Poorly constructed roster

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

7 minutes ago, MPL said:

Keith Ellison was just ahead of his time! He'd be a star in today's NFL! lol

i see your Ellison and raise you Aaron Maybin!  11 overall pick. 1 career start… ONE! 

[Tanoros]

18 minutes ago, Logic said:

I just don't understand how people are so completely unable to levy fair and reasonable criticisms at the team while also maintaining perspective. It HAS to be over the top exaggeration, hyperbole, and...whatever the heck the OP is.

Like...yeah...it hasn't been a banner few weeks. We can all see that the team isn't playing up to its capabilities.

Still, like Gugny points out, the Bills are 7-3, one game out of the AFC 1-seed, and are top five in offense, defense, and overall DVOA.

They've been to the playoffs four out of five seasons. NFL analysts and fans pretty much universally agree that Beane is a very good GM, McDermott is a very good coach, and the Bills have one of the best rosters in the league.

Say you're upset with how the team has been playing. Say you wish they had blown out the Browns yesterday. But for the love of god, quit with the "fire Frazier!", "Fire McDermott!", "the roster stinks!" posts. It's just silly and reactionary, not to mention completely divorced from reality.

THANK X A MILLION! Too many are complaining about the sky falling, but their opinions are purely emotional and have no bearing on reality. I think these people want us to be like the Chiefs week in and week out, if not, the sky is falling. 

[BruceVilanch]

21 minutes ago, Logic said:

I just don't understand how people are so completely unable to levy fair and reasonable criticisms at the team while also maintaining perspective. It HAS to be over the top exaggeration, hyperbole, and...whatever the heck the OP is.

Like...yeah...it hasn't been a banner few weeks. We can all see that the team isn't playing up to its capabilities.

Still, like Gugny points out, the Bills are 7-3, one game out of the AFC 1-seed, and are top five in offense, defense, and overall DVOA.

They've been to the playoffs four out of five seasons. NFL analysts and fans pretty much universally agree that Beane is a very good GM, McDermott is a very good coach, and the Bills have one of the best rosters in the league.

Say you're upset with how the team has been playing. Say you wish they had blown out the Browns yesterday. But for the love of god, quit with the "fire Frazier!", "Fire McDermott!", "the roster stinks!" posts. It's just silly and reactionary, not to mention completely divorced from reality.

We had people asking about drafting a QB during the GD thread. I can get down about this team, and this team can be crazy frustrating, but when you look around the league it's pretty clear we have a very good team. 

[BADOLBILZ]

7 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

It almost seems like many fans here didn’t live through the decades where the starters weren’t as good as other teams back ups at most positions. 

 

 

When was that?   The Bills have had a handful of years where they have been truly lousy in the past 35 years.   They were usually mediocre when they were not good.  You aren't mediocre playing with starters that couldn't be reserves on "other teams".     It's like you "didn't live thru" making the playoffs 10 times in 12 years with one of the best rosters in football. 

[Beck Water]

41 minutes ago, BillsFanSD said:

Yes, they figured Davis would take another step forward.  Based on his play last season, that seemed like a prudent bet.  It hasn't worked out as well as we would have hoped.

 

You seem to be forgetting that they signed Jamison Crowder -- seemed like a solid signing at the time -- and drafted Shakir.  It's not like they ignored the position in the offseason or anything.  It's just that the guy they signed to play the slot got hurt in camp and never really recovered, and they've brought Shakir along very slowly.  My guess is they probably had plans for Cook in the slot and haven't felt comfortable opening that part of the playbook up yet.  

 

What did you want them to do?  Go and get Davante Adams?  Pick a WR early in the draft instead of a CB, which we desperately needed?  Tell us what your offseason plan was.

 

I don't want to appear to support the OP's post, but I think it's pretty inarguable that the Bills haven't done enough to bolster the offense.

 

In Carolina, the philosophy seemed to be that Cam Newton would make up for inadequacies at WR and on OL, and that seems to have continued here.

