BillsVet

I don't think Flores ever wanted Tua but was overruled because who Ross and by connection Grier wanted was the marquee name. Not the first time that's happened (Ralph once wanted Flutie over Bruce Smith) but in this case Flores made it worse by being distant from their QB selection. I think this perceived show of disloyalty was a part of the decision to move on. And Flores is Honduran.

This off-season is about the CEO (McD) and COO (Beane) looking in the mirror and ditching the play it safe mentality. The last 2 off-seasons have been all about Josh's development and surrounding him. CEO and COO need to match Josh's improvement as it relates to identifying better offensive and defensive schemes. Then, finding personnel to fit those schemes. Buffalo doesn't make the leap without this happening this off-season.

I get the impression Flores wasn't wearing enough flair. Translation: he had disagreements with the front office and they wanted more of a yes-man. Of course, when the front office and the HC aren't on the same page with a QB it makes for an interesting situation. I think Ross and by extension Grier wanted Tua, but Flores did not. The HC did not have a close relationship with the QB and Ross/Grier began looking bad. The rift with Flores meant they needed a scapegoat. The other stuff I'm not going to comment on.

It could be all speculation. Or not. But if true, how did that relationship break down over the 4 seasons Daboll worked in Buffalo? The same years Josh went from overmatched big armed QB into the guy who is among the league's best at the position. Not saying that was all on Daboll, but there had to be philosophical differences.

Mike Shula is kind of young...I was hoping they'd interview Mike Ditka or see if they could get Tom Moore from Tampa Bay now that Brady is retired. It'd help if people knew what the OC does outside of game-day and calling in the plays. He's using advanced scouting reports and analytics to build a game-plan within the HC's overall plan for the opponent, coordinating with position coaches, etc. Maybe Dorsey's good at that and ready for the promotion. The OC hire is not limited to keeping the QB happy...this hire reflects directly on the HC making the decision to promote from within.

I'm interested to know if they hired Dorsey because he was the best one for the job or because JA wanted him. Perhaps it was a combination of both. Still, players have more say in the direction of coaching hires and free agent signings. At the same time, the easy hire isn't always the best. These jobs aren't about checking boxes...but we'll see how it goes.

If I'm reading between the lines, it comes down to control and ego...which most people have issues with. I think McD sees his game plan as enough and subject, as evidenced by his post-game reference to execution, only to players playing his scheme. The opponent isn't going to dictate to him what he does. I don't see the HC changing his spots this late into his NFL career. All NFL HC's are strong personalities, but it's becoming McD's worst feature: a stubborn insistence his defensive planning is correct and adaptation to the opponent isn't necessary. It'd be interesting to know how the players feel about a confined system that permitted KC to move the ball effortlessly against that scheme. You'd think with so much experience on the back 7 that McD and Frazier would trust these guys more...especially Hyde and Poyer.

I get that. But drawing comparisons to the pre-cap days to illustrate that something is relevant now is almost irrelevant. Front offices and HC's have to consider cap implications in personnel spending...as in paying a QB in Buffalo's case about 20% of their cap dollars beginning in 2023. Sure, there's an on-field component, but it's not a scheme or plan that can be viewed only in that frame. Because, if Buffalo is spending ~20% on their QB and another 23% (as they did in 2021) on their DL, it definitely creates a challenge to support the QB who just got a quarter billion dollar extension.

They also didn’t have to deal with the cap, pay a QB to the degree we do in the NFL now, and then of course Dallas got into serious cap jail issues we don’t see anymore. Needing a deep DL is more luxury than necessity. Particularly as Josh’s contract kicks in for 2023.

“Take my wife…please.” -Henny Youngman

Some are aiming too low in trying to identify the problem on defense...it's the scheme and the overall play it safe mentality which didn't start with that game. Being conservative to mitigate risk is, at times, required. But it's all more of the default posture of the HC and his DC who calls the scheme the HC desires. Against top competition, trying to get a lead, protect it, and win is not the way in the NFL of the 2020s. Wholeheartedly agree with your final point that McD take a long look in the mirror and ask himself why he needs the personnel and scheme that he does this off-season. Their exits in 3 straight playoff games combined with the ascendance of Josh should be enough for McD to see that he needs to evolve and stop holding on to outdated ideologies.

And this mentality you've mentioned is hamstrung by needing to get what I'd term "process" types who, while decent talent, aren't moving the needle on game day. They've made far too many of those signings at lesser priority positions in recent years. There's been a point made about not having difference makers on defense...and that's again the HC who values players and positions which aren't as necessary. An interesting off-season is ahead and all eyes are on OBD to be more audacious in personnel. If they go status quo, gonna be hard to beat KC or the up and coming teams that, especially on offense, are better than Buffalo.

McD is really the CEO (with Beane as COO) of the football side of the house...and his football worldview has infused itself at TBD. He's a cautious guy by nature as many NFL HC's are, but I would hope by now he understands that being bold in-game on in personnel is absolutely essential now to take the leap into being a SB winner. You're correct about KC...they have been aggressive making changes, adding talent, replacing underperforming players, etc. Buffalo has operated in the image of their HC: safe, careful, and only occasionally taking a chance here or there. I'd like to see McD evolve into being a risk-taker and be open to changing his outlook. Because if he can't do it now after losing to KC in the playoffs twice and seeing he has a veritable franchise QB he never will.

Who McD hired in 2017 has almost nil to do with what's going on now. For one, entering that season, they had Tuh-rod Taylor at QB with good old Nate Peterman backing him up. And, their skill players were extremely weak Translation: it wasn't an ideal job to take and Dennison never excelled in the role. Fast forward 4 seasons and Buffalo has a legit franchise QB who I'm uber-confident several coaches would kill to work with. It's not all on McD to have connections...people are going to come to him now for that job.

