Bills running back receiving game this year

[BillsVet]

2 hours ago, Simon said:

That's what I was referring to with the comment about Brady's willingness to adjust being slower than we'd prefer and it possibly being a function of McDermott not liking to come off set plans too quickly.

 

With throwing to the backs, there seems to be something disjointed about how they align play-calling with personnel against a specific opponent.  It's like the OC's forget that they can throw to the backs and never recall in-game that option exists.  

 

They also seem intent on throwing to the backs given their draft picks/acquisitions, like when they traded for Nyheim Hines in 2022.  Then, they just didn't use him for that purpose.  Or, now having Cook, Davis, and Johnson who combined have 33 targets in 8 games.  And that's as the passing game has been stifled at times.  Just strange.

[Mark Vader]

Ray Davis is a great threat as a receiver, I would like to see him featured that way more as the season continues.

 

James Cook has done a very good job in improving his pass catching.

 

Ty Johnson is the biggest surprise. I don't remember him being used that often as a receiver last year, but he has made some big catches for the Bills.

[Comebackkid]

a number of these have had some pretty good air yards as well... not just stricltly dump offs

[Zag20]

On 10/29/2024 at 7:17 AM, scuba guy said:

Cook slide though small holes and go for an easy 8 yards.  As shaw66 says slippery.

THE COOK…IS COVERED IN CRISCO!!!

[Saxum]

On 10/29/2024 at 10:17 AM, scuba guy said:

Maybe this is more to the ascension of Josh not always taking the big play.  As some would say taking the checkdown to move the chains.

 

Captain Checkdown ^2

[Motorin']

On 10/29/2024 at 12:00 PM, Simon said:

 

I'm not talking about just taking the underneath stuff when it's there.

I'm referring to the way defenses having been defending the Bills since a few weeks into the season by flooding the middle zones and trying to force the Bills to win outside, which included them not willingly giving them short easy completions between the hashes.

Doing this has left defenses exposed in the flats where throwing balls to our RB's would have left them one-on-one in open field with either an overmatched LB or with a safety coming over from a difficult angle. I was repeatedly kvetching about the Bills offense eschewing those spots for a couple weeks when they were available while the offense was struggling mightily.

Dave's post makes it appear that they've finally begun making hay out there with their backs. That's what I was referring to with the comment about Brady's willingness to adjust being slower than we'd prefer and it possibly being a function of McDermott not liking to come off set plans too quickly.

 

I'm with you, and I'm saying defenses have been leaving the flats open for a LONG time. But in seasons past, either Josh or the scheme or both have been unwilling to take it immediately. 

 

It's always been an afterthought, and utilized as a reluctant check down. As opposed to what we're seeing this season, which is a conscious effort to capitalize with designed plays to take advantage of the open flats. 

 

Imo, this is an evolution of Josh's game and Brady's scheme. 

[Cray51]

They love to run a play out of shotgun against man where the RB does a wheel route slowly and the boundary receiver runs a slant.  It gives the RB space up the sideline and they've ran it several times with tons of success.

 

I love that wrinkle in this offense.

[NewEra]

3 hours ago, Motorin' said:

 

I'm with you, and I'm saying defenses have been leaving the flats open for a LONG time. But in seasons past, either Josh or the scheme or both have been unwilling to take it immediately. 

 

It's always been an afterthought, and utilized as a reluctant check down. As opposed to what we're seeing this season, which is a conscious effort to capitalize with designed plays to take advantage of the open flats. 

 

Imo, this is an evolution of Josh's game and Brady's scheme. 

One word: Motor.  He was too often unable to make the defenses pay for the shell.  He couldn’t do enough damage underneath.  Hence the investment in more rac ability across the board

[Motorin']

8 minutes ago, NewEra said:

One word: Motor.  He was too often unable to make the defenses pay for the shell.  He couldn’t do enough damage underneath.  Hence the investment in more rac ability across the board

 

Two words: Motor & Moss... Three if we add Gore. 

 

Not going to argue with you on that. 

[notpolian]

To me, one of Cook's strengths is the short passing game.  Hit him on the move with a little space and he can get a good gain or maybe break a big one.  I'm not a big fan of long passes to Cook.  He drops them too often.  It may be a product of poor hand positioning or concentration, but I don't know.

 

At this point in his career Allen can hit/lead the RBs in stride consistently, which he struggled with early on.  I think the Bills should pass to RBs even more than they do.  The defensive matchup is almost always going to be more favorable than a WR will get.

[dave mcbride]

On 10/29/2024 at 10:09 AM, dave mcbride said:

The collective passing game numbers for the RBs (Cook, Davis, Johnson):

 

33 targets, 27 receptions: 82 percent completion rate

 

289 yards on 27 completions: 10.7 yards per reception

 

289 yards on 33 targets: 8.8 yards per target

 

turnovers (fumbles, INTs on targets): 0

 

touchdowns: 3, for a 9.1% TD rate on passes thrown their way (a sky-high rate)

 

Allen's passer rating when targeting RBs in the passing game: 133.46

 

These numbers are shockingly great - almost unbelievable, really.

Updating this:

 

The collective passing game numbers for the RBs (Cook, Davis, Johnson):

 

41 targets, 34 receptions: 83 percent completion rate

 

384 yards on 34 completions: 11.3 yards per reception

 

384 yards on 41 targets: 9.4 yards per target

 

turnovers (fumbles, INTs on targets): 0

 

touchdowns: 4, for a 9.8% TD rate on passes thrown their way (a sky-high rate)

 

Allen's passer rating when targeting RBs in the passing game: 138.21

 

(Also, if Cook makes that easy catch yesterday and takes it in, the rating would be 147.31, but I digress.)

 

 

[BADOLBILZ]

3 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

Updating this:

 

The collective passing game numbers for the RBs (Cook, Davis, Johnson):

 

41 targets, 34 receptions: 83 percent completion rate

 

384 yards on 34 completions: 11.3 yards per reception

 

384 yards on 41 targets: 9.4 yards per target

 

turnovers (fumbles, INTs on targets): 0

 

touchdowns: 4, for a 9.8% TD rate on passes thrown their way (a sky-high rate)

 

Allen's passer rating when targeting RBs in the passing game: 138.21

 

(Also, if Cook makes that easy catch yesterday and takes it in, the rating would be 147.31, but I digress.)

 

 

 

 

Yeah defense's have been giving the Bills these throws all season and yesterday the Bills really took them.    And yes Cook very likely scores a TD on that drop.....I don't know what the TV angle looked like yet but the All-22 will show nobody besides the trailing coverage LB on that side of the field.   I'm not sure defense's will make any adjustments the Dolphins are just really shorthanded on defense and couldn't limit the damage.  

 

But you could argue that the Dolphins approach of making the Bills run a lot plays yielded mistakes from the Bills.   The Bills left 11 points on the board in the first half due to 2 drops and 2 penalties and that allowed Miami to keep pounding the Bills at the LOS on offense.

[Big Turk]

On 10/29/2024 at 10:09 AM, dave mcbride said:

The collective passing game numbers for the RBs (Cook, Davis, Johnson):

 

33 targets, 27 receptions: 82 percent completion rate

 

289 yards on 27 completions: 10.7 yards per reception

 

289 yards on 33 targets: 8.8 yards per target

 

turnovers (fumbles, INTs on targets): 0

 

touchdowns: 3, for a 9.1% TD rate on passes thrown their way (a sky-high rate)

 

Allen's passer rating when targeting RBs in the passing game: 133.46

 

These numbers are shockingly great - almost unbelievable, really.

 

Add another one to Davis in there on a 63 yard swing pass