 

I understand the Bills drafting Kaiir Elam in the first round when they didn't know when Tre would be back and what his play would be like.  Groot in the 1st round in 2021 also looks like a win.

 

I think a number of us look at the 2nd and 3rd round picks in the last 2 drafts and wonder if double-dipping at DE (last year) and drafting an RB for the 3rd time in 3 years and an undersized LB (this year) was the best use of those picks vs. WR or OL.

[BuffaninSarasota]

OP, I'm guessing if you were GM of the Bills you'd have no salary cap and unlimited budget to work with, correct?

[BADOLBILZ]

8 minutes ago, Logic said:

Let's see...

Bills are ranked 2nd in YPG and 2nd PPG on offense. They are ranked 3rd in passing yards per game.

The Bills began the season as odds-on Super Bowl favorites and, even after their unimpressive recent stretch are, let me check...STILL odds-on Super Bowl favorites.

Certainly not the doom and gloom apocalypse you foretold.

Hope you're having a nice Monday, my friend.

 

 

 

No, I've been very consistent in my takes that the Bills might be able to muscle their way to a SB win because they have the deepest and most invested-in defense in the NFL.

 

But I consistently pointed out that the achilles heel of the team was their declining WR position.

 

You and @eball were among the group that insisted that the Bills were great at WR and that suggestions otherwise were not only wrong but just absurd.

 

Those take looks pretty stupid now.  

 

Allen has imposed his will offensively this season..........but it hasn't been pretty.......he's beat up and has looked diminished as a passer after taking a lot of physical punishment........and they are once again trailing in their division late in the season when they were a prohibitive favorite.    Being the 5th seed right now is OK..........but we all know that expectations were much higher.

 

 

 

[Chaos]

54 minutes ago, FrenchConnection said:

Every fan thinks that he could do a better job than the GM and HC. “Hey, I built a championship fantasy team and coached my kids little league team to 10 wins! How hard could it be?”

no one is saying its not hard. these guys get paid millions to be the best at it.  It is reasonable to say that the Chiefs are better than the Bills during Beane's era

 

1. This means the chiefs have better talent or
2. the chiefs have better coaching or
3. the have chiefs have better coachiing and talent.

Beanes options are too stand pat with the strategy and be the chiefs second fiddle (like the colts to the patriots or the raiders to the steel curtain steelers) or make moves to have better talent and/or better coaching than the chiefs. 

Second best in the AFC is pretty good.  Puts us ahead of 14 teams (although several would dispute we are second best).   I think calling the second best Roster/Coaching combo "poorly constructed" is a bit of an over statement.  It is hard to say it is the best however. 
 

 

[FilthyBeast]

1 hour ago, Niagara Dude said:

I am starting to see roster that is poorly constructed and not enough quality depth at key positions. You watch KC who lost Hill and Mahomes still has numerous options at the WR position beyond just Kelce( they had two starters out and still did not miss a beat). We lost vets like Beasley and Sanders and assumed Davis would take another leap,  they then proceeded to go with mediocre guys after that.  

 

Davis cannot be trusted not to drop balls and McKENZIE looks like he cannot be trusted and accident waiting to happen. Even when Josh has time,  teams are just doubling Diggs and others are not creating enough separation.  How many times when teams played zone would we see Beasley find a sport in the zone for an easy pitch & catch in previous years. For a team that throws first,  the WR has become a weakness beyond Diggs.  On the other side of the ball the Bills are paying Matakevich 3.25 million for his special teams,  anyone recall any Steve Tasker level plays for this guy.  Or why is Taiwan Jones still on this team?  Both guy are making more then our 3rd LB Tyrel Dodson who looks terrible playing for injured Edmunds. It's a reason why even when team are running in down our throats we still have only 2 LB'S in the game.

