Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

Cap wise, do the Bills come out ahead in any way by him retiring instead of being cut? Or is it a wash either way.

Just curious if those tea leaves can explain why the running game fell apart this year compared to last season. I mean the 2019 Bills running game wasn't confusing anyone with Derrick Henry, but they did look serviceable and wasn't a huge concern going into this year. Now this is probably one of the biggest issues for next year. This year three of the same five from last year are back. The one completely different change is no Spain, instead Ike once Ford went down. This year, Ford played half the season at guard before getting hurt as opposed to last year played at tackle. The other change is at RT with Williams, but he's been one of the more solid players this season. I supposed it's possible that while he's great at pass blocking is/was terrible at run blocking. Reading the tea leaves sounds like Morse doesn't fit the scheme that well, did the scheme change since last year when he seemed to be fine? Could it simply be this season our pass game was so good, we just didn't bother enough trying to get the run game going? So what do the tea leaves show??

One bye product of a pretty deep playoff run is very little time left to be bored before the next NFL calendar season begins.

I think in this case it's more due to Gruden not being completely happy with him and wants to move on.

Flores is a genius! Makes it much tougher to poach coaches from Miami in the future if all have coordinator titles!

Same with L Jackson. Keep hearing how Baltimore needs to build the offense around him get him a true #1 WR, "hey look at the difference in made in Buffalo!" A #1 WR isn't going to help when often throwing it into the ground. Granted you could have said the same about Allen a year ago, he did improve so maybe Jackson can too. but sense Jackson enjoys being more of a running QB so may not ever improve on the throwing part. Whereas I think Allen more wants to be the gunslinger which does have some risks, but at least they are risks within the normal QB profile.

Nope, wasn't mentioned in the + Access part either. They did mention 7th rounder Jackson though. LOL

Yes it's an issue, but other than those two games, what other games really scare you? Could see them losing one of the Miami games. Will they likely go 15-1, no but could see them again going 13-3 or so. As mentioned KC plays NFC East so that's a break, but also play AFC North which isn't so easy. BTW we faced two SB teams this past year and also the two that were in the SB the year prior. Since we finished in 2nd the year prior, we lucked out a little by not playing Baltimore regular season, instead played Pitt, but the 2nd place finish also game us the toughest matchup this past year in AFC South against Tenn. Other than playing the NFC East and AFC south, couldn't imagine how they could have an easier schedule. Every year teams that are expected to do very well falter and their are surprises that play better too. This year in most eyes, Buffalo was one of the surprises as few saw them going 13-3. Next year the Bills could be the surprise team that falters too. But if that were to happen, I'm not going to say I'm not surprised due to the schedule we were playing.

So now you're really going to think I'm crazy, admittedly I was thinking about this over a month ago, at that point, didn't think Tampa would make it to the SB. Having said all that, for a couple months I've felt that 2021 would be the Bills best shot at winning the SB as their schedule is the easiest. They play the NFC south and AFC south. Throw in Pitt and KC too. Yes they play at KC and at Tampa, but really feel one of these years Brady's age is going to catch up with him, it somewhat already has as he's really not the reason physically they are in the SB, it's more the defense. While it certainly didn't happen this year with KC, typically there's always a SB hangover to deal with also. I worry about Miami in particular if they get Watson. But other than Tampa, the rest of the NFC south doesn't worry me too much, same with AFC south, Tenn and maybe Indy if they solve the QB spot could be tough, but both have some questions Not all that worried about Pitt and Grandpa Ben. So lets assume they lose to Tampa and KC, add all that up could see them going 12-4 to 13-3 again. If they can't the last thing I want to blame it on is the schedule. So yes I have seen the schedule and that's the part that I'm excited about!

Yeah that one 40 point week he had gave me a victory!

They actually have focused quite a bit on the defensive side. Drafted Oliver, Epinesa, Johnson, & Phillips. Also signed Butler as a FA who is only 26. So far Oliver has looked the best which considering where drafted should look the best. Phillips was starting to come on before injured last season, this year by season end was looking better again, likely next year will be make or break year for him. Johnson for a 7th rounder has done very well, but is still a 7th rounder. Epinesa improved, will see what next season brings for him WRT improvement. Offensive line have drafted Dawkins,Teller, and Ford so would agree not nearly as much effort there.

