Shaw66

As others have said, Allen has to handle the blitz. That's up to Daboll scheming properly and Allen executing. I agree that the possibilities are almost endless. Once you have quality speed in two receivers which the Bills have in Diggs and Brown, everything opens up. You can have Foster or McKenzoe on the field. You can have Knox and Beasley roaming all over the empty spaces. You can have Singletary threatening every part of the field. In a different thread I was talking about Wade, who has the potential to be like Sproles. Line him up as the sole rb with four wide, then shift him to empty the backfield. Like Siingletary but probably better speed. Now you have to defend the bubble screens and the rubs. And as others have said, the field is now wide open if you have a QB who can run. Oh, right. Check that box too. Oline has to perform. Skill positions collectively are a really tough group to defend.

I've had the same thought. I think he's been studying and working on skills. The problem is he will be limited to certain kinds of things that he really understands. He may be a liability in blitz pick ups, for example, and teams might automatically send a blitzer when he is in the backfield. That limits the play calling. But he looks like a natural ball carrier, and he is tough. He is a fighter. Think Sproles.

I try not to think about there being no 2020 season. This team has to play.

Well, it's a bit premature, but it's certainly possible it will fall this way. 100 people could make 10 scenarios each where this doesn't happen.

I think you're whole train of thought here makes sense. Because the Bills want to win now, and because this position really does seem to be a position of immediate need, it makes sense that Beane would be aggressive. Add in your guess, and I think there's some validity to it, that this year many GMs will see value in plug-n-play positions. That will just put more pressure on Beane to move early. Bottom line, an aggressive move, trade or draft pick, is almost certain. Diggs was an investment for this year, with ongoing value to the team. A running back is the other investment they need to make, and it has to be a guy who promises immediate returns.

This makes a lot of sense. I'd add that what they say about running back being the most instinctive position on the field, it's a possition where you really can count on a rookie making a difference. Couple that with the fact that Beane and McDermott know exactly the kind of guy they're looking, and that guy may not be what the public values - the glamour runners. Coming out of college, SIngletary didn't look the kind of guy you'd expect to be a dominant ball carrier. McBeane understood that he a collection of attributes that could make him a dominant football player. Since McBeane are looking for a different combination of attributes, guys they like seem to last longer in the draft. Allen, Edmunds, Ford, Singletary all are examples. Given the need, it's hard not to expect Beane to continue with BPA. Beane's already made a win-now statement with the Diggs trade. He can't sit back and just let the running back situation work itself out - the win-now decision has already been made. McDermott needs someone he can count on in that role.

Excellent thought. If you think about it in terms of Plan A, Plan B, etc., at almost every other position, if the question is what happens if Plan A doesn't work?, the answer is "here's Plan B." That's depth. At running back, it's different. If the the question is what happens if Singletary gets hurt and misses four games, what's Plan B? As you point out there is no Plan B. There's also not much of a Plan B for who's the guy who spells Singletary for 10 minutes? There is no Plan B. The Bills need some serious help. Beane no doubt has a strategy that helps drive decisions in the draft and decisions as free agency continues, even trades. He knows where he's going to get the help they need. That strategy will play out over the next few months. Interesting to watch.

I think what we're seeing with these gambling signings, as you cal, is the exact same strategy as last year. Last year he signed so many offensive linemen that it was obvious they weren't all going to make the team. The plan was to create a competitive environment and see who comes out on top. Same thing with the the defense this year. By the time they're done with the draft and other signings, there are going to be a lot of pretty good players fighting for limited slots. With the O line signings it's the same thing, and they're not done adding players there, either. So yes, they're gambling on these players, many of whom have one question mark or another. But by signing a lot of them they hedge their bets. The odds that any one of them plays at a good level aren't great, but the odds that some of them will are increased by bringing in a lot of guys who can compete. And it's become easier because the Bills have become a team that a lot of free agents WANT to play for. They want to be in a winning culture, surrounded by good people and not jerks. So good journeymen players are willing to take the risk of getting cut, because they want to be on this team. It's a good strategy.

