     

    Whaley was brought in as the Assistant GM under Buddy Nix in 2010, at the handoff point of power from Ralph to Russ. Nix was 70 years old and so fans knew Whaley was being groomed for the job. 

     

    Nix was GM for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons. I think his chief failure was allowing the defense to switch back and forth from a 4-3 to a 3-4 to a hybrid, back a 4-3. Gailey chose weak defensive coordinators and the Bills blew all over the road on scheme.

     

    He also didn’t look for a QB. He started Trent and when that failed two games in, he promoted Trent Edward’s backup and stuck with him for all three years. 

     

    So fast forward to 2013. Gailey is fired, and the HC search begins with Nix, Brandon, Overdorf (this is important for later) and Russ. Five whole days out in Arizona. Marrone was a Russ hire, and they came beating the Marrone’s a New Yorker drum. At this point the Bills have no Quarterback because Nix was caught on tape bashing Fitzpatrick in the prank call with the Bucs GM. 

     

    So here the trap is set. The Bills got nothing out of the 2010 Draft (Modrak), the 2011 Draft produced Dareus and remember Williams was started at corner for his first two years and was awful/hurt, and 2012 yielded Gilmore and Glenn. Not much in the Draft, no Quarterback.

     

    So I think Nix was phased out and Whaley was thrust out of training and into the contrasting role of fresh, new, young GM. And with his first move he immediately over-drafted a marginal college QB. 

     

    That move immediately backfired, EJ was not good. And so he went all in on EJ. Trading up, drafting Sammy, Karlos Williams, spending money. 

     

    I think the key in all of this was Whaley didn’t have the whole scope/vision of what a GM had to do. First he was never the face of the franchise, Russ was, then Marrone. He didn’t pick any of the three coaches (Gailey, Marrone or Rex - Pegula’s fell in love with him). I don’t think the upper management ever really gave him 100% control of the organization on the football side. 

     

    Two, in those days Overdorf managed all the contracts, Whaley had no say in any of that. He didn’t know the in and out. Whaley existed in the final days of the Ralph Wilson dysfunction with Littman, Russ, Berchold, Overdorf, and then new ownership came in and he was forced down another peg. 

     

    Three, his best trait was what he studied in Pittsburgh - Pro Personnel. Which leads to Free Agency. Whaley struggled with the Draft because he was saddled with a failure at QB from 2010 on. 

     

     

     

     

     

    • Like (+1) 1
    • Thank you (+1) 1

    Bills Should Be Judicious in Free Agency

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, racketmaster said:

    I'd like to think it is spending wisely by filling holes with players that fit your schemes, culture and provide an upgrade in talent. The obvious examples would be the signings of Poyer and Hyde. Those are "judicious" signings that have worked out well for the team. 

    I know you’re not allowed to say this on here but McDermott was here 2 months and Beane was in Carolina when Hyde and Poyer were signed.

    • Like (+1) 2

    Thoughts on McDermott, Beane after the 2018 Season

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    22 minutes ago, John from Riverside said:

    I am in agreement with Bobby and I am one of McD's biggest supporters

     

    I believe that we are in year 2 not 1 of a major rebiuld.......I think that McD nearly has his defense set (its not perfect yet.....but despite the hiccups here and there it IS pretty darn good) it will be interesting to see if Frasier is retained as DC with McD's number 1 choice for his defense on the market......

     

    but to me "winning" does not mean a super bowl birth (not saying that you mean that Bobby) "winning" to me means a playoff birth next year.....with the undertanding that even next year the team will not be completely set but it will be ENOUGH set that we should be able to actually run the ball.....have a start QB in his second year that needs to take that leap forward.....a OL that doesnt look like a ***** show week to week that can actually execute blocking on a screen pass....and enough offensive playmaker that we can move the ball and score points when needed

     

    I am NOT expecting a complete product....I AM expecting a solid team that can beat other bad teams and hang with good teams week to week....that should be enough for a playoff birth

     

    THen......another year of draft picks and free agency to fine tune......and I expect a CONTENDING team

     

    and yes....I think McD is a hell of a coach

    I agree with all of this. 

     

    I am excited for this offseason and ready to see what the Bills FO does. 

    Thoughts on McDermott, Beane after the 2018 Season

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted · Edited by Straight Hucklebuck

    33 minutes ago, Bills Pimpin' said:

    Most people in this thread are a complete joke. Here are the facts:

    Jokes because they criticize elements of the team? Are the Buffalo Bills above any criticism?

