Core Players Who Will be Here for Super Bowl Run

[BuffaloBaumer]

Days like yesterday are why 13 seconds will never go away for me. They were never going to be healthier and firing on all cylinders like they were during those playoffs. Yesterday's injuries will serve as a constant reminder that they will never have a better path to the trophy. The hardest part was that it was not even the players that blew it, it was the coaching. 

 

The next step they need to take is a rebuild on the fly. Who will even be here when they make their next serious run? Poyer and Hyde are near the end, Diggs maybe has 2 more years, Milano may not be the same, White is all but done, Davis will be moving on in FA and Morse will need to be replaced.

 

The core members will most likely be Allen, Bernard, Benford, Dawkins, Cook, Rousseau, AJ, Taron, Kincaid (unfortunately Knox), Oliver, Jackson, hopefully Von, Torrence, McGovern and Brown. 

 

The main point of this post is to try and figure out how to get younger with key positions and not to hold on until it is too late. Hard decisions will need to be made and I  think that starts with some players that still have value to other teams. The offense could still carry this team into the playoffs this year so I don't want any major changes until the offseason. I just hope they don't get stupid and start handing away key draft picks to replace the injuries that have taken place this year. Ride with what you have and see who can be next man up.

[bills6969]

We would’ve lost to the Rams I’ve convinced myself of it

[JJGauna]

The Patriots built the strongest dynasty ever with a defensive head coach and a franchise QB. We have the same thing. They will find the right players and will continue to compete until Josh is retired. Bills still have time, plenty of it.

[BananaB]

McD has countlessly put the development of young players on the side for mediocre vets. It’s the reason we struggled on DLine for years and it’s about to be the reason we struggle on the back end for years.   

[Gregg]

Just now, JJGauna said:

The Patriots built the strongest dynasty ever with a defensive head coach and a franchise QB. We have the same thing. They will find the right players and will continue to compete until Josh is retired. Bills still have time, plenty of it.

 

That will depend on how well Beane can draft. The defense is going to have to get younger plus you have Tre coming back from 2 serious injuries as well as Milano coming back from one. I would expect Beane will use the 2024 draft and FA to re-tool or re-shape the defense. 

[PBF81]

The offense is fine.  

 

That's what's going to determine our fate this season.  

 

Gotta run it right.  Play calling was not good often yesterday.  

 

 

[LabattBlue]

4 minutes ago, JJGauna said:

The Patriots built the strongest dynasty ever with a defensive head coach and a franchise QB. We have the same thing. They will find the right players and will continue to compete until Josh is retired. Bills still have time, plenty of it.

Except for 6 SB’s. 😉

[DrDawkinstein]

24 minutes ago, BuffaloBaumer said:

Diggs maybe has 2 more years

 

Diggs is only 29 and just signed a 4 year extension. He's here for at least 3-4 more years.

[MasterStrategist]

Our offense needs to execute and adjust better, simple as that.

 

We have too much talent on offense, to put up a display like yesterday.  Especially in the 1st half.

 

Same story as Bengals game LY.  Can't get completely shut down...fortunately our defense kept the game "manageable"/close yesterday, even with all the injuries. 

 

Bottom line, we lose when our offense sucks.  Jets game, Jags game. I'm a Dorsey supporter, but thought yesterday was complete garbage.

 

Like others said, we aren't utilizing our offensive talent:

1. Cook- dude is a gamer, if we can't run then get more passing plays

2. Kincaid- i don't care he's a rookie, he has ALOT of talent and we're not getting him involved down the field enough

3. Harty/Sherfield- Harty finally got a few more looks yesterday, but these guys need utilized more often. YAC, both bring that

4. Screen game/creative plays: when we hit a rut, mix up some calls. I can't imagine our OL/off unit is that bad at screens.  Find a way to get more creative with reverses, playaction boots, etc

 

I'm sure Josh missed some plays too, and drops didn't help the cause in critical moments.  BUT, Dorsey was bad yesterday

 

[Einstein]

1 hour ago, bills6969 said:

We would’ve lost to the Rams I’ve convinced myself of it

 

I honestly doubt it.

