BillsFanForever19

You must have forgotten someone or are misreading Jalen Kimber's release from the Practice Squad as a release from the 53 because we don't have 4 roster spots. We had 2 with Hamlin and Sanders going to IR and now 3 on the 53 with Ciarlo being released. And we now have 1 spot open on the Practice Squad. We haven't opened Hairston's practice window yet and we have 21 days after we do before we have to put him on the roster. And we're likely to give him at least two weeks of practice before we stick him on the field. Obviously, two of those spots are for Michael Hoecht and Larry Ogunjobi. The third I'd *expect* to be Zion Logue for depth at 1T temporarily with Jones down.

They aren't going to trade for 2 WR's. We'll be lucky to get 1 done. The best we can realistically hope for as far as change in the WR room is pulling off a move for Chris Olave and elevating Gabe Davis in place of Tyrell Shavers and Elijah Moore.

While I agree a scheme change is necessary, the idea that we're going to switch out of McDermott's personal Tampa 2 Style Zone Defensive scheme seems about as likely to me as Rex Ryan switching out of a 3-4. A leopard doesn't change it's spots. These Defensive coaches live and die by "their Defense". We could acquire players that might perform better than what we're getting out of guys like Tre White, Taylor Rapp, and Cole Bishop. And maybe it would improve a little. But the bigger problem to me is that it seems like the blueprint to dismantling McDermott's Defense has been published for mass consumption and is on every team's desk.

I can understand saying White. But I don't think the plan was to start him long term and stick with him no matter what though. The injuries to Hairston and Strong forced this. But I'm really lost on why you think Gabe Davis, who is on Practice Squad IR and not so much as taking a PS spot and Jordan Poyer, who is on the Practice Squad and played a total of 18 snaps for us so far are "reasons the team is failing"... I hate to break it to you guys - but he's already on the team. Which is why he's being brought up. I also hate to break it to you and I don't know if you've noticed, but we a.) Have an injured WR in Jordan Palmer that may be on the shelf for some time and b.) Don't have anyone beyond Kincaid and Shakir that can get open with any sort of even small consistency. I'm not saying Gabe Davis is the answer by himself. I'm not saying don't look elsewhere. I actually said in the same post that I'd be on the phone with the Saints to try to add one of their WR's as well. But if he's healthy, he certainly couldn't provide less than guys like Elijah Moore and Tyrell Shavers are. They are absolutely useless.

So like.... does anyone have any idea how far he's along in his rehab? Said this in another thread, I know it sounds silly to want Gabe Davis on the field. But with the lack of anyone providing anything in terms of getting open beyond Dalton Kincaid (who was so incredibly missed tonight) and Khalil Shakir - I'd be willing to give him a shot right now. Give me Davis and either Olave or Shaheed in place of Shavers and Moore. We need serious transition in the WR room or we're in real trouble. And yes, before anyone says anything, we definitely need help in the Secondary too. More talent would help. But the Defensive scheme isn't changing. And it really seems like after a decade plus of McDermott's scheme in the league, the blueprint on how to tear it apart is out. Which makes the need to score at will that much more important.

That's unlikely to change. Sanders just had Knee surgery and McDermott said Jones "popped his calf" and he was in a walking boot. I don't think that's something that's just gonna take 2 weeks. I'd like to be wrong though. We'll get Ogunjobi for Week 8, which should hopefully be better than Jordan Phillips in replacing Sanders. Hopefully Palmer can recover in a couple weeks. But he was still limping post game. It's encouraging that he was walking around and didn't go to the Locker Room bc it looked *bad*. Samuel, just.... ugh. I assume he'll be back, but Dear Lord has the injury bug been ridiculous with him. They really need to be on the phone with the Saints. The fact that we have no WR's that can win their battles with any remote amount of consistency is as big of a problem as our Defense. And does anyone know how far along Gabe Davis is? Like it sounds insane to want Gabe Davis, but I'd take Davis and one of the Saints WR's over Shavers and Moore every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Much like DT, this isn't changing either. Dorian Strong is on IR with a Neck Injury, he may be done for the year. And I knew that it was unlikely that we'd see Hairston until Week 8. But since they haven't even opened his Practice window yet and they aren't going to throw him into the fire the first week he's activated - we aren't going to see him for a while. McDermott still hasn't ruled out not seeing him at all. Milano, Milano, Milano. Another ugh like Samuel. Who knows when we'll get him back and how long we'll have him when we do. The Pec kept him out multiple weeks and then he almost immediately re-injured it. Now he's in the dreaded "week to week" category. I wouldn't put him out until it's fully healed at this point. Bernard is hopefully a low ankle sprain. Fingers crossed that he comes back after the Bye. Not that I think he's playing great. Man, was he missed tonight. The entire passing game runs through Shakir and Kincaid. He's the only guy who could get open with any sort of consistency last week and this week, no one did. Here's hoping we get him back and again, make a move with New Orleans for either of their guys. Otherwise, offensively, we're in big trouble. Well for Week 8, we'll definitely get Hoecht and Ogunjobi. Likely Kincaid and Samuel (not that he matters). Hopefully Bernard and maybe Palmer, but neither are a guarantee. But unless you're counting hypothetical additions to the team, I don't see 7-8 key players being added to this team in 2 weeks when we play our next game. It's important we try and make some moves at WR, CB, Safety, or LB. This team needs more help than what we may or may not have coming back after the Bye.

