BillsVet

As long as he brings along Jim Monos into the podcast. I'm waiting!

Not re-signing a top 10 pick would be cause for concern, but the issue is fitting him under the cap in the same year JA’s deal hits.

Does Beane have the guts to tell the guy who effectively got him hired his priorities are misguided and need to change? I've been waiting 2 off-seasons for a transition to a team that supports Josh 100% and not one that uses high picks and more $$$ on defense. I don't see it happening. This is why McD is the weak link in this franchise. It's as if he and Beane have the Carolina prototype for roster construction, struggle to embrace anything different, and keep pushing that model. I get being stubborn sometimes, but it can become a major weakness when you don't adapt to changing circumstances.

The bigger issue is being forced to line up David Quessenberry at RT and thinking Buffalo will not have more hits to the QB in passing situations. Yeah, he's the swing tackle, but Brown's play to finish last season combined with signing DQ probably not what a good decision when Josh Allen is your QB.

"It's a problem of motivation, all right? Now if I work my tail off and McDermott gets a few ranks higher on defense, I don't see another dime; so where's the motivation? And here's something else, Bob: I have eight different bosses right now." Peter Gibbons was ahead of his time.

LOL at the comparisons to Bills teams from 30 years ago. Pre salary cap when Buffalo's roster was exceedingly better than just about every team in the league. It's as if people cannot comprehend the game's changed markedly in the intervening years. The loss to Miami was not good, nor the Jets loss. It happens and every reasonable fan knew they weren't going 16-1 or 17-0. Doesn't mean it's fun to see division rivals win, albeit when they're home. At this point, it's time to see what this staff can do. For all the plaudits given them, at crucial times they seem caught flat-footed. Time will tell.

Lot of vitriol directed at the goofy owner, but GM Chris Ballard is on the hook for this as well if not more. Teams that try reclamation or declining veteran options at QB typically aren't successful, especially when their OL is hot garbage. That said, there aren't many career-minded coaches in (or out of) the NFL who would take an interim HC gig, the losses which will inevitably follow and put it on their resume.

It is hard to understand how, for an organization that fails forward quickly, they insist on a defense first approach with Josh a franchise guy these last 2 off-seasons. They swung the trade for Diggs in 2020 ostensibly to give their QB all the chances to succeed...and he did, but their focus on defense (particularly the DL) remained the same. This year, Buffalo has 9 DL getting between 25 and 65% of snaps at mid-season. Looking at other teams, including those with defensive based HC's, you don't see that kind of depth there. But it's something Buffalo has done since early in the McBeane tenure. I once had hopes that Beane would move the HC away from the defense first approach, but he's either aligned with this plan or too weak to push for a new strategy. And I sincerely doubt ownership will insist on changes as they deal with difficult off-season issues. Makes one wonder what they talk about during off-season review.

And it's not just that it happens ever year, it's how this last for about 6 games: 2020: A 3-3 stretch from weeks 5 through 10 with a bad loss to Tennessee, the KC MNF loss at home, recovered against SEA 44-34, and then the away AZ loss. They only beat NYJ 18-10, NE 24-21 the latter of which on a Newton fumble to secure the win. 2021: Went 2-4 in weeks 9-14 starting with the Jacksonville loss, being run over by IND, losing to NE on MNF and then TB. Blew out NYJ and NO.

I see it as a lack of trust in his pass protection. Josh has been known to hold onto the ball longer than other QBs and now needs to make quicker decisions than he'd like. But yeah...it'd be nice if they had a dependable slot type who could be that safe option when he needs to get rid of it sooner. Goes back to the off-season and determining they wanted to be better running the ball, allocated resources to run type OL, then didn't add much in skill positions who stuck. What I'm seeing today is people questioning defensive strategy, which is typical after a loss like that. At some point the offensive part should receive some scrutiny as well.

His worldly punishment is low. The other one, well, that'll be different.

Singletary's YPC and YPG are practically the same as the previous 2 seasons. They are featuring him more in the passing game, which is likely a Dorsey/McD priority from the off-season.

