Isaiah Hodgins Bills made big mistake

[CapeBreton]

I’m guessing McDermott doesn’t trust younger players at WR and prefers veterans. Hodgins doesn’t get a chance, Shakir doesn’t get targets, Davis was overshadowed by Emmanuel Sanders last year, they traded for Diggs, now they have Beasley and John Brown back in the lineup. 

[BaaadThingsMan]

I just think it's a case of the Giants plucking him just as he was seasoned nicely, about to boil. 

 

The Bills were patient and gave him extra development time and just as he was rounding into game shape the Giants snatched his ass. 

 

Nobody knew him better than the GM and Daboll, besides the Bills. 

[ChicagoRic]

46 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

How many ST “aces” do you need?   You can probably count one one hand the number of game changing plays by their other ST “aces”, Jones and Matelkevich. 

That's the funny thing about special teams aces.  You don't miss them until you haven't got them.  One of the least understood parts of the game. 

[Ralonzo]

6 minutes ago, ChicagoRic said:

That's the funny thing about special teams aces.  You don't miss them until you haven't got them.

 

And if you decide to kick deep for touchbacks you still don't miss them even if you haven't got them.

[Roundybout]

47 minutes ago, ArtVandalay said:

No he hasn't, that's a joke. Guy has fallen flat on his face every playoff. This is the man that benched his starting QB for Nate Peterman.

 

It's been SIX YEARS and I cannot believe we are still on this point. Tyrod threw for 54 yards against New Orleans and it made complete sense to see what we had in the rookie. 

[John from Riverside]

Hated it whenever I saw it but I’m happy for him

[Spiderweb]

2 hours ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

Because Kumerow. And that was a big mistake in hindsight. 

And McKenzie...

[Bferra13]

1 hour ago, Srw1525 said:

Kumerow was a special team ace which is why the Bills choose him over Hodgins. Hodgins couldn’t play special teams. 

And again... a dumb decision. 

[Beck Water]

2 hours ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

Fans knew Hodgins could play though. I don’t recall what the fan sentiment was on Teller when he was here. Was he a guy that just turned a corner once he left? 

 

Yes.  He’d played better at guard than Vlad Ducasse but the whole OL stunk in 2018

[Mango]

2 hours ago, Big Turk said:

 

Good for him but he would have gotten limited opportunities here.

 

Always could end up like Foster here tho too next year. 

Hodgins plays inside. We’ve struggled with inside receivers. 
 

Shakir can play inside and out. I’m constantly surprised he isn’t given more looks.

 

For all the good stuff this staff does, they don’t do great with in game/season development. 

Edited January 16, 2023 by Mango

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Hodgins also was hurt for two years in a row.

 

He’s a nice possession WR.

 

 

[Dablitzkrieg]

1 hour ago, Epstein's Mother said:

 

These guys are in full rant mode.  Don't confuse them with facts.

 

You good?

[Bubba Gump]

2 hours ago, TheWeatherMan said:

Fun fact, Aaron Rodgers loves Kumerow 

 

Another fun fact, Kumerow's nickname was Touchdown Jesus.

[The Jokeman]

4 minutes ago, Bferra13 said:

And again... a dumb decision. 

It's easy to say in hindsight but not sure he gets same snaps here and we don't see how good he is with the Giants.

1 minute ago, Mango said:

Hodgins plays inside. We’ve struggled with inside receivers. 
 

Shakir can play inside and out. I’m constantly surprised he isn’t given more looks 

Maybe Shakir isn't great in practice or we just want to develop him more. 

[Mango]

3 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

It's easy to say in hindsight but not sure he gets same snaps here and we don't see how good he is with the Giants.

Maybe Shakir isn't great in practice or we just want to develop him more. 

Clearly the staff thinks he (and Hodgins) are not better than McKenzie. The conversation is are they wrong/did they make a mistake?

[Norcalbillsfan]

He was never healthy, and when he was Gabe was playing well and kumerow was needed on teams. Happy for the guy, but you can't evaluate a guy that could never play.

