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Herb

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    THE ROCKPILE REVIEW - I Just Love the Bills

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    On 1/24/2024 at 12:47 PM, Shaw66 said:

    Not that anyone cares, but I’ve reached a new plateau in my fandom.

     

    I’ve been a Bills fan since 1960.  When I was a kid, there was nothing more important to me than whether the Bills (and the Browns) won.  There was no greater weekend in my life (to that point) than when the Bills and the Browns won the AFL and NFL championship games on successive games.  A friend of mine came over to my house that Sunday night, and we talked and talked about one game, then the other, then the first, over and over.  It was great.

     

    In the Super Bowl years, I absolutely ached for a Lombardi.  It hurt each year when they lost, and it hurt doubly as I watched my kids suffer through the losses, too. 

    When I began writing the Rockpile Review, I allowed the anxiety associated with the games to grow, as I watched and studied and reviewed, analyzed data, read other columns.  Every season was a disappointment.

     

    Somehow, this season, a lot has changed.  I’m still a fan, I look forward to every game, and I’m thrilled when the Bills win.  What’s changed is that I’ve gotten more or less non-judgmental.  I don’t think much about why some play didn’t work, and I don’t think much about who’s to blame.  If the Bills win, great.  If they lose, I feel bad for the players, but I tend to let it go.  My attitude is sort of like watching my ten-year-old kid’s game – great if they win, sorry for my kid if he loses. 

     

    I don’t how this transition happened, but I definitely seem to have entered a new stage to my fandom.  And it’s nice.

     

    And so it was that I was sitting in Highmark Stadium, desperately wanting a win but knowing all along that if the Bills lost, I’d just drive home the next day and hardly give the game a second thought.  When Bass missed the field goal, the irony of it being wide right didn’t even occur to me.  I just knew the game was over, and the next day would be a nice day. 

     

    So, if you’re looking for in-depth analysis, it ain’t here.  Someone else can fret over whether Allen should have thrown underneath to Diggs, why they tried the fake punt, who blew the coverage on Kelce, but I don’t worry about it.  It happened. 

     

    Here are some thoughts about the game:

     

    I love going to those games.   Crowd was amazing.   Plays were amazing.  It's actually better to go to a game like that if you aren't a fan of either team, because then you can enjoy the plays that BOTH teams make.  

     

    Fundamentally, the Bills weren't good enough.   KC's offense was fabulous - scored on every possession but one.  The book on KC was to beat them you have to hold them under 20.  That's when they lose.  The Bills defense wasn't good enough.  The real killer was the end of the game.  Bills miss the field goal, they need the Chiefs to go three and out, everyone knows the Chiefs are going to run the ball, and the Bills gave them 8 yards on a run up the middle.  Game ended right there.   Just horrible.  

     

    Do you want to know what the worst sound is that I’ve every heard in that stadium?  Bass’s kick went up, and whole stadium went silent, except for the sound of about 1000 people cheering under the scoreboard.  That’s where the Chiefs fans were, and they could see the ball sailing wide.  It sounded like people cheering in some imaginary stadium next door.  Horrible sound. 

     

    I think the problem with the defense is that although it's very effective, it's very predictable.  It's a bend-don't-break defense.   They gave up a lot of yards during the season, but they were fourth in points allowed.   That's a great defense for the regular season, but when you play against the best offenses, and the best offensive coordinators, it puts you at a disadvantage.   The Bills need a playoff defense, and that’s something I’m sure McDermott will work on.

     

    Andy Reid is a special offensive coach, with decades of experience.  With Mahomes at QB and against a predictable defense, Reid gives the Chiefs a big advantage.   Reid always had a play to run, he seemed always to be a step ahead of the Bills.   The result was all of those explosive plays, and the Bills didn't have answers.  The Bills needed some defensive stops, and they couldn't get them.  The best stop they got was a prayer, the fumble out of bounds in the end zone. 

     

    On the other side of the ball, the Chiefs had one of the best defenses in the league this year, but there was nothing to complain about with the Bills offense.   Well, James Cook dropped what should have been a touchdown in the red zone.  Diggs should have caught the incredible bomb from Allen - I haven't seen the replay, but I think that was a 65-yard throw that hit Diggs on the run. 

     

    Joe Brady wasn’t great in the red zone.  He needed better answers.