The pro personnel people who decided Saffold and Quessenberry were the answer or partial answer to improving the OL are making the decision on players at the trade deadline. I'm not sure I trust them on offense to understand both strategically what is correct or on an individual personnel level. Having Josh and Diggs with Davis supporting is good, but will it hold up come playoff time? Or do you improve the offense with more picks and players into the RB group? Right now things are good on that side of the ball, but OBD's challenge is determining if their current lineup is enough when the post-season rolls around. Every time I see Kumerow lining up it screams no.

This is how solid organizations maintain their success, but it's something Bills fans are unaccustomed to. With Josh's contract kicking in next season and the deals to Dawkins, Tre, Knox, and Milano their available room for other extensions is limited. The price for being a better team is players want to get paid and expecting "hometown discounts" isn't likely in every case.

Short yardage back? What is this 1987? Oh, it is? Then let me know when we get Cornelius Bennett. 35 years ago today. Running backs at the trade deadline are almost like talking about Fred Flinstone's work brontosaurus.

Back to the topic at hand...I do not know if Kadarius Toney will exponentially help the KC offense. It does demonstrate they foresee a need to improve at WR to support their franchise QB. I'd like to see Buffalo add another outside WR at the deadline.

You are too easily offended.

Your logic is entirely flawed. Name me a consequential deadline deal...except Von Miller. Come on dude. As I said, the league is changing and contenders need to find advantages. The trade deadline is one of them now whether you like it or not. Besides, the investment fans have into their favorite team is infinitesimal compared to the people working for the organization. This is the year to make a SB win happen. And Josh deserves having the players on offense to get there because it's clear he is good enough. The Rams won a SB last year and haven't had a 1st round pick since 2016. Sure, you don't give up a high pick for just anyone, but come on. Audentes iuvat fortuna.

Melvin Ingram impacted that Divisional game last time. Oh, and there was another guy last season...Von Miller? Anyone heard of him? He went from Denver to the Rams. Trades at the deadline used to be a rare occurrence...but teams are seeing the benefit now and why deals are happening more often. Check the number of deals in 2020-21 versus 10 years previous.

When has loading up on defense been proven as a reliable strategy in the playoffs to stop a very good or better offense? The Bills have beaten KC in the regular season twice in a row. A solid pass rush helps, but a team that sits tight at the deadline with SB aspirations makes me wonder.

Does McD agree with giving up picks to improve the offense at the deadline is what I think this comes down to. I don't know. Their last attempt at a deadline deal was the move for Kelvin Benjamin 5 years ago. Perhaps they feel comfortable again, but I think there's a prevailing mindset at OBD that Josh and their receiver group are enough. I hope this is inaccurate, but so far their investment at WR and on the OL the past 2 off-seasons indicates a certain contentment with their guys. Really doesn't matter what it says about underperformers. Chiefs paid a price to acquire a guy they think will flourish in that scheme. Kelce, Juju, Scantling, and Toney is a lot for any defense to matchup against. As for the offensive investment, Reid has the pull in that organization like McD does at OBD. They build their teams based on the favored side of the ball.

This back and forth on RB value reminds me of Robin Williams in Good Morning Vietnam interviewing his weather correspondent Roosevelt E. Roosevelt: What's the weather like out there? "It's hot. Darn hot! Real hot! Hottest things is my shorts. I could cook things in it. A little crotch pot cooking." Well, can you tell me what it feels like? "Fool, it's hot! I told you again! Were you born on the sun? It's darn hot!"

The running game was underwhelming last year, but going heavy there strikes me as odd. For that reason, a 3rd dependable outside receiver is a better value for this offense than another RB. It definitely forces defenses to adjust much more, hedges against an injury to one of their outside guys, and pushes some lesser WRs down the depth chart. And, even though they've done some stuff from under center, I'm not sure if it's done to set up PA that McCaffrey as a threat is more imposing than Singletary at this point in their careers. 6 games in, things are clicking in many respects, but teams are adapting. The passing game, given decent protection, is where the value lies offensively.

For perspective, Buffalo defeated KC in Week 5 to go 4-1 and dropping KC to 2-3. The Bills went 7-5 the rest of the way compared to the Cheaps' 10-2 finish. A lot can happen over the course of a season and while that is a great win, it's only a +1 advantage in overall record and gives them the head to head advantage. Can't have another mid-season swoon like they did last year because the Cheaps will rebound.

Did anyone else see McKenzie laughing on the sideline after one of his patented gaffes? A friend of mine commented that he did, but I missed it.