THE ROCKPILE REVIEW - So Funny I Could Cry

[Shaw66]

The Rockpile Review – by Shaw66

 

“So Funny I Could Cry”

 

There was a time when The Rockpile Review was funny, or that’s what people told me. 

 

I’ve been trying to remember those times.  The Rockpile Review began in 2005, under a different title.  In those days, it seemed I always could find the humor somewhere in the games.  J.P. Losman was pretty funny, I suppose.  T.O. was amusing.  Marshawn was always entertaining.  Eventually, however, the lovable loser thing got old.  A few years earlier, Dareus would have been funny, but by his time he was just a symptom.

 

It’s particularly hard to find the humor when the Bills are as bad as they were against the Colts on Sunday.  For the third time this season and the seventh time in two years, the Bills found themselves in a game in which they couldn’t compete.  They were outplayed from the beginning.  They were ineffective from the beginning.  It was so bad, it should have been funny, but it was worse than that. 

 

Well, watching Tremaine Edmunds tackle is kind of funny.  If he manages to actually get his arms around the guy, he slides off like a Looney Tunes character. 

 

Failing to score in the final two minutes of the first half while giving up 10 points was amazing, but I wasn’t laughing.

 

That’s about it for humor this week.  At least humor about the Bills.  Have you seen Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle?  Saw it the other night, and it’s surprisingly funny.  It’s a clever premise, putting real people into a video game, and the writers took full advantage.  It goes a bit overboard on the Indiana-Jones-like action sequences, but that’s okay.  It’s worth a watch. 

 

Sorry, but it’s kind of painful thinking about that game.  Particularly painful is that I believe coaching is more important than talent, and if I’m correct about that, the Bills’ coaches are terrible.  Sean McDermott says he hates pre-snap penalties.  Well, Sean, you had plenty to hate on Sunday, on both sides of the ball.  When’s your team going to clean them up?

 

I get being conservative and all, but at the end of the third quarter, down 21, you run twice and then throw incomplete on third and 12?  With McCoy out of the game, Ivory gets injured, and you give the ball to Marcus Murphy four consecutive plays? 

 

Guess what, Sean?  Kelvin Benjamin has come back from the dead.  He can run routes, and he’s catching the ball WITH HIS HANDS!  Zay Jones looks like a real receiver, too.  Can we PLEASE run some pass patterns to get these guys open?  Every team in the league gets guys open on third and 3, third and 5.  Just watch some film and copy what the Colts did to you.

 

Oh, and while you’re watching the film, try to figure out why it’s necessary for your entire zone defense to drop so deep that the opponents’ safety valve receiver can catch the ball over the middle with no defender within 15 yards.  Once you figure that out, maybe you can work THAT into the offense, too. 

 

Want to see a good movie?  Bad Times at El Royale.  I know, the previews make it look like another six-people-stranded-in-a-motel-on-a-rainy-night movie.  Well, yes, it is.  But it’s good.  Interesting characters.  Weird twists.  It’s funny and entertaining. 

 

The Bills, unfortunately, are not entertaining.  Some days they’re good on defense, other days not so much.  They’re essentially never good on offense – they’re not on the same planet with the Chiefs..  The special teams are iffy. 

 

Things I liked:  Kyle Williams.  He just always plays.  Jerry Hughes, penalties or not, he’s learned to play like Kyle.  Tre White – man, he sticks to his man.  That pass interference call was bogus; the receiver initiated the contact and then had to back off to try to catch the ball.  Tremaine Edmunds, despite his tackling.  Kelvin Benjamin, finally doing the things we thought he’d do when he came to Buffalo.  And I like Josh Allen.

 

 Despite what I might like, this team is in trouble.  And I’m not laughing.

 

 My wife said “maybe they’ll do better next week.”  I told her next week is the Patriots.  We both got a good laugh out of that. 

 

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were everyday people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

[1st Ammendment NoMas]

Thanks for chiming in. I know it's hard to even put words on a page after watching this horror-fest October unravel. 

