The Athletic - some grim stats (new Tim Graham piece)

[Stenbar]

 

19 hours ago, Dillenger4 said:

How can we fix the CB issue? Without trading for one and getting Max back?

We don't even know what the Bills have in Max H. He is a fast undersized CB Who has a penchant for being hurt a little more than most. Playing in this defense he will need to be making tackles in the secondary. I'm not to confident he will do much this year for the Bills. He is a luxury that is a great addition to a defensive front 6 or 7 that can stop the run. Which this defense is not even close to being.  Should have drafted Emanwori, he would have been more of an immediate help to this defense other than maybe a MLB Cleveland took.

Trading for one is insanity. We would have used almost every draft pick and future picks on a a whole lot of if come maybe's. Outside of Walker and Hawes so far this draft is a huge disappointment. 

Sometimes you have to eat the bad meal you made. This looks like the best option to me. Make everyone accountable in the FO and Coaching Staff for the rest of the year. 

[Thurman#1]

20 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6720217/2025/10/16/buffalo-bills-josh-allen-brandon-beane-gm/

 

"Pass protection has been diddly-poo. Allen was sacked 14 times last year. He has already been taken down 12 times, eight over the past three games. Pro Football Reference has charted Allen with a career-low 2.0 seconds of pocket time and 15 scrambles (rushes on plays designed to be a pass), which would put him on pace for 71 this season. His career high was 57 scrambles in 2022.

 

Discipline has been diddly-poo. The Bills have committed 35 penalties [in the past three games], 30 of them accepted for 209 yards. They drew 15 flags against the Patriots and four in the first quarter alone versus the Falcons, including a Gregory Rousseau offside that erased a takeaway and a Tre’Davious White pass interference on a third-down incompletion to extend a touchdown drive. Opponents have accepted at least eight penalties in three straight games, something the Bills haven’t experienced in four years.

 

Turnover margin has been diddly-poo. The one trend everybody knew Buffalo couldn’t count on forever was its kooky 25 consecutive games without a negative turnover margin. Buffalo was a minus-4 combined against New England and Atlanta.

 

Their run defense has done diddly-poo. Despite amassing 26 tackles for losses on runs, fourth most in the NFL, they’ve allowed 5.8 yards per carry, with 3.9 yards after contact, both league worsts. Only the Tennessee Titans, who fired their head coach this week, have allowed more than the Bills’ nine rushing TDs.

 

Open-field tackling has been diddly-poo. At safety, Sports Info Solutions has Taylor Rapp down for seven missed or broken tackles and Cole Bishop for three, most comically on Bijan Robinson’s 81-yard touchdown run Monday night. Also, 34-year-old Jordan Poyer is on the field again.

...

On the 15 balls thrown into White’s coverage, he has allowed 11 receptions (73.3 percent) for 114 yards and a touchdown, while also committing pass interference twice, defensive holding twice and missing four tackles. And he missed a game.

 

Christian Benford has surrendered an even higher passer rating, 18 of 28 attempts (64.3 percent) for 174 yards and four touchdowns with a pass interference, a defensive hold and an illegal contact.

...

Beane was so cocksure Allen’s solo act would work again that the GM made only minor moves to improve the offense. Beane even seemed willing to let running back James Cook walk in 2026.

 

In a post-draft interview on the Bills’ flagship radio station WGR 550-AM, Beane lashed out at the hosts for criticizing his lack of attention to wide receiver throughout the offseason. The club thought Beane was righteous and entertaining enough to feature his rant — that the Bills even had to bleep — at the very beginning of their behind-the-scenes draft special. The Bills didn’t lead with material about the rookies they drafted; they wanted to ridicule.

 

Through six games, the receiver criticism looks legitimate. The highest draft picks haven’t made an impact, and receiver production has been negligible.

 

Almost a year ago to the day, with concerns over the wideouts and the Bills coming off back-to-back losses, Beane traded for Amari Cooper, and although the five-time Pro Bowl receiver didn’t light up the stat sheet, his presence was credited for opening up the offense.

 

To make a similar deal now, of course, would require Beane to admit he was wrong this offseason."

 

 

 

A few good points here. 

 

Most of it, though, has a reasonably large diddly-poo content.

 

Just as an example, you say that he seemed willing to let Cook walk. Well, no. That you thought that was so doesn't mean it actually was. What apparently actually happened was that they had an amount they were willing to spend and that Cook was well above that figure, and that a compromise was reached, with Cook coming way down from his self-announced figure of $15M per year. Teams and players disagreeing on contracts is the most common thing in the world. 

 

The fact that Cook signed for about $12M, getting some guaranteed money in exchange, tells you that Beane was anything but unreasonable here. Your take on this is dumb.

 

You say that the highest draft picks haven't made an impact. And yet you somehow forget to mention that a bunch of this year's picks are already, after six weeks, significantly over-performing, and that the reason Hairston hasn't made an impact is that he was injured. Again, a dumb take on Hairston, and deeply slanted on the take concerning this draft class, not to mention that making criticisms of a draft class after six weeks is like criticizing a recipe because it's not ready two minutes after being put in the oven.