[zow2]

As i said in another thread, the Bills put all this time and patience into Hodgins and then expose him like that.  It’s shameful really that the guy is on their roster yet they couldn’t evaluate his talents and now he’s a stud in NY. Same season.  This one is a bad one for Beane and McD.

[MJS]

4 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

I suppose we cant just be happy for his success?

Seriously. The drought has messed up this fanbase. They can't deal with normal, everyday things in the NFL like players leaving and having success elsewhere, or the Bills winning close games. Or heck, even losing a game every once in awhile.

 

All of these things are the end of the world and means we need to fire everyone and start over. It's like we are dealing with toddlers.

4 hours ago, ArtVandalay said:

Because Dabol is the brains of the Bills offense, and he's gone took Hodgins as soon as he was available. 

 

Should have left McD in KC after his latest postseason meltdown,  13 seconds, and elevated Dabol. 

You have this strange, childish vendetta against McDermott. It is an obsession and says a lot more about you than it does about McDermott. Your tirades really make you look bad.

 

You should probably cool it. Just friendly advice.

[BillsShredder83]

4 hours ago, Turbo44 said:

All he did for Buffalo was get injured.  Good for him now, but, in Buffalo productivity relies on availability and he was never available

was he injured or "injured". very fair question, especially last year

[Sierra Foothills]

6 hours ago, Big Turk said:

 

Then why was the offense statistically better with far fewer "bad" games this year than last year under Daboll?

 

And against a tougher schedule this year.

 

6 hours ago, pigpen65 said:

Crazy thing to me about Hodgins is that the guy couldn't stay healthy for more than 5 minutes his entire time with the Bills. Who knew he could even stay in a game long enough to have a good game.

 

It is ironic. Hodgins couldn't stay healthy when he was here and then after he leaves, Kumerow gets injured. And in fairness, the Bills were starting to incorporate Kumerow into the offense a bit before he got injured.

 

5 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

How many ST “aces” do you need?   You can probably count one one hand the number of game changing plays by their other ST “aces”, Jones and Matelkevich. 

 

I don't know. All I know is that I'm glad we had 2 kickoff returns for TDs last week and that we have excellent special teams. It's great that we're playing the Bengals in Orchard Park instead of Cincinnati... due to special teams.

 

4 hours ago, ChicagoRic said:

That's the funny thing about special teams aces.  You don't miss them until you haven't got them.  One of the least understood parts of the game. 

 

Agreed. Having bad special teams is a constant, recurring plague.

 

4 hours ago, Ralonzo said:

 

And if you decide to kick deep for touchbacks you still don't miss them even if you haven't got them.

 

Not every special teams play involves kicking off to your opponent.

 

 

Edited January 16, 2023 by Sierra Foothills

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

4 hours ago, Roundybout said:

 

It's been SIX YEARS and I cannot believe we are still on this point. Tyrod threw for 54 yards against New Orleans and it made complete sense to see what we had in the rookie. 

 

Are we talking about the Saints game that they rushed the ball 48 times for 298 yards and 6 TDs? Tyrod had a crap game but the DEF was soooooo much worse. The Bills were 5-4 after that game and in the thick of the playoff hunt. Benching Tyrod for a rookie 5th round pick Peterman was one of the worst sit/start decisions made in Bills franchise history (with the benefit of hindsight it might be THE worst). 

 

To get back on topic....

 

Letting Hodgins get sniped from our PS and replacing him with Beasley/Brown was a major mistake. Beasley/Brown almost cost us this game. In the first half on a combined 4 targets they had 0 receptions for 2 INTs and a failed 4th down conversion. THREE turnovers on FOUR targets. That's difficult to comprehend. 

 

Beasley somewhat redeemed himself in the 2nd half, but that was not nearly enough to make up for the catastrophic 1st half. 

[Boatdrinks]

6 hours ago, pigpen65 said:

Crazy thing to me about Hodgins is that the guy couldn't stay healthy for more than 5 minutes his entire time with the Bills. Who knew he could even stay in a game long enough to have a good game.

Exactly. They thought they could sneak him through waivers and re sign the next day because he had done nothing up to that point. Joe Schoen and Daboll were familiar and grabbed him. It wasn’t anything to do with evaluation but rather a calculated risk vs releasing another player. It backfired and that happens when you have a deep roster. 

