Brand J

The Butterfly Effect is that if he had picked off that pass, the trajectory of the game changes and he never gets hurt on that play because it never would’ve happened. Of course that could also mean someone else gets hurt instead on a new script of plays. Injuries suck.

True. There wouldn’t be a Belichick coaching tree if not for one Tom Brady.

So did the media. They even asked McD if Hamlin was kept because of the bad optics a cut would bring but McD said it wasn’t anything like that at all. Said the players all know who’s deserving of a roster spot and who isn’t, so if Hamlin wasn’t it wouldn’t have gone over well with the players. Also cited his starting experience. We need to get younger and faster at that position next offseason.

Bears fans know a thing or two about how a great linebacker is supposed to look. They’ve been spoiled. “Our linebackers are bad. Reallllly bad.” When I read that on their boards I laughed, don’t know why. But genuinely laughed. They’re not happy with Edmunds or the other signing, TJ Edwards. But at least he signed for a modest amount. Edmunds… ouch. I feel for them. Okay maybe I don’t.

No, it was Cam Lewis. He beat himself up about it after the game, said all the right things “I’m not a selfish player.” Also said he cried about it. Still can’t understand why he didn’t volleyball spike it with one hand rather than try to pick it off.

Yeah I liked seeing him hide in the junk and then explode to the ball carrier. London Fletcher said playing MLB in run fits is a lot like a RB picking a hole to explode through. You gotta know where to fill and you have to do it fast.

What Bills games were they watching to believe Edmunds was a playmaker?? That’s a poor reflection on their pro personnel department.

TB43, has a Terminator ring to it.

Certainly a better man than defensive coordinator. Class act and well respected.

Can’t speak for others, but I would’ve been pissed. In fact, I said earlier that offseason before the signing that if Beane re-signs Edmunds for a dollar more than Milano, I’d lose faith in him as a GM. I thought the direction they took on Edmunds would be very telling and was happy they let him walk. I wanted more production from that position. On the flip side, I was all for re-signing Oliver to a fair money deal because I had seen him take over a few games. Consistency had always been his biggest issue, I never doubted he could do it.

The stalemated point is definitely what happened, he just stayed on the LoS with his hands on the back. There was no attempt to compress the back into the QB. Once he found there was a player in his way his sprint came to a full stop. Like I said, I was surprised because when I saw the RB step up I fully expected Tremaine to truck him, push him back, toss him aside, something! I didn’t expect an “oh well, I tried but he’s in the way” sort of give up. Luckily Ed Oliver (IIRC) got the sack on the play otherwise it would’ve incensed me even more 😂

We’re getting gashed in the run game a bit, but I think if it was an opposing team’s primary way to move the ball we could shut it down. I don’t see any repeats of what happened versus the Jets last year where we knew the run was coming and couldn’t stop it. The Jets got most of their yardage on one play, 2 if you include the 26 yarder. The Commies got most of their rushing yards after they were trailing big and our defense was concerned with the pass (a la Green Bay last year). Miami presents the first true multi-dimensional team we’ve faced this year. Should be fun.

That’s fair, but with a guy his size and speed you would expect/hope he’d toss that smaller player aside and at least affect the QB. I’ve seen numerous LBs go head up with a RB and the RB gets bowled over. I had never seen one sprinting to the LoS just to get stoned by a RB and then “that’s it.” No fight or hustle through the block, just acceptance that the back was there. It was wild to me.

But you also have to give credit to the player for making the plays when they’re available. We know about Edmunds and his near INTs, but I wanted to touch on his blitzing since it was mentioned above. I had never seen a guy with his size and speed get stoned with a full head of steam by a RB. Happened last year against the Patriots, I could go dig up the play if you don’t remember. He didn’t have the same aggression and pursuit in his blitzes that TB43 seems to play with. It was almost as though Edmunds was content to get blocked rather than fight through to make the sack. Simply explaining away that TB43 makes plays and Edmunds didn’t is all because of how they’re being used, no, it’s mainly because the player is taking advantage when he’s put in a position to succeed.

All great points. I just can’t get on board with the sentiment that Bernard has these stats and Edmunds didn’t simply because Edmunds wasn’t being used in the same way Bernard is being used. That would imply Edmunds was misused and that the Bills defensive scheme was at fault for his lack of big time plays, not the player himself. How many times have we said “almost” about a play Tremaine could have made but didn’t?

Do you think those differences lend credence to why Bernard has made more impact plays? Or is it the players themselves?

You’re right, Tom. I’ll just let the statistics of my point and the original article that sparked this discussion stand… He can continue his act if he so chooses. Thanks for being the voice of reason 😄

This is what WEO does, he lives for the pettiness. I engage to a certain point because I find the act humorous and laugh as he talks in circles. That players have always had an option to return the ball or not was not the argument. Of course they have. You seemingly agreed that the kickoff is being phased out of the game and then in the next breath said it wasn’t, only that players were given options (which doesn’t make any sense). More nonsense with your “no one has stopped watching the NFL…” statement. Of course they haven’t. The plea is to substitute the current kickoff with something a little more exciting than a touchback and what’s the best course of action to do that without having grown men slam themselves into each other at top speeds? That’s both points in a nutshell, two concepts you evidently have trouble grasping.

Whats funny is that I see Bills fans, not here but elsewhere, saying Bernard plays in a different defense than Tremaine. Saying Edmunds should’ve been used the way Bernard is used. And people wonder why the Edmunds threads won’t die, it’s constant conversation.

Really is pretty damning when listed like that.

FIFY. Edmunds never had a single game close to the numbers Bernard put up last Sunday. And I can’t even identify a signature Edmunds game.

My fault for assuming you were intelligent enough to know that teams have always had options to return the ball… or not. And of course they’re taking advantage of the new rules for better field position, that’s why I said moving the ball back to the 20 would result in more returns - which the league doesn’t want. The XFL model is a more exciting play, because… get this… it’s a play! It’s not simply a 80% chance of a fair catch, or a ball bouncing in or through the endzone. Perhaps the touchback is more your cup of tea versus the XFL return model. You should have just led with that.

This is how I categorized him, slightly above average, but wouldn’t argue with those who called him “average.” My slightly above average credit was for his physical attributes, the sideline to sideline range and length he brought. Those attributes are in the upper echelon of MLBs in the league.

Teams have ALWAYS had a choice and options, when have they not? 😂 When MULTIPLE RULES are enacted to minimize a particular play - in this case the kickoff, hence the “endangered kickoff” article I linked - then yes, those rules are responsible for removing returns from the game. Not entirely of course, 20% of kicks are returned today, which is a far cry from the once 90% return rate we enjoyed before concussions became a concern. It’s as simple as that. Sorry this is too much for you to comprehend. I don’t disagree, but do wish they’d find a model that allows some sort of excitement in its place. If not the XFL model, then something comparable that doesn’t involve players crashing into each other at top speed.

How would that fix it? It would just incentivize teams even more to fair catch the ball when teams kick it shorter. If you want more returns, you push the line of scrimmage back, not forwards. I liked it when touchbacks started at the 20.