Conor Orr (from Si.com) and his prediction: Bills at 9-8 🤔

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

Barring injury, that's absurd.

[BigDingus]

I like his predictions. Not because they're the most likely to become reality, but because he's trying to put in more effort into mixing it up rather than simply slotting everyone into the same positions as the previous year (like most analysts).

 

Going into each season, you see most predictions simply put the top 4-5 teams back on top, with divisions shaking out in a pretty similar way. They'll mix up a couple 3rd & 4th place teams, or maybe predict bigger things for an up & coming team, but overall it's pretty uninteresting.

 

This guy goes out & picks the Pats only improving 2 games, but winning a division that is closely fought. 

Some of his stuff looks the same as last year (like the AFC South & AFC West), but otherwise it seems he at least tried to get creative with some of the rankings & predict actual shakeups. So at least this guy's trying, even if I think he's wrong.

Edited August 25, 2023 by BigDingus

[maddenboy]

18 hours ago, longtimebillsfan said:

Exactly.  That is my concern.

on re-read, i think i see where my answer was vague in response to your post.

 

I mean to say there is no void to be filled. 

 

They will have come up with a different scheme that has no voids.  The idea of using what you have in the best way.  not putting square pegs in round holes.

[DrPJax]

18 hours ago, longtimebillsfan said:

I don't think the Patriots will win the division, but I could see the Bills having a disappointing season.

 

With the difficult division games, I think we will split with Miami, sweep the Patriots, and we could either split with the jets or be swept.  The Jets defense has played the Bills really tough the last two years.

 

With the difficult non division games, I could see the Bills going 7-4 or 6-5.

 

Based on those potential outcomes, the Bills final season record could be anywhere from 11-6 to 9-8.

 

My biggest concern is the loss of Edmunds.  I was disappointing that no move was made to upgrade the middle linebacker position in the off season and instead we rolled the dice on existing players to fill the void.

 

All the people that bashed Edmunds on this board in the past will see what we had in Edmunds with our defense falling out of the top five this year.

 

Just my opinion.

      There is no way to prove any final association with the BILLS final defensive ranking related to edmunds SOLELY.  You have multiple factors;   WHITE may not ever return to prior form ; a first round draft pick may fail to progress and see the field with ELAM; VON MILLER MAY not return to prior form soon or at all; HYDE AND POYER are both coming off injury filled seasons and are aging;  BASHAM AND AJ may fail to progress ; FLOYD , a great signing imo , may not be used as well by mcd and not have his usual 9 plus sacks in his first year in a new system; the CB 2 position may have Jackson staying pat proving BEANE has issues with his drafts ;  poona FORD and Tim settle so far have been underwhelming as reported by people like cover 1 and that may harm the run D; PHILIPPS may not fully recover from his shoulder and other injuries issues that continue to plague him here; fraziers loss and mcd’s added burdens may result in more unexpected communication debacles like “13 seconds”. I mean we started the last preseason game with 12 first half penalties and the O started with 10 men on the field for heavens sake, proving once again this staff has communication issues ; the entire schedule is much tougher this year in terms of facing much better opponent QBs , with 2 divisional games now being against a future HOF QB in RODGERS;  and there has been no competent competition brought in to compete against DODSON AND BERNARD with NEITHER EVEN GRASPING THE STARTING MLB/ILB job yet and this is more a reflection on MCD& BEANE stubbornly failing to draft or bring in any real players with a history of past success at the position , relying on HOPE JUST AS THET ARE DOING RELATED TO SPENCER BROWN.   THERE are just too many factors at play to reach some predetermined conclusion that “ all the people that bashed EDMUNDS on this board “ are in any way wrong about their assessment of his play and worth. 