I was kind of thinking the same thing, but more geared towards Watson as in if Stafford got this much how will a team ever have enough picks to make that trade. The other day was hearing that Stafford may be worth two 2nd rounders and a 3rd then this came out. But then as I read some about it, it appears the main reason Detroit got what they got, wasn't at all due to Staffords abilities, but was mainly due to taking on Goff's huge contract. Likely would see a similar thing if Wentz were traded. Detroit likely got an extra #1 just for taking on the contract. This was kind of like that Cleveland trade a couple years back Would have been interested to be a fly on the wall during trade negotiations. OK we'll take a 2nd and 3rd for Stafford. Wait you want us to take Goff, OK price just tripled.

So if he leaves say this March, do we get the extra pick in 2021 or would it be the 2022 draft?

Did you click on the link, was alot I didn't know about the game. Packers were in a couple of times and Lombardi called it the S**t Bowl and is for losers, Needless to say the Packers lost the game too, but then won the next couple of championships. Was offically known as Bert Bell Bowl and Bell actually died while at an NFL football game.

Great idea! Amazed it's never been thought of before, ... Oh wait here's the results from the 3rd place game back in the 60's. As soon as saw this post, I was pretty certain they use to do this as remembered Cleveland playing in the game the one year when I was a kid. Amazing how much info you can find via Google. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Playoff_Bowl Also recall Baltimore playing in the game in 66. They were kind of like the 2020 Steelers, were 12-0, best team in the league, beating everyone. Played the Rams week 13 and lost, the Rams then had the tie breakers so Baltimore ended up in 3rd place game. Season was only 14 weeks long back then too. This was in the NFL only not part of the AFL, Apparently was called "The Playoff Bowl" (I didn't remember that part) it died when the leagues merged in 1970 The Lions BTW were 3-0 in this game, think that's about the last playoff they ever won.

I'm OK with cutting 1,3,5,& 7 Getting rid of that many D lineman will cost you more to replace and not likely to have an overall improvement for the amount of money they'd have to spend. Smith too I'd only get rid of if they replace with another TE who can block well and catch passes. Redo Hyde and Hughes contract to extend and lower cap.

Why does Lee Smith look like he's about 50 YO?

Don't know how we would have made it through this past season without his contribution to the D.

Agree with most of your picks. The one worry I do have about Daryl Williams is he fits the category of a guy playing on a contract year. Will he be this good once he has a long term deal. But McD & Beane should know him pretty good for their Carolina days together so would trust them to decide on that. I'd also cut Brown, Addison, and Jefferson I believe it is. Keep mixing up him and Butler, would cut the one that came from Carolina and keep the one from Seattle. Add in a couple more restructures like Hyde to save some $$ Don't even know who Jordan Devey is?? LOL One name missing from your list is T Jones which brings me to my next point. A mild concern I have with the Bills roster is have they gotten to the point where they have too many special teams only players, thus limiting roster depth. Jones, Roberts, Matakevich are three guys who are exclusive to ST. Obviously on top of that add in the kicker, punter, and long snapper too. Add in Lee Smith who is solely there as a blocking TE, that's seven roster slots. Gilliam does play some offense so am more comfortable with a role like that as does provide some additional functionality to the team. Overall the Bills ST was very good this year, but did it short change other positions. Personally I was apprehensive of activating Williams at RB over Yeldon for the playoffs based on his limited experience, but would have been fine with activating him as a 3rd option, give him a couple plays to see what he could do. But to do that would have needed to sit someone at some other position group. Seem to recall most teams only activate eight D lineman whereas we always had nine active, further limits you in other positions. With all these specialists, kind of limits options. Maybe every team in the league has 3 to 4 roster slots dedicated to ST not counting the true kicking game specialists, if that's the case, then OK my concern goes away. But have the Bills maybe gone a little too far and limiting other slots.

Agree with everything you stated. However with Kroft being a FA they will need to find a #2 TE, ideally if they could find one that is strong blocker and puts a little more fear in the defense than Smith going out on patterns, they could sign someone for that role and let Smith go. Currently two roster spots are taken up for backup TE, one for blocking, one for pass catching if Knox can't play for some reason. Also agree they won't likely spend a lot of money for that role, but could see them going $5 to $6 mil particularly if they can shed Smith $2.2 mil in process.

