Shaw66

Right, but at the same time isn't he also creating a playbook? I suppose he knows 90% of the plays, but if he isn't being creative about the next 10%, he's already a step behind the best. So I'd think he's doing that. And he's supervising his assistants, who are probably the ones who really are doing the film study.

I forgot about the Combine. You're right. There's planning going on about whom they want to meet, what kind of information they want to get from the kids, what kind of side-bar conversations they want to have with other GMs and coaches. I'm sure they're 100% prepared when they show up at the Combine.

When he came to Buffalo, some article said McD had bookshelves full of notebooks full of his notes about how to be a coach. He's been studying coaching for 10 or 15 years. I think it's only natural that he'd be emulating stuff that he's seen Belichick do. In fact, I think if you asked him, you'd discover that he emulates Belichick A LOT. I see it several things. I've heard a few interviews with Belichick lately, where he talks about what he does, what he's thinking about, how he sets goals. A lot of what I've heard sounds like the way McD approaches things. That's why, for example, I think the Bills are interested in Cousins. Cousins is a Brady-type guy in the sense that he's always thinking about how things work, always trying to build his knowledge, always practicing the things he needs to do better. I'm guessing that McD sees how Belichick has been able to leverage that kind of guy at QB, and I'm guessing that McD is looking for that type of guy. And that, my friend, is exactly the difference between the last regime and this one.

I don't think so. If you listen to Belichick, he's processed last season and the Super Bowl. He's working 100% on 2018, and he's dwelling on the fact that he lost the big one. He doesn't have time. He knows that time spent thinking about 2017 is opportunity lost for 2018. McD operates the same way. Every day, he's fighting the temptation to pat himself on the back for last season. He does that in some quiet moment one night sitting at home, relaxing. At work, he's working, and last season is irrelevant. Except, there is still a lot of work being done reviewing last season's game films. There's information about players to be mined there.

I don't think they're putting the draft board together yet. They're probably still gathering info. I think the scouts all have work lists - things they have to do every day this week, people to see, data to collect. I'd guess that in some meeting McD told Beane that he's interested in learning more about that guard from Montana State or that DB from Kentucky, and Beane has told the head of his scouting division that they need this info or that about these guys by the end of the week. So some scout is on the road to meet with coaches at Montana State. I'm just guessing, but I think that stuff is going on. If you could know the travel plans, and if you could see the cell phone records, of the scouts, you could figure out who the Bills have some special interest in. When they're done with that data they work on the draft board, I think.

They've had that meeting, a month ago. They met again to talk when Smith was traded, and they met briefly when Garoppolo got his deal. But they know pretty much where they want to go. If there's a guy in the league now that they're interested in, they've already had the first informal talks with people like Cousins' agent, the Eagles GM about Foles, agents for the VIking QBs. This is the period where everyone bends the rules a little bit - they're trying to figure out how the game is going to be played for a guy like Cousins, but they aren't allowed to talk contract yet. But after Beane's had a conversation or two today about the QBs, he's done and moving on to other stuff. I think they're busy with stuff all the time.

Wouldn't you love to see what's going on at OBD today? I would. Just walk up and down the halls, asking people what they're doing. Like Brian Daboll. What's he doing today. Some part of his work is reviewing scouting reports, on college agents, on guys who are potential free agents, on guys the Bills have on the roster. He's reviewing film. He's giving his views about players to McDermott, Beane and the scouting team. He's asking questions about these guys. But he's probably also studying film and designing his offense. Where does he start doing that? He's managing his team of assistant coaches, giving them assignments. Maybe he's doing some preliminary plans for workouts when the team starts to get together for spring workouts. He's planning the preliminary installation of the offense. He probably has a worklist, a to-do list. McDermott has tasked him with things to do, and he's doing those things. That's happening up and down the halls. Everyone has a job to do this morning, this afternoon, and this evening. They're working hard. Beane is talking to coaches in the building. He's on the phone to scouts, telling them what new information they need to dig up. He's talking with cap people about how they could manage the cap to acquire players he's interested in. He's working on big decisions, like do they want Cousins, and if he's already answered that he's moved onto other decisions. He's talking to other GMs about what's happening in the league, thoughts about players, possible trades, interest in moving up or down in the draft. He's collecting information. Some other people are trying to figure out how to sell more tickets. We're sitting around yakking about some sports witer's latest tweet, but those guys in Orchard Park are working all day long, working to implement plans and directives, all designed to get ready for (1) the beginning of free agency, (2) spring workouts, (3) the draft, (4) training camp. I'd love to see it.

