Bills turn weakness into strength - 4th in NFL in YAC through 5 weeks(UPDATE: 7th by PFR stats)

[34-78-83]

Hoping to see the improvement stick for the season!

[DCofNC]

This is definitely a product of just taking what’s there. We almost NEVER saw Diggs or any WR for that matter, get a quick screen pass outside.  With soft coverage constantly, flipping it out to him has been like a free 7 yards, might as well take it.   Also, not hating on him, but Beasley was absolutely awful for the YAC yards, Captain catch and dive killed YAC stats.   As defenses adjust to that quick flip more, I suspect you will see the YAC start to fall off a little, but if Cook or CMC start getting the ball on short throws and making something happen, it might come back up.

[Buffalo Boy]

18 minutes ago, Motorin' said:

 

The thing about those throws is they have the potential of being undercut for the INT if they're thrown behind the receiver. Like in the Rams game, or they Arizona game where the other corner peeled off and snatched it.  

   I understand your point but that was a slightly deeper pass. We are talking the “Wes Welker” special.

    Allen has admitted his need to clean it up in the past. I am admittedly being picky but it’s a touch pass that needs  to be thrown just so to allow YAC. It is not JA’s strong suit.

[H2o]

Some of this is Allen, as he stated he was working on ball placement so his WR's could get YAC during the offseason. Some of it is on Dorsey and how he has changed some things schematically within the offense. Some of it is on the guys catching the ball. Both Beasley and Sanders were not big YAC guys and tended to go down rather quickly after a reception. This year McKenzie, Crowder, and Shakir have all shown better than those two. Gabe has also made the most of his opportunities. 

Edited October 12, 2022 by H2o

[Big Turk]

24 minutes ago, DCofNC said:

This is definitely a product of just taking what’s there. We almost NEVER saw Diggs or any WR for that matter, get a quick screen pass outside.  With soft coverage constantly, flipping it out to him has been like a free 7 yards, might as well take it.   Also, not hating on him, but Beasley was absolutely awful for the YAC yards, Captain catch and dive killed YAC stats.   As defenses adjust to that quick flip more, I suspect you will see the YAC start to fall off a little, but if Cook or CMC start getting the ball on short throws and making something happen, it might come back up.

 

I don't agree with this.  I can post numerous examples of Allen doing the "Gold Rip/Whip" audible at the line when John Brown was here which was basically a step back screen that usually resulted in long yardage...I remember specifically at least 2 examples...one on which he scored against the Fins from like 30 yards out and another maybe 40 yard one where he got tackled inside the 5.  

 

I know it happened fairly frequently because I was always yelling at them to change the audible because you'd hear "Gold Rip" from Allen and sure enough it always was a screen...happened a LOT during the COVID year where there was no fan noise and you could hear things very clearly in terms of audibles and LOS calls.

 

Also, the TD to Diggs in the Baltimore playoff game was a 4 or 5 yard screen pass.

 

 

Edited October 12, 2022 by Big Turk

[RocCityRoller]

Run defense is also much improved. The swap outs on DL have helped a lot.

 

Buffalo has allowed the 2nd fewest rush yards, and 3rd fewest YPC against.

KC is third in rush yards against (4.1 ypc).

 

Good to see YAC and run defense have been addressed and we are seeing good improvement!

[Royale with Cheese]

3 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Outside of last game this is a product of Josh checking it down more. 

 

Stefon Diggs is just outside the top 10 in YAC yards.  Outside the top 10 by 3 yards.

[BADOLBILZ]

3 hours ago, JayBaller10 said:

Morris had a fantastic grab last game. He’s only going to improve the more he plays and the more confident he gets. Looks like a find.

 

 

 

 

Let's hope so with Quintin Morris, but unfortunately the highlighted is not even close to always being the case.   The Bills haven't had much juice at TE for the past 60 years or so.......and not had ANY luck with later picks and UDFA's at that position in decades.........but it's fairly common for young TE's to show some skills in other organizations and then disappear.   Due to injury or otherwise.

 

We are more familiar with the Robert Foster WR types who could only improve the more he played until he played and got worse.

 

Morris will have to prove he's consistent at getting open and catching the ball.........he's flashed a little in preseason and in the last game but 6'2" TE's don't usually make much of an impact.

[Big Turk]

31 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Outside of last game this is a product of Josh checking it down more. 

 

Somewhat but that doesn't explain all of it.  There are very few routes this year that I have seen that feature receivers at a dead stop or turned and facing Allen on curl routes where they are basically hit immediately after catching the ball. Seem to be a lot more routes where the receivers are moving and Allen can hit them in stride.