Ayjent

I am a UF fan and Richardson doesn’t have 1% of the want to win attitude of Josh Allen. He’s certainly comparable athletically but that’s where it begins and ends. I saw a kid that couldn’t put together a complete game and would get rattled as hell and not be able to rebound mentally. He could be electric but is a late round prospect at best that will get picked in the first. The team picking him that high will wish they hadn’t. I expect him to fall as teams evaluate him closer, but not too much. He’s terribly inconsistent passing and doesn’t have great pocket presence.

They need a reliable slot guy more than anything and McKenzie isn’t it. He missed his opportunity and was just too afraid of contact to be what the Bills need. I don’t blame him for that bc that takes being half nuts to play the position well, but the Bills need that more than anything in the passing game. I also think they need more physicality overall on offense with wrs and TEs that can block well in the screen and run game. There are a lot of easy plays they don’t have bc they really don’t have effective blocking outside and they don’t get playmakers any room to move in space for RAC. Some of the low RAC is also bc Josh is running around making time and the passes are just darts that aren’t timing or designed. Parker Washington might be a decent pick in 3rd Rd to fill that role of a good blocking, tough slot receiver.

I think what people are asking for is that McDermott actually be the Head Coach and hire a new DC with more autonomy to run a different D than Frazier or than he might run and bring something new to the table. But I think it’s also fair to say that maybe McD won’t fire Frazier bc he is doing what McD wants. Either way they can’t keep doing the same thing bc it’s not the answer Defensively. The culture and expectations that McDermott and Beane have brought are to their credit and most of us don’t want to throw it all away for the unknown. Especially given that this team mired itself in the most frustrating mediocrity for the better part of 2 decades, and the Pegulas first hire was a huge swing and miss. However, they do need to try to adapt bc this is clearly not on par with the teams that stand in the way and others are going to emerge.

I hear what you are saying and I agree, but I wonder if McD’s solution will be the right one. If I’m him and Beane, I’m thinking we flip the script on drafting and focus on offense to build the team. Interior line has got to improve and I’m looking for competition for Brown. I think another WR is a must, as is a physical back that they can use as a hybrid blocker/runner. I think there are gems for backs throughout the draft. Draft physical specimens in later rounds on D and see where it takes you because I’ve seen them hit on great picks later in the draft (Taron, Milano). This offense needs to be built to do whatever it wants and they’ve got the player at QB to make that easy if they put a great line in front of him. When a teams comes looking to harass Josh on the edge they need to be able to counter that with an ability to run at those ends and keep them home. They also need better play design but that’s a completely different conversation.

I like McDermott and don’t want to move on from him but I do want to see them adjust and learn from what has made them vulnerable on both sides of the ball, and invest where it will make the biggest impact on their ability to win a. I understand what you like about the defensive philosophy of how they’ve built the team but the reality is that the team on D doesn’t impose its will at any level and is particularly susceptible against physical teams and inclement conditions neutralizing them. It’s easy to beat the Bills D with talent and you needn’t be spectacular either, just have a rhythm passing game and it’s there more times than not, and if you have a running game to go with it, then it’s up to Josh and the offense to come through with more urgency in each possession. It’s what we saw the second half of the season, the Bills got the wins but none was particularly comfortable outside of an atrocious Bears team. I don’t even see the D play that multiple because when push comes to shove they play soft coverage and give too much respect to QBs that can get the ball out on time and on target trying to keep everything in front of them. They give yards. They give completions. They give you heartburn on 3rd down. Statistically it works out but that doesn’t mean it’s good nor dominant in any way. They really only play a front 6 and they can be dominated at the LOS. I get that it’s a passing league but the DL is not impactful in rushing the QB and yeah Von Miller going on IR hurt them but you’ve got to be better than one guy. The guys they have aren’t physical nor dominant enough to rush the QB even if they can run sideline to sideline to make tackles beyond the LOS. Pressure and penetration up front makes everything easier and they simply aren’t making that happen no matter what and soft coverage and passive schemes aren’t helping the pass rush either. They spent tons of salary and capital on their D and it’s not really that much more effective than year 1 under McD (other than at LB) and the offense is not talented enough as a result of over-investment in the D. I don’t know why they have not invested more in the OL to protect their franchise player and to impose a running game when Buffalo weather dictates they take a game over. I think skill players are a luxury that is not a wise investment if you don’t have the essentials (OL) and I think the Bills have enough talent, but not great talent beyond Diggs and Allen, on offense. They can be so much better on that side and they are already good, but defenses definitely figured something out with hemming Josh in so that he doesn’t escape moving up in the pocket and that neutralized the offense more and more as the late season progressed. I also think Josh was bearing more and more of burden of carrying the team and there was no confidence in his OL as he was looking to keep himself in position where he could get out of trouble bc he was expecting it.

