Mister Defense

Without a valid, reliable running game there is no way the Bills win a Super Bowl. The best defenses, the ones they will play in the playoffs, and during the year, will be licking their chops, knowing that they only have one main target, making their job soo much easier. See: Bengals in the playoffs last year.

On One Bills Live Tasker refuses to give or agree with any criticism whatsover as to how Ken Dorsey has done as an offensive coordinator. By his reactions, you can often tell that Chris Brown is not on the same page, though he often defers to Tasker overall. Someone like Maddy Glab seems to imply she has her doubts about Dorsey, expecting to see some big changes this year. I am posting this because of Tasker's comments on OBL Monday 8-21, related to the Bills' offense horrendous performance against Pittsburgh. I was curious to see if Tasker was going to level any criticism at all on the coaching staff for how un-disciplined and un-prepared the Bills looked. After all, the buck stops at the top. But right on cue, and immediately, he made almost shocking excuses for the Bills performance, letting all off the hook. He said that the Bills just want to play the Jets in the opener and didn't seem interested in this pre season game at all. He said that over and over, couldn't get that out fast enough to open the show. But not as a criticism at all, but as a valid excuse. Then he took the next step, and said that this successful veteran team is focused on the winning playoff games, indicating that a game like this had almost no importance to them; so why bother? But again, he wasn't being critical at all, just offering a lame and strange excuse. Of course in his hyper-homer like analysis he offered even more damning criticism of the Bills. As without the mindset that all games, all plays, are important, there is no way this Bills team can contend for a championship. In response, Brown said something like this meekly at one point. Tasker is one my favorite players in my decades of being a Bills fan, a vital cog in the best teams I have ever seen play in Buffalo, and smart, with great character. I also appreciated his work as a color commentator, as he was objective, clear, and didn't overdo it, didn't speak just to hear himself talk (see: Kirk Herbstreet, the opposite). But repeatedly saying the Bills are going to be a "wrecking crew" this year, and not seeing the problems most saw as the season progressed last year, and now in this pre-season, has me losing respect for his opinion. Then, his almost comical response to the Pittsburgh fiasco showed me how far down the rabbit hole he has burrowed. I think that objective, honest analysis is the most helpful, and Tasker's has become lacking in both respects, in my opinion.

I hope you are right--we will see very early in the season and as it progresses if there are big changes this year. What you don't mention is the running game, don't put the misuse of that into perspective. The backs averaged @ 5 yards a carry last year, and Dorsey simply did not use that fact to the team's advantage. As Gregg Cosell said several times: "There was no sychronicity between the Bills passing and running games." Very significant criticism for an NFL offense and its coordinator, and I agree with it.

Good points, and I really hope that Dorsey changes from last year and has a great year. If not, it will be a wasted, frustrating year for the Bills. But I really disagree with what you say about Josh Allen overall. Yes, I agree he did do that last year, took too many chances, reverted to some of the things we saw in his first year or so. However, to me he was put in a position where he felt that was the only way to go. There was almost no rhyme or reason to the use of the running game, the reliable short passing game--eliminated by Dorsey, and the play action disappeared. These obvious problems made Allen a sitting duck and he was both constantly running for his life (why respect the short passing game or running game that were non existent?) and forced the Bills into an extremely one dimensional, all of Allen's shoulders, offensive team. Allen was trying to overcome a glaringly one dimensional, un-creative offense and was doing anything he can to overcome the awful coaching decisions.

Well, I agree with waiting to see how the regular season games go, at least a few games. But this embarrassing performance wasn't about game planning, per se, or not tipping off the Jets to what was coming, as that is the case with every team in almost every pre-season game. This game showed an offense that was incompetent in almost every phase of the game, with an incredible number of penalties, many of them pre-snap penalties. The offense looked lost. To me, this was as bad as a good Bills team has ever looked this close to the season opener. Unacceptable for a team loaded with talent. Undisciplined, unprepared. And the offensive coordinator is held accountable when that is the case. It seems that in last year's fast start that Daboll's coaching was still entrenched enough to keep them going at a high level, but as the season progressed we saw that diminish and Ken Dorsey's coaching take over. This year, it is Dorsey's show, and so far not so good.

While I would not be concerned if he was fired now, I may wait a few games into the season to see how actual games play out. That offense looked unprepared at almost every level, and the buck stops with the coach. Period.

Wow, just 4 Super Bowls and 1 AFC Championship Games fixed/rigged?? Can you please take one of those examples and briefly give us your reasoning, evidence, so we can better understand your mindset? But for now we can safely assume who you are voting for in the next presidential election!

I have been getting almost all of my training camp info via podcasts--but I am about a week behind in listening to episodes. Ditto for articles read. I need to get my priorities in order! I was ignorant of later camp developments when I wrote my post about Barkley being the best bet to be the backup. So, never mind!! It seems like Kyle Allen has come on and has taken a strong lead in that race. I am happy about that, as while Barkley has the knowledge and brains we'd want in that position, Kyle Allen has a much better arm and other physical traits we want in a QB.

Barkley will be the backup quarterback. He is more accurate, knows this offense well, and has the trust of the coaches. Allen will either be cut, if he does not start playing and practicing better, or on the practice squad. Right now it seems the former is going to happen--needs to look competent, and soon.

I'm confused... Which are the "two horse" s as you name three? And, more importantly, why? What are your reasons that those two are the best options? And why is Spector the one you hope to win? Very unclear post, so clarify. please. You say "I seen" but then, again, give us no actual information, nothing concrete to back up what you say. What did you 'seen', last year??

This is likely not even up for debate--no way does Luck make it to the Hall of Fame, retiring before he was 30 years old! And just before the season began. He took his $100 million and ran. His call, of course, but unequivocally not a Hall of Famer!

