folz

When he made the pick on Sunday, I said, that kid is just always around the ball. And that is all football instincts (knowledge and preparation). Not saying he has Kuechly-level instincts, but they're pretty damn good...and he's still pretty young. It looks like he is Italian. His twitter page lists "Boston College | Buffalo Bills | " and then there is a post and photo by Joe Tessitore where he calls Milano "My (not so little) brother." https://twitter.com/matthewmilanoo?lang=en

Here are my top 5: 1. Don Coryell - This man should already be in. The Hall often talks about, even more than stats, did the person change the game. Air Coryell did. His offensive and passing game innovations ushered in the modern passing game. Put him in the hall now! 2. Tony Gonzales - Probably the best Tight End the game has ever seen. 6th all time in receiving yards (that includes all WRs) 3. Tony Boselli - The only thing hurting his status is getting overlooked for playing for a mostly bad Jaguars team. The guy was a beast, a generational talent on the O-line. 4. Isaac Bruce - 5th all time in receiving yards. Part of the triad of the greatest show on turf (Warner/Faulk/Bruce) 5. Steve Tasker - Yes, I know he isn't on the list of semifinalists, but he should be. Best all-around (not just returner) special teams player to play the game. It's 1/3 of the game.

Despite my last post, I tried to look at your premise with an unbiased view, and you are probably right...those three offenses are scoring at historic levels and would probably have their way with the Buffalo D, at least eventually, especially because there is no way our offense could keep up with those teams, so the defense even if good to start, would eventually wear out. Not to mention that those teams are having their way with every defense in the league this year. I definitely don't think anyone here is calling the Bills defense elite (due to their current ranking), an 85 Bears or 2000 Ravens type defense that could completely shut down even the best offenses in the league. But, since we haven't actually played those three teams, thinking they would get blown up by them, doesn't help to actually figure out who our defense is or where they really stand. So, I thought I'd take a look at our actual opponents and how we fared against them to try and get a more accurate picture. Bills Opponents NFL rank points NFL rank yards Indianapolis 5th 9th Chicago 6th 16th New England 7th 10th LA Chargers 10th 7th Green Bay 13th 8th Minnesota 15th 14th Houston 16th 13th Baltimore 17th 12th NY Jets 23rd 29th Tennessee 28th 30th So, 8 of our 10 games were against top half of the league offenses with only two really bad offenses on the docket. We kept 8 of the 10 teams we've played below their average yardage total per game (as of week 11) and kept 6 of the 10 teams below their average point total per game. 3 of the 4 times we didn't keep a team below its point average, however, were against 3 of the 4 best offenses we faced this year. But, I don't think you can fault the defense for the Chicago game. Our offense committed 4 turnovers and their defense scored 14 points. Our defense only gave up 190 yards and 27 points (despite the 2 other turnovers that didn't go for TDs), which would be below Chicago's average points and yardage per game this season. And I definitely do not give the defense a pass for the Indy game, they didn't play well, but the offense did give up 5 turnovers in that one too. We did hold Green Bay and New England (2 of the 5 best offenses we faced with elite QBs) below their average point total and frustrated both QBs, despite the losses. And there were really only 8 of 40 quarters played, the second halves of the IND, LAC, CHI, and BAL games, where you could claim that offenses could or did take their foot off the gas, but Baltimore didn't (they kept scoring in the 3rd and 4th quarters), nor did Indy, who scored 13 points in the 4th quarter, or Chicago, who scored 10 in the 4th, and I really don't think the Chargers took their foot off the gas (if you go back and watch that game), our defense just finally clicked on. So, I don't think that point is valid. I do agree with you that as of now, we would probably get run up on by New Orleans, KC, or the Rams...but I also think there is enough evidence to show that this is indeed a very good defense that is still learning and growing and getting better. And you can not divorce the offensive woes from how it affects the D and how much more they have had to overcome than other defenses because of it. I mean, our offense averaged 10 points and 2 turnovers a game over the first 9 weeks and is last in points scored and 2nd last in yards gained. That's a lot of factors against a defense. They're on the field longer, in worse field position, and never playing with a lead. The Bills may not be the best defense in the league right now, but you have to give them some credit. They're playing really well.