This is the thing that I just can’t accept but will likely have to: the team with the biggest defensive investment, the defensive background HC and a constant HC candidate as DC was the softest least impressive defense in maybe the entire playoff field (at least bottom quartile). Every team has injuries and that is why coaching matters from scheming to your available personnel’s strengths and player development. The Bills seem to be falling short there - is it the organization’s inability to identify talent? is its inability to develop it that is the issue with a poor ROI on the DL? or is it what the players are asked to do that isn’t working out scheme wise? It’s probably some combination of all of those things but they are things that have to be true in one respect or the other. The defense is a paper tiger and we all know stats can be misleading because it’s how you play when it matters. Philosophically the Bills are simplistic on D and that makes it easy for good teams to attack and when the Bills don’t adjust the scheme with back ups the results are predictably going to be worse. That’s the story of playoffs this year and last was a different story but failed because of the same philosophy. They just had better players available and an offense hitting on all cylinders to give them a shot to win last year. I honestly think Frazier’s -layoff performances have closed the door on him getting another HC opportunity and I think the Bills would be very wise to move on and consider going in a different direction for the good of the team. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The scheme Frazier runs is not going to be much different results wise with uber talented players and mediocre players. It’s a great defense for mediocre talent vs mediocre opposition. It’s just not effective unless your front 4 are just wrecking balls and the Bills DL are not wrecking balls.

I just don’t understand why this team is not built to be way more physical and imposing especially when a home game in the elements dictates you need that type of team. The Bengals just manhandled this team on both sides and with backups on their OL after looking quite pedestrian vs Ravens. I really just don’t see how this is anything but a reality check for the entire organization from Beane to position coaches. And I’m not certain the investments in the D are as bad as they may seem but I do think there are serious questions about their development and training as no players really seem to develop on the DL. Hard to say who is at fault but there is a massive issue. They need to invest in protecting Josh and getting more physical on offense as a priority. I sincerely believe the way the Bills play D wouldn’t be much worse if they didn’t Invest so much into it. It’s the keep it in front of you philosophy that rolls out the red carpet for first downs and long drives against talented offenses - you don’t need top notch talent to play patty cake.

What was frustrating about the offense is that it went from quick release passing attack that looked unstoppable in the beginning of the season to one that turned into Josh running around all over the place until he could find something open with little rhythm. I’m not sure what changed the approach and how much of it was Josh and how much was Dorsey, but if the offense had that rhythm it had to open the season I don’t think we are all down on the direction of the team. Ultimately it is on Dorsey and McDermott to make sure they adapted to the circumstances or stayed with the more effective approach. Hell at times it looked like the team could impose its will in the run game against good defenses, but ultimately they had no answers when it mattered most.

Yes. The game plans for both sides have been lacking and they are getting both outcoached and outplayed. I also think that the DL players are not developing - which is likely a product that is some part bad picks, bad player development and scheme. On offense it’s a lack of investment and scheme - there has been little push to impress the importance of timing and plays that make sure the most dangerous players get the ball to make plays. There is no thing that Bills’ opponents stay awake at night fearful of other than what they could do with Allen improvising.

The news of this article if true is the equivalent of punting from the opponent’s 37 down by 13 with 4 mins left in the game on 4th and inches.

I’m having a problem having faith that the Bills know how to identify OL talent. Dawkins is their best OL player and he is not anywhere near the best at his position. The interior line is very mediocre at best. Sadly I’d think we’d probably be complaining about the whiffs on the OL ad much as the DL had the investment been made there instead.

I just want to hear “Down goes Frazier”. I know that this organization has loyalty and that is a great thing but…not when it is impeding the progress towards the goal that the organization has to win it all. He seems like an incredible person as a human being but Im sorry that isn’t the criteria that is going to win playoff games.

Thing is this defense wouldnt be much worse if they hadn’t invested so much in it. It would still be ineffective and unable to impose its will when it counted. It’s because of the scheme that we don’t see game changing plays frequently. The defense became less capable of creating turnovers down the stretch unless they were gifts or awful plays by the opposing offense. There weren’t turnovers due to pressure or aggressive attacking schemes. The D very much reminds me of Jauron’s. You can put a bunch of scabs or all pros in it and the difference isn’t going to be all that impactful. It’s great for a less talented team to run and it’s god awful for a talented team to run. And with the injury excuses - please stop! Every team has to deal with injuries that’s where coaching and knowing your bench talent’s strengths and weaknesses comes into play. This coaching staff deserves the heat and on both sides.

Bottom line is that team isn’t tough enough nor well coached enough right now. They are not mutually exclusive but one thing was clear on Sunday - the Bengals were superior in both aspects.

So they didn’t do either of those things with elimination on the line. That’s why people are upset. The team is built to win but not to win it all.

Fair enough. What happened bc these guys were playing pretty well early in the season but as the season wore on they became less effective. Guys like Phillips and Settle were disruptive. It’s definitely both play and coaching, and I know you aren’t disputing that but something isn’t right with the confidence of this team and I think we all wanted to dismiss it and hope they would play up to their potential in the big moment. Instead they did the opposite.

