Richard Noggin

Meh.

Brenkus for the win!

Two thoughts on the clips on page one: 1) Is Beasley kinda cheating that ladder drill? He's definitely pitter-pattering impressively like a drum roll, but don't guys usually work laterally across each rung of the ladder, with both feet alternately landing inside and outside? Just a thought/query. I'm sure there are other uses for the ladder. and b) Josh Allen has quietly, but dramatically, unveiled a MUCH different throwing motion than he featured last season. His front shoulder is staying closed a lot longer now. He's keeping that left shoulder pointed at his target, which reduces the moving parts in his delivery (fewer opportunities for something to go wrong). He was way more open last year. We'll see if he can stay this "quiet" and controlled in his delivery during live action.

One could make the argument that an offense DESIGNED to gain 6-7 yards per successful play is more of a dink and dunk approach that would RELY upon a high 3rd down conversion rate. Usually about 2 out of 3 plays succeed, for good offenses (if we look at QB completion percentages, for example), so...there would be 3rd downs as such an attack matriculates down the field. Just saying. It's not quite as simple and implicit as you might think. I really saw those Patriots offenses thriving in 3rd-and-managable.

Which of the CBs listed fit the Bills scheme? I'm thinking Griffin, Fuller, Sherman (obviously untouchable)...but who else? Griffin got kinda paid. Fuller's one-year deal ain't cheap, either. (I'd prefer either right now, for sure, and happily cut other vets to make the room.) But I don't think Beane wants to use FA to find a 2nd CB.

There were, of course, mitigating factors in the Chiefs games you cite. Injuries no doubt played a part. But I agree that the team overall seemed less aggressive and less effective/composed. Coaches and players. Interestingly, I think Spagnuolo and the Chiefs D was actually daring the Bills offense to be LESS "all-out, damn the risks." They knew the Bills strength and challenged them to adapt. (Much like the Bills tried to do in the first game on defense against the KC offense...and we all know how that turned out: KC was able to switch gears and take what was given on the ground. Repeatedly.) In the AFCCG, if Allen had been able to slow down, get his protections right, and take the hot reads and underneath stuff, it might have been a different game. Who knows what Daboll wanted him to do...

Full disclosure: I voted YES, but I don't think there exists a vet CB out there who is available and can actually help the Bills, AND I don't think the sign-a-vet CB program has been particularly efficacious thus far (I'm thinking of Josh Norman and especially Vontae Davis). Norman made one meaningful play (against the Raiders) last season, at least. Kevin Johnson made a few plays the year before that, if he qualifies. EJ Gaines wasn't a major weakness prior to that. But on the aggregate, they haven't been better than JAGs. In the absence of another high-value asset opposite Tre White, hopefully Jackson and Neal and Lewis and Wildgoose can grow into their important depth roles. And of course the Bills need Wallace and Johnson to keep improving as starters.

With all due respect, I don't think the Bills particularly value "speed" for prospective CBs. Sure, guys have to be able to run and close on the ball. But timed speed isn't nearly the trait to focus on here as it might be elsewhere. In Buffalo, the traits to focus on are more difficult to pin down. I know that ideally length, physicality, and awareness are desired for zone corners. Guys like (a younger) Richard Sherman and Josh Norman are the models. On the contrary, Deion Sanders, for example, would theoretically be a bad fit. (Naturally, any competent DC should eagerly modify his coverage schemes to accommodate such a generational talent.) Don't get caught up in my hyperbolic use of Primetime. He was all speed and ball skills. Bump-and-run and press-man all day. He turned and ran with WRs. The Bills want CBs who more often play off-coverage and primarily face the LOS. Size and smarts are more valuable than raw speed here. Although, having typed that, I'm pretty sure most of our CBs are not very big by NFL standards...

Agreed. No doubt an offensive approach that intentionally ignores the run for essentially entire halves of professional football games is not being designed by old school football traditionalists. Kudos to McDermott for allowing Daboll et al (I forget the analytics person's name) to be so progressive. Maybe this year they can temper SOME of that progressive/aggressive approach to keep opposing defenses guessing more.

I don't disagree, but...would you care to elaborate upon how that compares/contrasts/relates to the topic of THIS thread? Easy for me to see how it might relate, but I guess I'd like to know how the poster who brought it up sees it. Thanks.

I think you're on to it right here. Rosen was never enough of a "jock" or "gym rat" to overcome adversity at the pro level. He's unlikely to connect with and inspire a diverse locker room of gladiators, many of whom are annually sacrificing their bodies for chances at brief careers. To the contrary, I commend McBeane for their holistic appreciation of Josh Allen.