[Moulds_80]

I like your take.

 

I was getting mad at the beginning of the season, but now im trying to just laugh it off.  

 

The GF had an intervention of sorts and said sundays are miserable with me because when the bills lose(which happens too often), im useless and grumpy the rest of the day.

 

side note:  Better chance of winning the $1.6 Billion mega millions or the Bills winning on Monday?

[Troll Toll]

Hi Shaw, I don’t speak much, but I’ve read and enjoyed your weekly columns for years going back to the BBMB. I think this is probably the best one I’ve seen yet. Very entertaining and framed it perfectly, you really nailed it.

[BuffaloBillies]

Expect the worst each week from here on out and you'll never be disappointed.

Fantasy football helps. You can root for players on other teams and the season isn't over after 6 weeks.

[Buddy Hix]

I think you are on to something when you say the coaching is terrible. McD would be a good coordinator but I seriously doubt he will turn out to be a good HC. Oh well, only 41 games left under this current regime, most likely, then we get to do it all over again.

[Bray Wyatt]

I laughed when I saw Murphy go to fair catch a punt, and fall down and the ball rolled another 20 yards. That basically let me know how the rest of the day was going to go

[row_33]

9 minutes ago, Bray Wyatt said:

I laughed when I saw Murphy go to fair catch a punt, and fall down and the ball rolled another 20 yards. That basically let me know how the rest of the day was going to go

 

that was a rarity, without him tearing something, quite the comedy

 

 

[Aussie Joe]

Thanks to Shaw and Virgil for posting each week... even after the team puts in an effort like yesterday...

 

Appreciate it...

 

I agree... this team is in trouble... I thought that collectively the D went through the motions yesterday... Not a good sign for McD...

[Foxx]

30 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

The Rockpile Review – by Shaw66

 

“So Funny I Could Cry”

 

There was a time when The Rockpile Review was funny, or that’s what people told me. ...

 

 ... Despite what I might like, this team is in trouble.  And I’m not laughing.

 

 My wife said “maybe they’ll do better next week.”  I told her next week is the Patriots.  We both got a good laugh out of that. 

 

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were everyday people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

very intelligently written, Shaw. nice read.

[Success]

I remember when McD was hired - the one thing I really liked reading about him was that he was a workaholic.  Sometimes slept at the office because he worked so late - stuff like that.  While not a great quality to have in general, I think a head coach has to be obsessed & relentless.

 

Now, it just seems like he’s in over his head.  He may work hard, but maybe he’s so immersed in the details that he misses the basics.  WAY too many times, this team seems completely unprepared, and it’s hard to discern what their game plan might have been before it all unraveled.

 

And the lack of discipline is worse than Rex’s team.  One untimely penalty after another.  

 

Anyway, good write up.  This really isn’t fun or even funny anymore.

[clayboy54]

I agree completely, Shaw. As I posted in the post-game thread, I was at the game and couldn't find anything that could be construed as funny or entertaining once the game started. Yes, I did get to see "my boys" play. Then again, I'm not too sure that they can call that playing.

 

My seats were in the 7th row on about the 20-yard line. From there, I got to watch a lot of line play closely. First, I was actually impressed with the O-line play. I understand that the Colts do not have a highly-rated D-line, but our men held up very well against their front 7. On the other side, it sure looked to me that Jerry Hughes was being held on about every play. I also saw a lot of holding in the interior as well. Their center mugged one of our DTs at least a dozen times. I can tell you that this is a big reason for their success running inside. It was brutal.

 

Sadly, there wasn't a whole lot more to see for the Bills fans in attendance. Benjamin caught a few nice balls and we were able to enjoy laughing about that. But, there was no laughing about the defensive performance overall. On one play right in front of us, I watched Kyle screaming at the guys on the outside for not keeping contain. That looked a lot more troubling than the game itself. Kind of like there was dysfunction on the field. It was also clear that the D wasn't ready to go at the snap a few times. Shades of Rex-coached teams.

