MTBill

As I posted on the thread for this yesterday - what a horrible thing to have to go through as a parent. I never want to have to deal with this, and feel fortunate to avoid it. My thoughts are with the family as they work through this.

I suspect a lot of the "goodness" of our Guards comes from the open door we have at Center. If they shore up that position, I bet the guard's grades are going to slip. Just sayin'.

I feel fortunate to say it is something I have yet to encounter. I have 4 children and I would be a wreck if this happened to any of them. Sorry to hear of your loss. I lost a good friend to Leukemia, it is very sad.

If this was Kyle doing this.... I'd say something was wrong. We have had 2 weird issues.... Incognito falling off the deep end, and Vontae. Vontae was out for injury for how long in Indy? Then he just realized the game has passed him by. Unfortunately this wasn't realized BEFORE the season. I suspect being a healthy scratch in week 1 played into the decision, but really he is done. And I think he saw the writing on the wall that this season is rebuilding, and just didn't have it in him to go through this. I can't say as I blame him really. If you are on the backside of your career, and don't really have your heart in it, you're as good as done and you might as well make it official. EDIT - and... the Bills are better off knowing he's done and finding someone else who will be around a few seasons.

Until Allen is able to burn defenses for going all out on him, this is going to continue. Daboll has to help him by giving him quick stuff - or screens. I did not have access to the game at all yesterday... did we do many screens? I think getting them to stop stuffing the box is going to help the o-line look better, help the running game, and thus help the team. But they have to just have some programmed - quick hits that burn a blitz heavy team before they'll remove some of the pressure. I agree that the velocity/accuracy is an issue. I saw a few replays and that ball he zipped in to Zay was flying in there and Zay almost turned that over with a bobble, plus he had to slow up since it was thrown a bit short. Experience/reps is going to help, at game speed etc. In short, experience and small successes are going to help a lot. And that goes across the offense, not just Allen, but our O-Line has 2 players who are consistent from last year - Dawkins and Mills.... everyone else is new/adjusting.

I'm totally onboard with the "Process". Watching that press conference yesterday - I am starting to worry that maybe McD is too committed to Nate. Nate can't play QB in this league. I thought we learned that last year, but he somehow convinced himself and the coaches that they could make it work. Josh is ready to go as long as he isn't going to get murdered behind that O-Line. I only hope that the hubris of wanting to "prove that I'm smart" does not overrule the staff. I really wish we hadn't traded AJM. That was a mistake. I think they saw the Jets get a 3rd for a guy they signed in FA and thought, hey we can do that too.... But I'd feel much better if we had AJM over NP. Go Bills. Even if it takes a year to see a W.

I honestly think a lot of the problems we have had (and maybe continue to have with Castillo?) have been with the coaching/scheme. We had such a revolving door of HC/OC/OLC - so we had a few pretty good linemen who we let go (Peters/Levitre come to mind), however for whatever reason they did not pan out here. We really know zilch about 2018 yet. We had injuries in the Preseason along with trying some other configurations. I am sort of hopeful that we're going to see improvement with experience as a group. I think the offseason changes this season are all pretty well inevitable. Cordy was going to be an expensive luxury as a 3rd Tackle (who has injury concerns anyways). Wood had a medical condition show up which forced his hand. Incognito had a nervous breakdown or something and needs help. We have what we have - and I just hope they jell enough that when we transition to Allen he won't get murdered or develop bad habits due to the OL.

From the site I posted above - Game Charting (where attempts are thrown): Tom Brady: Game Charting Year Team Pos G GS YAC Rank Short Mid Deep Bomb 2017 NE QB 16 16 5.0 21 51% 29% 12% 8% Phillip Rivers: Game Charting Year Team Pos G GS YAC Rank Short Mid Deep Bomb 2017 LAC QB 16 16 5.9 5 52% 29% 11% 8% Matt Ryan: Game Charting Year Team Pos G GS YAC Rank Short Mid Deep Bomb 2017 ATL QB 16 16 5.4 15 51% 30% 12% 6% I sort of randomly picked these QBs for comparison. Note - almost everyone is living in the Short game here. In fact, Peterman's attempts were more in mid-range than short range. His attempts downfield were much lower. And these were also lower than Tyrod (same team, same WR, same OC).

If the QB can't put it down there, it doesn't matter if you have the Flash as a WR. Not disagreeing with you we don't have a lot of speed though. It takes two to make it work. I think if NP can at least get it consistently out 15-20 yards once in a while that will help, but if it becomes a dink-dunk Trent Edwards type of QB play - the field is going to contract and not much will succeed. You have to be able to lay it out there once in a while just to keep them honest.

I think we'll just need to see how this thing unfolds... He has limitations to be sure - that's why he was a 5th round pick, not a 1st round pick. Like you said, if he can't (or won't) throw it downfield, the whole field shortens and that will crush the running game as well. Here is one "quick" analytics site I found for him in 2017. Game Charting Year Team Pos G GS YAC Rank Short Mid Deep Bomb 2017 BUF QB 4 2 2.9 -- 42% 42% 13% 4% I could not find an explanation for the chart - I presume it is completion percentages - but no idea what the ranges used were. There was some other site I saw last year which had a TON of analytic information - game by game. It was posted here, I just don't recall it and am too busy/lazy to find it at the moment. EDIT - I just answered my own question I think... That is the attempts range. 4% of his pass attempts were a "bomb", 13% were deep, . . . those % add up to 101% (with rounding 100%). 2nd EDIT - for comparison, here's the numbers for Tyrod: Game Charting Year Team Pos G GS YAC Rank Short Mid Deep Bomb 2017 BUF QB 15 14 4.8 23 57% 27% 8% 8%

I just wish they'd do more of these - going in to the season... It is nice to see how the team comes together - whether it is a Pizza eating contest, or congratulating each other for a job well done. Win or Lose, they are doing it right.

