BillsFanForever19

Epenesa's been a monster in an off the bench, rotational role this season. He's been popping off the screen fairly consistently all year.

That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is that we had so many DE's that we couldn't even dress him. We weren't "relying" on Hoecht at Edge either. We lost one of 4 that were performing at a high level. Obviously, I'd rather have him. But Bosa (especially how he's been consistently performing), Groot (who has taken a step in the past couple games), and Epenesa (who is performing extremely well off the bench) is already a better situation at Edge than a lot of teams in the league. With Hoecht, it was an embarrassment of riches. We've just gone from that to "just" being in very good shape. Of course i'd prefer Hoecht as well. But this idea that we're in trouble at Edge bc we lost Hoecht isn't accurate. We're in trouble at Defensive Tackle, where Hoecht was filling in for Oliver on passing downs. We're in trouble at WR, where we still have no one who can get open with any sort of consistency (thank God for Kincaid). But Edge is fine, even with Hoecht's injury. We only had him for 1 1/2 games. Edge was never the problem without him in the lineup. If we lose Bosa or Groot, then it might become a problem. But we're fine there. We aren't at DT, WR, or Safety (opposite Bishop).

The Shaun Dolac that every Bills fan obsessed over like we missed out on the second coming of Lawrence Taylor (some even still) - that has played a grand total of 35 snaps on Defense all season for the Rams?

Would be feeling a lot better had Hoecht not gotten injured. The Defensive Line saw a tangible jump in juice with him infused into the lineup. He was able to pick up a lot of slack for Ed Oliver going down on passing downs as well. Now we really need to get another Defensive Tackle in here. And we still have an issue with WR's getting open. Thankfully, Dalton Kincaid is at least *a* option that seems to get open with some sort of consistency. Hopefully he can stay on the field. But we still need someone there. The win was obviously a high. And I don't think anyone was really thinking we would be picking in the Top 10 or anything. The issue is that we've done (many times over) the Division win. We've done the beating the Chiefs in the Regular Season thing. And we've done the multiple Playoff wins. Being good isn't the bar. Fans are looking for a Super Bowl team. And as good as the past couple weeks have been, I still need to see some parts added (DT, WR, and/or S) before I feel like we can win one. Beating the Chiefs in the Regular Season means nothing in the grand scheme of things. Especially this year with them at 5-4.

Why? We were so stacked there that we couldn't find room for our 3rd Round Pick to dress. Bosa's on fire, Groot has picked up steam, and Epenesa's been very good this year off the bench. Now we can also dress Jackson. We went the whole season save for 1 and a half games with the same Edge room. Edge wasn't remotely the problem for us. We need a DT *way* more than we need an Edge.

I think you just examine where you think the bigger need is at with 1T v. 3T. We should get Jones back within the next two games (hopefully this one coming up). It's pretty clear Daquan Jones is a 1T and Jordan Phillips is a 3T. But then you have Deone Walker and Larry Ogunjobi, who can play both spots. I think you start Jones and Walker alongside the other and rotate in. I'd imagine you go out and get a 3T as Phillips, while playing admirably, isn't someone you want to rely on. Edge we're okay at, even with Hoecht's injury. Don't think we need Jalen Phillips (and I don't think they'd trade him to us). Bosa is playing lights out, still have Groot and Epenesa (who is playing well as an off the bench option) and we were sitting Landon Jackson simply bc we were so loaded there that we didn't need him. Now he'll finally see action.

I'm not going to obsess over a 4th and 17 conversion in a tough fought game that we won an hour after the victory. Now isn't the time for that. That said, the problem is clear. It's the "exotic" scheme. Rather than keeping with the top options of teams like Rasheed Rice, we just let them go to the next guy. And too often there's confusion on who's assignment it is with other things going on or they just completely blow the assignment. Crossers are a nightmare for his Defense.

Automatic game ball? That's not how it works, imo. Shakir shouldn't get more credit than Kincaid for today's game based on other games. Kincaid easily cleared Shakir in this one. He's on everyone's list and you're the only person listing Shakir.

I think the idea that Kincaid is under Shakir is a bit of a hot take. Not to say Shakir wasn't very good. But Kincaid had a bigger game in my eyes.

As far as Beane going "bananas" - this is about as far as I'd take it. Unrealistic that he'd make three moves, but at least they're all likely to be moved players:

Welp - everyone complaining about Landon Jackson not being active, he will be now.

Why are we burning our 2nd Timeout on a 2nd Down Defensive re-alignment?

I have had it with this soft zone, give up your man for the guy behind you crap. Too often they either completely blow the assignment or just find the perfect moment of a guy going open. Absolutely ridiculous to constantly lose the opponents' top options.

The amount of times that opposing teams TOP WR's are just running free from blown assignments is absolutely maddening. Just play man.

It's a good thing we went as crazy as we did at DT. Lost Oliver, Sanders, Carter, down Jones - but we still have Walker and Ogunjobi. Can't take anymore injuries at DT. But pretty thankful he went wild there.

Joey muthaf-kin' BOSA! What an acquisition! Worth every penny and we got him for a steal.

Good. Maybe now fans who don't pay attention to anything but who has the ball in their hands will stop saying "we should cut Gilliam" every off-season to make room for their favorite Pre-Season darling.

Kincaid from presumed bust to only pass catcher who can get open with any consistency.

A Mitch Trubisky commercial? That's awesome haha

Get on the phone with Arizona for Budda Baker. Safeties are atrocious.

The Soft Zone has no answers for crossers. They give cushions and it throws the assignments for a loop. That Rice play was a good example of that.

Shakir screens are a result of a lack of separation from our WR's - including Shakir. It's annoying, but you have to find ways to get balls in his hands.

The only way I can see it being remotely possibly is if we're literally the *only* team in the entire NFL offering a 1st for him. Any other team that offers a 1st will both be in another division or conference and also perceived to have a higher pick. It stinks that the Dolphins and Jets are both sellers with pieces we need, but are inside the Division and unlikely to assist a rival. Especially one that's Draft slot is looked at as one of the worst in the league.