The sad part is Dorian Strong was our insurance for Hairston, like Benford to Elam. He was showing promise. Played well during Week 1 in White's steed and would cycle in for White when they needed a change of pace. And now he's on Injured Reserve as well.

Both Ed Oliver and Deone Walker made more plays then Bernard did tonight. And they stayed on the field. At some point, you have to be honest and say that our starting Middle Linebacker is a major issue. Linebacker as a whole is a bigger problem than DT.

If he's a Playmaker - then he needs to make more plays. A play like the pick in the Ravens game happens and then it's 5 weeks of getting run all over and the second level being wide open in passing and it's like "yeah, but he's a Playmaker".

I still can't believe they extended Bernard early. His 2023 was very good. But he regressed in 2024 and started showing a penchant for getting dinged up. This year is more of the same. I wouldn't have tied up money for next year in Bernard and Rousseau until I saw what they brought us this year. It's so frustrating seeing the Defense performing as it is and knowing that we locked both of them in to those spots and any sort of high cost upgrade seem unlikely bc of there's and other extensions we made.

How can you tell? Maxwell Hairston hasn't played a down because of a Training Camp injury. T.J. Sanders played 4 games and then had to have surgery on his Knee. Dorian Strong showed promise as a Corner, until he was injured and put on IR. It's fair to say that injuries have ravaged our Rookie class. But that doesn't mean they're untalented. We couldn't possibly know that. Just bad luck.

I don't think he'll be fired. And I've been defending him for a while. But over the past couple weeks, that McDermott Tampa 2 has looked worse than ever (and it's looked pretty bad in the past). I hate to say it, but it's starting to feel like Rex Ryan 2.0. A one time Defensive guru, but after a Decade plus of running the same scheme the league has figured out his system and he's too stubborn or incapable of transitioning to a different scheme. I don't think Zone schemes work well against today's NFL offenses. You need an Elite Secondary and perfect play for it to work. We don't have that. It feels like we have a passing game that doesn't work unless our WR's are going against Zone and a Defense that is Swiss cheese because it runs out of Zone.

I'd like to remind you he wasn't picked in the 1st Round. But I get what you're saying.

@GunnerBill - can't reply in the original thread so doing it here. It's the knee hitting the ball. He grabs it, starts pulling it up, hits the knee and starts moving, then hits the turf. If not for the ball being moved, i'd agree. But a moving ball doesn't denote control.

No way. He never had control of that thing. His knee hit it as he was picking it up from hitting the turf, then it started moving, then it touched the turf. Easy call.

He never had control. As he was picking it off the ground, his knee hit the ball and knocked it loose and then it touched the ground.

Was it Josh's throwing hand that got hurt? Bc he's had really bad ball placement since.

The good news is we threw a bunch of money into early extensions for the Defense this off-season. ... oh wait.

Remember when Rex Ryan's D got figured out and he wouldn't budge from it? This is what it's starting to feel like with McDermott and his scheme. The injuries don't help. But it feels like McDermott's D is antiquated for today's game and the book is out on how to dismantle it.

How are we this unlucky with injuries every single year? Every team has injuries. But the magnitude of them with this team over the past few years is insane.

F-ck. We can't afford to lose Palmer. Gabe Davis here we come.

Unless you want to roll with Ja'Marcus Ingram or Cam Lewis - there's no one else to go with.

Tre White is SO bad.

He was. Until teams started to realize that was how we wanted to beat teams and had no one to create separation on the Outside. Now they key in on Cook and force Josh to beat them with his arm. Which he could - but guys getting open is a 50/50 proposition at best.