 

We have zero quality depth at the LB position right now and are lucky Milano is healthy and playing like an all pro. How you spend your money is so important and using 4.3 mllion in cap space for Jones and Matakevich is costing us from having better quality depth at regular positions. Yes I believe that money could have been used to have a more competent 3rd receiver ( maybe even Beasley) or a starting level LB who you play on special teams.  Josh needs to be surrounded with better WR's  just like Mahomes has and our defence needs more than two starting level LB'S when teams start to just run the ball

 

I also believe Bills need to stop playing EJ. Epensa over Shaq Lawson,  this looks like Beane forcing Cody Ford on the field because he was a second rounder.  Epensa looks like a second bust but continues to play because of his draft status.  Lawson makes more big plays on far less opportunities 

 

 

 

I couldn't agree more with this.

 

The Bills went out and built a team that can beat the Chiefs which is great in theory if they can actually do it when it matters in the postseason, but overall this smallish defense built to defend the pass has failed miserably in that area and for all the hype about the alleged depth Beane has built that's proving to be further from the truth outside of the dline which I still think struggles to get a consistent pass rush.

 

Also at WR, we still have one guy with a bunch of #3 and #4 players around him. This offensive line might be the worst yet under this regime despite bringing in a new position coach. And can't argue with ST assessment either since this team loves to follow that Jauron blueprint of collecting ST only players and paying them big money.

 

Assuming this coaching staff is still intact next year they are going to have a big challenge fixing all the holes this current roster has given the cap situation which is also something that needs to be considered if there is any remote possibility of a regime change that would have to retool the roster under new offensive/defensive schemes.

[Logic]

33 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Allen has imposed his will offensively this season..........but it hasn't been pretty.......he's beat up and has looked diminished as a passer after taking a lot of physical punishment........and they are once again trailing in their division late in the season when they were a prohibitive favorite.    Being the 5th seed right now is OK..........but we all know that expectations were much higher.

 

 

 

If there is a physical reason for Allen looking diminished as a passer, I would suggest that that reason is his injured right elbow, which happened on ONE play, where his protection -- not the receiver depth chart -- was the issue.

To blame "taking a lot of physical punishment" for his poor play instead of the specific issue of his injured elbow and recent stretch of poor decision making seems like a leap. And either way -- whether the elbow is to blame or whether, as you say, "taking a lot of physical punishment" is the issue, claiming that the wide receiver depth chart is the primary reason is also a bit of a leap.

I'd suggest that poor pass blocking and defenses catching up to Ken Dorsey's offensive playcalling are as much to blame -- if not more so -- for the offensive regression as the wide receiver depth chart.

I DO agree that the Bills need help at receiver, but it's in the slot where I feel they need help, not on the outside. Wasn't it the depth at outside receiver that you were harping on all summer? Yes, I thought that Shakir and McKenzie would get the job done inside. No, to this point, that has not been the case.

In any case, I do agree that the expectations were, are, and should be much higher, and the Bills are not meeting them. But to claim that lack of receiving talent is the primary reason for their recent offensive shortcomings doesn't do it for me. 

 

20 minutes ago, FilthyBeast said:

 

I couldn't agree more with this.

 

I am shocked. Shocked, I say!

Edited November 21, 2022 by Logic

[BillsShredder83]

The goal is to win a Super Bowl? When do we get the moral gold standard parade, because we couldn't wait to ditch Cole. Retired or not there's no way we couldn't have got more out of Cole than we are McK. An offense he knew, had a rapport and chemistry with Josh. I'll never understand the ppl who were so excited to run our own Welker Jr out of town. 

 

We passed on DK 2.0 in Christian Watson, and George Pickens looked polished coming out of the draft. It's unfortunate, I understand why we did what we did, but either one of these guys would've done more for us than Elam (no knock on him, I think he's going to be really good).

 

Next year's draft needs to be 75% offense, especially at the top of the board. Would love to see us move up to draft Jordan Addison. 