 

Oh well, $400 down the toilet for me.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

54 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

The Rockpile Review – by Shaw66

 

“So Funny I Could Cry”

 

There was a time when The Rockpile Review was funny, or that’s what people told me. 

 

I’ve been trying to remember those times.  The Rockpile Review began in 2005, under a different title.  In those days, it seemed I always could find the humor somewhere in the games.  J.P. Losman was pretty funny, I suppose.  T.O. was amusing.  Marshawn was always entertaining.  Eventually, however, the lovable loser thing got old.  A few years earlier, Dareus would have been funny, but by his time he was just a symptom.

 

It’s particularly hard to find the humor when the Bills are as bad as they were against the Colts on Sunday.  For the third time this season and the seventh time in two years, the Bills found themselves in a game in which they couldn’t compete.  They were outplayed from the beginning.  They were ineffective from the beginning.  It was so bad, it should have been funny, but it was worse than that. 

 

Shaw, I'm glad you're starting to see the truth. Its gone from "Outstanding" to "Crying" in 3 weeks.

 

You are seeing that Sean McDermott can't out culture his way over other teams, just like Rex couldn't run over teams with the ground and pound. He loves to tell you that he does the right things at the right times for his football team, that he knows where "you're going" with every question you ask. He's done it all, seen it all, thought of everything. 

 

But then his team goes out and gets curb stomped. And all he can say is I have to watch the tape and try to correct mistakes. There are no answers, there is no scheme, there is no young up and comer to promote, there's Brian Daboll sitting with Sean McDermott trying to keep things 3rd and manageable. 

 

Working hard, showing up to meetings on time and having no personality does not meaningfully differentiate yourself from any other NFL team. 

 

 

 

The Bills are like watching a Ford Model T drive by. The Chiefs are like watching the Millenium Falcon make the Kessel Run in 12 Parsecs. 

 

The Bills are SLOW. Archaic. Running the draw play on 3rd-12 just to avoid a turnover. Trying to get teams to jump off sides so that you can see what alignment they're in.

 

 

How ridiculous is it that McDermott was saying Josh Allen could watch how Derek Anderson approaches a walkthrough.........

 

Its 1941 Football in Buffalo. 1941 Football. 

Edited October 22, 2018 by Straight Hucklebuck

[billspro]

It sucks when you wait so long for football season to start and it is over before Halloween.

 

I really hope Allen shows something when he gets back. That is the only chance at a. Bright spot this year.

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, billspro said:

It sucks when you wait so long for football season to start and it is over before Halloween.

 

I really hope Allen shows something when he gets back. That is the only chance at a. Bright spot this year.

I think Allen is going to be great.   There's not much to watch until he gets back.  

[JPP]

4 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I think Allen is going to be great.   There's not much to watch until he gets back.  

I hope so however it depends if this regime can properly build the pieces around him.......Im losing the confidence that they can do this successfully.......or at all......

[GETTOTHE50]

I missed watching Allen play

[JaCrispy]

I used to love going to games...unfortunately I haven’t been able to go in 3 years because the team is infuriating and unwatchable...I vowed not to go back until the team is good again...needless to say I’m not holding my breath.

[Shaw66]

36 minutes ago, JaCrispy said:

I used to love going to games...unfortunately I haven’t been able to go in 3 years because the team is infuriating and unwatchable...I vowed not to go back until the team is good again...needless to say I’m not holding my breath.

I go hoping for miracles.   You know, like a Monday night win over the Patriots.  

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

3 hours ago, Bray Wyatt said:

I laughed when I saw Murphy go to fair catch a punt, and fall down and the ball rolled another 20 yards. That basically let me know how the rest of the day was going to go

 

It's why Jeremy Kerley so good at that spot. That cut scratch my head lots

[Figster]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

I think Allen is going to be great.   There's not much to watch until he gets back.  

Despite being a rookie that has a long way to go losing Josh Allen really took the air out of the team and the Bills fan base IMO.

