BillsVet

Do you think the BN simultaneously moved on essentially from Gleason and Sullivan because they were “negative?” And leave the fan perspective at the door. Those guys were the biggest critics of the two pro teams in town. Put yourself in these outlets’ shoes. They know their ability to cover the team would be affected if coverage was determined as too negative. Is it difficult to believe pro and college teams want positive coverage? After all, there’s a lot of money on the line and negative coverage impacts that. If they possess the power to control the narrative, why wouldn’t these teams pursue that? And, that may be done in who is provided access to the team.

Bills coverage has subtly changed over the past few years into being more cheerleader and less objective analysis. We'll always realize John Murphy and Chris Brown will be quite pro-team no matter wha the situation, but it extends now to other outlets who aren't even official media partners. For that reason, I understand why Sal Capaccio will go constantly to the mat for OBD as he did today defending McBeane for not making a deadline deal. Perhaps the asking price for certain players was too steep, but there wasn't any counter to his point that McBeane made a sound decision standing firm on the roster even after they've been exposed on both sides of the ball. Now, Buscaglia's gone and done the same thing. A few weeks ago he went out of his way to talk up Trent Murphy the week after the DE had a game where he was repeatedly unable to get pressure. The question now is why? Well, I suspect the Pegula's have leaned on outlets by threatening their credentials unless coverage is at worst balanced. All of this amid some of the longest playoff droughts in Bills and Sabres history. And if you're depending on the team like WGR, the standard to provide favorable coverage is even higher. It's unfair to the viewers/listeners, but content is king and without access outlets will not succeed. Reporters/writers have reacted accordingly.

It's a whole lot more likely they fix the defense than they do the offense despite coming out of the bye and yielding 21 to Miami. The offense isn't capable of matching up with stronger offenses themselves. Buffalo is constructed to win the close games, regardless of what the HC said at the combine this year.

You can't avoid coming around to the dark side.

Can't believe someone hasn't quoted Dave Wannstedt and just said they need to "fit it up." So much investment in the defense over the course of 3 off-seasons and the run defense still needs help. Goodness.

Apparently Carolina didn't have any players available in trade this year.

I think we'd all do well to remember which "insiders" hyped up this trade deadline and couldn't back it up. Dianna Russini for one.

And the honeymoon for McBeane is pretty much over now.

ESPN and other sports outlets do the majority of it. Oh well.

Analytics! You didn't know these people are in Buffalo's Analytics department? This is their job...to predict whether or not a trade is going to happen. The only other time they're used is when McD needs to understand the most efficient clap rate and, when he's in the mood to determine the highest caffeinated coffee.

Strange to think that 2 years ago sitting at 5-2 they did make a trade, albeit with Carolina, to get Kelvin Benjamin. They were weaker at WR that season, but recognized they could make the playoffs. They proceeded to go 4-5, but found their way to the playoffs. I'll remain cautiously optimistic, but one player isn't going to turn their offense or defense around. It's a team with more personnel issues than can be solved at the trade deadline.

The D was oriented to stopping the pass last year and was ranked highly. The run defense was middle of the road. What's changed defensively?

Those firsts would replace what Houston gave up to Miami earlier this season. Depends on the dead cap hit TB stands to take by trading him.

It's hard to coach in the NFL.

McBeane have enjoyed an extended honeymoon from this fan base for several reasons, but doing nothing at the deadline will change that perspective. If they talk about how valuable draft picks are I would cite the trade for Benjamin when they were 5-2 at the end of October 2017.

It's reminiscent of 2011. The Bills were 5-2 after beating Washington in Toronto and then played NYJ at home. That year, Chan had succeeded throwing short to mask Fitz's weak arm and it largely worked...until Rex and the Jets showed up. Rex had the defense interrupt those routes and Fitz had to throw intermediate and long passes which he lacked the arm strength and accuracy to complete. There are plenty of folks saying this is only one game, as if no one saw the successful gameplan Philadelphia employed yesterday. As for 2011, the Bills offense was never the same as the first half of the season and they skidded to a 6-10 finish. McD and his staff had better acclimate quick to counter what we saw yesterday and versus Miami. Because even the lesser teams are going to run hard up the middle until it doesn't work anymore.

The NFL has changed a wee bit since 2001 when BB won his first SB. The passing game, defense, special teams, everything evolves over time. The world doesn't stand still. Now, teams like Philadelphia are winning SB's in their second year under a new HC. Or, LA who made the SB in their coaches 2nd year. Or, KC with a redshirt freshman QB making the AFC Championship. Or, Seattle with a 3rd year QB winning a SB. Winning doesn't take a 4-5 year plan in the modern NFL.

Yes Bill, Levy and Jauron would have drafted another DB. McD seems to like his Dlineman so... I can see McD justifying that his defense needs another pick and going DE. Murphy, Hughes, and Lawson's contracts are either expiring after 2019 or 2020.

Still doesn't remove the fact that those hires are a reflection on the HC. If he had to hire a 3rd OC in 4 seasons and a 2nd DC over that time, something's wrong more than just the coordinators. And if the OC is fired, how many quality candidates will sign up for going to Buffalo? I'm guessing not many.

McD survives this year minus a total collapse because ownership wants no part of another coaching search. At some point, he needs wins against quality opponents. Their record though against playoff teams is woeful. Beating up on the lesser teams and losing to better ones is reminiscent of DJ circa 2006-09. High standards.

It does not follow that the strategy is fine when, as you note in the second post, Buffalo has "holes all over this roster." Three off-seasons of player acquisitions, a total roster turnover, and there are still glaring personnel issues. Never mind that they've had coaching stability meaning the same system being in place during most of that time. Every year the expectation keeps being delayed so as to not be critical of the current rebuild. Happened during Jauron. Happened during Chan. Happened for the Whaley years. The past may not predict future performance, but the result the past 2 weeks out of their bye indicates something is wrong. They're not successful enough on draft day or in UFA to build a team. The man with final say on everything is McD. And right now he's not getting it done. His strategy for winning games and building the roster is mediocre after nearly 2.5 seasons at the helm.

In both of those seasons flaws were exposed and subsequently exploited over (EDIT: a large portion of the schedule). Unless they get cleaned up by next week, future opponents are sure to replicate what happened today and last week. The issue is, Buffalo doesn't have the personnel. Doug Peterson took the Eagles to a SB win in his 2nd season as HC. He did so after taking over from another HC who had made his share of mistakes and was unceremoniously fired. Funny thing is, this answer is a stock response I've seen for years. People identify the positions Buffalo is weak at without acknowledging that the decision makers are equally as weak. Problems aren't solved, the result is average or thereabouts, and the cycle is repeated. It's getting closer to the point where McBeane's strategy for building this team should be scrutinized more.

McD was 1 of 12 in challenges entering this game with 11 straight upheld. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/McDeSe0.htm

I'm elated then. ?

Done something and then done something effective are completely different standards. Anyone can do something, but this is the NFL and expectations surpass that low threshold.