Shaw66

1960. Me too. A few comments about this. First, the salary cap doesn't permit accumulation of talent like in those days. Smith, Bennett, Talley, Tasker, Reed, Thomas, Lofton, Kelly are the equivalent of $150 million against the salary cap. That wouldn't work today. Second, I'm a big believer that the game is more about coaching than talent. Yes, you have to have talent, but you just can't have enough talent to be better than everyone else. The Bills can use a little more talent, sure, but it's coaching that makes them a top team. A QB and coaching. Third, and notwithstanding what I just said, how would JJ Watt do? He'd be a nice addition. He's a free agent at the end of the year. Too expensive? I don't know; maybe not. Here's my pipe dream: Allen extends and gives a significant hometown discount, like Brady did. He's worth $40 million per year or more, but suppose he agreed to $30 million. Why would he do that? Because he's a team guy, because he knows that everything he earns over $100 million is just funny money, because he'd like the Bills to get other talent. It's not inconceivable to me that Beane asks Allen how he'd like to have JJ Watt as a teammate, and Allen says "I'll take less if you can get Watt." Maybe Milano and Edmunds give a discount, too, but I'm not sure it's fair to ask them - they aren't going to get mega-bucks. Okay, with Allen on board, you go to Watt and say: You want to play for a winner. That's us. You want to play with guys who are as committed to the game as you are. That's us. You're from the midwest and would like to get back home, and nearer your brothers in Pittsburgh. That's us. You're ten years into your contract and you realize that if you want to extend your career, you have to take fewer snaps (you were over 90% in 2020). That's us - we platoon. We have a great QB, maybe better than the one you're playing with now, and he's taking less money because he wants guys like you to come here. So we're offering less than you can get elsewhere (but those other teams want you on the field 90% of the time), and we're offering exactly the kind of football culture that you're dying to play in. You're a superstar, like Allen, and it will say a lot to Allen, and to your teammates, if you take less to be here, like Allen did. Lots of reasons that might not happen, and there are 32 teams trying to put together the pitch and the package that wins him, but Watt in Buffalo is less far fetched than we think.

Theres something like euphoria here that's a little premature, but it's fun to celebrate the excitement. Enjoy it!

But both completion percentage and TD to INT ratio are some indication of accuracy. Virtually all inaccurate passers are low in this categories. That doesn't necessarily mean that a guy who's low in those categories are inaccurate, but it's an indicator.

I was stunned when I looked at Elway several months ago. He played, I believe, NINE seasons where his passer rating was average to below average, compared to the rest of the league. Then he played four seasons where he was in the top 5. We are not seeing that, at all, with Josh. Just a steady climb, taking big steps. Big, big steps.

Yeah, the point about Jordan is correct. He was that way. And I agree, not everyone finds motivation that way, but some do. My point is that Allen is not one who does. He just doesn't seem that way. When he said it about Denver, it was in response to a question on exactly that point. He answered kind of matter-of-factly, as if to say, "sure, I remember that they didn't draft me." He's not one of those guys who marked the Denver game on his calendarlast April. I think his entire history, from high school on, has been a career where he's worked as hard as he can and applied himself as well as he can to be as good as he can be. He's naturally self-motivated.

You know, Bradshaw was very much like Allen coming out of college. He was a number 1 pick overall in the draft, which is what Allen was projected to be. He was a number one pick because he hadn't play college ball at a high level, but he had unbelievable upside. Steelers took him and just stuck him out there and said "play!" They were willing to live through the pain of getting him the learning curve. Bills made the same draft-day decision but planned to give Allen the opportunity to grow on the bench for a while. But soon they just put him out there and said "play!" In both cases, the organization said "we'll live with the pain because we believe the guy will grow in ways that will give us the upside of his talent without the downside of things he has to learn." Steelers were rewarded, and the Bills are being rewarded. You're right - it's interesting that Bradshaw doesn't seem to recognize that.

Not exactly right, but a good point nonetheless. Allen's had a much bigger relative jump in completion percentage than Aikman had. But you're absolutely right about Bradshaw. Bradshaw actually had a negative TD to INT ratio - wow! 6 TDs and 24 INTs as a rookie. Positively Peterman-esque!

Not that it matters, but this is what I said in the post that you quoted: I was referring to what he said about Denver, and what I've heard him say before. When Allen says it, he doesn't say it with any passion. He is self-motivated, just like McDermott is. I'm not sure I agree that they all use slights to motivate themselves. I don't think there's any noticeable difference in how JJ Watt plays from game to game that is attributable to the opponent one of ten teams that didn't draft him. Does he really play differently? Gronk had 31 teams to carry a grudge against - do you think that even ten minutes of his weekly game preparation involves thoughts about showing them what a mistake they made? I think there are guys like that, and from reports I understand that Rodgers is one of them. I just think there are more guys, the truly self-motivated guys, who already are 100% motivated to do their best. Allen seems to be one of those.

Exactly. Once they figured out what would work, Allen was air-mailing special delivery.

Yes, my post said I know he said that. But he doesn't say it with passion, and he doesn't say it often. Sure, he remembers who didn't draft him, but he isn't great because of it. He doesn't play harder against the Broncos because they didn't take him. Same as the Jordan story someone posted. Does anyone seriously believe that when he was playing for his fifth NBA championship, he played harder because he didn't make the varsity in high school?