 

Thanks for the good read Shaw, Virgil, much appreciated fellas.

[1st&ten]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

I think Allen is going to be great.   There's not much to watch until he gets back.  

 

I like Allen also & think he has the potential to be great---I just wish we had an offensive minded coach to developed him. The modern NFL is about scoring & passing.

[Shaw66]

One thing about Edmunds I forgot to note in the OP.  One of his problems - maybe it's what he's supposed to do, is that on runs he attacks his gap and gets right up in behind the defensive line.  When the running back changes direction, or when the play is a well-executed misdirection play, Edmunds can't move laterally, because he gets stuck in the mass of bodies, between his teammates and blockers who have gotten to the second level.   The result is that he can't pursue effectively.  Seems to me he needs to hang back a bit longer before he moves to plug the hole.   It means he gets to his gap a second later, but it also means he's in space where he can move laterally to make plays to his left or right.  

2 minutes ago, 1st&ten said:

 

I like Allen also & think he has the potential to be great---I just wish we had an offensive minded coach to developed him. The modern NFL is about scoring & passing.

I'll get bashed for saying this, but I didn't see Mahomes doing anything last night that Allen hasn't done or can't do.   Mahomes is blessed with a spectacular collection of talent and a brilliant head coach.   Allen has neither.

[Figster]

42 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

One thing about Edmunds I forgot to note in the OP.  One of his problems - maybe it's what he's supposed to do, is that on runs he attacks his gap and gets right up in behind the defensive line.  When the running back changes direction, or when the play is a well-executed misdirection play, Edmunds can't move laterally, because he gets stuck in the mass of bodies, between his teammates and blockers who have gotten to the second level.   The result is that he can't pursue effectively.  Seems to me he needs to hang back a bit longer before he moves to plug the hole.   It means he gets to his gap a second later, but it also means he's in space where he can move laterally to make plays to his left or right.  

I'll get bashed for saying this, but I didn't see Mahomes doing anything last night that Allen hasn't done or can't do.   Mahomes is blessed with a spectacular collection of talent and a brilliant head coach.   Allen has neither.

Putting together the spectacular collection of talent takes time. Rookies also take time developing.

 

Players like White, Edmunds and Allen are a good start IMO.

[row_33]

5 hours ago, billspro said:

It sucks when you wait so long for football season to start and it is over before Halloween.

 

I really hope Allen shows something when he gets back. That is the only chance at a. Bright spot this year.

 

At least the Sabres won’t be eliminated by Halowe’en

 

 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, Figster said:

Putting together the spectacular collection of talent takes time. Rookies also take time developing.

 

Players like White, Edmunds and Allen are a good start IMO.

I agree.  And Phillips, probably Milano, Dawkins and probably Miller.   And they're a little older, but Poyer and Hyde play really well together back there and should be good for 3-4 more years.   It's not like there's no talent on the team.   Not enough, but they have guys to build on. 

 

As I said, it's the coaching that worries me. 

[Houston's #1 Bills Fan]

7 hours ago, JaCrispy said:

I used to love going to games...unfortunately I haven’t been able to go in 3 years because the team is infuriating and unwatchable...I vowed not to go back until the team is good again...needless to say I’m not holding my breath.

I live in Houston and many of my friends asked if I was going to the game. No; too much money, too much emotional stress and far too predictable an ending. I'm not sure when I'll be going again. Took my son to his first Bills game last year against the Patriots. Ouch.

[Shaw66]

6 minutes ago, Houston's #1 Bills Fan said:

I live in Houston and many of my friends asked if I was going to the game. No; too much money, too much emotional stress and far too predictable an ending. I'm not sure when I'll be going again. Took my son to his first Bills game last year against the Patriots. Ouch.

I can't agree.  I love being in the crowd.  Just like I loved being at Christians Tailgate.   All those Bills fans in one place.  It's a tribe, and I love being a part of the tribe.   I love the feeling.  And every once in a while they win, and that's great.  