 

In 2022 NFL WRs are arguably the 2nd or 3rd most important position in football, and we throw more than almost everyone, so the cost is justified. Especially once you take into acct the price tag of trying to sign a FA. Would love to see us grab 2 WRs and an OL in the first few rounds. 

 

It's easier to stoke the fires on offense, than it is to pile picks on the defensive side. Def picks are already a diminished return investment in this league.

 

[SCBills]

1 hour ago, Beck Water said:

 

I don't want to appear to support the OP's post, but I think it's pretty inarguable that the Bills haven't done enough to bolster the offense.

 

In Carolina, the philosophy seemed to be that Cam Newton would make up for inadequacies at WR and on OL, and that seems to have continued here.

 

I understand the Bills drafting Kaiir Elam in the first round when they didn't know when Tre would be back and what his play would be like.  Groot in the 1st round in 2021 also looks like a win.

 

I think a number of us look at the 2nd and 3rd round picks in the last 2 drafts and wonder if double-dipping at DE (last year) and drafting an RB for the 3rd time in 3 years and an undersized LB (this year) was the best use of those picks vs. WR or OL.

The Bernard pick was puzzling when we did it, and even more-so now.  
 

I don’t know what he does.. or projects to do, on this defense.  
 

Id be shocked if we don’t lock down Edmunds now, and Bernard isn’t an Edmunds replacement anyway… so what is he?  Milano’s backup for 4 years?  That’s what we used a 3rd round pick on when we clearly could’ve used OL or WR help?

[transient]

2 hours ago, BillsFanSD said:

Yes, they figured Davis would take another step forward.  Based on his play last season, that seemed like a prudent bet.  It hasn't worked out as well as we would have hoped.

 

You seem to be forgetting that they signed Jamison Crowder -- seemed like a solid signing at the time -- and drafted Shakir.  It's not like they ignored the position in the offseason or anything.  It's just that the guy they signed to play the slot got hurt in camp and never really recovered, and they've brought Shakir along very slowly.  My guess is they probably had plans for Cook in the slot and haven't felt comfortable opening that part of the playbook up yet.  

 

What did you want them to do?  Go and get Davante Adams?  Pick a WR early in the draft instead of a CB, which we desperately needed?  Tell us what your offseason plan was.

He broke his ankle. It's unclear if he'll be back this season or not.

 

[JerseyBills]

We've been riddled by injuries to our stars and are 7-3

We have a very deep roster and beat KC

[ColoradoBills]

I swear if you gave a piece of rope to some of the people on this board, they would think they're a cowboy.

[machine gun kelly]

2 hours ago, Fallser said:

I don't know what's in the Niagara River, but this dude needs to lay off drinking it. 

I thought he was having a couple of drinks at Love Canal!  Glowing are ya.

[poblano]

2 hours ago, Niagara Dude said:

 a starting level LB who you play on special teams.  

This is pure and simply genius . . .

 

😄😄😄😄😄

 

And the perfect example why your premise  goes futile word after word

[Mr. WEO]

2 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Davis has had drops but he has also made some amazing plays.  If you think that teams have depth all over the place you are just wrong. Look no further than your example of KC. They lost both starting OTs in the playoffs a couple years ago and that cost them a SuperBowl.  Look what Buffalo did to KC secondary after Matheiu was hurt in the game. 

Virtually no team can withstand the injuries the Bills have and have the record they do.  Rejoice in the fact that we have Josh Allen and hope that his 2 and 1/2 game slump is over.    

 

The Davis hate here has reached new levels of idiocy.  He has 11 catches for 161 yards in the past 2 games.  He's going to double his yardage from last season, he's averaging 21.1 YPC.  21 of his 29 catches were for 1st downs (higher 1stD % than Diggs).  

[Matt_In_NH]

2021 the Bills averaged 262 pass yards per game and 2.1 TD passes per game

2022 The Bills average 294 pass yards per game and 2.1 TD passes per game.  32 yards per game more than last year.

 

Where is the big drop off?

