I think the wait might actually be over.

[Chandler#81]

51 minutes ago, rayray808 said:

my body is ready

? To drink from the keg of glory?  

       For a massage? 

       For a sacrifice??

[Big C]

Y'all saying "we should be better but we are not there yet" have to know that if Josh is for real, we are very much there. And we need to be while Josh is on his rookie deal. Preseason or not, I feel good about this squad and how it has been built. Let's just get this thing started!

[Nextmanup]

6 hours ago, Phil The Thrill said:

I’m expecting what a lot of beat reporters and analysts have been predicting.  The Bills could be anywhere from a 7 to 9 win team.  With a little luck maybe more.  

 

But I think what’s most important is that we see improvement from Josh Allen

I don't disagree.

But when weren't we looking like a 7 to 9 win team?

 

That range is where most of this league lives, most of the time, and where we have been for years.  

 

What feels different (I would suggest to the OP) now is the widely held perception that we have a good QB.

 

Whether or not we actually do is far from determined at this point in time.

 

 

[Aussie Joe]

None of us are getting any younger so let’s hope..

[GunnerBill]

I am cautiously optimistic. I still don't quite buy that this is the most talented Bills team in years. I think people forget just how loaded that 2015 squad was. If ever a Bills team should have won double digit games it was that one playing against an NFC East and AFC South that were both poor divisions (combined for 51-77 records). 

 

That said this group is probably better in the two spots that make all the difference - it is definitely better at Head Coach and even a small step forward from Josh would make it better at Quarterback too. 

 

The schedule lines up nicely too. I am not one of those who believes it is impossible to predict what a schedule will look like before the season. Is there always a team or two who does significantly worse or better than you would expect? Yep. But equally there are plenty of teams every year in the NFL who are what we thought they were. This schedule is favourable. This might be the least fearsome the AFC North has looked in a decade despite the fact that the Browns are better than they have been in a while and the NFC East is s split division this year in that I think it houses two potential Superbowl teams in the Cowboys and Eagles and two potential candidates for the #1 overall pick. Oh and we have a team in our own division who we will play twice who could be in that conversation too. There are multiple routes to double digit wins for the Bills and strangely few games you put an L next to before a ball has been kicked off in anger. 

 

So if the QB and Head Coach are part 1 of my reasoning, and the schedule is part 2, addressing our needs is part three. I don't think this roster building is finished yet, but I think they did some of the heavy lifting this spring. The offensive line will be improved and has been even in pre-season and the wide receivers while 2nd tier players and not first tier players do seem a fit. Brown is an obvious fit with Allen's skillset and a guy the Bills identified over a year ago. Cole Beasley is a fit for Daboll's offense my concern was whether Josh was sufficiently advanced in his development to take advantage of Beasley's skillset. I think that was the single biggest takeaway from the Panthers game. That chemistry is developing and Josh was able to get him the ball. I don't believe there is a thousand yard receiver on this team but could there be 3 or even 4 guys in that 600-800 yard range? I think there could. 

 

On defense they didn't have many holes as such but they needed more penetration from the Dline and they needed more depth at linebacker and in the secondary. Ed Oliver helps the first of those, Kevin Johnson and Kurt Coleman may have helped with the third (shame EJ Gaines got hurt too). The question going into camp was the second but the way the Bills have developed Corey Thompson, an UDFA from last year, is exciting to me. If they have something there not only does it reflect really well on our coaches but it reduces another potential vulnerability. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

Greetings from an early adopter. I called 10 a month or two ago.

[Chandler#81]

10 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

Greetings from an early adopter. I called 10 a month or two ago.

Poppycock & Bolderdash! You jumped on the Preseason Hype Bandwagon, and you know it!?

 

(jk. Yer a Richard & hate everything about the team? -so this scares the crap outta me!)

 

@GunnerBill Outstanding post! 

[Boca BIlls]

Won't know till they play real football.

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

31 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

Poppycock & Bolderdash! You jumped on the Preseason Hype Bandwagon, and you know it!?

 

(jk. Yer a Richard & hate everything about the team? -so this scares the crap outta me!)

