Should O'Cyrus Torrence be benched?

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

Despite Miami blitzing early and pretty often I think the oline did a pretty good job tonight…didn’t feel like the constant pressure up the middle we saw against the chargers and pats to me 

[TheFunPolice]

I say let him continue to grow

 Every OL gets beat here and there and I think overall he's been pretty good. We need him to develop even more in the future. 

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

No.

 

Look, a year or two ago that level of play of Torrence would have been better than most.

 

He's a rookie. You can very much do worse. We've seen it.

[HappyDays]

3 minutes ago, Maine-iac said:

Who are you subbing in for him against Wilkins with A gap blitzes who will do better?

 

Edwards won a Super Bowl as a starting guard with the Rams. Bates was a steady player for us last year and would be better with an improved Spencer Brown next to him.

 

I'm not expecting sudden greatness. I would just like the floor to be raised.

[BuffaloBillyG]

8 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

I'm not trying to be inflammatory here. This is a genuine question.

 

Torrence has been the clear weak link on the Bills offense in recent weeks. He's getting beat inside off the snap at a frighteningly high rate. He's making mental mistakes that allow free rushers up the middle.

 

It's no blight on him as a draft pick if we bench him. It's known that OL players in particular take time to develop, and with his body type it would not be a surprise at all if he's hit the rookie wall playing 100% of the snaps this season. And there's still 4 (hopefully) games to go...

 

I just don't know if we can live with Torrence's mistakes in a playoff run that looks like it will be a true gauntlet. We have steady vets in David Edwards and Ryan Bates waiting in the wings. I think the coaching staff should seriously consider making a change now before it's too late.

I can see why it's a question and it has some validity IMO as his play has been...I won't say bad but maybe a bit streaky over the last month.

 

I cannot justify benching him right now, however. There is a lot to be said for communication and consistency along the line. These guys have over 1000 snaps this year with each other. Bad time to shake it up IMO. Having him out there has also seemed to help steady Spencer Brown's play as well. I roll with how it is, unless there is an underlying injury hampering him we are unaware of.

[Kmart128]

No not benched. But he has played his worst football these past 2 weeks against 2 top NFL DTs. Im sure he will settle down again 

[Maine-iac]

McGovern is probably our best pass blocking guard and he gets bull rushed often enough.  Wilkins probably takes any guard we have and eats their lunch.  We didn't do much running right at him which I would have like to have seen.  They did however shorten up some of the passes and Kincaid and Shikir made the catches and kept the chains moving.  

[BCAS Baritone]

I think there's also a psychological point to this.  Benching him now would put some negative vibes into the o-line.  He knows that the fumble was on him and so does everybody else.  Let him overcome that with the help of his mates.

[Utah John]

5 minutes ago, Kaenon said:

Wilkins is very good

Wilkins IS very good but pretty much every team the Bills will face the rest of the postseason has a very good interior D lineman.  Some have outstanding players and some have multiple guys.  So I don't think overlooking a problem for that reason is the solution.

 

But nor do i think benching him is the solution either.  The Bills need to recognize there's a problem and work in blocking schemes that let him get through the rest of the year while keeping the Bills moving ahead.  

 

I think the O line as a whole has been hitting a wall.  The big holes are coming fewer and further between, and the pass rush is getting closer to Allen.  Are they worn out or are opposing defenses being crafted to attack when the league has seen the Bills doing?  Probably some of both.  Again the solution is not new personnel but more creative coaching, so our guys aren't sitting ducks when attacked by creative DCs from other teams.

[Wayne Arnold]

I just think Wilkins is really, really good. Torrence will be fine.

[Maine-iac]

5 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Edwards won a Super Bowl as a starting guard with the Rams. Bates was a steady player for us last year and would be better with an improved Spencer Brown next to him.

 

I'm not expecting sudden greatness. I would just like the floor to be raised.

And so did Rapp but I'm not starting him over Poyer if Poyer has a bad game.

[HurlyBurly51]

He's hit the rookie wall.  Something to monitor but not change just yet.

[Drew21PA]

We’d seriously ?

 

cmon man you’re a decent poster than post this garbage after winning the afc East on our stud rookie linemen?

 

cmon …. Like I said you’re normally spot on but no not here 

 

kid is SOLID

 

ANNNNNDDDDD

 

 

i think there are a couple thousand others that need to say sorry to our RT as well

[HappyDays]

Just now, Maine-iac said:

And so did Rapp but I'm not starting him over Poyer if Poyer has a bad game.

 

It isn't just one bad game though. He has been the weak link for a couple months now.

[Buffalo Ballin]

We need everyone for the playoffs.

 

[CincyBillsFan]

19 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

I'm not trying to be inflammatory here. This is a genuine question.

 

Torrence has been the clear weak link on the Bills offense in recent weeks. He's getting beat inside off the snap at a frighteningly high rate. He's making mental mistakes that allow free rushers up the middle.

 

It's no blight on him as a draft pick if we bench him. It's known that OL players in particular take time to develop, and with his body type it would not be a surprise at all if he's hit the rookie wall playing 100% of the snaps this season. And there's still 4 (hopefully) games to go...

 

I just don't know if we can live with Torrence's mistakes in a playoff run that looks like it will be a true gauntlet. We have steady vets in David Edwards and Ryan Bates waiting in the wings. I think the coaching staff should seriously consider making a change now before it's too late.

I would say no but it's a very fair question.  He had a great game against Dallas but has struggled big time the last 2 games. 

 

 

[Bob in STL]

12 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

I don't expect it to be a popular suggestion. Personally I think Torrence's reputation on here exceeds his play. I think early season returns gave everyone a lot of optimism that has not been borne out over the back half of the season. He has a long way to go to cement his spot as a long term starter.

 

That being said the one argument against it that makes sense to me is what you said - do you risk tearing apart the cohesion that's been built over several months of all 5 starters being the same? That is a legitimate concern.

Long season, rookies often have trouble playing this many games.  He also faced some real good competition to.  
 

Stick with him at this point.  

[LABILLBACKER]

16 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

It can be due to a long season he is not used to.

I think he should be active but backup.

Collinsworth said the Bills are the only NFL team with the same starting OL all year. Torrence did struggle tonight but I'd leave things alone and coach him up for the playoffs. 

[finn]

I think it would be a good move if play quality were the only factor to consider. He's been playing poorly and might just be exhausted. Sitting a game might be just what he needs. But the move might hurt his confidence. As others have said, it might also affect the chemistry of the line. 

 

Well, the coaches know far better than we do. Let's hope their judgment matches their knowledge. 

[Maine-iac]

Just now, HappyDays said:

 

It isn't just one bad game though. He has been the weak link for a couple months now.

Teams have been using creeper blitzes and actual blitzes in the A gap.  It makes it much harder on any guards say nothing about rookies who tend to be more mauler than finesse type guys.  They need to clean up the protection.  I'm guessing it's as much confusion as it is anything.  I have to hope it can get coached up better and have better results.  I also think they could scheme up plays to get them out of the A gaps.  Wilkins is a terror either way.   Some weeks we do the same things to some very good teams.