Tim Graham for The Athletic: Remember when the Buffalo Bills used to have fun?

[QCity]

Graham: Remember when the Buffalo Bills used to have fun?

 

 

Once among the NFL’s most entertaining clubs, the Bills have become a primetime bore. Last year, they averaged 31 points while going undefeated in five night games. The Bills enter Monday night’s matchup against the Denver Broncos with a 2-2 primetime record and averaging 18 points.

You can’t fake fun, and Buffalo’s just not having it.

Remember those F-you plays? Showing up the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense right after their “Renegade” hype song? Throwing a touchdown pass to rookie backup tackle Tommy Doyle while already beating the New England Patriots by 30 in the fourth quarter? John Brown and Cole Beasley chucking touchdowns, Josh Allen catching them? Defensive tackle Kyle Williams getting touches? Isaiah McKenzie capering about?

Buffalo used to exude confidence. It was cocksure, defiant, downright giddy in their dominance.

All that’s gone lately.

 

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“A lack of big plays has taken some of the energy out of it,” Davis admitted. 

Chunk plays are fun. So, too, are trick plays.

The Bills don’t do those anymore either.

In the 27 games Ken Dorsey has been offensive coordinator, no one other than a quarterback has attempted a pass, and no one other than a running back, receiver or tight end has caught.

Under Daboll, non-quarterbacks completed six of eight passes for 104 yards and four touchdowns — not counting special teams chicanery. Brown threw two touchdowns, Beasley and McKenzie one apiece.

Non-skill players under Daboll caught six of eight targets for 46 yards and five touchdowns. Left tackle Dion Dawkins has two career TD receptions.

The universe smiles upon fat guy touchdowns.

 

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“Of course, there’s the fun factor of it,” Mitchell Schwartz, the Chiefs’ former All-Pro right tackle, once told The Athletic for a story about the power of unusual plays, “but mentally knowing your coach is going to listen to you, find ways to let you do things you normally don’t get to, not succumb to monotony and make sure guys are having fun and engaged, that mentality goes beyond just a single play here or there.

“It really bleeds down into the overall work environment, and everyone feels more engaged.”

 

 

 

 

A pretty interesting read for The Athletic subscribers basically summarizing what most of us see - that the offense exudes all the swagger and fun of someone who is about to get audited by the IRS. 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2023 by QCity

[boyst]

Tim Graham is a phenomenal writer. He can construct and convey a story like few others can do even if we don't like his stories or people have a personal dislike for him. 

[Saxum]

4 minutes ago, QCity said:

A pretty interesting read for The Athletic subscribers basically summarizing what most of us see - that the offense exudes all the swagger and fun of someone who is about to get audited by the IRS.

 

I always though Tim Graham should be working for IRS and would love being an auditor with thumbscrews in briefcase "just in case".

[BuffaloBillyG]

1 minute ago, QCity said:

Graham: Remember when the Buffalo Bills used to have fun?

 

 

 

 

A pretty interesting read for The Athletic subscribers basically summarizing what most of us see - that the offense exudes all the swagger and fun of someone who is about to get audited by the IRS.

Well, here's the thing. Back when this run started players were younger and had no expectations or pressure on them Once they made the AFCCG the pressure set in and it went from a game with buddies to a very business like approach.

 

The other thing worth pointing out is the natural progression of maturity in Josh Allen. Seeing a franchise QB grow up in front of us is something we really have never seen in Buffalo. Yes, we had Kelly however he had a few years to grow up in the USFL and by the time he came here he is who he was as a person. With Allen we are watching him go from a smaller NCAA QB who grew up on a farm to multimillionaire, face of the NFL. That's a huge change to take place in a timeframe of your early 20s to mid to late 20s. 

 

We like to think that all things should stay the same but often forget that these guys are often young human beings that are finding generational wealth and that brings about change. 

[GoBills808]

it's not just on offense

 

the whole squad looks and sounds like they need a vacation

[Negan]

Josh needs a haircut 💈, and this team needs some new life in it.

 

This has been a depressing sludge of a season so far.  Can't even hang your hat on anything anymore.  I need a drink 🍻!

Edited November 11, 2023 by Negan

[stosh64]

I sure as hell know they are no fun to watch.  I may miss my 2nd game in the last 5 years Mon. and I'm really ok with that.

 

No regrets missing Bengals game.

 

Dorsey has to go

Edited November 10, 2023 by stosh64

[papazoid]

it's only fun when your winning !

[zow2]

It's been the least enjoyable year to watch the games in a while.  From the opening kick i just feel like I want the team to get through it, try not to have a flag on every decent play...and cringing for more injuries when i see hard hits.  If they can scrounge out a W (like NYG and Bucs) it's gravy.