[Stank_Nasty]

17 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I can't agree.  I love being in the crowd.  Just like I loved being at Christians Tailgate.   All those Bills fans in one place.  It's a tribe, and I love being a part of the tribe.   I love the feeling.  And every once in a while they win, and that's great.  

The last 2 years my wife and I have finally found a place financially that traveling and attending our first ever away games is an option.... We’ve had the displeasure of being able to plan 3 weekend long trips...... 

 

Jax for playoffs last year, crossed lambeau off my bucket list this year, and visited an old college friend in Indy this last weekend. 64 total hours on the road for a grand total of 8 Pts scored. That’s 1 pt for every 8 hours on the road. This is no joke. You can’t freaking make something like that up for a good book. I’ve tried convincing myself during the weekend and games that I shouldn’t let the final score deter my trip.... but that becomes much harder when you have hours of road in front of you on Sunday nights or Monday mornings. 

 

After getting back into the house today near Erie, Pa, disgusted and exhausted from another drive of shame, I’ve made up my mind I’m just not doing away games anymore. Or at least for the foreseable future. It’s just not worth it and I’m honestly just really pissed off at the franchise right now. 

 

Im sure I’ll come around. I ALWAYS do. But we’re talking 8 pts in 3 games!!!! I need some time. 

[Shaw66]

10 hours ago, Stank_Nasty said:

The last 2 years my wife and I have finally found a place financially that traveling and attending our first ever away games is an option.... We’ve had the displeasure of being able to plan 3 weekend long trips...... 

 

Jax for playoffs last year, crossed lambeau off my bucket list this year, and visited an old college friend in Indy this last weekend. 64 total hours on the road for a grand total of 8 Pts scored. That’s 1 pt for every 8 hours on the road. This is no joke. You can’t freaking make something like that up for a good book. I’ve tried convincing myself during the weekend and games that I shouldn’t let the final score deter my trip.... but that becomes much harder when you have hours of road in front of you on Sunday nights or Monday mornings. 

 

After getting back into the house today near Erie, Pa, disgusted and exhausted from another drive of shame, I’ve made up my mind I’m just not doing away games anymore. Or at least for the foreseable future. It’s just not worth it and I’m honestly just really pissed off at the franchise right now. 

 

Im sure I’ll come around. I ALWAYS do. But we’re talking 8 pts in 3 games!!!! I need some time. 

You've had bad luck.   

 

I live in Connecticut and have a friend who lives in Cleveland but is a Giants fan.  He won't join me in Buffalo for games, but several years ago he told me he'd go to one away game a year with me.   So every year we pick one game, fly in on Saturday and fly out Sunday night (except lately my wife has been going with me, and she and I tack on a few days somewhere fun).

 

Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, the Giants, Tennessee, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Houston.  Crushed by the Packers who won the Super Bowl that year - it was Trent's last start - he was cut two days later.  Beaten badly by the Steelers, with EJ struggling to get one meaningless TD as the clock ran out, win in Cleveland, lost to the Giants with Freddy making a great long TD and Fitz underthrowing Stevie TWICE, each would have been a TD and each was intercepted.  Tyrod makes some great plays to beat the Titans.  Freddy's great run in overtime to beat the Bears.  Ajayai runs for 200 against the Bills.  Great win against the Falcons.  Peterman throws two picks to lose to the Texans.   4-5.  Not bad, and it sort of mirrors the Bills over-all record during that period.  

 

I don't know.  There have been times when driving home after another hopeless performance by the Bills in November I've decided I'm done, no more season tickets, no more driving to games.  But then I stick it out for one more season, and I get rewarded by some good games.  Sometimes I think a fitting end to my life would be a horrific one-car crash at 11 pm some Sunday night.  If my life story is a tragedy, it would be after a loss.  If it's a happy story, it would be after the Bills have crushed the Pats, I'm doing 70 on the Mass Pike, pull up next to a car with Pats decals on it, I'm singing the Shout song out the window to the losers next to me and -WHAM! - right into a bridge abutment, so my dying thoughts are all about the Bills, the win and joy in Bills-land.   