     

    Nationally starting to be recognized as one of the best coach/GM combos in the league. 

    Where has that been printed? 

     

    Quote

    Took one of the worst cap situations and turned it into arguably the best situations in 2 seasons by trading away "talent" that has not produced since the day they left. 

    Agree, they were right on Watkins and Dareus. Not sure they had to get rid of Darby. 

     

    Won 6 and were competitive in all but 4 games with $50 million in cap space and starting rookies, UDFA, and second year players at over 1/2 of the 22 starting positions.

    This is trying to give credit for mediocre results. 

     

    Quote

    First playoff birth in 17 years and one of the most memorable days in the history of the Buffalo Bills the day they clinched as a first year HC/GM.

    Agree. 

     

    Quote

    Drafted the most exciting QB and player the franchise has had in 25 years and maybe ever, and by all accounts, has outperformed what was expected.

    Bravo to Allen on yesterday. Best game all season. He was erratic in 2018 though. 

     

    Quote

    Drafted a 20 year old middle linebacker that looks, by all accounts, like a superstar and someone that can lead this defense for a decade.

    Superstar? 

     

    Quote

    Orchestrated one of the best retirement days of a loved player, certain to be on the WOF.

    Ok

     

    And that's just a portion of it, doesn't include the hiring of Daboll, Frazier, the 2nd ranked defense in 2018, Tre White, Matt Milano, Taron Johnson. 

    2nd in yards, not in points

     

    7 head coaches were fired the last 2 days, plus McCarthy. Many of them will get another HC job. You want any of those retreads? 

    Hue Jackson - No, Adam Gase - Interesting, Vance Joseph - No, Todd Bowels - No, Steve Wilks - No, Mike McCarthy - No, Koetter - No, Marvin Lewis - Heck No

     

    3 more years minimum folks. Any less would be a joke just like the Armchair GM's and HC's in this thread.

    Three more years guaranteed? We have to see some winning. That’s just me. Getting rid of GMs is difficult and not advised. 

     

     

    Responses attached.

    Thoughts on McDermott, Beane after the 2018 Season

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    34 minutes ago, Watkins90 said:

    There most certainly is a McBeane. Bills fans on here have been referring to the two men as that since Brandon Beane was hired. Saying that is a  misleading topic is in of itself a misrepresentation. 

    McDermott most definitely gets credit for signing Hyde and Poyer. He was the head coach when they were signed. 

    Doug Whaley is a pariah I get it, but he was the GM and head of the Pro Personnel department. 

     

    McDermott was coming off a season in which he was a DC, and was a HC for 2 1/2 months at the time of those signings. 

     

    Furthermore, your owner said that Whaley and McDermott were working hand in hand on FA and the Draft, and there was crying when he was let go. 

     

    McDermott gets the credit, but he was not a scout and did not run the scouting department pro or college. 

    Thoughts on McDermott, Beane after the 2018 Season

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted

    15 minutes ago, Logic said:

     

    Using a golf analogy, I'm at par with Beane and McDermott. 

     

    1. Record wise, they are the same as Marrone and Rex through two seasons. I hear you on the Playoff birth, watching the fans jump for joy and the Bills locker room erupt was great. But they scored 3 points and got bounced immediately on a day where Bortles was horrid, so it's not going in the keepsake of Bills moments for me. 

     

    2. They've shipped off many of the Whaley cornerstone's with only McCoy, Clay, Hughes, Mills and Alexander as holdovers, and have given the Bills a clean slate in terms of cap space. They were right on Watkins, right on Dareus, as I don't think those guys together add one win to the Bills total this season.

     

    3. Their free agent signings so far have been average. Murphy and Star were ok. Vlad Ducasse is below average as has been replaced. Tolbert is a 260 pound Fullback and was kept as the only backup to McCoy in 2017. Ivory is ok. Their WR trades have not worked, Matthews, Clay, Coleman or Benjamin. Boldin was way past his prime, Vontae Davis was hurt/old, Philly Brown was a fringe player, Joe Webb stuck for one year, our punter needs replaced. They missed on Peterman and McCarron. The Rick Dennison offense was from 1974. 

     

    4. They've had some hits in the Draft, but have largely spent any excess capital trading up for players. 

     

     

    So in the end I'm excited to hear Beane speak to the media this afternoon. I look forward to FA and the Draft. I just want the bar of expectation to be raised. I think in Buffalo we give too much credit for ordinary things. Finding an average starter in Free Agency on a non-Playoff team, for example. Fans go back to the old phrases when there are no results, new schemes, new culture, new receivers, blaming past regimes, learning how to win, being "young". 

