There’s something different about McD this season…

[colin]

1 hour ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

I think it has to do with his relationship with Beane. 

 

i think there is internal finger pointing going on at one bills drive.  i don't know if it's some like normal good competitive level, or a negative destructive level, but i think it's there and bigger than before.

[pennstate10]

1 hour ago, eball said:

…and I don’t mean the eyeglasses.  I know he has always talked about the Bills being a “tough” football team, but he has really ramped up the toughness aspect in nearly every locker room speech or interview I’ve seen.  It’s almost as if he has single-handedly willed this team to be mentally and physically tough.  He knows he already had that guy in 17, but the entire team has now taken on the mentality of overcoming adversity through toughness.  I view it as yet another progression in Sean’s growth as a leader and head coach.

 

What I’ve noticed is an evolution since 2021. 
He is less conservative, and more willing to take chances. Especially on 4th down.  Also more willing to call cover zero blitzes. Although I’m not sure he’s calling these, I think he’s approving them. 
I don’t think the 2021 McD would ever go for it on 4th and 4 on his side of field in the 1st half. 

[Rousseauisnoschmo]

Win a Superbowl. You have one of the best QBs in the past 50 years. Don't care if McD shows up on the sidelines dressed as a chick.

1 hour ago, balln said:

He’s fine. I think we (Josh Allen) win big games in spite of him mostly. 
 

Eye test. The defense is the worst it’s ever been. There are no consistently great players. Too many injuries

Really an indictment of Beanes roster mismanagement.

[Coffeesforclosers]

6 minutes ago, pennstate10 said:

What I’ve noticed is an evolution since 2021. 
He is less conservative, and more willing to take chances. Especially on 4th down.  Also more willing to call cover zero blitzes. Although I’m not sure he’s calling these, I think he’s approving them. 
I don’t think the 2021 McD would ever go for it on 4th and 4 on his side of field in the 1st half. 

 

2025 McDermott is a kamikaze compared to 2019 McDermott.

 

IMHO, his biggest failing is stale ideas on defense, but I'm not a big enough film nerd to support that with specifics.

 

He seems like he's trying to run a much more aggressive, pressure-based scheme than our roster is tuned for, especially in the postseason. Bosa may be the only DL player who is authorized to get pressure on the QB as their first priority, instead of gap integrity.

Edited 2 hours ago by Coffeesforclosers

[LabattBlue]

For anyone touting the virtues of McD, one of his most important tasks is hiring the OC & DC.   So what does he do working with a team that has Super Bowl aspirations?  He promotes from within…guys he can control easier, instead of hiring established experienced coordinators who may question McD more than two OJT guys who are just thankful for the promotion.  
 

Babich & Brady…are these guys to lead you to a SB?

 

Yeah…McD is really growing as a HC. 
 

👎🏻

Edited 2 hours ago by LabattBlue

[NoSaint]

1 hour ago, eball said:

…and I don’t mean the eyeglasses.  I know he has always talked about the Bills being a “tough” football team, but he has really ramped up the toughness aspect in nearly every locker room speech or interview I’ve seen.  It’s almost as if he has single-handedly willed this team to be mentally and physically tough.  He knows he already had that guy in 17, but the entire team has now taken on the mentality of overcoming adversity through toughness.  I view it as yet another progression in Sean’s growth as a leader and head coach.

 

is this team tougher?

[Fleezoid]

1 hour ago, T.E. said:

Brilliant strategic move to wear the 38-year old female barista glasses for a few weeks to make the team think he'd gone soft, only to remove them to signal that it's now December and time to get down to business. Almost like a "New Coke" type situation.

 

I think he realized you can't go from Clark Kent to Superman without having a pair of glasses on. 

[Mr. WEO]

Growth as a coach?  Only 3 current HCs have longer tenure than McD.

 

Is there something different about his this year?  We'll find out come playoff time....

[NeverOutNick]

1 hour ago, SoCal Deek said:

He’s most definitely a good football coach. But he’s not winning a championship with the Buffalo Bills. You have to better than ‘good’ to win the Super Bowl. 