[DCofNC]

2 hours ago, BillsFanSD said:

Yes, they figured Davis would take another step forward.  Based on his play last season, that seemed like a prudent bet.  It hasn't worked out as well as we would have hoped.

 

You seem to be forgetting that they signed Jamison Crowder -- seemed like a solid signing at the time -- and drafted Shakir.  It's not like they ignored the position in the offseason or anything.  It's just that the guy they signed to play the slot got hurt in camp and never really recovered, and they've brought Shakir along very slowly.  My guess is they probably had plans for Cook in the slot and haven't felt comfortable opening that part of the playbook up yet.  

 

What did you want them to do?  Go and get Davante Adams?  Pick a WR early in the draft instead of a CB, which we desperately needed?  Tell us what your offseason plan was.

they let 2 vets walk, guys that took $14M in salary last year and replaced them with 1 guy making 4M and a 5th round rookie.  So you didn’t ignore WR, but it’s clear your sure as hell didn’t look to improve it either.  They spent big this off-season, just not on the skill positions and it is showing.  I think it’s fair to say a WR could have been picked long before the 5th round.  For all the impact Cook has had, and the general lack of use for any RB on the team, it’s quite astonishing they have picked 3 running backs in the last 4 years and not a single WR earlier than any of those RBs.   I’ll go so far as to almost agree the with OP, I think this was a terrible offseason for Beane and I also don’t think he’s much of a drafter in general.  Without hitting on Allen, he and McClappy would not be in Buffalo at this point.  They swung on a boom or bust guy and hit, that’s awesome, but for the rest of it?  It’s not super impressive.  I know I’m going to get crap for it, but if people were honest, there’s no way you would look back at the Drafts under Beane and take the same guys at the same place on anybody outside of Allen.   He’s found some late round gems, but the first 4 rounds have not yielded much.

[billsfan89]

The team signed Crowder a vet to help at WR while also adding Shakir a mid round pick. The team made attempts to address the loss of players at the position.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

6 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

The Davis hate here has reached new levels of idiocy.  He has 11 catches for 161 yards in the past 2 games.  He's going to double his yardage from last season, he's averaging 21.1 YPC.  21 of his 29 catches were for 1st downs (higher 1stD % than Diggs).  

The drops are real. Just like with Knox it is so infuriating because they make the super difficult catch look easy. 

He's a great #2. And dirt cheap. 

We are lucky he has been so good. 

I'd still prefer coaxing Sanders out of retirement over OBJ and his bad knee if they really want to make a move to help the WR group.

[BADOLBILZ]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

If there is a physical reason for Allen looking diminished as a passer, I would suggest that that reason is his injured right elbow, which happened on ONE play, where his protection -- not the receiver depth chart -- was the issue.

To blame "taking a lot of physical punishment" for his poor play instead of the specific issue of his injured elbow and recent stretch of poor decision making seems like a leap. And either way -- whether the elbow is to blame or whether, as you say, "taking a lot of physical punishment" is the issue, claiming that the wide receiver depth chart is the primary reason is also a bit of a leap.

I'd suggest that poor pass blocking and defenses catching up to Ken Dorsey's offensive playcalling are as much to blame -- if not more so -- for the offensive regression as the wide receiver depth chart.

I DO agree that the Bills need help at receiver, but it's in the slot where I feel they need help, not on the outside. Wasn't it the depth at outside receiver that you were harping on all summer? Yes, I thought that Shakir and McKenzie would get the job done inside. No, to this point, that has not been the case.

In any case, I do agree that the expectations were, are, and should be much higher, and the Bills are not meeting them. But to claim that lack of receiving talent is the primary reason for their recent offensive shortcomings doesn't do it for me. 

 

I am shocked. Shocked, I say!