 

@GunnerBill Outstanding post! 

 

Huhwut?

 

 

 

[Chandler#81]

6 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

Huhwut?

 

 

 

Dare we dream of a split with NE*??

 

nevermind.... I’m going to bed.

[MAGA-Man]

8 hours ago, The Bills Blog said:

But I think this might be the year that a page is turned, emphatically.

 

We've all heard this before.  Let's wait and see if Allen can deliver.  And I'm singling out Allen because all that matters in the league is QB.

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, MAGA-Man said:

 

We've all heard this before.  Let's wait and see if Allen can deliver.  And I'm singling out Allen because all that matters in the league is QB.

 

It is not all that matters. It is the biggest thing - yes. But if QB was all that matters how would you explain Philip Rivers hasn't won a Superbowl. Or that Rodgers and Brees have only won 1 (only actually been to one each in fact....) that the Broncos won one 3 years back with a totally broken down Peyton Manning who had something like 9 TDs and 17 INTs that season? 

 

Is it the biggest factor? Sure. 

 

#1 QB

#2 HC

#3 Elite difference makers at other positions

#4 Depth

 

 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

It is not all that matters. It is the biggest thing - yes. But if QB was all that matters how would you explain Philip Rivers hasn't won a Superbowl. Or that Rodgers and Brees have only won 1 (only actually been to one each in fact....) that the Broncos won one 3 years back with a totally broken down Peyton Manning who had something like 9 TDs and 17 INTs that season? 

 

Is it the biggest factor? Sure. 

 

#1 QB

#2 HC

#3 Elite difference makers at other positions

#4 Depth

 

 

 

Good take!

[ProcessTruster]

1> don't watch preseason football.  It is garbage and tells you very little.

2> bills had an above .500 roster and were playing at a .500 plus level at the end of last year, in real games, so a lift this year should come as no surprise

3> remember,  most other teams have gotten better as well

4> turnovers lose games and a rash of IR - type injuries end playoff runs, so those are always factors

 

Lets get to the end of next month and see how the Process is progressing.   If a bunch of key guys are going doing down for the year, it usually happens in the first month of the season.   After that, the IR type injury stuff settles down.  Then we can judge if this group is better than the one that exited 2018. 

Edited August 20, 2019 by ProcessTruster

[ganesh]

9 hours ago, The Bills Blog said:

Making the playoffs a couple years ago was cool, but I don't think anyone would argue that it really lifted the dark cloud over this franchise. Our journey back to respectability/true competitiveness continues.

 

But I think this might be the year that a page is turned, emphatically.

 

I've watched an unhealthy amount of preseason football this year. And it seems like the Bills might be really good. Top to bottom. And they've got star players to make impact plays at every level of the field on offense and defense.

 

Something feels different now.

 

Other than the Patriots, I can't think of an opponent I fear. And the only reason I fear them is not because of talent; it's because they're smarter than everyone else.

 

I think we're going 12-4 this year. We'll be good out of the gate. The future will arrive suddenly, as it often does when teams turn the corner. Within a month or two of the season starting, the Bills being a top team will just be accepted. I don't think there'll be any sweating out a playoff spot.

 

Go Bills!

Good to always see the Optimist side of the story.  Keeping fingers crossed for a 12-4 season.  That would really make 12 Mondays during the season a very very happy day !!!!

59 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

It is not all that matters. It is the biggest thing - yes. But if QB was all that matters how would you explain Philip Rivers hasn't won a Superbowl. Or that Rodgers and Brees have only won 1 (only actually been to one each in fact....) that the Broncos won one 3 years back with a totally broken down Peyton Manning who had something like 9 TDs and 17 INTs that season? 

 

Is it the biggest factor? Sure. 

 

#1 QB

#2 HC

#3 Elite difference makers at other positions

#4 Depth

 

 

#3 -  Great pass rusher 

#4 -  Game changing RB (He is the best friend to the QB)

#5 -  LT  protecting the QB blind side. 

[Food_Pyramid_Wrong]

You’re forgetting one thing. NFL referees have a lot to do with wins and losses.

