Why is Diggs coming off the field on Third Downs?

[Allen2Moulds]

I agree, I believe the decreased usage has more to do with some sort of preventative maintenance thing. He's probably playing through multiple bumps and bruises.  Enough at least to slow him down a bit.  

I'm hoping that they are managing it, until we hit the playoffs, than it's, let's see everything you got left.

[julian]

The most logical and obvious is usually correct, I’ll say he’s playing hurt while simultaneously McDermott and Brady have made a decision to turn to a more run oriented ball control offense.

 

That being said, I’m not going to dismiss the idea that Diggs isn’t happy and would love to get himself to Dallas ASAP.

[Warriorspikes51]

1 minute ago, julian said:

The most logical and obvious is usually correct, I’ll say he’s playing hurt while simultaneously McDermott and Brady have made a decision to turn to a more run oriented ball control offense.

 

That being said, I’m not going to dismiss the idea that Diggs isn’t happy and would love to get himself to Dallas ASAP.

He has literally done nothing to display this.  He was having a lot of fun in practice this week. 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

To me i think there's some kind of injury going on.  On that just overthrown deep post - he literally trotted right off the field.  That isn't the coaching staff taking him out, thats him taking himself off.  

[julian]

27 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

He has literally done nothing to display this.  He was having a lot of fun in practice this week. 

Just like he didn’t do anything in Minnesota, yet Bean thought differently and made the call.

 

 I love the player and like I said I believe injury and philosophy change are the reasons for the drop off, but if you want to put your head in the sand and ignore the smoke so be it.

[boater]

LOL... Diggs isn't leaving.

• the salary cap implications for another team preclude him from getting traded for the 2024 season
• Allen, Beane, and McDermott still want him here
• Diggs likes playing for Buffalo
• he has NO BEEF with management

[Airseven]

If Diggs were injured and yet still able to contribute, it reasons he would come ON the field on third downs or critical passing situations.

 

1 minute ago, boater said:

LOL... Diggs isn't leaving.

• the salary cap implications for another team preclude him from getting traded for the 2024 season
• Allen, Beane, and McDermott still want him here
• Diggs likes playing for Buffalo
• he has NO BEEF with management

 

Your first point is worthy. I don't see how he doesn't return to the Bills for one last season.

Edited January 5 by Airseven

[Blackbeard]

2 hours ago, Milanos Milano said:

Yeah I’m going with injury at this point. Diggs usage is puzzling. 

I don't think it's Diggs injured.  It's Allen.

 

My argument:

1.  Major uptick in Cook usage and rb stable.  

2.  Lack of deep ball frequency.

3.  Still trying to get ball to your best playmaker (Diggs) but seemingly more passes at line of scrimmage.  (not deep).

4.  Allen accuracy has dropped.

5.  Increase in short pass game.

 

Something is up, and my money is on Allen is dealing with something and the play calling is being worked around that.  

[frostbitmic]

I've noticed the last couple of years is that if Diggs makes a catch or is even targeted, the next play he's on the sideline (watch Sunday night). I believe he takes himself out.

 

I'm not judging him, just an observation.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

2 hours ago, vtnatefootball11 said:

I want to believe the injury thing but then why aren't the Bills going along with a scheme to hid his injury and not report it? That would be stupid and would make no sense.  They report nagging injuries all the time, including Josh's shoulder and whatnot (that would be the one to hide if any).  I don't buy the injury thing. I think you're naive if you don't think there is anything going on behind the scenes. Don't know exactly what it is but something is up. 

Are you serious?

They didn't ever report Elam's ankle until they put him on IR

[Don Otreply]

1 hour ago, vtnatefootball11 said:

 

I agree with you on the Go Bills. I wasn't putting those words in his mouth, that was off the cuff explanation, not his words, which I said was one of hundreds of possible explanations, cut your BS. Nobody is a bigger fan of Stef than me. You're the one suggesting he is tapping out every single play that he's off, which I'm telling you is wrong, I don't buy he would ever do that on crucial third downs.  He is being schemed out for some reason on certain downs. Coaches have confirmed this. It doesn't make sense to make, that's why I'm asking about it trying to find answers. Even if he's hurt, keep him on as a decoy and draw two defenders in coverage.  

