PoundingDog

Moulds still cannot keep it in his pants ... During his playing days in Buffalo, he's known for bringing Sundowner dancers to his home for weeks. People must've believed "Pretty Woman" movie is so true ...

It is actually interesting to see the Bills drafting philosophy shifted. 2017 when McDermott was making the picks (we assume he had final say over Whaley), it's more production based guys like White, Jones, Dawkins, Milano. None of them has super athletic traits but raw in technique. Then Beane came in and he pivoted more to projection based on athletic traits. Allen, Edmunds, Oliver (undersized but quickest first step), Ford, Rousseau, Spencer Brown, Elam etc. The result is mixed. Some developed, some don't pan out. Luckily the critical one, Allen was on the positive ledger. In recent years Beane kind of shifted more towards production side, especially in later rounds (which has been Rams' strategy under McVay). Coleman, Bernard, Shakir are positive ones.

Scouting is inexact science. A lot is in projection on where the player CAN become. My theory is guys like Trevor Lawrence went thru all the prep school starting from young age, played at one of the big college with pro level talent, maximized his ceiling. Guys like Allen went on to play at D-1 college QB purely based on talent of his, both athletically and mentally. Give him some pro-training and talent, he has more level to go up to. But projects are just that projects. There are much more failures than finding an Allen. You can probably win at NFL level with a guy like Lawrence if you have the culture and proper talent. That's why people tend to draft the "safer" prospects.

Not wrong. There are games where an opponent plays at an unexpected high level, how do you solve that? That's what McDermott/Beane and the Bills have not been able to overcome in the playoffs. At micro level, meaning during the game where we found out that whatever we prepared cannot stop them, what do McDermott and his staff do? This is where some the measure of how great a coach is: adjustments. For example, if McDermott got a sense after a quarter or so that we were NOT going to stop Rams offense regardless the adjustment that we could do, maybe he should be more aggressive on offense like going for 4th down all the time while taking super aggressive and risky approach on defense like blitzing every down hoping for a big play. At micro level, OBD needs to identify the potential weakness of the team and find solutions. Overall I think they have done that where they had tried to improve the run offense to reduce the reliance on Josh so that the offense can be less volatile. After a couple years of effort, I think we see the result for that this year. They have to ask themselves the question: is it easier to make the offense go another level like able to score TD every possession to beat a performance like Rams had last week in a playoff setting, or it is easier to find ONE D player who is cable to rise up to make ONE or TWO plays to stop a drive or two when the RAMS are at that level of offense?

They have to make a change there. Smiley is not good enough. The Bills has given up kickoff returns for TD, blocked punt for TD, in one season already.

Next season, we might get Nacua light (Coleman) and Kupp light (Shakir) with Stafford heavy (Allen) version for defenses to contend with.

Nacua is one of the reasons the Bills drafted Coleman. Nacua had production in college, with basketball background, but ran something like 4.57 40 times and considered not able to get separation at the next level. Sounds familiar? Coleman actually has better measurables than Nacua. One thing I got out this is for the Bills to look at how the Rams use Nacua and apply it to Coleman.

Because the Rams were gashing them on Runs. They have to send people for run blitz. Also the front 4 is not getting there, partly becuase McVay use moving pocket to help his O-Line. We all watched the Dolphins at Rams TNF. Nacua, Kupp, Williams, Corum all played. Rams ran a total of 70 yards on that day. We are talking about Dolphins defense there and they had 4 sacks one INT. I really wish we were able to sign Calais Campbell.

He said "give me the best play at 1 yard line," and they believed Allen sneaking is the best play. They need to develop a best passing play at 1 yard line.

Sounds to me he's resigned to defeat when Rams scored last TD. A lot of the end game decision discussions from him is like either options (on-side or stop them 3 times with timeouts) are not good which leads me to believe that he did not think the Bills would stop the Rams even if we had 3 timeouts. He pretty much said he believed McVay would go for the 4th down on the one where Bills declined the holding penalty. Also interesting that he admitted the team's "urgency" is not there right from the start.

You can talk about the end of the game strategy or what not. But the big question is the defensive performance. And unlike the 2 game losing streak earlier in the season, we are at full strength on D now. I don't know how great your offense can perform. But getting an opponent offense to punt once (I don't count the last one) without getting any turnovers is not a formula to win. Probably it goes back to the point of no elite talent on D to make a play from time to time when needed. We can get all 11 guys on D to play well to stop most teams but when there are offfensive guys play above the scheme, we have no one to do the same to them on D.

Really? Josh walked up behind center and no one behind him.

That's my impression. He walked up and no one behind him to push. The next try they use the push formation.

Com'n now. You don't expect 3rd and 17 to have a 4th and 4 outcome.

Wish they actived Elam today

You are not going to confuse Stafford in the 4th. Blitz him now every down

Stafford is playing the best game this season. And the Bills pass rush exposed.

Who'd ve thought that the Bills cannot run the ball on tha Rams and the Rams can run the ball on us? That's the difference.

I recall Dawkins yesterday mentioned Hyde needs to go upstairs to eat. He did look small. In the video below around 15 second mark, Hyde practiced against Cam Lewis (#39) and Lewis is listed 183lb. You can see the size comparison with your eyes. Maybe Hyde was not fully anticipating in coming back this season by keeping up his nutrition intake.

If Carter is off IR to play this week, who goes? 1T DT: DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson 3T DT: Ed Oliver, Jordan Phillips. Quinton Jefferson played both DT and DE. Carter is a direct Joran Phillips replacement. But somehow I get the feeling Phillips may stay; not flash but better than I expected.

Now I see a real bad play by Josh in the film. around 7:08 mark, Josh got greedy and almost picked - had Knox wide opn for first down underneath.

Joe Marino said Hyde of 2023 is no better than Hamlin of 2024. Take it for whatever you believe of his assessment.

Hyde will be Hamlin's replacement position wise, and we can all agree Hamlin is the weakest (talent wise) starting player on this Bills team. The coaches have to see if Hyde is better than Hamlin before making any decisions. Also like someone pointed out, should help Bishop. This is an insurance for the playoffs. I agree it's not a guarantee he gets on the field. There is Hamlin, and maybe Bishop ahead of him right now and that's why he's signed to the practice squad. But things can change. I do appreciate the willingness of Hyde to go to the practice squad because many, including me, speculated Hyde may not play for peanuts if he does come back (another reason others don't believe he would attempt to come back other than December for reduced cost to the Bills). Looks like he just wants a ring!

This is why the Bills have not had an unexpected loss so far this season. Ever since McDermott came here, the D has been consistent in regular seasons, I'd say not super dominant, but not terrible. This year is just like others, having only one terrible defensive game - the Ravens' game - with a bad matchup and injuries. In the past where the offense is heavily relied upon Josh Allen being superman or playing well, when his playing levels dipped, you see some ugly losses (Jags game 2021, Vikings game 2022, at Jets last year, etc.). This year, Josh really improved his decision making resulting much lower turnovers. And the running game (Cook, O-Line) took a lot of pressure away from him. The offense performance has a steady feel to it. So when we face an interior team, when you don't give away gifts, the better team typically win.