Just as one can claim that being tops in yards/game is due to offensive turnovers and field position (opposing offenses haven't had as far to go to score, therefore fewer yards)---a pessimistic view of the defense imo, which isn't, however, untrue--- One can also say the defense is bad in points allowed for the same reason, because opposing offenses have had great starting field position due to those same turnovers and bad offense (on our part). If one is true, than so is the other. Their yardage statistic may be a bit overrated due to that, but then their point totals are also inflated by that same factor. If the offense was good enough to give the defense some leads, the defense's stats would be better (more sacks and turnovers and probably fewer points). Or even if the offense was good enough to change field position on their possessions and opposing offenses had to drive on average say 75 yards to score instead of 35-40 yards to score, those point totals would look a lot better. I don't think one can look at either just yards or just points scored to rank a defense. Sometimes those stats are just too dependent on the rest of the team (offense and special teams), schedule, and game situations. You have to kind of look at everything together. So, are the Bills the best (or 2nd best) defense in the league right now? The defense other teams would fear most? Probably not. But are they still a very good, top-notch defense? (and still getting better) Yes. And the #1 defensive ranking (even though it is based on just yards) at least gives the guys something to still shoot for the rest of the season, to keep them improving, motivated, now that playoffs hopes are, if not dead, very slim.

I don't think there is even a slim chance that McD could lose the locker room if he starts Josh over Barkley or lose morale or whatever. First, McD has held this team together through the benching of Tyrod last year and some stretches of blow-out loses. And this team is close and really has a team first mentality, with great leadership. Second, the players know that their team is flawed this year and although they will prepare to win each and every one of the next 6 games, they know, at this point in the season, that the playoffs are pretty much out for them. They also see practice. They see the difference between Josh's arm and Barkley's/Peterman's arm. They know that their hopes moving forward are in Josh progressing and becoming a franchise QB. Why do you think Shady bonded so quickly with him? He sees Josh's potential, and therefore the potential for the team going forward. So, unless you're planning to retire this year (and you're not a guy that cares about the franchise after you're gone like Kyle), I would think the players want him to get that experience too, so next year they can be a much better team. The players are aware of the same things we are, even though they look at the season one week/game at a time. They know the team was cap-strapped this year and has lots of money next year, and another draft. Most of these guys will either be here next season, or hope that they will be here next season. And all of those young players feel like they have a lot of career ahead of themselves, so they can easily take a view of getting better for next year. And Barkley has been here not quite 3 weeks yet, so there is no personal element for teammates wanting him to start, like there was for Tyrod last year or during the Flutie/Johnson debacle, where it divided the team. And yes, Matt played well, but that was just one game. The players know all too well that guys can have great days without being great players, sometimes the ball just bounces that way. Plus Barkley isn't either a promising young guy that hasn't gotten a shot yet or a QB who has already proven it in the league before. So that one game, might be just that one game. Where as Josh is a #7 overall pick with a cannon arm. If I were a player at this point in the season, I don't think I would have any issues with the coaches starting Josh over Matt. So, unless the guy's on the team think Josh is a bust already (and I bet that number is zero who think so), I would surmise that they are just fine with the decision.

In the four games before the Jets game (Bears, Pats, Colts, Texans) Kelvin Benjamin was on the field for 75% of the offensive plays In the Jets game, Benjamin played just 51% of the offensive snaps I expect that number to keep dropping after the break, with being inactive a definite possibility down the road. Such a disappointment! Welcome back Deonte! Apparently you always have a home in either Buff, Baltimore, or Chicago. [two stints with BAL (3 yrs total), two stints with CHI (3 yrs total), 3rd stint with Bills (2 yrs total)---8 games with DAL]

