BillsVet

Imagine what Josh could do with another CB. At this point it's just plain comical watching this franchise and having Josh Allen. Like Lucy not letting Charlie kick the ball comical. They rostered the worst 5 WR to open the '24 season since Buddy and Chan and it was so bad they needed to make a trade after Week 6. Cooper then opened up the passing game by his mere presence, but has likely played his last game and won't be returning. Leaves Buffalo with spare part types in Shakir, Samuel, and Coleman. Solution? Sign a guy who's averaging 47 yards per over his last 3 seasons and expect him to produce against better coverage. Expect Coleman to suddenly figure it out in year 2. And, perhaps expect Kincaid to live up to his draft status. If it doesn't happen...can't blame the reigning NFL MVP. Yet, management won't admit error running a scheme that has no margin for error and features meh offensive skilled talent. Then what? Draft another RB? Fire the OC? The offense will take a step back this year. How much is the question.

It doesn't matter what they did last year. Question to ask is why will they be better next year? UFA is over and they've once again tweaked the roster, but having done that the previous 4 off-seasons, it didn't lead to greater post-season success. Those who love swimming at the surface reviewing the AFC CG conveniently forget or are that obtuse that Buffalo was faced with 14 third downs, converted 5, needed 4 4th down conversions and as such had a heck of a time against Spagnuolo (again). That's 4 losses to KC in 5 years and just expecting the Chiefs to get worse so Buffalo can win is not a plan. Have to answer the question: how did the Bills set any distance between themselves and the Chiefs or anyone else in the AFC this off-season? I don't see it and draft picks aren't likely to provide further margin, particularly with them set to take another CB or DT in RD1-2.

Beane stopped being bold a couple seasons ago building out the roster. I attribute this to the normal course many organizations follow which sees them be bold initially to right a ship and then settling into a predictable pattern of safe decision-making. Outside of Von Miller in 2022, that's what they've been for the past 5 seasons. Still, the bold statements are there, but now there's little to back them up. Especially when your drafts in RD1-3 since 2022 have been so run of the mill. Years ago I recall seeing the sequence of 3 straight 7-9 seasons and knowing something had to give...which happened in 2009-10. Sure, they're a perennial playoff team, but scraping out a win in the divisional round or losing there is not something you can keep doing. You either get better or fall off and based on their answers to problems like a more robust passing game and pass rush help...I think there's a change coming if they remain so set in their ways.

I don't think it's Beane, but rather the philosophy they adhere to now. Because a team that does so little from the 2021 to 2024 off-seasons is more than something the GM has decided - it's an evident trend. And I suspect they are so enamored with this run-pass balance everybody eats nonsense which is convenient because WR's cost more and they've largely gone away from paying anyone big money. Their defense costs too much to maintain and something has to give.

They came out of their off-season reviews once again making tweaks across the board trusting that their overall philosophy is correct. They've more or less done the same since 2021. Defense was an issue, but a primary or contributing (at least) cause is banking on having your entire unit healthy 17+ games in. There's no margin of error in a violent game that almost guarantees injuries. And their back 7 has seen plenty. So, they go sign a banged up DE and now sign 2 with pending PED suspensions. Come on. And I suspect they'll draft a rookie CB or DL who'll hopefully contribute, but at the bottom of RD1, how much? Safety position might be better, but aside from Benford CB depth isn't great. On offense, pretty clear except to a special select few that you need WRs who can separate and work outside. They relented last year entering Week 6, but now have exchanged Cooper for Palmer which is a downgrade if both are healthy. The remainder are either highly drafted or paid and none scare a defense. And for whatever reason, having the MVP QB isn't enough to put better WRs around him who aren't unknowns heading into this season. Pretty clear HC and GM remain stubborn and just expect things to work. I don't expect this to change, but as underwhelming as Coleman and Kincaid were, perhaps blaming certain players is a symptom of something greater: the personnel decisions and the scheme those players are put in. Start there.

For whatever reason Buffalo doesn't use a lot of picks at DT - now only 3 used across 8 drafts (H. Phillips, Oliver, Carter). For reference, they've used 4 on RB's. Doesn't mean they won't this year with the talent apparently available. Somewhat of a wildcard is the Ogunjobi's suspension and whether that tweaks their board. If the conditions lead to a choice between CB and DT I suspect they'll go with the former. And I can see them going DT in RD2 if it plays out that way.

Is Palmer decent or on the descent? Or ascendant? And how does he ascend facing, for the first time in his career, the defense's likely best CB?

Cook the liability in pass blocking means he's not getting 3rd down snaps. Johnson does, but RBs out of the backfield play a complementary role anyway and aren't typically primary options in the passing game. The main effort there has to have Palmer excelling now against better CBs AND Coleman stepping up to be a real WR2. Not likely. Going from Cooper to Palmer is a downgrade which places added strain on an offense unless their UFA WR has a career year. Also, not likely. Lot of if's and hopefully's again for this WR group. Kinda like Beane's UFA strategy.

