billsfan1959

Yeah, a tough call. I can see not having two hands on the ball if you are anticipating a throw. I have watched the play from different angles and I really think he was going to try to hit Beasley, who was separating from his defender and headed back toward the middle of the field. He just waited to long, when he probably should have tucked the ball and ran. And Mercilus made a great play. Yep. That was Dawkins not getting a hand or shoulder on Mercilus. Oh well, seemed to be a bit of that going on in the game...

1. A stud, #1 WR is at the top of the list. 2. RT and move Ford to G 3. Edge Rusher 4. CB 5. A RB to compliment Singletary

I slowed the clip down just to make it easier to follow everyone on the play; however, it didn't make feel any better at full speed

Haha! I get it brother, I really do. I guess these threads are somewhat therapeutic in nature. I find myself participating in some I normally wouldn't.

I agree. I believe it was Knox' responsibility. However, once Morse saw him miss the block, he should have blocked Cunningham. Just bothersome every way I think about it.

Heaven knows this team found ways to lose all on their own. However, there is nothing wrong with discussing calls, or non-calls, made in the game that certainly did have an impact. It is no different than discussing any othe aspect of the game. If you feel it is pointless, then don't participate in the discussion.

I know. As I said in a previous post, this play bothered me more than any other. Maybe because it was such bad execution on such a well designed play at such a critical moment, or because 3 separate players had the opportunity to block Cunningham and didn't.

I don't why, but this play bothered me more than any other during this game. The 3rd and 18 conversion probably comes in second.

I think Ford left Cunningham for Knox, although, you are right, he could have pushed Cunningham outside and Allen could have gone inside the block. At least Ford did hit somebody (the DB at the 29 yard line). Knox never hit anyone and looked completely lost the entire time...

Actually, I think it will be tougher, from top to bottom, and more competetive, from top to bottom, than it has been in many years. Yep

That's exactly right. And still illegal by the rules.

He did move back toward his own endzone and block a player. There was also a clear hold by the TE on the play. Oh well, on to next year...

I know, Ford took out the one DB at the 29 yard line and there was only one other DB out there. I'm thinking Allen is easily to the 20 - or scores.

Good post. This game really came down to lack of execution on 3-4 plays. I posted this in another thread: All Knox has to do is get a shoulder into Cunningham and the next guy with a chance at Allen is getting destroyed by Ford at the 29 yard line. Allen made his share of mistakes and shoulders his share of the blame; however, he doesn't have the playmakers around him at this point either. In spite of some questionable decisions on his part, some misses on some throws he should have made, some questionable play calling, and some poor blocking/pass protection on critical plays, Allen still put up 372 yards of offense and made some plays that should have resulted in more points had the execution been better by othe players (think Williams in the endzone).

As Shakespeare once said, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, some have greatness thrust upon them, and some will never be great while playing in a Brian Daboll offense."

Completion % up 6 points (52.8 - 58.8) TD% up 1.2 % (3.1 - 4.3) INT% down 1.8% (3.8 - 2) TD/INT ratio up from 1:1 to 5:2 Adjudsted Y/A up 1.3 (5.4 - 6.7) QB rating up 17.4 (67.9 - 85.3) Generated the 6th most TDs in the NFL All while having: The highest percentage of passes dropped The 3rd most passes thrown away The 14th most passes tipped or batted down Being blitzed the 2nd most of any QB Tied for 1st on the least amount of time on blitzes, from snap to pressure/pass Being 10th in least amount of separation by receivers at the point of the catch Being 4th in the least amount of YAC by his receivers per attempt Being 6th in the least amount of YAC by his receivers per completion No other QB in the NFL comes close to ranking that low across all those categories. Just in the percentage of dropped passes, spikes, throw aways, and tipped/batted passes alone - at least 5% more of Allen's passes are dropped, spiked, thrown away, or tipped/batted than any other playoff QB, other than Brady. All the other QBs are between 8% and 10%. Josh Allen 15% Tom Brady 13% Aaron Rodgers 10% Kirk Cousins 10% Patrick Mahomes 10% Lamar Jackson 10% Jimmy Garoppolo 9% Russell Wilson 9% Carson Wentz 9% Deshaun Watson 9% Ryan Tannehill 9% Drew Brees 8% You could also see the improvement in his decision making, short to intermediate accuracy, moving through his progressions, etc. He has a long way to go; however, he has improved a lot to this point.

I won't disagree with that he needs to be better at securing the ball while he runs. On this particular play; however, I do not fault him. He is moving up in the pocket toward the LOS. He is in the process of deciding to run or throw and is looking downfield. He is holding the ball appropriately to throw a pass if he sees a receiver open. Beasley is breaking free from a defender and, in the video below, you can see Allen looking in that direction and it appears he is looking to make the throw as Mercilus' hand comes through and tips the bottom of the ball. You can see Allen's arm continuing to rise after the ball comes out as if he is getting ready to throw. I'm sorry, I just don't find a lot of fault with Allen on this play. It was a great play by Mercilus to get his fingertips on the ball.

If Knox just puts a sholder on Cunningham, the only other player capable of getting to Allen before the 28-30 yard line range is a DB who gets obliterated by Ford. This game really hinged more on the execution of 3-4 plays than it did on anything else.

He needs to be better at securing the ball when he runs. However, on that particular play, he was (1) still behind the LOS, (2) still in the process of deciding to run or throw as he was moving forward and was holding the ball accordingly, and (3) the ball absolutely was hit by Mercilus. It wasn't a completely reckless play on Allen's part. Those things happen.

Awful...

Right on all counts. The defense was less aggressive in the second half and I will never understand the deep drops and slow reactions by the defense on that 3rd and 18. Two receivers past the first down marker and 5 defenders behind the marker. Johnson was within 4 yards of the 1st down, running full speed, before one of those defenders crossed the 1st down marker. The defense has its share of culpability in that second half. Allen certainly struggled in that second half as well. However, he truly does not have the weapons he needs at this point. In spite of some very questionable decisions on his part, some throws he missed that he should have made, some questionable playcalling, and some poor blocking and pass protection on critical plays, Allen still accounted for 372 yards of offense and did, in fact, make some plays that should have resulted in more points. The formula they had was certainly enough to win in the playoffs. It was the serious lapses in execution and the lack of a full complement of play makers around Allen that were bigger factors in this loss.

I'm not sure what the issue is with his statement. He said they want to be able to score 21 at least every game. I take that as the minimum starting point. He acknowledged the need for offense in the league as it is now. Honestly, people will turn anything into what they want it to be.

I joked around in another thread that this forum should develop and institute a message board version of the Wonderlic...

I love the potential of this offense with the right pieces and I think Beane will do whateve he needs to this off-season to get them.