 

In other words, I'm nuts, and all my friends know it.  

[row_33]

17 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

You've had bad luck.   

 

I live in Connecticut and have a friend who lives in Cleveland but is a Giants fan.  He won't join me in Buffalo for games, but several years ago he told me he'd go to one away game a year with me.   So every year we pick one game, fly in on Saturday and fly out Sunday night (except lately my wife has been going with me, and she and I tack on a few days somewhere fun).

 

Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, the Giants, Tennessee, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, Houston.  Crushed by the Packers who won the Super Bowl that year - it was Trent's last start - he was cut two days later.  Beaten badly by the Steelers, with EJ struggling to get one meaningless TD as the clock ran out, win in Cleveland, lost to the Giants with Freddy making a great long TD and Fitz underthrowing Stevie TWICE, each would have been a TD and each was intercepted.  Tyrod makes some great plays to beat the Titans.  Freddy's great run in overtime to beat the Bears.  Ajayai runs for 200 against the Bills.  Great win against the Falcons.  Peterman throws two picks to lose to the Texans.   4-5.  Not bad, and it sort of mirrors the Bills over-all record during that period.  

 

I don't know.  There have been times when driving home after another hopeless performance by the Bills in November I've decided I'm done, no more season tickets, no more driving to games.  But then I stick it out for one more season, and I get rewarded by some good games.  Sometimes I think a fitting end to my life would be a horrific one-car crash at 11 pm some Sunday night.  If my life story is a tragedy, it would be after a loss.  If it's a happy story, it would be after the Bills have crushed the Pats, I'm doing 70 on the Mass Pike, pull up next to a car with Pats decals on it, I'm singing the Shout song out the window to the losers next to me and -WHAM! - right into a bridge abutment, so my dying thoughts are all about the Bills, the win and joy in Bills-land.   

 

In other words, I'm nuts, and all my friends know it.  

 

great post!

 

if you still enjoy it, keep going, you know that feeling ripped off is a big part of the experience with a struggling team

 

keep going until you just aren't able to do road trips any more.

[Shaw66]

5 minutes ago, row_33 said:

 

great post!

 

if you still enjoy it, keep going, you know that feeling ripped off is a big part of the experience with a struggling team

 

keep going until you just aren't able to do road trips any more.

There's only one thing that feels better than standing and screaming with 70,000 Bills fans in New Era.  

[SoTier]

 

 

I have never been a McDermott fan, but I used to think that he was at least a decent game coach who could get the most out of the talent he had on hand.  I have come to the conclusion that that's simply not true.  His lack of recognition of offensive talent is bad enough, but his stubborn insistence on keeping Nathan Peterman on the roster, and his pursuit of Carolina cast-offs to the detriment of all other options (there is absolutely no other way to account for the Bills waiting a month to find a better back up QB than Peterman only to bring in Anderson) have to sink him to the very bottom of the Bills coaching barrel along with the likes of John Rauch, Jim Ringo, and Hank Bullough.  I think McDermott may even supercede my candidate for "worst Bills coach in this century", Dick Jauron, by a smidgen. 

 

I doubt that McDermott lasts until the end of the season, and if he does, he won't be back next season.  At some point, he's going to lose the locker room as the blow-outs pile up which will only lead to more uncompetitive games.   I think a number of players quit in the Indy game after the Clay fumble, and I think it will get worse.  The real question is how much embarrassment can the Pegulas tolerate.

 

After NE, which I can't realistically expect to be anything but another blow-out, the Bills play Chicago and at the Jets before their bye week.  I can't seeing the Bills winning either, but Chicago might be a defensive slugfest because Mitch Trubisky isn't even half as good as a healthy Deshaun Watson or ten percent as good as Patrick Mahomes.  If the Bills get blown out by the Jets, however, McDermott is probably not the Bills HC when the Bills face the Jags the week after the bye.