The NFL (and life) is a crazy thing. He goes to some other team with an established QB and plays good in practice and he ends up being a career backup, collecting NFL checks for the next ten to fifteen years (ala McCown, Derek Anderson). Or he sits behind a good QB for four years and maybe learns enough, gets fully acclimated to the NFL, and at least gets a shot to compete for a starting job in FA at that point. Maybe by then he's ready to at least be a competent starter in the league and sticks around for a few years. But instead he goes to a team that is almost forced to press him into service too young, too green and now he may never get another chance at his dream of an NFL career. If you can't feel bad for someone maybe losing their dream, I don't know what to say. And to appear to be angry at him, when all the kid did was come in here and be a good teammate and try his best, seems ludicrous. You can maybe blame the coaches for starting him, but you can't blame the kid himself who was just trying to do his best under the circumstances. And sure, maybe he just wasn't good enough and wouldn't ever be good enough, guys wash out of the league all the time, but not under a cloud of national ridicule. That does deserve sympathy not more ridicule. He has to deal with being the 5 INTs in a half guy, etc. Let's face it, he did not make the most of his opportunities (which is why he is gone), but he was also put in a difficult position to succeed. So, yeah, I feel bad for the guy. Good luck Nathan with football and life! Hope you get at least one more chance to prove yourself in the league.

Well, we are in desperate need of both a kick and punt returner. His college highlights look like he can be electric there. And in Buffalo he will see the field and get some work on tape. I'm sure he is just fine coming to the Bills to get on a 53.

Wow...a lot of hyperbole and short memories in this thread. (sorry in advance for the super long post) The 2015 Bills had one of the most talented rosters in the league? Really? They had some great talent, no doubt, but they were also starting Tyrod at QB, Clay at TE, John Miller at RG, Henderson at RT, Corbin Bryant at DT, Preston Brown, Nigel Bradham, and Manny Lawson at LBs, and Bacari Rambo and Corey Graham at S. Those guys don't stink, but none of them are superior talents and that is almost half of your starters. And the team was 8-8. Worst GM ever? You must be young to say that. Some of us sat through a three season stretch of 2-14, 2-14, 4-12. And I'm sure the even older-timers could talk about other bad stretches. And Tom Donahoe has to be in that conversation too. How about Russ Brandin as GM, I mean c'mon. (And I won't mar the memory of a great coach by including him on this list...love you Marv!) People bemoaning not still having Whaley. Look, I liked Doug and he did find some good players (pro personnel was probably his strength). But his mistake was thinking this team was closer than it was or he was just in a win now mentality to keep his job, so he gave out gaudy contracts that put us in cap trouble and had three terrible drafts in a row (after he took over the reins from Nix). He had 20 picks in those drafts and the best players he came away with were Watkins, Darby, Preston Brown, and O'Leary. Honestly go back and look at those drafts. They were bad. And just a little perspective on the players they traded or didn't retain: Chris Hogan has averaged 2 receptions for 32 yards and 0.24 TDs per game since he left the Bills Sammy Watkins has averaged 3 receptions for 45 yards and .47 TDs per game since leaving the Bills (and had a self-admitted ego problem when in Buff) Marquise Goodwin has averaged 3 receptions for 55.5 yards and 0.27 TDs per game post Bills (and has still had some injuries in SF) Robert Woods has averaged 5 receptions for 72.65 yards and .4 TDs per game, plus he can block like a monster in the run game Could any of them help this year, sure. But Woods is the only one I wish we still had going forward. And how were the Bills supposed to keep him when his hometown team that was further along towards becoming a good team offered him $8 million a year. We couldn't pay him $9 or $10 million a year with our cap situation. And even then he might not have stayed considering his other option. Marcel Dareus: