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Interesting analysis of Buffalo's offense from a former player


JÂy RÛßeÒ

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http://bostonherald....art_in_buffalo/

The Bills have, in my opinion, the best group of running backs in the NFL between Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller and Tashard Choice, led by a sneaky-effective offensive line the names of which would be a killer “Final Jeopardy!” question. They’ve also got a young group of good-but-not-great pass catchers, with Fitzpatrick’s schizophrenic steering of the ship.

 

After that ugly first game, the Bills offense has circled the wagons a bit with creative elements that artificially create this space. They also appear to now make calculated pains to limit somewhat the number of times Fitzpatrick has to drop back and read the entire width of the defense, hopefully eliminating the destructive mistakes.

 

Space is created by extensive use of nouveau four- and five-receiver sets, but is accentuated by extra-WR splits and a perpetual crossing game of bunch and stacked receivers, often causing post-snap matchup confusion for assignment-heavy defenses.

 

One particular favorite Buffalo trick of note is the 3-by-1 or 4-by-1 WR sets, where the Bills’ best receiver, Stevie Johnson, is isolated. This reduces the QB read to a more simplistic one-on-one, also heightening the run-after-catch element through newfound open spaces created by the necessity of a shift in defensive coverage to mark the overloaded formation. Last week’s struggles by the Patriots secondary make it likely somebody is going to be tested in this island environment.

 

There are also constant integrity tests built into the Bills’ play design through frequent misdirection elements — whether it be a motioning receiver as the ever-present reverse threat, or the oft-used “flip play” where all action on the field goes hard in one direction until the quarterback “flips” the ball back to the RB heading the other.

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The reason why the passing offense is complicated is because the WR's overall aren't talented enough to win battles one on one, and Fitz is limited in the variety of throws he can make. They have to use lots of motion and crazy formations to try and get the defense to expose what they are going to do. People that have clamored for the Bills to simplify the offense (So Vince Young can operate it? So TJ Graham can start week one?) don't seem to understand that.

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The reason why the passing offense is complicated is because the WR's overall aren't talented enough to win battles one on one, and Fitz is limited in the variety of throws he can make. They have to use lots of motion and crazy formations to try and get the defense to expose what they are going to do. People that have clamored for the Bills to simplify the offense (So Vince Young can operate it? So TJ Graham can start week one?) don't seem to understand that.

No... that's not actually the case.

 

This offense is designed to stretch the field horizontally, and give players the opportunity to make huge plays in space. The 3-1 and 4-1 bunches do exactly this by crowding and blowing up traditional zone schemes, creating assignment confusion in man, drawing safties away from cut-back lanes in the running game, and providing near limitless opportunities for gadget plays like end arounds, toss backs, bootlegs, ect. It's totally unique, and intentionally designed this way.

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No... that's not actually the case.

 

This offense is designed to stretch the field horizontally, and give players the opportunity to make huge plays in space. The 3-1 and 4-1 bunches do exactly this by crowding and blowing up traditional zone schemes, creating assignment confusion in man, drawing safties away from cut-back lanes in the running game, and providing near limitless opportunities for gadget plays like end arounds, toss backs, bootlegs, ect. It's totally unique, and intentionally designed this way.

 

Sounds awesome. When does it start?

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