Jarrett Stidham is the Broncos starting quarterback to open the season. And it wasn't even a close contest in camp.

I loved Beasley as a player, think he played an integral and vital role in both Allen's and the offense's development. He was a super reliable target in the short middle who almost always separated and got open. Fluid and smooth and extremely reliable. Not having a player like Beasley last year, to me, was a fatal blow to this offense and championship aspirations. But shut up, Beasley!!! What a ridiculous thing to say when he played with Josh Allen, and as supportable as his vaccine ideas, and based on the same kind of nonsense floating around in his head now. Prescott looks like a scared deer in the headlights almost every time he plays against a good defense or in an important game--and almost never makes the needed plays to win those games. That is not a high level leader, cannot instill confidence in his teammates. I don't even feel the need to contrast that with Allen, as the difference is so clear, so obvious. Prescott will continue to be a mediocre/poor quarterback when it matters most, and it is doesn't seem to be because of a lack of physical ability, but the other qualities that make a player a great quarterback--and a great leader of men. Beasley seems to be having some long term Covid complications, further damaging his reasoning ability.

What current event is this referring to????

Look at the ypc of Singletarry and Cook. The Bills could run the ball well, but did not do so in a way that enhanced their offense or took pressure off of Allen. Hero Ball returned--because it had to, not because Allen wanted that.

It seemed as if Dorsey had very little clue on how to successfully blend the running game with the passing game. Greg Cosell, one of the most knowledgeable people on the NFL game, said that there was a lack of "synchronicity" between the passing and running game, that they did not support each other. That is very significant criticism! And I agree completely with that, as the running game seemed almost always to just be an afterthought, something he aught to do some time, rather than an integral part of the game. BUT the Bills could run the ball very well! So, that's makes it even more unacceptable, as it was clear his lack of focus on the running game was not because the Bills showed they could not run the ball well. Their starter, Singletary, averaged 4.6 yards a carry and Cook, 5.7. That lack of a running game is unacceptable for an NFL coordinator, or a college coordinator, and put huge pressure on Allen to do it all himself. We should thank our lucky stars he was not seriously injured playing in such a one dimensional offense, where he was the also the featured back. Add to this the fact that the short passing and middle of the field passing game were horrible last year. This part of the game is what had enabled Allen to become the quarterback he has become--and it was all but gone last year. Dorsey's perplexing offense put extreme pressure on Allen, now operating an offense without a viable running game and without a viable short passing game. It wasn't Josh Allen who took a step back last year from the extraordinary quarterback we saw in the 2022 playoffs, but his offensive coordinator. Dorsey eliminated two vital dimensions of the offense, of any good NFL offense, and put all of the pressure on Allen, to do it without two vital parts of an NFL offense. If Dorsey shows the same tendencies this year the Bills will be an also ran again this year. Yes, they may have a very good record again, but their one dimensional offense will leave the high level coaches and defensive coordinators licking their chops again in December--and January. If so, I believe Dorsey will be fired before Thanksgiving. Or should be. To me, Dorsey was the main reason the Bills got lambasted by Cinci, almost lost to the Dolphins, and did not make it to the Super Bowl. The only reason the Bills got as far as they did is because of their superstar quarterback. Allen may be the most talented NFL quarterback of all time, but you cannot eliminate key components of the offense and expect him to lead the Bills to a championship.

Just a flat out stupid thing for anyone to predict or consider realistic in any way. They have Breece Halll!!!!!!!! Does Nick Moron make things up as a hobby? Why give this yahoo any credibility by spreading this crap?

Hopkins and Watt, duh.

What are examples of this?

He was one of the most disruptive defensive lineman the Bills have ever faced. He disrupts and wins games, playing every play like it was his last. If he did not play with Houston in the divisional playoff game, the Bills win that game. Watt made one big play after another, and at key times. Sounds like he may want to play for the Bills? Last year was not a proper exit for Watt, playing for the 4-13 Cardinals. But he had 12.5 sacks last year. A perfect fit and maybe the final piece of the puzzle.

Great to hear this! Steinfeld seems like a more down to earth girl, someone Allen would do better with. Williams always seemed to be posing and preening and looking like she spent the rest of her time in a tanning booth. And Steinfeld is already extremely successful herself, doesn't need Allen for his fame or wealth.

Where does he rank Kirk Herbstreet, to me the worst NFL color commentator by far that I have ever listened to? What does he say about him? Inane babbling, loaded with meaningless jargon and cliches, and he goes on and on and on with that crap. I turned down the sound or just didn't watch, he is that annoying. Felt sorry for Al Michaels last year, in what may be his last broadcasting stint and working with the "village idiot", as writer David Halberstam refers to him!

Hey Kenny!, See this fist? This is what you will be eating after any game that you don't use our running backs or the middle of the field! Think you're so smart? Act like it!

Seems like a good fit, for the right money. Dude gets lots of sacks and QB hits, still, after all of these years. It seems the Bills, with their young players on the line, and player rotation makes it a good fit. Another mentor for the young guys and the kind of playing time where he could still be a difference maker.

But for the Bills to become a championship team, and stop the decline we witnessed last year, a clear point I make is the Bills need to change that dynamic. It is clear that they MUST become a better running team for the offense, Allen and the team to reach their potential. When the Bills ran the Bill more in the last games of the 2021 season, made it an integral part of their game, one that defenses had to be very concerned about, Josh Allen became almost unstoppable in the playoffs. And adding 'almost' there is probably understating how good he played. The Bills cannot continue on the same path we saw last year and need to run the ball more and make the running backs a more integral part of their game. But you are right that they don't run the ball very much. That must change this year, and I think the vast majority of fans who know this team well understand that. Then the best teams in the league won't be licking their chops come playoff time, knowing they can just focus on Josh Allen, and don't even really need to consider their running game.