 

 

      Edmunds is apparently having some issues of availability in CHICAGO early on , so it may have been  net positive to have let him walk after 5 YEARS of first hand evaluation of his so called stellar play. Let’s see how things play out for him in CHICAGO , before criticizing the BILLS STAFF FOR allowing him to in all likelihood be overpaid relative to his actual results and stats. Let’s see if he remains an impactful mlb for another team. My main point however , is there are too many compounding factors to say any defensive rank drop off is SOLELY RELATED TO MISSING EDMUNDS.   The ranking could drop for any or all of the reasons i cited theoretically, but the major issue is not having lost a good ( not exceptional LB), but the crazy HOPING by BEANE that his undersized draft pick Bernard would step right in after barely seeing the field last year.   There were some very adequate free agents who could have most likely adequately replace Edmunds , OR EVEN proven to be better replacements , yet BEANE let his ego dictate his replacement strategy , and that may be the most important reason behind any defensive rank drop!  BUT we will never really know with all the compounding factors , and if they march KLein out there as the week one starter, BEANE has no one to blame other than himself , and having watched EDMUNDS NON STELLAR PRODUCTION,  i would argue they were the ones who let him walk yet never adequately attempted to replace him , and that’s not the fault of ‘the fans who bashed EDMUNDS “  who was known for his trailing technique tackling much more so than him being some hard hitting LB who LEAD THE D TO STELLAR RESULTS.  

 

     But we’ll never know pending the lackluster insight to attempt to replace him with players he had already beaten out and was superior too. That doesn’t mean he was irreplaceable , just more puzzling MCD Stubbornness,,,,but i could be wrong and only time will give us some clue to the truth.  I really like MILANO, but they don’t have any DARYL TALLEY , BENNETT, OR CONLAND, OUT THERE TO SUPPORT HIM , so its another year hoping instead of actively finding a replacement  who might  be a hard hitter as opposed to the soft EDMUNDS style we lived with far too long!  Lol !   Best wishes.  Go BILLS!

 

[RyanC883]

9-8 seems waaay off, and the Pats have a better chance of finishing last than first. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

9 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

McD would be welcomed back with open arms if this team wins a SB… so your suggesting they won’t? 
 

And yea, your probably right….. if the team ***** the bed in the playoffs yet again. 

WTF are you on about here 

[Radar]

5 hours ago, RyanC883 said:

9-8 seems waaay off, and the Pats have a better chance of finishing last than first. 

Pats aside I don't think 9-8 is waaay off. 

Edited August 26, 2023 by Radar

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

1 hour ago, ScottLaw said:

If the Bills win the SB what Bills fan would be upset if McDermott returns?

 

I think bare minimum(injuries aside) this team has to make it to the AFC championship game… and not get its ass whipped in the “process” to not question if keeping McD is the right move.

 

By you suggesting fans are going to be mad when McD returns next season has me thinking you don’t believe this team wins in the playoffs? 

I'm covering IFs, not making predictions.

[PayDaBill$]

Unfortunately I don’t think he’s too far off the mark.  I think we have major holes OL LB Secondary, not sure how well we’ll run the ball…… 
 

Stay tuned.

[hondo in seattle]

6 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

If the Bills win the SB what Bills fan would be upset if McDermott returns?

 

I think bare minimum(injuries aside) this team has to make it to the AFC championship game… and not get its ass whipped in the “process” to not question if keeping McD is the right move.

 

By you suggesting fans are going to be mad when McD returns next season has me thinking you don’t believe this team wins in the playoffs? 

 

How good do you think this roster really is?

 

I was pretty optimistic in the offseason, but my doubts have been growing as the preseason has progressed.  I'm not confident anymore that we have one of the best two rosters in the AFC.  So I'm not confident we make it to the AFC championship game, even if McD coaches well.  

 

 

[BullBuchanan]

On 8/25/2023 at 3:36 AM, longtimebillsfan said:

I don't think the Patriots will win the division, but I could see the Bills having a disappointing season.

 

With the difficult division games, I think we will split with Miami, sweep the Patriots, and we could either split with the jets or be swept.  The Jets defense has played the Bills really tough the last two years.

 

With the difficult non division games, I could see the Bills going 7-4 or 6-5.