I'm so in love with Allen, I'm hopeless. I have to defend Allen against these "chip-on-the-shoulder" claims. Yes, I know that when asked, Allen has said he'd like to prove some people wrong, but I don't think he's driven by that. Allen is driven simply by wanting to be good. I think he's pure, good-natured competitor, without the edge. There's no hate, no nastiness in the guy. Aaron Rodgers is the guy with the chip on the shoulder. He's been very frank about it for years. He's perpetually pissed off that other teams didn't take him and pissed off that the Packers sat him for three years. There are plenty of reports about the fact that some, even many, of his teammates don't like him. HE's quick to blame others. I don't say any of that to dismiss his greatness - it's taken me a long time to recognize it, but he is one of a very few true greats. His decision making, his quick delivery and arm strength, his accuracy, his running ability, everything, is superb. But he's not very likable. Even his State Farm ads show his tendency to lord it over others, when he throws the tennis ball out of sight or hits his driver on the run, both actions being done to show up Jake. Allen doesn't have that edge about him. He's not motivated to prove people wrong. He's motivated simply because he's always been motivated. He was born that way or raised that way. He was a great student in high school, and a great, motivated athlete. He didn't go to junior college to prove anyone wrong - he went because he wanted to play, and it was the highest level of competition that wanted him. He didn't go to Wyoming to prove anyone wrong - he went because he wanted to paly and it was the highest level that wanted him. He didn't come to Buffalo to prove anyone wrong - he came because he wanted to play at the highest level. He doesn't plan with anger. He rarely, if ever, says "I told you so." He just wants to play, and play well.

And this is about as concise a statement of the accuracy issue that I've seen. Excellent. And it really wasn't even a footwork problem. It was all about having time to be in the right position. When Josh had time, he didn't have a footwork problem. It was all, as you say, reading defenses and making decisions. Now that that has caught up to NFL quality, Josh's natural throwing superiority is on display.

This is exactly right. He was a possible number 1 overall pick, for Petes sake, and people talk about this as some kind of miracle. All you had to do was watch him throw as a rookie. If you did and were thinking about what you saw, you knew this was probably coming. Beane and McDermott knew before the draft. The question should be why didn't the Browns, Jets, Giants, and Broncos know?

Can't be. He's not accurate. Great stat. Certainly consistent with the guy we've been seeing. When he's clean in the pocket and throws, it's a completion.

Out of state rules are too tough. I'm not going to sit in a hotel room for four days. Super Bowl XXV was my last playoff game. I guess I can wait another year.

You're right insofar as "establishing" the run is concerned. You don't need to be able to run first to have a good offense. However, you need to be able to run. There are times in the game - namely, the end of the half and the end of the game, when running effectively is important. That's because at those times, running the clock becomes the most important objective. To run the clock, you need to maintain possession, and yes, it's possible to maintain possession with a passing game, but running the clock with a passing game is much more difficult. Every incompletion stops the clock, and that's 40 seconds that don't run off the clock. An effective passing game also uses the sideline a lot, and that invites the defense to drive the receiver out of bounds. So, if I run for 15 yards on three plays, I get a first down and I take two minutes off the clock. If I throw incomplete once, to the sideline once for seven and over the middle for 8, I get the same 15 yards and the same first down, but i take only one minute off the clock. The Bills haven't had a very good running game this year, but they HAVE been able to run effectively at the end of a few games. That's the minimum you need from your running game.

I appreciate your taking time to say thanks, as many others have, too. It's gratifying that people enjoy reading what I write. Bottom line is I love the Bills and I like to talk, and this is a good place to find some people willing to listen. Happy new year to all!

Excellent! Thahks. "This freakin' guy!" Just great,

Good stuff, again. Loved the conclusion. Thanks, Virg

I saw that and really wanted to know what was said. You're correct, it was an unusual gesture from Belichick. If I head to guess, here's what I'd say was happening. Beclichick is a total student of the game. He understands the game at its core, and he understands all the nuances. Beyond that, he understands how to watch film and dissect what's happening, understands what is necessary to respond, and can innovate responses. He loves the challenge of it all, he loves the history. He loves all of it. And he respects it in his way, the cheating notwithstanding. I think Belichick sees in McDermott a kindred spirit, another guy who sees it all and who is 100% committed to putting it all together. I think Belichick sees that McDermott is at the door of a bery exclusive club, knocking.

Thanks for this. I thought it was something like that. It was a really athletic play by Epenesa. It would be nice to see him come on a bit.

Top 10 for sure. They just keep working and coming together as a unit. And, as you said, Milano came back. If anyone had any questions about how good he is (I used to have questions), he answered them last night. With Milano, Edmunds and Poyer on the field, the Bills play defense like they have three linebackers and seven defensive backs on the field, plus four down linemen. Do the math.

Amazing , isn't it!??!!!

All good stuff. It was a dominant performance. Thanks for adding more of the details.

That's great. I didn't see Poyer come back. As for Beasley, we just have to wait. One thing that has me encouraged is that we didn't see a parade of Bills players coming by to console Beas while he was still on the bench, the way teammates do when everyone knows something big has happened. I thought his look on the bench said "well, I'm done for the night but not for the season." We'll see.