great player when motivated, but after signing the big contract, he just stopped trying. Why would you keep him for that insane number. Reggie Ragland: on his way out in KC. Old school player too slow for today's NFL Mike Gilislee: not currently on a team Cordy Glenn: I wouldn't mind still having Glenn, but that was a big number for an oft injured player Ronald Darby: good player, I was against this one when it happened, but if the coaches felt he didn't fit their system, then why keep him And too many fans just discount the Wood and Incognito retirements. That was a huge blow to this team. If the defense was playing like it is and our run game was much more successful (if Wood and Incognito were still around), we could have had a year like last year. We expected to have both of those players this year. It was a bad draft for O-linemen and obviously our focus had to remain on getting our QB and we just couldn't afford to pay top dollar to the best free agent O-linemen with our cap troubles. Heck, even Wood retiring put an unexpected extra drain on the cap. The woes in the run game are because the interior of our line just is not strong and athletic enough and that was an unforeseen circumstance that was really hard to correct in our position. When rebuilding, you have to have some patience. The best rebuild is to rebuild through the draft, which is what McBeane is trying to do. You can't do that in one draft. That is why true rebuilds are usually three years. Three good drafts could really push a team forward (and the players are cheap). In the meantime, they were trying to still win by signing a bunch of decent players to one year contracts. Last year it worked and we were very competitive. This year we had just one too many things go wrong to continue winning. But the rebuild is still going forward. We have a top 10 defense, the future QB of our defense, a replacement for Kyle when he retires, hopefully our franchise QB. Next year they have to fix the O-line, receivers, and TE. I think you can maybe fault them for AJ McCarron, Vontaze Davis, and the WR position. But there really wasn't much out there at QB that we could afford that was a better option (as they said they tried to get Anderson earlier but he didn't want to come). It's hard to bring in a QB that knows he might only get half a season before their #1 draft pick gets on the field and when you don't want to or can't pay him big money. And they should have had a better plan B for Vontaze, since he was older and coming off an injury. As for the WRs, again, we didn't have the money to go out and get a bigger name, but there were probably a few guys at least that could have helped. But you know what, every FO makes some mistakes. No one hits on every player in the draft or FA. And we were severely strapped by the cap this year. And stop saying the cap issue was their own fault. It wasn't. Yes, they may have added a bit to it trying to find players to help this year (Coleman I'm looking at you), but the majority of it comes from the Whaley contracts. Whether we kept some of those players (that we traded or let go) or not, we would still be cap-strapped this year due to big and back-loaded contracts. So, even if we kept three of them, say, there were still going to be holes that weren't going to get filled adequately this year. The best this season was ever going to be given the circumstances was a repeat of last year....overachieving team and a little magic. But the ball bounced the wrong way at too many spots. But, I don't see how you can't give them their third year in a three year plan. I think next year will be a significant step forward and we will be a good team. This year we have to take our lumps and it sucks. But I find it interesting that people feel like there is no plan or its a terrible plan when the plan seems all so obvious to me. Obviously, a lot is riding on if Joash Allen can actually become the guy. But, we can't keep firing coaches and GMs every two years. You can't get anywhere that way. Let the plan fully roll out and then we can make a more informed decision on Beane and McDermott. To fire them now would be foolish. I hope you can all at least enjoy watching Allen progress when he returns. And who knows, maybe Peterman will become a redemption story. Hang in there and Go Bills!