 

The 2021 squad matches up with the Rams really well. In fact, the Rams were built (at that moment) similar to KC who we should have beat. An incredible interior d-linemen but the rest of the defense was average, and a high scoring offense.

 

I will always believe that 2021 was our year. We were clicking on offense unlike i’ve ever seen before. I’ve had a very hard time forgiving McD for the coaching blunders in that game.

[Low Positive]

2 minutes ago, Einstein said:

 

I honestly doubt it.

 

The 2021 squad matches up with the Rams really well. In fact, the Rams were built (at that moment) similar to KC who we should have beat. An incredible interior d-linemen but the rest of the defense was average, and a high scoring offense.

 

I will always believe that 2021 was our year. We were clicking on offense unlike i’ve ever seen before. I’ve had a very hard time forgiving McD for the coaching blunders in that game.

We might have lost to the Bengals, who match up really well against the Bills.

[boyst]

1) diggs is a player who will be in the league 5-6 more years at the least because he is a smart technical player vs. a player who gets pounded (edelman, beas), or a pure speed guy (assault hill).

 

2) kincaid is not a core player.

 

3) cook is not a core player. he's a jag. sorry not sorry

[Fetou]

1 hour ago, JJGauna said:

The Patriots built the strongest dynasty ever with a defensive head coach and a franchise QB. We have the same thing. They will find the right players and will continue to compete until Josh is retired. Bills still have time, plenty of it.

They had the greatest QB of all time so I'm not taking that for granted 

[Goin Breakdown]

20 years of playoff drought sucked these last few years of pissing away opportunity as a Super Bowl contender hurts worse. I just don't see Buffalo getting over the hump much like the chargers. They always be pretty darn good with an awesome Qb but that's it. 

Edited October 9, 2023 by Goin Breakdown

[dpberr]

This year is the Super Bowl run.  You're either all in this year, or you wait until 2025.  Injuries make the mountain steeper, but you can't punt this season. 

 

2024 is the remodel year if they want it before the new stadium, where a lot of names will leave as OP detailed, and reloading cap space where possible.   The Bills aren't resigning any player 30+ and likely going to try to get out of White's contract.  I wouldn't be surprised to see them take that dead cap hit.  

 

2024 will be a lot of cheap contracts and rookies/second year players getting a lot of playing time.   You want a Super Bowl caliber team in that new stadium, and it will have many new names.

 

 

Edited October 9, 2023 by dpberr

[RyanC883]

1.  Utilize the offense better.  Stop running Cook on 1st and/or 2nd down.  Use Murray, he can get positive yards, and open up the play action.  

 

2.  Need to get younger on D.  Try to trade Von Miller and a 1st and 3rd for Surtain II.  Instant CB upgrade, and who knows how Miller actually plays when fully back.  We still have a pass rush without him. Extend AJ, Groot and Floyd.  

 

3.  Draft a center, WR2, and DL in the upcoming draft.  

 

 

[Bills!Win!]

Did Manning (Colts not Broncos), Warner, Favre or Brees win the Super Bowl because of their defenses? 
 

Offenses can win superbowls too!!!

[LABILLBACKER]

6 hours ago, JJGauna said:

The Patriots built the strongest dynasty ever with a defensive head coach and a franchise QB. We have the same thing. They will find the right players and will continue to compete until Josh is retired. Bills still have time, plenty of it.

I believe in our young TE's. We'll need to continue improving an OL that was ignored during Josh's first 4 years. Hopefully Diggs can give us a couple more quality seasons while we look for his and Gabe's replacement.  Cook can be dynamic if KD scrubs his ridiculous draw plays. Believe and embrace the play action.  Defensively we can't expect Micah, Jordan or Tre to be here next year.  Hopefully Matt can recover and give us a couple more seasons. I want 75% of my emphasis to go towards offense. 

