Mango

I went through the GB all 22 this AM and had the same general sentiments Same sentiments. 1. Pre-NFL plus the A22 was a much better product. You could select specific drives. Set it to only play offensive/defensive snaps. Rewind, fast forward, slow-mo, etc. 2. Josh is locking on to one receiver pre-snap. He just didn't go through his progressions. It wasn't just a 2nd half issue. A few chunk plays sorted of washed out a bunch of bad plays. 3. He is really jumpy in the pocket. He is starring down one guy, if he isn't open he is bailing quick. Part of it seems like he is dropping too deep and instead of just stepping up and letting his tackles push the rush past him, he is bolting left or right (mostly left) and trying to buy time for the same receiver pre-snap. Like you, I don't actually know the proper progressions. Almost none of us do (no matter what some posters say). But there are guys open quite a bit that he just isn't seeing right now. Feels like as the season has gotten rolling and the team started its ascension, he just started pushing and gripping too hard.

Fair enough, I though he had a good year last year, I didn't realize he was still a total dud.

Put Shakir above McKenzie on the depth chart. Get Singletary going. Calm Allen down, he is too erratic at the moment. Ultimately spread the ball out and go through progressions.

This is where I am coming from in all the Davis, Knox, Dorsey sucks noise. Earlier in the year we have spread the ball out a ton. But now it is Diggs or bust. I generally don't watch any of the all 22 unless things are wonky. Just enjoy the ride. I did go back this AM and watch the GB all 22. Knox runs plenty of routes. There are receivers open, but Allen was super erratic. Bailing on the pocket early. Staring guys down. Locking onto one receiver then taking off on the run. It looks like Josh from 2-3 years ago.

This is fair. Similar but less talked about to our struggles at RB. Wyatt Teller being drafted, then traded and becoming a great player is the encapsulation of our success with the OL. Quinton Spain has also been more productive since he left. Our OL should really be Dawkins, Teller, Morse, Spain, Brown.

I actually think Dawkins is highly replaceable. He is good but not great. I am very open to him moving inside if the Bills really like a LT high in the draft. We could possibly upgrade two positions with one draft pick. I think Mitch Morse is our best OL by a wide margin. I am nervous about our cap situation and his contract expiring this year. I think Poyer and Hyde have proven their weight in gold. We are likely spoiled with our safety play. I think the play recognition that both Hyde and Poyer possess covers up a lot of defensive deficiencies.

I am sort of split on the firing. On one hand he kept botching the QB position. But it wasn't just the position, it was the whole philosophy behind it. This year is really bad though. On the other hand, they've been a strong team for almost the entirety of his tenure. I think I would have given him an opportunity to right the ship.

Josh has sucked for 6 quarters. Sure other things go wrong as well, but in 2022 when your QB plays like poop that is where the problem starts. Allen was the first to admit it, it is tough to win when your QB plays like garbage. It happens. I don't think its career defining, but I also don't think its valid to pin his crappy play on anybody else other than him. I am half way through the GB all 22 at this point and he is super eratic, bailing out of clean pockets, spinning around when all he needs to do is step up, staring down receivers, etc. He got bailed out by a couple of chunk plays, but it wasn't a great first half either.

To an extent. I am going through the GB all-22 now and Josh forced the ball twice to Davis on the first two pass plays. I will admit Davis should have caught the second one. But Knox was the far better option there. The second play Josh abandoned the pocket way too early and slings a terrible ball to Davis down the sideline deep when he could have let Singletary or Diggs try and make a play one on one right in front of him. Both were bad plays by the QB. (EDIT: All-22 used to be better. I used to have way more control of each play, rewind, slow motion, etc. I think I used to be able to select a play, possession, quarter etc. Now it is a continuous video. Hard dislike on the NFL plus)

The last two weeks? QB has been the biggest disappointment. I would like Shakir to get more snaps. But what was the stat yesterday? 4 passes in the second half to receivers not named Diggs? That isn't a Diggs, Davis, Knox, McKenzie, Singletary, Cook, Hines, Shakir, Kumerow, problem. Josh is super star, but he isn't immune to bad stretches. This is one. It is what it is.

Gabe Davis is so far down my list of issues for the last two weeks. McKenzie should be replaced by Shakir. I agree. Our super star QB hasn't played like a super star QB for 2 weeks now. That is problem number 1. Full stop. Everything else on the offensive side of the ball is in the peripheral.

Everybody talks about how there has "never been a player like Josh Allen". But then you look at this stretch.... The dude is just a bigger Brett Favre. We will likely have to ride this roller coaster his entire career. It will be super frustrating at times and we will love it at times.

I agree, he certainly has a tendency to let things get away from him, which I think is why taking an offseason off is actually a bigger risk for him. Also agreed we need more production from "not Diggs" but ultimately we were spreading the ball around in the first few weeks, and now we aren't. I don't think Davis, Knox, McKenzie (OK maybe a little McK),etc. I think as Josh starts to sort of grip tighter and push for the big play he is locking on to Diggs far too often when there are other plays to be made. I am not any sort of football savant, but I do think that Davis garnering CB1 attention the last two weeks is telling as to what other teams think of him and the offense. I like Diggs and his ability to run routes, get open, etc. But he isn't dangerous with the ball in his hands and he isn't a big physical "open when he is covered" kind of receiver. Curious if teams are letting Diggs feast and forcing Josh into being totally one dimensional in the pass game.

I mean…. QB has been a huge problem the last 6 quarters. It starts there. We’ve seen Davis and Co make plays for this year. I’ll wait to sharpen my pit fork when the QB starts plying better again. Next up us injuries to the secondary and defensive philosophy. The DL is playing like they have a 24 point lead.

He hasn’t lost any meaningful snaps in the slot. He’s also on pace to have his second best year of his career. Maybe he’s having a down year? But it’s not because he isn’t running routes at any lower rate. It’s likely a combination of Knox injury, family, and Josh. Not to mention Daboll nor Dorsey runs a TE centric offense. It’s also worth noting that I don’t think Knox has ever been the TE that fans have been yearning for in Buffalo. He’s certainly physically gifted thought As the season has gone on Allen seems to have a bit more tunnel vision and spreads the ball out less. Not to mention the last two weeks have been really bad QB play. I am willing to bet it’s the QB right now.

Keep reading through the thread. This is actually a data point and there is no significant difference in his route running or percentage of snaps lined up in the slot.

https://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/dawson-knox/#

Anybody notice that DB’s seemed to almost never turn around anymore?

Davis has drawn the CB1 the last two weeks in a row. I don’t know if it means anything. I am certainly no film savant. But I do think it is a point worth noting since we’ve struggled in both.

I don’t know if Willis has any staying power in the league but I like watching him play.

Maybe we should give out Game Testicles instead of Game Balls after weeks like this?

Same sort of thing as you. But thanks to BK’s snarky response I looked it up. When I asked earlier in the thread I actually didn’t think that info was available. Luckily fantasy football has exploded and that’s something those guys track. Who knew?

Knox lines up in the slot 18% of the time, compared to 21% last year.

Im not trying to run the guy out of town. It is a tough year to judge any guy by their performance at work. I also don’t think you can judge the OC for a physically and emotionally bruised TE that has never actually been the guy fans are expecting him to be.

He is on pace to have the second best year of his career. As Knox starts to get his feet back under him he’ll likely firmly cement himself as his second best year and push for his best year ever. The issue is his contract. His historical production didn’t warrant the value. We’ve never run an offense that relied on TE.