Nate Tice Helps Explain Why the Bills Play Feliciano So Much ... He's smart and helps with protections.

[Thurman#1]

This is excellent stuff generally, on such things as how quickly the whole NFL started going to Cover-2 to handicap Allen and Mahomes and those teams playing the offenses getting a lot of chunk plays. Skip the first ten minutes if you don't like the movie Casino and pro wrestling references.

 

But the part that was interesting to me was this nugget on Feliciano. I've never understood the fact that he's not all that athletic, and he's strong but not super strong, and yet the Bills seem to play better when he's in there than they do with other guys who seem to play more athletically.

 

Prohaska's guest is Nate Tice, "a former college QB, NFL coach and scout". (NOTE: THIS IS THREE WEEKS OLD. IT WAS RECORDED BEFORE THE SECOND PATS GAME!!!) Still really interesting on how the Pats defend us and why Feliciano has stuck around so long!!

 

 

 

NT:  "Personally, I think Belichick will go into, 'We're cranking up Cover 2, we're gonna push the pocket," and I actually do think he'll throw in some blitzes just to test that Bills offensive line. And you don't know how Feliciano - 'cause Feliciano helps out so much as far as calls. And I know that from personal experience with Jon, I was with him in Oakland. And I know he's a big tough bruiser guy, but he's actually very heady. And he helps out Morse with the protection stuff. And I just know that anecdotally. But you can see the difference when he's in and when he's not in and just pointing out stuff out. He might be limited as an athlete and everything. But he helps out mentally and calming you down."

 

AP:  "Which is a huge piece of the offensive line game, that mental side and protection-setting and front recognition in terms of who's coming. I mean, it happened against Carolina and it happened against Tampa, just using the two most recent examples. The Bills are getting beat on just simple stunts. Like the spiker was taking right guard and right tackle and then Shaq Barrett two weeks ago and Brian Burns this past weekend read it and were both like 'All right, cool, I'm just going to come free through this huge hole in this gap and get a sack."

 

NT:  "And trust me, Belichick sees that stuff."

 

               - Nate Tice

 

 

 

starts at  32:25

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 12, 2022 by Thurman#1

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

I'm confused. Feliciano hasn't been playing.

[hondo in seattle]

Thanks for posting.   For me that's "new news."

 

Makes me appreciate Feliciano more but also makes me wonder about Morse.

[thenorthremembers]

8 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

I'm confused. Feliciano hasn't been playing.

He played a bit when Bates when out two weeks ago but otherwise dude hasnt been on the field most of the season.

Edited January 12, 2022 by thenorthremembers

[atlbillsfan1975]

Yea, here is the thing about this. Bates can also help with protection calls. Bates and Feliciano are both backup centers, that’s why they can help Morse with calls. 
The line has been playing noticeably better starting in the NE game, Feliciano was out. I am not saying Feliciano was the problem, at all. I think scheme adjustment and being able to have the preferred starters on right side of the line were huge factors. Feliciano hasn’t been a starter since I believe the first NE game. Check me on that. He did play some against Tampa Bay, but I believe that was more on field goal, I base this on a video he posted to Instagram where he showed a Bucs player making a dirty play. 
Bates is going to be the starting LG and Feliciano will be first one off the bench for any injury to an interior olineman. I think we could see Feliciano back next year as the center, a position he prefers and he has a great relationship with Josh. The relationship between center and QB doesn’t have to be great necessarily, but it is bonus. 
I like Feliciano and think his teammates love him. Seems like a good dude who is all about the team.

[NewEra]

Yeah, we sure can tell the difference when feliciano is playing and when he’s not.  So can McDermott apparently.  

[DCbillsfan]

55 minutes ago, Giuseppe Tognarelli said:

I'm confused. Feliciano hasn't been playing.

Right there with you.  They look better with Feliciano on the bench.

[Coach Tuesday]

Gotta wonder what they’re paying the o-line coach for if they need the backup guard’s help dealing with basic stunts.

[Thurman#1]

50 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

He played a bit when Bates when out two weeks ago but otherwise dude hasnt been on the field most of the season.

 

 

Right. And how has the offensive played most of the season?

 

Not very well. Though Bates has also been good.

[Thurman#1]

55 minutes ago, thenorthremembers said:

He played a bit when Bates when out two weeks ago but otherwise dude hasnt been on the field most of the season.

 

 

They aren't talking about only this year. Tice was teammates with Feliciano years ago in Oakland!!!

 

And he played a lot in Weeks 1-8, a bit on STs in Week 14 and just a few plays each in Weeks 17 and 18.