2021 Buffalo Bills - Same as it ever was*** (2 Viewers)

[GroveDiesel]

I'm interested to see how the D-Line looks against the Bengals. That offense is not built to be a quick pass offense. I think the D-line's effectiveness has seemed a little subpar due to just how fast Brady, Manning and Mariota got rid of the ball. They've created a ton of disruption against the teams/QBs that have a slower offense that uses more downfield throws. I think Buffalo's defense is in line for a big game.

The biggest test for them will be whether or not they can slow down the Bengals rushing attack.

 

[Gottabesweet]

Not that I wanted him but it's strange Matt Simms would turn down 1-3 weeks of potential 53 man roster money to stay on the practice squad where he's at.

The difference between PS and 53 man roster is actually pretty decent.

Rex playing his games "not ruling out McCoy, Watkins, Tyrod"

 

[GroveDiesel]

Tyrod taking first team reps right now.

So is McCoy.

 

[GroveDiesel]

And in really bad news, reports are the Bills are putting Aaron Williams on IR with possible DFR status. Huge loss if true.

 

[BlueDredSo]

Tyrod taking first team reps right now.

So is McCoy.

I trust you in here, and really hope this is true. Please...

 

[GroveDiesel]

Tyrod taking first team reps right now.

So is McCoy.

I trust you in here, and really hope this is true. Please...

Check out @JoeBuscaglia's Tweet: https://twitter.com/JoeBuscaglia/status/654333341261500417?s=09Reports on Tyrod though said he has a large brace on his knee and was only doing straight drop backs, nothing side to side.

Check out @JoeBuscaglia's Tweet: https://twitter.com/JoeBuscaglia/status/654331880104423429?s=09

 

[BlueDredSo]

And in really bad news, reports are the Bills are putting Aaron Williams on IR with possible DFR status. Huge loss if true.

Oh no...that's awful news.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Seeing a lot of griping about the Bills trading Cassel....why? There are probably 0 teams (didn't look it up) carrying two competent veteran backup QBs. Manuel won the job, Cassel got traded. Seems like a no-brainer to me. The Bills are lucky they've got Manuel and not, say, Brandon Weeden or Jimmy Clausen.

I was ok with the move because I thought EJ needed more reps in practice as the #2, but would have been fine with them holding onto Cassel as insurance after he took vet minimum. it does seem a bit odd to say that EJ won the job though if Cassel was the #2 QB in weeks 1 and 2. I'm not sure the coaching staff has much faith in EJ.

Even today with Taylor being hurt, he was taking 1st team reps in practice.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I'm interested to see how the D-Line looks against the Bengals. That offense is not built to be a quick pass offense. I think the D-line's effectiveness has seemed a little subpar due to just how fast Brady, Manning and Mariota got rid of the ball. They've created a ton of disruption against the teams/QBs that have a slower offense that uses more downfield throws. I think Buffalo's defense is in line for a big game.

The biggest test for them will be whether or not they can slow down the Bengals rushing attack.

Gio Bernard is going to be a handful for them.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

And in really bad news, reports are the Bills are putting Aaron Williams on IR with possible DFR status. Huge loss if true.

yeah

disappointing that the safety depth they had is not panning out better so far.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

That might be true. The problem is that a lot of us don't think the difference was negligible. I was very much against the Cassel trade. The reason is because of the exact situation the team is in now.

I had a bigger problem with the Fred Jackson trade.

They were running out Boom Herron, Anthony Dixon, and Cierre Wood last week and the dropoff from what Fred would have offered was pretty substantial IMO.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Week 5 All-22 Review from Jeremy White: http://www.wgr550.com/JW-All-22-Review-Bills-Titans/22064856

so much awesomeness from the defensive line in there

 

[Gottabesweet]

And in really bad news, reports are the Bills are putting Aaron Williams on IR with possible DFR status. Huge loss if true.

[SIZE=medium]Week 14 is the first time Aaron Williams can play if we want.[/SIZE]

 

[Steve Tasker]

Seeing a lot of griping about the Bills trading Cassel....why? There are probably 0 teams (didn't look it up) carrying two competent veteran backup QBs. Manuel won the job, Cassel got traded. Seems like a no-brainer to me. The Bills are lucky they've got Manuel and not, say, Brandon Weeden or Jimmy Clausen.

