NewEraBills

Exposing the linebackers inability to cover

Can't keep getting in 3rd and long. Dennison might have to take some chances. I know chunk plays are tough against this unit, but if you keep getting in 3rd and long then you are gonna keep being in trouble.

Thought Hyde was going to scoop it on the tip and return it for a TD. Would have bee nice.

He couldn't. Pressure was way too fast.

Actually can our WR's win because if you have AB, Ju Ju and Bryant, nobody is going to run that scheme on you even if you have a mediocre QB.

Here we go. Can TT overcome the 5 man rush cover 1 man coverage. I can see it being used in this game. Same scheme the Jets and Panthers deployed against us. Has he learned it and can he beat it. Let's find out. Go Bills!!!

I think he buys into the philosophy that trenches win and so ball control passing game. Strong running game. Tough as nails defense. To me, that's the vision.

People seem to read what I said wrong. I never said a QB is not a part of the equation. He is. He's just not the only part. To me the trenches, and QB are the fastest way to be competitive. And I don't think it's mutually exclusive where one takes precedence over the other one. I think it's equal and if you don't think this team is hurting in the trenches and want to sacrifice possible great trench players for a QB, then be prepared to get a lot worse before you get better. Do we need a QB? Yes. Do we need trenches? HELL YES. Three picks for a QB just took away two trench players. You can always run the rock, play great defense, and have a serviceable QB until you get THAT guy and be very competitive. But you are NOT going to get a Franchise QB and have terrible trenches and be competitive. The saying is as real as it gets. You win the game when you can win UP FRONT. I'm all for taking a QB. But I'm not for sacrificing talented trenches for a QB. So I'm for keeping the picks, stacking the trenches and if one of those top guys falls within range to where you don't have to do a desperate move, sure, you take him.

That's not evidence. That's an interpretation of what you see. I could actually make the exact opposing argument based on what I've seen. It's not evidence, it's an interpretation.

Cleveland is not trading this time man. I'm not sure why people think they will but they set themselves up for this EXACT scenario. Unless they pay Cousins, they are taking Darnold or Rosen at 1. Believe it. Nobody is going to do the Bills favors and pass on a franchise QB when they set themselves up for this just because Bills fans are desperate for a QB (and I'm not saying we shouldn't want one, because we should).

Where is that evidence?

I'm sorry but when you have multiple games where your defense is 29th in run defense; your QB is the 3rd most sacked in the league because your OL is 31st in pass protection something is amiss and it ain't just the QB. Again, this is about building a roster. A QB is definitely A PART of that.

And I'm saying the claim is mere conjecture.

No it is not. We saw that this year. We don't have a franchise QB, yet we are in the playoffs.

I think you're reading way too much into that. This roster has holes up and down and the cupboard needs to be stocked. That's the reason for the trading last year. They are trying to build a COMPLETE, competitive roster. You don't do that by selling all your picks for 1 guy. Look at what's on the table. We will need not 1 but 2 starters at DT. We really need another pass rushing defensive end. We are as desperate at RG and RT as we are at QB. We might even have to look at another starting CB if Gaines decides to dip. So it's just way too much. We need to build a roster so that means we need as many picks as possible. Losing the extra 3rd for Benjamin kinda hurt to be honest.

I also think you have to factor in what Lock will do. I watched him in person vs Vanderbilt was thoroughly impressed with him and that TE Mizzou has. If he declares I think he has to be in the conversation very late 1st/2nd rd.

Nobody is taking Mayfield in the top 5 until he can answer some serious questions about his off-field stuff and they see where he is with the onfield stuff. He'll probably defintiely go 1st round but I seriously doubt top 5. I hope we don't trade up for him.

I'm not buying any talk about who loves anybody right now. All that stuff to me is just smoke screen at this point. As for the Giants, Gettleman is the Giants GM. He is not known for moving down the board but rather he's made later round and future draft picks expendable to move UP the board. He's taken a lot of trench and skill position players. I think when you look at the Giants he's taking the QB and fixing the OL. I'd be very shocked if he took OL at 2 with a franchise QB on the board. Talent wise they may not be, but Mayfield has some other things that he'll need to answer before teams are willing to pull the trigger.

I'm in the keep the picks camp, Build the Trenches and take a developmental guy. We might have to do that anyway. I don't see the Browns trading the #1 pick nor the Giants the #2. They set themselves up for Rosen/Darnald. The only hope we can have is if the Browns prefer a vet instead and sign Cousins. If they don't they are taking Darnold/Rosen. And the Giants will take the next guy. I'm just imagining the team we could build with all those picks rather than throwing too many of them at one guy.

No they won't. They've actually set themselves up for one of these QB's. They are not selling anything. They are taking the pick.

The play calling may appear stupifying but if you look back at the game, OU's run plays were actually their most successful plays, in both halves.

To answer the original question, you still draft a QB at some point preferably in the first three rounds, no matter how he plays.

You also have to factor in the Skins just might franchise Cousins again rather than allowing him to hit free agency. It's a high possibility. I mean think about it, most teams are desperate for QB help. The Skins have a solid guy they are not will to marry but they don't mind dating. They'll possibly date until they can find another date to replace him.