This is basically how I feel but I have optimism because this year with no Chiefs, Burrow and maybe even Baltimore to get in our way, Josh Allen can still win it all in spite of not great coaching 

[HOUSE]

McDermott wears a different coat, shirt and hat every week.

Could be wardrobe thieves?

[Augie]

13 minutes ago, RkFast said:

 

Dude, Bruce Arians won a Super Bowl. 

 

…and Barry Switzer, and the list goes no. It takes a little good fortune as well. People give too much credit to a “Super Bowl Winning Coach”, imo. Guys like Harbaugh and Tomlin are not the greatest, most brilliant coaches, but things fell right for them. 

[muppy]

1 hour ago, HoofHearted said:

Have you seen our missed tackle numbers improve throughout the season? They have. Zero missed tackles vs the run the past two weeks.

this is a great stat and an encouraging one too.

[Ga boy]

25 minutes ago, stlbills13 said:

I think I've seen him a lot more pissed off this year than in year's past. I also get the impression he's not happy with a lot of people right now

Yea I think he’s tightening the screws.  Loved that steely look in his eyes when they went for it on 4th and JA17 found Hawes.  After the 6, he didn’t show much emotion.  It’s all bizness now.

[muppy]

7 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

For anyone touting the virtues of McD, one of his most important tasks is hiring the OC & DC.   So what does he do working with a team that has Super Bowl aspirations?  He promotes from within…guys he can control easier, instead of hiring established experienced coordinators who may question McD more than two OJT guys who are just thankful for the promotion.  
 

Babich & Brady…are these guys to lead you to a SB?

 

Yeah…McD is really growing as a HC. 
 

👎🏻

the buck stops with McDermott as it should.  Your coordinators point is very well taken. Calls for firing all 3 have been rampant.

 

so the jury is still out this season

 

BuckleUP Bills fans

 

we all have our opinions but have zero control. Just hopes and dreams of NFL  glory

 

And the QB we have that just might get us  there. On his back as necessary as evidenced last week

 

lol

 

GO BILLS

 

 

[mushypeaches]

1 hour ago, Chaos said:

Sometimes good is the enemy of great.  

Sometimes perfect is the enemy of good enough

[SectionC3]

1 hour ago, SoCal Deek said:

He’s most definitely a good football coach. But he’s not winning a championship with the Buffalo Bills. You have to better than ‘good’ to win the Super Bowl. 

Barry Switzer adores you right now. 

26 minutes ago, colin said:

 

i think there is internal finger pointing going on at one bills drive.  i don't know if it's some like normal good competitive level, or a negative destructive level, but i think it's there and bigger than before.

I’m with you.  That Tim Graham post about Ingram was telling.  I have no doubt that McD is unhappy with Beane.  

[Captain Hindsight]

17 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

McDermott wears a different coat, shirt and hat every week.

Could be wardrobe thieves?

We should probably check your closet 

[Mr. WEO]

2 hours ago, HoofHearted said:

Have you seen our missed tackle numbers improve throughout the season? They have. Zero missed tackles vs the run the past two weeks.

 

They had 2 on Bengals first drive alone: Cam Lewis whiffed on Perrine on a 3rd and 6.  Chase Brown (charitably listed as "5' 10"") dragged 5-6 Bills 5 yards in the EZ.  

[Mikie2times]

2 hours ago, Chaos said:

Sometimes good is the enemy of great.  

Certainly is. To use his own words, he's a fundamentally strong coach. I really don't think he prevents us from winning, especially with a better roster. But I also don't think he's vaulting us to the forefront. I put most of that on his reluctance to add top coordinators outside the team including on his own defense.

 

Watching what Ben Johnson does with Chicago's offense is just, wow. The motion, misdirection, all of it. It's a serious advantage. He's not bringing that type of advantage to the team.   

[Billsfanatic8989]

46 minutes ago, NeverOutNick said:

This is basically how I feel but I have optimism because this year with no Chiefs, Burrow and maybe even Baltimore to get in our way, Josh Allen can still win it all in spite of not great coaching 

Doesn't that put even more pressure on McDermott though? Losing a postseason game to Nix, Maye, old Rodgers, Stroud would put him under the microscope even more. 

 

IF he/they can't get to a SB this year, it will never happen.