Coach Tuesday

Can there be something in between "fire him" and "you stupid morons he's never going anywhere and you're lucky to be allowed to speak his name"? Specifically: is it ok to expect that McD has to account for his performance with the season on the line, and put in processes or make changes to prevent something like that from happening again? No, we're not as fans entitled to know what those things are, but it would be nice to know it's being addressed. The fact that his stomach is turning over about the end of the game is a good start, sure, but blaming "execution" while saying "the buck stops with me" while refusing to explain what the hell he means by any of that is more than a little frustrating...

What about Chad Hall as Daboll's OC?

Agree with your points in this thread. Scheme really isn’t the problem - talent is. Don’t change the scheme. It’s time to tweak the player acquisition strategy a bit to somewhat de-emphasize culture. The culture has been built and it’s now Josh’s team. Period. You don’t need a high-character vet in every position group meeting. Josh is going to set the tone for this team. Beane can afford to take a few more risks on “character” if it means acquiring high-ceiling athletes who can do things like chase QBs, catch footballs down the field or intercept passes. They also need to be a little bit more willing to take financial risks - this isn’t a car dealership. Yearly returns are important but the goal should be to win a championship during the Allen Window. Anything less than that is total legacy failure. We don’t need to overhaul the schemes on either side of the ball. We need to move away from guys like: Addison Star Sanders Feliciano Taiwan Jones Wallace Go find some better football players who can impact games. Phase 1 was dismantle the old regime. CHECK. Phase 2 was find a QB and build up a winning culture. CHECK. Phase 3 is STOP HIDING UNDER YOUR BLANKET AND GO GET US A LOMBARDI MCBEANE. Ugh I’m still pissed. But I think I’m right about this. Time to recalibrate the personnel strategy. Coaching is fine (enough).

Didn’t I also see Williams returning punts and covering punt returns as a gunner? He would have played some on defense, too, if the coaches had let him. I’d love to land that kind of all-around sparkplug.

He beat them earlier in the season and was a squib kick away from beating them a second time last night…

Knox also had to stay in to help out on Brown’s side a bunch last night because the rookie was STRUGGLING.

They’ll definitely go after him if that happens.

Not to mention THEY INVESTED A QUARTER-BILLION DOLLARS IN HIM. If that was your money at risk, wouldn't you take steps to protect it?

Agree with all of that but would prefer he brings in some coaching talent who could actually challenge him to stretch more. With the game on the line last night was anyone in McD’s ear about the situation they were facing? Because it sure seemed like he somehow didn’t know the Chiefs were only down by 3 and had all of their timeouts. A competent veteran assistant HC/special teams coordinator would do wonders for the game day operation.

How many draft assets does a defensive-minded coach need to run his defense? When are they going to strategically focus on protecting their $250M investment by surrounding him with enough talent that he doesn’t have to win games himself? Not denying CB2 is a need but my gosh they’ve spent a lot on that side…

Lots of that is wrong. Ingram absolutely made an impact and blew up Spencer Brown for one, possibly 2 key sacks/pressures. And his presence allowed Jones to play inside where he's far more disruptive. As for "10 seconds away," the Bills have the best player in the universe and had literally the easiest schedule in the NFL this year and had to go on the road for last night's game because they were 0-5 (now 0-6) in close games this year. You don't think adding one more impact player would've made an... impact? Take the $5M+ they're paying Taiwan Jones and Tyler Matkavich and invest it in a hybrid OLB who can chase QBs and you don't think that would've made a difference in the season? If anything, "10 seconds away" shows just how narrow the margin for success is in this league - and Beane has mostly chosen to sit on his hands when opportunities have arisen. Denver would likely have been happy to trade one of its many CBs at the deadline - you don't think that might've helped last night? Sheesh.

One problem for McD is that he's now lost much of the fanbase and will have to win back their support - and it won't be easy. He's already getting roasted in the national media, and even the sleepy Buffalo sports media will ratchet up the heat on him somewhat. Future mistakes of his are sure to be magnified and compared to the mouth-breathing idiocy on display last night. The only thing the Pegulas have consistently responded to is public embarrassment and McDermott is now in the national crosshairs.

