Is the MLB Competition Over Before It Started?

[PBF81]

  On 8/13/2023 at 12:15 AM, Meatloaf63 said:

And we got clobbered by Cincinnati with him playing when it mattered the most.

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You're right, the rest of the D and team was stellar, if only he had shown up, we'd have won.  

 

🙄

 

 

[Bills!Win!]

The patriots always used the “next man up”  thing. Why can’t we? 

[GunnerBill]

  On 8/13/2023 at 12:50 AM, WickedGame said:

Sure. Or paid the guy who was here. But we all wanted to crucify that guy anyway.

 

So…31 other candidates league wide…fewer if you only count those who played MLB in a 4-3…and how many were available as a free agent?

 

Bills fans just like having something to complain about. That’s all this is. 

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There are not only 31 guys who have been starters at MLB before. That is the point vs Dodson. Dodson is a career backup. He has only ever backed up. 

[NickelCity]

Dodson did not inspire confidence. Bernard's hamstring injury is a real bummer. 

 

Have to wonder if we're going to be looking at veteran cuts. 

[Buffalo716]

  On 8/13/2023 at 6:31 AM, GunnerBill said:

 

There are not only 31 guys who have been starters at MLB before. That is the point vs Dodson. Dodson is a career backup. He has only ever backed up. 

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For sure... But is that more of a product that he's been behind Tremaine Edmonds and Matt Milano in our predominantly two linebacker sets?

 

Since we picked up Dodson as an undrafted free agent I always thought he had some attributes of a starter... A good base to develop 

 

Now we are going to find out

 

There's a reason the bills never cut him even after his domestic violence accusations

Edited August 13, 2023 by Buffalo716

[GunnerBill]

  On 8/13/2023 at 6:52 AM, Buffalo716 said:

For sure... But is that more of a product that he's been behind Tremaine Edmonds and Matt Milano in our predominantly two linebacker sets?

 

Since we picked up Dodson as an undrafted free agent I always thought he had some attributes of a starter... A good base to develop 

 

Now we are going to find out

 

There's a reason the bills never cut him even after his domestic violence accusations

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I have always liked Dodson too. I thought he was draftable the year he came out. Was delighted when the Bills signed him as an UDFA - that is all on record on this forum. 

 

But the Bills are asking a lot IMO for him to step right in here. And even Klein who is their "vet insurance" guy has made the majority of his career starts as a strong side 'backer in a 4-3 or a weak side 'backer in a nickel look - both with the Panthers and the Saints. He has played the odd game here as the middle linebacker in spot duty but that is basically it. 

 

They have a miniscule amount of middle linebacker starting experience on this roster. 

[Doc Brown]

  On 8/13/2023 at 12:50 AM, WickedGame said:

Sure. Or paid the guy who was here. But we all wanted to crucify that guy anyway.

 

So…31 other candidates league wide…fewer if you only count those who played MLB in a 4-3…and how many were available as a free agent?

 

Bills fans just like having something to complain about. That’s all this is. 

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When the Bucs are terrible this year I can't wait for the 250 page trade for Lavonte David thread near the deadline.

[Meatloaf63]

  On 8/13/2023 at 1:32 AM, PBF81 said:

 

You're right, the rest of the D and team was stellar, if only he had shown up, we'd have won.  

 

🙄

 

 

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So the same can be said about the opposite, use whatever brain was given to you. It may not be much, but it it should lead you to understanding that.

[Eastport bills]

Very troubling prospect of the options available to replace Edmunds. Dodson, Bernard and Spector just haven’t shown instincts, closing speed or the physicality needed to protect the 2nd level on runs or underneath receivers. I know Beane prioritized edge rusher (Floyd) over the MLB available in FA, but AJ Klein seems like our best option over these young guys, and that is problematic. When do we admit that maybe Dodson isn’t the heir apparent to Edmunds?

[Mr. WEO]

I thought this was about the NL East

[NewEra]

  On 8/13/2023 at 12:50 AM, WickedGame said:

Sure. Or paid the guy who was here. But we all wanted to crucify that guy anyway.

 

So…31 other candidates league wide…fewer if you only count those who played MLB in a 4-3…and how many were available as a free agent?

 

Bills fans just like having something to complain about. That’s all this is. 

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You can’t pay everyone

  On 8/13/2023 at 8:03 AM, Doc Brown said:

When the Bucs are terrible this year I can't wait for the 250 page trade for Lavonte David thread near the deadline.