[John from Riverside]

6 hours ago, ArtVandalay said:

No he hasn't, that's a joke. Guy has fallen flat on his face every playoff. This is the man that benched his starting QB for Nate Peterman.

 

Great culture builder, but game day and scheme are two very different things than workplace culture. 

 

Some coordinators fail as coaches because they can't get the house in order culture wise. Unfortunately, we got the culture builder that is not a Chamionship caliber coach when it comes to Xs and Os and gameday.

 

Hamlin situation was bad but it does not give the coach a get out of jail free card for his repetitive shortcomings and failures in postseason. Sorry but its the truth. 

I just don’t have words to describe…

[Boatdrinks]

5 minutes ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

Are we talking about the Saints game that they rushed the ball 48 times for 298 yards and 6 TDs? Tyrod had a crap game but the DEF was soooooo much worse. The Bills were 5-4 after that game and in the thick of the playoff hunt. Benching Tyrod for a rookie 5th round pick Peterman was one of the worst sit/start decisions made in Bills franchise history (with the benefit of hindsight it might be THE worst). 

 

To get back on topic....

 

Letting Hodgins get sniped from our PS and replacing him with Beasley/Brown was a major mistake. Beasley/Brown almost cost us this game. In the first half on a combined 4 targets they had 0 receptions for 2 INTs and a failed 4th down conversion. THREE turnovers on FOUR targets. That's difficult to comprehend. 

 

Beasley somewhat redeemed himself in the 2nd half, but that was not nearly enough to make up for the catastrophic 1st half. 

He was not “ sniped” from the practice squad. He was released and claimed off waivers. They were probably going to re sign him the next day. It was a calculated risk that came up snake eyes. 

[bigduke6]

happy for Isiah,  buried on the depth chart here, couldnt stay healthy.  probably not a good special teamer.   gets a chance someplace else.  happens,  not mad about it.

 

[Nitro]

Hodkins is having a nice season with the Giants.  Still do not know why the coaching staff had him so low on the depth charts.  I am happy for him but the Bills let a good player go. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

4 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

He was not “ sniped” from the practice squad. He was released and claimed off waivers. They were probably going to re sign him the next day. It was a calculated risk that came up snake eyes. 

 

I stand corrected, but it's a mistake either way

 

[below]

Players come and go.

 

When you're an elite team, the lesser teams will inevitably try to pluck from your roster.

 

It's part of the NFL and nothing to get upset over.

 

Good for Hodgins.

 

 

 

 

[Nextmanup]

8 hours ago, Chicagobills said:

This dude can play and we all knew it. Why wasn’t he given an opportunity?

B/C McD and staff are extremely conservative with player selections.

 

How about Elam?  Where has he been all year?

 

 

[FieldGeneral]

7 hours ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Hodgins also was hurt for two years in a row.

 

He’s a nice possession WR.

 

 

 

Bingo. I mentioned this very early and also said that Knox would struggle. Was laughed at because he had 1 season of more than 7 TDs up to that point. Wasn't suggesting Hodgins over Knox, but Buffalo's WR are pretty much all the same height and build. Nobody has the body type to fight for passes with their hands. Look at how many times McDermott has not dressed McKenzie. Don't believe it's because of his hammy this time. Also don't believe that there wasn't anyone he could waive to make room on the 53. When you see raw talent, you make room. 

[DuckyBoys]

happy for the youngster and happy for Daboll/Schoen

[KHAN]

Since the top 3 receivers on this team were pretty much healthy most of the season, Hodgins would have never had the opportunity here he had with the Giants. Probably would have been similar to Shakir.

[BillMafia716ix]

He wasn’t beating out Diggs or Davis. And he doesn’t play in the slot. It was a numbers game. 

[hemma]

17 minutes ago, BillMafia716ix said:

He wasn’t beating out Diggs or Davis. And he doesn’t play in the slot. It was a numbers game. 

Daboll puts him in the slot quite a bit.

[BobbyC81]

11 hours ago, Srw1525 said:

Kumerow was a special team ace which is why the Bills choose him over Hodgins. Hodgins couldn’t play special teams. 