[Italian Bills]

Yesterday we lost because the offense, that in the first half was something putrid, unwatchable. 
 

The depleted D kept us in the game, even with stupid penalties, but it wasn’t enough because the offense, that’s it. 
 

The Bills can win every single game but just if they score up to 24 at least. 

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

The Chiefs last year did the same soft rebuild that the Bills need to do and won the Super Bowl.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

8 hours ago, bills6969 said:

We would’ve lost to the Rams I’ve convinced myself of it

Or Cincinnati - who beat the chiefs 

[SirAndrew]

9 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Diggs is only 29 and just signed a 4 year extension. He's here for at least 3-4 more years.

True, but I’d be curious to see how many elite WR’s have been over 30 in recent memory. It seems like receivers used to have longer careers. Wearing out around 30 appears very common these days. You don’t see the Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, James Lofton type players as often.

[The Jokeman]

9 hours ago, BananaB said:

McD has countlessly put the development of young players on the side for mediocre vets. It’s the reason we struggled on DLine for years and it’s about to be the reason we struggle on the back end for years.   

Because Benford is a bum? Rapp might return long term as looks like this is Poyer's last year. The doom and gloom on this board is maddening after losses. As everyone was crying over our OL last season but appears we shored that up this off-season.

[Matt_In_NH]

I agree with you but 13 seconds was just an opportunity to play the AFCC at home.  Nothing more  No guarantees.  People say I know this or that would have happened.  Wrong it was just a ticket to the next game.  

[Gunsgoodtime]

At this pace we won't have any core players left after injuries

[DrDawkinstein]

1 hour ago, SirAndrew said:

True, but I’d be curious to see how many elite WR’s have been over 30 in recent memory. It seems like receivers used to have longer careers. Wearing out around 30 appears very common these days. You don’t see the Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, James Lofton type players as often.

 

DHop, Antonio Brown, heck Julian Edelman played until he was 35 and he took massive shots across the middle. Larry Fitzgerald. Chad Johnson.

 

AJ Green and Julio Jones slowed down a bit but both played until ~34.

 

Diggs as a route specialist will be able to last in this league, especially since he's smart about not taking hits.

[MJS]

12 hours ago, bills6969 said:

We would’ve lost to the Rams I’ve convinced myself of it

Or the Bengals the next week?

[SirAndrew]

5 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

DHop, Antonio Brown, heck Julian Edelman played until he was 35 and he took massive shots across the middle. Larry Fitzgerald. Chad Johnson.

 

AJ Green and Julio Jones slowed down a bit but both played until ~34.

 

Diggs as a route specialist will be able to last in this league, especially since he's smart about not taking hits.

That’s fair, I’m just not convinced Diggs has more than two elite seasons at best. I looked up the guys you mention out of curiosity, and many played into their thirties, but their elite years were gone. DHop is only 31, and has only played half seasons the past few years. He’s still a great talent, but elite years are behind him. AB was great with Brady in TB, but didn’t play a full season, and was more of a contributor than elite go to guy. His last elite season was in 2018. Diggs does everything for this offense, and four years additional years of that would be something very few have done. Fitzgerald might be the best example. 

[major]

13 hours ago, bills6969 said:

We would’ve lost to the Rams I’ve convinced myself of it

We would have beaten the rams. I believe we would have beaten Tampa bay the year before as well in the Super Bowl. We should have been back to back champs 

[fridge]

McDermott has never won any trust back for me after 13 seconds. Games like the one on Sunday just continue to show me that he's a liability with game managing. Could it be worse? Sure, Nathaniel Hackett exists. But, for everything that McDermott has proven as both a leader and a defensive genius, he has shown to simply lack when it comes to crucial in-game decisions. He makes blunders that we have to overcome, especially when he decides to be conservative despite having one of the more explosive QB's in NFL history.