Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

Was reading an article in the Athletic today that said a big part of the Pats issue this year is due to no off season work outs, pre-season etc. While the article stated every team was affected the same way, it went on to talk about how the "Pats way" is to sign these mid level cheap FA's but then get them on board with the "Pat's way" i.e. better understanding of every other players role on every play, not just their own or the guy next to him among other things, Without all the time together, they've struggled more. There are many players over the years who they sign and then play better than they ever have prior. Then their contract runs out and because of the elevated play, some other team offers them a bigger contract, they bolt, and then crash back to earth again. Meanwhile Belichick signed another cheap replacement and repeats the same thing. Actually the Bills have followed somewhat of a similar path too on both lines in particular. Last year the O lineman signed all worked out, this year everyone was excited about the D linemen signed, (everyone stating we will be stronger than last year) so far have struggled to some level. Maybe for the same reasons?? Will see if second half shows improvement??

So who got AFC special Teams player of the week? While Bass missed two, making six field goals is still pretty impressive, thought he had a shot at that one too. I'll guess the KC player who returned a kick for the TD??

Some riveting prime time games coming up this week. Will be losing alot of sleep staying up to the end of those games!

Could see Beane telling every other GM other than Oliver and Johnson, any other D lineman is available, to the best offer. And I'm looking for CB and LB in return. With the extra wild card, there are more teams overall still in the hunt so may be harder all over to find willing trade partners. I could see 10 teams in the AFC still feeling they have a shot and 13 in the NFC. Legit shot maybe not, but are they will to start trading away players??

Probably as you said yourself, there's not room for 10 DL so someone will be traded. Him and Johnson have the most tradeable contracts, maybe Zimmer too. The other two are playing better than Phillips and considering how shaky the line has played I'd be afraid to trade anyone who has helped at all so he may be the odd man out. On the other hand could be they do like him and feel right now he just can't do enough as still recovering from the ACL injury. And as I just said, the line play is shaky but also deep with very little difference in talent between many so can't afford to play an extra guy who's not 100% healthy. But he doesn't get traded, the team could see him being a more bigger contributor next year. The other option would be if they can't trade him, he gets moved to IR for the rest of the year assuming they do really like him. Bottom line is coaches GM, etc are never going to talk ill will about anyone for the most part unless it's to motivate them.

They also lost a couple other strong players in FA too, VanNoy comes to mind and believe there was a second good player too. I do wonder if Newton tweaked the shoulder again as the first couple of weeks he looked very good, lately not so good and I'm being nice about it.

Don't understand how/why Covid would impact it? Regardless when the trade is made there will be a certain waiting period for the player to be cleared. I believe that the timing for a player traded is much shorter than one that was released as a traded player has maintained presence inside a "virtual bubble". Also read something it was actually in regards to one of the Bills players that waiting until after the week 8 games which is next week this time created some type of financial advantages around the cap So could still see the traditional last minute moves between Monday and Tuesday. Having said all that I do think they will try to trade away one D lineman maybe just for picks to create an open roster slot for Feleciano at whatever point he is ready to be activated. You could release an O lineman, but a little risky if Ford is still out hurt too.

I'd swear there was a thread just like this about 3 weeks ago, only difference was in the title replace the name Dane Jackson with Josh Norman. Even three years ago when Wallace came out of nowhere there likely was a thread then promoting him to be the starter. While Jackson did play very well and deserves more playing time, I'm a little reserved yet at this point. But do agree that he looked good out there, certainly didn't appear to lose anything. Jackson's play was also likely helped by the fact we had six sacks too so were getting to the QB. Six sacks I believe is more than we had in the past 3 or 4 games combined.

I'd think if a team is passing almost every play, when they do run the ball would surprise the defense and result in good solid gains, however that doesn't seem to be the case. So if when only running infrequently doesn't work well and passing is working, why run more? I get it normally teams run more, but with the WR group this team has and Allens arm, passing isn't a bad idea. How many defenders that played a fairly large role did Beane let go besides Phillips and Lawson? Lorax retired and Starr and Gaines opted out Am I missing anyone?