TBD angst continues… I’m sure McD has a plan. At worst, now with Allen you’ll have candidates lining up for the job. It’s okay not to know how things are gonna work.

Do players get slower during their career? I'm guessing their 40 times from the Combine probably don't apply when they're 7 year veterans. And it's OK. OP.

I base it off this...Buffalo plays more zone and got away with Levi Wallace for the large part of 2 seasons. Another top zone corner at the going rate is lower on the priority list given the scheme and...you can never have enough good pass-rushers. For as good as Brady is, he lost in 2 SB's to a team (NYG) that could flash multiple pass rushers. Downside is, shorter drops and faster throws mitigate pass rushers. That being the case, scheme needs to adapt to those and, well, let's hope McD learned his lesson on Sunday that all the defensive assets in the world isn't going to off-set a bad defensive game plan or one that breaks down in crucial moments.

An elite modern offense can never stop reloading offensive skill players. What they have now is good, but has to be upgraded to keep up with KC and others. I'd hope they're looking at a speed threat to be their #2 and Davis can play #3. Have to reduce the hits Diggs takes and let him work more of the field. Second, interior OL needs immediate help and third, at least 1 OT. Fourth, I'd like to see a reliable pass catcher. Knox has too many concentration drops in key moments. Fifth, a proven pass rusher. The majority of this off-season is about giving their franchise QB the tools to win. And not having to run him multiple times a game to keep drives going. The defense is not the priority anymore...nor should premium resources be spent anywhere aside from DE.

They went big time when they bought the Bills. Before that, sure, Terry was a multi-billionaire and owned the Sabres but getting into NFL ownership is an admission to a much bigger and more elite club. I think they cared when they hired McD, but their attention shifted to being in the "club" and getting a new stadium built. And of course, being profitable with this 1.4B+ investment. Frankly, I want ownership that empowers their team's management without interfering with operations, but it's going to happen. Have to be careful about ownership "caring" too much. At the same time, I'm seeing the Pegula's give McBeane the authority and resources to win a championship. This ain't the penny-pinching RW years when his handlers squeezed as many nickels out of the franchise before an inevitable sale. Still, I'd hope behind the scenes that the GM and HC up their game because you don't play it safe into a championship. I'd hope ownership makes that known and the HC/GM know what to do from there.

I recall a number of posters here ridiculing KC for losing much of their OL and wondering how they'd recover. Not long after that weakness indeed became a strength. Point is, KC doesn't play it safe in personnel nor in-game when the standard becomes being a SB contender. The AFC is about to get wild and winning the division really doesn't do anything aside from gain entrance to the post-season. They have to take the next step in 2022, get faster on offense, protect Josh and tweak their schemes on both sides of the ball if necessary to get there.

A board of directors doesn't hire a new CEO to learn on the job. They need that hire to come in on day 1 ready to go. This narrative people advance about a coach learning incrementally in his 1st 5 seasons is merely lowering expectations for a slow on the draw HC not mentally sharpe enough in-game. I'm no longer Sullivan's biggest fan, and aside from the comment about Hyde and Poyer's speed relative to (I'm guessing) Tyreek Hill, the article was 100% fair questioning the HC's inability to manage games at the most crucial junctures. If McD's biggest accomplishment is "changing the culture" that phase of the rebuild is over now. The focus now is on supporting Josh and improving everything around the QB. Anything less and they'll be right back to being susceptible to another McD brain freeze in the 2022 playoffs.

Gonna find out if Marie Antoinette Pegula really meant what she said here: https://www.nfl.com/news/buffalo-owner-kim-pegula-2020-set-the-floor-for-bills-the-bar-is-much-higher-in- Something tells me it was conjecture, so long as the dollars are flowing.

Not sure when people are gonna figure out that individual players aside from the QB aren't impacting the game nearly as much as they think, especially on defense. Tre being out hurt, sure. But they lost with him last year in the AFC CG. On a McD coached team, the CBs are zone types anyway so you're not gonna feature Champ Bailey in his prime. The defensive scheme and players drafted/signed to fit that scheme need to be in the spotlight. And the guy who built the scheme and pushed for player acquisition was the one botching the end of the game last night. A game where his QB threw 2 TD passes in the final few minutes of the game. Elite defenses don't exist anymore and haven't in almost 20 years.

As Allen has ascended into an elite QB, the HC hasn't improved much if at all. He coached scared against Houston the 2019 WC game, blowing a 16 point lead built on FGs in the final 22 minutes. He was kicking FGs against KC last year as KC was scoring TDs and moving the ball effortlessly. And this year he goes for it a little, but retreats back into his scared coaching strategy at the end there. This is who he is and I doubt he'll ever change. It's inconceivable this team was 0-6 in close games with Allen as a QB. It speaks to something else going on.

Ordinarily, ownership would tell the HC he's not meeting expectations. Particularly after re-signing Allen to that mega-contract. But the Pegula's are lost in space and don't know their a$$ from a hole in the ground. As for the DC...he's merely an extension of the HC...I'm not sure why people think Frazier acts independently because he calls the defense McD demands. The OC, well, I think they can do better but it's not the most pressing concern anymore. Not with an elite QB doing what he does. The HC is letting down the entire organization. Whereas Allen's upped his game, the HC still has the same brain freezes in-game when it matters most. Whatever off-season review they conduct should start with McD, but I doubt it'll happen. Guy's too arrogant and has too much authority to ever blame himself. But the evidence is there for everyone to see after last night. He's a passive HC who plays up the faux aggressive personality he projects.