SirAndrew

Duke is trash

Yeah, we’re lucky we didn’t see him forced into action this year. The backup spot needs an upgrade, Barkley is actually really bad.

My earliest memories of the Bills are quite similar to yours. I remember the last two Super Bowls, but the first full season I recall was 94. I’m not sure how accurate my memory is, but I remember thinking Kelly had begun to decline quite significantly. I was too young to fully understand the game, and the team certainly had other issues, but Kelly stood out to me.

They could get hurt at any point. For example, is a Josh Allen injury this Sunday or next preseason worse? An injury to a guy like Allen at any point is detrimental to this franchise. It could happen at any time. Imo, anyone in an uproar about Allen playing this Sunday should be opposed to him playing at all next preseason.

Great post, and good points. I think it’s fair to give McD the benefit of doubt. I’ll take a meticulous attention to detail and desire to improve over complacency. There is absolutely a risk, but they have been attempting to build a culture. Taking every opportunity to improve, and playing to win every game is a culture thing.

We could make a run in the playoffs, but aren’t a realistic contender for winning the Super Bowl. If we were a contender with an experienced QB, I’d say sit the starters. Our guys need experience, and Allen is just as likely to get hurt next preseason. It’s not all about this postseason, it’s about building a sustainable future. Getting reps helps with that. If someone does get hurt, are we really going to say that’s the reason we didn’t win the Super Bowl? This is all about the big picture, not just this postseason.

They’re playing good football, I’m just speaking to the fact that some believe Rodgers has declined. I think it has more to do with the offensive scheme, and what’s being asked of him.

Talk about Rodger’s decline all you want, but this Packers offense is really conservative under LeFleur. Lots of screen plays and runs. McCarthy was a disaster, but I’m not sure this is how I’d utilize Rodgers either.

Exactly. The future of this franchise will be determined by the development of Josh Allen. We need to draft well, sign reasonably priced free agents who can contribute, and hope for Allen to grow. Super Bowl champions in 2019 are built by having a QB, and surrounding him with the right pieces. Overpaying for star free agents is not how you build a team these days.

I never understood the move, even when the Bears were playing well last season. Going all in with a rookie QB is too risky. Pass rushers are also known to decline quickly, or have down seasons. Apparently they were counting on Trubisky to develop quickly. I wouldn’t have counted on Mack still being an impact pass rusher years down the road if it took Trubisky time to develop either. What made them think Mack was the missing piece with a young QB is something I don’t get.

Allen has talent we haven’t seen at the QB position here in decades. I had given up on every QB we’ve had over the last 20 years quite early on. I haven’t done that with Allen because he has shown a combination of talent and promise. Next season is going to be huge. That’s when we get a better idea of what Allen is going to be. The believers or skeptics will have their points proven next season. It’s far too early to say he isn’t the answer, that’s just ridiculous. We aren’t talking about Trent Edwards.

That Khalil Mack trade is going to look really bad in the future. He’s a great player, and everyone loved the move last season, but the Bears were never one defensive player away from the Super Bowl. Huge mistake.

Fair enough, you seem reasonable about it. Allen did play well in NE. I just meant that Mahomes has obviously had a superior season overall. I’ve just seen some crazy takes, and didn’t mean to single you out, since your points are all valid.

It’s ok to like Allen, I know that I do. There aren’t many good QB’s in the AFC. I’d take Allen over half (maybe more) of the other AFC QB’s. I just don’t understand why people need to say guys like Mahomes, Jackson, and Watson aren’t as good as Allen. You can like Allen without being in denial of reality. Allen isn’t as good as those guys right now, it’s simply a fact.

I really like Allen’s potential, and I disagree with your take that Allen will never be “half” as good as Mahomes. I really believe Allen could potentially develop into something special. In truth, none of us know at this point. However, I do agree with your point it’s absurd how many people on TBD feel the need to put down Mahomes. The dude is an elite QB, and one of the best in the game right now. Comparing him to Allen by doing things like cherry picking stats is ridiculous. I actually like Josh Allen, but it shouldn’t mean we aren’t allowed to comment on how good Mahomes is. That’s just typical Bills fan insecurity. Saying Allen is at Mahomes level is crazy.

The awesome thing is this post is meant to be sarcastic, but many posters have essentially said this all season. Early in the year I was told our offense struggled against teams like Washington because we don’t want to show what we got.

Fair enough, but a guy like Duke ever playing a major role in this offense doesn’t seem likely. Everyone is desperate for a big play making receiver, so they hope Duke becomes that guy. I really don’t like being a downer, but Duke doesn’t have much of a future here. That’s been made clear by the coaching staff’s actions this season. I hope our players do well too, but there are some players you just know aren’t ever going to be that guy. I genuinely worry about Allen coming out flat in a playoff game if they rest him this week. He doesn’t have the experience to sit for week, and still give me confidence he’ll pick up where he left off. I’d rather come out against the Jets running a no huddle letting Allen throw the ball around. Let’s use this game to see what we have. It could be used as a good learning experience for a team that has yet to develop into what they want to become.

I thought the same on the final 4th down play with the smaller Beasley trying so desperately to make a play. The problem is, size doesn’t always equal talent. Some of those contested catches are not just made by big guys, but by big guys with elite talent. Size alone doesn’t make those plays, and it’s tough to find elite big WR’s. With that said, I don’t see any reason not to activate Duke with other guys doing nothing. At least we’d have a chance in those situations. It might have been nice to have him on that final play for example.

Yeah, it shows how it can be situational. When a coach picks the right spots to be conservative or aggressive, that’s what makes a great coach. No coach should demonstrate only one specific trait. It’s a matter of adapting, and knowing when to take risks, even if it’s not in ones nature.

Marty Schottenheimer, he always made the playoffs fun.

You are correct from a historical standpoint, but who has he picked apart this season? Today was maybe his most efficient game of the year. If I’m a DC, I’m at least going to test him against the blitz. If he proves he could beat it, I’d stand back, but I would no longer avoid the blitz out of reverence for Brady.

They called a style of D that showed fear and respect for Brady imo. I’m not certain why, because Brady hasn’t shown much this season. We needed to make him prove he can beat pressure, because Tommy has never dealt well with pressure (Giants Super Bowls), and now has a weak oline. Instead, we opted to play it safe.

Seemed that way to me as well. Maybe, they weren’t as bad as I thought with mixing things up, I just hate to see any three and out with all run plays. That’s just not how modern offense is played. I think that probably skewed my view of the actual play calling today.

I agree, you just need to mix it up. Having a four point lead in the third quarter isn’t the time to simplify the offense imo.

I agree, I’d had rather signed someone off the street then continue to have them both active each week.