And beat the Chiefs...in Kansas City to get there no less.

It matters who and where your receivers are on the field. They got away for the first 3 weeks last season throwing it largely, by scheme, into the middle without a very good boundary receiver. Then Baltimore and Houston games clarified that you must attack outside the hash marks and make a defense defend the entire field. Or, your QB gets his hand injured having to run it in Week 1 and later his head bounced off the turf from a huge DLineman destroying him. McBeane enter 2025 with Palmer and maybe Coleman as their boundary receivers provided no one else is signed. I make no assumptions this offense maintains or improves their production. And even if Brady improves his play design and calling, the receiver talent is worse now than at the end of last season. And that limits what you can do.

He was banged up first and didn’t mind being a complementary piece regardless. Besides, it’s their offensive identity now to spread ball around. Solidified with personnel decision/priorities. People forget Cooper’s downfield catches versus KC in regular season. Sustained drives that ended in scores. Wouldn’t have won without him.

This organization from HC to GM doesn't have a feel for offense, be it scheme, personnel or otherwise. Yeah, Josh makes it better but there's a ceiling to even having the MVP as your QB. Last season plus it's them trying to swim against the NFL current offensively while having a franchise QB. For whatever reason, McBeane have pivoted away from the idea of a WR1 and WR2 since the end of 2023. Might be a resistance to featuring someone who'll want the ball 8-10x/game and the offense going more through them (the Diggs effect). Might be a cost issue which allows them to spend to their other priorities. Or, they consider it a matchup advantage having 4 WR3ish types on the roster. Perhaps a combination of each. Or, they still anticipate receivers like Coleman will improve in the short term. I don't see it working, just like last year when it necessitated the trade for Cooper.

How does Beane know he's truly Beane though? We know he exists yes, but what is his essence? Is it found in these UFA signings or draft picks? Is it really an extension of McDermott? Who is, in fact, the authentic Beane?

Josh is the MVP. People apparently have forgotten already and that's a shame.

Without footwear of any kind either.

Ranks up there with a woman saying she just wants a nice guy. A statement that needs translation.

You can see what you want. The Bills are in an arms race they refuse to participate in. A top 5 regular season defense (if 2025 achieves that) is fools gold in the playoffs. And prior to the Cooper trade, it got their QB concussed, an injured hand, and 0-2 against Baltimore and Houston in Weeks 4 and 5.

Golly, the same guys who've been identifying the players, schemes, and coordinators(s) which go into building the game-plans just aren't getting it done the past 5 seasons with a franchise QB. Let's give them more dollars and picks and keep seeing if it'll finally work. But the offense...hey, they averaged 30 in the regular season.

If you draft the positions like DE and WR well, you don't need to get into the high-stakes and costly UFA/trade market because those guys typically get re-signed. Specifically at WR, draft the position more than those 2 RD2 picks in the span of 8 drafts rather than repeatedly banking on veterans UFAs/trades. Boundary receivers that is, not slot types. They've had plenty of chances to improve the WR group and somehow other priorities always were cited as evidence why they couldn't. At DE, they've taken a LOT of swings and aside from Rousseau haven't done well. Von was a good intention that didn't work. Other than that, UFA DE's have been middling at best. Beane gotta up his game on draft day.

I thought it was cafe latte's?

These kinds of moves are why they're constantly against the cap and never seem to have room to add a true receiving option. Points to another off-season of the status quo, but we'll see.

Does this mean you're saying we got a deal on Curtis Samuel at 8M AAV last year? In all seriousness, you're correct that the cost of fielding a good offense, especially featuring a strong passing game, is going up. The market determines that, but pairing a franchise QB with an elite pass catcher is still cheaper than trying to field a complete defense with depth. And more effective.

Agree and perhaps it's more of a fan reason than the team's. At the same time, I'm still amazed that the OL has not had anyone miss more than 1 game based on snap counts. Very fortunate.

Playoff losses have been blamed in part or wholly on injuries along the DL in 2022, the LB's in 2023, and secondary in 2024. One year might be bad luck, two is OK, but three requires them to reflect on how likely/unlikely it is that they'll have some injuries by the post-season. As in, how realistic is it to expect 11-15 defenders to be healthy 18+ games in? And I've seen exactly no one here arguing against defense totally because they need both personnel improvements and more scheme flexibility on that side. This off-season is rather about threading the needle and getting the previous point addressed while finding 1-2 receivers (if it's not Cooper) who gives Josh a go-to player. Because the last thing I want in the playoffs is more 3rd downs and short where he has to plunge forward/carry the ball, more meh receivers who can't get the first down, and seeing Mack Hollins need to make catches well downfield to convert. Feature an offense that will be scary in the playoffs. It is the more reliable method of winning in the post-season and besides, Philadelphia and Kansas City have demonstrated that combined with a better coached defense pays major dividends.

Thanks OP. Title of this thread guarantees that Buffalo won't win the SB because you took the Lord's name in vain.