 

 

Some people blame some big hits in the GB game........you blame the elbow injury..........the reality is that they are both tied to inefficiencies in the passing game due to problems with the WR corps.    The Jets game was a particularly bad day for the WR corps which put the Bills in a late game predicament that lead to the arm injury.   

 

I am shocked that you don't admit that the WR corps is a problem.   Shocked, I say! (what a dork)

[eball]

2 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

You and @eball were among the group that insisted that the Bills were great at WR and that suggestions otherwise were not only wrong but just absurd.

 

I didn't say they were "great" or couldn't be improved at WR...I've been on the OBJ bandwagon from the get-go, and pre-draft I wanted them to draft a WR early.  The discussion this revolves around was whether it was wise for Beane to invest so heavily in the DL instead of going after WR talent...and does anyone still think the DL investment was a bad idea?

 

[Roundybout]

Just now, eball said:

 

I didn't say they were "great" or couldn't be improved at WR...I've been on the OBJ bandwagon from the get-go, and pre-draft I wanted them to draft a WR early.  The discussion this revolves around was whether it was wise for Beane to invest so heavily in the DL instead of going after WR talent...and does anyone still think the DL investment was a bad idea?

 

 

Then people would whine about our front four not being able to get home. 

[Billever76]

Kc is simply favored by the refs when in close games...they never get called for the multiple holds/push offs and pick plays they run...the opposing team is on the opposite end of the spectrum and the refs are watching them for anything they can throw a flag on and allot of times phantom tricky tack flags are thrown if they get a big play or look like they may pull it off...to beat kc you also must beat the refs the majority of the time...the league is propping that team and its a team that doesn't even need the help smh

Just now, Billever76 said:

Kc is simply favored by the refs when in close games...they never get called for the multiple holds/push offs and pick plays they run...the opposing team is on the opposite end of the spectrum and the refs are watching them for anything they can throw a flag on and allot of times phantom tricky tack flags are thrown if they get a big play or look like they may pull it off...to beat kc you also must beat the refs the majority of the time...the league is propping that team and its a team that doesn't even need the help smh

Go rewatch all kc close games and game winning drives....the refs will flag kc for ***** early in games or in no crucial drives...but when the chips are on the table and it's down to the wire 90% of the time the refs guide kc to wins 

[Logic]

22 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Some people blame some big hits in the GB game........you blame the elbow injury..........the reality is that they are both tied to inefficiencies in the passing game due to problems with the WR corps.    The Jets game was a particularly bad day for the WR corps which put the Bills in a late game predicament that lead to the arm injury.   

 

I am shocked that you don't admit that the WR corps is a problem.   Shocked, I say! (what a dork)

I believe I just DID admit that the WR corps is a problem.

Like I said, though, I believe that the slot is where the WR production is lacking, not out wide, as you were claiming all offseason. I also do not believe that the WR corps is the sole reason that our offense has had a few down weeks, as you also seem to be claiming. 

It is regrettable that you continue to be unable to carry on a conversation without personally insulting the person with whom you are conversing. I trust that with continued self reflection you may one day rise above such pettiness. I'm rooting for you.

 

Edited November 21, 2022 by Logic

[whorlnut]

1 hour ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

The drops are real. Just like with Knox it is so infuriating because they make the super difficult catch look easy. 

He's a great #2. And dirt cheap. 

We are lucky he has been so good. 

I'd still prefer coaxing Sanders out of retirement over OBJ and his bad knee if they really want to make a move to help the WR group.

I wouldn’t call him a “great number 2” by any stretch of the imagination. If anything, he’s disappointed this season by not being the consistent threat we were hoping he’d become. 

[BADOLBILZ]

14 minutes ago, eball said:

 

I didn't say they were "great" or couldn't be improved at WR...I've been on the OBJ bandwagon from the get-go, and pre-draft I wanted them to draft a WR early.  The discussion this revolves around was whether it was wise for Beane to invest so heavily in the DL instead of going after WR talent...and does anyone still think the DL investment was a bad idea?

