Cosell's Comments on the Bills

[reddogblitz]

Thanks Obvious Man.

[artmalibu]

The WR thing is getting old.  No they are not a great group but they are 8th in yards and 5th in TDs over all.  And this is on a run first team, the Bills are 5th in scoring in the league so overall production is not to shabby.  IMO the passing concepts have been less than ideal and the game plans do not get the most out of what they have.  In several film breakdowns have shown JA not throwing to open guys that could have made big plays.  So to blame talent alone is pretty weak.   

 

The biggest short comings this year has not been talent.  Two losses came from teams with less talent, one from bad game management.  Some of the injuries havent helped either.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

[DCofNC]

3 hours ago, Mikie2times said:

All true, but I would lean back on who really stands that clearly above us in the AFC? The worst we will get is a 50/50 game. This isn't close to the best iteration of this team. But the competitive landscape is just different this year. 

Spot on.  Never have we seen this level of parity.   The Rams are the scariest team and they are beatable.

[newcam2012]

28 minutes ago, GroteStreet said:

I can go either way on Mcd.  For the past few years, I wanted both of them fired.  Now I am starting to come around to the idea that McDermott is doing an OK job (we could do better but can also do much worse) with a not very talented roster.  

I just think the Bills need a change. New scheme, new coaches, and an injection of a new culture. It's been a heck of a run but I think the regime's message is growing old. My brothers recently told me the Bills look stale. 

[hondo in seattle]

1 hour ago, MikePJ76 said:

He says this exact thing every Friday afternoon on one bills drive.  
 

what’s the big deal?

 

Exactly.

 

The song hasn't changed.  

My own song has mostly been the same.  During preseason, I never believed this was our year.  The 4-0 start and the offense's early production made me start thinking about singing a slightly different tune.  Then reality set back in.  

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

4 hours ago, newcam2012 said:

Just listened to Greg Cossell in the Colin Cowherd show. He was asked about what he thought about the Bills. I think this guy really knows his football.

 

Here's what he basically said. Not a great listen as a Bills fan. They aren't one of the most talented teams in the league, they aren't that good overall from a talent perspective, they lack  play makers on both sides of the ball, very poor WR core and Kalir is more of a WR3, , have to scheme up offense, and rely on Josh being Superman which is hard to be sustainable and win like that. 

 

I know it's just one guys opinion but this guy really knows his football. Doesn't mean the Bills can't win it all. Nevertheless, this was pretty eye opening and deflating. What do you think? 

I hate his opinion but it carries plenty of weight, as he is amongst the most knowledgeable talking heads out there. I hope Beane takes it under serious advisement 

[folz]

4 hours ago, newcam2012 said:

Just listened to Greg Cossell in the Colin Cowherd show. He was asked about what he thought about the Bills. I think this guy really knows his football.

 

Here's what he basically said. Not a great listen as a Bills fan. They aren't one of the most talented teams in the league, they aren't that good overall from a talent perspective, they lack  play makers on both sides of the ball, very poor WR core and Kalir is more of a WR3, , have to scheme up offense, and rely on Josh being Superman which is hard to be sustainable and win like that. 

 

I know it's just one guys opinion but this guy really knows his football. Doesn't mean the Bills can't win it all. Nevertheless, this was pretty eye opening and deflating. What do you think? 

 

 

They aren't one of the most talented teams in the league, they aren't that good overall from a talent perspective.

I think we all know this, we've done the comparisons of number of pro-bowlers per squad, etc. But a cursory glance at stud players also does not take into account depth, coaching, culture and other factors that balance things out a bit (oh yeah, and having Josh).

 

They lack  play makers on both sides of the ball

This is debatable. Are there other teams with more playmakers? Absolutely, no doubt. But I would say that at least Cook and Kincaid (if he could stay healthy) are playmakers. Ty Johnson is a backup, but he consistently makes some big plays (when getting touches). On defense, is Benford becoming a playmaker? I'd say so looking at the last couple of weeks. Shaq has been making some big tackles. Ed will be coming back. Bosa has made some pretty big plays. And, again, we have Josh (I know he meant beyond Josh, but Josh is almost  like having two playmakers). Do we have a lot of guys that are say top 5 at their position or guys that have to be specifically schemed against, no (well, probably just Josh and Cook...and maybe Bosa---not top 5, but possibly needing to be schemed against). But, sometimes the whole is more than the sum of the parts.

