Bass didn't get the memo (Joe B All-22)?

[TPS]

In his weekly look at the film, Joe B suggests things point to Bass not getting the word on the kick-off, given the reaction of Johnson and Neal (I'm unable to include the photos):

1. The ’13 seconds’ meltdown and what the film shows

Quote

 

We’re still less than a week since the debacle at the end of regulation, but because the team didn’t provide direct answers to what specifically went wrong, we’re left to dig for clues. Head coach Sean McDermott gave a hint in his season-ending news conference, but that was the extent of it. That’s where the film comes in, and given McDermott’s hint, the kickoff with 13 seconds remaining was the natural place to begin.

When kicker Tyler Bass booted the ball, the right side of the Bills’ kickoff coverage unit immediately began sprinting to their left. Given those first steps, it was clear the call was to direct the ball to the left side. From there, after the coverage unit realized the ball had traveled through the end zone, there were a couple of unusual reactions from core special teams players.

(NFL Game Pass)

The first was from safety Jaquan Johnson, who as the outer-most coverage player primarily hangs back a bit if the returner gets through the first line of defense. In the middle of his run, Johnson immediately put his arms out as if to signal confusion for why the kickoff went through the end zone. He wasn’t the only one.

(NFL Game Pass)

Cornerback Siran Neal, who has played almost every core-four special teams snap this season, had the same reaction as Johnson only a few steps later. Neal looked like he was trying to figure out what had happened.

(NFL Game Pass)

Then one second later, Johnson and Neal both had their arms out in confusion, with Johnson looking toward Bass and Neal looking toward the sideline. Given these reactions, this must be part of the “execution” McDermott was referring to on Tuesday.

 

https://theathletic.com/3099135/2022/01/29/clues-to-the-bills-13-seconds-meltdown-and-josh-allens-remarkable-brilliance-all-22-film-review/

 

[VaMilBill]

If you’re a smart football player you would think you would QA with the head coach what he wants. 
 

if I were Bass and I wasn’t told to squib it I’d go over to the HC and confirm he wants me to kick it out of the EZ. And if he said no I’d recommend squibbing it anyway. Sometimes players need to think for themselves some too

[LABILLBACKER]

How does McDermott not physically call his entire ST, including Bass and scream to them at the top of his lungs exactly what he wants done?  Everyone heard it except Bass? Does Tyler need a hearing aid or did he just kick it too hard? He's been successfully doing that pop up kick all year. This play was so screwed up it's incredible how billsy it was.

[Nextmanup]

1 minute ago, LABILLBACKER said:

How does McDermott not physically call his entire ST, including Bass and scream to them at the top of his lungs exactly what he wants done?  Everyone heard it except Bass? Does Tyler need a hearing aid or did he just kick it too hard? He's been successfully doing that pop up kick all year. This play was so screwed up it's incredible how billsy it was.

The thing is, this sort of decision needs to be made every single time the kicker kicks off!  It happens several times in every game! 

 

You would think they would have a bullet proof ironed out method for selecting the type of kick and getting that information to the kicker.  Something that cannot fail.

 

The fact that it failed, in the worst possible moment, should be a firing offense for someone.

 

Mickey Mouse Hour!

 

 

[97bills]

Man if this is true that’s terrible in a big game like that I want my coach talking to the players his self no confusion. No matter what it all leads back to McDermott especially after those two timeouts. And I no we’ve talked about it over and over but I just can’t stop thinking about it we’re is our defensive leader screaming out watch kelce 

or fix the play ,I could see from my couch they were playing off to far. I think we need a leader on defense, hell Addison could of said watch kelce he’s talking about running up the seam. IDK 🤷‍♂️ man I just got to let it go lol 
 

[Mopreme]

Someone’s head needs to roll. This isn’t just a week 4 game.  As mentioned, a firing offense was committed.  

[LABILLBACKER]

9 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

The thing is, this sort of decision needs to be made every single time the kicker kicks off!  It happens several times in every game! 

 

You would think they would have a bullet proof ironed out method for selecting the type of kick and getting that information to the kicker.  Something that cannot fail.

 

The fact that it failed, in the worst possible moment, should be a firing offense for someone.

 

Mickey Mouse Hour!

 

 

If it was a middle of the season game in the 2nd quarter I can see something falling thru the cracks. This was as high a leverage situation McD has ever been in. He doesn't have the luxury of screwing up communication. No matter how it happened. And Tyler Bass also has to have some common sense or if he's not sure, ASK? I think the play call made it to the players but for some inexcusable reason McD & Bass were not on the same page.

[NoSaint]

12 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

The thing is, this sort of decision needs to be made every single time the kicker kicks off!  It happens several times in every game! 

 

You would think they would have a bullet proof ironed out method for selecting the type of kick and getting that information to the kicker.  Something that cannot fail.

