Sporting News article - Are Bills in fact rudderless?

[Hapless Bills Fan]

38 minutes ago, billsfan_34 said:

I believe this is his last year of his deal? Maybe 1 more. Regardless, your right- we need more out of our backs and receivers. That isnt going to happen this year, unfortunately.

 

2019 last year, but only $2.6M dead cap (signing bonus) to let him go

[Augie]

2 hours ago, Johnny Hammersticks said:

Step 1:  Get the team out of our salary cap mess.  Check.

 

Step 2:  Acquire your franchise QB.  Check, but TBD.  Drafting a QB in the top 10 is a step in the right direction.

 

Step 3:  Through the draft and FA, fortify the “trenches” and bolster the skill position players.  This will happen in 2019.

 

Seems like the rebuild is happening as scheduled.  I think making the playoffs last year surprised even Beane and McD, and I think the fan base got a false sense that we would be ready to compete this year.

 

I believe in what Beane and McDermott are doing.

 

You saved me a lot of typing! ?

 

Looks like we’re right on track if you’re paying attention. 

[Bing Bong]

27 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

Nice cherry picking.

Beane didn't draft White or Jones. I'm not going to give him credit for a draft he wasn't even employed for.

[oldmanfan]

2 minutes ago, PetermanThrew5Picks said:

Beane didn't draft White or Jones. I'm not going to give him credit for a draft he wasn't even employed for.

The article refers to total management and McD was there for that draft.

 

Chemical, we will of course see how all these picks turn out.  But Jones looks like he's starting to get it, and hopefully does more with Allen throwing the ball

[NoSaint]

2 hours ago, billsfan1959 said:

I'm sure Beane doesn't have any big-picture plan at all. Probably gets up each day and consults tarot cards for what player he should acquire or get rid of and whether or not to follow through on it.

 

You might not agree with what he is doing; however, something tells me he does have a big-picture plan. Whether or not it works is something we will not know for awhile - and, no, IMO, it doesn't have to get worse in 2019.

 

Plenty of intelligent and well intentioned people have plans that they don’t do particularly well following. Especially when you get a lot of voices in the room.

[Andy1]

Blah, blah, blah.....  This is the easy media take on the Bills when they lose. Worst team in the NFL, rudderless, etc. whatever phrase they make to generate clicks. The only way to change the narrative is to improve and win. Next two games will be tough so prepare for more of the same from the media. By the end of the season, I think Allen will be turning heads with he plays he will make. Bean and McD have a plan I'm sure and I feel more confidant about them leading the Bills than any GM/coach combo since the coach Marv days. 

[billsfan_34]

21 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

2019 last year, but only $2.6M dead cap (signing bonus) to let him go

Thanks- I was bein lazy lol

[NoSaint]

3 hours ago, Happy Gilmore said:

They're looking at the situation from the outside, like the rest of us, and may actually know less than some on this board.  I say this because there was no one from OBD, or players on the team, quoted in the article.  It appears to be an opinion piece; they are saying nothing different than the rest of the national media.

 

Vontae Davis knew he was signing with a team that was going to have a rough time of it, especially early in the season.  His fault for not signing elsewhere, or retiring after last season.

 

In february- did he know that? If sold on us getting a vet and rookie qb, and spending on a couple free agents plus a boat load of picks...

 

i don’t think a single poster or bills employee expect this offseason or start back in January. 

 

It’s strange to me that somehow much of the offseason I felt among the most negative for thinking we were a below 500 team and now so many people are pulling the “well yea obviously this was going to be a train wreck but that’s by design and there was no other choice” card

[Hapless Bills Fan]

53 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

People are criticizing their drafting?

White:  lock down CB set for a while 

Dawkins:  LT set for a while

Jones:  starting to come around, should give us a #2 or slot WR for a while

Phillips:  Anchors the D line as the young Kyle

Edmunds:  Incredible athlete, gives McD his MLB (and yes, Rivers schooled him and 20 year olds learn)

Allen:  potential long term answer at QB; how many folks howled for the Bills to finally go all in and get a QB?