 

And criticizing protection from pocket time is deeply flawed reasoning. If a QB throws a quick-hitter to one side half a second after he gets the ball, his pocket time average will go down, regardless of the fact that the release came because it was planned to be that early, not as a result of any pressure. The Bills have thrown a ton of quick routes and behind the LOS connections. Again, this results in a low pocket time, regardless of the fact that there may have been absolutely zero pressure. They've concentrated on the short game. That will result in shorter pocket time.

 

Amari Cooper has been credited with opening up things last year. By some. But it's very far from clear that he was even a big factor. If he was the reason we got so much better, how come we played every bit as well in the passing game when he was on the bench as when he was on the field? He played only 46% of the snaps after he got here. We were just as good when he was riding pine.

 

Worth looking at the protection, though. It's looked pretty good overall, but I'd agree not quite as good as last year. They likely do need to see if they can figure out some solutions. Perhaps keep in an RB who's good at pass blocking, but on the other hand perhaps not. Ty really hasn't been quite as good this year, nor has Ray Davis, and I'm not clear on why that is.

 

Again, there are a few very good reasons for concern and criticism. Benford doesn't seem to be performing up to his usual standard. The safeties have looked good at times but have not been consistent, you're dead right on that. IMO it's not clear if these two are a long-term solution here or whether we need to look at new solutions, either short or long term. You're right also that penalties, while not awful in every game, have been bad enough to cost us a great deal in terms of lost opportunities and yardage, and probably that includes the whole loss against the Pats. Awful.

 

So there really are some good points here to be made. And you make some. But your POV here isn't just glass half-empty, it's more like there's probably viruses in the water that's there, don't drink it whatever you do.

 

 

[Thurman#1]

37 minutes ago, Stenbar said:

 

We don't even know what the Bills have in Max H. He is a fast undersized CB Who has a penchant for being hurt a little more than most. Playing in this defense he will need to be making tackles in the secondary. I'm not to confident he will do much this year for the Bills. He is a luxury that is a great addition to a defensive front 6 or 7 that can stop the run. Which this defense is not even close to being.  Should have drafted Emanwori, he would have been more of an immediate help to this defense other than maybe a MLB Cleveland took.

Trading for one is insanity. We would have used almost every draft pick and future picks on a a whole lot of if come maybe's. Outside of Walker and Hawes so far this draft is a huge disappointment. 

Sometimes you have to eat the bad meal you made. This looks like the best option to me. Make everyone accountable in the FO and Coaching Staff for the rest of the year. 

 

 

No, Dorian Strong has overperformed as well so far.

 

And while it would sure be better if Hairston weren't injured, he didn't have a rep as injury-prone. He missed half a season in college, but that was it. 

 

He is small. Absolutely could turn out to have this as a consistent problem.  Or not. We'll have to see. But no, he didn't have any particular penchant for injuries.

 

It's way way too early to judge anyone this draft as a disappointment. Ridiculous to think so.

 

"Make everyone accountable, " you say? Yeah, that's ridiculous. Everyone is accountable. They always have been. That's how it works here, and nearly everywhere, really. 

[Stenbar]

20 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

No, Dorian Strong has overperformed as well so far.

 

And while it would sure be better if Hairston weren't injured, he didn't have a rep as injury-prone. He missed half a season in college, but that was it. 

 

He is small. Absolutely could turn out to have this as a consistent problem.  Or not. We'll have to see. But no, he didn't have any particular penchant for injuries.

 

It's way way too early to judge anyone this draft as a disappointment. Ridiculous to think so.

 

"Make everyone accountable, " you say? Yeah, that's ridiculous. Everyone is accountable. They always have been. That's how it works here, and nearly everywhere, really. 

Strong is on IR.

Max's injury.

Considering he started 2 and a half years in College and was lost for half a season doesn't bode well for his future projection of injuries especially when were 6 weeks into his rookie NFL season and he is still on IR. Kinda shows he has a penchant for being injured to me.

 

Nothing I wrote is ridiculous in my opinion. 

To each his own

[dave mcbride]

1 hour ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

A few good points here. 

 

Most of it, though, has a reasonably large diddly-poo content.

 

Just as an example, you say that he seemed willing to let Cook walk. Well, no. That you thought that was so doesn't mean it actually was. What apparently actually happened was that they had an amount they were willing to spend and that Cook was well above that figure, and that a compromise was reached, with Cook coming way down from his self-announced figure of $15M per year. Teams and players disagreeing on contracts is the most common thing in the world. 

 

The fact that Cook signed for about $12M, getting some guaranteed money in exchange, tells you that Beane was anything but unreasonable here. Your take on this is dumb.

 

You say that the highest draft picks haven't made an impact. And yet you somehow forget to mention that a bunch of this year's picks are already, after six weeks, significantly over-performing, and that the reason Hairston hasn't made an impact is that he was injured. Again, a dumb take on Hairston, and deeply slanted on the take concerning this draft class, not to mention that making criticisms of a draft class after six weeks is like criticizing a recipe because it's not ready two minutes after being put in the oven.