I completely agree with your first point (about KB) and mostly agree with your second point. I would just note that Zay the last couple of games has made some nice plays over the middle in traffic. Still too few, but hopefully his arrow is finally pointing up. KB needs to be sat at this point or only used on a handful of specific plays. And I don't care how good Holmes is on special teams, how he made the roster again this year is beyond me. I like the signing of Pryor and hope he works out...if nothing else at least he adds a little more fire and swag to an offense and WR corps that is sorely lacking it. Maybe he and the return of Cam Phillips can boost that group.

Everyone loves a redemption story...let's go Nate!

Was going to put this in the Benjamin thread, but decided to put it here since its more than just about Benjamin and hits on some of the OPs points: I'm not a fan who normally throws guys under the bus and I was a big Benjamin supporter at the trade last year and going into this season, but I can't support him anymore. At least twice tonight he had to be told where to line up. Zay's mom's tweet was right, he still doesn't know the offense. He made one great catch tonight. But, also cost us 15 yards on a great play by Shady and on the same drive got an offensive pass interference call, which didn't matter because he dropped the well thrown ball from Anderson on the 3rd and 15 play anyways. He doesn't fight for or back to the ball. Had his usual 2 of 7 for 45 yards. Way too many drops. No fire in the belly. Another guy I'm done with is Charles Clay. Not only is he not helping, the guy is 6'5", he should be a match-up problem, but lately he has actually been hurting the team. The fumble last week and the false start and missed blocking assignments tonight. This is one of the worst signings in recent history, not only because of the money, but because he has fooled the Bills into not looking to improve their TE spot for four years now. Another guy who has no killer instinct. Too soft. And I don't think anyone can blame it on the lack of QB talent anymore. As bad as it has been, these guys have not capitalized on the opportunities that they have had. I think they actually drag the unit down. Either trade them or let them sit and see if some of the young guys can do any better. Look at the way that defense played tonight. The fire, the passion. That is the DNA that McDermott talks about...but it is sorely lacking on the offense. On the offense I would say Shady, Ivory, Zay, and Dawkins have it. Not sure if anyone else does. And Daboll has been a huge disappointment. Many saw it coming, but I hoped for the best. I liked coming out with the wildcat, etc. But he stuck with it too long. You might catch a Patriots team a couple times in a game with something, but not if you run it over and over right in a row. And you don't beat the Patriots by tricking them or out scheming them. The only way to beat the Patriots is to hit them in the mouth. Out tough them. They should have been pounding the rock with Ivory early, setting up screens for Shady, and hitting Zay over the middle. Then put Ray Ray or someone in there to run a few fly routes to keep the defense honest. His offense seems to be way too complicated to learn (at least for this team due to lack of experience or smarts) and yet the creativity is sorely lacking outside of a couple of moments here and there. Or trying 10 trick plays in a row. Early in the season he tried to pass too much with young QBs, a shaky O-line, and receivers who didn't get separation. I just don't think he is putting his players in the best position to be successful. Yes, there is a severe lack of talent, but a good coordinator will maximize the talent he has. As bad as our offensive talent is, they are actually underperforming, as a unit and as individuals. Another swing and a miss for McDermott with offensive coordinators. I think McD is an excellent coach and deserves more time to turn this thing around, I still believe in the plan, but he has to hit on his next offensive coordinator. That said, I'm happy for the most part with how the team played tonight. They did not come out flat, they knocked Brady around, kept the game close until late. It actually felt like we had a chance to win before that fumble. They did not embarrass themselves by any means. With just a little more offense, this would have been a game. And not to let the refs off the hook...the block in the back call on Murphy's big return was bs, Logan hit his own man in the back who was engaged with a Patriot player. Starting at the 11 instead of the 36 on the critical opening drive of the 2nd half in a 9-3 game, was big. And our D-line got held all game, but the Pats only got called once or twice for holding. They were inconsistent with the offensive pass interference calls (for both teams). The one Brady play was definitely intentional grounding. That ball never made it back to the line of scrimmage. We almost got a delay of game penalty because the ref stood over the ball too long as the play clock was winding down. As usual, not the reason we lost, but not good either.

1983/84 seasons (Sept '83 - June '84) Orioles won the World Series Celtics won the NBA Championship Bills were 8-8 (just before the bottom fell out, but we did draft Jim Kelly, although we wouldn't see him play for a few years) Syracuse Orange basketball team went 23-9, 2nd in Big East, and made it to the regional semi-finals in the tourney I too remember the 1980 US Hockey team beating the Russians. My entire extended family were crammed into our family room watching it together. Best single sporting event ever for me, due to my age, how much of an underdog the US team was, and the patriotism of the moment. Nadia scoring perfect 10s in gymnastics in '76 Montreal games was pretty big too (my sister was a very good gymnast, so our family watched a lot of gymnastics).

I'm just going off of what Lorenzo Alexander said on OneBillsLive today, but when talking about the special teams issues the last couple of weeks he said something to the effect of, "We get Julian Stanford back this week, he's one of our big special teams players, so that will help a lot." I hadn't really noticed him on special teams or realized that he was injured, but Zo thinks he's an important player. Overpaid for current production: Clay DiMarco Benjamin

I'm in two leagues...my backs are/were Leveon Bell - hasn't seen the field or even his teammates Jay Ajayi - IR Devonte Freeman - IR Joe Mixon - missed 2-1/2 games to injury Carlos Hyde - just traded from being a starting RB to a backup Alex Collins - meh Todd Gurley - keeping me alive I thought I was totally stacked at RB in both leagues...I was 3 or 4 backs deep. Now I basically only have Gurley in one league and Mixon in the other. Ugh!

