11/21 Colts at Bills, Postgame Postmortem Thread

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

This team needs more:

 

play action

FB on the field lead blocking with runs to the outside 

 

2 TE sets

 

under center

 

Brieda and Singletary 

 

moving Diggs around like GB does with Adam, to get catch and runs  in space (especially)off play action 

 

Allen using his legs

less:

 

Moss

 

empty spread shotgun 

 

throwing every down

 

[CincyBillsFan]

Just now, HalftimeAdjustment said:

 

Obviously there was still football to be played after we were down 14-0. But I believe the team began coming mentally unglued pretty quickly in this game and their last chance to really get back in it was fumbled away by McKenzie in Q2.

Agreed and while the offense struggled it was the defense that pooped the bed today.  The Colts didn't punt until mid-way through the 3rd quarter.  They scored 31 points on their first 5 possessions. 

 

Given the weather conditions this should have been a 20 - 17 type game.  But for the 2nd time this season when the Bills went up against a physical offense the defense was completely blown out.  The defenses play today would be like if the offense went three & out their first 5 drives and turned the ball over twice while doing so.  In fact the offense did move the ball within limits. Sorry but IMO this one was on the D just like the TN loss was.

 

 

 

 

[DapperCam]

Defense mentally checkout out at some point during the second quarter. A physical team like Indy makes you earn it and they weren’t interested in that.

[Chaos]

2 minutes ago, DapperCam said:

Defense mentally checkout out at some point during the second quarter. A physical team like Indy makes you earn it and they weren’t interested in that.

They checked out on the first drive.

[SCBills]

6 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

Agreed and while the offense struggled it was the defense that pooped the bed today.  The Colts didn't punt until mid-way through the 3rd quarter.  They scored 31 points on their first 5 possessions. 

 

Given the weather conditions this should have been a 20 - 17 type game.  But for the 2nd time this season when the Bills went up against a physical offense the defense was completely blown out.  The defenses play today would be like if the offense went three & out their first 5 drives and turned the ball over twice while doing so.  In fact the offense did move the ball within limits. Sorry but IMO this one was on the D just like the TN loss was.

 

 

 

 

This game was absolutely on the defense (and the absurd McKenzie fumble just put the dagger in).  
 

It’s even more so on the defense because it was invested in to carry the team in tough games, not be a ***** albatross. 
 

Epenesa. Rousseau and Basham all could’ve been OL picks, but we used premium picks on pass rushers.  
 

Addison and Hughes both could’ve been moved off of, but we invested cap space in both.  
 

Paid Milano.  Paid White.  High picks in Edmunds and Oliver.  
 

Yet they have been absolutely manhandled by the only two teams we’ve played that have a physical run game and competent QB play.  
 

Meanwhile we need Allen to operate with no IOL and no running game.   Any of the above resources could have been allocated here. 
 

 

Edited November 22, 2021 by SCBills

[Hapless Bills Fan]

8 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

this is a great take, and really hits home how this game on offense really

came down to execution errors. 

 

Yes.  And also, while obviously Allen’s INTs were bad, it points out that the narrative of Josh “panicing” doesn’t match reality.

 

[gjv]

It seems to me that on both sides of the line is scrimmage, our linemen are not as strong as their opponent.

[ngbills]

43 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

Crazy thought…obviously this was a total waste of a pick. Why not try Cody Ford at DT and see if he can be of use to us on the Dline. He has good size and athleticism. He’s not going to make it as an Olineman. Might as well try to get some use out of him.

Crack is whack

[Orlando Buffalo]

Today's game actually was pretty much what I expect from our defense without Star and Edmunds. I suspect we would have seen a bunch 4-3 defensive fronts and fought differently if they were available. The offense certainly needs to execute but the only part that scares me is Josh seems to have major issues in weather and our team is in Buffalo.