 

And criticizing protection from pocket time is deeply flawed reasoning. If a QB throws a quick-hitter to one side half a second after he gets the ball, his pocket time average will go down, regardless of the fact that the release came because it was planned to be that early, not as a result of any pressure. The Bills have thrown a ton of quick routes and behind the LOS connections. Again, this results in a low pocket time, regardless of the fact that there may have been absolutely zero pressure. They've concentrated on the short game. That will result in shorter pocket time.

 

Amari Cooper has been credited with opening up things last year. By some. But it's very far from clear that he was even a big factor. If he was the reason we got so much better, how come we played every bit as well in the passing game when he was on the bench as when he was on the field? He played only 46% of the snaps after he got here. We were just as good when he was riding pine.

 

Worth looking at the protection, though. It's looked pretty good overall, but I'd agree not quite as good as last year. They likely do need to see if they can figure out some solutions. Perhaps keep in an RB who's good at pass blocking, but on the other hand perhaps not. Ty really hasn't been quite as good this year, nor has Ray Davis, and I'm not clear on why that is.

 

Again, there are a few very good reasons for concern and criticism. Benford doesn't seem to be performing up to his usual standard. The safeties have looked good at times but have not been consistent, you're dead right on that. IMO it's not clear if these two are a long-term solution here or whether we need to look at new solutions, either short or long term. You're right also that penalties, while not awful in every game, have been bad enough to cost us a great deal in terms of lost opportunities and yardage, and probably that includes the whole loss against the Pats. Awful.

 

So there really are some good points here to be made. And you make some. But your POV here isn't just glass half-empty, it's more like there's probably viruses in the water that's there, don't drink it whatever you do.

 

 

They are not MY points! This is all a quote from an article in The Athletic — hence the quotation marks and the ellipses. Sheesh. As for Cook, check out what @HappyDays reported: 

 

[TheBeaneBandit]

2 hours ago, Stenbar said:

 

We don't even know what the Bills have in Max H. He is a fast undersized CB Who has a penchant for being hurt a little more than most. Playing in this defense he will need to be making tackles in the secondary. I'm not to confident he will do much this year for the Bills. He is a luxury that is a great addition to a defensive front 6 or 7 that can stop the run. Which this defense is not even close to being.  Should have drafted Emanwori, he would have been more of an immediate help to this defense other than maybe a MLB Cleveland took.

Trading for one is insanity. We would have used almost every draft pick and future picks on a a whole lot of if come maybe's. Outside of Walker and Hawes so far this draft is a huge disappointment. 

Sometimes you have to eat the bad meal you made. This looks like the best option to me. Make everyone accountable in the FO and Coaching Staff for the rest of the year. 

Agreed we're kinda stuck with what we have on defense other than maybe a surprise move at safety. But we can make a move for speed at WR which would open things up for the entire offense.

[Thurman#1]

1 hour ago, Stenbar said:

Strong is on IR.

Max's injury.

Considering he started 2 and a half years in College and was lost for half a season doesn't bode well for his future projection of injuries especially when were 6 weeks into his rookie NFL season and he is still on IR. Kinda shows he has a penchant for being injured to me.

 

Nothing I wrote is ridiculous in my opinion. 

To each his own

 

 

Yes, Strong is on IR. Doesn't change the fact that he overperformed. 

 

Um, starting two and a half years in college and missing half a season in fact does bode well for future projection of injuries. When you have one injury that keeps you out of games in college over the course of three years, that's not a bad omen at all. Three or four spots over the years where things have kept you out a game or two at a time or even more? That would bode very poorly. If one injury that had him miss games shows to you that he has a penchant for being injured, that's good evidence that your perceptions are distorted on this particular issue at this time. Lots of guys have one or two injuries in college and then are healthy in the NFL. Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson are always my two favorite examples of this, but Gronk's college back thing is another. There are thousands more.

 

I explained quite clearly the parts I found ridiculous. Not surprised you're not willing to address those specifically. To each his own indeed; there's another thing you wrote that I agree with. Just looking at the bell curve will tell you that if a guy's own thing is wild pessimism, he will still be correct a certain percentage of the time. And in fact, I agreed with a number of things you said.

 

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Thurman#1

[Fleezoid]

That piece already has an impact on my life. From now on, I'm going to use "diddly-poo" at least a couple times a day. I'm going to interject it into as my conversations as possible.

[Thurman#1]

1 hour ago, dave mcbride said:

They are not MY points! This is all a quote from an article in The Athletic — hence the quotation marks and the ellipses. Sheesh. As for Cook, check out what @HappyDays reported: 

 

 

 

I see, Dave. My lazy reading. I apologize for targeting what I said at you.

 

I stand by my opinions, but should have read the article and targeted Graham.

 

 

[uticaclub]

52 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Yes, Strong is on IR. Doesn't change the fact that he overperformed. 

 

 

If you think Strong overperformed you need to adjust your expectations. He played a few snaps in 4 games. Did you expect him not to make the team?

[Big Blitz]

8 hours ago, Peace Frog said:

Couple that with the Bills' Legion of Room defense and the non-stop injuries...it's a wonder we even make the playoffs this year.  Seriously.

 

Legion of Room omg hahahaha