     

    Allen was great.   I think he's matured, and we're finally starting to see the complete package.   Mahomes is the only guy who throws as well as Allen, Jackson is the only guy who runs better than Allen.  He now is running the offense with discipline and intelligence.   The mature Josh Allen began to emerge this season, and it was a sight to behold.  He is an incredible gift to Bills fans. 

     

    How about the future?  It’s bright. 

     

    Yeah, yeah, Bills have an old roster and cap issues, but it's all just talk.   When you have an old roster, you have more experience.   I'll take Josh Allen now over Josh Allen four years ago because, well, he's older.   All that young roster stuff is baloney.   Rosters turn over all the time.  Rams only had two guys on the roster from the team that won the Super Bowl two years ago.  Think about that!   

     

    So, yeah, some of the Bills will be gone.  Hyde will be the biggest loss, but they have his replacement on the team.  Poyer probably will be back.   Von Miller is old, but he's still recovering from his ACL, and he can still play.   Bills had one of the best offenses and one of the best defenses in the league, and they'll turn over parts of the lineup like they always do, and they'll be fine.  They'll get two or three rookies who will play, and two or three free agents will play.   Allen, Cook, Diggs, Knox, Kincaid, Shakir are all back, so they have their skill guys on offense, and the whole offensive line will be back.  Milano and Bernard will be back at the linebacker spots, and the Bills should have both starting corners back, too.  

     

    I listened to McDermott’s and Beane’s season-ending pressers, and it encouraged me.  They’re on the job.  They’re working actively to make the team better.  They don’t talk so much about it anymore, but there’s a process, and they’re sticking to it.  When McDermott talked about Josh and Bernard and Shakir and Kincaid, I could hear the excitement in his voice – those are the kinds of guys he wants on his team and he can build around.  He didn’t talk about White or Milano, because they weren’t with the team at the end, but they’re the guys he wants, too.  And Taron Johnson and Dawkins and, well, keep naming them. 

     

    When Josh Allen finished his junior season in high school, do you think his coaches sat around bemoaning the loss of their seniors and wondering what they were going to do?  No.  All they thought was, “We have Josh Allen and the other teams don’t.  All we have to do is work with the guys who show up at tryouts, and we’ll be fine.”  That’s essentially what Beane and McDermott were saying.  “We may not have Davis, but we’ll have someone.  We may not have Jones at tackle, but we’ll have someone.  We may not have Hyde at safety, but we’ll have someone.  We have Josh Allen and the other teams don’t.”

     

    It’s incredibly difficult to win the Super Bowl.  By the divisional round in the playoffs, all the teams are good.   Packers were good.  Texans were good.  Every game is a tough game.  All you can do is work at getting better, every day, every week, every season.  That’s what the Bills do. 

     

    The Bills will keep getting better.  

     

    GO BILLS!!!

     

    The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were every-day people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

    I love your posts as always. I'm right there with you concerning how I feel now about our team losing the ways they have over the years. I'm one of the crazy fans who are of the mind that McDermott has reached his ceiling and that he's holding Josh and the team back in the worst ways at the worst possible times.

    The Three Plays that Cost us the Game

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    12 hours ago, Freak-O said:

    Cook dropped a TD as well. Crucial. The non pass to Diggs at the end was the worst one. Get a new set of downs, milk the clock and an excellent opportunity to score. I don’t get why Josh went for a TD there. Too much time left on the clock. :(

    I'm certain it was McDermott who decided to run to the preferred hash mark on first down and likely told Josh to basically throw it away if nothing was there immediately to preserve the field goal try. Coaching not to lose gets in the players' heads.

    What Changes Would You Expect If Steelers Win?

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    2 minutes ago, eball said:

     

    So delete one!  Or better yet, delete them both and we can talk about the offseason when it’s actually the offseason!

     

     

    Deleted the other one

    I'm as excited as everyone else that we probably have the best chance this season with the Chiefs being vulnerable and the Ravens tendency to choke in the playoffs lately. I just don't have much faith in McDermott being able to make the right decisions when it matters most.

    What Changes Would You Expect If Steelers Win?

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    Just now, julian said:

    If he has another 13 second debacle he should definitely e shown the door, I don’t expect that to happen but Bellichick is not the answer, it would be gross

    Maybe not ideal, but if it gets us a Super Bowl isn't it worth it?

    Just now, eball said:

    What, the first thread wasn’t enough and you needed to start two?  Geez, @Herb…

     

    Accidental

    What Changes Would You Expect If Steelers Win?