[CincyBillsFan]

1 hour ago, UKBillFan said:

 

Then the big question - is Josh coachable? If yes, why haven't they been able to get him into a settled mindset, whatever the scoreboard? If no, why the heck have we lumbered ourselves with a Quarterback who goes into panic mode at the first time of trouble?

I completely disagree with this.  After falling behind 14 - 0 Allen led the Bills on a TD drive to cut the lead to 14 - 7.  The Bills didn't see the Ball again until the two minute warning and were down 24 - 7.  At that point Allen drove the Bills into long FG range. I saw no evidence of "panic" by Allen in the first half. 

 

In the 3rd quarter on the Bills first possession Allen had a pass blocked at the LOS and then threw two nice balls with the first being dropped and the 2nd Davis slipped and instead of catching a ball in stride for a huge gain had it fly off his finger tips. After the Bills finally forced an INDY punt the next series Allen drove the Bills into FG range and then they missed the 46 yarder. I saw no evidence of Allen panicking in the Bills first two possessions of the 3rd quarter.

 

Now Allen and the rest of the team did panic when the Colts went up 31 - 7.  But the idea that Allen went into "panic mode"at the first bit of trouble is not what I saw today.

 

What I saw today was a defense that could not stop the Colts running game.  I also saw a defense that couldn't force a Colts punt until midway through the 3rd quarter.

 

[technobot]

2 minutes ago, DapperCam said:

Defense mentally checkout out at some point during the second quarter. A physical team like Indy makes you earn it and they weren’t interested in that.

Obviously I'm not on their sideline but the body language and lack of execution from that point on said it all to me. Down 24-7 at the half after being repeatedly punched in the face for the first 30 minutes, they knew what was coming. You liked Taylor trampling you in the first half? Here's a second and third helping! Colts were extra generous today.

 

I'll give our side a pass for the Titans, but is this the third "wake-up call"? Second time (at least) this season where they played like feces, collectively. Allen wasn't good outside of some throws, and his receivers piled on by failing to make catches they could have/should have. Turnovers lead to a blowout but I'll speculate that Taylor still mauls us, regardless. Our coaches joined in on the fun with another headshaking performance.

 

I'm obviously a fan of the team and regime but McDermott's expression through the game spoke volumes. Thought bubble: "It's unravelling"

[Maine-iac]

Get rid of the turnovers and the penalties and there's no reason this game isn't 14 to 10 or even 14 to 13 at the half.  There were make-able plays that just weren't made.  Not scheme related or out of a players ability.  Just stop turning the ball over or stop getting penalties or tackle the QB before he runs for 30 yards.  We weren't stopping Taylor today but we didn't have to stop ourselves.  Still could have been in this game.

[CincyBillsFan]

9 minutes ago, SCBills said:

This game was absolutely on the defense (and the absurd McKenzie fumble just put the dagger in).  
 

It’s even more so on the defense because it was invested in to carry the team in tough games, not be a ***** albatross. 
 

Epenesa. Rousseau and Basham all could’ve been OL picks, but we used premium picks on pass rushers.  
 

Addison and Hughes both could’ve been moved off of, but we invested cap space in both.  
 

Paid Milano.  Paid White.  High picks in Edmunds and Oliver.  
 

Yet they have been absolutely manhandled by the only two teams we’ve played that have a physical run game and competent QB play.  
 

Meanwhile we need Allen to operate with no IOL and no running game.   Any of the above resources could have been allocated here. 
 

 

I agree. 

 

I do think that signing Milano & White and drafting Edmunds and Oliver have paid off.  But drafting D linemen for our last two 2nd round and last first round picks will be a disaster if they don't pan out. And while folks can say "but we spent last years first on Diggs" yea and that has worked out magnificently.  Can you imagine this offense with a stud guard and very good RB?

 

Things can change fast in the NFL - check out NE & KC - and I hope in a few weeks I'm eating my words here.  But it does look like McBean messed up by prioritizing the D over the O. The result may be that instead of an elite offense and average defense we now have two slightly above average Offense & Defenses.

