Mister Defense

Lol That was part of his analysis that was clearly not "veiled critcism"! No gray area there! That would almost be like saying Mike Robinson's pre-game words were that, when he ripped into Dorsey's schemes as the primary cause of the Bills' offense's problems, and ended by clearly indicating his belief that the Dorsey/Allen combo should be revisited (ended) in the 'off-season" (or tomorrow).

As if he has not been lately! Ridiculous for anyone watching these games. He is trying to overcome an offense run by someone has almost no clue for both the picture aspects of an NFL offense and the the details of it. Even Steve Tasker stopped defending Dorsey this week!!!

Great take, in my view, all of it, and especially on the hypocrisy I highlighted. Quinn was so bad, with one of the weakest arms I have ever seen on an NFL quarterback. Ironic, because in college and then whenever he could, he wore extra tight shirt sleeves and pulled them up to show off his arms, or he went shirtless. He had the kind of poor-boy gym muscle that didn't add up to actual usable strength or toughness.

But we knew this defense was likely to really struggle at times this year, and saw it in recent games when they gave up a lot of yards, but not a lot of points. They lost their best linebacker, best cornerback, best defensive tackle, with one of the best pressure rates in the league, and did not have their other high level tackle, Oliver. The offense needed to pick it up, but they just fell apart over the last month instead. The defense gets a pass from most fans right now because of how well they have played despite the many significant player losses. And I think they will improve as the replacements keep playing and find their own groove. And the defense has seemed very sound, well coached, consistently, taking into account the loss of players. The healthy offense has not faced any of those issues.

I know, but this ship is sinking fast, so they may feel the need to take a chance. I read somewhere there are 4 former coordinators on the team. Brady, Shula?, who else?? Maybe that meant DCs and OCs?

Yup, but the clear problem now is that the problems are comprehensive. We, as fans, have been pointing to one clear and obvious problem after another. But that just scratches the surface of the problems, as there are all of the OTHER details that are faulty too, the things that are much harder for us to see as fans. This is why, despite conventional wisdom, I think that McDermott may do the unexpected and make the obviously needed change well before the season ends. It isn't just the big obvious things that are broken, it is the little, vital details too.

Oh, okay, me being lazy, thinking a different point was being made with those stats.

What would they possibly get for Davis?? A 5th round pick if a team is desperate? 6th or 7th? Throw Dorsey in for a two for one combo, and give us a 6th. I am in.

Yes it is!

Yup, so imagine what D coordinators are thinking when they prepare for this offense.... Pretty shocking that someone on the staff is not going to McDermott to point these things out. Dorsey is just plain lazy--and maybe not that bright as well.

I agree with almost all of your points, things they need to do. But Dorsey is not going to really listen to anyone, it seems. He will change things up to a degree, but then always falls back into his lazy, negligent ways, as if he is entitled to this great job. He will soon learn that is not the case, in my view. He has all of the answers...

Josh Allen seems as shocked and irritated by what his offense has become as the rest of us. He is a smart guy and knows what the problem is. THIS is what may force McDermott's hand on Dorsey in mid season. And all of the players that have been left out in the cold by Dorsey will be silently cheering, just as Josh will be no matter his pat public statements.

I think the Bills should outlaw all commercials by the players! This team needs to focus on winning football games, not making more money. Priorities, focus.

Dorsey has created an extremely dysfunctional offense, one in which players have lost confidence, clearly, and Josh is just trying to salvage games and overcome the now multi dimensional and huge obstacles Dorsey has placed in front of the offense, again and again. While there have been games, and parts of games, where the offense has looked excellent, he is now well into year 2 of his tenure here and he is clearly undermining almost all aspects of this offense now. Unless there are dramatic changes soon, and the changes keep progressing, as the on field leader of the team Allen will continue to try to overcome the mess that he did not create.

Before this season I said that if Dorsey showed the same tendencies as last year he would be fired before Thanksgiving. It has clearly gotten worse, overall. While there have been flashes of real change, such as those seen in the Dolphin's game and even yesterday against the Pats as the game progressed, in the NFL you cannot be a contending, or even winning offense, with such shocking inconsistency. If I had to bet I would bet that he does not fire Dorsey, but does things behind the scenes, giving more of the OC responsibilities to Brady, Shula and others, and getting the players more involved.. But the Bills players seem to be lacking in confidence now, much like the fans, and if that continues he could very well be fired during the season.