 

[Dr. Who]

31 minutes ago, SoTier said:

 

 

I have never been a McDermott fan, but I used to think that he was at least a decent game coach who could get the most out of the talent he had on hand.  I have come to the conclusion that that's simply not true.  His lack of recognition of offensive talent is bad enough, but his stubborn insistence on keeping Nathan Peterman on the roster, and his pursuit of Carolina cast-offs to the detriment of all other options (there is absolutely no other way to account for the Bills waiting a month to find a better back up QB than Peterman only to bring in Anderson) have to sink him to the very bottom of the Bills coaching barrel along with the likes of John Rauch, Jim Ringo, and Hank Bullough.  I think McDermott may even supercede my candidate for "worst Bills coach in this century", Dick Jauron, by a smidgen. 

 

I doubt that McDermott lasts until the end of the season, and if he does, he won't be back next season.  At some point, he's going to lose the locker room as the blow-outs pile up which will only lead to more uncompetitive games.   I think a number of players quit in the Indy game after the Clay fumble, and I think it will get worse.  The real question is how much embarrassment can the Pegulas tolerate.

 

After NE, which I can't realistically expect to be anything but another blow-out, the Bills play Chicago and at the Jets before their bye week.  I can't seeing the Bills winning either, but Chicago might be a defensive slugfest because Mitch Trubisky isn't even half as good as a healthy Deshaun Watson or ten percent as good as Patrick Mahomes.  If the Bills get blown out by the Jets, however, McDermott is probably not the Bills HC when the Bills face the Jags the week after the bye.

 

Honestly, I don't know what to think anymore. I was willing to give McDermott the benefit of the doubt as this is a depleted roster talent-wise (albeit largely self-inflicted.) I do think if the blowouts keep coming, there's a chance McDermott is gone.

[row_33]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

There's only one thing that feels better than standing and screaming with 70,000 Bills fans in New Era.  

 

i heavily miss the gameday drive to the US and being at Bills games

 

health issues weigh far more heavily on the other side of the teeter-totter

 

and congrats on that other great thing 

 

 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, SoTier said:

 

 

I have never been a McDermott fan, but I used to think that he was at least a decent game coach who could get the most out of the talent he had on hand.  I have come to the conclusion that that's simply not true.  His lack of recognition of offensive talent is bad enough, but his stubborn insistence on keeping Nathan Peterman on the roster, and his pursuit of Carolina cast-offs to the detriment of all other options (there is absolutely no other way to account for the Bills waiting a month to find a better back up QB than Peterman only to bring in Anderson) have to sink him to the very bottom of the Bills coaching barrel along with the likes of John Rauch, Jim Ringo, and Hank Bullough.  I think McDermott may even supercede my candidate for "worst Bills coach in this century", Dick Jauron, by a smidgen. 

 

I doubt that McDermott lasts until the end of the season, and if he does, he won't be back next season.  At some point, he's going to lose the locker room as the blow-outs pile up which will only lead to more uncompetitive games.   I think a number of players quit in the Indy game after the Clay fumble, and I think it will get worse.  The real question is how much embarrassment can the Pegulas tolerate.

 

After NE, which I can't realistically expect to be anything but another blow-out, the Bills play Chicago and at the Jets before their bye week.  I can't seeing the Bills winning either, but Chicago might be a defensive slugfest because Mitch Trubisky isn't even half as good as a healthy Deshaun Watson or ten percent as good as Patrick Mahomes.  If the Bills get blown out by the Jets, however, McDermott is probably not the Bills HC when the Bills face the Jags the week after the bye.

 

I share your feelings on a lot of this, except I don't expect him to get fired anytime this season.  I expect he'll be the coach on opening day, 2019, and he'll get all of 2019 unless the Bills look as bad next season as they have several games this season. 

 

Why?   A couple of reasons.  First, I think Beane feels gratitude and loyalty to McDermott for having gotten him the GM job.   Second, I think McBeane really do believe that they have a system that, in time, will work.   Third, I don't think the Pegulas want a coaching merry-go-round.   They bought McB's kool-aid, and they're going to savor every last drop before they head off in another direction.   I've always thought McB have three full years, minimum, and I still think that.  