What does he say about Allen? It sounds like when asked about Allen, he first says "he's a baller." Then I think he says "he's a dog."

Well, one is always going to be the best, and that's likely Oliver. But McD wants guys who cause problems all across the dline, and he seems to have about 6 or 7 or 8 of them now.

interesting comment. I think that's the kind of Dline they want, too.

I like this. Another guy with experience at multiple positions.

True. But it depends as much on the line as on the back. Taiwan Jones is good enough if the line plays well. Said for emphasis, not as my choice.

OOH!!! Thanks for being patient with me. I misunderstood. Absolutely agree there - a top 5 guy in the draft is a guy who should be able to help and who could even be Singletary's equal. Everything you say makes sense. I think the Bills can get by with less than a top 5 guy, but a top 5 guy would be ideal, for all the reasons you say.

Gaines is not a guy you plan on as your next young guy behind Wallace. If he wins the job from Wallace, it means Wallace doesn't have a future, and Gaines will be gone in a couple of years. I'm just saying, you're going to see more youth in camp than you see on the roster right now. That's true for all positions, but it's particularly true with defensive backs. I don't know if I imagined it, but I think Beane once said something like 'you need to take a defensive back in the draft every year."

There's going to be a rookie in the mix somewhere, challenging for time, too. Bills won't go through the next couple of months without signing a drafted or free agent rookie. The position requires depth, but it also requires young depth.

Well, I think that's fine if you can find a top 5 RB, but it certainly isn't necessary and it isn't the same thing as what happened to the receivers. Singletary was fourth in the league in yards per attempt, and he was decent in yards per reception. His performance was fine as a #1 back; he just didn't get enough attempts. So you can get more or less the same effect by getting an effective guy behind Singletary. Doesn't have to be a top 5 or top 10 or even a top 20 running back. Most of the top 7-8 running backs weren't even on serious playoff teams. Those guys are really good, no doubt, but being a top runner doesn't correlate with winning. KC and SF didn't have a ball carrier close to the top 10. Minnesota went more or less nowhere with Peterson all those years. Bills need someone to spell Singletary. If they find someone who's a nice fit and effective, the guy can split time with Singletary. But the guy doesn't have to be a star. If I could find a second Singletary, I'd take him in a heartbeat. There are any number of scenarios. Imagine Christian Wade as Darren Sproles. I know, I know, Christian Wade blah, blah, blah. I get that, but he's tough, quick, fast and shifty, which is exactly what made Darren Sproles a spectacular number 2 back for about ten years. The point is, there are a lot of guys who can be the #2 effectively. It doesn't have to be Singletary as #2 to Saquon Barkley.

Outstanding point! Don't think I've ever heard anyone say that. Every team has a culture. But not every culture is a winning culture. McDermott is trying to build and maintain a winning culture.

You know, I used to subscribe to this kind of thinking, and I think there's a lot of merit to this approach. But that is NOT how McBeane are operating. I don't think you'll see them making player personnel decisions based on the strengths of opponents, especially opponents outside the AFCE. They're approach is to build a team that plays football really well, that is really good at adapting their play week-to-week to address the next challenge. In some ways, their approach is like the approach John Wooden and other good coaches have taken: we're going to be really good at what we do, and we'll let other teams worry about how to match up with us. Beane isn't taking a DB in round 2 because KC has good receivers. Beane's taking BPA in round 2 and challenging other teams to beat the Bills with his rookie round 2 BPA guy on the field.

That's a very interesting take, and you might be right. Maybe Allen already is a really good NFL QB and the problem has been that he's had a substandard group of players around him. I've been saying for a week what you said - the receiving corps got better at 3 positions with Diggs being added. And Singletary should be a mature NFL back. And the oline should be better. But just watching Allen tells me that a big part of the problem with the offense has been Allen, not the other 10. His job is to to get everything right, every play. That's presnap reads, postsnap reads, decision making, pocket presence, mechanics. It's all gotta be right, and last year he didn't look to me like he had all of that under control yet. He didn't perform, play after play, the way Brees or Rodgers or Brady perform, play after play. I don't think it was about the supporting cast. I think it was Allen. I think he will improve. He's still growing and learning, and he has the right attitude about it. The improved supporting cast will cause his play to improve, for sure, but I think he has to grow, too. If he doesn't grow, I don't think the surrounding cast will make the Bills a big winner.

