Good Night / Bad Night - Pre-season game 3

[nosejob]

6 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

The Buccaneers play-by-play guy - Who spent the first two series calling running back Elijah Young "Jarveon Howard." In fairness to him it is probably partly on Bills PR as Howard was signed then immediately waived hurt this week only to have Young replace him.... but even when the game feed was clearly showing close ups of Young's jersey the play by play game continued. Eventually a producer pointed out his error. But it was funny while it lasted. 

 

Good write up! Just wondering if it was just me but didn't one of those guys on the very 1st series call a completed pass by Baker Mayfield? I think they ate the cookies to sober up a little....

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

16 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

If you are down to QB 3…

no doubt. Still— I bet white could at least have a fighting chance to keep it close if thrown in there. Not sure about Buechele.

[JaBu]

12 minutes ago, nosejob said:

Good write up! Just wondering if it was just me but didn't one of those guys on the very 1st series call a completed pass by Baker Mayfield? I think they ate the cookies to sober up a little....

 

Yea, I also heard "Baker Mayfield" and thought, what?... he's playing?... wasn't supposed to be.

[nosejob]

Just now, JaBu said:

 

Yea, I also heard "Baker Mayfield" and thought, what?... he's playing?... wasn't supposed to be.

LOL They had just mentioned right before the start that he wasn't playing. What a couple a Goobs.

[Kwai San]

6 hours ago, ROCBillsBeliever said:

@GunnerBill Thanks, as always, for the thoughtful insights! I might add Zach Davidson's surprise punting ability to his "Good" write-up. I, for one, did not have that on my Bills bingo for tonight's game. That first punt was titanic!

 

He had a twofer night....The crazy punt and the slapstick comedy of chasing Sanders outa the game.  Only sad thing on the punt was he outkicked his gunners, other than that it was pretty sweet for a TE!

[GunnerBill]

40 minutes ago, VW82 said:

 

Lots of folks seem to believe we'll keep six WRs this year. Why? Last year we kept five. A big part of our offensive philosophy seems to be "play big" with extra linemen or TEs. At some point, there just isn't room, especially if we go into the season with a few injured guys we probably don't want to stash on IR given they might be back in a week or two (e.g. Tre, Max).

 

If we only keep five, has Shavers done enough on teams to outplay a guy like Shenault? The latter appears to have also had a great camp / preseason, but specifically in the role he'd play every week as a core teams guy. Interesting he can even return kicks. 

 

I don't mean to downplay how good Shavers has been, and he'd be the first call once one of the top 4 goes down (samuel, samuel, curtis), but that likely isn't the case heading into week one, and I tend not to think Shavers will make it over Samuel given the traits he (theoretically) brings to the offense that no one else does. Maybe I'm missing something here Edit: another poster intimated Shenault was a disaster in coverage yesterday so maybe that complicates things.

 

I think we will keep 5. I don't think Shenault makes the team. I am certain Shavers is ahead of him. If we keep 6 Shenault is being kept just as a returner. Not as a guy who can play receiver, because he can't.

33 minutes ago, nosejob said:

Good write up! Just wondering if it was just me but didn't one of those guys on the very 1st series call a completed pass by Baker Mayfield? I think they ate the cookies to sober up a little....

 

They were a talking disaster zone.

[GaryPinC]

3 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

Well to be fair, the Bills defense has had plenty of players that "do all the little things" but then always fail to make a big play in a big moment. Fans maybe have gotten a bit sick of that archetype. So I think having a DL who might be the inverse of that is a great addition to the roster. Consistency is important but splash plays win games. Walker looks like a splash play waiting to happen.

 

Walker is the guy this year who can really help this defense.  The coaches need to lean into him a bit and do anything they can to try and accelerate his development during the season.  Totally agree about the splash potential and tolerating some of his run game deficiencies his rookie season

[Dan Darragh]

11 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

The Buccaneers play-by-play guy - Who spent the first two series calling running back Elijah Young "Jarveon Howard." In fairness to him it is probably partly on Bills PR as Howard was signed then immediately waived hurt this week only to have Young replace him.... but even when the game feed was clearly showing close ups of Young's jersey the play by play game continued. Eventually a producer pointed out his error. But it was funny while it lasted. 

Gunner, if I remember correctly, lives in the UK and therefore sees the home team TV coverage for preseason games (as I do where I live overseas).  I assume that you guys in WNY got the Buffalo coverage, and if so you missed this:  

 

Tampa Bay has a sponsor that is the "Exclusive Hospital of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."  Somehow that strikes me as a bad look.

[Orlando Buffalo]

I watched a little bit of Bishop and I think he will be good soon, I just am afraid to say whether I mean week 1 this year or next year. 

[NeverOutNick]

11 hours ago, LEBills said:

I still will be surprised if the Bills keep 6 WRs. The best thing Shavers did last night, despite the circus touchdown, was playing well on special teams. Making the tackle on the return that Shenault lost contain on probably solidified him over Shenault. It is Shavers vs Moore. I do have some hope for his ability against higher competition, he is so big that he drew two penalties last night. How he sat down in the empty zone on the sideline for the first down was great. His hands are inconsistent though, and may keep him on a short leash to offensive snaps.

 

most people were impressed with Walker and asked where Sanders was. You nailed it that Walker is Jordan Phillips reincarnated. A boy that can penetrate and make splash plays. But Sanders did the grunt work taking on double teams yesterday, not getting fooled on the screen pass that Deon did. Sanders was off the field before Walker was because Walker made some bad plays too. He seems to like to spin when in run defense leaving vacated gaps, and he did get pushed around. I am very excited about the two DTs, but I think Sanders had a more consistent night last night.

