Bleeding Bills Blue

I like AIyuk a lot. He honestly is a lot like Gabe. Usually a good #2 is a good blocker, either a deep threat or a big body. They aren't the best route runners (if they were, they'd probably be a #1).

I probably would have too. They still looked totally out of sorts in the first half too and allen looked a lot better once he was hitting hitches and comebacks.

Lots of teams carry fullbacks. Most of the times its a core special teamer as well- but they have packages on offense too especially in the RZ. Modern teams with extra tight ends - https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchartpos/TE. Which one of these #3 TEs is a noticeable upgrade over gilliam at anything? As for what we could use that roster spot for? I dunno, but every team has core special teamers. If its not a FB its an extra WR, or TE, or LB, or Safety. And most of them don't play offense or defense.

Yeah, Gilliam needed to get in his way. Knox also could have done something to get involved in the play.

I can't remember, it might be a re-kick? But at that point i'll take another kick lol.

And looking at free agency i think it likely has to come from the draft. Most of the available #2s arent inspiring Chark? Watkins reunion? Probably cheap but never healthy Marvin jones - Old and not particularly good Julio - Old and probably washed JuJu - Likely pricey. So you're left with guys like Parris Campbell, Mack Hollins, Allen Lazard. I do like jacobi Meyers though - id rather spend money on him than on a davis replacement.

Well we played a bit more man, blitzed some more in this one. They're definitely experimenting because of the issues. The pass rush didn't have a good game in this one either.

The running backs are safety valves, they have been fine in that role for the most part. The key is throwing to them - and throwing it faster than he has the past month. Statistically Shakir has secured fewer than 50% of his 15 targets with 2 drops.

No idea whats going on there. He's been one of our better red zone contributors, so i wouldn't eliminate him from the game plan in the area we struggle the most.

Because shakir has been worse when targeted.

Pretty much where I'm at with Mckenzie. Everyone says "allen doesn't trust him". A this point allen doesn't look like he trusts himself.

Apparently neither is shakir since he cannot catch when thrown at.

My issue is... everyone loves Shakir and he hasn't actually done anything of note. He has 2 drops on 15 targets, and only has 7 catches. We complain on Davis drops and catch% and his drop rate is actually worse. Play to the players strengths. Get mckenzie moving, create your own mis matches. He's not a sudden cole beasley route runner, so don't have him run cole beasley routes. They did it more in this one, and it functioned a bit more as eye candy than anything else, but eye candy is useful.

I don't hate mckenzie as an option, he's been one of our better red zone players even if he didn't make it on the one in this game. I just think there's been some route spacing issues lately and I don't know who it is. People are sitting when they shouldn't, balls aren't coming out fast enough, and players are just ending up on top of each other.

Play design is probably part of it. There is no man also. They are trying to use a bunch of different guys in those spots and you can add hines to the list. Mckenzie, shakir, Cook, and probably hines now all are going to get looks in different ways. It's not ideal but you can get a lot out of it if you're creative.

He seems to really miss having someone like lockett/baldwin for the scramble just get open stuff. Metcalf being a monster you can chuck it up to is also pretty helpful. Not to mention a functional run game. To me? Sutton=Overrated, and Jeudy=Bad. Offense is a complete mess - they can't run, sacks are up, and he doesn't trust anyone out there to make a play. A lot of the same as Allen if he were without Diggs.

I mean they have Cox and Hargrave at DT. They also drafted Jordan Davis who is on IR. Milton Williams is built a bit more slight as a pass rush type, so he's not really going to help them there. Josephs a big boy and a nose, but he was not very good with the Chargers the last couple of years so I'm not sure this fixes their ails - but hes a name. Better him than a 220 pound LB who doesn't have instincts or misses his fit's entirely.

Lets take Taron johnson (our only healthy starting defensive back) off the field for an extra nose tackle... that way we can put epenesa and miller in coverage more.

I can see it - defense disguised their coverage a bit and had Allen fooled. A junky 2nd down play. Just a messy 3 play sequence, Allen has to be better. Dorsey can't burn a play on a weird PA screen either. There's gotta be a balance between, allen needs the ball he's our best guy - and we need the ball out quick or run it because of how the opposition is playing us.

I get that they made the playoffs a year ago, and spent on new players - but they went 7-2 in 1 score games and 4-0 in OT. As for this year? The offense hasn't been amazing set the world on fire, but they're mostly fine. The defense however, has been among the worst in the NFL. They have 3 interceptions, and 6 total takeaways in 9 games, 28th in yards and points allowed, they dont stop the pass or run really. Chandler Jones got Miller money, and has .5 sacks.

Plus the cap is there for a competitive balance purpose - signing bonuses are paid up front. They gave Adams and Jones 27M in signing bonuses, and have another 28M in cash roster bonuses to them in 2023. 13M more to Crosby, and a guaranteed 10.5 roster bonus in 2023. Beyond that there's definitely bills associated with relocation and new stadium that need to get paid, as well as Gruden and all the other people you fired who were under contract.

And he flushed himself right which gave him exactly 1 target. Correct on the mesh call - i dont like how everyone ends up in the end zone though. Also, what the heck is davis doing... again. https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2022/11/16/23460413/bills-red-zone-offense-josh-allen-patrick-peterson-interception

It was a really bad play. They flushed him and played contain. His best choice was probably to not go right and to cut back left.

Inexcusable to not run the ball one time on 3 plays from 2nd and 2. If you got sacked or something on 2nd down i could see it, but if you plan on going for it on 4th, run the ball on freaking 3rd. RPOs are way down, so are PA plays. His 2021 splits for both are that those are favorable looks for him, yet we call those plays less. He also has insanely good numbers for both this season... yet we call those plays less. Other than that numbers are looking fine outside of the turnovers. Yards per attempt is up, TD% is up, net yards per attempt, rushing yards per attempt, YAC per completion. He's been pressured a lot less, but sacked a bit more. Offense just needs some variety. The drop back and pass from shotgun offense is humming from 20-20. Last year Allen had 28 TDs and 2 INTs, with another 6 rushing in the RZ. This year its 12 and 3 with 3 rushing. Clean up the turnovers, and convert a few more and its literally just as good as last year. Buffalo had 12 non-allen redzone rushing TDs in 2022, and 5 came in the final 4 weeks. This year they have 3 non-allen red zone rushing TDs for the entire year through 9 games. I'm not sitting down one of the few weapons that has worked inside 10 yards (4 of 11 TDs). It was a terrible playcall on 4th and 2. No Mesh, no rub routes, no stick route. The play was literally designed for allen to run around instead of just getting the ball out quick which is what teams normally want to do in the RZ.

Then its holding... Why does Davis get such a pass but Mckenzie get such hate?