[The Bills Blog]

4 hours ago, Big C said:

Y'all saying "we should be better but we are not there yet" have to know that if Josh is for real, we are very much there. And we need to be while Josh is on his rookie deal. Preseason or not, I feel good about this squad and how it has been built. Let's just get this thing started!

This. It's fascinating (in a bad way) when I hear media types say things like, "If Josh Allen delivers, this could be a 9- or 10-win team." I really don't get it. Some local media are going to be pleasantly surprised. I think 9 our 10 wins have been sought after for so long that it's hard for people to hope for or expect more than that.

[Shaw66]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

I am cautiously optimistic. I still don't quite buy that this is the most talented Bills team in years. I think people forget just how loaded that 2015 squad was. If ever a Bills team should have won double digit games it was that one playing against an NFC East and AFC South that were both poor divisions (combined for 51-77 records). 

 

That said this group is probably better in the two spots that make all the difference - it is definitely better at Head Coach and even a small step forward from Josh would make it better at Quarterback too. 

 

The schedule lines up nicely too. I am not one of those who believes it is impossible to predict what a schedule will look like before the season. Is there always a team or two who does significantly worse or better than you would expect? Yep. But equally there are plenty of teams every year in the NFL who are what we thought they were. This schedule is favourable. This might be the least fearsome the AFC North has looked in a decade despite the fact that the Browns are better than they have been in a while and the NFC East is s split division this year in that I think it houses two potential Superbowl teams in the Cowboys and Eagles and two potential candidates for the #1 overall pick. Oh and we have a team in our own division who we will play twice who could be in that conversation too. There are multiple routes to double digit wins for the Bills and strangely few games you put an L next to before a ball has been kicked off in anger. 

 

So if the QB and Head Coach are part 1 of my reasoning, and the schedule is part 2, addressing our needs is part three. I don't think this roster building is finished yet, but I think they did some of the heavy lifting this spring. The offensive line will be improved and has been even in pre-season and the wide receivers while 2nd tier players and not first tier players do seem a fit. Brown is an obvious fit with Allen's skillset and a guy the Bills identified over a year ago. Cole Beasley is a fit for Daboll's offense my concern was whether Josh was sufficiently advanced in his development to take advantage of Beasley's skillset. I think that was the single biggest takeaway from the Panthers game. That chemistry is developing and Josh was able to get him the ball. I don't believe there is a thousand yard receiver on this team but could there be 3 or even 4 guys in that 600-800 yard range? I think there could. 

 

On defense they didn't have many holes as such but they needed more penetration from the Dline and they needed more depth at linebacker and in the secondary. Ed Oliver helps the first of those, Kevin Johnson and Kurt Coleman may have helped with the third (shame EJ Gaines got hurt too). The question going into camp was the second but the way the Bills have developed Corey Thompson, an UDFA from last year, is exciting to me. If they have something there not only does it reflect really well on our coaches but it reduces another potential vulnerability. 

Gunner, for me it's not about 2019.  It's about the run, which I think begins this year, but the real winning doesn't begin until 2020.  

 

And it's for the reason you give.  It's the coach and the QB.  It's clear to me that what McDermott is doing works.  This team will continue to get better because it will learn more and more.

 

And I've been sold on Allen since last season. Physically, he is superb.  But he also is smart, hard working and competitive.  That is, he is like Brady but with a body and an arm.  I had no doubt he'd master the short passing game and the ball possession game, because she is smart and he has the tools.  We've begun to see the development of this mastery this preseason.

 

As for talent, it's overrated.  I have no ideas if the Bills had better talent in 2015, but it doesn't matter.  They didn't have McD and they didn't have Allen. 

Edited August 20, 2019 by Shaw66

[PlayoffsPlease]

1 hour ago, MAGA-Man said:

 

We've all heard this before.  Let's wait and see if Allen can deliver.  And I'm singling out Allen because all that matters in the league is QB.

Having an excellent QB is a prerequisite to winning consistently.  Without that the rest is futile.  But the converse is not true, that having an excellent QB means you will win consistently. Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Philip Rivers, Matt Stafford are all pretty decent QBs who have various levels of success at different times in their careers due to the coaching plus the remaining roster.   