They’ve invested heavily in the D Line and it made absolutely no impact against an OL missing 3 starters. I want to blame the players and there is probably some blame to be had but then I realize coaching was what separated the Bills and Bengals. The Bengals put their players in position to win while the Bills simply put their players in the position of an ineffective scheme. You want to protect your depleted secondary? Get to Burrow. If you lose you go out swinging. Instead it was a blood bath where the only strategy was to not take too many haymakers and just get jabbed to death.

This team was exposed on both lines where the drafting has been inadequate (OL) or hasn’t panned out (DL). Beane has done an amazing job but this team has had its Achilles heel with its lack of physicality on both lines for years. But it’s deeper than that - there was a total lack of aggressiveness on D and they looked like they were playing a mid season game where things just weren’t clicking. To me that was the most disheartening thing to watch. No pride or determination. Seems like a franchise altering loss.

Sucks that he isn’t playing but the Ravens for all the good they’ve done haven’t ever acquired or done much to try to acquire a really good receiver that would make Lamar’s job easier. That and the K are the sour points and the Ravens would be smart to try a sign and trade deal with some other team. I can actually see the Giants or Bucs in the mix here. Lamar and the Ravens are destined for a divorce and it’s been a slow motion train wreck. It sucks for the league and Ravens that he won’t be playing but I get it and think his injury is more serious than reported. I think it has been helping the team with its narrative to part ways without the fan base getting too upset. Watkins is just a moron who cost the team any chance to have a shot at the end of the last game with his fumble. His career and what the Bills gave up for him in that draft full of talent at WR just makes you appreciate the current FO so much.

Reagor was an awful pick and I never understood the fascination with Jeudy who benefitted way more than Jefferson from the talent around him. Jefferson had size, speed and contested catch ability that was very impressive. I thought Chase was better but he was awesome in college. I actually didn’t understand why the Bills traded for Diggs that draft with all of the WR talent but it worked out very well for both the Vikings and Bills. And I wouldn’t change anything because Diggs is a leader and a good teammate that helped Josh take it to the next level.

Im not really too high on a lot of the receivers but the kid from Tennessee is good and would be a great fit on the Bills. I think he's potentially available late first. A prospect for much later in the draft or maybe UDFA that was severely underutilized because of poor QB play is Justin Shorter who is from Univ Florida and could potentially play a hybrid TE/WR. He transferred from Penn St. and was a 5 star recruit out of HS. A big bodied WR. He has a ton of really good attributes size, speed, toughness and an intelligent player. Could potentially be coached up to realize potential which just isnt a hallmark of UF past several years, especially at WR.

Fair enough. I was just going on what was reported in Buffalo News article yesterday about Elam as to why but I suspect you are right that there is probably more to the story that is a combination of things unsaid and unreported. I’d be frustrated if I were in his position and thought I had the ability to contribute more. Especially when I was watching someone get snaps that I knew I was better than and that player wasn’t exactly playing top notch. If the player that has you on the bench is playing lights out that may not be very satisfying but you at least understand. All speculation, but I could see a competitor getting frustrated in his situation no matter how good of a person. You want him to be frustrated with that and by all accounts whatever the underlying unstated reasons are he is responding in a positive way.

From what I read it was coming down to proper technique that they are coaching and not playing him unless he can demonstrate it in games/practice with consistency. The raw talent of Elam is superior to Jackson and we’ve seen it flashing, but I had my reservations about his tackling and losing coverage at times before he was drafted bc I’m a Gator alum. His tackling has definitely improved and the Bills have the staff to coach him up without breaking his confidence. He has great talent and it’s going to be needed when we face players like Chase, Higgins, Hill, Waddle, etc. I think we’re all disappointed that he is not further along but I do think the Bills are conservative in their approach. I wanted the Bills to draft Woolen and couldn’t believe he was not a higher rated prospect, although I had no idea that he would be so good so quick. However, Elam is still talented enough to be better than Woolen, but I thought he had more issues to clean up than Woolen despite Woolen converting to CB in college. It’s not that hard to transition because you know the techniques of what you are trying to cover and that was overvalued in dropping his draft stock. I thought of him as being very valuable against a guy like Kelce and bigger receivers because of his size and speed. And the dude is a very willing tackler. Again, I was shocked at where Seattle got him and it’s been tough watching the Bills struggle with consistency at CB2 knowing that Woolen was a really good fit. Then again maybe he’d be facing the same issues with playing time under this staff.

Crapping Out

I think the point here is that many people are frustrated with what they’ve seen from this offense on all cylinders and where they are now. I think they have another gear but I like that they’ve used the running game to win and control the end of games. That was an impressive win on Saturday because of how they used the final drive to put the Dolphins to bed. Yes it would be good to not have to come back and win in the 4th dominating from whistle to whistle, but you had to know that the Dolphins were coming with it all on the line bc they lost 2 in a row coming in and the loss effectively conceded the division even though it is not yet mathematically decided. They need to be able to play like they have the last three games if the conditions dictate it and I think they are better suited than in years past to modify their game to the conditions. There are still a lot of things that baffle me with playcalling and design but the results are there at 11-3 after knocking out three straight AFC East opponents and putting an end to any questions about who is the alpha dog in the division.