Beck Water

I think the decision to limit the QB run game (designed and scramble) is a strategic decision by McDermott, yes, and strongly influences the offensive tactics during the game as well as the way defenses prepare and play us. I think within that framework, Dorsey has a lot of autonomy. Part of the issue, IMO, is sheer WR talent. The Bills don't have the WR talent (IMO) that they had in 2020 with Diggs, Brown (and Gabe subbing in), and Beasley; and in 2021 with Diggs, Sanders (and Gabe subbing in) and Beasley. Even McKenzie, much as he was a whipping boy here and contracts not withstanding, is looking like a more talented #4/gadget guy than Hardy is showing so far. Then there's Allen's in-game decision making, which is vexing at times. The thing is, other top offenses manage to cope without running their QB 6x/game for 45-50 ypg. But where that's true, they may have better talent at WR/OL.

Yes, of course. Whether it's the right thing or will be effective, can't tell you.

This is just my opinion, but I thought the Bills played like they didn't want to be in Cincinnati in that stadium playing the Bengals that night. I think if you looked at different tape of our lines and of the Bengals lines against different opponents, you might think the opposite. I'd love some of the guys here who have played, especially on OL or DL to comment, but I've been told (by players/former players at different levels) that "defense (meaning DL) is a state of mind" and "you win in your mind first" (that from a HOF LT). That's what's behind Marv Levy's "where else would you rather be than right here, right now" and Poyer's "Be where your feet are". You have to 100% be in the game, mentally and physically, or you make mental mistakes on your assignment and get physically whupped. And if you do get physically whupped on a play, you have to flush it and focus on the next play. People think football players are big dumb galoots and maybe there's some of that at the HS and at the lower college level, but professional football is clearly an elite mental game that also involves beating the crap out of the guy you're assigned to beat. Yes, guys can and will at times be physically overmatched, but at the professional level there's not usually that huge of a difference between backups and starters that an un-dinged backup who is 100% mentally in the game and physically revved up can't hold his own or beat an opposing starter who is a bit dinged (by mid season they all are), hesitant (thinking too much) or mentally, just a little bit somewhere else. I think that stadium and evening right now is Bad Times, Bad Times for the Bills and they're all thinking about it. They're trying not to think about it - no doubt they've talked things through as a team and in position meetings and their sports psychologists and chaplains have been busy. But there's a "don't think about elephants" aspect. Even for players who are not super-stitious but only a "little stitious" it brings back very bad times. I thought having Damar brought into the locker and into a suite during the Bengals playoff game backfired on the team. And I think having Damien Harris injured earlier this season and carted off hit them hard and carried over into the following week. I don't know how the coaches get the team over this. I think this may be one area where McDermott's coaching style of building a family where the players get to know about each other's backgrounds and lives and where he tries also to get to know the players as people and make it clear he's concerned about them and cares about them as people, may work against him a bit vs. a coach who keeps his distance and just chews ass. And I think McDermott gets a bit overloaded on weeks like this, where he's trying to be HC, DC, and keep an open door for any concerns. Yeah, the Bengals were there too, but Damar isn't THEIR teammate and brother, and they were shortly afterwards able to get fired up to a froth by the idea of how unfair the league's solution was to them. Maybe there's a lesson there, in that I'm sure the coaches played their part in "selling" that idea and frothing them up.

They don't get extra practice reps. The number of practices per week and the total number of padded practices per season are governed by the CBA. The coaches may put extra days into film watching or game planning, and probably do - football coaches are "built different" and have to be told to shower and to go home.

Why would you expect McDermott to throw one of his coaches under the bus in public?

Ha. Well, we'll learn what body part and whether or not they practiced.

It may be a good analysis. But wasn't Ben Solak the guy who said if Josh Allen succeeded as an NFL QB it would defeat math itself or something like that? So keep your salt shaker handy. But, the part about having guys open and taking the riskier throws instead of being patient and efficient, is what several of us have been saying most of the season. I think it has to do a fair bit with the receivers getting jammed up and held (uncalled). It was made a big issue in 2019.

Anyone hear any updates on Hyde and Benford? Bernard too, for that matter?

Actually.... didn't McGovern come here with the rep of being a talented run blocker but not so good in pass pro? And Morse can be a very effective run blocker, just not in the smash-mouth toss the nose tackle two yards back style.

