Richard Noggin

But isn't the stare down what drags (or at least entices) the intercepting DB off his potential shallower responsibilities deeper, into Davis' shadow?

Why is there an insistent Bengals fan presence in this thread about the Bills salary cap situation? I generally cherish having access to a diversity of perspectives and voices on a given issue, but I find it tedious af to see discussions sidetracked by a specific rival fan's contributions. Which is completely separate from my favorably ambivalent feelings about this particular poster's persona in general.

He also stared it down like a tractor beam. Nothing much to misdirect savvy NFL DBs.

Sincere tip o' the cap to you, sir: for no one extracts quite as much satisfaction from Bills dysfunction as you do. You knew it all along, you clairvoyant rascal. So fun to kick dirt on your alleged favorite team at the halfway hinge of the season when they're half a game out of the division lead. DO you even still allege to be a fan of the Bills above all other NFL teams? (Remember in 2021 when it took you and your ilk all the way until week 13 to really, finally get the majority of Bills fans to recognize your predictive brilliance? Man, the Bills were terrible that season. Definitely no way they were gonna regroup and win the division and explode offensively in the playoffs (minus 3rd quarter vs Chiefs). Definitely no way that year's championship window was open the widest. Of course, ultimately you get to take comfort in the Billsy collapse of 13 seconds. You get to lord that loss over Bills fans here on this forum. Cheers to your most objective predictions.)

Kromer, Shula, Brady, and Boras are all experienced offensive coaches who have called plays. Fact.

Are you anticipating what might be said tomorrow by others like Sal? Or are you saying this now? (That the defense is what failed us tonight; just needed that one more stop.)

They have like 3 or 4 former OCs on this staff.

Primarily, with Jones and Milano playing at ELITE levels, and White finally returning to previous excellence, this defense was looking GOOD. Secondarily, Oliver was flashing, Bernard was flashing, and Benford was flashing. The Bills were collapsing pockets, disrupting QBs/timing, and taking the ball away. Frazier's defenses were never so assertive even when they were solid. Now, with the loss of their most effective/impactful guy at all three levels of the defense, we're seeing a defense that looks more vanilla and more passive. A lot of that perception might just stem from the players being less EFFECTIVE at executing and winning their matchups on a snap-by-snap basis. But I'm sure some of it also stems from the calls being more conservative/predictable. Keep it simple and safe, and let the replacements play fast and all that... (Sorry for the late-night string of posts. 3 in a row is a bad look lol.)

Didn't Poyer take a couple bad angles in preseason (I know, who cares) and in the first game or two prior to the injury? Now, characterizing a defender's "bad angle" can also be the result of hesitance, false steps, and/or a lack of footspeed/range (which you explicitly recognize in your post). I recall seeing Hyde being more active in the box and coming downhill at the beginning of the season, and I wonder if that means Poyer was playing the deeper role more often, which would have then really shined a light on his diminished range? Therefore, this recent adjustment to him explicitly lining up on the 2nd level would be a way to reduce the space he has to cover, allowing him to leverage his instincts while mitigating his diminished speed?

Overdorf has persisted through it all, and mostly because he is a dutiful, ethical, excellent lawyer/accountant who never sought undue power. He used to catch some flack, but that guy is not to blame for any of the floundering. Littman had major influence over cap decisions and broad contract parameters, whereas Overdorf was the guy who made those green-lighted deals workable and well-constructed for all parties involved. I suspect Littman had major influence over all the non-cap salaries as well, meaning he had a hand in bringing in less expensive GMs, HCs and their staffs, scouting depts, etc. (And also played a major role in the more expensive, established names not even considering Buffalo, due to his (and RW's) reputation for interfering with football ops.) ANYWAYS...Montez Sweat is probably underrated by many fans due to meh sack numbers and lesser draft status than Chase Young, but I'm pretty sure he has some solid secondary metrics, like pressures, hits, forced fumbles, etc. Kind of like when Jerry Hughes was obviously being disruptive for the Bills but wasn't recording a ton of sacks. Guess the Bears are gambling on him continuing to improve despite joining a much worse DL group?

I think Littman gained significant influence over all expenditures once Butler left, and then even more so once Donahoe left. He became RW's proxy, essentially.

You're probably thinking of Jeffrey Littman? He was Wilson's chief bean counter, and after Polian, and then Butler, were gone, the personnel dept didn't have anyone competent and confident enough to just override his (Littman's) influence and force Wilson's hand. Edit: turns out @BADOLBILZ already ID'd Littman as the unnamed accountant several posts above mine. That guy's (Littman's) influence definitely grew as the Bills were employing lower and lower profile HCs and GMs (which is where Ralph WAS actually cheap).

Rasul is signed through next season already, and I'd argue that if he plays the way some hope he will given his scheme fit, the Bills might even look to extend him a year or two and bring down the cap number for 2024. Don't think Joseph is a guy who would even want/need to be re-signed for a full offseason and training camp. He has a pretty awesome thing going now for 2 straight years whereby his body gets TONS of rest and recovery and he gets to make a mid-season, educated decision on which suitor to choose. Fournette? Maybe. McD likes big, veteran RBs. Joseph definitely added value to Philly's vaunted IDL last year, and whaddaya know? He signed with them the first week of November. Hmm. I will not google "Stefon Diggs ice bucket challenge" I will not google "Stefon Diggs ice bucket challenge"

Did you just call yourself cool?

I wish we had 👀as a post "reaction".

So is that "few weeks" nugget the buried lede here? The admittedly non-linear progression/circumstances of the injury, post-London, is kind of super interesting, but otherwise, the juicy bit is the 3-week recovery forecast. Right?

I am not implying that actual vest batteries are dangerous lol. Apologies or maybe thanks that the dreadfully inappropriate implication was not more clear.

Gut-check time (at the risk of brutal cliche)

I went with a buddy who got in with his battery-powered heated vest during the Patriots blizzard game in...2021? I lack the expertise to know how the new scanners (maybe first appeared last season and might not be at ALL gates/lanes?) materially impact what gets in and what doesn't. Feels to me that as long as it's concealed, and as long as it wouldn't reasonably be misinterpreted by some monitor-less, automated body scanner as some kind of weapon...then you're good. Vest batteries probably DEFINITELY SHOULD be flagged though am I right

Yeah super mediocre rankings, but the isolated pass rush talent/success could be more valuable if the passing game took a step forward. But that's unlikely with a Canada/Pickett offensive ticket.

That lineup sounds fine. But has the on-field performance this year matched with that assessment? (This is an honest question with SOME pessimism, statistically. Gonna use the old googler now and probably learn about how wrong I am.)

Yeah? (Aside from Watt and maybe still Heyward)

No sweat. I wasn't a true believer by any means, but even if I was, I can handle eating a little 💩 -- it's good for us.

I'd like to thank this thread and its contributors for reminding me how much I effing hate Trey Hendrickson. Not a huge Joe Mixon fan, either. Come to think of it, the Bengals and the entire city of Cincinnati can get rekt. Don't get me started on the state of Ohio in general...