[MJS]

They have fun when they are scoring TD's and winning games. It is not some big secret. Struggling sucks. Losing sucks.

 

There isn't some deeper meaning behind it all. It is a simple thing.

[MPL]

I'm not having fun either. 

[Yobogoya!]

21 minutes ago, QCity said:

In the 27 games Ken Dorsey has been offensive coordinator, no one other than a quarterback has attempted a pass, and no one other than a running back, receiver or tight end has caught.

Under Daboll, non-quarterbacks completed six of eight passes for 104 yards and four touchdowns — not counting special teams chicanery. Brown threw two touchdowns, Beasley and McKenzie one apiece.

Non-skill players under Daboll caught six of eight targets for 46 yards and five touchdowns. Left tackle Dion Dawkins has two career TD receptions.

The universe smiles upon fat guy touchdowns.

 

I've been harping about this for a while now. 

 

I think we finally attempted a gadget play last game with a double flea flicker or something... and of course the defense didn't bite even a little bit and it failed miserably. 

 

Trick and gadget plays are a a noticeable weakness of Dorsey's. Can't scheme them, can't call them. I feel like the poor screen game - which is at least something of a trick play conceptually - may be connected to whatever is holding back his ability to coordinate these types of plays. 🤷‍♂️

[Captain Hindsight]

37 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Well, here's the thing. Back when this run started players were younger and had no expectations or pressure on them Once they made the AFCCG the pressure set in and it went from a game with buddies to a very business like approach.

 

The other thing worth pointing out is the natural progression of maturity in Josh Allen. Seeing a franchise QB grow up in front of us is something we really have never seen in Buffalo. Yes, we had Kelly however he had a few years to grow up in the USFL and by the time he came here he is who he was as a person. With Allen we are watching him go from a smaller NCAA QB who grew up on a farm to multimillionaire, face of the NFL. That's a huge change to take place in a timeframe of your early 20s to mid to late 20s. 

 

We like to think that all things should stay the same but often forget that these guys are often young human beings that are finding generational wealth and that brings about change. 

The chiefs, who have won two super bowls, always look like they are having fun. You can do both 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

41 minutes ago, boyst said:

Tim Graham is a phenomenal writer. He can construct and convey a story like few others can do even if we don't like his stories or people have a personal dislike for him. 

Now you're just trolling

 

[BuffaloBillyG]

2 minutes ago, Captain Hindsight said:

The chiefs, who have won two super bowls, always look like they are having fun. You can do both 

I see your point, however I would argue that winning the first time took pressure off a fair amount as well. 

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

A lot of the fun is definitely gone … I get up at 430a for work, but I never minded sacrificing a day of being tired at work for a prime time Bills game. Monday night, I’m actually considering setting the DVR and going to bed at the half, and watching the remainder of the game later, IF it’s worth watching. That would have been unthinkable previously. 

[stuvian]

Big plays are down for every team. When the passing rules liberalized, everyone's base defense went to 4-2-5. This is why QBs run so much today.

Edited November 10, 2023 by stuvian

[Mr. WEO]

33 minutes ago, Yobogoya! said:

 

I've been harping about this for a while now. 

 

I think we finally attempted a gadget play last game with a double flea flicker or something... and of course the defense didn't bite even a little bit and it failed miserably. 

 

Trick and gadget plays are a a noticeable weakness of Dorsey's. Can't scheme them, can't call them. I feel like the poor screen game - which is at least something of a trick play conceptually - may be connected to whatever is holding back his ability to coordinate these types of plays. 🤷‍♂️

 

They should fire Dorsey for refusing to throw TDs to O-lineman alone, is what I'm saying....

[LABILLBACKER]

He's 100% right. The Bills aren't having fun anymore. And it starts with Allen & Diggs constricted with this pathetic Dorsey offense.  Once Daboll left, so did the offensive confidence.  And right now McDorsey are just way too much into Josh's head.

[Mango]

Quote

In the 27 games Ken Dorsey has been offensive coordinator, no one other than a quarterback has attempted a pass, and no one other than a running back, receiver or tight end has caught.

 

What a very strange sentence and odd gripe about an NFL football team. 

I can get behind the premise that the team isn't having very much fun, but I am not sure WR's throwing passes and QB's/OL catching them are a meaningful way to convey they. 

Also nobody is having fun in jersey because they stink and Daboll is an absolute blowhard. I wish we would stop looking backwards all the time. 

That said, I think the general morale puts us on a crash course for a reset next year.