My theory: McDermott never liked Daboll's high flying offense, but had to go along with it

[TheFunPolice]

I'm no fan of Dorsey, but I think what we're seeing is the type of offensive approach that McDermott has ALWAYS wanted. Not that he doesn't want points, but he wants "balance." 

 

McD is a smart guy, a great defensive mind, but also an Alpha. This is HIS team. He has an idea of how to win. 

 

The difference with Daboll was that he did it his way, throwing 10-15 times in a row to start games and having guys flying all over the place. Allen was a bulldozer. The offense was cranking.

 

I think McDermott was uncomfortable with that approach and probably tried to get Daboll to change and that's the cause of the obvious tension between the 2 that got worse and worse until the end. At the end of the day, McDermott couldn't say too much because it was working and the team was winning and the players would have probably sided with Daboll if things blew up about it, so McDermott had to just go along with it.

 

Why else would McD have such hard feelings about Daboll? And he does, we don't need to argue the blatantly obvious. 

 

Obviously McD wants wins. Ultimately the HC gets the most credit, along with the QB. So it's a tense standoff. 

 

If it came down to a "him or me" argument McD might not have been the owner's (or superstar QBs) choice when the offense is scoring at will and Allen is becoming a superstar and the team is winning "because of offense" (which also must have driven him crazy on some level). 

 

It was also the defense that let the team down in 13 seconds. 

 

As a HC, I can see how he might see it as Daboll trying to one up him. I could see him feeling disrespected, regardless of the outcome of it. He's the HC and it's supposed to be his program, but the OC was a big personality who was getting all sorts of credit for doing the opposite of what McD wanted. 

 

What was McD going to do? Fire him? There would have been a mutiny. McD would have lost the locker room. 

 

But now, Dorsey is just a guy and McDermott can put his stamp on the offense. Now offensive guys are frustrated, unhappy, and want their offense back, regardless of who is calling the plays. 

 

That's the reason for the Diggs outbursts, Allen's malaise, and Florio's obnoxious "Jenga tower" articles after every Bills loss. 

 

My theory anyway as to what is going on with the offense. I'm not sure how much it matters who the OC is. 

 

 

 

 

[SoonerBillsFan]

I got that feeling when he first started.  

[JerseyBills]

Am i tripping or didn't Dabol leave because he got a hc offer? 

 

I know there's tension but he was never fired, he took a promotion with a different franchise. 

[TheBrownBear]

So, McDermott likes the "balance" of handing it to our running backs only 8 times over 60 minutes?  He likes the conservative playcalling, play design and balance of routinely having our pass-catchers run into each other (and sometimes knocking each other down) on passing plays?

[Mr. WEO]

McD didn't like scoring all those points, huh?

 

Genius...

[TheFunPolice]

1 minute ago, JerseyBills said:

Am i tripping or didn't Dabol leave because he got a hc offer? 

 

I know there's tension but he was never fired, he took a promotion with a different franchise. 

 

I never said he was fired. 

 

I said McD kind of had to accept that Daboll was going to go rogue and do it his way and couldn't really do anything about it without losing the locker room, which probably drove him nuts. 

1 minute ago, Mr. WEO said:

McD didn't like scoring all those points, huh?

 

Genius...

 

I see people can't read well. I did write a lot of text, so it's probably my fault. 

 

Check out sentence #2. 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

When McDermott was introduced as HC and interviewed on WGR 550 he talked about a "physical run game" and playing in "snowy" Buffalo weather. 

 

And his first couple of years in 2017 and 2018 indicated he wanted to do that. 

 

Even in 2019 - going with 35 year old Frank Gore was telling. 

 

But - I think that plan changed when Allen improved, and Beane got Allen John Brown and Cole Beasley in 2019. 

 

After that it was Diggs in 2020 and the pass game naturally took over. 

 

 

 

[BillsFan692]

Absolutely 110%

 

The rift between daboll and mcd was obvious and some people just refuse to read between the lines.

 

Go back and watch the press conference after the games leading up to tampa bay game that year and some of the press conference after tampa.

 

You can hear it in McDs voice as he laments the offensive struggles and wants the team to be more two dimensional. 

 

You can hear dabs press conferences too where he basically laughs that off like there is no way that is happening lol

 

Then of course dabs and this offense went on a historic run pass pass pass and it was McDs disgusting mismanagement that cost us 13 seconds and a possible SB W.

 

DABS QUIT IMMEDIATELY AFTER! Now these 2 coaches cant even shake hands at midfield

Edited November 7, 2023 by BillsFan692

[nucci]

That offense was unstoppable in the playoffs and  probably won the Superbowl if his defense could kill off 13 seconds

[TheFunPolice]

Just now, BillsFan692 said:

Absolutely 110%

 

The rift between daboll and mcd was obvious and some people just refuse to read between the lines.

 

Go back and watch the press conference after the games leading up to tampa bay game that year and some of the press conference after tampa.

 

You can hear it in McDs voice as he laments the offensive struggles and wants the team to be more two dimensional. 

 

You can hear dabs press conferences too where he basically laughs that off

 

McDermott and McDaniel spend 2 minutes hugging midfield postgame but Daboll barely gets a tap on the hand and basically zero acknowledgement from McD after working here with him so closely for that long?

 

McD's team won the game and he still seemed furious or salty about something. 

 

Tellingly, the first thing that happens right after is Allen gives Daboll a huge hug and they laugh and chat.

 

 

[BillsFan692]

Just now, TheFunPolice said:

 

McDermott and McDaniel spend 2 minutes hugging midfield postgame but Daboll barely gets a tap on the hand and basically zero acknowledgement from McD after working here with him so closely for that long?