This post made me think...is Dabol trying too hard to do the New England thing and have a different game plan for each team each week rather than realizing that this is a young team that hasn't worked together much, so just run what they're good at and don't confuse them too much with major differences from week to week, until they're more experienced. Nuance can come later when they're ready for it. Sometimes you have to worry more about what you are doing rather than trying to guess what the other guy is going to do. I guess I'd have to go back and look to see how different the play calls and personnel packages have been from week to week...but either way, as PolishPrince and Koko said, continue running what's been effective.

Cam was having a really nice training camp and the coaches seemed high on him, but then he suffered a groin injury, kind of killing his chances at making the 53. Maybe he'll turn out to be a diamond-in-the-rough.

I was actually thinking the other day, how when the Bills benched him and then later traded him, how the national media said the Bills were crazy, Tyrod is a good QB, and even the race card got played (against McDermott no less). Yet when he got benched in Cleveland, not a peep. Now obviously they benched him for Mayfield rather than Peterman, but where are all the Tyrod supporters in the media now? (This is a post against the media, not Tyrod. I like Tyrod...good kid, hard worker. Just not quite good enough to keep a starting job.)

I don't know why everything has to be one extreme or the other these days... Extremes #1: Either the refs cost us the game or there is no bias what so ever in NFL officiating Can't we agree that, generally, the Bills get the short end of the stick from the officials, but that is usually not why we lose the games...usually it is because we are the less talented team or we shoot ourselves in the foot. Still it can be frustrating feeling like you're facing an uphill climb sometimes with the officials. Extremes #2: Brady gets every call/there is no bias towards protecting Brady or other star QBs Tom has taken a lot of hits that don't get called...but they also made a new rule after he got his knee blown out and I do remember Jerry Hughes getting called for unsportsman like conduct against Brady after Tom got sacked in one game for simply patting his teammate on the helmet to congratulate him. And to the hit on Allen...I don't think it was a dirty hit, but I do think they were late hits that should have been flagged (and may have been for a star QB). Remember the incident with Cam a couple of years ago, where the ref basically told him he hadn't been in the league long enough to get those calls yet (doesn't help to be a running QB either, though I don't think that played a part in the hit on Allen). Sometimes you have to acknowledge both sides of an argument.

That's two really bad games in a row for the special teams units (outside of Haush, a couple of good punts by Bo, and Taiwan Jones, who is all over the place on teams). The refs definitely gave the Texans an edge today, but the Bills have to stop the pre-snap penalties. We seem to get 2-3 illegal formation plays a game. And that is on the coaching, imo. The false starts are on the players. Gotta give it to the Defense...they won that game...the offense and Peterman lost it. Poor Nate...every time you think he might turn it around, he blows up again. He really should not see the field again this year (maybe ever). I feel bad for him, but he is just too much of a liability.

This site needs a "thumbs down" "don't like" emoji for posts such as this!

It honestly amazes me that there are actually Bills fans who want to trade Shady at all, period. The return (unless it were a first rounder) does not equal his value to this team for both this year and next. The disruption in team chemistry, Josh's development, and talent alone far outweighs a future 3rd round draft pick...by a mile.

Out of those seven players, I'd be interested in Reddick, Conley, and Garcon. It would be interesting to know what Beane thought of Reddick and Conley when they were coming out.

Put me down as a "Don't trade Shady" poster. I think it would hurt the growth of this team more than a future 3rd-5th pick will help. He was just named a team captain. He has been in Josh's corner and they've already built a good relationship. He can still ball. He and Ivory look to be developing into a great tandem. And he has become a Buffalo guy. I wouldn't even consider it for a single draft pick (unless it was a first). I could understand the team doing it if they actually got a 2nd and 3rd. We all know that Beane loves to play the draft, and an extra 2nd and 3rd are some really good chips to have. But anything less than that and I don't think you can even think about it. A 4th or 5th? I'd laugh right in their faces.

Colts fans thought Jerry Hughes was a huge bust. Sometimes a player just needs a change of scenery, especially when there appears to be a bad relationship with a particular coach. And Dolphins fans don't think he's horrible, they felt he took too many plays off. But when motivated, very talented. Maybe this coaching staff, locker room, and fan base can keep him motivated.