You know, I've never listened much to Orlovsky, and I see comments like this all the time. Connecticut boy! I'll go look for him.

You know, I'm really excited about the Bills. I think they're on the verge of greatness. However, I think the love around the country for the Stefon Diggs deal shows us why it's more or less worthless to read the national press about the Bills. And once you realize it's worthless about the Bills, you realize it's probably worthless about any other team. What have we, the people who follow the Bills, known about them since the end of the season? More or less, here's what: 1. Josh Allen still needs to be a lot better. He could do do it, but he hasn't yet. He needs to keep learning. 2. The oline made good progress last season but isn't there yet. Since the Bills didn't help the oline in free agency and traded away the #1 pick, there probably isn't help on the way. Continuity and coaching better be the answer. 3. The receivers weren't good enough, including tight end. Diggs should solve the wideout problem. the tight end room is still filled with unproven players. 4. The defensive line was good last year, lost two key contributors, added three promising guys and has Harrison Philips coming back. 5. The linebackers were shallow and lost Alexander. Klein should help, but the Bills need at least one other guy who can contribute there. 6. The Bills would like to upgrade the #2 corner position and get some depth at safety. Norman might help, but he's at best a question today. As excited as I am, it's pretty obvious that Stefon Diggs doesn't answer the QB question. Yes, he might make life easier for Allen, but the objective for Allen is to be a good quarterback, not to be a mediocre quarterback whose numbers are okay because his receivers are great. Diggs doesn't answer the oline questions. Diggs doesn't answer any of the defensive questions. Great move, I love it, all of that, but the press sells stars to the fans, and the fans buy it. So the press all of a sudden is saying look out for the Bills because they got Diggs. If it turns out that the Bills are seriously good in 2020, Diggs will be only a small part of the explanation. People bash Chris Simms, but the fact of the matter is that does his homework and he sees teams as they really are. So in his podcast, yes, he gushed some about Diggs, but his focus was on the defensive acquisitions. That's a more mature way to look at what the Bills did over the past couple of weeks.

Thanks for the response I get what you're saying about rb, and I agree. I just think it could be done by committee or with any warm body. Edge I don't agree. McD wants four guys who can stop he run and have some success getting to the qb. There only are one or two Garretts or Macks, and Mcd's model is designed so he doesn't need a star to make it work. McD wants guys like Lawson, with good size good speed and who are good athletes, but with better work ethic. So I don't think you're gonna get a star on the edge, except by accident. You're gonna get lunchpail guys, and McD knows he can win with them.

thanks for doing this. I think your first piece is exactly on the money. Bills aren't going anyplace unless Allen performs at a higher level. I think your second and third pieces COULD be part of taking the team to the top, but aren't necessary. Who's to say that they need a solid second running back? I mean, sure, most good teams have some kind of one two punch, but maybe Singletary becomes a full-fledged three-down back and is spelled by a committee. Yes, I hope they have a good #2 guy, a guy who puts up 500 yards and catches some balls, but it doesn't have to be that way. And edge rusher? You just got done telling us the Bills had 44 sackes and 54 led the league. What did those 54 sacks get the Steelers? It's really easy to imagine a team that gets 44 sacks again this year and gets good pressure from the line - there are no weak links on the line, and winning big. I just don't see why the Bills have to get 10 more sacks to win the Super Bowl. KC won the Super Bowl last year with 45 sacks, so won't it be enough if the Bills get just one more?

Thank you for taking the time to let us know. We're all sorry for your loss. When the Bills win the Super Bowl, it's going to be for all the fans, and it will be for your husband, too. Remember the good times.