The reality of the Bills Injured Reserve List

[todd]

I guess my point is that neither the running game or passing game exist in a bubble, and it doesn't really make sense to treat them as they do. Finding one single reason the Bills are losing, and the offense isn't producing really isn't possible. Simple minds need to digest stuff like that, though, and this place is filled with them.

 

Seems like a good argument, though DC's data was strictly for the passing game and it showed the passing game's yard production being cut in half though maintaining a (near) constant volume. The conjecture about Jackson though doesn't address that the losing streak began before he was actually injured and went on IR.

 

Several of the Bills early season wins were very narrow (re: the thread on "Unsustainable Winning"). A precipitous drop in the overall production of the passing game (nearly 50%) likely has a pretty negative effect on the ability to make a fourth quarter rally and take a come-from-behind victory. There have been many threads devoted to questioning the Bills coaches on the logic of abandoning the running game altogether, even defending Spiller as a good back that just isn't being used. Another conjecture on contributing factors is that the Bills defense has gotten figured out just like their offense. It's clear anybody can run wide on this defense at will and with zero pass rush, one can matriculate down the field and score almost at will. And, many of the average or better teams played during the losing streak have done just that, burying the Bills in an avalanche of points early in games.

[Numark]

What sucks about this thread is it makes me realize I can't be on this forum until april time. The bills did a lot of good things this season, had some terrible injuries, but still found a lot of quality players on this roster. We are closer than people realize, but the immaturity, stupidity, and trolltastic make this forum unbearable to be around while things are going wrong. The negativity around this forum is unbelievable.

 

I seriously don't understand why some of you are buffalo fans. I love being a buffalo fan, it is incredible. However, some of you need to go hop on a bandwagon and stop following these teams.

[BillsVet]

The Colts lost their best offensive player and no one is shocked that they can't win. But you dismiss the Bills losing Fred Jackson (best player on offense) and Kyle Williams (best player on D) as no big deal? That makes no sense.

 

There ain't nothing on Indianapolis' bench coming as close to filling Manning's shoes compared to Buffalo's situation at RB. Running backs like Jackson, while never fully replaced, aren't as hard to fill in for as an All-Pro caliber QB.

 

I would further add that the loss of Williams allowed Dareus to play a position he's been okay in, thus providing a more than serviceable replacement. While I'd like to have Williams, he's miscast in a 34 and won't ever be the space-eater they need.

 

As for Wood (not mentioned) it'd be easier to offset his loss had the team planned to have someone on the roster who, you know, had actually snapped the ball in the NFL before.

[Sisyphean Bills]

I guess my point is that neither the running game or passing game exist in a bubble, and it doesn't really make sense to treat them as they do. Finding one single reason the Bills are losing, and the offense isn't producing really isn't possible. Simple minds need to digest stuff like that, though, and this place is filled with them.

Football is the ultimate team game IMHO because it takes a team, from ownership all the way down, to win and win consistently. So, I totally agree that it's not just "one thing." For example, losing (and losing in epic fashion) is not just simply the result of 1 or 2 guys on offense and/or on defense going on the IR list (even if they are good players).

 

Back to the passing game, briefly. Fitzpatrick is still a limited NFL QB. Chan designed a system to suit his skills, but that system has been decoded now. Fitzpatrick's early success has come apart and he's struggling in the same offense as he operated early in the season. Pre-snap reads, spreading the defense horizontally, and getting the ball out of the QB's hand in under 2 seconds isn't creating the same space as it did early in the season and the production has unquestionably plummeted.

 

But, yeah, a few key injuries, a garbage defense, etc, don't help the situation any, of course.

[K-9]

...I would further add that the loss of Williams allowed Dareus to play a position he's been okay in, thus providing a more than serviceable replacement. While I'd like to have Williams, he's miscast in a 34 and won't ever be the space-eater they need. ...

 

That's the first I've heard anyone suggest our DL was upgraded by losing Kyle Williams.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[San-O]

+ 1

 

Also, ANY GM who believed McGee and Merriman would make it through an entire NFL season is not paying attention.

 

McGee got injured initially like the first play of the first game?

 

Merriman, may have been injured jumping around the sideline and then later playing?

[BillsVet]

That's the first I've heard anyone suggest our DL was upgraded by losing Kyle Williams.

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

I never said upgraded, I said a replacement was available who was not a complete drop off the cliff from the starter to the backup.

 

The run defense, much like an offense, is a team thing. Williams isn't the only guy on that DL or the defense as a whole and he definitely isn't the problem. My point remains that a 34 defense needs a different type of player and playing Williams as a 1 gap NT in a 34 is forcing a square peg into a round hole.

 

The Bills defense doesn't have the horses to run a 34 or a 43 at this point. Play Williams as a 1 or 3 tech in a 4-3 and complement him with a decent pass rush and this team is far better defensively.

[K-9]

I never said upgraded, I said a replacement was available who was not a complete drop off the cliff from the starter to the backup.

 

The run defense, much like an offense, is a team thing. Williams isn't the only guy on that DL or the defense as a whole and he definitely isn't the problem. My point remains that a 34 defense needs a different type of player and playing Williams as a 1 gap NT in a 34 is forcing a square peg into a round hole.

 

The Bills defense doesn't have the horses to run a 34 or a 43 at this point. Play Williams as a 1 or 3 tech in a 4-3 and complement him with a decent pass rush and this team is far better defensively.

 

Thanks for clearing that up. Thought you lost your mind for a moment there.

 

We'll have to agree to disagree about NT techniques in a 34. There's more than one way to play it and an offset, penetrating NT is often more effective because he BOTH occupies more than one blocker AND can penetrate his gap. Takes a special player like Williams and depends greatly on who you have next to and behind him.

 

None of that suggests I disagree with the notion of playing a 43 front, BTW.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[Cheddar's Dad]

playing Williams as a 1 gap NT in a 34 is forcing a square peg into a round hole.

 

You're saying Williams can't play NT in a 3/4? Please explain cause I thought he did really well last year and this year until his spur demanded attention. In fact, wasn't he a pro bowl selection at nose. I recall his play against, what's his name, Pittsburg's left guard, making that lineman look horrible. With a healthy and trouble free ankle, I would't bet against him at the RB position. He is a player and will be where ever you put him.