Einstein's Dog

My saying pre-season meant prior to the season, Beane has rectified the WR room with A Cooper. But prior to A Cooper there was a dramatic year to year downgrade in talent in the WR room. Same with the safeties. Going from Poyer/Hyde to Rapp/Hamlin was looked at as a talent downgrade done for cost savings. The safety room is now being upgraded with Hyde over Hamlin. I agree that overall Beane has done a good job. But in September it looked like it was going to be the first year where Beane had downgraded the talent from the prior year. Yes, they were calling it a retool, but we saw what looked to be downgrades at positions, replaced with cheaper labor done as a way to meet cap restraints. Dealing with the cap is a big part of Beane's job, so this year was looking like he was taking his medicine for supplying talent in prior years. McDermott took this retooled group and has them sitting at 11-2 with talent on the way - A Cooper, Milano, Hyde. Good times ahead.

You think the idea just popped into their head during the Houston game? You think after dealing Diggs they said to each other we'll draft one WR to replace G Davis (as was always the plan) and have MVS and Claypool take Diggs place? Wow, I can't believe that. I think they were looking/planning the whole time. They only drafted one WR signaling they didn't want to rebuild but instead stay with a retool, but had cap restrictions. I thought they would get one with Tre money but that didn't happen. Then felt they could swing a trade, someone would come available - a DHop/Amari/Kupp/Evans/Metcalf/D Adams. The above happened and is working and seems like so much of a better plan that I give Beane/McD the benefit of the doubt. It was risky in that we were shorthanded for the first part of the season. In similar fashion they had Hyde as a play for the end of the season. They chose to make do with Hamlin filling in the spot until Bishop could take it over. Bishop isn't ready, and Hamlin was never the answer so the premeditated call back of Hyde is being activated. Good move.

So you're trying to say the contract and dead hit with Diggs was unavoidable? That's a stretch. You do understand that Beane is responsible for the contracts, right? When a big mistake is made, such that it impacts the talent level of the team, Beane should be held accountable. The whole discussion of whether this year was a "retool" or "rebuild" were because of choices Beane was making for cap compliance- which again is under the direction of Beane.

Yes, and the quote said he lost some weight since mid-November. This is not some type of wasting away from year to year. It was two weeks of not lifting heavy- one of those weeks had Thanksgiving in it. And while I'm at it, the "game shape" thing seems completely overblown (if not an outright fallacy) for a Safety. All football positions are not equal. As to why pick up Hyde, because he is an excellent player upgrading a position of need! This is like asking me why get A Cooper, the Bills were doing just fine with the role M Hollins was doing. It's improvement. Apparently people see this differently than me, but for me it has looked for some time that Hamlin was the weak link out there. And Hyde is an excellent player. While it may be difficult to see, A Cooper has brought the offensive capabilities to another level. The defensive additions of Milano and Hyde will do the same on that side of the ball. It's starting to look like the plan was to gear up for a second half run - upgrade the WR mid-season, get Milano back, get Hyde back and have a strong second half of the season. McDermott/Josh surprised everyone by taking this undermanned group to 11-2 prior to being full strength.

All but the most diehard anti-McD haters admit that this is a stand out coaching year by McDermott. The regular season from now to the end is just an exercise in how high of a seed the Bills get. They have already exceeded expectations of most people. Beane however is a different story. The preseason expectations were lower than normal because the talent level appeared to dip - that's on Beane. Yes, the Diggs disaster was a large factor - but Beane's fingerprints are all over that - from the responsibility for the contract, to the ultimate decision to trade Diggs away. The "retool' was brought about by Beane. The WR room looked pathetic, the S room looked suspect, and the treatment of the OL was risky, along with a huge change in leadership. McDermott bailed Beane out. It's no longer a big deal that the Bills played half the season with a bottom 5 WR room. Just as many people bought into the laughable "everyone eats" nonsense at WR many have been fooled into thinking Hamlin was a legitimate starting S (spoiler alert Hyde wasn't brought in to coach from the PS). While many tie McDermott and Beane together, I would hope Beane is sending McD a really nice XMas gift this year. Looks like they'll be together for several more years.

That's what you came away with from his press conference?? Your comment prompted me to listen to it. He had personal trainers, was running, and stopped his heavier lifting for a little while in mid-November. I didn't hear where he said he thought he was too thin or needed to gain weight. I did hear him say how he felt healthier than he did at this same time last year. One item that seemed noteworthy to me is how the story of him coming back kind of morphed throughout the press conference. First he didn't want to answer who contacted who, then came up with this half-baked story about some connection when he congratulated Phillips. Then later in answering other questions, he dropped those pretenses and said things like "after I was contacted" I continue to believe the plan is to have Hyde start for the playoffs. And I like it!

Yeah, I thought this was a pre-planned event. Now their talking about weight changes, at this stage?

Why doesn't the #2 seed factor in? That's pretty important too. The two seed would secure having the first two playoff games at home (with winning of course). Much better to get someone like Pitt or Houston at home. So to me, if the #1 or #2 are affected, Josh will be in there. And he will be getting enough TDs to keep his streak going.

Now you're coming back to your own opinion. However, when you said "I would imagine literally zero posters on this forum" you are so far off that it seems fair to question your bias. I get it, your opinion won't change unless there is a playoff difference. But to the OP, someone else's opinion could change, that this regular season has, to some, already exceeded preseason expectations.