For a person who doesn't follow the combine or stats that closely, is that a good or bad time? I'm assuming bad?

The first couple of weeks looked real strong, makes me wonder if the shoulder got re-injured. Or he is completely shot.

The thought that went through my head was I'll take the penalty for the result of that hit causing an incompletion. Was a net yardage gain, and the holding call the next play helped alot too.

Have to believe that is the case. Once the Bills went up 18-10, the next kick off went out of the end zone. So seems to me he can kick it there every time, but is being told to kick it short and high with lots of hang time. For the most part is working, recall at least two of the kickoffs went for only around a 20 yard return. Recall reading once they changed the touch back point to the 25 yard line to encourage kneel downs, instead teams started trying to force returns that would go for less.

Lets see how he can play with a healthy shoulder, likely won't happen though until next season. IMO he'll be needing off season surgery to repair.

At least we have a WR active this week with a number in the 80's!! I mean come on, how many teams in this league don't have an active WR with an 80's number? That could be the missing piece!

H. Phillips being inactive does make me wonder if he's the odd man out about to be traded. One story I read Friday was that Filiciano likely would NOT be activated for this weeks game as to do that someone would need to be released, and that Beane is trying to trade one of the D lineman. Phillips would be a logical choice as he's on a cheap rookie contract as is Johnson, but not as sure the Bills would want to lose him. Often when a player is about to be traded they sit him out to avoid injury.....Unless you're the Jets!

Yeah, but wheres the dress shirt part?

Wonder if this will become a permanent change?

Of all the positions on this team WR depth seems to be the best. While Brown is certainly a very good player, if we can't overcome the loss of Brown, we're in even more trouble than we realize.

Hmmmm...... Interesting photo as always thought teams "dressed up" when traveling for road games?? Seems like you'd see players arriving in suit and tie.

You're forgetting Gilliam. The Bills apparently think more of Gilliam than Williams as he has been part of the initial 53 and has played and produced some in the offense. I'd imagine Williams would be the 3rd TE/6th WR. will he be active, probably in case a player ahead of him in either position gets hurt. But will he play much, maybe if they wish to line him up as a TE, but play more of a big TE/WR role??

I'd imagine almost any QB in the league could do the same thing while sitting in the press box. If he is so good at predicting plays, why wasn't he more successful as a player. He was very good, but wouldn't call him elite, wouldn't compare him to Brady, Manning, Farve, Brees, or Rodgers. He certainly is very articulate at describing things during a broadcast, better than most, but that doesn't make him a good coach. You sometimes too hear that many people watching a broadcast don't like it when the announcer predicts the plays before they happen so that could be why he does it better than most as others deliberately shy away from doing that too often. Romo also have a very likeable friendly personality with constant excitement in his voice. Compare that with say Aikman who sounds and looks as exciting staring at a blank wall. I wonder if Romo's personality would even translate to a good coach as you don't see many excited HC's out there. On top of that the only successful QB in the past 50 years that became a HC was Bart Starr. Most QB's who became HC were backup QB's like Frank Reich, Jason Garrett, Jim Harbaugh, etc.

Yes understand it's specific officials job to watch for it, but my point was it's easy to get somewhat "distracted" and get caught up in the play rather than their specific task. I too have officiated sports, not football and certainly not at the NFL level, but know how easy it is to follow the ball instead of your specific task. While I'm certain at this level they are much more disciplined, it also likely takes much less to get distracted too with everything going on as you pointed out.

I'd have to believe that is one of the more difficult rules for officials to monitor as can imagine the refs are going to be following the ball at that point, in particular when the QB sprints out.

Just read someplace that he won the off season conditioning award for the team so doesn't sound like that. I haven't read through all 19 pages of this thread, maybe it's already been mentioned, but a friend of mine posted something about his "questionable foot injury" that showed up on game day against Tenn?