John Wawrow: McDermott says offense became too quarterback-dependent, jeopardizing team’s success

[Hapless Bills Fan]

https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-sean-mcdermott-new-york-jets-new-york-6e5ab725e9f6b6b974231d06d3f9842a

 

I didn't quite hear it that way, but Wawrow was there and I was not, and I can't hear the questions

 

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The struggles, McDermott said, aren’t limited to Buffalo’s dud in a 9-6 loss at Jacksonville last weekend, or to this season alone. The problem, he said, dates to the final half of last season when the offense became too quarterback-dependent, and has the potential of jeopardizing the team’s chances for success this year.

 

“It is something that we need to do, and we need to do better if we want to be the team that we’re trying to become,” McDermott said as the Bills (5-3) prepared to play at the New York Jets (2-6) on Sunday.

“I thought we’d be further along,” he added. “I can promise you adjustments are being made.”

 

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Without revealing what those changes might be, McDermott acknowledged he’s considered having running back Matt Breida active for just the third time this season even if Zack Moss is cleared from the NFL’s concussion protocol.

 

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The coach was more specific in calling out Buffalo’s lack of push up front. He noted that while today’s offenses feature a pass-first approach, the one thing that hasn’t changed is a need to be physical at the point of attack.

“You still have to have that piece of the foundation because you can’t do certain things whatever you’re trying to do, run, pass,” he said, tapping his finger on the table for emphasis. “You cannot lose sight of the core aspects of the game of football.”

 

Wawrow points out the Bills have now lost 2 of their last 3 games - that ain't good folks!

 

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McDermott’s comments were noteworthy for a coach who generally avoids criticism in favor of vague pronouncements about his team needing to improve. But he didn’t go so far as to say Buffalo’s running game is in crisis.

“Good teams make adjustments, and that’s what you have to do every season,” he said.

The coming weeks will determine whether the Bills are one of those teams.

 

Allen said he has to do a better job calling plays, and he defended his offensive line, which gave up a season-high four sacks against Jacksonville.

“They’re working their tails off,” Allen said. “They’re doing the best job they can, and we’re going to continue to improve.”

 

Wait, it's Allen's job to call plays?

 

We all know Allen is loyal and isn't going to publicly throw his guys under the bus, but he has to see on the film that they're making mistakes in front of him.

 

[Rc2catch]

It’s embarrassing, but it’s not time to push the panic button.

Lot of season to go. Lofty in season expectations may not be met, and I’ll be happy to trade the embarrassment of losing to the Jags if this bad stretch of play is eliminated now opposed to say the clutch games to get into the playoffs or even in the playoffs. 

[TheBrownBear]

Well, I'm glad he's willing to acknowledge what everyone can see.  Let's see if they can get things turned around in the next few weeks.  Jets' defense has to be licking their chops right now.

[Chicken Boo]

I said that not too long ago.  They need an all purpose back they can really lean on and a line that open holes for said RB.

 

Balance.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

In summary 

 

a lack of a run game that doesn’t involve JA 

 

[Putin]

$ 250 million who should we depend on ? 

[Fan in Chicago]

23 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-sean-mcdermott-new-york-jets-new-york-6e5ab725e9f6b6b974231d06d3f9842a?

 

We all know Allen is loyal and isn't going to publicly throw his guys under the bus, but he has to see on the film that they're making mistakes in front of him.

 

Instead of golf clubs this Christmas, Allen should buy a mallet and bonk Mongo, Ford, and Boetgger on the head. 

 

As for the Brieda comment by McD, I fully expected them to try him instead of Singletary.

Edited November 11, 2021 by Fan in Chicago

[DCbillsfan]

I find McD's admission about the lack of a run game since last season encouraging and frustrating.  Encouraging because it will become a point of emphasis to fix and I believe the run will improve.  How much - who knows?  Frustrating because he and Beane recognized the issue and yet didn't do much to address the oline.

[Fan in Chicago]

3 minutes ago, Putin said:

$ 250 million who should we depend on ? 

There is a subtle difference being Qb-centric and QB - dependent. 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

7 minutes ago, Putin said:

$ 250 million who should we depend on ? 

hmm

Pat Mahomes 

Jimmy Garapolo

etc etc 

[Brand J]

Every QB is better with a successful rushing attack. Every single one. Not to throw Josh under the bus, but you can probably count on one hand the number of QBs in the history of the game who could thrive even in the face of an anemic running game.

[BillsFan130]

1 minute ago, JayBaller10 said:

Every QB is better with a successful rushing attack. Every single one. Not to throw Josh under the bus, but you can probably count on one hand the number of QBs in the history of the game who could thrive even in the face of an anemic running game.

