KOKBILLS

If you want to simplify the problems on Defense in 2025 down to the biggest problem that is actually really easy... It's missed tackles and it's not even close... There are certainly other issues... But missed tackles have absolutely killed us this year so far.

I do have to say listening to WGR and a lot of the "influencer" media...I don't think they have a clue about the Panther QB situation currently... Like... Bryce is their guy... They Drafted him #1 overall... I get we are spoiled with Josh...But there's only one Josh Allen... There seems to be this assumption that the Panthers are more than willing to let Bryce just take the week off... That they secretly feel Dalton gives them a better chance to win... I can promise you that is not the case in Carolina. He's their #1 overall pick QB and their team leader regardless of national perception, and he has not played poorly. Sure if he's too injured to play he won't play... But that is the ONLY criteria... Otherwise... He's going to play... He's their guy...

Amen...

Oh man...It's Eichel's doctor isn't it?

An update from Carolina practice... Bryce Young did resistance training on the side and threw some... He looked to be moving OK. He did not practice with the team today. Still a longshot but he's definitely not 100% out for Sunday... I know some Panthers fans think he's going to play...

Ya... I thought they were getting an extra week with the bye but it's 4 games not 4 weeks... My bad...

Erik Turner at Cover 1 said he was running along with Max during his rehab. Not sure how far along that makes him. But I don't think it's a bad sign.

I really liked Landon Jackson coming out and was pretty happy when the Bills Drafted him... But looking back on it now... AJ is still here, now Hoecht is on the roster, Solomon has played ahead of him all year... I don't know... There were certainly WR's I liked a lot that were still available at #72 overall... Not saying they would have made a huge difference. But there definitely seems to be an imbalance right now if nothing else. I still have huge hopes for Jackson though. Fair...

Also a good point...

Good point I thought it was 4 weeks.

The whole thing with injuries and injury management is becoming a joke... No wonder they come out flat so much... No one practices and if they do it's so limited... I don't know... It just looks like this has become part of the Bills culture now...

It just keeps getting better... And if that's the case why wait?

Incredible...

As an NC resident who lived in Charlotte for 20 years and follows the Panthers pretty closely...I have to say... Hearing the local Charlotte radio guy on WGR this morning say fairly confidently that he thinks the Panthers can win this game shows me how far and quickly the Bills have fallen this year...at least in how they are perceived nationally. I'm not saying the Panthers are a bad team... But they just came off a poor effort barely beating the hapless Jets 13-6 and they lost their starting QB... For anyone to sound that confident they have a chance to beat a team that is still considered by some a SB contender... Well...For me it's proof positive that no matter what happens from this point on...The first 6 games were nowhere near where the Bills were expected to be... They better beat the Panthers by infinity... I'll never hear the end of it...

Agreed... He's been my #1 guy all along... I just think it fits like a glove...

Well... He'll fit right in...

I mean... I guess it all depends on the team and the need... But just going on my gut that seems steep... For what it's worth, and just for fun, I asked Grok and Chatgpt... I got a total range of $7.5 - 14M AAV...

I don't know? He'll be 28 next year. Any expanded role for him is purely projection. I know WR's are getting bank now, and anything is possible, but a deal that would get the Saints a 3rd Rd Comp back would be almost shocking to me based on all factors. But I guess it could happen. In 2025 the average AAV was $18.375 million for a 3rd Rd Comp pick not counting QB's in the equation. That number figures to go up next year. I just don't see Shaheed that way yet because he has not shown it yet. But maybe some team does. I do think for what the Bills need though, as an everybody eats guy, he's a perfect fit.

That whole lesson on how to give up 335 yards in one half of football really seemed to hit home!

I think the biggest problem with Hoecht and Ogunjobi is neither play MLB, S, or CB... Otherwise I don't see how they can't help somewhat...

It depends... Bryce is streaky... And so is their O-Line... If the Bills can somehow limit their running game that will go a long way... Though I do think Dalton has an advantage over Bryce when pressured. Bryce just has these games where it seems like he gets rattled and even though he's a decent athlete he just sees the rush and turtles. I watch a lot of Panthers down here and they are my Nephews favorite team so I hear about them constantly. I know from OG to OG they are much better in the run game then they are in pass pro... They are a weird team. They can look terrible at times, and they can look really solid.

I think the Bills and Beane should be laser focused on Rashid Shaheed. He's as good a fit for what they need as they are going to find out there, he's a UFA after this season so that should keep the asking price reasonable, and they should be able to fit him under the cap without too much maneuvering... He's returned both kicks and punts in his career but should be able to serve as the primary PR immediately which saves a roster spot. It just makes the most sense to me...

I was always in the "just get Josh a decent running game and we'll be unstoppable" group. But I hade these visions of a great running game, similar to what we have now, and this crazy play-action and attack-style passing game that just gave teams fits because no matter what you guess you're always wrong... I thought Brady would get there, but now... I don't think he's interested in all that. This is all general philosophy and strategy comments...But I feel like they are being dictated by the Defense more often than not. I feel like they go into games and don't take advantage of what teams give them. In the NE game he runs into base Defense 12 out of 14 times...In the Atlanta game... If he dials up one or two plays specifically to burn their blitz...and that's his job vs the team that blitzes most in the NFL...that takes Atlanta out of everything they want to do. But instead they looked surprised and unprepared. No sneaky screen plays with Cook or Ty... The TD pass to Davis showed how easy it was to get that D on a well designed play... there's just not enough of it... I don't know...

Good grief... And here I was trying to battle with the realization of Bernard and Rapp falling off the face of the earth, Tre being a major liability, all the injuries, and now this? OK fine... But ya... There has been a lot of talk about the fact that it seems like McBeane have been caught in the trap of...every young player will improve, and every vet player will at least stay at their level of play... That's just not reality. Reality is the average lifespan of an NFL career is 3.3 years...

You and I agree on this point for sure... But honestly I think it's worse... Watch that Boutte TD in the NE/Tenn game yesterday... That's a 4.50 WR blowing by 2 DB's because NE dares to run him deep basically... It's not even play action. Just a straight shotgun snap. And both DB's are so ridiculously slow to react Boutte runs by them like he's Xavier Worthy... Keep in mind he runs right by the CB and a S... I don't think the Bills even have that in their playbook anymore... Go back to the Dabol days and we did it all the time. When Brown and then Sanders were here we mostly did it with Gabe Davis... We don't attack anymore... We don't have the mindset... And that has really taken it's toll.