newcam2012

I have a slight disc herniation L4-L5 that causes sciatica pain. It's no joke when it flares up. Been dealing with it off and on for about 10 years. Thank God it's manageable and the pain has mostly been manageable. A few times it knocked me down good. Back injuries are no joke! It certainly is a concern with Brown. Almost seems like damaged goods sort of speak. However, his body is young and he's under the best doctor care. So he has a lot going for him. Still scary though especially for a football player.

Impressive. I'm not picking a fight with you.

Yes. Beane knows what he's doing. He knows the importance of the oline. He added several solid pieces to the oline this off season. The oline looks to be much improved from last year. Brown is young and should only improve if healthy. Beane has given him his endorsement. He knows more than me. Kromer should be able to develop the youngster. Dawkins is solid and I'm confident he will remain a stable piece of the oline. In short, I think this year's oline should be solid. Not top ten but still solid. Much improved from last year. I don't see the oline as a liability. Trust the process.

I did and you still haven't answered or addressed my question. Rather you come at me in a derogatory fashion. No biggie.

Ok let's me try another angle. What makes you say that if the pass protection is poor? Doesn't that imply some level of uncertainty or lack of confidence?

Not a great vote of confidence here for the oline. Instead, we Bills fans should be confident that the oline will be good in pass protection.

Not a great scenario here. Bills management was hoping for a healthy and improved Brown. That was possible but the other scenario of him getting injuried again or playing mediocre was also in play. Right now, the back up plan seems pretty thin. There is time to come up with another game plan. Not sure what that is? This isn't ideal as the Bills oline needs to be solid. I hope Brown can still contribute or someone steps up.

I respect that constructive criticism. Thanks Gunner. I'm going to stay more silent because I don't want to become a nuisance. I know I may have already crossed that line already. I'll be here but won't post much. I don't feel silenced or feel like a victim. I think its best for all of us. Go Bills!!!!

I'm able to separate football from real life. I take my football seriously but not to the extent where it negatively effects me or my family. In the end, it is just football and entertainment. However that doesn't mitigate my desire for the Bills to win it all. Until that happens if ever, I will likely remain skeptical.

Anyone who knows anything about me knows I don't play the victim role. That's just not my style. I don't look for sympathy or pity. I basically give my opinions and try to back them up with reasonable facts and thinking. I realize the vast majority of my takes are negative and that clearly doesn't bode well here. I totally get the resistance and mostly negative feedback. It goes with territory sort of speak. However, it's not pity or a victim role that I'm trying to portray. In the past, I've given my praise to Bills coaches and players after well performed games and execution. I've given the Bills regime praise for build8ng a contender and turning the organization into a winning franchise. I've talked about how much more enjoyable Bills football is since Beane/McD have arrived. I've liked several moves the Bills made in signing, resigning, releasing players. Nevertheles, I almost always resort back to the negative things I see. Why? Because the goal is to make a SB appearence. The goal is to win it all. Hoist that Lombardi. Imho, that's not an unrealistic goal when you have #17 on the field. In sort, I'm not sure I can truly be satisfied without the Bills reaching the pinnacle. Perhaps that's sort sighted. The younger generation perhaps cannot realize the level or desire of a 50 year plus Bills fan riddled with disappointment. The constant theme of falling short is getting beyond tolerable. Especially, with all the expectations the last few years. When....

That's fair. I do give props to players, coaches, and management. Many just refuse to see them and would rather focus on the negative. I'm not all negative.

Ok. Stats have to be put in their proper perspective. Not all stats are equal nor do they paint a whole picture. That's the real point here. A literally interpretation of watch said is taking it out of context. But go ahead do what you desire. No harm no foul. That's definetly true.

I cheered for that team for decades. They were called the Buffalo Bills. As a life long Bills fan I only want one thing. We all know what that is. I've literally been waiting 50 plus years. The lack of a ring doesn't deter my love for the sport or the Bills. My criticism of the team doesn't effect my desire to proudly wear my Bills gear. I will always be a Bills fan because that's who I am. What I can't understand is how the two get confounded, confused, and twisted. My criticism of the team, coaches, or management doesn't equate to being a bad fan, bad person, a troll, etc... Of course, I enjoy the Bills making playoff appearences and having excellent regular season records. To insist or imply I don't is not accurate. Yes football as a Bills fan has been much much more enjoyable. I do appreciate the the success of the team. At the same time, I want more! The players want more! The fan base wants more! I for one don't want to settle for early playoff losses. Coaches being out coached in the playoffs. Coaches giving away games in the playoffs. The team falling short in the playoffs. That's exactly what we've seen under McD and Beane. Many are happy with the above. It doesn't satisfy my appetite as a Bills fan. I appreciate the path that Beane and McD have taken this team. It's commendable but yet fallen short. They too deserve criticism. I question their ability to close the deal. That's not a blemish on me as a Bills fan.