Need bodies to eat up reps? If he isn't going to be of value to the team in the regular season (which we all hope/know he won't be), then he can serve to reduce the wear-and-tear on others in the meantime. Of course, the preseason QBs might disagree with that assessment.

No one gonna give Rodgers props for his sense of humor on that one? I'm in the minority among football fans, as I've always liked his persona. Seems smart and funny to me.

But isn't that how roster development works for teams interested in the kind of sustainable success Beane has aspired to? (I'm thinking of organizations like GB, PITT, and BAL when I type this. Teams that have QBs (for the most part), and rely elsewhere upon sober, draft-based, long-term roster-building (for the most part). They don't behave like KC or the LA Rams, with their high turnover and reduced reliance upon drafted depth.) I understand the desire for the most recent 2nd-round pick to be spent on a promising CB or OL instead of another DE. But outside of that, I'm not sure what the better approach would be.

Sure. But the kid displays demonstrable confidence, backed up by early results, that bodes well for him in such a high pressure position.

Um...

Can you quote my "next level" posting? I was just suggesting you don't need to be so defensive. Your opinion is valid.

Take it easy there, guy. No need for such drama. You can have an opinion on backup D-linemen without assuming a defensive stance. I, too, wonder if Butler's size and expense gives him a slight advantage over Zimmer in the eyes of McBeane. Beane was in Carolina when they drafted Butler, and he (Butler) DOES have the pedigree GMs often covet. Whereas Zimmer, despite his seriously ELITE athleticism, is always operating from behind.

Agree with your analysis of the guards here. They've (Ford, Feliciano, Boettger) been mostly meh. Still a chance for some improvement, but the Bills lack high-end or even demonstrably average starters at both spots. I keep thinking that Bates could capably play at just about any spot along the line, at least on par with our current crop of OGs. And possibly close to Morse's play at OC. As an OT he's been okay at best in spot duty (better on the right than the left, to my eye). Seems like his versatility is preventing him from serious starting consideration (too much value as a 5-position flex backup?). Or, I suppose, it could be that his ONLY real value IS his position flex (not good enough to start anywhere, but good enough to backup everywhere). Either way, he's a valuable guy on game days.

Because Beane's literal JOB is to assemble the best possible roster/team he can, each season. Levi Wallace is not the BEST POSSIBLE CB2 in the NFL for this scheme (although of course he IS a serviceable starter there, as we've seen). Basically, Levi Wallace is NOT yet good enough to lock up long term and present as a definitive pair with Tre White. But until the Bills decide to allocate more draft/FA resources to the position (or get luckier with late-round guys and/or under-the-radar vet pickups), Levi Wallace is likely good enough to keep himself near the top of the depth chart. He LIVES McDermott's process. I love his mindset. It's even possible that some other team makes him a multiple-year offer after this season, when the cap jumps and he's likely logged another solid but unspectacular campaign on a visible Bills secondary unit. Heck, maybe Levi makes a bunch of plays and EARNS a real payday. Who knows?

Yes to Johnson over Addison, despite the lack of savings and Johnson's lack of production when he's gotten defensive snaps. Yes to youth (potential for increased future value) and physical traits (length) and position flex (STs). Addison and Hughes are redundant on the depth chart. One has to step aside. I especially don't want Obada being cut in favor of a past-prime vet like Addison. I think Efe Obada is a sneaky good acquisition. Johnson isn't some must-have gameday talent, but he is useful, cheap, and possesses traits.

Interestingly enough, Wallace just today admitted that playing off technique was something he was not comfortable with at first in Buffalo, coming from Alabama where they had him manning up on guys on the line. He mentioned that Dane Jackson, coming from Pitt's program, has dealt with the same transition since being drafted. These are guys who are being taught to play off on purpose (and learning a lot from Tre White on how to do it well, according to Wallace), NOT being lined up that way because that's all they can do. It's what the team wants its corners to excel at primarily.

Of course YOU'D defend the color green, LIMEaid.

I hear you with this list. Only that last spot seems up for debate. I don't like leaving Hodgins exposed on the PS, as I think that guy is going to play in this league. Also, Stevenson's speed and return ability is intriguing (and lacking outside of McKenzie), but of course I understand the numbers game there. Those are the two I could see instead of Kumerow.

I'm seeing a MUCH more compact throwing motion in these drills; just like what we saw in those brief clips this summer from his work with Palmer on in-breaking routes. It's not that wide-open stance we saw a ton of last season (which mostly proved effective). That was all elbow and wrist flick, like throwing darts. These newer mechanics are much quieter, from a closed stance, finishing across his body. Really focused on "taking a bite out of the hamburger," for you QB mechanics nerds. Very interesting.