Corner Blitz - I gotta say thank you for posting reliable news so regularly. It's really nice to come here and find out what's happening with the team, and you do a really good job of keeping us posted. Thanks.

Stafford. Three appearances in playoffs in 9 seasons. Ryan 3-8 in the playoffs. Brees missed playoffs three straight years. A lot goes into a team's record. Bad qbs rarely are top 10 three years running.

I haven't been participating in this thread. I just skimmed through it and had one impression: some people who don't want Cousins make a lot of different arguments. Not enough wins. Better receivers. He isnt Brees. Etc. What they don't talk about is his stats. The simple fact is that the best QBS are regularly at the top of the basic stats. Yards, completion percentage, TD to INT ratio, etc. They dont talk about his stats because he's regularly in the top 10, where all the good QBS are. How'd he get in the top 10? Is Jerry Rice on the Redskins playing under a pseudonym? Stats aren't perfect but they're the best measure. The best qbs have the best stats. Cousins is right there. When Brady Brees and Ben retire he will still be top10 maybe top 5. Hard to understand why you wouldn't want a top 10 QB on your team. I thought that was the objective.

Yes it was a speculative comment, but it was informed speculation. He knows Cousins understands how important the coach os, and he followed the Cousins comment immediately with his comment about how much he likes McBeane. I think he thinks Buffalo is a more likely landing spot than many people do.

Did you ever see a QB who bled so? It seemed like opponents drew blood all the time.

I don't think the Bills will trade up anyplace near the top. I don't see them burning a boatload of draft picks for one player. They might trade up into the 11-13 range if a QB they really like is hanging around. Now, that's the kind of in-depth analysis we've been missing around here!.

I agree about taking rookies in the third or fourth. Taking them in the second is a little pricey, but if you see one you feel really good about, even then. You can afford one in the third round every year until you find one, I suppose. The thing about rookie QBs and the cap is that rookies have gotten a lot cheaper relative to the cap, so it doesn't cost a lot of dollars to miss on one. On the other hand, since they're cheap, it makes the draft picks more valuable, so you hate to waste one on a bust.

On the field. Football's about coaching. McDermott will be a better coach in his second season as HC. His defense will be better by virtue of knowing the system. His offense may not be better, but the good news is that it can't be a LOT worse. I fully expect the Bills to be 8-8 or better. ESPN predicts the over-under for Buffalo is 7 wins. I'm definitely taking the over on that one.

Thanks. I've been wondering about this. Your data shows pretty clearly that the current cost of a QB isn't as outrageous as people think. As a percentage of total cap, QB salaries are staying more or less in line. It also shows that most teams are paying more or less the same amounts for a top 10 or even top 15 quarterback. It's just the going rate. So people shouldn't get so exercised about what they think Cousins will make. It is neither out of line nor surprising. It's just what it costs to take a chance on him being your future. And yes, rookie QBs are a real bargain, until they bust. Sure, you've gotten inexpensive quarterbacking, but unless they turn out to be Carson Wentz, you've wasted a couple years of the careers of all of your other players while you saved money on your QB. Dak Prescott wasn't any better than Taylor in 2017.

EXACTLY!. Marshawn and Marcel always gave us things to talk about in the off-season. First, I hope people here are tuning into your humor. It's fabulous. I love being your straight man - one mention of juices off you go!. Great stuff. And I'm glad we agree about he QB. I think what you say is right - I think the Bills have to take the Big Chance, whatever they think it is. Sitting around and waiting for lightning to strike in the fourth round isn't a smart move. I think Cousins is the right Big Chance to take, because I think the future in the NFL - next five years or so - will require a good but not necessarily great QB. What will be needed is a coach-on-the-field type guy with solid physical skills. I'd love to have a Hall of Famer, but I don't think it's necessary. But if McBeane don't agree with that conclusion, I'm fine, like you, so long as they do SOMETHING to get good enough at that position. I don't like trading up, and I don't think McBeane like it either, but if they see the right guy, then they should go get him. And I love and agree with the idea that it's okay for the guy they pick to fail, so long as he doesn't fail for exactly the reason that the scouting reports say he'll fail.