Johnson:  slot CB

Teller:  depth at G and hopefully matures into a starter

Ray Ray: Slot WR

 

Thry may have not gotten the best FAs this year.  That you can criticize.  But drafting?

 

I agree, their drafting is fine - I think what people are more criticizing is the strategy, eg trading lots of picks to move up and taking high ceiling/low floor guys

That doesn't bother me in the draft, personally, but I worry it's a trait that's also showing in FA evaluation, where it doesn't belong

[oldmanfan]

2 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I agree, their drafting is fine - I think what people are more criticizing is the strategy, eg trading lots of picks to move up and taking high ceiling/low floor guys

That doesn't bother me in the draft, personally, but I worry it's a trait that's also showing in FA evaluation, where it doesn't belong

The trade up for Jones was a negative.  Those for Allen and Edmunds hopefully got them their leaders for years to come.  So I'm good with those.

 

I would rather they keep lower round picks vs. trading for guys like Coleman.

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Just now, oldmanfan said:

The trade up for Jones was a negative.  Those for Allen and Edmunds hopefully got them their leaders for years to come.  So I'm good with those.

I would rather they keep lower round picks vs. trading for guys like Coleman.

 

I don't mind giving up a 7th 2 years from now, but I didn't like giving up $3.5M (now $2.9M) for a guy we cut in a month.  That felt like a failure of pre-trade "due diligence".

 

 

[Bob in STL]

That article is pretty much a sign of the times.  Give poor behavior a pass.  Excuse it away.  Sometimes doing the right thing is hard.  Davis can quit and it’s ok because the Buffalo Bills deserve it for things that happened years ago.   Was being a playoff team last year a problem too?  

 

Nevermind that Davis is aveteran and signed a $5M deal that he chose not to honor in the worst way.  Never mind that the Coach allowed him to make the team, even when his practice and preseason play  were below par.   McDermott honored Davis veteran status, paid him fairly, yet this is the Bills fault.   Davis can make McDermott look bad and given today’s way of thinking he gets supporters. 

 

I have been following sports, especially football, a long time.  Seen every franchise struggle for long periods.  Todays media like to poke those that are down.  It’s part of the humor that fits the times I guess.  

Edited September 19, 2018 by Bob in STL

[oldmanfan]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I don't mind giving up a 7th 2 years from now, but I didn't like giving up $3.5M (now $2.9M) for a guy we cut in a month.  That felt like a failure of pre-trade "due diligence".

 

 

Beane tends to look for these type guys hoping they turn it around.  Guys like Coleman you can wait till they get cut.  

[Lurker]

3 hours ago, KOKO NFL said:

Thoughts?

 

This week's news is next week's landfill...

[Scott7975]

.Im just waiting until next year to see if they build around this kid like the Rams did for Goff.  They talk about process but what is it?  Is it like a 10 year plan?  I get what they are trying to do and have done.  I just don't know if they can actually build a team or not,

Edited September 19, 2018 by Scott7975

[The Wiz]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Untrue, actually.  Viking ships didn't have rudders at the stern, but they had a steering oar affixed to the right or starboard side of the ship"

"In the Viking Age, the rudder on ships and boats sat on the starboard side (the name deriving from styrbord, the Norse term the boards (planks) in the side where you steer the boat, hence, steering-board). This gave rise to some challenges, one of which was the shape of the rudder; the other was the manner in which the rudder could be attached to the ship." 

(apparently, hemp rope won't work; withies are required)

 

Never say TBD isn't educational

 

Well then I guess we need to run more plays to the right since that is the way to glory or Valhalla!

[Formerly Allan in MD]

And toothless.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

25 minutes ago, The Wiz said:

Well then I guess we need to run more plays to the right since that is the way to glory or Valhalla!

 

I was wondering if giving the players birch withies to lace up their duds might prove helpful

[#34fan]

You'd need a boat to be rudderless.

[PromoTheRobot]

4 hours ago, KOKO NFL said:

As per Sporting News, are the Bills in fact rudderless, making contradictory moves

seemingly without a plan? Does Beane really know what he's doing? (With due respect, the Pegulas have demonstrated they do not).

 

Thoughts?