Personally, I am more optimistic about Allen's talents than I am the coaching or remaining personnel including the defense.  All players, even young ones, are not on a constant upward trajectory, but fans often think they are, hence the 2020, will be better than 2019, and 2021 even better than 2020.  It just does not work like that. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

1. Don't read anything into preseason football

2. There are many more teams to fear than the Patriots

I agree with the optimism. Where in years past they had significant talent gaps, this year there are more question marks than obvious areas of concern.  The three most obvious are will Allen and Edmunds continue to develop, and can you build an o-line with 4 new players. Then come questions about TE and pass rush.  

The schedule is manageable enough that this team should be in the playoff chase late into December. Anything less than 8 wins and still being in the playoff discussion week 15 is a failure in year 3.

[GunnerBill]

18 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

Gunner, for me it's not about 2019.  It's about the run, which I think begins this year, but the real winning doesn't begin until 2020.  

 

And it's for the reason you give.  It's the coach and the QB.  It's clear to me that what McDermott is doing works.  This team will continue to get better because it will learn more and more.

 

And I've been sold on Allen since last season. Physically, he is superb.  But he also is smart, hard working and competitive.  That is, he is like Brady but with a body and an arm.  I had no doubt he'd master the short passing game and the ball possession game, because she is smart and he has the tools.  We've begun to see the development of this mastery this preseason.

 

As for talent, it's overrated.  I have no ideas if the Bills had better talent in 2015, but it doesn't matter.  They didn't have McD and they didn't have Allen. 

 

I agree it is not just about 2019. And nobody is a bigger McDermott homer than me - I was a McDermott homer before he was the Bills Head Coach even..... I wanted to fire Rex and hire him a year before we did as he coordinated the Panthers smothering D that went to the Superbowl. 

 

As for the final line.... I don't agree that talent is overrated. I think the Bills are well set at Head Coach. I am more positive than ever that they might be there at QB too. However, to contend for a Championship - ie. to win a Superbowl - they will need a bit more top end talent around them. Tre White is pretty much there and Micah Hyde and Jerry Hughes are fine players at their own position too (top 10 guys) behind but they need a couple of Edmunds, Milano and Oliver to get to that level and they need an elite difference maker or two on offense. The team can be good this year, it can be a playoff team. But a couple of those guys developing plus the drafting of a genuine stud on offense next spring (likely at receiver) and they will be ready to contend for a title in 2020. 

[SoCal Deek]

I believe the key to this season will be Daboll and Beasley. The modern NFL is all about stringing drives together and staying on the field after third down. Move the chains! Brady has made a career of it. Let’s hope Cole becomes the perfect safety valve that our young QB needs. 

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

I've been fooled before. Repeatedly. And yes, I know it's only preseason.

 

But honestly, they've looked pretty darn potent in preseason. And it's not about how many points they scored, or breaking down Allen's completion percentage, but we've honestly seen a lot out of our young players. 

 

Allen has looked sharper and more decisive, and the worst thing that anyone could say about his performance Week 2 was that he could have finessed a completion to Beasley more so that Beasley could have had a nice run after catch instead of a 4 yard pickup on first down.

 

The O-line, for the most part, has looked considerably improved and Dawkins and Ford are more than holding their own. Ford in particular looks like he has enormous value in being able to swing between tackle and guard. 

 

Beasley looks like a genius find, and even when teams scheme to stop him, that should really open up the rest of the offense.

 

Singletary has stood out even in a crowded running back group.

 

Ed Oliver is getting double teamed and is still making plays, and you can see Edmunds hitting the hole at just the right time. Tre White and Wallace looks like a corner tandem for years to come. 

 

The team is young, and looks like it can stay that way for a long time.

[HOUSE]

I have no fear of the Patriots, looking forward to it

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

12 hours ago, The Bills Blog said:

Making the playoffs a couple years ago was cool, but I don't think anyone would argue that it really lifted the dark cloud over this franchise. Our journey back to respectability/true competitiveness continues.