We weren't heavy favorites this year. Some years are different than others. When someone says that they "imagine literally zero" seems disingenuous and comes across with a negative slant to create a new objective.

What? Literally zero? Did you even look at the thread brought up that was preseason asking if the team was a playoff contender? Many posters said the Bills wouldn't make the playoffs. And the people who were worried about the playoffs weren't all anti-McDermott, a lot of it had to do with the talent of the team, the "retool", the digging out of the Diggs disaster and the cap restraints that came with it. But now that we're safely in the playoffs the goal posts are trying to be moved. It's some playoff type metric that needs to be met - be it divisional round, AFCCG, or SB appearance, or SB win - whatever it is that isn't accomplished it seems.

I'm not saying it can't be done. But I don't think you should expect it. Just because another team in a different year exceeded their expectations, we should not cloud the evaluation of what our team has done this year. The Bills were universally touted as retooling and making the playoffs was a realistic goal. Now that it has been accomplished many are moving the goal posts and saying they need a playoff run (or even more unreasonable a SB)

Except this was universally accepted as a "retool" year. Beane was eating a lot of dead cap and the talent level of the team was taking a hit for it. The Diggs disaster had set this team back. Most set expectations as to whether or not the Bills could make the playoffs. It looks like some with a predisposed negative opinion of McDermott have a hard time acknowledging what a great he has done.

If you're myopically concentrating on the short term, then yes, stick to the high percentage plan. But it seems that now would be a good time to think strategically about the rest of the season and the playoffs. Some advantages of opening up the offense include: 1. In game experience. Doing downfield plays in game situations. 2. Put out game tape of a different style of playing. This will give DC's more to think about in terms of game planning against the Bills. Remember when Balt devised a game plan designed to shut down the short high percentage pass? 3. Let the players have fun. Lets see what Cooper and Coleman can do with some down field opportunities. 4*** (Unspoken, give Josh an opportunity to put up MVP stats - ala the Dorsey led J Winston/Browns) 5. Have Joe Brady do something unexpected. Being unpredictable has some advantages.

It's not hating on a person if you think they are the weak link. For most it's what we see. We watch all the games. I think it might be the reverse, that a lot of people here have an emotional attachment to Hamlin based on the unique circumstances and aren't evaluating his game properly. Are you the guy who said Amari Cooper was good insurance for Mack Hollins? That you didn't want to upset the chemistry of the 4-2 team? Milano is not a risk. Hyde is not a risk. It's upgrading the defense for the stretch run and playoffs.

I think there is a quiet, unspoken incentive throughout the team to get Josh the MVP. This could be a fun, loose, "let her rip" type of offensive outburst that puts up some eye-opening stats to help the cause. That's my optimistic viewpoint and I'm sticking with it.

Or maybe Hyde is a very good safety and they are looking for a starter over Hamlin! The FO is upgrading its weakest link on Defense. This Defense is going to be awesome. I anticipate Hyde starting the last 3 games - NE/NYJ/NE and the D will be going to town.

I can see your point. But the offset to that is the adage that at this point in time they say all players are dealing with some type of injury. Not so with Hyde, he comes in injury free. Secondly. Hyde is a multi-year veteran so the getting into "football shape" should take a little less time.

Yes to Hyde. And the bringing him back is done with the intention to work him into the starting lineup for the playoffs! Apparently people aren't seeing the same thing as I am from the game action. Hamlin is the weakest link. Much like the "WRs quietly got better" theory, we now have to go through the excuse factory of people working themselves into believing having Hamlin out there isn't a liability. Hamlin is being hidden in a good defense much the same way as G Davis was hidden last year in our decent offense.

I don't understand the idea that this move would be against everything McDermott stands for. McDermott's top priority is to make this team the best it can be, and if that means bringing Hyde in, you do it. They brought in A Cooper even though Hollins had played every game. Hamlin is not supposed to be some pity move, that's insulting.

Kind of crazy for it to be Hamlin IMO. But I will say, Hamlin got screwed out of an INT yesterday. They showed the replay and the announcers kind of went silent, there was no foul of any kind to see in their replay.

Agree, the Raiders failure was more than a botched snap. Prior to that sequence when the guy went around the end and made it to near the 32, his not going out of bounds was baffling. Even with the clock running tI didn't think needed to spike the ball, just run a play, they still had over 20 seconds. A quick hitter over the middle, then move up quick and spike the ball and then attempt the FG to win the game. Early unnecessary usage of TOs came back to haunt them.

No, IMO, they should have stayed strong and implemented the Bills blueprint right from the start. That plan involves taking a shot at a franchise QB. Much like Tyrod got the Bills a fluke playoff game, D Jones got the Giants a fluke. Also they should have moved Barkley via trade. DaBoll/Shoen came from a no-pay RB philosophy. Franchising Barkley was another mistake, and not from the Bills handbook.

I would prefer Groot, Bernard, Benford, Shakir and Cooper. Also, I think for Cook, early in the game he would catch the screen and take a stutter step to gather himself and look up field before going. This slight delay allowed the defender to get to him and there were several no gains because of it.

What are you talking about with "half the list was hurt"? Most were traded - D Adams. A Cooper, and DHop in particular. And even if they are hurt, why can't you trade for them? What secret eligibility requirement are you creating in your mind? You have no idea what the market would be if Cleveland wasn't a mess. Some other team could have taken their place. Also, there is no way to know what the bidding would have been, but we do have a pretty good idea Beane would have set a limit on what he would be willing to pay.