finn

You may be on to something. Like many quarterbacks, Allen might need to get in a rhythm, another reason he's not suited to be the game manager Brady wants him to be. For all the benefits of a balanced offense (no team runs more that the Bills), one potential downside is that the quarterback never gets into that rhythm. That seemed to be a key problem in the losses this season. Brady runs the ball a lot, then when it's stopped, he expects a relatively cold Allen to work his magic.

Your observation captures what I see as wrong with Brady's offense. Rather than scheme his receivers open, he relies on blockers to spring them free, hence the incessant wide receiver screens and stop routes. One might say his options are limited by the abilities of his players, but as others have pointed out, at least two of the new additions, Moore and Samuel, have had far more success elsewhere. You could arguably add Coleman to that list: maybe he's not a bust but a talented player who is being misused. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Bills receivers have started grumbling behind the scenes. I'll put my point in question form: Have we seen any innovations from Brady in the passing game during his tenure as offensive coordinator? Any surprises, wow moments, or even play calls that run against his tendencies? I'm not talking about cute plays my niece could devise, like throwing to Allen or handing off to Knox. I'm talking about pass-play calling that goes beyond generic and head-slappingly predictable. For example, how about play action on fourth and short instead of always a tush-push? Or an occasional fade or high jump ball to Coleman instead of constant diet of back-shoulder sideline throws? Or Cook on a go route (or any other route on third down, when Brady takes him, one of the most talented players in the NFL, off the field)? Or trying different concepts now and then, like flooding a zone or the no-huddle for an entire series? I've been as critical as anyone about the lack of receiver talent on this team, but I'm starting to wonder if we simply have in Brady a coordinator who is over his head, much like Babich. I admit I'm speaking above my expertise (not hard to do), so If I'm being unfair or just plain wrong, please feel free to correct me.

I do remember he was endorsing Dorsey until the end. I almost wish the Bills would lose the next two games just so Brady is let go. The signs are accumulating that he is at best limited and predictable as a coordinator, not what you want for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. In a way, the worst-case scenario is that the Bills win just enough, say two of every three of the remaining games, to give McDermott pause, and by then it will be too late, at least for this season.

You would think the only person who needs to ask this question would have asked it by now, but all he says is Brady is a good coordinator, and he is not planning on making any changes. I'm surprised people here still disagree about where the ultimate problem lies.

Everyone eats.

We finally can throw deep, and now we can't throw deep.

Brady.

Even if McDermott didn't directly order Brady to craft an offense that complemented his defense, that desire has obviously asserted itself. Unbelievably, he and Beane have made an MVP quarterback in his prime into a game manager. The entire planet Earth sees what a waste this is except these two, whose vision will forever be fixated on a) 4-man pressure on a Mahomes; b) a bend don't break defense; c) a running game that eats the clock and keeps the defense fresh. To me, this kind of team is deeply boring and outdated even if it comes to fruition. What's awful is that it hasn't. Beane's d-line still isn't elite despite all those investments, McDermott's defense can't tackle, and the receivers aren't good enough even for a possession offense. With an all-world QB like Allen, they will make the playoffs every year, but even he can't carry a team that hasn't given him enough to work with, much less thrive.

Right, that's why the Dolphins loss hit so hard. Fine to lose to Atlanta, an NFC team, and even to the Patriots, since they'll get a chance to even up. But you can't lose to another divisional opponent, especially one on the ropes like that. The game made me think they don't deserve the AFC East title or the first-round bye because they forgot that every game counts. If they go all the way, it's going to be a long, grueling battle.

The only rest advantage that truly matters is the first-round bye in the playoffs, which favors that team way out of proportion to what they've done to earn the rest. It's just wrong, no matter who gets it.

Yes, but what about the bubble screen to Shakir behind the line of scrimmage? You're forgetting Brady's money play! And if that fails, there's always the back-shoulder throw to Coleman along the sideline. /s

Agreed. As I said, I don't think the Bills need a personnel rebuild, just new leadership to invigorate the current roster, which is almost there. McBeane also need a fresh start. They might be able to take another team to the Super Bowl, but their time here has played out. If they stay, we'll just see more of the same until Allen retires or leaves, when finally Pegula might be ready to try something new. I'm talking in terms of certainties, but as always it's a matter of probabilities. This team could win the Super Bowl if things fall a certain way, but I think it's pretty unlikely. The patterns we all see deepen every year, making it increasingly difficult to break. For example, McDermott doesn't seem to want coordinators who threaten his authority, so he hires from within, which may be why they're more junior-varsity quality. And Beane obsesses on the d-line and treats the wide receiver position as an afterthought. Both might wake up to the evidence that they've been wrong, but the meta-pattern is that they're slow learners.