 

But I think this might be the year that a page is turned, emphatically.

 

I've watched an unhealthy amount of preseason football this year. And it seems like the Bills might be really good. Top to bottom. And they've got star players to make impact plays at every level of the field on offense and defense.

 

Something feels different now.

 

Other than the Patriots, I can't think of an opponent I fear. And the only reason I fear them is not because of talent; it's because they're smarter than everyone else.

 

I think we're going 12-4 this year. We'll be good out of the gate. The future will arrive suddenly, as it often does when teams turn the corner. Within a month or two of the season starting, the Bills being a top team will just be accepted. I don't think there'll be any sweating out a playoff spot.

 

Go Bills!

 

Obligatory   the Pats 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I agree it is not just about 2019. And nobody is a bigger McDermott homer than me - I was a McDermott homer before he was the Bills Head Coach even..... I wanted to fire Rex and hire him a year before we did as he coordinated the Panthers smothering D that went to the Superbowl. 

 

As for the final line.... I don't agree that talent is overrated. I think the Bills are well set at Head Coach. I am more positive than ever that they might be there at QB too. However, to contend for a Championship - ie. to win a Superbowl - they will need a bit more top end talent around them. Tre White is pretty much there and Micah Hyde and Jerry Hughes are fine players at their own position too (top 10 guys) behind but they need a couple of Edmunds, Milano and Oliver to get to that level and they need an elite difference maker or two on offense. The team can be good this year, it can be a playoff team. But a couple of those guys developing plus the drafting of a genuine stud on offense next spring (likely at receiver) and they will be ready to contend for a title in 2020. 

I agree with you. It's one reason I think they're a year away. They need one more year of talent infusion. 

 

What I meant was that coaching is so important that however much talent you may think the Bills had in 2015, it really didn't matter.  They didn't have a coach.

 

I think the best teams in the league don't always have the best talent.  They have at least good talent.  What the best teams in the league always have is good coaching.  

[BarleyNY]

10 hours ago, LSHMEAB said:

I know I need to slow my roll, but I saw Allen make quick, decisive, accurate throws throughout his entire run in the Carolina game. I hadn't seen that before. I still don't fully believe he's gonna ever master this, but I have more hope than I did before that display. He could very easily lay an egg and that demonstration of proficiency could be a mirage, but it's something. I don't care that Carolina was playing vanilla defense, etc. I didn't see any of that in preseason/regular season last year and that includes the finale where he successfully demonstrated the big plays I know he can make, largely because the Fish had quit. Even in that game, I didn't see what I saw on Thursday. 

 

He just MIGHT be the ultimate anomaly.

 

I will tell you this: I’d trade any record this season to have Allen show he’s a franchise QB.  He definitely has plays where he looks like he is.  If he can develop and make that the norm, then I’m more than happy.  That would make finishing the team build so much easier.  Players would WANT to come here. 

[GunnerBill]

11 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

 

What I meant was that coaching is so important that however much talent you may think the Bills had in 2015, it really didn't matter.  They didn't have a coach.

 

For sure. I knew Rex was a mistake the moment it happened. 

[Shaw66]

2 minutes ago, BarleyNY said:

 

I will tell you this: I’d trade any record this season to have Allen show he’s a franchise QB.  He definitely has plays where he looks like he is.  If he can develop and make that the norm, then I’m more than happy.  That would make finishing the team build so much easier.  Players would WANT to come here. 

I think it's already clear he will get there.  He will be a star in the league next season, if not this.  He is smart and he is coachable.  He has the physical tools.  

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

For sure. I knew Rex was a mistake the moment it happened. 

One of the most encouraging things I've seen as a Bills fan was watching the Pegulas recognize the Rex blunder and recover from it.  They demonstrated that they were learning what it takes to be successful owners. 

[BarleyNY]

2 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I think it's already clear he will get there.  He will be a star in the league next season, if not this.  He is smart and he is coachable.  He has the physical tools.  

 

I’d say it’s a long way from clear he’ll get there.  A lot of QBs who posses the physical tools to play the game and are smart and coachable don’t make it.  Those players often flash at times too.  I’m hoping for a great ride watching Allen develop - and I’ve seen encouraging things from him, but it’s definitely not a sure thing at this point. ?