I was ok with the move because I thought EJ needed more reps in practice as the #2, but would have been fine with them holding onto Cassel as insurance after he took vet minimum. it does seem a bit odd to say that EJ won the job though if Cassel was the #2 QB in weeks 1 and 2. I'm not sure the coaching staff has much faith in EJ.

Honestly, I forgot that EJ was inactive in weeks 1-2. Still, I find it hard to believe that they would've traded Cassel for what they got if they didn't have any faith in EJ.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Seeing a lot of griping about the Bills trading Cassel....why? There are probably 0 teams (didn't look it up) carrying two competent veteran backup QBs. Manuel won the job, Cassel got traded. Seems like a no-brainer to me. The Bills are lucky they've got Manuel and not, say, Brandon Weeden or Jimmy Clausen.

I was ok with the move because I thought EJ needed more reps in practice as the #2, but would have been fine with them holding onto Cassel as insurance after he took vet minimum. it does seem a bit odd to say that EJ won the job though if Cassel was the #2 QB in weeks 1 and 2. I'm not sure the coaching staff has much faith in EJ.

Honestly, I forgot that EJ was inactive in weeks 1-2. Still, I find it hard to believe that they would've traded Cassel for what they got if they didn't have any faith in EJ.

Whaley controls the 53-man roster. Rex Ryan controls the rest.

Seems possible Whaley made the trade without worrying too much about the coach's take. It might be in the team's best interest to make the trade...and it might not. We will see.

 

[Bills_Fan11]

C'mon. There's no way Rex came here without say in personnel.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

C'mon. There's no way Rex came here without say in personnel.

he reports to the owner.

GM reports to the owner.

why would EJ get scout team reps through almost the entire preseason, and be the inactive 3rd QB in weeks 1 and 2 if he was the better option at #2?

Tim Graham reported that Whaley "went rogue" in trading Fred Jackson. Is it really a stretch that he was the main decision maker who dealt Cassel? Cassel didn't really want to go either as his wife was 8 months pregnant at the time and he just signed for the vet minimum. You think "player's coach" Rex would have shipped him out like that for a pick in 2017?

I'm sure Rex was consulted, and probably agreed to the move if pushed, but he didn't really have much authority to block it.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Tyrod taking first team reps right now.

So is McCoy.

and Watkins too

 

[JuniorNB]

Just got a notification from Yahoo Sports that Tyrod Taylor took first team reps today and is planning on starting Sunday. Any Buffalo fans who can verify that?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

Just got a notification from Yahoo Sports that Tyrod Taylor took first team reps today and is planning on starting Sunday. Any Buffalo fans who can verify that?

been discussed in this very thread earlier today

also was all over twitter.

Bills QB Tyrod Taylor on if he will play Sunday: "That's the plan."

 

[GroveDiesel]

Wow.

Sammy Watkins was something else today. On EJ Manuel: "Now hes got more freedom, nobodys up his back every play telling him what to do."

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I was travelling this weekend and missed the second half of the Titans game -- watched it last night on DVR. Did the league ever apologize to the Bills for that personal foul on Corey Graham? That was about as bad a call as you'll ever see.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I was travelling this weekend and missed the second half of the Titans game -- watched it last night on DVR. Did the league ever apologize to the Bills for that personal foul on Corey Graham? That was about as bad a call as you'll ever see.

The league doesn't make that stuff public and there are HUGE fines if teams leak that info.

I think it's total that the NFL isn't more transparent on that stuff.

 

[BobbyLayne]

C'mon. There's no way Rex came here without say in personnel.

he reports to the owner.

GM reports to the owner.

why would EJ get scout team reps through almost the entire preseason, and be the inactive 3rd QB in weeks 1 and 2 if he was the better option at #2?

Tim Graham reported that Whaley "went rogue" in trading Fred Jackson. Is it really a stretch that he was the main decision maker who dealt Cassel? Cassel didn't really want to go either as his wife was 8 months pregnant at the time and he just signed for the vet minimum. You think "player's coach" Rex would have shipped him out like that for a pick in 2017?

I'm sure Rex was consulted, and probably agreed to the move if pushed, but he didn't really have much authority to block it.

Rex is not exactly known for being his astute talent evaluation. Woody & Tannebaum used to let him have one pick per draft.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Sal Capaccio said this morning that his guess is that EJ starts this week. Just a guess though.