Couldn’t or wouldn’t?   I don’t understand how they determine that a guy can’t play special teams.  Seems like it would be effort based.

 

 

5 hours ago, Boatdrinks said:

Exactly. They thought they could sneak him through waivers and re sign the next day because he had done nothing up to that point. Joe Schoen and Daboll were familiar and grabbed him. It wasn’t anything to do with evaluation but rather a calculated risk vs releasing another player. It backfired and that happens when you have a deep roster. 

It also had to do with the Giants’ injuries at the position.

Edited January 16, 2023 by BobbyC81

[Rochesterfan]

10 hours ago, Ralonzo said:

 

And if you decide to kick deep for touchbacks you still don't miss them even if you haven't got them.

 

Yeah - I mean it is not like we returned two kickoffs for TDs in the last 8 days or anything and 1 of them from several yards deep.

 

JHC this is so dumb I don’t even know what to say.  Your brilliant plan is to kick deep - I don’t know where as all it takes is a bit of a breeze blowing the wrong direction and kickers can’t get it to the end zone.  Plus you have punts, free kicks, etc.

 

You act like ST only cover kick-offs 🤦‍♂️  - you want to know the difference look no further than NE that saw ST cost them multiple games and help them win games.  
 

It would be just one more thing for pathetic people to complain about rather than a guy the Bills liked, but was never going to play in this window.  

[oldmanfan]

I'm happy for Hodgins.  He was at best the #4 WR on the Bills, and as such needed to play special teams.  Which he didn't do.  Kumerow was great on ST, and a good #4-5 WR.  So he got the nod.  Hodgins is now on a team where he is one of the top 2 WRs based on the guys they have, and he's taking advantage of an opportunity that was not going to be available with the Bills.  Recall that Daboll could have had him on our active roster when he was our OC and did not do so.  

[Rochesterfan]

5 hours ago, Boatdrinks said:

Exactly. They thought they could sneak him through waivers and re sign the next day because he had done nothing up to that point. Joe Schoen and Daboll were familiar and grabbed him. It wasn’t anything to do with evaluation but rather a calculated risk vs releasing another player. It backfired and that happens when you have a deep roster. 

 

 

Exactly.
 

They had a chance to grab him earlier in the season when he was cut by the Bills and moved to the PS originally.  The Bills calculated he would make it and he did.

 

He got nabbed just after the trade deadline only because NYG traded a WR at that point freeing up the spot.

 

He had showed by that point he was the 6th best WR on our roster - so you have to make a roster move.  
 

Just because he has been ok in NY getting playing time does not mean he would be able to do it here.  
 

He had time with Dabol here and Dabol couldn’t use him - and if it was not for trading a WR - they never pick him up in NY.

 

 

[BearNorth]

1 hour ago, KHAN said:

Since the top 3 receivers on this team were pretty much healthy most of the season, Hodgins would have never had the opportunity here he had with the Giants. Probably would have been similar to Shakir.

On the contrary, Gabe hasn't been great since his ankle injury, Crowder got hurt early in the season and has been on IR.  McKenzie has been mostly meh.  Brown and Beasley signings indicate that other than Diggs, Josh & Dorsey were looking for answers.  i know they don't grow on trees, but if Davis doesn't step up and we don't pick up a second contract, we need to be looking somewhere for a #2 with some size to give Josh another option in the red zone.

[Ralonzo]

29 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

yadda yadda

 

Being a fancy dan and trying for an angle kick after 17-0, and having it go OB and giving the Dolphins the 40-ball turned the game, and it's not the first time this year. I'm not against having a couple guys majoring in ST, although it'd be better if you weren't dead meat running them out there in a real O or D set. Neal is like that, he can run you some reps from time to time. This one relates directly to keeping Kumerow whose WR ceiling is... what really?... over Hodgins. You prioritize a 4th or 5th ST specialist over an actual weapon, which some people on the board did see the potential there between preseason and his elevations, and he goes off to the Giants and does exactly what people said he could do for the Bills. On top of providing something they really didn't have in the group aside from Diggs: hands.