 

 

[BillsFan130]

9 minutes ago, CincyBillsFan said:

I completely disagree with this.  After falling behind 14 - 0 Allen led the Bills on a TD drive to cut the lead to 14 - 7.  The Bills didn't see the Ball again until the two minute warning and were down 24 - 7.  At that point Allen drove the Bills into long FG range. I saw no evidence of "panic" by Allen in the first half. 

 

In the 3rd quarter on the Bills first possession Allen had a pass blocked at the LOS and then threw two nice balls with the first being dropped and the 2nd Davis slipped and instead of catching a ball in stride for a huge gain had it fly off his finger tips. After the Bills finally forced an INDY punt the next series Allen drove the Bills into FG range and then they missed the 46 yarder. I saw no evidence of Allen panicking in the Bills first two possessions of the 3rd quarter.

 

Now Allen and the rest of the team did panic when the Colts went up 31 - 7.  But the idea that Allen went into "panic mode"at the first bit of trouble is not what I saw today.

 

What I saw today was a defense that could not stop the Colts running game.  I also saw a defense that couldn't force a Colts punt until midway through the 3rd quarter.

 

Great post and analysis

[jkeerie]

25 minutes ago, TheProcess said:

I believe he is coachable on this, but as successful as Daboll was last year, not sure he’s the guy to do it. 

I agree with you.  Daboll schemes against the supposed weaknesses of the opposing defense without taking into consideration the weaknesses and short comings of his own offense.  If an opposing defense knows what's coming, good coaches will adjust their scheme to throw the opposition off balance.

[KeLLy1278]

Anyone here listen to Sean’s postgame presser?  The guy is just parroting the same talking points again and again.  We need to clean up this, this and this.  “We can’t allow 286 yards on the ground.”  Really Sean??  When pressed about what he will actually do to get things back on track he said that “it is simply a mentality.”

 

Well there you have it folks.

[Richard Noggin]

They looked like loose stool today.

 

But the irony of posters waving white flags in mid-November while simultaneously calling the team soft is, well...it's just what the internet is for.

[newcam2012]

2 hours ago, finn said:

I think this is right, except I still think Allen is special. The Bills are certainly not a dominant team, so let's walk that back. On the other hand, they have most of the pieces in place: QB, WR, and, today notwithstanding, defense. They're still better than most teams  (so above average, not average) and they can probably beat anyone. On the other hand, pretty much any team can beat them, not a feature of great teams. What does this add up to? They will probably make the playoffs, where they're probably equally likely to lose the first game as they are to win at all. Look around the league: every team is flawed, including the ones at the top. Really, it will come down to matchups, weather, COVID, and luck. 

Solid post. Agree with everything except "they are likely to lose the first game as they are to win it all." I really can't see the Bilis hoisting the Lombardi trophy. 

[Dablitzkrieg]

3 minutes ago, KeLLy1278 said:

Anyone here listen to Sean’s postgame presser?  The guy is just parroting the same talking points again and again.  We need to clean up this, this and this.  “We can’t allow 286 yards on the ground.”  Really Sean??  When pressed about what he will actually do to get things back on track he said that “it is simply a mentality.”

 

Well there you have it folks.

That must have been the first presser of his you have seen.  Let me explain...they are all like that.  Have a good night

[jkeerie]

29 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

This team needs more:

 

play action

FB on the field lead blocking with runs to the outside 

 

2 TE sets

 

under center

 

Brieda and Singletary 

 

moving Diggs around like GB does with Adam, to get catch and runs  in space (especially)off play action 

 

Allen using his legs

less:

 

Moss

 

empty spread shotgun 

 

throwing every down

 

I don't know why I expected we'd see that this week after playing that way last week and winning big.  It didn't matter that it was against the Jets.  That kind of offense keeps opposing defenses from setling in.