He also speculated that McCoy could play, based on a Boobie Dixon comment in the locker room about how the players are expecting him to play this Sunday.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Sal Capaccio said this morning that his guess is that EJ starts this week. Just a guess though.

He also speculated that McCoy could play, based on a Boobie Dixon comment in the locker room about how the players are expecting him to play this Sunday.

Watkins comment yesterday about how he expected EJ to "have a monster game" this week seems like the same sort of slip up/indication that Tyrod "practicing" is nothing more than a smokescreen

 

[BobbyLayne]

Yeah but Rex lying through his teeth seems so out of character.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

http://buckyandsully.buffalonews.com/2015/10/14/whaley-left-ryan-with-a-qb-headache/

But I don’t understand why there’s any decision to be made here. Ryan admitted Taylor has a sprained knee, which will compromise his ability to run. So if Ryan has such faith in backup EJ Manuel, as he claims, why would he hesitate? Why would he send Taylor out there hurt and risk further injury to his No. 1 quarterback?

“That’s a good question,” Ryan said. “I think EJ did a tremendous job for us in preseason. I know there’s a lot of criticism out there that we moved” Matt Cassel, “but we moved Cassel because of EJ and his development. So we’ll see.”

That’s the revisionist company line, anyway. The coaches made it clear – throughout training camp and again at the start of the season – that they thought Cassel was better suited to be the backup. But when GM Doug Whaley traded Cassel to the Cowboys, they all joined hands and told us the move was made to hasten EJ’s development as an NFL player.

I didn’t buy it then, and I don’t buy it now. If Ryan is having trouble deciding on a starter for Sunday’s game, it’s because Whaley made the decision harder by moving Cassel. Regardless of what Ryan protests in front of a microphone, his actions said that he and the coaches had very little faith in Manuel.

I'm not fan of Jerry Sullivan, but it's tough to argue with his points here.

So if Taylor can’t hurt the Bengals with his legs, it makes no sense to put him out there and risk further injury. If Ryan has such belief in Manuel’s evolution as a pocket passer, you would think making him the starter Sunday would be an easy call.

They traded Cassel to get him out of the way and further EJ’s development, right?

This is their chance. But I don’t believe Rex and his coaches care about Manuel’s development as much as winning. Ryan expects to make the playoffs. His defense won’t perform at this level much longer. The window isn’t all that wide. Cassel was a proven mediocrity; still, the coaches felt he was their best insurance policy in case Taylor got hurt, a canny veteran who could get them through a two- or three-week crisis. Taylor is undersized and a runner, so you had to figure it would happen sooner or later. That made it even more reckless for Whaley to play politics with the backup QB position two weeks into the season.

If Manuel starts Sunday, he’ll do so without a full week’s preparation as the starter, after spending most of the preseason as the No. 3. It would be a prime opportunity for him, but a daunting assignment against a top AFC contender.

But that’s the gamble Whaley made when he forced EJ on Ryan as the backup. If Manuel plays and falls on his face, the GM will have some answering to do, especially if weakening the No. 2 quarterback position costs him a playoff spot.

 

[GroveDiesel]

http://buckyandsully.buffalonews.com/2015/10/14/whaley-left-ryan-with-a-qb-headache/

But I dont understand why theres any decision to be made here. Ryan admitted Taylor has a sprained knee, which will compromise his ability to run. So if Ryan has such faith in backup EJ Manuel, as he claims, why would he hesitate? Why would he send Taylor out there hurt and risk further injury to his No. 1 quarterback?

Thats a good question, Ryan said. I think EJ did a tremendous job for us in preseason. I know theres a lot of criticism out there that we moved Matt Cassel, but we moved Cassel because of EJ and his development. So well see.

Thats the revisionist company line, anyway. The coaches made it clear throughout training camp and again at the start of the season that they thought Cassel was better suited to be the backup. But when GM Doug Whaley traded Cassel to the Cowboys, they all joined hands and told us the move was made to hasten EJs development as an NFL player.

I didnt buy it then, and I dont buy it now. If Ryan is having trouble deciding on a starter for Sundays game, its because Whaley made the decision harder by moving Cassel. Regardless of what Ryan protests in front of a microphone, his actions said that he and the coaches had very little faith in Manuel.

I'm not fan of Jerry Sullivan, but it's tough to argue with his points here.

