SCBills

Re: Roe’s affect on future elections.. Dems should tread carefully. They had the upper hand on Roe. R’s messaging on what Roe actually is, was terrible and Dems were able to effectively pull public support behind keeping it as the illusion of protecting a women’s right to choose from becoming women, everywhere, have no right to choose. It’s shocking how many people thought abortion would become illegal, and furthermore didn’t realize Dem effects to codify Roe included elective abortion up to the moment of birth. Now, the debate in red & purple states shifts to Republicans home turf. They run the risk of giving that home field advantage away when they push for total bans and no carve outs for rare exceptions. However, the states that push for first trimester abortion access with only rare exceptions being legal after will put Dems on the defense. The majority of America (and the civilized world) do not support elective abortion after the first trimester. Dems have tried to divert this debate under Roe, but no longer will be able to do so as in - say - Georgia, a state that polling suggests supports the heartbeat ban, Stacy Abrams is now running on abortion up until the moment of birth against Kemp… in a race she was already struggling in. Same for “Reverend” Warnock vs a weak candidate in Hershel Walker. Also at tremendous risk for the Dems.. rapidly expediting the move of Latinos becoming Republican voters.

Baker makes too much sense in Seattle. No clue why this hasn't happened yet. Pete Carroll loves to run the ball and play defense. They just need a QB who can make throws off play action and get the ball to DK/Lockett... Healthy Baker is not elite, but he can do that. In a weak NFC, that's likely enough to get them to the Playoffs. Seattle doesn't seem to have draft capital to really be heavy in the '23 QB Draft anyway.

Ill specify.. don’t understand why we have 3 slot WR’s and only 3 outside WR’s, one of which is Jake Kumerow. I get the forward thinking in roster building, but we have some strange depth right now (on the surface) behind a strong 3 wide in Diggs-Davis-Crowder.

I'm not super high on Shakir this year, simply because I don't understand why we have 3 slot guys on the team (not even factoring in Austin). Perhaps they view Shakir as an outside WR and he'll have the rookie Gabe Davis role. That being said, him falling to the 5th Round isn't a valid reason to downplay him, imo. Gabriel Davis fell to RD4 in an incredibly deep/strong WR class. Similarly, Shakir, a WR expected to go in RD3, fell to RD5 . Some of that drop was also due to teams unable to view, specifically, where to play him... as he played outside, inside, gadget and running back at Boise State.... jack of all trades, master of none. That being said, he's probably the most electric RAC guy on this roster. It's up to Chad Hall and Shakir himself to get him coached up enough to get playing time. I'm rooting for it, because we certainly could use someone else on the outside that isn't Kumerow or a smurf.

We likely win the Super Bowl if the defense wasn’t a paper tiger last year. Poyer was out there against KC. Didn’t do much of anything to stop them. I’d have zero issue trading him before the season, if it comes to worst case scenario and he won’t play out his contract. Having Von Miller, Tre White and Kaiir Elam out there this year will more than offset the loss of Poyer. Having a Safety like him is a luxury for a Super Bowl run, not a necessity. QB’s, Pass Rushers, Corners and Wide Receivers are necessities. Cinci beat KC with Burrow, pass rush and WR’s. LA then beat Cinci with Stafford, pass rush and Kupp.

Jordan Poyer isn’t the difference between a Super Bowl run or not. Good player, but not that guy and not that position.

Nobody is expecting him to be a key contributor though. Diggs is WR1 Davis is WR2 Crowder is the Slot Knox is TE1 Singletary is RB1 Cook is RB2/WR We’re now six deep in contributors before we get to a point where, maybe, Tavon Austin can carve out a role if he makes the team.

Thats not exactly a fair assessment. Tavon Austin isn’t Isaiah Hodgins. He’s, arguably, the most electric college player ever. He has talent. The question for him is.. Is he washed?.. or is there still potential for him to be unlocked in this Offense?

7 WR's Diggs Davis Crowder McKenzie Shakir Austin Kumerow

I think they did a decent job with the OL. -Hiring one of the best coaches in Kromer was a great start. -Saffold and Bates as starting Guards should be upgrades to our Guard play for most of last year. -Some of the OL hopes ride on Brown making that second year jump. Insanely talented player who, if he can put it together, can be elite. Sometimes you just have to hope guys develop. -Quessenberry is a really nice depth player and can provide adequate play at RT should Brown not make the jump. On paper, this is a pretty good starting OL, with a lot of potential. Depth is ok for NFL standards. At the skill positions Crowder and Cook are massive upgrades in explosiveness over what we had last year at slot and pass catching back/rb2. Not sure what we have in Howard or Shakir. Really hoping Tavon Austin shows out and makes this roster, because he's shown in his career another level of explosiveness at WR that we don't currently have on this roster. Whether he still possesses that remains to be seen, but early returns sound promising.

THIS We had a pathetic running game outside of Allen last year. Pathetic... I don't want to hear about Singletary's YPC, he ran against light boxes and we had nobody to get us goal line/short yardage. As Simms pointed out.. Diggs is elite. Knox is above average. Davis may be big time, but we overrate last year due to the KC game. Sanders didn't give us much and neither did Beasley. So, outside of Diggs and Knox, Allen had no running game and mediocre play at WR2 and Slot WR for much of the season. That, along with an ok pass blocking OL. Much reason for optimism that his supporting cast is better going into this season... but Josh Allen elevated a slightly above average Offense into a Super Bowl caliber Offense last year.

