Ethan in Cleveland

Amazing how far offenses are ahead of defenses this year. I'm going to temper my criticism of McD and the defense for the next several weeks. I still think D needs to add a pass rusher but the goal should probably to just keep the opponent under 24 points. At least until the weather starts to get worse.

People seem to forget KC also has Andy Reid.

If I could reframe the OP's point, I think football both college and NFL needs more balance. There are too many advantages given to the offense now. I would offer a handful of suggestions that would not radically change the game but bring more balance. 1. Enforce offensive holding - it's gotten a bit ridiculous as to what the refs are letting linemen get away with now. If they started calling the game more fairly the pass rush would be more effective, and create more negative plays which is just as exciting as scoring. 2. Defensive pass interference - make it a max of 15 yards 3. Call more OPI. WRs are still getting away with creating separation at the point the ball is arriving.

Have you wathced the last several SuperBowls? Denver, Seattle, and the most recent Patriots win were all won by the defense with a game manager at QB. Manning was a shell of himself and couldn't throw 20 yards downfield. Wilson was inexperienced and while Brady is Brady he had no weapons and put up only 13 points. There are all kinds of ways to win the SuperBowl. A star QB makes it much easier but is not the only way.

I'm not disagreeing with much that you are saying. But I would point out the the Bills don't do well with physical teams. Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Patriots pushed them around last year and outside of the Jets with the worst O-line in the league and the second half of the Raiders game, the Bills have been run on fairly easily. This year obviously the Bills offense is playing at two or three levels above last years. I honestly don't know what to make of the Bills running game. They are having so much success through the air I don't think Daboll has felt the need to consistently run the ball. Will that change if they have big leads or as the weather worsens? Will they be able to grind out first downs and wins? Will Allen start running more again? The big difference as is usually the case is the QB. Tannyhill is a game manger and Allen is a game breaker. If Allen takes care of the football, and the Bills continue the bend but don't break defense they should win a close one. If the Bills can force an early turnover or two they may be able to break it wide open. My biggest worry is a few long time consuming drives by the Titans that is not immediately matched by the Bills. That could tire the defense and make stopping Henry that much more difficult.

I mostly agree. I would be fine with BPA at any level and any position on defense and just add an OT at some point in the first 4 rounds. As you said I would add two linebackers at a minimum. I'd let Milano walk, move Edmunds to outside and draft another MLB. Then a 1 technique DT, a CB, a pass rushing DE, and a safety. Many teams have elected not to extend their safeties but the Bills did with Poyer. Hyde is under contract for 2021.

In the following order - Bills, Steelers, Pats, Colts I know folks on here don't want to read this, but Pats are still a dangerous team. They could have easily beaten the Seahawks and hung with KC for a while with terrible back-up QB play. They will still be a tough out for Buffalo if for nothing else the mental side of it - think Bulls Pistons late 80's. I don't see Titans, Browns, or Ravens being able to beat KC in the playoffs.

I watch line play not just the QB. Entirely not true. I didn't like the pick but I'm evaluating him with a clear mind. No doubt he has made some plays but I think it may be you who has given him too much credit for those plays where his name is called and are not watching all the plays. I've never called him a bust and have consistently said it takes a while for DTs to develop. I defended him when people were trying to say he wasn't as good as Donald. That is a ridiculous comparison as Donald is playing a HOF level. He's currently 4th in receptions and yards for all tight ends in the NFL with terrible QB play. He's and emerging star from a college that produces star tight ends.

He has flashed some good/great plays. Doesn'tt consistently hold up at point of attack and oddly he has not been a consistent disruptor in the backfield. Now maybe that is because they are asking him not to penetrate but that seems unwise. I don't expect him to be Donald nor even approach double digit sacks. I would just like to see him push the pocket back more and make it uncomfortable for the QB in his face. But as I said, it is way too soon to know what his ceiling will be. If they had a 1 technique that consistently commanded a double team that would help.