So if Taylor cant hurt the Bengals with his legs, it makes no sense to put him out there and risk further injury. If Ryan has such belief in Manuels evolution as a pocket passer, you would think making him the starter Sunday would be an easy call.

They traded Cassel to get him out of the way and further EJs development, right?

This is their chance. But I dont believe Rex and his coaches care about Manuels development as much as winning. Ryan expects to make the playoffs. His defense wont perform at this level much longer. The window isnt all that wide. Cassel was a proven mediocrity; still, the coaches felt he was their best insurance policy in case Taylor got hurt, a canny veteran who could get them through a two- or three-week crisis. Taylor is undersized and a runner, so you had to figure it would happen sooner or later. That made it even more reckless for Whaley to play politics with the backup QB position two weeks into the season.

If Manuel starts Sunday, hell do so without a full weeks preparation as the starter, after spending most of the preseason as the No. 3. It would be a prime opportunity for him, but a daunting assignment against a top AFC contender.

But thats the gamble Whaley made when he forced EJ on Ryan as the backup. If Manuel plays and falls on his face, the GM will have some answering to do, especially if weakening the No. 2 quarterback position costs him a playoff spot.

This seems like a whole lot of garbage to me. The entire premise seems to be that Cassel would give them a better chance to win than Manuel and I just don't buy it. Cassel has a career winning percentage of47 and Manuel's is 43. Not a huge difference and Cassel arguably had much better offenses around him. Cassel not only got to play with the Pats at their height of offensive power to inflate his numbers, the Chiefs had a great offensive line, stud RBs, the best TE ever and Bowe when Bowe was a great receiver. EJ had Fred Jackson, a banged up Spiller, and Robert Woods to go along with an awful O-line.

The Manuel hate is ridiculous. Cassel is a mediocre QB at best.

And that line about how the defense isn't going to be good for much longer is just bizarre.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

I don't think anyone is really arguing who gives the team a "better chance" to win. They are saying the actions of the coaching staff thus far consistently indicates that they have very little faith in EJ, but they did seem to show plenty of faith in Cassel.

I'd rather see EJ as the #2 personally so I'm not too concerned. But, I'd also like a coaching staff and GM to be on the same page.

Like most columnists, Sully says a lot of stupid things so it's always easy to pick them apart. If Taylor is really hurt though, the smart move would be to go with EJ here rather than risk losing Taylor for a longer period of time.

 

[Socrates11]

I don't think anyone is really arguing who gives the team a "better chance" to win. They are saying the actions of the coaching staff thus far consistently indicates that they have very little faith in EJ, but they did seem to show plenty of faith in Cassel.

I'd rather see EJ as the #2 personally so I'm not too concerned. But, I'd also like a coaching staff and GM to be on the same page.

Like most columnists, Sully says a lot of stupid things so it's always easy to pick them apart. If Taylor is really hurt though, the smart move would be to go with EJ here rather than risk losing Taylor for a longer period of time.

Agreed. I'd like to see Taylor rest until after the bye. I think EJ is good enough to go 1-1 the next two weeks and hopefully we'll come out of the bye relatively healthy to make a push for the post-season with Tyrod.

 

[GroveDiesel]

FWIW, I don't think Rex has any real intention of starting Tyrod. I think any suggestion that he is is a smokescreen to force Marvin Lewis to prepare for two QBs.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

FWIW, I don't think Rex has any real intention of starting Tyrod. I think any suggestion that he is is a smokescreen to force Marvin Lewis to prepare for two QBs.

then why waste 1st team practice reps with Tyrod? I would think they could use that time to better prepare EJ, who had limited opportunities to work with the top WRs going back to training camp.

 

[GroveDiesel]

FWIW, I don't think Rex has any real intention of starting Tyrod. I think any suggestion that he is is a smokescreen to force Marvin Lewis to prepare for two QBs.

then why waste 1st team practice reps with Tyrod? I would think they could use that time to better prepare EJ, who had limited opportunities to work with the top WRs going back to training camp.

From the sounds of it, they're not giving Tyrod very many reps. They have to give him SOME reps if they want to list him as a Limited participant versus a non-participant.

 

[Steve Tasker]

McCoy with some vague tweet suggesting he may play on Sunday.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I know they could really use a win today and Taylor is out so they need all the help they can get, but I kind of hate that McCoy and Watkins are going to play today even though they're not 100%.

