Week 8 - Bills at Seahawks Game Week Thread

[MasterStrategist]

11 hours ago, Simon said:

 

I'm equally worried about passcatchers coming out of the backfield and repeatedly running away from overmatched LB's.

Having Taron Johnson back is a huge difference maker, but Williams and Spector are both liabilities against the RB/TE/Hback position.

Without DK, I think we can be more flexible with dropping safeties/mixing more looks.  Lockett is still a major deep threat, but I would assume we'd roll/bracket coverage on DK a good bit of time.

 

If he's out, as it appears he will be, that's a MUCH bigger loss compared to Bernard.  No offense to Terrel here.  Spector is a capable backup, and I'd expect Terrel will be ready for Miami.

[RunTheBall]

We know they are going to continue to run the light box nickle/dime looks we’ve been doing all season since we are once again down 2 starting LBs in Milano/Bernard. Both Spector and Williams are very vulnerable to the play action pass, which thankfully Seattle doesn’t run a lot of but they’d be stupid not to incorporate that against Buffalo. We know Seattle will be able to run the ball since our D sucks against the run and we insist on giving light boxes to opposing offenses.

 

If ever there was a game where we should adjust our philosophy on D, this is it. No Metcalf means a lot less stress from the Seattle WR position. Put Douglas and Benford man to man on their guys and see what they can do. I’d bring in Mike Edwards or Bishop and have him play the Jordon Poyer position (basically in the box) instead of Lewis and get Lewis off the field. IDK if you guys have noticed but Lewis gets targeted and smoked regularly when he’s on the field. Not sure why we haven’t seen much Ingram after his hot start especially with Lewis crapping the bed.

 

What do I think will happen? We are going to come out in our traditional nickle D, let them march down the field with running/play action/short throws in space where we get torched by scripted plays against our obvious defensive deficiencies. We are going to hope Josh and the O can keep it close until Babich/McD wake up and make adjustments, hopefully before the 3rd quarter this game.

 

Rinse and repeat

 

Still think we should win

 

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

 

[pennstate10]

18 hours ago, BearNorth said:

Bernard is the 7th smallest linebacker in the NFL at 224 pounds.  Two of the top 10 linebackers in the league are smaller than TB.  We do need a Bobby Wagner sized thumper on the 2nd line.

So, if these numbers are true, you are saying that, on average, small LB are better than bigger LBs. 

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

4 hours ago, NewEra said:

I’ve read here that Cine is not a LB.  I don’t think he’d be a fit vs Seattle especially without DK. More focus on getting walker the rock.  
 

It’ll be Spector imo.  If he shows that he can’t diagnose quickly enough, which seems to be his biggest issue, I hope they give Andreeson a series or two to see what he can do.

 

 

Well no he’s a S, but I’m pretty sure they were experimenting with him here and there. Sometimes you have to be willing to think outside the box a little. Especially when your best coverage LBs are both out. I’m not expecting it. Just thinking out loud 

[Dan]

1 hour ago, RunTheBall said:

We know they are going to continue to run the light box nickle/dime looks we’ve been doing all season since we are once again down 2 starting LBs in Milano/Bernard. Both Spector and Williams are very vulnerable to the play action pass, which thankfully Seattle doesn’t run a lot of but they’d be stupid not to incorporate that against Buffalo. We know Seattle will be able to run the ball since our D sucks against the run and we insist on giving light boxes to opposing offenses.

 

If ever there was a game where we should adjust our philosophy on D, this is it. No Metcalf means a lot less stress from the Seattle WR position. Put Douglas and Benford man to man on their guys and see what they can do. I’d bring in Mike Edwards or Bishop and have him play the Jordon Poyer position (basically in the box) instead of Lewis and get Lewis off the field. IDK if you guys have noticed but Lewis gets targeted and smoked regularly when he’s on the field. Not sure why we haven’t seen much Ingram after his hot start especially with Lewis crapping the bed.

 

What do I think will happen? We are going to come out in our traditional nickle D, let them march down the field with running/play action/short throws in space where we get torched by scripted plays against our obvious defensive deficiencies. We are going to hope Josh and the O can keep it close until Babich/McD wake up and make adjustments, hopefully before the 3rd quarter this game.

 

Rinse and repeat

 

Still think we should win

 

I fee like this is the case every week. And has been for years.   The Bills are very predictable on offense and defense.  They have their base packages and calls and always default to that, especially to start a game. 
 

Other teams know that and that’s why 1st quarters are quite frequently not good. It’s almost like our coaching staff wants to see what the other team is doing before they adjust the game plan.   Sometimes that happens pretty quickly, some times it takes until the 3rd quarter.  
 

When they face the better coaching staffs, it seems to lead to a hole that they have a hard time digging out of. Because the better teams are making their own adjustments and we can’t keep up.  
 

But I agree with you… for this game they should come out with a different look to start the game. Play to what you expect the Seahawks to do right out of the gate.    

Edited Saturday at 04:48 PM by Dan

[NickelCity]

Hawks defense healthy for this game. Tough sledding.

[Sojourner]

36 minutes ago, NickelCity said:

Hawks defense healthy for this game. Tough sledding.

Agreed. Don’t think it’ll be a cakewalk but a win regardless 🤞

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

 

[The Firebaugh Kid]

Bills by 10. 

[mannc]

2 hours ago, NickelCity said:

Hawks defense healthy for this game. Tough sledding.

Doooomed

[jkeerie]

 

[balln]

Interesting didn’t elevate shavers but Virgil 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

26 minutes ago, balln said:

Interesting didn’t elevate shavers but Virgil 

I don't recall but isn't there a limit on the number of callups per season? If so they may just be saving some of Shavers callups for later in the year. 

[Sierra Foothills]

5 hours ago, Dan said:

I feel like this is the case every week. And has been for years.   The Bills are very predictable on offense and defense.  They have their base packages and calls and always default to that, especially to start a game. Other teams know that and that’s why 1st quarters are quite frequently not good. It’s almost like our coaching staff wants to see what the other team is doing before they adjust the game plan.  When they face the better coaching staffs, it seems to lead to a hole that they have a hard time digging out of. Because the better teams are making their own adjustments and we can’t keep up.

 

To the bolded, the way I would describe it is that the team is in the habit of sleepwalking during games.

 

[NickelCity]

1 hour ago, jkeerie said:

 

 

I hope so. Ankou can play 

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

 

[eball]

Sorry, I’m gonna say it.  I feel a blowout Bills win tomorrow.

 

Have a great Saturday night, folks.

 

[paulmm3]

Baylon Spector is ranked 144th out of 152 linebackers in the league who've played a big enough sample size for PFF this year. He's not great. Hope Bernard gets well soon.