He's' the same guy for sure, but I think scouts take it's not a matter of better or worse as a matter of is this guy a specific systems guy that can/cannot make a transition. And I think the 2nd half of that game was a clear indication of scouts concerns. He shined in the first half when UGA was using a lot of zone coverage to try to figure them out. The windows were there for him to make the throws. But once UGA made the adjustments at half and started running tight man coverage and he had to throw the football with defenders drapped on WR's he held on to the football too long and it caused him to hit the dirt several times. He made 1 great throw and 1 good throw when UGA deployed tight man to man. The great one his WR went up and got it. The good one was for the TD to the FB to tie the game. Most of his other passes were not on the money or he held on to it too long. There are several things to like about Baker Mayfield, but there are some serious questions scouts are going to have to guess and take a chance on like any other QB. I don't see him as a Bills pick to be honest. When the other team has a guy telling you to humble yourself after the game and with the score at 14-7 him running down the sideline after UGA missed the FG giving the throat slash saying "it's over" and prior to the game he's over on the other teams side where the WR's are running their routes doing who knows what???? These are just things that he's going to get pushed hard in interviews on. His issue isn't talent, it's plain old sportsmanship. Just be a good sport and move on. All of the antics are for what??? That's why I don't see him as a McBeane/McDermott pick. In saying all of that he still won me on a few things. He's just a very polarizing figure at the most pivotal position.

Man I like a lot. I'm a trench guy so I'll start there. Defensive Linemen Vita Vae Christian WIlkins Da' Ron Payne Bradley Chubb - BEAST edge rusher Arden Key Offensive Tackles and Guards Mike McGlinchey Conner Williams Tyrell Crosby Chukwuma Okorafor Quenton Nelson Braden Smith Maea Teuhema Linebackers Roquan Smith is my #1 Guy here. Turned it on in the 2nd half last night and showed why he is the Butkas winner. This guy will be special. He has great coverage skills, speed. He reminded me of a blend of Luke Keuckley and Thomas Davis. Leighton Vader Esch is a sleeper. He's a big body linebacker that has everything. I like his game. Rashan Evans - He was steady for Bama this year and got thrown into a situation where all of the backers went down. They lost 5 backers but he was steady. Played great vs Clemson. Also has some pass rush ability. HB Nicholas Chubb Sequon Barkley Bryce Love - I worry about durability but he's very explosive. Sony Michel - Man,, this guy. The explosiveness is ridiculous. Has a gear that once turned on and there's space defenders can forget about it. Versatile HB that can do it all. DB Lots of guys here but I'm going to list one that I think is going to be special. Minkah Fitzpatrick - BAMA. He can play CB or Safety. You see a lot of guys when you watch Bama. But this guy stands out on an all star defense and did so even last year. QB Going back through some games this week. I'm going to assume we are out of the Darnald/Rosen sweepstakes. Allen - definitely has the prototypical size you want in a QB. Measurables reminds me of Drew Bledsoe but he has some athleticism that Bledsoe could only dream of having. My biggest concern with him in combination with the Bills is what type of passing game will we have? If Dennison is still here, I don't see him as a good fit mainly because I don't see him as a fast processor. I watched his game vs Iowa, Central Michigan, and New Mexico and what I saw was a QB in an offense where he's only required to read 1 side of the field and either throw it to the open guy or take off. I didn't see him, for instance, do what Mayfield did on ONE play last night, namely get the defense to follow his eyes left to move them out of the passing lanes then turn back right and find his TE open. I don't see that with Allen. I'm going to watch some more games of his but with him I just see a guy with great measurables and an arm that can get the football down the field. In a Dennison style system, I worry about that kind of arm. How many strong-arm QB's like that do you know who are very accurate in the short game? Mayfield - Like his grit, toughness, and leadership. Guys seem to love him as a teammate. Does some things really well. See Allen take above. Can sling it. Has won games. My list of concerns though showed up vs UGA. In the first half when UGA was trying to figure them out the Dawgs used quite a bit of zone coverage so there were windows for him to throw the football. But in the 2nd half when they started playing man to man, Mayfield held the football and it got him planted in the dirt several times. He did have one great pass with an amazing catch by the Fresh WR down the sideline in 1v1 coverage. But for most of the 2nd half, he held on to the football too long because of the tight man to man coverage. When you are thinking about Dennison and that combination I don't see it. You gotta get rid of the football. I think the thing that really caused me to take a closer look was Mayfield's response to the adjustments that UGA made. Once UGA made their halftime adjustments, Mayfield was shook. In comparison, I thought Roquan Smith was lost in the first half, and Mayfield was on fire. But it was the exact opposite in the 2nd half. Mayfield did a lot of things well. He really did and I say this as not a real fan of his but he won me on some things. When they scored to tie the game and I saw him go and encourage his defense to make a play, he won me on that. To me that said hey, I know you guys think you haven't been playing well, but I believe in you guys. Let's go get it done. I have to like that. He's going in the 1st round, no doubt about it. Rudolph - I'm going to watch closer this week. Falk - I've spoken about him in another thread. I'm a fan. TE Mark Andrews Oklahoma - really liked him all season and he just kept going great things in the Rose Bowl last night. Dalton Schultz WR Haven't watched too many just yet. Will do so after QB's.