I'd rather both of them sit out one more game and it be a loss than have them aggravate the injury and miss several more games. Or be 75% all year long. IMO, both the players and Rex are being shortsighted here.

 

[Sarlakticacid]

I know they could really use a win today and Taylor is out so they need all the help they can get, but I kind of hate that McCoy and Watkins are going to play today even though they're not 100%.

I'd rather both of them sit out one more game and it be a loss than have them aggravate the injury and miss several more games. Or be 75% all year long. IMO, both the players and Rex are being shortsighted here.

Agreed. Hopefully just a smokescreen master plan

 

[drewd_21]

I know they could really use a win today and Taylor is out so they need all the help they can get, but I kind of hate that McCoy and Watkins are going to play today even though they're not 100%.

I'd rather both of them sit out one more game and it be a loss than have them aggravate the injury and miss several more games. Or be 75% all year long. IMO, both the players and Rex are being shortsighted here.

^^Agree!

 

[flysack]

It's small and mean of me, but I'm hoping EJ has a good day and Cassell flops in Dallas.

 

[flysack]

Mario questions the coaching scheme so far. Rightly so, IMO.

Who would have thought Rex Ryan would come in and neuter a top 3 defense with his schemes? But he has.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Why does Dareus come off the field on every third down? Guy led the league in sacks from a DT last year.

I assume he'll be on the field on 3rd downs now that Kyle Williams is presumably out.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Also, you know your team had a crap day when PFF says their second best player was Chris Gragg.

 

[humpback]

Disappointed, but not really surprised. I took a bunch of heat for saying that Rex was a bit overrated as a defensive coach but that certainly seems to be the case through 6 weeks.

 

[BobbyLayne]

Bills need to scramble to get a couple fresh bodies because of injuries. The GM said yesterday they have a limited pool to work from because a lot of NFL FAs don't have passports.

WTH? Seriously, can you imagine being unemployed & looking to pick up $31,875 game check, but oh ####, never got around to getting a passport.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Deadspin's weekly Bills tailgate collage is pretty solid. I think one of our posters here tailgates with Pinto Ron - that's him covered in ketchup and mustard, right?

http://deadspin.com/bills-fans-remain-a-glorious-mess-1737263470

 

[Steve Tasker]

Bills drive starts: BUF 20, BUF 11, BUF 20, BUF 13, BUF 20, BUF 14, BUF 14, BUF 20, BUF 20, BUF 4
Bengals drive starts: CIN 49, BUF 49, BUF 45, CIN 45, BUF 36, CIN 35, CIN 10, CIN 22, CIN 34, CIN 27, BUF 46

 

[Steve Tasker]

Also, the Bills are averaging 97.2 penalty yards per game, a full 19 yards worse than #2 Tampa Bay at 78.2. Simply unacceptable.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Bills drive starts: BUF 20, BUF 11, BUF 20, BUF 13, BUF 20, BUF 14, BUF 14, BUF 20, BUF 20, BUF 4

Bengals drive starts: CIN 49, BUF 49, BUF 45, CIN 45, BUF 36, CIN 35, CIN 10, CIN 22, CIN 34, CIN 27, BUF 46

Our offense had a lot to do with this thanks to all the three-and-outs, but our ST is just atrocious right now. Our inability to flip the field at all yesterday was a disadvantage that will get almost any team beaten by almost anybody.

 

[Gottabesweet]

Deadspin's weekly Bills tailgate collage is pretty solid. I think one of our posters here tailgates with Pinto Ron - that's him covered in ketchup and mustard, right?

http://deadspin.com/bills-fans-remain-a-glorious-mess-1737263470

That's me to the left.

I run @pintotailgate for Kenny on twitter.

We tweeted them asking if they want the real reason behind ketchup we'd gladly tell him. We had one of the guys special needs son' squirt him with mustard and the 2,000+ fans that gather were cheering him on. Only bad pub we get.

Deadspin made it seem like Kenny is a drunk who gets ketchup all over him for no reason.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

this team can still pull it together. a win in London over Jacksonville and they will be 4-3 headed into the bye.

but there's a lot to worry about right now. I'm most concerned about the penalties they keep taking, and the fact the defensive line just isn't playing up to the way they are capable of. I'm sure coaching is part of that problem, but they really need to figure things out and make some changes if they want to save the season.

so frustrating that Sammy can't stay healthy either.