 

Based on those potential outcomes, the Bills final season record could be anywhere from 11-6 to 9-8.

 

My biggest concern is the loss of Edmunds.  I was disappointing that no move was made to upgrade the middle linebacker position in the off season and instead we rolled the dice on existing players to fill the void.

 

All the people that bashed Edmunds on this board in the past will see what we had in Edmunds with our defense falling out of the top five this year.

 

Just my opinion.

Our team downgrading to below replacement level doesn't make Edmunds good. The plan should have never been to replace Edmunds with a trio of terrible prospects. It should have been to upgrade, and they didn't even try. Not even one legitimate signing for competition at the spot. Even if the defense is terrible this year, I'm still glad he's gone and that we won't be hampered with him and his insane contract over the long term. I expect the pan is to use a high pick next year to address the position.

[Unforgiven]

I'm leaning towards 8-9 ..the decline started midway thru last season.

Non entity in the playoffs, the miami win felt like a loss.

You can see the same issues in this preseason. Going to be a tough year.

[BBFL]

With this talent on the team there is absolutely zero excuse for being 9-8. But this is the NFL and several teams on our schedule have made presumptive improvements. Couple of slip ups or underwhelming performances and we could, tragically, be looking at 9-8 come season’s end. 
 

Do I think it happens? No. I believe it’ll be no less than a 11 win season but not by leaps and bounds. 

[hondo in seattle]

1 hour ago, ScottLaw said:

They have a gaping hole at MLB…  and offensive line/WR is always a question mark…. outside of that they SHOULD be better everywhere else on the roster than last season… age could catch up to them quickly though… not sure what changed for you based on three preseason games.

 

Mostly the lines.  I thought Beane made some smart, economical signings to improve the trenches.  But Poona Ford, who I thought would be a useful run stuffer hasn't shined.  And I liked the Shell signing because I have little faith in Brown's health or ability.  I thought Shell could fill in if Brown faltered.  Now, with Shell gone, I'm really worried about OT.   And McGovern's injury has me worried about OG.  

 

I also worry about the age and health of our safeties, Tre's knee, and CB#2, among other things, though these aren't new.  

 

 

 

Edited August 26, 2023 by hondo in seattle

[Turk71]

Bills with at least 10 wins?

I'd make that bet any day, I highly doubt Conor Orr would put his money on  a 9 win season. He's just looking for attention.

[longtimebillsfan]

12 hours ago, BullBuchanan said:

Our team downgrading to below replacement level doesn't make Edmunds good. The plan should have never been to replace Edmunds with a trio of terrible prospects. It should have been to upgrade, and they didn't even try. Not even one legitimate signing for competition at the spot. Even if the defense is terrible this year, I'm still glad he's gone and that we won't be hampered with him and his insane contract over the long term. I expect the pan is to use a high pick next year to address the position.

I agree with your premise that it was a bad idea to try to fill the void at middle linebacker with those players on the current roster.  I also admire your dedication to a flawed but equally irrelevantly position IE: "Edmunds sucks."

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

2 hours ago, longtimebillsfan said:

I agree with your premise that it was a bad idea to try to fill the void at middle linebacker with those players on the current roster.  I also admire your dedication to a flawed but equally irrelevantly position IE: "Edmunds sucks."

Yeah that post was a doozy 

[QLBillsFan]

Might be the only guy on earth who has NE winning the division and has both the Jets and the Dolphins under .500. And the Pats sweeping the Bills.

Not on the strength of the roster but that Bill O, BB, and oh yeah Mac Jones will get it all right at the expense of the other 3 teams. I didn’t read any other predictions this one alone was too rich🤓🧐😂!!!

[Dr.Sack]

The way I see it: Bills, Jets, Fins, Pats. 

[BillMafia716ix]

Division gonna be a dog fight this year. Every team got better. Josh really didn’t play well down the stretch of last year. Year 2 w/o Daboll will Josh elevate his game? Or will he revert back to this old Josh.