Richard Noggin

I'm not 100% opposed to giving Ben Johnson the keys to this offense/organization, should the Bills desire to move on from McDermott (they probably won't). If it gets even bleaker.

I'd be interested in seeing those stats. I don't wish to carry with me a false conclusion about Edmunds' play, which I found to be average, at best, over the course of his career in Buffalo. The lack of impact plays is the most oft-cited and legitimately stat-based criticism. I've heard others suggest his height and wingspan deterred passes into his zones, but is that quantifiable?

They often do that by looking at DEFENDERS (safeties usually) they want to manipulate/freeze, rather than looking at a different target.

But DID he really? That's the narrative, but it isn't supported by anything other than repetition. Can it be quantified at all?

Yeah, according to that tweet he's "mauling (sic) over his future" --which sounds like complete conjecture without any cited sources. Just some tweet from a UB Bulls/Buffalo Bills fan/update account. It's entirely possible that a former 5-star RB recruited by Alabama, then drafted to the NFL in the 3rd round, who played out his rookie deal and came in on a vet minimum, 1-year prove-it deal, now a 5th year depth guy suddenly recovering from an initially scary neck sprain/stinger, might be battling some existential demons. It's also very likely that this talented player with pedigree and starting experience (but has some documented availability issues) wants another chance, somewhere, to be the guy (and to be paid like the guy). Let's hope he's completely healthy soon, and gets to make a clear-headed decision about how to proceed with his NFL career. Short of a late-season and playoff explosion, he's gonna need to sign another prove-it deal and fight for opportunity in 2024.

Lol I've stood next to him on many occasions. It's not who he is or what he's capable of. Which is okay.

Was hoping this was a poll. Remember when the team was 7-6 and REELING, but then in most fans' opinions, in the playoffs that same season, SHOULD have defeated the Chiefs and then the Bengals and then the Rams to win a 'ship? No awards that matter for being #1 wire-to-wire. Gotta get into the tournament. That's what the regular season is for.

It was talked about a LOT going into last season that Dorsey operated almost exclusively out of 12 personnel in college (with those TEs, who wouldn't?), and also the Carolina offense he came from had used that package extensively. This was widely projected to be an increased emphasis last year, if they'd had the players to run it. Now they (presumably) do. I use the term a lot myself, and must admit this is a good point (delivered with arrogance, because the internet).

Eh? Big Baller Beane is a solid GM, an excellent communicator, and all around likeable dude. But he is NOT someone who intimidates or kicks anyone's ass (physically).

**Beer break** Drank a lot of Labatt in my WNY teen years, and often associated it with Bills football. I remember Labatt Ice being like effing moonshine in high school. Back when the Canadians were battling to sell the highest ABV beers possible at the time. Molson Ice? XXX? But I left the region after high school, and didn't move back until I was into my 30s (visited a bunch, of course). When I returned, I started to realize that Labatt beer is kinda shite. Blue Light, especially. Full flavor Labatt is OKAY in a pinch. Maybe it's just that light beer, and mass-produced North American lagers in general, are dreadful unless one intends to drink for many hours at a time. If I'm looking for a "sessionable" cookout/campfire/gameday beer, I'd rather Busch Light tbh. Or the High Life. Or [insert myriad better beers than Labatt]. Many of the best U.S. beers now are coming from Brooklyn, of all places. (Nostalgic sidebar: In college, a 12-pack of Milwaukee's Best Ice cans, The Beast (Ice), cost $3.99. Like 6% ABV. That's 18 "normal" beers. **taps temple smugly**...and worth noting i don't even drink beer these days unless I'm watching sports or watching a fire.)

Now do his career, not just the last 5 games. No surprise we'd see a little jump in his contract year.

I'd say catch percentage is a pretty good measure of reliability/efficiency, which is pretty damned important for whomever gets the 2nd most targets on a given offense. While Davis has ridiculously high YPC numbers over his career, he also has ridiculously LOW catch% numbers, meaning he's a dangerous deep threat but definitely not a go-to guy. Targeting Davis is nearly a 50/50 proposition, which is unacceptably inefficient. Diggs caught 10 of 16 targets today, for example, which was actually really BAD for him (but still over 60%). He's usually MUCH more efficient.

But the Bills beat the Dolphins, the team you're saying is better than them, by 28 points?!

But because they're not the team we suffer with, they are inherently more dangerous than our own Bills, right? (Not asking you, so much as who you were responding to.)

You sound enlightened.

Yes. There have been injuries since the Bills absolutely EXPOSED the Dolphins defense, and handled their offense by taking away Tua's first read. Solid observation.

If only there was a way they could have definitively tested this claim already. Guess we'll just have to trust your assessment here.

Not bad for how deep the Bills are digging into their depth. Figured from my perspective that NOT really noticing either guy much meant they were playing all right. Who was in coverage on that really well thrown deep boundary completion on the Bills sideline?

Unfortunately, the only action will be taken this week, and it will be pointless fines that these particular well-paid players won't even notice. Maybe if the kicking in the head thing is obvious there might be some potential for a suspension...but I didn't even catch that from my vantage (which is actually pretty perfect to see that all unfold, down near that goal line on the Bills side). You miss a lot of details in person. You see some things with amazing clarity, but you just can't take it all in on every play. And you definitely don't get any info from the PA system or replays.

Perspective from the game on that drive: I kind of agree. The fans in general brought solid energy and noise all night, but on that drive the fans were weirdly slow to get riled up. Also, there were a decent amount of Giants fans in attendance. The similar jerseys and colors made it difficult to ascertain visually, but they were making some noise when the Bills were on offense.

Insurance fraud lol

The bolded stuff feels a bit selectively alarmist, as the OL appears to be improved, and there are NO 2023 expiring contracts for starters or their top IOL swing guy. The only real failure was not upgrading RT and/or infusing the OT pipeline with bona fide young potential. Many were worried about Dawkins and his physique, and that hasn't borne out thus far. He's been above average. And while Brown is still the weakest link, the floor has been lifted at least a little. Many have predicted Morse will either hang em up or get released following this season, based primarily upon his concussion history, and the not underpaid presence of Ryan Bates (he's RICK Bates when he plays OG). Right now, though, I don't know how obvious that is if Morse continues to stay healthy and play at a high level. He's not old. Both lines are improved. The real long term worry should be directed at the DL, tbh. Besides 2 DEs (Rousseau and Miller) and 1 DT (Oliver), this line will probably undergo significant turnover. For a D that FEATURES an 8 or 9-deep DL rotation, that's noteworthy. Especially now that Beane finally got it right.

Do posters here fully recognize how much cleaner, quieter, and just civil, this site is compared to other NFL message boards? They're so seedy and noisy and ugly.

The only name I see as a "potential" upgrade, given that McD's defense was effing HUMMING before being decimated by injuries, and no offensive coordinators (outside of Johnson) seem to be consistently lighting it up and staying ahead of NFL defenses (without deferring to their offensive HC).

Hypothetically, Ben Johnson is one of the only guys right now I'd be excited about. Seems to me he's probably destined for Cleveland or Minnesota or Chicago. Maybe Cincinnati? The Jets and Giants as longshots?