Miami worries me more as they already have a decent roster. Add Watson, hey could be come very good with few other moves. If the Jets give up a number of good picks to get Watson, they will still be left with holes and no high draft picks to use to get the players. Maybe Houston would be smart and try to trade to NFC team so they to don't need to face him. But not sure what NFC teams have the picks to do it with. Maybe Houston will figure they need more than one year anyway so would take 1sts spread over two years as that would then open up other teams.

Picking the Ravens passing game coordinator for their HC should result in a huge improvement.

I said about a month ago 2021 is the best shot for the Bills to go deep as they have a pretty easy schedule facing the AFC south and NFC south. Excluding AFC East games as play them every year, the only really tough games I see is Indy at home and maybe Pitt, and At Tampa, KC, and Tenn. But one of these years Brady will finally look his age. Forgot to add in Washington at a location to be determined.

#1 Coaching. Could be teams have figured it out, so then up to McD and Frazier to make some more tweaks and/or get some better players. Definitely the D line needs to get better. #3 Not sure which positions specially needs improving, but if they do sign two out of the three as I mentioned, they are then still at least one starter short. If Morse goes likely via being cut (unless retires due to concussions) and they sign Felicinao, they could move him to center, then need a guard. One way or another very likely will need at least one new starter, maybe two. #5 All we've seen of Wade was in meaningless pre-season games and Williams in blow out of Miami when they were running for the bus as they say. So not sure I like either of them for a team trying to go deep into playoffs. Think I was something more solid there. Allens contract isn't likely going to be an issue in 2021 or even 2022 and it's an extension that kicks in after he's completed his rookie contract that will include the 5th year option. Look at Mahomes, he signed extension this past July, but he still had a low cap him this year 2020, and even next year 2021 is reasonable. In 2022 it jumps up over $30 mil. Allen if signing this spring/summer would be one year behind so not a huge issue till the 2023 season. Likely the Bills will have to mortgage the future this year to some degree and extend some people further than they'd ideally like to do to free up enough money to make moves now. KC did it last year. It can bite you in the long run, but the one thing in the Bills favor is many of their star players are still young, so won't out live their contracts. But someone like a Jerry Hughes could.

I agree with most of your observations, but not sure I like your solutions all that much! #1 Defensive Coaching. I agree with the bend but don't break concept is what they are playing allowing them to move the chains. But they've played the same the past two seasons with much better success. This year though they were bending much more and even breaking more frequently was the issue. So think the concept might still be fine, but need better players to reduce the frequency of successful drives by the opponent. #2 Defensive Line is a big issue, but drafting a pass rusher may help the defense in maybe 2023, but not next season. This team is poised next year to make a deep run as IMO next years schedule is more forgiving so this is their chance. For that reason would rather they sign an actual star FA edge rusher. I'm fine with getting rid of Butler and Addison to pay this new guy with. Think I would keep Jefferson though as can play multiple positions and is still only 26 I believe. The Bills have used a fair amount of draft resources on the Dline as they've drafted; Oliver, Johnson, Epinosa, and Phillips, plus as stated Jefferson is only 26 so it's not like they've ignored this position. The Bills philosophy is we're going to wear you down with our depth and keep rotating solid, but not great players out there. In 2018 and 2019 it worked, this year not nearly as well. #3 and #4 Agree with waiting a year on Edmunds and drafting an O-lineman pretty high, 2nd round sounds good. A lot there will also depend on what happens between Morse, Feliciano, and Williams IMO likely only two of the three will be back, which two not certain. Of the three would prefer Morse being the odd man out. #5 Running Back I don't think Christian Wade is the answer as big of a mess as the running game was this year. I think I'd go with Williams ahead of him, but from a fan perspective wouldn't want to count on either being the solution for next season. Obviously the coaches have seen much more of those two, and maybe they think one of them is ready, or they feel the biggest issue was run blocking. Would make me nervous if Wade or even Williams is their best answer. #6 Tight End is like drafting an edge rusher. You could draft a TE who in 4 years will be better than Kerce and Gronk combined, but counting on him as a rookie to look better than Knox is a stretch. TE is one of the harder positions to learn. For those reasons would give Knox another year, though is likely they will want/need at least a #2 TE to replace Kroft, unless they feel Sweeney is ready for that role. But that's risky with the heart condition he had as could just as easily be medically retired.