     

    The good and the bad together leave me at, just win in 2019. We heard Buddy Nix all those years ago say that we aren't that far away. Eight years later we're still not a good NFL team. So let's see the baby and stop telling me about the labor pains. 

     

     

     

     

    • Like (+1) 1

    Thoughts on McDermott, Beane after the 2018 Season

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted · Edited by Straight Hucklebuck

    1 hour ago, Logic said:



    I agree with the idea that the Bills need to start winning in 2019. It IS time to start getting results, but there's a few things I think you're wrong about.

    First of all, the first bolded part. The Bills did not choose cap hell. That came at the hands of Doug Whaley. A lot (not all, but a lot) of the jettisoning of talent you mention in the proceeding sentences happened of necessity BECAUSE the Bills were in cap hell. When Beane arrived, the Bills were loaded with a lot of overpaid, under-performing players like Marcel Dareus and Charles Clay (the contract of the latter, they are STILL stuck with, but I digress).

    Couldn't have McDermott worked with someone like Marcell Dareus? We're paying his dead cap figure and Star L as it is. 

     

    Beane's staff has done an EXCELLENT job clearing up the salary cap situation. Unfortunately, in order to do it as quickly as possible, they were left with a bad situation this year in terms of their ability to be competitive in the free agency market. Going forward, though, they have the 3rd most cap space in the league. That wouldn't have happened without the moves they made over the past two seasons.

     

    Again, they didn't have to trade Sammy Watkins, or Ronald Darby and end up with Jordan Matthews. They chose that route. For the record, I never liked the Sammy Watkins pick, and was happy they cut ties. He was a mediocre performer with the Rams (<600 yards, 1x 100-yard game) and has been a bust for the Chiefs. We're still waiting for this big Sammy explosion of productivity that will never come.

    As for the "they lost credibility" thing: I simply don't agree. When we talk about "the Bills need to start winning in 2019", let's not forget that this staff oversaw a team that MADE THE PLAYOFFS in year one of their tenure. So yes, they need to win in 2019, but they DID win enough to make the postseason in year 1. In year 2, in the midst of a (yes, self-imposed, but for the right reasons) rebuild, they failed to qualify for the postseason.

    I think a realistic view of that Playoff berth is in order. On the whole it was positive. Ending a 17-year Playoff Drought was a huge monkey off the back. But, they benched Tyrod for Peterman and that blew up in their faces immediately, and the Coach "regretted the result of the decision". Then they scored 3 points in Jacksonville on a day when Blake Bortles was atrocious. Yes, you ended The Drought. But that performance was poor. The 3-points that day foreshawdowed the 31st ranked offense we saw for the majority of 2018. Like fans are supposed to hold onto the memory of a 3-point output in Jacksonville in the time capsule of their memory banks as an elite moment. They went one and done, went out of the Playoffs with a whimper.

    Quote

     

    One playoff season and one playoff-less season where the main focus is cleaning up a salary cap mess, building for the future, and breaking in a rookie QB does not equal "lost credibility" in my eyes. Indeed, I believe that Sean McDermott gets the absolute most out of his players. I don't believe there are many coaches in the NFL who would've gotten last year's roster to the playoffs, nor do I believe that there are many coaches in the NFL who would have gotten this year's roster to six wins.


    As for the poor personnel decisions, I count Vlad Ducasse, Anquan Boldin, Vontae Davis, and Mike Tolbert. Benjamin, Coleman, and McCarron were risks worth taking, in my opinion. They didn't work out, but it's easy to see why the decisions were made. But even IF you consider them outright bad decisions, it is still only fair to ALSO mention the GOOD personnel successes, which FAR outweigh the failures: 

    Micah Hyde

    That's a Whaley signing, McDermott/Beane do not get credit. 
    Jordan Poyer

    That's a Whaley signing, McDermott/Beane do not get credit. 
    Tre'Davious White

    Agree, a #1 cornerback.
    Taron Johnson
    Levi Wallace
    Matt Milano

    That's a draft hit. He is good. 
    Tremaine Edmunds
    Harrison Philips 

    So far a rotational Defensive Lineman.
    Star Lotulelei

    An average (overpaid) DT.  
    Trent Murphy

    Hurt all season, no impact. 
    Rafael Bush

    A backup Safety?
    Josh Allen

    Needs to hit. Bills spent Cordy Glenn, #12, #53 and #55 on him. 
    Zay Jones

    A #2 in a bad offense? His awakening is a bit overblown don't you think? And besides, wasn't he supposed to be good? The Bills traded up in the 2nd Round(37th overall?) to get him ahead of Ju-Ju Smith Schuster. So can we not break our wrists patting ourselves on the back for that one?
    Dion Dawkins
    Robert Foster
    Isaiah McKenzie

    Again, golf clap, but this guy is not a real difference maker. 
    Jason Croom

    I get it, he's a typical loveable Buffalo Bills underdog story, but he's a fringe NFL player. 