 

The fact that it failed, in the worst possible moment, should be a firing offense for someone.

 

Mickey Mouse Hour!

 

 

I doubt bass went out there with zero play call

 

odds are he was told then it changed - perhaps because of the size of the moment the HC chiming in - and the audible didn’t get to everyone.

 

it would be the first time I’ve seen this exact scenario but the possibility of a routine and regimented execution getting gummed up because the routine was not followed in a high pressure moment would not be a rarity

[WotAGuy]

This is what I don’t understand about kickers and punters. Those knuckleheads are kicking balls into a net by themselves when the rest of the team is huddling up and making a plan for the kick.
 

Is it really necessary to kick a ball into a net until the moment you run onto the field of play?  

[BillsFan4]

25 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

How does McDermott not physically call his entire ST, including Bass and scream to them at the top of his lungs exactly what he wants done?  Everyone heard it except Bass? Does Tyler need a hearing aid or did he just kick it too hard? He's been successfully doing that pop up kick all year. This play was so screwed up it's incredible how billsy it was.

I was thinking the same thing.

Edited January 29, 2022 by BillsFan4

[BarleyNY]

1 minute ago, WotAGuy said:

This is what I don’t understand about kickers and punters. Those knuckleheads are kicking balls into a net by themselves when the rest of the team is huddling up and making a plan for the kick.
 

Is it really necessary to kick a ball into a net until the moment you run onto the field of play?  

I mean, that would be like a hitter in baseball taking on deck practice swings before stepping up to the plate or a pitcher warming up before an inning or a golfer taking practice swings before a shot or…………..

[WotAGuy]

Just now, BarleyNY said:

I mean, that would be like a hitter in baseball taking on deck practice swings before stepping up to the plate or a pitcher warming up before an inning or a golfer taking practice swings before a shot or…………..

The difference is you need to be present with your team while the play is being called. They have the entire prior possession to kick balls in a net; it’s not like the situations you cite. 

[BuffaloRebound]

If true, it just makes it look like McDermott is running a JV operation.  There’s 2 Special Teams coaches.  One of them didn’t have the sense to make sure the kicker knew what the plan was?  

[MJS]

With how loud that stadium is, perhaps it was as simple as Bass not hearing the call correctly, or him just incorrectly assuming he was supposed to kick it deep.

 

I think the worse offense was their defensive calls, though. When they kicked it into the end zone I thought "Ok, I guess they didn't want to risk a return. They had a big return earlier. Whatever."

 

But prevent defense? Leaving the middle of the field wide open? That is the true failure here. The Chiefs had three time outs.

[Coach Tuesday]

I missed it, how did the game end the other night?

[zow2]

The team was 0-6 in one score games.  That can’t be dumb luck, they were flawed. The entire offseason should be spent trying to correct it.

[MJS]

2 minutes ago, WotAGuy said:

The difference is you need to be present with your team while the play is being called. They have the entire prior possession to kick balls in a net; it’s not like the situations you cite. 

This team you are referencing is 50+ players, plus a bunch of coaches, sideline personell, random media people, etc. It's too many people for just the head coach to gather around, plus that stadium is really loud. You have to have a process for communication for each of the units that go out there. In this instance, that process of communication broke down somewhere.

 

You have coordinators for a reason. McDermott got the call to the coordinator, the coordinator got the call to the players. Somehow Bass did not hear or did not understand. It's a big failure of communication. I don't put this on McDermott except that he is the leader and the buck stops with him.

 

However, the defensive play calls afterward certainly he should be more accountable for. I'm sure he was involved more directly in those play calls. If he wasn't and he let Frazier just call it, that's a problem.

[WotAGuy]

1 minute ago, MJS said:

This team you are referencing is 50+ players, plus a bunch of coaches, sideline personell, random media people, etc. It's too many people for just the head coach to gather around, plus that stadium is really loud. You have to have a process for communication for each of the units that go out there. In this instance, that process of communication broke down somewhere.

 

You have coordinators for a reason. McDermott got the call to the coordinator, the coordinator got the call to the players. Somehow Bass did not hear or did not understand. It's a big failure of communication. I don't put this on McDermott except that he is the leader and the buck stops with him.

 

However, the defensive play calls afterward certainly he should be more accountable for. I'm sure he was involved more directly in those play calls. If he wasn't and he let Frazier just call it, that's a problem.

Apparently the players who were huddled up heard the play call.  The guy kicking balls in a net missed the call. Hmmmmm. You don’t see QBs missing play calls because they are warming up on the sideline. 

Edited January 29, 2022 by WotAGuy

[4_kidd_4]

6 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

I missed it, how did the game end the other night?

 

Bills by a billion!

 

See you at the stadium tomorrow!

[Buffalo_Stampede]

When players don't know an assignment it's on the coaching.