The check is in the mail. It's post dated for a year to be determined. the blank I'm thinking of is - Find a solution to solve war, including fractions within their own fanbase who is as divided as the rest of the country is on politics. Someday - hopefully in my lifetime, fans will start to believe again and stop second guessing every move. The world isn't perfect, the Bills may never win a Super Bowl. As long as they are trying, I'll be satisfied. If they stop trying to get better, that's when I'll stop caring about them.

I'm sorry OP. Is this what the world has come to? This is the ridiculousness of the modern win now sentiment and the "media", "pundits", and "fans" know MORE than every Front office or league office for EVERY sport/team. Sports media exists for one purpose - to satisfy a rabid fanbase's need to hear how their team is doing from people who know jack squat and sell them ****. Sports radio guys are like religions - you can find one to support your beliefs if you listen to all of them. Let the people who get paid to do their job, do their job. Stop trying to second guess them and go back to enjoying the game - if you can't do that, maybe it's time to pick up a new hobby besides second guessing. Don't feed the bears (Cowherd et. al.). s.m.h.

I think I saw that Jets signed Davis Webb to the PS, he was cut by the Giants.

I am not holding out much hope for 2018. OL - Worse (especially if Dawkins has injuries - I don't disagree with any of the moves we made - it is just a weaker line - maybe Teller will get some time this season) QB - worse (turnovers - and not super improved yards/TDs) I am not sure when to start Allen - maybe by week 8 if the line isn't going to get him murdered? RB - worse (a year older - and a weaker OL) WR - Same - better if they stay healthy of course, the inconsistent lineup was ridiculous last season. TE - Same OC - improved - maybe this can make up for some of the deficiency, but I sort of agree with the pundits here. DL - Same (could be improved if we can get healthy) LB - Same (Once Edmunds gets experience I think it's better, but he struggled in the preseason) DB - Same (Not really holding much hope for Vontae at this point) DC - Same ST - Better - I think our new Punter will help flip the field a bit. All in all, I just sort of feel like this is the real "trust the process" season, even more so than last year. I do trust the process, I do think we're on the right track. I just think we will struggle a lot this season. I think it is wise to start with Peterman - but unless this team does some amazing things - I don't see him starting all 16 games - and Allen will need to get on the field. I would be shocked if this team wins more than 5 games, pleasantly shocked, but I just don't see it happening.

FYI - NFL.COM usually does a good job of keeping these things up to date... Here.

I don't think there will be any surprises - Players played themselves into the position they are in this offseason. When you look at the roster, I think there are no real surprises of players on the bubble. I will say I'm "disappointed" in some players who I thought would be better this season.

So much for showcasing AJM...

It's nice to see he hasn't stopped talking. yawn.

Too rich for my blood. I get he's a stud. But you can't pay that much for a guy who has 1 year left on his contract and has proven he wants to get paid what he deserves and is willing to sit out and eat 800K per week to do so. I love KM, don't get me wrong. I can't see us burning 2 1st rounders. And frankly - I don't think anyone else will either unless they have the draft capital to burn or are 1 player away from a Superbowl.

I think this is one of those trades where both teams are making out well. Jets "bought" a 3rd round pick for a signing bonus. Saints did not have to take a FA flyer on TB - they let the Jets prove he was healthy enough to be their backup. I'm mostly sad that it involved the Jets getting a bit better with a 3rd round pick, but glad for TB he'll have a good situation, and probably be in line to succeed Brees. I'm also glad that the Jets got rid of TB - that weakens their QB room instantly.

I really don't care about this game right now - I am sure there are some bubble players on both sides who give a damn... But other than that, just get this week over with.

These are entertaining - I'm not sure how "enlightening" about the team they are other than seeing just how positive everyone is working together. And just how 'with it' McD is to say - put your cells in the basket, I want you to interact as a family. I wonder how long they'll continue these - because I'd even like to see these during the season. I get that it's mostly marketing/PR stuff, but it's still interesting to watch. Maybe they'll show a bit of FIRE when they have the episode after last weeks game... I truly think some of that was planned chaos to see how the O-Line would deal with dynamic changes mid-game (as stated by McD afterwards). Yes it failed badly, but it was only the PS, and they did learn something hopefully. Also - you can see just how much of a leader Kyle is - not just on Defense. This is why he is just so important to have in that locker room - and why I think he's going to be a hell of a coach someday if he wants to do that. It was also fascinating to see that really Horrible Harry is nearly a clone - their physique is almost identical. And it's good to see that HH is also humble - and knows he has a lot of learning to do before he deserves to be called Kyle Jr.

The only way he sort of "loses" that is if someone throws 6 in a half. Which may never happen - I can't imagine any other coaching staff leaving a guy in after even 3 picks... I think it was a unique situation where they maybe excused the first 4 somehow and still thought they weren't harming him by leaving him in. Consequently - if he does shake that bad habit, it shows that the incident didn't "damage" him. However if he continues to be a turnover machine, he'll never outlive that. I'm hopeful for his (and the Bill's) sake that he won't continue throwing to the wrong team.

I don't watch much football in the preseason - has anyone seen an Onside Kick attempt? I'm trying to figure out if the new rule effectively ended this play... It seems like it'd be nearly impossible to pull off.