 

McD's team won the game and he still seemed furious or salty about something. 

 

Tellingly, the first thing that happens right after is Allen gives Daboll a huge hug and they laugh and chat.

 

 

Allen walked Daboll out of the stadium.

 

I am sure Sean loved that.

[Royale with Cheese]

That could be it.

 

I think it could be as simple as their personalities just don't get along.

 

McDermott is a buttoned up, disciplined and very organized guy.  Probably irons his polos and makes his bed to a perfect hotel quality tuck every morning.

Doesn't like comedies like Office Space and Super Troopers.  His comedy interests are probably Grumpy Old Men and 3 Men and a Baby.

 

Daboll caught hitting that vape more than once on TV and he was probably ripping that all the time at OBD, loud, a little sloppy, probably gets pizza cheese on his beard and doesn't wipe it off.  Probably has the smell of Buffalo Trace and weed on his breath in the mornings.  Loves Office Space and Super Troopers....probably Mr. Bean.   

[Steptide]

I don't buy this McD doesn't want a high power offense. Was he not in Carolina with Newton and one of the best offenses that year? Also, I've never once heard McDermott say he wants to be more conservative. I think if anything, McD is probably somewhat responsible for trying to make Josh more of a pocket passer, but I just don't buy that McDermott wants a jauron style offense. 

[BillsFan692]

1 minute ago, Steptide said:

I don't buy this McD doesn't want a high power offense. Was he not in Carolina with Newton and one of the best offenses that year? Also, I've never once heard McDermott say he wants to be more conservative. I think if anything, McD is probably somewhat responsible for trying to make Josh more of a pocket passer, but I just don't buy that McDermott wants a jauron style offense. 

There are two lines and you need to start reading between them.

 

Every single time McD says "balance" every time he says "two dimensional" every time he says "complimentary football" he is telling you CONSERVATIVE. 

 

What does balance mean? It means run more. What does 2 dimensional mean? It means run more. What does "complimentary football" mean? When sean says it he means long, methodical drives that chew up clock and keep his defense off the field.  CONSERVATIVE.

 

There is a reason why Bills are always in nail biters. CONSERVATIVE!

[Royale with Cheese]

8 minutes ago, BillsFan692 said:

Absolutely 110%

 

The rift between daboll and mcd was obvious and some people just refuse to read between the lines.

 

Go back and watch the press conference after the games leading up to tampa bay game that year and some of the press conference after tampa.

 

You can hear it in McDs voice as he laments the offensive struggles and wants the team to be more two dimensional. 

 

You can hear dabs press conferences too where he basically laughs that off like there is no way that is happening lol

 

Then of course dabs and this offense went on a historic run pass pass pass and it was McDs disgusting mismanagement that cost us 13 seconds and a possible SB W.

 

DABS QUIT IMMEDIATELY AFTER! Now these 2 coaches cant even shake hands at midfield

 

Daboll didn't quick lol.

[TheFunPolice]

1 minute ago, Steptide said:

I don't buy this McD doesn't want a high power offense. Was he not in Carolina with Newton and one of the best offenses that year? Also, I've never once heard McDermott say he wants to be more conservative. I think if anything, McD is probably somewhat responsible for trying to make Josh more of a pocket passer, but I just don't buy that McDermott wants a jauron style offense. 

 

To be fair, I don't think Jauron wanted a "Jauron style offense", but when your QBs are horrible and you have no offensive skill players to speak of that's what you get. 

 

I'm not saying McD didn't want to score points and win, obviously he does. I think the issue was that McD was uncomfortable with that STYLE of scoring points because he probably saw it as unsustainable or not going to work in the playoffs. 

 

I also don't necessarily blame McD. His instincts and football acumen got him this HC job, and ultimately he's responsible. 

 

 

[Royale with Cheese]

Just now, BillsFan692 said:

There are two lines and you need to start reading between them.

 

Every single time McD says "balance" every time he says "two dimensional" every time he says "complimentary football" he is telling you CONSERVATIVE. 

 

What does balance mean? It means run more. What does 2 dimensional mean? It means run more. What does "complimentary football" mean? When sean says it he means long, methodical drives that chew up clock and keep his defense off the field.  CONSERVATIVE.

 

There is a reason why Bills are always in nail biters. CONSERVATIVE!

\

The Bills since 2020 lead the league by a wide margin in point differential.  They are in the least amount of nail biters of any team in the NFL.

[Bferra13]

15 minutes ago, TheBrownBear said:

So, McDermott likes the "balance" of handing it to our running backs only 8 times over 60 minutes?  He likes the conservative playcalling, play design and balance of routinely having our pass-catchers run into each other (and sometimes knocking each other down) on passing plays?

The theory someone brought up on WGR was not that they were scoring too many points. It's that they were scoring too many points too fast, not giving the defense enough time to recoup. Kinda makes sense when you think about the revolving d line he has going on.

[BillsFan692]

Just now, Royale with Cheese said:

 

Daboll didn't quick lol.

I mean he didnt get fired, he decided to leave for greener pastures. He quit. In previous seasons although he could have left he opted to stay.

[dave mcbride]

3 minutes ago, Steptide said:

I don't buy this McD doesn't want a high power offense. Was he not in Carolina with Newton and one of the best offenses that year? Also, I've never once heard McDermott say he wants to be more conservative. I think if anything, McD is probably somewhat responsible for trying to make Josh more of a pocket passer, but I just don't buy that McDermott wants a jauron style offense. 

Not really true. The 2015 Panthers were 27th in passing attempts and first in rushing attempts. It was very ball-control centric.