 

http://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nfl/news/vontae-davis-retirement-halftime-buffalo-bills-week-2/15xlnsikkoz74zn3gztcnn25p

 

My thought? There are few if any leaks from One Bills Drive now.

[billsfan1959]

2 hours ago, NoSaint said:

 

Plenty of intelligent and well intentioned people have plans that they don’t do particularly well following. Especially when you get a lot of voices in the room.

I absolutely agree with you. My points were (1) Beane most definitely has a plan and (2) we have no idea at this point how it will turn out. 

[Batman1876]

Beane has a plan, he’s made mistakes that stand out big time but he has a plan. The margin for error is small though so those mistakes are magnified. We don’t know if the plan will pay off, but at least he’s swinging hard for the fence.  The personnel mistakes made so far won’t hurt next year and even the best off season moves would not have made this team a playoff contender this year. 

 

I think McDermitt is a good motivator. The way the defense came out at halftime is a testament to that, they were fired up.  Last year was a test I ate to that too, they won 9 games and made the playoffs with a team that had limited talent. You could see how fired up they were last year, the third down run by Taiwan comes to mind, he was playing hard and the way the team rallied around him was really impressive. 

[reddogblitz]

7 hours ago, Overdue Bill said:

I think it is a little pre-mature to throw in the towel. Both McDermott and Beane were handed a mess from the previous regime(s). Major personnel changes take several years...we knew that this would be a process the moment that they let Tyrod Taylor go without replacing him with an experienced veteran.

 

They got to the playoffs in year one with mostly talent from the previous regime(s).  Once they went all in on their own talent, the wheels fell off.  Hopefully we can get them re attached.

 

7 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

 

The regime that drafted Bortles is not there now when the Jags are good...

 

This is the question.. Will McD and Beane still be here when the team gets turned around?

 

 

 

"A coach that is rebuilding is rebuilding for the next coach that comes in." - -Bill Parcells

 

7 hours ago, Epstein's Mother said:

 

Couldn't agree with this more.  McCoy has had a great career but the Bills have entirely too much money tied up in this position.  By my rough count McCoy has four 100 yard rushing performances in his last 20 regular season and playoff games.  This O-line hasn't helped him at all but you definitely need more production if you're gonna lay out that kind of money.

 

this is precisely the time Coach McDermott showed up. Coincidence?

Edited September 19, 2018 by reddogblitz

[Buffalo Barbarian]

No

 

 

[GreggTX]

The national media always does this. They get a very shallow analysis by someone that doesn't follow the team and everyone else just pukes up the same crap. Some will try to be different by throwing someone else under the bus like calling McDermott a racist when he and Beane just enjoyed an MVP season from Cam. That jerk at the NY Post needs to give a MUCH better explanation or give McDermott an apology.

6 hours ago, oldmanfan said:

The trade up for Jones was a negative.  Those for Allen and Edmunds hopefully got them their leaders for years to come.  So I'm good with those.

 

I would rather they keep lower round picks vs. trading for guys like Coleman.

 

 

Remember -- That was Waley's draft when they traded up for Jones. McD certainly had some input like every HC does, but Beane hadn't even been hired yet. Also, a HC doesn't watch all that tape like a GM does. He just tells the GM what he wants and the GM goes by his board.

Edited September 19, 2018 by GreggTX

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

7 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I don't mind giving up a 7th 2 years from now, but I didn't like giving up $3.5M (now $2.9M) for a guy we cut in a month.  That felt like a failure of pre-trade "due diligence".

 

 

 

Wait a minute, I thought the pats took on that burden.

[Gugny]

1 hour ago, joesixpack said:

 

Wait a minute, I thought the pats took on that burden.

 

My understanding is that the Bills inherited the guaranteed portion of his salary, so when the cut him, they were on the hook for it.  I don't think this is costing the Pats much.

 

EDIT:  Looks like he's there on a 1-year, $630,000 deal.

 

Edited September 19, 2018 by Gugny

[Gigs]

When the HC chooses his QB based on religion, we are in fact rudderless. McD has an affinity for Peterman based off of his religion. 