Yes, a tight end who makes $12 million a year should catch some balls.

This is the kind of shakeup the roster needs. But it might be worth experimenting with Coleman in the slot, backing up Shakir and giving Allen a bigger target (albeit one with the separation ability of a startled sheep).

Diggs must love sticking it to the Bills after Allen showed the world last year he didn't need him by winning MVP.

The Bills have the feel of a team that missed its moment, an old veteran bear still capable of mauling anyone but tired, deeply tired. New England is like the big youngster new on the scene ready to take over the territory. The Bills need a fresh start. Not a rebuild, at all, but fresh leadership. McDermott and his coordinators have been figured out (and never were elite), and Beane is just spinning his wheels at this point, reactive instead of proactive, always one step behind his peers, with a stale vision for the team. I don't see it happening, though. As others have said, an owner that would tolerate a perpetual loser in the Sabres is never going to fire a coach and GM with the record of McDermott and Beane. Meanwhile, we will continuing telling each other, "All we need is a wide receiver. And a pass rush. And a linebacker. THEN we'll go all the way!" It's better than the wasteland years, but it's still a pretty depressing scenario. Groundhog day with Sean and Brandon.

I hate that their time in the wilderness has been so short. Of all the fanbases in the country, New England (or at least Massachusetts) most deserves decades of misery. Quite apart from the obnoxiousness that seems baked in, it's just not right that the Celtics, Bruins, and Red Sox are perpetually good.

12 targets one catch for 4 yards. His last game as a Bill.

Not to be snarky, but hasn't he been hurt his entire professional career? It's obviously not his fault, but he might be just too small to play linebacker. Linebacker is a second only to wide receiver in the draft next year, although that's not saying much. Should be WR, WR, WR, WR, LB. 😕

It's easy to mishandle an immature player. McDermott has done what most coaches would do: bench the player to send a message. Only it's not working. I'm not blaming McDermott as much as pointing out that he might have to try something different. Maybe nothing will work and, as you're implying, Coleman has to figure it out himself. But time is short. He might figure it out, and he might not. Hence my emphasis on McDermott's role. After all, isn't one of the key duties of a head coach to motivate his players? Coleman might be a hard case--the little prick in the back of the classroom--but the problem isn't unsolvable. The stakes are too high to NOT focus on what the coaches can do to salvage Coleman's career--and this season.

Take away your snark and you're just repeating my take, that Coleman is an immature player who regressed when his coach benched him. Somehow you managed to be derivative and insulting at the same time, not easy to pull off.

Maybe. But I have a long-shot hypothesis that leads to a sunny conclusion, which is that McDermott is mishandling Coleman. Coleman has shown promise--look at the Baltimore game, for instance, and a few of the early games last season. He may not be a bust from a physical standpoint, like Boogie Basham, and he might not be an Elam-like bust either, a guy with talent who just doesn't get it. Rather, he might be sulking and McDermott is inadvertently making it worse by shaming him in front of his teammates and the world. In other words, he might be extremely immature (aka stupid), thinking, "I'll show them, I won't make this catch. THEN we'll see who's sorry, heh!" In his defense, public humiliation is pretty damaging and can backfire spectacularly. I speak as a parent and teacher here. It's possible that Coleman can still be everything the Bills hoped for, someone who devoted his summer to getting into great shape and was ready to shine this year, only to run into a rough patch on the field maybe, then being embarrassed. He withdraws into a pout, McDermott doubles down, so does he, and we have the current state of affairs. If this is the case, we haven't seen the best of Coleman yet. He might be a dawg if properly motivated. The bad news is that I don't see this turning around. It takes a lot to realize, as someone in charge of discipline, that you're going about it the wrong way and to change course, especially in such a public forum (in front of the whole team, I mean). Does McDermott have the combination of insightfulness and courage it takes? I'm dubious. But it's possible.

Still, that doesn't explain why the Bills defensive personnel are particularly bad at it. It would be ironic if, with all the injuries, McDermott has been going easy in practice but players are getting injured anyway, meaning he has the worst of both worlds.

I see, thanks. I was assuming that the inordinate number of injuries on this team came from physical (but apparently) ineffective practices.

What I don't understand is why this defense, with a defensive head coach, is so bad at tackling. I mean, what could be more fundamental and (correct me if I'm wrong) easy to learn?