BillsVet

I want the 1925 Pottsville Maroons to get credit for the NFL Championship they won and rightfully deserve recognition for!

23-20 Bills

Jauron also didn't have anything close to the financial support this group has. During the DJ years, by mid-season, they'd dress guys off the street because their depth was nil. People here talk about the need for mid-season acquisitions, but back then I remember names of UDFAs and street FA's who got playing time when 1 guy went down. Jauron's teams were so under-resourced that they used the draft to fill needs they couldn't afford to in UFA or because UFA's wouldn't come. Buffalo was NFL Siberia from around 2006 until maybe when TPegs bought the team. For as much as Belichick is despised, he was ahead of the curve when it came to becoming an offensive-focused team. NE missed the playoffs in 2005 after 3 SB wins in 4 seasons. Against Indy in the 2006 AFCCG, Brady had the likes of Reche Caldwell (RIP) at WR. The result was Belichick grabbed Moss and Welker the following season. Didn't guarantee a SB, but the game had shifted and would continue to. BB was ahead of the curve. I haven't seen McD adapt at anything more than a snail's pace since he took the job. Even with an, albeit flawed, franchise QB.

Sabres were horrible over all of those years. Bills have become perennial playoff participants. Maybe in a big market with a media asking questions a HC is fired who doesn't make the jump from playoffs to championship level. Not Buffalo. Media tip-toes around issues and doesn't demand accountability. There used to be media types who did, but they're either gone now or don't have the forum anymore. The local media does matter, but would agree if it elevated to the national level it could prompt the owner to act. I still don't see local media making a stink over the HC's off-season and in-game decisions. Besides, TPegs' MO has always been to give their coaches what they say they need...until they don't give them it anymore. In that way, he's somewhat mercurial like his predecessor. Thing everyone is missing here is that the Bills are making money. And, TPegs is on the hook for the remainder of the stadium costs. Eating salary is probably not on his list of things to do in the interest of being more competitive. This is a business after all.

Can't forget the newest McD aphorism - "complementary football." Whatever that is. As to firing McD...I can't see Terry eating 2 years of McD's salary. Perhaps if there was significant media focus, but Buffalo doesn't have that.

It is shocking and shows little regard for how much offense wins games now, especially with a very good QB. Looking back, I don't think McD has really embraced being the Head Coach in a classic sense. He came into the job still showing preference for defense and doesn't seem like he acclimated to overseeing both defense and offense. And that was reinforced when he took on the DC function, although I'm sure there are assistants. In a way, it reminds me somewhat of Gailey playing HC and OC while abdicating defense to his DC. He had no answers when inevitably those defenses stunk because he wasn't a part of that game-prep much. And he never cared to get deep into that side of the ball.

I think @BADOLBILZ pointed out years ago when Antonio Brown was throwing fits (before he went really cuckoo) that he had issues with Roethlisberger's prep entering the season. Brown was working out hard to be ready and didn't see it from the QB. The Diggs flare-up in June seems like that. Josh isn't prepared like a top-end NFL QB should be with justification that he doesn't need as much prep because teams play him different than other QB's. Not ideal.

Had the same reaction...and if memory serves they've thrown a deep ball or two to Harty in previous games. Hasn't worked because dude's lost a step and isn't getting separation. Amazing coaches haven't seen this into mid-season.

Buffalo's mid-season funks typically start around week 5-7 and last for about 6-8 weeks. Happened in 2020, 2021, 2022, and in the middle of it this year. Issue that needs discussion is why a playoff-level team, especially one with so many veterans, can't prevent that sort of slump. We're getting closer to figuring it out, and it's a combination of Josh, McD, personnel decisions (GM/HC), and the OC. They have to look in the mirror and be honest that some elements of this team are not right and haven't been for a few seasons.

Just need a few more defensive players and play complementary football. Or could just try to feature a better coordinated offense.

McBeane's philosophy/scheme keeps running into cap management, notably a reluctance to draft DTs and develop them the past few years. It's clear they would rather pay UFA rates to keep that group deep. If that's an attempt to mitigate injuries, so be it, but so would having mid-20's aged guys with an added benefit of offering some cap relief from featuring 3-4 UFA's making 2M+ per every year. Still, it's that way at DE, LB and DB's: veterans on second/later contracts or high(er) drafted players. I don't see guys on their first contract aside from Bernard or Benford who I don't think were the plan until a player could not be fit in cap-wise (Edmunds) or for performance/injury issues (Elam, White). I question the need to feature a veteran defense every season, primarily because building out a roster this way has limited upside particularly when the playoffs come around. Another 2 DT's fulfills McBeane's philosophy, but it hurts when you don't have a veritable second/third receiving option for Josh in games you might need to score more points and the defense isn't working as well.

KC looked pedestrian last week, but you've noted that PHI, SF, CIN, and MIA took QB's who were young/perhaps more limited than Allen and surrounded them with excellent skilled talent. Helped to get Eagles to a SB last season where they went up against another team with a great QB and high-end skill players. Not sure where it comes why they keep investing in RB's as though that's the missing ingredient to their offense. I think it primarily offers, especially with Murray and Fournette, reducing the risk of turnovers and short-yardage options not named Josh.

Chiefs andhave 3 SB appearances and 2 wins. They get the benefit of the doubt. Bills keep faltering in the playoffs with McD's roster.

Predictable that, you can't refute an argument but fall back on asking questions that can't be answered as some sort of dunk. Ain't got the chops to make your own points.

I'm waiting for you to not fight other people's battles. Besides, break time is over.

Zoom out for a second. Defense is surrendering 17 points per through half the season with their HC moonlighting as DC and those injuries. That's about what their scoring defense was in 2022 and 2021. If you're scoring 20, 14, 25, and 24 against the likes of Jacksonville, the Giants, New England, and Tampa Bay I'd say something's wrong. 4 game spells aren't a drop in the bucket.

How do you know there weren't any receivers available? That a third wouldn't have been enough to secure them?

Amazing how this HC and GM spin the personnel wheel and more often than not wind up with slower RB's and zone CB's. Team's averaging 21 points over their last 4 and the personnel solution is Fournette and another zone CB. Even if Douglas plays well, offense is pushed to the background again.

There's tension for sure and some is the pressure to win it all. At the same time, McD isn't a calming influence and that's what is needed now. Players take on the personality of their leader(s) and both sides of the ball have either McD or Dorsey running it. Neither are whom I would consider able to reduce the tension.

How far has McBeane's pro personnel groups evaluations come since 2017 in both talent and contract value? Not far. Off-season trade in 2007. Refused to report when Buffalo refused to re-negotiate his contract.

2pac did get away, is alive, and gone full Machiavelli now.

Starting to see this across professional sports with later Millennials and Zoomers. Or maybe that's me being an elitist Gen X'er.

If we see Ken Dorsey is taking the rest of the year off, you’ll know it was McD. Not fired mind you, just taking a break from coaching.

FIFY.

It's OK to take the L sometimes WEO. I promise you it won't hurt.