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    The Bills have had one of the best rosters in the league for several years but haven't ultimately achieved the successes they're capable of. I do respect what McDermott has done for the franchise and his helping to change the team's culture. I however also believe he's been holding the team back in clutch moments by making crucial decisions that end up losing games. I believe in some ways that he bit off more than he could chew by deciding to be both head coach and defensive coordinator. If this team fizzles out again in the playoffs and loses to an inferior opponent, due to more bad and or stupid decisions, should Beane think about going after Belichick? Imagine where he could take this loaded team with a franchise quarterback and elite defense. We could even keep McDermott on as defensive coordinator if he'd be willing to stay. No hard feelings Sean, but Bill's proven legacy when he's had elite talent speaks for itself. These are certainly things a great owner or GM should be considering. A man can dream can't he?

    McD Press Conference Comments

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    9 hours ago, strive_for_five_guy said:


    Do you really think he’s going to call out Dorsey and/or the players in a press conference?  THAT will be the fastest way for him to lose the locker room, not covering for people.  McD is a process guy, so whatever problems they’re having, his foundational belief is that they need to work that much harder this week to fix the issues, versus something he says in a press conference actually fixing the issues.

     

    For instance, the OL has looked horrible recently, so yea he could point that out in a press conference, but it’s going to potentially alienate guys on the team, look to some like he’s deflecting the blame, etc.  The best way to calm the critics will be to start winning again.

    Until we lose again in the playoffs,  due to more conservative short-sighted and nonsensical situational football decisions; like not burning clock before their last touchdown.

    Worst "win" I've ever seen

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Limeaid said:

     

    I see you avoided the question.

     

    This was like a division game where opponent knows you so well because you play so often.

    Only it wasn't a division game and our offense is healthy. I also didn't avoid your question. I simply conceded to your point that there really is no best loss.

    Worst "win" I've ever seen

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    2 hours ago, Limeaid said:

     

    I am curious.  What is your "best" loss you can remember?

    Good point, but I still can't believe it took that much to gut out a win against the worst underdogs of the year at home. If they play like that against a better offense, we get blown out.

    Worst "win" I've ever seen

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    1 minute ago, Warcodered said:

    Worst win would be like the Jets win in week 1. Your franchise QB is out for the season and you only win because the other team's QB has some sort of episode and gifts you it at the last moment.

    You're right, only we somehow figured out a way to lose that one🙄

    • Haha (+1) 2

    Worst "win" I've ever seen

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    Dorsey has clearly been overthinking things to a detrimental point the past two weeks. When you have a generational talent like Josh, you owe it to the fans to be your absolute best every game. The Giants were the biggest underdog all season and it took an uncalled pass interference on the last play of the game to win with a healthy and dominant offense.

    • Agree 9

    Worst "win" I've ever seen

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    In my entire history of watching our Bills, this was the most unsatisfying win I can ever remember. I'm 44 years old and have been a lifelong fan. If Bills management aren't 100% behind letting Josh call the plays after these last two weeks, we're in a lot of unnecessary trouble.

    • Like (+1) 5
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    Same issues year to year

    in The Stadium Wall

    Posted

    Untimely overpursuit with respect to run defense and qb pressures, piss poor or inconsistent blocking from the offensive line, terrible clock management and situational playcalling, and a qb who unfortunately gets too emotional and makes poor decisions at the worst possible times.

    • Like (+1) 2
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    Our initial fears of Brian Daboll’s incompetence were not quelled after Week 1

    in The Stadium Wall Archives

    Posted · Edited by Herb
    grammar

    18 hours ago, Maine-iac said:

    " Daboll was so good in Cleveland ......... no strike that.  He was so good in Miami ...... wait no not there either.  He was so good at ... well... coaching Gronk.  If that doesn't deserve a shot destroying the highest draft pick we used on a QB in 20 years I don't know what does.  McDermott already proved he can't spot talent or coach offense last year.  We need a coaching staff that can coach both sides of the ball. "

     

     Two weeks...two starters. We saw a glimpse of this self-inflicted indecision last year with the benching of Tyrod for Peterman. A few days prior to last year's decision, McDermott reassured reporters with questions about the starting QB by saying that Taylor was "our guy". A few days later, after a loss, McDermott announces that Peterman will start against the Chargers, and that the entire team, (including Tyrod), were all in support of the decision and ready to move forward together as a unit. I even remember the announcers during the broadcast complimenting Tyrod for his professionalism. We all know what happened next. I honestly don't believe that this coaching staff has any idea how to recognize or utilize a QB's talents.

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