I think the only angst some of us have is the lack of a true WR3 outside. For a team predicated upon throwing the ball, that seems strange. I'd agree though, our WR room is very good. Diggs & Davis on the outside, with Crowder in the slot is really strong. McKenzie is viewed as a solid player and Shakir seems to be highly regarded by league commentators. I'd feel much better if Tavon Austin shows out and forces us to keep 7 or (as much as it would hurt my heart) beats out McKenzie.

They have to move Baker regardless. Baker won’t play for them, and even if he did.. as weird as it sounds.. the Browns can’t risk having a good season with Baker.

Maybe he hangs around the PS, but with his apparent position being, yet another, slot WR (albeit big slot), I don't see a path for him to the roster.

I don’t know that OBJ would want to come on as depth outside WR3 .. I know he’s coming off a major injury, but he did show WR2 capability last year in LA. We’re in a tough spot where we have an alarming lack of a true WR3 on the outside, but we may not be an ideal landing spot for a vet when we have an established WR1 & WR2 who are both in our (likely) long term roster plans. If someone gets banged then yes.. I certainly hope OBJ is still out there. I’m intrigued by the Shakir pick, but ideally we would’ve drafted a true WR3 on the outside as that rotational/developmental guy. And not in the Hodgins/Stevenson long-shot sense. Maybe they see Shakir, McKenzie etc as guys who can play outside just fine in this offense.. who knows.

It definitely speaks to the roster strength when we have four, by almost anyone’s account, “elite” level players in Allen, Diggs, Miller and White PLUS so many Top 10 at their position caliber players. Even better, we’re so well set up for the future as well… we may lose one or two of Knox, Oliver, Edmunds, Poyer after this season… but with Pegula’s cash flow and Beane’s ability, even that isn’t a given.

Agree with this. I also think we’ll keep 7 - especially when two of those spots would be key ST’s guys in Kumerow and Austin (should he win the return battle). Your 7, plus Knox/Howard/Gilliam and Singletary/Cook/Moss would be my guess. Think Duke Johnson may not make it, especially if Tavon Austin is on the active roster. Cook makes him redundant and Austin can also fill in that role.

Oh, yea, we’re nitpicking.. roster is loaded. Veteran talent, young talent, potential.. it’s all there. I think Diggs & Davis can be one of the best outside WR duo’s in the league, but unless Shakir is the answer for outside WR3, who fills in if someone misses a few weeks? Who even comes in to give them rest? The OL has a ton of potential, but I can understand the worry. On paper the potential of this OL, with Kromer, is one of the best in the NFL… however, should Saffold be injury-prone and Bates/Brown not live up to the hope… we could be playing the shuffle game on the OL all season… again.

Even if this signing is simply to push Stevenson/Hodgins etc., I like it. Makes me think we are open to keeping 7 WR’s.. Diggs, Davis, Crowder, McKenzie and Shakir are likely locks. Kumerow seems pretty safe as WR6/ST We have next to zero reliable depth on the outside… if Austin can show out, or push Stevenson, that’s a win in my book. That said, Austin isn’t exactly a pure outside WR either, so I’m still kind of lost at the roster construction of the WR room.

Outside WR3

Will Cain is definitely not a nut job, you just don't agree with his views. Agreed - Inside the NBA is a show someone who doesn't even like the NBA can watch, it's that good.

Its both. A show like First Take was decent, given they refuse to not comment on social issues, when Will Cain was on it with Stephen A. They legitimately have different world views. Now that show is just Max Kellerman, now JJ Redick, in agreement with every political take that is debated. Stephen A and Michael Wilbon almost hyperventilated and fainted when KD attacked Mayor Adams over his covid policy given what was going on with Kyrie. Why on earth do the sports-watching public need to hear an entire segment devoted to ESPN analysts covid views? ..and of course, those views were all on one side. This comes across in all their programming. Not even moderate left leaning people want to be inundated with this when they try to get away by watching sports. Sometimes you get it in game… Mark Jones types just randomly lecturing the audience in the 2nd Quarter out of nowhere. Yes.. there is a lack of talent on the network…for sure, but their politicization of sports certainly plays a part. I’ll watch Bills/Cuse games wherever they are, but if I see an NBA Playoff Game is on ESPN, I’ll probably check out. If it’s on TNT, I’ll likely tune in. I don’t care about the teams involved, but TNT is a good product.

Bills Games Cuse Games NFL Live (Orlovsky and Kimes are good) College Gameday I stick to those.. anything else on ESPN that I attempt to watch has a high probability of annoying me. It should viscerally bother ESPN execs how much better TNT’s coverage of the NBA is.

ESPN literally turned into The View prior to the NBA Playoff Game after Uvalde. Thirty minute round table demanding “common sense gun laws”. No matter how you feel about the issue, that’s a made up political term. It means nothing and solves nothing. Just my own anecdotal self, but I turned it off and went to the gym. I don’t watch any of their shows outside of the occasional NFL Live. When people like me (mid-30’s male) are also turning off their live sports.. that’s a problem.

Tyreek Hill is the one I’d be most worried about giving a long term contract to, as hes elite due to his insane speed..and ability to translate that speed into his route running. That being said, until that speed declines, Tyreek Hill is the best WR in football. Almost could put him in a different category called “game breaker”. Adams & Diggs., are more complete inside/outside WR’s who will both likely age gracefully into their 30’s. Kupp is unstoppable out of the slot at times. Hop is definitely in that group, but he has some weird vibes and I just don’t know about him staying healthy/focused enough to remain in this group. Chase & Jefferson also belong in Tier 1, but it takes time to overtake the guys who have been doing it longer.