 

Chase Lundt and Jackson Hawes were great. Hawes has made the roster, Lundt I think has too. RVD I think would be traded if Grable hadn’t missed so much preseason with his concussion. But since he has, I think Lundt and RVD make it as backup tackles along with Grable and we keep 10 at OL.

 

Carter and Soloman are the two biggest question marks to me. Neither has earned a roster spot. But with Hoecht out, Soloman may make it as depth (and cut week 6). Carter if he makes it is only to give him one more year to develop since he was a 3rd round pick. Once Ogunjobi returns (if he is not cut for cap space), the Bills would probably have to cut either Carter or DQ. What they do with those two probably decides whether we keep 5 or 6 WRs.

 

Despite the buzz for Ciarlo, I think they only keep 5 LBs and Ciarlo goes to the PS. I think they would like to keep 6 on the roster but their just isn’t really a 6th guy worth keeping.

 

Finally, props to Tez Johnson. I had to lookup the Bucs depth chart to see if there was anyway the numbers game would leave him as a cut. It looks like he will be safe. He played just like he did at Oregon and I am sad he isn’t a Bill knocking Coddrington off the roster as a returner

Great post and agreed on Tez Johnson. Bills scouting department seems to care more about RAS and measurables than actual production to let guys like Tez Johnson fall and draft guys like Justin Shorter. I also think both Moore and Shavers make it at the expense of Samuel. Samuel is a waste and will either be cut (regardless of $) or stashed as IR/PUP. I doubt anyone would trade for him

[CincyBillsFan]

9 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I thought Cole was fine this week. He didn't stand out but no mistakes that were immediately noticeable.

Watch the Joe Marino video on the All 22 thread thread. He showed multiple good plays by Bishop.  Joe said Bishop had to flash and in only 2 series he did.  IMO he looked like a solid starter playing against backups.  

 

This was huge because it showed what those of us who are optimistic about Bishop thought was the deal - Bishop had missed a lot of practices and was rusty against the Bears.  After a weeks practice, Bishop looked a lot more decisive and confident and had knocked the rust off. The issue IMO is NOT talent as Bishop has more then enough to be a very good NFL safety.  It's whether or not he can stay healthy.

 

 

[GunnerBill]

8 hours ago, CincyBillsFan said:

Watch the Joe Marino video on the All 22 thread thread. He showed multiple good plays by Bishop.  Joe said Bishop had to flash and in only 2 series he did.  IMO he looked like a solid starter playing against backups.  

 

This was huge because it showed what those of us who are optimistic about Bishop thought was the deal - Bishop had missed a lot of practices and was rusty against the Bears.  After a weeks practice, Bishop looked a lot more decisive and confident and had knocked the rust off. The issue IMO is NOT talent as Bishop has more then enough to be a very good NFL safety.  It's whether or not he can stay healthy.

 

 

 

I have watched it. Yea Bishop had a couple of nice close and stick plays. He was fine. It was a solid day, if he can turn in 17 plus post season solid days we will all be happy. I don't think he did anything exceptional but he was fine. 

 

I have never questioned Cole Bishop's physical talent either. I do worry a bit about his processing. It's the mental side in coverage that still gives me concerns. It's a bit Dorian Williams like. Nobody has ever doubted he can run and hit, but teams have taken advantage of him between the ears. They get him to take the bait too often. 

[buffblue]

On 8/24/2025 at 8:46 AM, Sierra Foothills said:

 

 

I haven't watched the game but according to the live game thread, besides Bass' miss one other made FG appeared to possibly be a miss and the other 2 makes also flirted with the right upright.

 

In other words it sounds like Bass was shaky.

 

This is accurate

[BillsShredder83]

On 8/24/2025 at 7:34 AM, eball said:

I just watched the condensed version so it was tough to identify some guys, but if Shavers isn’t on the 53 I’d be shocked.

 

What a difference a week makes, however.  Clearly McD lit a fire under these bottom-of-the-roster guys to play like it meant something.

 

The secondary in general was awful, but Bishop had one really nice hit/PBI over the middle that was encouraging.

 

 

Where do you get these condensed? NFLN+ or whatever? I had it 2 years ago. Was never able to login the entire season amd had to file a dispute with my CC company lol

 

Did they figure this out?

[eball]

1 hour ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Where do you get these condensed? NFLN+ or whatever? I had it 2 years ago. Was never able to login the entire season amd had to file a dispute with my CC company lol

 

Did they figure this out?

Yes, NFL+
 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

19 hours ago, Dan Darragh said:

Tampa Bay has a sponsor that is the "Exclusive Hospital of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers."  Somehow that strikes me as a bad look.

Well, when all you do is treat gunshot wounds, hand out bandages, prescribe oxycodone, and charge exorbitant fees, you're bound to have advertising dollars to piss away.

[Logic]

On 8/24/2025 at 4:29 AM, GunnerBill said:

I had Deone on my good list and he was in pass rush - reason I left him off the list was I rewatched some run defense snaps and he is having real issues there still. He really is Jordan Phillips mkii. Built like a 1T plays like a 3T.

Yet another 3T that they're dead set on forcing to play 1T. 

They seem to have at least a decent eye for drafting 3Ts, but they can't identify a 1T to save their lives.