 

very poor WR core and Kalir is more of a WR3

Not sure those were his exact words, but again, it's not something that we didn't already know. Shakir is more of a slot receiver (which is usually considered your #3 guy). And beyond Shakir, yes, it is a weak group in comparison. But, again, you have to look at the makeup of the whole team and the reasons behind everything. First of all, we have Josh. Secondly, we are a heavier run team (top two in rushing attempts, #1 in yards, #2 in rushing TDs). We have three very good TEs, who are currently second in the league for TE receiving yards and 3rd in the league for TDs by TEs (and that's with Kincaid missing 4-1/2 games). There aren't as many balls to go around to our WRs as on other teams. Plus, being a run team, we want our receivers to be able to block well. They don't all do that well. Are the Chiefs expecting Worthy to be a great blocker for the run game? Not saying I don't want or don't think we need improvement to our WR room, but we are probably better off trying to find one in the draft.

 

People make it seem like it's easy to just go out and get a stud WR. How many guys in the league even fit in that category? Maybe 15-23 or so (so, a number of teams don't have a true stud #1).

 

This past off-season, only two stud receivers were available via FA or trade. Adams and Lamb. First of all, 31 other teams also wanted those guys. Secondly, holding late draft picks is a disadvantage even in trades. Other teams 1st or 2nd round picks are higher and of more value than ours. Also, we have been a little low on assets the last couple of years---it is just the part of the cycle we are in for a team that maintains success over a long period of time. You start losing guys to age, free agency, injuries, etc. Contracts come home to roost from seasons where you tried to hold everything together, etc. There is a cycle in trying to maintain success (are the Chiefs not going through a similar cycle right now?). Then you also have to factor in (at least for FA) does that stud receiver even want to come to a run-first team that throws a lot of balls to the RBs and TEs and that plays outside in the cold? Or would they rather go to the Rams and Cowboys who are going to be chucking the ball around their domes, giving you a ton more targets, etc. Playing with Josh I think would be a big draw, but you'd have to have a mature WR who isn't as worried about his own stats as he is about winning and who is also a willing blocker in the run game. Also, I looked back a few years and it is pretty much an average that usually there are only two (possibly three) stud receivers available each year via FA or trade (again, with 31 other teams also vying for their services).

 

Believe me, I would love to see a stud receiver on the team---added to the RBs and TEs, this offense might be unstoppable. But I also get that it isn't just as easy as saying go out and get one. Should Beane take more shots (especially in the draft), sure I'm on board for that. I was hoping we'd trade up for Brian Thomas, Jr. last year (not sure if that would have been a good move or not. Good rookie year. But having a bit of a sophomore slump. Plus we would have had to trade from 31 to 23). Ladd was there for the taking, but we didn't need a slot (hindsight, who cares, right? But at the time...currently he's on pace for about 900 yards this year---about 250 yards less than last year). And this year, our only real chance was to move up from 28 to 16 for Egbuka (probably would have taken our 2nd and 4th at least). After that, the only guys available in round 2 were Jayden Higgins, Luther Burden, Tre Harris, and Jack Bech (currently Burden has the best stats of that group with 395 and 1 TD, so...). Plus, to move up for a guy, you have to be pretty sure that that's the guy you want and expect to be a stud to give up that much. Plus, you have other positions of need as well, with other players on the board  that maybe you have rated higher, etc.

 

I do hope we see a big improvement in the WR room next year (we should at least have more money for it), but I also think we can still win with what we got this year (especially with a wide open AFC and no real dominant teams league-wide). Not to bring up Rex, but the playoffs will be time for the Bills to play bully ball. Run it down their throats, keep emphasizing toughness and turnovers on the defense, and let Josh loose when needed.

 

Just trying to have some perspective and some optimism. Go Bills!

[HamptonBillsfan]

4 hours ago, newcam2012 said:

Just listened to Greg Cossell in the Colin Cowherd show. He was asked about what he thought about the Bills. I think this guy really knows his football.

 

Here's what he basically said. Not a great listen as a Bills fan. They aren't one of the most talented teams in the league, they aren't that good overall from a talent perspective, they lack  play makers on both sides of the ball, very poor WR core and Kalir is more of a WR3, , have to scheme up offense, and rely on Josh being Superman which is hard to be sustainable and win like that. 

 

I know it's just one guys opinion but this guy really knows his football. Doesn't mean the Bills can't win it all. Nevertheless, this was pretty eye opening and deflating. What do you think? 

Cosell has an opinion based on plenty of film study. I have watched every minute of every game and this is my opinion. Please don’t say our offense has no talented players. Cook,Kincaid and our O-line when healthy and coached correctly for the opponent, is quite formidable. Shakir and Knox are quality targets and Davis looks like the Davis of old giving Josh good options.Factor in Josh, who makes everyone better, and Ty Johnson and Davis who are good role players and there’s an abundance of talent.

[finn]

If Cosell is right, then Allen should win MVP for the success the team has had and will likely continue to have. I don't understand how people can hype Stafford without acknowledging that the team around him is superior to Allen's. 

 

Anyway, if the Bills go all the way, they won't be the first no-name team to do so. Sometimes it's less about individual star power and more about team character. That's not to say the Bills have, it, but they might. We'll see Sunday.