Oh but it was worse than that. IIRC the defense had just spent 8 minutes giving up a long drive, and desperately needed the offense to sustain a drive of their own. The Bills "responded" by calling 3 nowhere plays and punting on 4th and short, forcing the D back onto the field. It was one of many examples yesterday of the coaches not being plugged into what was actually happening on the field. It's highly disturbing. Again, the Pegulas aren't serious human beings or there would at least be some level of talking-to accountability - firing McD would be rash and stupid but he should absolutely be put on notice for his lack of situational awareness in critical moments all season. It HAS to stop if this team cares about championships. Jim Irsay is a nutjob but at least he demands excellence for his fans.

Just really sad for him - an unbelievable opportunity stolen by a couple of idiots.

Jameson Williams if he falls.

That is true - but both Addison and Hughes have filled their entire careers with almost-sacks against all manner of QBs. Both were flopping around Mahomes like fish on the boat deck last night, just spasming around him without ever actually getting a hand on him. Mahomes is great, but both of those guys are at the end of the line.

Beane elected to sit on his hands and trusted his coaches to get the most out of the players he'd drafted and signed. That didn't work. The two teams that will represent in the Super Bowl (Rams and Chiefs) were aggressive and it paid off. Chiefs acquired Orlando Brown via a draft weekend trade and then made an in-season trade for Melvin Ingram who added a spark to their defense (and allowed Jones to kick back inside). Rams - well, you all know what they've done. Beane and McDermott have done a neat little job taking a downtrodden team and raising expectations. Now it's time to stop running it like a car dealership and make winning a Super Bowl the ONLY goal.

I am honestly wondering if McD thought the Chiefs were either down by 4 or had no time outs left. Why would you leave the middle open and guard the sideline? There's no rational reason to do it situationally - something went seriously wrong.

The Pegulas are not serious people so I don’t expect anything to come of this. To be clear I don’t think Sean should be fired - but he should absolutely be put on notice that his coaching staff failed in key games/moments this season and more is expected. But that won’t happen, the Pegulas are casual fans who are just along for the ride.

I’m really wondering if McDermott had a full-on brain freeze and thought the Chiefs were either out of time outs or were down by more than 3… something went seriously wrong. There are high school football coaches who would’ve coached better situationally there. It is shocking.

Here is what some anonymous coaches had to say in today’s Athletic: Coverages didn’t seem to matter at times, but they did in the final 13 seconds. “How about the pass to Kelce to set up the field goal?” the offensive coach said. “What was that corner doing? He was five yards outside Kelce and just watched him run inside there. I mean, they’re protecting the sideline, but they had timeouts. You can’t protect the sideline when they had timeouts. It was situational football that was bad. That happens when things get tight.” An exec with experience playing quarterback said he could see that play unfolding before the snap. “I’m sitting here saying, ‘They’re going to throw it to Kelce on the other side, and they’ve only got one (defender) over there,’ ” this exec said. “I said, ‘I can’t believe they’re going to let it happen, and he’s going to be able to run for 20 or 30 yards.’ And if I can see it on TV before the play starts, I can’t believe they let it happen.”

They’ll probably fire the ST coordinator as a sacrificial lamb but otherwise there won’t be any consequences from last night. McDermott is Mike Zimmer with a better QB. He’s well-organized and focused but lacks elite intelligence or strategic thinking. That means he’ll need elite coordinators and he doesn’t have those right now although Daboll is close. McDermott’s natural tendency is to avoid risks and wait for the other team to mess up. His players on defense have taken in that mentality - they would rather sit back and wait for the contact than aggressively attack the ball. Hence getting dragged for five yards routinely. This is the personality of their coach: do your job, stay disciplined, hope for the best. Frankly above all else it’s just - lame. But at the end of the day, always remember these guys are basically high-achieving gym teachers.

Wish we had the Josh Allen of head coaches.

This. Another playmaker or two on offense. Get Beasley and Sanders off the roster and bring in another tight end for nights like tonight when Knox has the Sucks. Add speed on the edge and two more actual NFL-caliber corners. MAybe take back Taron’s extension if he hasn’t signed it yet (kidding but he’s been pretty bad since he reupped).