That's all correct, but there's not much to say about any of that just yet. We don't know who the QB is going to be, and it's very difficult to speculate about QB play if you don't know who the guy is. We don't know what the offense will look like, so it's almost impossible to talk about improvements. Defense? Yup, it has to be better. But there's not much to say about it - maybe some talk about guys who are likely to be available in free agency. Beyond that, the draft is completely speculative right now.

Three pages of responses is proof the the OP is correct!

Thurm - great response. Thanks. Love the first para. So true. Second para is what I was talking about and I don't agree with you. Trade up trade down is all just speculation. Too hard to say anything meaningful until the qb question is answered. Gaineas? My view is that position players just don't matter that much. A star yes, a guy who is just useful, you can always get another. If winning the Super Bowl is the objective, it's like driving cross country. If you're driving cross country, what shape your engine is in is important. That's like asking how good your qb is. IMO worrying about Gaines in February is like worrying about what brand windshield wipers you have. Sure, the brands vary, but chances are the wipers you pick up at Auto Zone will do the trick. When will the Bills be genuinely competitive? Well worth talking about. And yes this is what the boards are for. Some people find that talking about Gaines or the draft in February interesting. I don't. That's all. In my mind, spending a bundle on Cousins is taking a big risk just like trading up and going after a rookie. Last times Bills took risks like that was Bledsoe then Losman. Now, you may say that Cousins isn't the prom queen, but I beg to differ. Beauty is in the eye etc., and Cousins may be the kind of gal that gets McD's juices flowing.

I doubt it's Tyrod but whoever, the Bills will be better. We won't be just watching the Jets.

Yeah, there are all those questions and more, but any discussion of it now is poor speculation. You can talk about draft possibilities, but even that is pure speculation until we know what happens at qb in free agency.

There's really only one question in February 2018: Who will be the Bills' starting QB in September? That's it. That question, of course, is a HUGE question, and there's all the draft analysis and all the free agent talk about that. But for me, at least, there's nothing else. We know who the GM is and will be, we know who the head coach is and, at least for now, there's not a lot of point in talking about them being great or terrible. It's too early. Yeah, there are going to be some moves on the coaching staff, but the big one's already happened (Daboll) and there's not much to say about him until we see the 2018 offense. And yes, there are all those holes in the roster. But really, all that's going to happen is the Bills are going to draft some guys and sign some free agents. Some of us will like some of the guys the Bills get and some will be unhappy that they didn't get other guys. In the end, it's going to be a decent collection of talent, and the Bills record won't turn on how good those guys are - it will turn on how well coached they are. And on the QB. So it's wait for the franchise deadline and free agency. Then it's wait for the draft. THEN we'll have plenty to talk about.

Right. Just like they did with Bradford. And the fact that he has a team-friendly contract makes him even MORE valuable in a trade. I think the story on Foles is that with good protection in the right system, he can be VERY good. The playoff run wasn't an accident, and his good year in Philadelphia wasn't, either. The guy has shown he has great recognition skills and decision making, and he's an accurate thrower.

Josh Hapless is doing a good job translating what I'm saying. I think the rules of thumb you should follow are these: 1. If you're starting a new thread your post should either contain useful information about the Bills or a link to free information aboit the subject of your post. 2. If you're going to post simply a link to information we have to pay to see, then the title of the threaf should say the threas has a link to paid content. If you follow those rules you'll be fine and people won't be mislead into opening your thread. 3. If you're posting in an existing thread, linking to a paid site is less of an issue, but the courteous thing yo go is give some clue that It a paid. Often you'll see someone post something like this: "If you have ESPN Insider you make like this ...." For me the whole point is that it's irritating to be mislead into me into clicking on threads that are commercial, or are jokes, or otherwise take me to content thatbisnt a discussion of the Bills.