I'm fine with Ford either at guard or tackle. I didn't like Oliver pick then and still have mixed feelings. DT is second hardest position to develop in NFL second only to QB. So it is way too early to know how Oliver will pan out long term. I'm normally a trade down guy but that draft they should have traded up for Josh Allen DE. Once he was gone they should have passed on Oliver and traded down and taken Fant in the mid teens.

Defense quietly impressive and underrated? I don't think they have been watching 2020 film. Hyde has been the better safety. Williams has been ok but not second-team. Morse for as much crap as I give him has actually been the best OL. His pass blocking has been quite good.

He's just a competitive guy....

I'm surprised Herbert has played so well. He put ip big numbers at Oregon but moslty against patsies. Never delivered a signature win until his senior year and the RoseBowl. Even then he did more damage running than throwing. By all accounts a super nice kid. Wish him well. Even if he regresses Lynn is making the right choice sticking with him now that he had played well.

In that scenario it is also a player safety issue. They can't go into a game with less than a full active squad. Reschedule or forfeit is the only option.

Its a union issue not a Pegula and Beane issue. In a unionized employment situation employers can not unilaterally change the rules even if it is for the benefit of the employee. This needs to be negotiated between NFLPA and NFL.

Different era but Bruce and Thurman would be superstars still today. Bruce would need to play a 4-3 DE. He would be too light for today's 3-4 DE. Thurman was always my favorite player. This team lacks a pass rushing OLB. They need a guy that can stand up as an OLB in the 4-3 and put his hand on the ground as a nickel DE.

It's all three levels. No pass rush. Edmunds again taking bad angles. Run Dis interesting and has been all year. They are stout one play and then get gashed for 10+ on another. That seems to fit the narrative of not getting to their run fits and playing bad angles. Even White has given up some yards and a score or two but the opposition has mostly targeted Levi and Taron. Milano when healthy has been great. Hyde and Hughes have been as well. That said, the pass rush got better in the second half last week. The run D got better. And they forced two fumbles - one a strip sack. If I'm Beane I still try to add an edge pass rusher especially with Milano out for some time. 11th in yard per play and 11th in takeaways. They are not giving up the big play. And the last game they forced a few turnovers. Add an edge pass rusher and give the DL rotation a bit more time to come together.

If any Chief tests positive this will be a major problem. Because it will throw the entire process into question. I suspect the Chiefs will be fine - outdoors and limited sustained contact. But if Mahommes tests positive after the post-game interaction then things will get real ugly real quick.

Agreed. Forfeit has to be the last resort, but a massive outbreak on a team even without a violation would still be a forfeit. There is not enough time to reschedule games. It's not like baseball.

Forfeit game Take away 1st round pick Heavy fine to the owner If Vrabel knew (and of course he did) then suspension and fine for him too.

You are exactly correct, signed Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, Alex Smith, Drew Brees. The coaches that traded or cut us knew exactly what they were doing. Its not a shot at Josh. Its a shot at the overreaction of fans. There were many on this board that said Allen was a bust after his first year. They are all in hiding now. My only point is that it is too early to know. With that said, I'm an OSU alum (medial school not undergrad) and I did not see a first round talent in Haskins nor a player that should be starting his rookie year. A prospect without the elite arm talent of Allen.

The rushing stats are a good point. Haskins is a drop back QB only. Maybe you are right. It's still early to know. Agreed. I'd say the same thing for Rosen too though his sample size of failure is larger.

Haskins 13 games : 59.6% 2304 Yards 11 TD 10 INT Josh Allen 12 games (all in 2018): 52.8% 2074 Yds 10 TD 12 INT I'm not saying Haskins will develop. But it's a bit premature to say he is done in the NFL. Through his first 13 games he is statistically better than Allen in every category. No OTAs. No preseason (don't think that matters much - but some do). Maybe they feel Kyle Allen is their long term answer at QB. If so then why was he not the starter game 1? If not then it is silly to pull Haskins now and not let him continue to develop.

No. NFL teams don't tank. As is popularly said, everything is on tape. Guys play hard all the time. They know that they can be cut at any time. If they are cut, they need to find a new job in a league with only so many spots and a rookie class coming in.

There should be two bye weeks anways but definitely this year. They should have built in a week 8 pause for catchup games if needed.