Heck yeah, especially after seeing Mac Jones look like Joe Montana yesterday. He has played well into his 'old age', and the Bills need to at least bring him in. They lost an integral player in Jones and clearly need to get someone to help replace them.

Seeing the tape on Sherfield, watching him and hearing others' take on him in the preseason had me believing he would become the #2 receiver for the Bills this year, as he seemed like a much more dynamic receiver, one with a great deal of potential. At the very least I had confidence he would get substantial targets and more yards than he had last year in Miami. His stats this year--8 targets, 6 catches, and 44 yards. (Season projection? 16 catches, 109 yards.) (Shakir's stats? 8 catches for 75 yards and 182 for the season.) Shocking to me. We don't even know what we have on this offense, the potential, with such horrendous and negligent use of the players available.

Great take, nailing so many of the problems. The only reason we are now, finally, getting to see some of the players used is because Dorsey was clearly forced to do that this week--just read McDermott's words from this past week. It is, like you said, inexcusable. McDermott is now the head coach and the defensive coordinator. I think this team cannot function well, is not, if he also has to lead his poor offensive coordinator and force him to change his ways. But it seems to be the only way to make Dorsey do some of the right things. Not sustainable.

You nailed it, I think--it clearly seems to be that-- a lack of good weekly preparation. I think that is why you heard McDermott and others hit on the fact that they needed to do 'detailed' preparation to prepare for the Pats game after the problems on offense. I have started to use the word lazy to define Dorsey's approach for the reasons you state. He seems to think he doesn't need to do those things, that he just gets it, knows what to do without all of the messy, complicated detailed work that the good offensive coordinators do. He knows the answers without all of that actual work, he thinks.. You can maybe get away with that approach on a low level college team and in high school football, but in the NFL it will quickly doom your team--and your career.

You said the "offensive struggles are all around"--seems to indicate fundamental problems to me!

Yeah, I have been thinking of that, hoping for it. But I think it is just wishful thinking now unless Dorsey's hand is forced all week long and to the end of the season. He won't do it on his own, does not seem to have the ability or desire to really change it seems. It needs to be forced upon him by his head coach and GM, unfortunately. Yup, but where does the buck stop when things are falling apart in a unit? The talent on this offense clearly improved in the off season. When a unit has so many fundamental problems, and you point to several, look to the coaching, of course. The buck stops with Dorsey, and then the head coach if not fixed, no matter the usual platitudes from within the organization.

He looks slow and doesn't separate well, overall--not looking like a #2 receiver. The Bills need a faster receiver with great hands--and not next year, but now. They should see what they have on their team/practice squad of course, but also should be extremely serious and detailed in their search across the NFL before the trade deadline. If the Bills just stand pat that will be very discouraging.

Yup, but just because that is so obvious, so clear, it won't seem to matter to Dorsey. We don't know HOW good Shakir can become, and that is true for so many offensive players right now. We are approaching the middle of the season, and this has been one of the fundamental problems--we don't even know what we have on this offense because of how lacking it has been in its use of its players. Dorsey was forced to get more players more involved yesterday and as the game progressed we saw the possibilities of that. I think we may see the same next week because Dorsey is clearly now fighting for his job, despite the generic and expected vocal support of the players and leadership. Shakir could very well be the Beasley type player that helped to make the offense great, but...

You bring yet another very good point, one that should be clear to all watching this team closely. Not only are players not being utilized--Dorsey plays against their individual strengths as well. He is making Allen too often look like a much lesser player than he is. Josh is dejected now because too often is overcoming both the micro and macro aspects of this offense. Instead, EVERYTHING should be doing the opposite, giving Allen and the other players the tools needed to overcome obstacles, facilitating things. Obviously that is a fatal flaw if it is correct and it certainly looks that way! One of so many things that is wrong with the offense and Dorsey's leadership. He just doesn't seem to get it, at all.

Allen did not just regress--the offense around him did and he is trying to compensate. Crystal clear, over and over, when you watch games this season and last. Yes, Allen vocally supports Dorsey, but lately the details of his comments seem to indicate he knows Dorsey is not coordinating this offense well. Obviously he cannot just say that.