 

 

 

Ok so you were thinking in your mind that the Bills really needed WR help......but were just trolling the board with your running sarcasm toward the mention of it?  

 

You literally had a routine down mocking people about "boundary" WR's.    Those jokes didn't age well.     

 

 

[The Jokeman]

3 hours ago, BuffaloRebound said:

The emphasis on special teams versus quality depth is a legit complaint.  I also think the Kelce/Mahomes combo is just better than Josh/Diggs combo.  Other than that, I’m not sure what else the front office can do and there’s really nothing they can do in regards to Kelce/Mahomes being the best out there.  

Kelce's size and athleticism is what makes him better. That said I think our roster is far more complete than KC's especially on defense.

[AuntieEm]

3 hours ago, LEBills said:

We have invested a ton of assets into the defense which has had many injuries this year. At full force with Tre, Poyer, Hyde, Milano, Edmunds and Elam, it is an elite unit who will hold opposing teams scoring very low.

 

I personally would have put more premium assets into the offense over the past few years, but I don’t think it is a poorly constructed roster. Just a defensive heavy, injured one that relies on its $250 million quarterback to pick up a lot of the slack on offense.

 

 

 

   And our $250 million QB is fully capable with his weapons of picking up any slack...  but ONLY if he starts being smart taking what the defense gives him instead of trying to impose his will on opponents.  He'll be able to impose it once he utilizes every weapon he has giving defenses headaches trying to guess what he'll do next.

 

 

 

[TampaBillsJunkie]

I guess signing OBJ would quell the pain.

[Fan in Chicago]

38 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Some people blame some big hits in the GB game........you blame the elbow injury..........the reality is that they are both tied to inefficiencies in the passing game due to problems with the WR corps.    The Jets game was a particularly bad day for the WR corps which put the Bills in a late game predicament that lead to the arm injury.   

 

I still think it was more than the lack of good WRs that caused the issues against the Jets and Vikings. Allen generally looked more confused and forced throws that he had stopped doing after his rookie year. I hope it was just as simple as a passing phase (heh) and not due to any personal issues or injuries. I was happy to see him be lot more conservative in the Browns game, but there will be games (perhaps as early as Thursday) where the deep passes and tight window throws will be needed. One of three things could happen, only one good:

- Allen is too worried about pulling the trigger (lack of confidence due to 10 INTs) 

-  Allen re-gains confidence but makes mistakes again

- He re-gains confidence and we rain TDs on the Lions

 

Lets see what happens in the remaining tougher games. 

 

To your other point, I joined the OBJ bandwagon late and that is due to there being too few other outside options. I would like to see Hines and Shakir more involved in the short passing game. 

[todd]

4 hours ago, Eastport bills said:

I love your objectivity because it’s hard for Bills fans to accept a team that drafted Josh, Edmunds,Milano and traded for Diggs,actually have gaping holes in their secondary depth and receiving corp and O-line. As a GM you can’t use ignorance of the length of injuries as an excuse. The reference to KC is sadly on the money. They’re proactive and have filled holes beautifully. It doesn’t hurt to have number 15 either . 

Well, the bills beat KC in KC. So what is your point, that KC didn’t really lose?

 

Beane is a fantastic GM. To think otherwise is foolish.

[Paup 1995MVP]

4 hours ago, BillsFanSD said:

Yes, they figured Davis would take another step forward.  Based on his play last season, that seemed like a prudent bet.  It hasn't worked out as well as we would have hoped.

 

You seem to be forgetting that they signed Jamison Crowder -- seemed like a solid signing at the time -- and drafted Shakir.  It's not like they ignored the position in the offseason or anything.  It's just that the guy they signed to play the slot got hurt in camp and never really recovered, and they've brought Shakir along very slowly.  My guess is they probably had plans for Cook in the slot and haven't felt comfortable opening that part of the playbook up yet.  