 

It doesnt work in politics and it doesn’t work in football. Keep Jesus on the bench

Edited September 19, 2018 by Gigs

[BigBuff423]

I'm proud to be a Bills fan because of everything it means to me.....but some of you on this board make me ashamed to be put in the same category as you in regards to how other fans view us. The table breaking b.s., the ignorance of how people are treated at games, and the kinds of things I don't want my little girl to see or believe is how you can be a passionate fan for a team. But, this takes the cake of total lack of perspective and misery. 

 

The team was a two year rebuild right? With the 3rd year showing real promise and pushing for the playoffs, right? Yet, in their FIRST season they make the playoffs - albeit with help but they still had to be in that position regardless - and in two games, people are ready to run them out of town? Or "put them on notice" as if this year will determine their fate or even next year. Some of you must just be too young to appreciate what real vision looks like. Culture change is NOT an easy thing to accomplish, unless it's a negative one - that can happen quickly. It will take......time. I've said it before, but if the two years were reversed, with last year being ugly and this year making a push for the playoffs, would anyone be ready to call for their jobs? I highly doubt it. They broke the curse. They definitely have a vision for what their looking to accomplish. Now, if it works - we'll see, but they have a direction and a plan to get there. With that, and the playoffs last year after all the years of futility behind us - they get 5 years. Period. 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

 

The tale of Moby Dick?  

 

Chasing that white whale called a Franchise QB

Edited September 19, 2018 by ShadyBillsFan

[oldmanfan]

19 minutes ago, BigBuff423 said:

I'm proud to be a Bills fan because of everything it means to me.....but some of you on this board make me ashamed to be put in the same category as you in regards to how other fans view us. The table breaking b.s., the ignorance of how people are treated at games, and the kinds of things I don't want my little girl to see or believe is how you can be a passionate fan for a team. But, this takes the cake of total lack of perspective and misery. 

 

The team was a two year rebuild right? With the 3rd year showing real promise and pushing for the playoffs, right? Yet, in their FIRST season they make the playoffs - albeit with help but they still had to be in that position regardless - and in two games, people are ready to run them out of town? Or "put them on notice" as if this year will determine their fate or even next year. Some of you must just be too young to appreciate what real vision looks like. Culture change is NOT an easy thing to accomplish, unless it's a negative one - that can happen quickly. It will take......time. I've said it before, but if the two years were reversed, with last year being ugly and this year making a push for the playoffs, would anyone be ready to call for their jobs? I highly doubt it. They broke the curse. They definitely have a vision for what their looking to accomplish. Now, if it works - we'll see, but they have a direction and a plan to get there. With that, and the playoffs last year after all the years of futility behind us - they get 5 years. Period. 

You have to remember the times we live in.  In the age of the Internet people are now accustomed to getting things right now.  Patience as a virtue has been lost in today's society.  As evidence look not only to the calls for McD and Beane to be fired right after a playoff year, but to the posts already saying we may need to draft another QB next year based on, you guessed it, one game from Allen.  Just remember such posts likely come from those who get irritated if they are in the Starbucks drive through for more than 2 minutes.

 

Saying the Bills are rudderless is just an article from some guy that has to fill copy every 24 hours or so.  The article is just opinion with no actual digging to see what may or may not go on; essentially a regurgitation of old stuff.  Plus theu guy (typically for national media who don't really follow the team) mixes up moves made over three different management groups and two owners.  So take the article with a big grain of salt.

 

Now, are Beane and McD completely off the hook?  No.  While they clearly have a plan, and part of that plan is to get the kinds of players they think they can win with and jettison guys they think are not that (and overpaid to boot), the plan is risky.  They took a massive cap hit this year, much from prior bloated contracts but some they did to themselves.  And they have to answer to the owner for mistakes such as Peterman, Coleman, and especially why their team came out with no answers in the  first half two games in a row - that speaks to preparation and that is all on McD.  They have a lot of cap space next year plus draft picks, and it is on them to use those wisely.  If they don't, again it's on them and that could jeopardize their positions if they don't.

 

But rudderless?  Because some guy decides to quit in the middle of the game?  And because some writer decides to write a hit piece?  Hardly.