    That's a lot of talent that this staff has brought in. They signed a top tier starting safety duo (no they didn't, Whaley did, Beane wasn't even here), a nose tackle (I think its fair to ask if Star L is already past his prime) and defensive end (hurt all year, no impact) that -- no matter what you say -- DID contribute to the league's 2nd ranked defense this year. They drafted quality players at the game's most important positions (LT, CB, QB, ILB), they found valuable contributors in undrafted free agency in Foster, Wallace, and Croom, they signed a valuable slot receiver and gadget player off another team's practice squad in Isaiah McKenzie. In short, their positive personnel acquisitions outweigh the negative ones by quite a bit. They also may have identified a long term franchise QB for both the offense (Allen) and defense (Edmunds). No small feat...just ask any OTHER Bills GM from the past 20 years. Oh, and I almost forgot: The front office not only found these players, the coaches then DEVELOPED them. Wallace and Foster both learned on the practice squad and were brought up and now contribute. Poyer and Hyde were free agency afterthoughts that McDermott has helped mold into top safeties. etc, etc.

    Because of their overall good drafting, ability to find UDFAs and practice squad players that contribute, ability to identify and acquire some quality free agents, ability to develop talent, emphasis on high character, high upside players, emphasis on building a CULTURE and a TEAM rather than just a collection of talent, and because McDermott gets the most out of his under-talented rosters, I feel the Bills are in absolutely EXCELLENT hands going forward. McDermott is 15-17 as a Head Coach. Any different than Rex, or Marrone? Just saying, we like the guy because he's prim and proper, but the results are still sub 0.500. Beane and McDermott have set the foundation for LONG TERM, SUSTAINED SUCCESS. In order to set said foundation, they had to go through a tough season this year. Let's not forget that they MADE THE PLAYOFFS (no small feat in Buffalo) in year one And quickly fizzled, scored 3-points, and let's not forget that the Bills are likely set up for long term success with what looks to be a quality QB, a selfless roster that plays as a team Okay, but the Bills have always had a good locker room going back to London Fletcher, Chris Kelsay, George Wilson, Fred Jackson and Eric Wood, a young defense The defensive front seven is getting older in spots, Star L is in the later part of his prime, Hughes is 30+, Murphy is not a lock to ever come back from the knee, Kyle is gone, Lawson's going into his final year if the 5th year is not picked up, Alexander is 35 years old. that ranked SECOND in the league this year In yards, not points per game, 10 draft picks and $90 million in cap space, and a winning culture and process in place There are is no data to support that McDermott's elite culture meaningful sets the Bills up in a different way than the rest of the league. Its nice that he wants guys who show up to meetings on time and practice really hard and pray together. But Dick Jauron said the same things regarding how hard it is to win in the league, studying tape, fixing mistakes, staying in 3rd and manageable, punting and playing field position, avoiding turnovers, and playing complimentary football. McDermott says in every press conference - throws he'd like to have back. He's repetitive. 

    Beane and McDermott have made a few mistakes, and they DO need to start piling up wins, but to say they've lost credibility or done anything less than a fantastic job thus far is inaccurate and shortsighted, in my opinion. On the contrary, what they've done in so short a time qualifies in my mind as just short of a miracle. 

    Just shy of a miracle? Now come on. The Bills were 15-17 under Marrone, 15-16 under Rex, and now 15-17 under McDermott. Theoretically they have set themselves up to get better with the cap space. But, look at the FA WR's ready to hit the market. The receivers they've traded for have all bombed out. The running backs they've signed are old. If the bar is finding a veteran starter on a sub 0.500 team then I don't think that's a very high bar. Bills fans give the team tons of credit for finding average starters on non-Playoff teams. Where are the difference makers? Alexander was a Whaley find, so was Hughes, so were Hyde and Poyer, so was McCoy (who is done). 

     

    My question to you is - when does the excellence start? When does the team get to 10+ wins? Not hovering around 0.500 hoping to gimp into the Playoffs as the 6th seed? 

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