[Dan]

1 hour ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

I've been fooled before. Repeatedly. And yes, I know it's only preseason.

 

But honestly, they've looked pretty darn potent in preseason. And it's not about how many points they scored, or breaking down Allen's completion percentage, but we've honestly seen a lot out of our young players. 

 

Allen has looked sharper and more decisive, and the worst thing that anyone could say about his performance Week 2 was that he could have finessed a completion to Beasley more so that Beasley could have had a nice run after catch instead of a 4 yard pickup on first down.

 

The O-line, for the most part, has looked considerably improved and Dawkins and Ford are more than holding their own. Ford in particular looks like he has enormous value in being able to swing between tackle and guard. 

 

Beasley looks like a genius find, and even when teams scheme to stop him, that should really open up the rest of the offense.

 

Singletary has stood out even in a crowded running back group.

 

Ed Oliver is getting double teamed and is still making plays, and you can see Edmunds hitting the hole at just the right time. Tre White and Wallace looks like a corner tandem for years to come. 

 

The team is young, and looks like it can stay that way for a long time.

For me.... It's not so much that they look potent; but more so, they look competent.  I've said for several years now... far too many it seems... that all I want is to see the Bills field an actual professional football team each week.  I haven't even cared about winning so much, just don't show complete ineptitude.   It seems, watching the end of last season, and even more so this preseason, that the Bills are finally turning into a competitive, professional, prepared football team.  

 

My biggest concern, quite honestly, is what did McD and company do in those blow out losses last year?  Can they scheme better as a coaching staff?   

 

But, there is no doubt this team is transforming right before our eyes into a true contending NFL team.  Will it all come together this year or not... We'll all see.  But it seems it is definitely happening.   And what is most encouraging... Beane and McD appear to be building a perrenial contender, not a flashy team with high priced free agents and me first players.   Its a good time to be a Bills fan!

[Mat68]

They have everything in place to be very good.  I think a playoff run is real.  The defense will be nasty.  They dont play but a handful of top qbs.  The defense has stymied alot of good offenses the last few years.

[blacklabel]

Looking at how much of a mess the team was last season, it was something that they still won six games. McDermott really knows how to get a lot out of a little. If the defense can continue to build on what they've done, and Allen figures it out even just a little and can get at least 21-24 points on the board per game, I think they have a shot at winning double digit games.

[SCBills]

2 hours ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

I've been fooled before. Repeatedly. And yes, I know it's only preseason.

 

But honestly, they've looked pretty darn potent in preseason. And it's not about how many points they scored, or breaking down Allen's completion percentage, but we've honestly seen a lot out of our young players. 

 

Allen has looked sharper and more decisive, and the worst thing that anyone could say about his performance Week 2 was that he could have finessed a completion to Beasley more so that Beasley could have had a nice run after catch instead of a 4 yard pickup on first down.

 

The O-line, for the most part, has looked considerably improved and Dawkins and Ford are more than holding their own. Ford in particular looks like he has enormous value in being able to swing between tackle and guard. 

 

Beasley looks like a genius find, and even when teams scheme to stop him, that should really open up the rest of the offense.

 

Singletary has stood out even in a crowded running back group.

 

Ed Oliver is getting double teamed and is still making plays, and you can see Edmunds hitting the hole at just the right time. Tre White and Wallace looks like a corner tandem for years to come. 

 

The team is young, and looks like it can stay that way for a long time.

 

I’ll admit, I wasn’t a huge fan of the Cole Beasley signing or the Singletary draft pick..

 

Preseason it may be, but those two jump off the screen.  

 

Cole Beasley, we knew he has skill, but I just didn’t know how effective he would be in this offense.  

 

Singletary was a human highlight reel but lacks breakaway speed and wasn’t used in the passing game.  Red flags for a high draft pick.  Clearly the guy can catch and his speed looks plenty fast enough, especially when factoring in his incredible quick twitch shift ability.  

