Dr. Who

I think the point that some folks are making is that they are granting that head-to-head, McGovern will win against SVP, no matter how talented he may be, because professional experience goes a long way, and even though Van Pran was excellent at the collegiate level (I am an UGA fan, he was), it doesn't match the kind of experience McGovern has accrued. The way that SVP is not competing against McGovern is in the holistic synthesis of the best starting five. It may be that McGovern at LG with Van Pran at center is part of the most effective grouping. It is in that way that Van Pran does not have to prove to be superior to McGovern at Center, but as the Center that allows McGovern to play LG. If that contributes to the better Oline, it will happen. And long-term, I say Van Pran will develop into a starting Center for many years.

Yeah, he was not on my list of favorites, but you start listening to the fella, I sure hope he can play, because I don't think I could pass on him either.

Yes, I know something of the oratorical tradition. I was just making a joke, but the fella apparently didn't think it was funny.

I've said it before, but I always knew Einstein's dog wrote all his papers.

I have noticed that you have a habit of announcing that you have spoken when you "speak," which is redundant, though rhetorically memorable. I hope it does not become a contagion that results in an unspoken rule. It would be tiresome if everyone who posts informs folks that they have spoken. I have spoken.

If we got the long-armed Dumerville, huge win. If he adds juice on the edge, the D could really be improved.

If you don't know about the lizard people, I really can't help you.

Legette or Coleman was going to be the X. If you take one at 32, you should have traded up for McConkey, in my view. Doesn't matter now. I think you're spending a 2025 second and maybe a bit more to move up from 60 to 33. I do hope they bring in a veteran after 6/1. If there really was a secret plan to trade for Aiyuk, well, that would be grand, but it's probably soap bubbles.

He's an incredibly likable kid, with natural charisma. Very easy to root for. It will be both thrilling and heartwarming if it all comes together and turns out well.

I understood the point, and I don't disagree with what you are saying. What I am saying is that one should not use the deficiency of the WR numbers for Diggs and Davis in the second half of the season as the baseline by which to measure the achievements of their replacements. Much more should be expected from a putative WR1 and WR2, even if one redistributes the targets and embraces a model that spreads the wealth and deemphasizes traditional roles. If you start with very little production and disappointment in the post-season as the bar to better, it won't be hard to achieve. The validity of Beane's choices needs a more difficult metric as a proper measure. And I agree that there appears to be a shift towards tougher, more physical players. I am good with that.

The only thing I can think of is bring in a veteran WR through trade, or someone who shakes loose because of the influx of WR talent acquired in the draft. Tre's post 6/1 money will get added to the cap and allow for an added player, whether at WR, S, or DL, I dunno, but that's where I guess it would be spent if he uses it.

I live near Athens, and was and am very big on McConkey. If he stays healthy, he's going to be really good. And there's no question that McConkey and Mitchell can gain separation. I hope for the best on Coleman. Beane drafts traits, and he has some.

If we stayed at #32 and drafted Legette, he's a one-year wonder. If we drafted Mitchell, he's got diabetes and is an attitude problem. If we drafted McConkey, he's a "gritty slot" and not an X. There will always be detractors. Some of it is because Beane explicitly said he was looking for explosive receivers who would separate, and Coleman doesn't fit that profile. I'm not reading many posters who are saying outright he is going to bust. There are questions about whether he can be an effective boundary receiver, because he does not separate at the college level, and that won't get easier with NFL dbs. And anybody who is a true Bills' fan wants him to succeed.

I think you are largely right, and I don't think any of Beane's picks in this draft are such that one can argue they lack a plausible logic. I personally even like the flier on the British giant in round seven. I just do believe he has a quirk about WR from his Carolina days, and I do think it's a paleolithic tendency. I would have taken McConkey. I would have traded up from 60 for Mitchell, and he could have gone to 50 to get him. I'd have been willing to use some 2025 capital if necessary to do that. You don't get Bishop that way, and I like Bishop. I would then have taken Hicks at 95, because he is a safety I think can play in our system. I don't know why he slid. That has cascading effects, because they did need to add DT.

Yeah, I think he's vulnerable, and I hope we find better, because I think he's running on fumes at this point.

Yes, I have heard that. I couldn't read the article without disabling an ad blocker. I am not technical, and don't want to disable the ad blocker, so I'll just take your word for it. He said as much in the after draft press conference I gather. He is either prevaricating, or that is his plan. I remain dissatisfied with how he addressed the WR room. I don't think his concept of adequate matches my own. I've expressed this now multiple times, so much so that even I am bored with it. Nothing one can do, but hope for the best.

My disappointment with the WR room does not indicate radical pessimism with regard to the team. I still expect to win the division, though I'm not presuming such. I don't at all engage in fantasy football. I don't care about stats so much as wins, but I'd rather roll teams than play close games. I'm getting too old for the stress.

Okay. I'm not one of those predicting a doomed season. I still think we should be favored to win the division. I'll be surprised if they make a SB run, but it isn't impossible.

He was. I don't know if that speaks to WR1 generally, or Diggs, however. I'm willing to entertain a different offensive strategy where targets and emphasis are diversified. Still think Beane should have done more to improve the WR room. (And of course, maybe he will, by the time the season starts.)

I can't seem to stop watching this. I don't think it's a good sign about the state of my soul.

As you know, I'm really hoping this narrative has merit, but overall, I think it is more likely Beane is cognitively impaired when it comes to assessing what is and is not an acceptable WR room. It's just exasperating that they always seem to ask Josh Allen to do more with less. There probably is enough above the minimum threshold for him to work with, but why place that burden on him?

Yes, let's use the abysmal performance of the WR room the second half of last year as the low bar threshold by which to measure what will be considered acceptable performance or not this year. The offense struggled. Maybe it won't with Brady and the new players, but I'm not all that confident about it. Kincaid is going to have to be the main target, I think, so I hope he has a leap and not a sophomore slump year.

We only nominally had a WR1 last year, imo, but I take your point. Getting younger on D will hopefully mitigate the injuries somewhat.

Sure, it's not needed, but your chances of success increase if you have it. (And I don't think our current WR room is even average, but maybe I'm wrong.) I'm disappointed in Beane's approach, and I'm not sold on Coleman, but I'm not writing off the season. Be interesting to see what kind of offense Brady comes up with after a full off-season to implement it. The draft indicates what you surmise. I'm on board with integrating the run game, and obviously, Kincaid is our best weapon, so TE usage ought to be a huge part.

Does SF loading up on WR in the draft suggest that Aiyuk might be available through a post 6/1 trade? I'm reduced to hoping for slim possibility narratives . . . when 2025 gets here, the same crowd that was preaching holes on defense will want to go get an edge or cb in the first. And I don't trust Beane and McD not to agree with them.