 

What did you want them to do?  Go and get Davante Adams?  Pick a WR early in the draft instead of a CB, which we desperately needed?  Tell us what your offseason plan was.

You answered your own question.  Get Shakir out there as a starter, and plant McKenzie on the bench except for gadget plays.  And even those plays can be given to Hines.  He has way more talent then McKenzie.  Shakir has plenty of ability.  Guy could catch at least 60 balls this year if used on a regular basis.  The roster is not as problematic as how we use the players we have.  Cook, Shakir and Hines are a nice complement to Davis, Diggs and Knox.  And we still have Singletary Morris and Gilliam as well.  And don't forget Josh Allen running the rock.  That could be the best weapon we have.  No reason this offense can't be explosive either running or passing.  That's on the coaching staff to use all our weapons.  KC can do it.  No reason we can't.    

[WyoAZBillfan]

Did you actually watch Mahomes not missing a bear last night? Every single clutch play went to one person on the O. They trailed several times. How about other games, the Colts for instance. The Bills is another example. Might check both those games if you think they haven’t missed a beat. 
 

One could say the reason Buffalo is 7-3 is due to the depth. Rookies and inexperienced secondary have played most the season, LB’s have had to step up a few times. 
look at play calling, execution on both sides and you’ll find more answers to those questions you have. 

[Rigotz]

4 hours ago, Niagara Dude said:

I also believe Bills need to stop playing EJ. Epensa over Shaq Lawson,  this looks like Beane forcing Cody Ford on the field because he was a second rounder.  Epensa looks like a second bust but continues to play because of his draft status.  Lawson makes more big plays on far less opportunities 

 

 

 

E.J. Epensa MUST GO!!!1111

 

[eball]

41 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Ok so you were thinking in your mind that the Bills really needed WR help......but were just trolling the board with your running sarcasm toward the mention of it?  

 

You literally had a routine down mocking people about "boundary" WR's.    Those jokes didn't age well.     

 

 

Hey, if there’s an opportunity to troll @ScottLaw I’d be a fool not to take it. 
 

[Nextmanup]

If you are suggesting we need to add more receiver talent to the roster this off-season, I totally agree with you.

 

That assumes we don't sign OBJ.

 

We'll probably spend our first draft pick next year on a DT.

 

 

[Einstein's Dog]

2 hours ago, BillsShredder83 said:

The goal is to win a Super Bowl? When do we get the moral gold standard parade, because we couldn't wait to ditch Cole. Retired or not there's no way we couldn't have got more out of Cole than we are McK. An offense he knew, had a rapport and chemistry with Josh. I'll never understand the ppl who were so excited to run our own Welker Jr out of town. 

 

We passed on DK 2.0 in Christian Watson, and George Pickens looked polished coming out of the draft. It's unfortunate, I understand why we did what we did, but either one of these guys would've done more for us than Elam (no knock on him, I think he's going to be really good).

 

Next year's draft needs to be 75% offense, especially at the top of the board. Would love to see us move up to draft Jordan Addison. 

 

In 2022 NFL WRs are arguably the 2nd or 3rd most important position in football, and we throw more than almost everyone, so the cost is justified. Especially once you take into acct the price tag of trying to sign a FA. Would love to see us grab 2 WRs and an OL in the first few rounds. 

 

It's easier to stoke the fires on offense, than it is to pile picks on the defensive side. Def picks are already a diminished return investment in this league.

 

C'mon Crowder over Beas by a mile.  Beas was going off a cliff.  And odds are Beas would be hurt now anyway - or playing like a cripple.

 

I was all for a WR in round 1.  I too, hope the FO tries for one next year.  But for this year the FO may not be done, if they add OBJ, they may have, for the stretch run, dare I say, the best WR unit the Bills have ever had.

 

I believe you vastly overestimate the ease of creating an excellent defensive line.  Now that we finally have one, the vast majority of posters turn a blind eye to this key development.