Yep. Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers comes to mind for me.

 

They can punish teams for playing two high safeties as they got a descent line and two quality backs in Jones and Dillon.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

14 minutes ago, DCbillsfan said:

I find McD's admission about the lack of a run game since last season encouraging and frustrating.  Encouraging because it will become a point of emphasis to fix and I believe the run will improve.  How much - who knows?  Frustrating because he and Beane recognized the issue and yet didn't do much to address the oline.

 

Maiorana's points about mis-evaluation of OLmen are germaine.    As part of that, I feel Beane recognized the issue but felt that Feliciano and Ford were both highly probable to improve with an injury-free off season and that Forrest Lamp was a good "plan C".  Misevaluation.

 

But I don't think he could have predicted both Dawkins and Williams taking a big step back.

 

I know at the DC/OC/HC level, everyone has an Ego and part of being a successful HC is being able to work with Ego.  I don't know how the dynamics of TBD work behind the scenes, obviously.   My frustration is that McDermott has to have been able to see that there's an issue starting before the Pittsburgh game - his reaction suggests that he knew beforehand that there was an issue, and regretted not having tried to address it. 

 

Well, he has to have known there's an issue at least rolling back to the Titans game where our backs gained 51 yards on 13 carries.  So why not address it then? 

 

It's almost like McDermott feels he can't lay down the law and say "fix this" until something shows up as clearly and beyond all argument broken.  But then, as with the run game after the Patriots and Chargers games last season, does he feel he has to back off again and it slides back to the "same ol"?

 

In my opinion, one of the major problems with the run game is that Daboll is like the CDs my bank offers: they both have a "low interest rate".  And it's not in Daboll's interest (see what I did?) to stay in that mindset, because as @JayBaller10  pointed out above, every QB is better with a functional run game.    Brees, Rodgers, Brady, can't think of one where that isn't true.

 

 

[Dablitzkrieg]

45 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

https://apnews.com/article/nfl-sports-sean-mcdermott-new-york-jets-new-york-6e5ab725e9f6b6b974231d06d3f9842a

 

I didn't quite hear it that way, but Wawrow was there and I was not, and I can't hear the questions

 

 

 

 

Wawrow points out the Bills have now lost 2 of their last 3 games - that ain't good folks!

 

 

Wait, it's Allen's job to call plays?

 

We all know Allen is loyal and isn't going to publicly throw his guys under the bus, but he has to see on the film that they're making mistakes in front of him.

 

Exactly Hapless, he never said that at all

[Hapless Bills Fan]

3 minutes ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

Exactly Hapless, he never said that at all

 

My intended point was that someone asking a question could have asked "has the Bills offense become too QB dependent, and does that jeopardize our success?" and McDermott could have said something that amounted to "yes", but since I can't hear the questions, I didn't hear it that way.

[TC in St. Louis]

Bring in the RB from the practice squad.  I'll bet he's ready to plow through some mini holes.  We all agree that Ford blows.  Cut him.  Put in somebody with attitude and anger.  This whole team needs to play angry. 

 

Side note:  Wyatt Teller was pick #166 in the 2018 draft.  If his talent was that obvious, he wouldn't have lasted that long.  They saw him as a tradable asset, and he was part of the formula that got us Josh.  Cleveland probably has a better OL coach.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Callers who said this were run off the air after Week One.

 

The Bills have become dependent on Allen, not as far as Seattle has with Wilson, but dependent.

 

He is asked to dodge pressure, overcome no run game, be the leading rusher, pass 47 times a game, see every check down, yet stay aggressive.

 

My one beef with Allen is he tends to be loose with the football in terms of fumbles. 
 

But he gives it absolutely everything he has to win every week. 

Edited November 11, 2021 by Straight Hucklebuck

[CincyBillsFan]

1 hour ago, Fan in Chicago said:

There is a subtle difference being Qb-centric and QB - dependent. 

Bingo.  And I would argue it's not subtle.  Allen's play hides the problems with our O-line and RB's.  He breaks off a couple of big runs each game that keep drives alive and then avoids getting sacked in a jail break and converts a 3rd & long.

 

If our problem was only that we were QB centric its an easy fix. But anyone who actually follows the Bills and watches their games knows this is not the case.  That's why we're all so worried.  While McD and company can lesson the dependence on Allen they can't walk away from it because they have NO alternatives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[GETTOTHE50]

The OLINE needs to WAKE UP. They get dominated more times than not. Idk if it’s  their technique, condition, scheme, or communication, but something needs to change up front bigly 

[White Linen]

I think we try too hard to be what we're not - and that's what has things sputtering.