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, SCBills said:

 

Singletary was a human highlight reel but lacks breakaway speed and wasn’t used in the passing game.  Red flags for a high draft pick.  Clearly the guy can catch and his speed looks plenty fast enough, especially when factoring in his incredible quick twitch shift ability.  

 

I was never worried about Singletary in the pass game. Always thought he could do it even if there wasn't much evidence of it on his college tape. I'm also not all that worried about his long speed. What worried me, and still worries me, is his ability to be an every down running back. Those early down runs does he have the power or the burst to beat defenses set up to play the run and set up to contain him? When the defenses are spaced out a little more I think the kid can make guys make and make plays. He has had 11 carries in pre-season which is decent enough volume but is only averaging 3.0 per carry. I know the Bills have been quite vanilla in their blocking schemes and Shady and Gore have had low ypa too but it is a concern of mine still with Singletary. The good news is this year the Bills don't need to use him as an every down back. They can bring him along at their own speed.

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

14 hours ago, The Plastic Cup said:

As @DC Tom can tell you, the waiting is the hardest part.

Yeah. @DC Tom and I were just talking about how our playoff team in 17 wasn't that great. He was saying that even the losers get lucky sometimes.

Edited August 20, 2019 by The Real Buffalo Joe

[BobbyC81]

16 hours ago, jkeerie said:

Think about it though.  Outside of the Superbowl team, when have the Bill's ever had a solid GM and coaching staff?  This team is different. 

 

When I think about some of the others, in their initial press conferences they talked about Superbowls.  These guys (Beane and McD) talked about building a team.  If you build it right...the wins will follow.

 

Yes, remember they said “we’re not just acquiring talent, we’re building a team”.  That’s why I didn’t believe they were pursuing ‘Look at me!’ Antonio Brown.  He’s a great talent but continues to show it’s all about him.  Even though they say they let players be themselves, I don’t think McD would’ve been too happy if a player arrived at camp in a hot air balloon.

[ricojes]

18 hours ago, The Bills Blog said:

Making the playoffs a couple years ago was cool, but I don't think anyone would argue that it really lifted the dark cloud over this franchise. Our journey back to respectability/true competitiveness continues.

 

But I think this might be the year that a page is turned, emphatically.

 

I've watched an unhealthy amount of preseason football this year. And it seems like the Bills might be really good. Top to bottom. And they've got star players to make impact plays at every level of the field on offense and defense.

 

Something feels different now.

 

Other than the Patriots, I can't think of an opponent I fear. And the only reason I fear them is not because of talent; it's because they're smarter than everyone else.

 

I think we're going 12-4 this year. We'll be good out of the gate. The future will arrive suddenly, as it often does when teams turn the corner. Within a month or two of the season starting, the Bills being a top team will just be accepted. I don't think there'll be any sweating out a playoff spot.

 

Go Bills!

Calling all "pump the brakes" posters, calling all "pump the brakes" posters...

[PromoTheRobot]

16 hours ago, LSHMEAB said:

I know I need to slow my roll, but I saw Allen make quick, decisive, accurate throws throughout his entire run in the Carolina game. I hadn't seen that before. I still don't fully believe he's gonna ever master this, but I have more hope than I did before that display. He could very easily lay an egg and that demonstration of proficiency could be a mirage, but it's something. I don't care that Carolina was playing vanilla defense, etc. I didn't see any of that in preseason/regular season last year and that includes the finale where he successfully demonstrated the big plays I know he can make, largely because the Fish had quit. Even in that game, I didn't see what I saw on Thursday. 

 

He just MIGHT be the ultimate anomaly.

 

Preseason throws are the same as regular season and playoff throws. Is Josh making his throws? Don't overthink it.

[RevWarRifleman]

20 hours ago, Mrbojanglezs said:

Week 1 is a good test because many say that we are even with the Jets or many national TV types think the Jets are better. If we go in their house on opening day and beat them. Good way to start the season. 

Yup. If the Bills are going to get to the next level, these are the games they have to win. Over the past 17 yrs., these are the games we just couldn't win. Thus the all-to-

frequent 4-12 to 7-9 records.