[LABILLBACKER]

Watching Clay drop the ball is funny!

Watching Peterman stay on this roster is hysterical. 

Edited October 23, 2018 by LABILLBACKER

[Soda Popinski]

In 2 years the Rams assembled Suh/Whitworth/Cooks/Kupp/traded for an elite corner and completely revamped their entire offense and defense.  

 

We are not even close to doing what they have done in the past 18 months.   Turnarounds always seem to take time for us, but then we see other teams do it in a year and a half.   Now this should be a big offseason, we can get free agents in with big money and we can draft some good players with high draft picks.  

 

Should be no excuse in 2019

[Gray Beard]

21 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

One thing about Edmunds I forgot to note in the OP.  One of his problems - maybe it's what he's supposed to do, is that on runs he attacks his gap and gets right up in behind the defensive line.  When the running back changes direction, or when the play is a well-executed misdirection play, Edmunds can't move laterally, because he gets stuck in the mass of bodies, between his teammates and blockers who have gotten to the second level.   The result is that he can't pursue effectively.  Seems to me he needs to hang back a bit longer before he moves to plug the hole.   It means he gets to his gap a second later, but it also means he's in space where he can move laterally to make plays to his left or right.  

There was a play in which Milano had to chase the ball carrier out into the flats. It ended up as a pretty good gain for the Colts. He looked around at the end of the play as if to say, why am I out here all alone?  The announcers commented that Edmunds was stuck in the mass of bodies and couldn’t come to help. 

[Shaw66]

4 minutes ago, Gray Beard said:

There was a play in which Milano had to chase the ball carrier out into the flats. It ended up as a pretty good gain for the Colts. He looked around at the end of the play as if to say, why am I out here all alone?  The announcers commented that Edmunds was stuck in the mass of bodies and couldn’t come to help. 

Yeah, I remember the play but not the look.   

 

Again, I don't know what his assignment is on running plays, but it seems that a lot of times when I watched him he gets caught in the wash.   I'd think that with his speed, given how much misdirection everyone runs, the Bills would benefit by having lay back a bit and not commit so quickly to his gap.   That way he would keep his ability to track plays laterally, which is where his strength is.   The problem with that, I suppose, is that if he lays back and the running back hits his gap, the back is going to get 2-3 yards, and occasionally more, than if Edmunds had attacked the gap.  The answer probably is that Edmunds has to learn to read the play quickly and to commit to the gap or not, depending on his read.  

56 minutes ago, Soda Popinski said:

In 2 years the Rams assembled Suh/Whitworth/Cooks/Kupp/traded for an elite corner and completely revamped their entire offense and defense.  

 

We are not even close to doing what they have done in the past 18 months.   Turnarounds always seem to take time for us, but then we see other teams do it in a year and a half.   Now this should be a big offseason, we can get free agents in with big money and we can draft some good players with high draft picks.  

 

Should be no excuse in 2019

McBeane have been absolutely clear they are not building in free agency.  Beane said that the fans shouldn't expect a big spending spree in 2019.  He said they may get a guy or two to plug gaps, but their focus is going to remain on the draft.   That's what makes we agree with the speculation that the Bills might unload Shady and Benjamin for picks.   

 

Essentially what they've said, in so many words, is that they're building like the Packers have done it for years.   A couple of years ago the Packers had a roster where NO player had ever been on the 53-man roster of any other team.  They were essentially all drafted or undrafted rookies, with a few guys plucked from other practice squads.   It sounds like that's what they want to do. 

 

And that's why I don't think anyone's getting fired anytime soon.   They've explained all of this to the Pegulas, and everything we've heard and seen suggests the Pegulas are on board.   

 

Bottom line: the 2019 roster will be the first where McBeane will have THEIR young guys on the team, so you shouldn't expect a Rams-type turn-around.