Wait I missed this. Where did this info come from?

No it's a thing. A Good Thing, actually, for the guys who go on it.

Evidence? We don't need no stinkin' evidence. We'll take a couple scrap comments and some internet dude trying to be someone and puff it all up. I think part of the issue is Josh no longer has the same experienced cast of characters around him helping him assess what defenses are doing from the viewpoint of what he sees and what he needs to key on vs. X's and O's. Ken Dorsey is too busy trying to design the offense, instead of Case Keenum and Matt Barkley he has his buddy "the Other Allen" and some PS kid, and what evidence do we really have that Joe Brady is up to the job'? I feel as though KC has more of a run game though with Pacheco

Some of this seems to be internally contradictory as well as contradicting some previous pieces they did. I'd love to hear comments on someone I trust a bit more to decode plays and defenses than I trust Cover1 right now, on point 4). My impression, and I could be wrong, is that Dorsey tends to design plays that incorporate routes that will work against different defenses - so there's usually a man-beater play and a cover 2 beater etc. The problem is, we don't necessarily have the skill players who will consistently get open on the different choices.

Allen is capable of going through his reads. I think how he plays at times, where he looks and his choices, are a mystery to everyone outside the Bills who are covering football because it's NOT that he hasn't shown himself capable of progressing through his reads and hitting the open guy at times. Others have pointed out that Allen threw the pick to Gabe on the next play, so it's not like he "lost all faith in Gabe and doesn't look his way anymore". If you're correct that Josh thought the "game was almost over" down 14-7 in the 2nd Q, then he has the mental toughness of a loofah and should retire to play golf. I'm not saying that's what Josh was actually thinking, but I'm not kidding. Championship-winning QB don't think like that. Look, successful offensive coordinators stretch the field horizontally and vertically. You can't blame it on Dorsey for "giving him those plays" that do what an OC is supposed to do. Were there open players and plays to be had? There were. Then it's on Josh for not taking advantage of them. Air Raid is damned straight that Josh has warts right now, and somebody better get the liquid nitrogen and burn a few of them off.

You're correct that Simms was not a good NFL QB, but you realize that with his limited physical skills, there's probably a different reason he stayed in the league 7 years - that reason being his knowledge of football and football smarts? He was also a coaching assistant for the Patriots in 2012. Peak Belicheck wasn't noted for bringing in dumb football minds. I would say this take shows you aren't one of the brightest people covering football on this board, but I actually think you just like to post bad takes to ***** stir.

This may be truth.

Wasn’t it two sacks on one drive? Then there’s missing the sideline and stepping out on the 2 point conversion play

I think it’s only ‘Billsy” if they lose in the end. They sucked it up and won at the end so…

Indeed. Plus, sometimes he looked to me like he has no pocket sense at all (which is cray cray because wasn’t he known for that when he came out?)

They found a way to choke on the two goal line plays that were short. Yowza.

Wow, what a totally F up this Cowboys/Eagles game was, by both squads. The Eagles got the W at the end, but by no fault of their own until the very last play (that was good coverage)

Thinking now. I guess I haven’t seen him getting pushed back, but I definitely haven’t seen him getting push when I’ve noticed him, either. *zing!* i deserved that. 👿 But nah. I was on the board something like 4 years before I even started posting. Once I started though…

Settle clearly grades out better with the Bills than Poona Ford. I dunno, am I a loudmouth now? I’d like to think I’m more rational and that I know what I don’t know. There are plays where I don’t see him so maybe he was doing what’s expected, but when he did draw my attention he was getting entirely walled off from the play and getting 0 push. I was disappointed because I thought he showed flashes when he got a chance in Washington and I had high hopes he’d break out here. He didn’t start. He came in for the starter after he left with concussion. And, he literally IS a rocket scientist.

I also thought Poona played better than Settle at least, last week. As far as “only ST” it’s not a matter of “trust” and “process”, it’s a matter of knowing the playcalls and his assignment. We all know that if there’s a whopping bust in assignment leading to a big play for the Bengals, everyone will be “why did they throw him in the game on 2 days prep?” I’m not saying Douglas will or won’t play ST, I’m saying that his playing or not playing can and should be based on how much of the defense he’s been able to absorb

Um....