That's fair. Hopefully, I'm wrong.

I just don't see an elite defense here. I can see a good one as a whole unit in sync. However, come playoff time you need 2 or 3 absolute studs to make plays. That's why Von was added. It's been a pattern no that the Bills D falls short in the playoffs. I don't see that changing based on the Bills roster. Nothing screams scary to me unless Von completely recovers and plays exceptional well. That's possibly but more unlikely rhan probable. Like I've said before, I believe the Bills path to the SB is Allen and the offense. If the oline improves and some younger guys step up this offense will be hard to stop. Maybe reread my post because your take here is off base with respect.

I get that. That's fair. But do we know what kind of Von the Bills are getting back? Poyer and Hyde are injury prone and have a lot of mileage. What version of Tre do the Bills get? How about the LB position? Who takes over for Edmunds? Who starts besides Tre at CB? Will the Bills have a solid and consistent pass rush? Can they make 3rd down stops? Most importantly can they produce in the playoffs? Make a key stop vs Mahomes or Burrow? No one knows the answers. Too many unknown variables. What's know is for years under McD the playoff Bills defenses have been subpar. As a result, there's plenty to be pessimistic about.

Never said stats lie. I think stats can be very deceiving. I absolutely think this is the case with the Bills defense in recent years. If memory serves me correctly, the Bills had one the top rated defenses 2 years in a row going into the playoffs. Last years defense was rated highly too dispute injuries. In those three years how confident were you in the Bills defense going into the playoffs? Did they perform at a high level? Like a top rated defense? Do they break defensive regular season into categories? Like what the defensive play vs top ranked teams? Lower ranked teams? Playoff teams? Poor teams? Have you seen those breakdowns? What is the most accurate statistic to look at? Sure the stats don't lie put the data entered certainly can change the statistical output. Thus, you get stats that don't always portray a level of accuracy. I believe that's absolutely the case with Buffalo over the last several years. I really never had a great level of confidence in the defense come playoff time despite the very high statistical data. I believe I'm not the only one who feels this way. So feel free to point to stats as absolutes if you like. Yes they play a part in sports and they sure are fun to discuss. However, they aren't the end all or entirely accurate either. The only paint part of the picture.

Nice post!

I'm not saying the defense will be bad. I'm saying come playoff time I will have little confidence in the Bills defense. They have not been dependable or very good when playing the upper echolen teams. I'm banking on Allen and the offense to win future playoff games. Fools gold stats...

My bad your are right. The defense will be rated nicely during the regular season. Come playoff time it's a whole different animal and theme. Look back at that vaunted top defense of the Bills entering the playoffs. Fraizer defenses come playoff time had more holes in it then Swiss cheese. But I get it, McD will be the savior on defense. Just like when he took over the defense in 13 seconds in KC. But I'm the biased unreasonable guy here. Oh OK if you say so.

The defense wasn't that good last year. I don't care what the stats said. Also, the previous two years the Bills were the top rated defense. Only to get their doors blown off come playoff time. Don't get caught up in the stats. If so, it's fair to say the Bills loss in the playoffs under McD with a sub 500 record and disappointing early exits. Isn't that the only stat that realty counts? Let's call it as it is even if it's unpopular and unpleasant.

I think there are some serious questions that need to be answered. Lots of unknowns and guts have to stay healthy and step up. The pass rush is anyone's guess. The key is Von because he makes everyone better. The other pass rushers aren't elite or game changers. Many are rototatiobal, unreliable, and inconsistent. In short, the pass rush is unproven. The Dline is another concern. Can guys stay healthy? will the new additions improve the line? Last year, they were inconsistent in stopping the run especially with Edmunds injured. Secondary with Poyer and Hyde healthy sound be good. Add in a healthy Tre and it looks very strong. Young core of guys that can absolutely contribute. Appears to be the strength of the defense. McD taking over should be a positive. I think he will be selectively more aggressive and unpredictable. On paper, the defense doesn't look bad nor does it look elite. Personally, I just don't see a top 5 dominant defense here. I'd land this defense in the top 10-15 area. That might be good enough if this offense can excell. I fully expect the Bills offense to be in the top 5. I believe it's the offense and Allen that will excell and hopefully get the Lombardi In Buffalo

Dawkins will be fine. I think I he's overrated in most Bills fans eyes. He's not a liability but he's not elite either. Pretty dependable and the least of the Bills oline worries.

Lucky if this defense cracks the top ten. Your post is overly optimistic.

Great read. You got my Bills blood pumping with excitement. Let's go Buffalo!!!