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I think devin white is the guy that’ll be leaving tampa, but he won’t be coming to Buffalo.

 

David wants to be a buc and I don’t think they’d trade him regardless if it makes sense or not.  White wants to get paid.  And he’s not worth what he wants.  

[NewEra]

  On 8/13/2023 at 2:36 PM, Eastport bills said:

Very troubling prospect of the options available to replace Edmunds. Dodson, Bernard and Spector just haven’t shown instincts, closing speed or the physicality needed to protect the 2nd level on runs or underneath receivers. I know Beane prioritized edge rusher (Floyd) over the MLB available in FA, but AJ Klein seems like our best option over these young guys, and that is problematic. When do we admit that maybe Dodson isn’t the heir apparent to Edmunds?

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When someone beats him out

[Bangarang]

MLB is probably going to be a problem all year I imagine. Offenses will likely pick on that part of the field I imagine. 

[NewEra]

If I’m an opposing OC, I’m targeting Dobson in the pass game on every 3rd down.  
 

I think our d will be ferocious this year but many 3rd downs will be painful to watch.  

[MiltonWaddams]

  On 8/13/2023 at 3:22 PM, Bangarang said:

MLB is probably going to be a problem all year I imagine. Offenses will likely pick on that part of the field I imagine. 

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You and John Lennon.

[NewEra]

  On 8/13/2023 at 3:22 PM, Bangarang said:

MLB is probably going to be a problem all year I imagine. Offenses will likely pick on that part of the field I imagine. 

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Yup.  I think this Dobson guy is going to be under a microscope and turn into Colin Brown really fast.

 

 

[Dr. Who]

  On 8/13/2023 at 3:24 PM, NewEra said:

Yup.  I think this Dobson guy is going to be under a microscope and turn into Colin Brown really fast.

 

 

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I keep thinking of Kojak's sidekick when you say that. (Yes, I'm pretty old.) Dodson is the price you pay for choosing to go with Kincaid and Torrence early in the draft, along with not targeting the position in free agency. I would have preferred a better veteran option than Klein, but I'd rather suffer a weakness at MLB than lose out on the best pass catcher in the draft and possibly a day one starter at G that helps solidify IOL.

 

I know you agree with most, if not all of this. 

[NewEra]

  On 8/13/2023 at 3:48 PM, Dr. Who said:

I keep thinking of Kojak's sidekick when you say that. (Yes, I'm pretty old.) Dodson is the price you pay for choosing to go with Kincaid and Torrence early in the draft, along with not targeting the position in free agency. I would have preferred a better veteran option than Klein, but I'd rather suffer a weakness at MLB than lose out on the best pass catcher in the draft and possibly a day one starter at G that helps solidify IOL.

 

I know you agree with most, if not all of this. 

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I prefer Dobson over Dodson.

 

You know I thought we made the correct decision.  We can’t continue to stack the D using our most valuable resources.  Sometimes you have to make shocked salad out of chicken ***t

[Southern_Bills]

  On 8/11/2023 at 1:17 PM, KDIGGZ said:

This "competition" was never much of a competition to begin with. They had Dodson, who is a career backup but knows the defense, and they had Bernard, who is the size of a safety. They never even made an attempt to replace Edmunds and I think it will come back to bite them in the you know what. The MLB is a very important piece in this defense. It's the Luke Kuechly position. You can't just stick a backup in there and call it a day

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An entire front office of a top 5 NFL team disagrees with you, we will take a wait and see approach to see who is right.

[WickedGame]

  On 8/13/2023 at 3:16 PM, NewEra said:

You can’t pay everyone

I think devin white is the guy that’ll be leaving tampa, but he won’t be coming to Buffalo.

 

David wants to be a buc and I don’t think they’d trade him regardless if it makes sense or not.  White wants to get paid.  And he’s not worth what he wants.  

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Right. My point exactly. OP wants to moan that we’ve replaced Edmunds with a backup instead of a starter. But what the heck else were we supposed to replace him with?

 

Don’t get me wrong, I think Edmunds had value. It’s just that his value was primarily size rather than skill. Now we’ve replaced him with less size and as-yet-unproven skill.

 

Count me among those who believe you can’t pay everyone and we’ve paid the right people. I’ll trust the veteran leadership in our back seven to compensate for what we lost in Edmunds, and I’m grateful we’re not over-investing in MLB in a pass-first league.  

Edited August 14, 2023 by WickedGame