jkeerie

You may be right about the Special Teams. I found it interesting this preseason that the Bills have been experimenting with players on STs more than usual. I really think they are realizing they have players that they'd like to keep, but who haven't played STs in the past. Of course, that may be why we stunk on STs in Detroit.

I stand corrected on the accuracy issue, but he was inconsistent in his decision making and lack of discipline was evident. As to your second point...the jury is still out.

I see it similarly with Yeldon over Murphy and Jaquan Joseph over Marlowe. (I don't think they want to expose Joseph to waivers. It may be the same with Vosean Joseph as well since he was a 5th round pick.)

I didn't follow Mahomes that much, but really liked Watson. Watching him this preseason has been brutal though. He really hangs onto the ball much too long. With the Texans Oline, he's going to get himself injured again. I also agree with the takes regarding the Bills...particularly McD...not being in a position to draft a QB in 2017. He was just learning about the team they had...and was in no position to decide on a future QB. Whaley was on his way out and Beane on his way in. So...I cannot classify not drafting Mahomes or Watson for that matter as a blunder, but rather lousy timing.

No...That's not what I'm saying at all. My point, which you obviously missed, is that you cannot make a direct comparison with Mahomes situation in KC and Allen's in Buffalo. Would Mahomes in his second year under the tutelage of Tyrod Taylor, throwing to Clay versus Kelce and Zay, Deonte Thompson, and whoever else we had at starting receiver (Matthews?) instead of Hill, not to mention playing behind a sieve of an o-line have looked like an MVP candidate? On the other hand, would Allen actually getting reps in practice in his first year, learning under Andy Reid, throwing to Hill and Kelce, and playing behind a solid o-line have looked better in his rookie season and then second year? In college, Mahomes was a gunslinger, not very accurate, with lousy footwork, but a cannon for an arm. Sounds familiar. He did play in a more competitive conference with better talent surrounding him, then did Allen, but both QBs were flawed. We can only hope that Allen develops as a QB...but to try and make direct comparisons is impractical.

That is a possibility...but who would Mahomes have been throwing to? Mahomes is good...no doubt...but look at his supporting cast. Having Tyreek Hill and Kelce to throw to helped his development tremendously. Now they've added more speed in Williams. Mahomes just has to throw the ball. They will go get it. I just don't think it would have looked that pretty on the Bills considering the supporting cast.

Is it ever a team move when you hold out, not sign your franchise tag and not communicate with your team?

To be honest, we don't need Clowney...particularly at what we would need to give up for him. He would not be that big of a difference maker on this team, particularly at this stage of the game. We are building a team. That means we want team players. Let the Dolphins wreck their team with this dumb ass move. Having said that, my guess is he's going to end up on the Eagles. I said this a few days ago. They need helph on their D-line and have depth on their oline and at wide receiver that they could offer in addition to draft picks. BTW, I liked O'Brien when he coached at Penn State, but he's a bit of a jerk in the Pros. (For all I know he was a jerk at PSU as well.) With him as Houston's functional GM (or disfunctional as the case may be), Houston will likely get fleeced in any trade.

I pray for his full recovery. I hate the Pat's but this is a man's life.

I'm betting now that neither the Bills nor Miami get him. I'm guessing Philly. They have oline depth and they need help on their D lIne (hence the trade for Eli Harold.)

I was thinking the same thing.

Lombardi is reporting he will be traded within the next 24 to 48 hrs. Houston wanted oline help, but since that is unlikely, they are looking for a WR they can pair with Hopkins as Fuller is coming off an ACL injury. There are two teams currently negotiating with Clowney to see if they can agree to an extension.

I posted this elsewhere but it's best moved here since we are talking about coaching. We have to remember that these coaches have a plan to which they have stuck throughout preseason and the games. They are all into evaluating their team and schemes, but also individual players. We are so used to Bills coaches just trotting out there and playing and seeing what they have versus setting things up so that they can get a better evaluation. That's what yesterday was. Not the "dress rehearsal" we've seen from teams in the past, but rather experimenting with player combinations and schemes to better evaluate those players. Didn't McD say all week when talking about the wide receiver battle they need to see what else they do...particularly blocking? So yesterday was all about blocking for the running game. I also think yesterday they were evaluating different players on special teams, hence, the Bills looked out of sorts in that area yesterday. When you think of it, they have 90 guys and only 53 roster spots...precious commodities. In addition to having to strategically keep as many players in various positions for rotational or injury purposes, you also need to see what else players can do so that a roster spot isn't just given to a player who plays special teams only. Last year, they scrounged for 53 players that could play...period. This year, they have choices to make which will be extremely difficult, as we finally have quality and depth. As much as we found last night's game to be more difficult to watch than the previous two, the coaches were busy seeing and evaluating so that we field the best team possible.

Thanks for saying this. I totally agree. We have to remember that these coaches have a plan to which they have stuck throughout preseason and the games. They are all into evaluating their team and schemes, but also individual players. We are so used to Bills coaches just trotting out there and playing and seeing what they have versus setting things up so that they can get a better evaluation. That's what yesterday was. Not the "dress rehearsal" we've seen from teams in the past, but rather experimenting with player combinations and schemes to better evaluate those players. Didn't McD say all week when talking about the wide receiver battle they need to see what else they do...particularly blocking? So yesterday was all about blocking for the running game. I also think yesterday they were evaluating different players on special teams, hence, the Bills looked out of sorts in that area yesterday. When you think of it, they have 90 guys and only 53 roster spots...precious commodities. In addition to having to strategically keep as many players in various positions for rotational or injury purposes, you also need to see what else players can do so that a roster spot isn't just given to a player who plays special teams only. Last year, they scrounged for 53 players that could play...period. This year, they have choices to make which will be extremely difficult, as we finally have quality and depth. As much as we found last night's game to be more difficult to watch than the previous two, the coaches were busy seeing and evaluating so that we field the best team possible.

Yes...ripped particularly by Thad Brown.

Incorrect. He has to go through waivers in either case. If he clears waivers, and the Bill's add him to the regular PS, he can be signed to another teams active roster. If the Bill's sign him using the exemption as the 11th PS member, he can't be signed away...but the Bill's can't elevate him for the entire season.

Not to mention evaluating the WRs for their blocking ability. McD said that was part of their decision making on who makes the team.

Great catch by Duke!

Exactly. Didn't McD say this week in evaluating wide receivers, he wanted to see who blocks?

I Googled on my Samsung android and a link to Zedge.com came up. They have a nice selection of portrait fit wallpapers.

A friend of mine who is an avid Cleveland fan, told me that the Browns were more sold on Ward, than they were on Mayfield. They knew they'd take Ward with the 4th pick early on. The Mayfield pick wasn't certain until right before the draft.

Think about it though. Outside of the Superbowl team, when have the Bill's ever had a solid GM and coaching staff? This team is different. When I think about some of the others, in their initial press conferences they talked about Superbowls. These guys (Beane and McD) talked about building a team. If you build it right...the wins will follow.

Good point. Hope it carries through to the regular season.

Maybe you should write them down.

Thank you for that link. It explains the rule clearly. "If a loose ball touches anything out of bounds, it is considered out of bounds." I'll have to commit that to memory.