Had it occurred to you that the coaches are keeping an eye on his injury and making sure he doesn’t over do it and make things worse…,  he is not fully healthy it’s really that simple, 

9 minutes ago, Blackbeard said:

I don't think it's Diggs injured.  It's Allen.

 

My argument:

1.  Major uptick in Cook usage and rb stable.  

2.  Lack of deep ball frequency.

3.  Still trying to get ball to your best playmaker (Diggs) but seemingly more passes at line of scrimmage.  (not deep).

4.  Allen accuracy has dropped.

5.  Increase in short pass game.

 

Something is up, and my money is on Allen is dealing with something and the play calling is being worked around that.  

It’s likely both of them are dealing with injury, let’s not make it harder than it actually is..,

[london_bills]

An injury doesn't make sense because the best WR is coming off on the most important down

[Augie]

1 hour ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Because he missed some practice time this week to work with the trainers/get some treatment.

 

The same reason they reported Diggs injury a few weeks back, but then stopped. Because he isnt missing any official time.

 

You are literally answering your own questions.

 

 

 

He does not like this answer, apparently. 🤷‍♂️

[vtnatefootball11]

2 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

He does not like this answer, apparently. 🤷‍♂️

 

It misses the point of the entire post, why is Diggs being schemed off the filed on the most crucial third downs in must win games?

[Augie]

Just now, vtnatefootball11 said:

 

It misses the point of the entire post, why is Diggs being schemed off the filed on the most crucial third downs in must win games?

 

Yes, somebody is missing something. 

[vtnatefootball11]

Just now, Augie said:

 

Yes, somebody is missing something. 

 

Injury wouldn't fully explain it.

[DrMaxPower]

There has been a lot of smoke around Diggs having problems with some combination of McD/Josh/Dorsey/Bills Org for over a year now.

 

When you combine that with what we are seeing on the field, both in terms of usage and productivity, it seems clear that something is rotting. Too many things are lining up in a bad way.

 

If it wasn't for his contract, I'm about 98% sure he'd be gone after this year.

 

I just hope that whatever it is, they can put it to bed for a bit and focus on a playoff run.

 

 

[Danger Mouse]

I think it’s just that we need to play percentage football. Diggs is incredible but he’s not been how we win games lately. Playoffs is different 

[BobbyC81]

3 hours ago, NoSaint said:

yea- I have to think that an injury makes way more sense than a battle of egos. That he’s unhappy so they are intentionally going out of their way to poke him and agitate him more makes very little sense. That they are lying to cover an injury and protect his well being makes way more for now. 

The NFL has been cracking down on teams not reporting injuries. This would be too obvious and the league would have gotten involved.

 

 

5 minutes ago, Bill Grundy said:

I think it’s just that we need to play percentage football. Diggs is incredible but he’s not been how we win games lately. Playoffs is different 

Hasn’t it been said that Diggs has been reluctant to block on running plays?  That could be a reason to pull him on RPOs.

Edited January 5 by BobbyC81
Multi post formatting

[Mikie2times]

Injury could make sense, but if that's the case you would think we would be more strategic with his usage. 3rd down would be the exact down you would expect him to always be playing. I have wondered if he is just less emotionally invested. Sort of like when somebody says to themselves "why the hell do I care so much"? It's usually a result of consistent frustration. A person decides while they can still do the job, they won't get emotionally invested.  Maybe Diggs needs that? Maybe this take is completely wrong. That said something is up. If you look at the heat map below literally everything is in a tailspin and has been.

 

He has stats that have no relationship with each other declining. All of it is bad. The timing coincides with Brady and some have said increased emphasis in the run game. But we need WR production desperately at this point. So to think the ground game is justification in full, I just don't see that.