McDermott on 3rd and Goal

[NORWOODS FOOT]

Upon further reflection, I think McDermott showed some growth and made a great situational call to run Josh from the shotgun on 3rd and Goal at the end of the game. Here’s why:

 

1) 4th Down was going to be a FG attempt no matter what because you go up +8 there and not give the ball back to an offense that was having success only up +5.

 

2) Don’t pass: you have 3 possible outcomes (TD, incompletion, interception) and 2/3 are bad because either the clock stops or there is a turnover. 
 

3) Tush Push was unlikely to get us 2 whole yards.

 

4) Keep the ball in Josh’s hands and give him the chance to catch the Ravens off guard and look for a hole. 
 

My only qualm is that MAYBE he should have challenged the spot. 
 

But other than that I feel like McDermott made the best possible call in a critical moment, and that looks like growth to me. 
 

I have lamented on this message board a number of times that the Bills are always “good but not great”, especially McDermott. But seeing him make what I think was the best call tonight in a pressure cooker gives me a bit of hope that he is growing. 
 

Can’t wait to test that hypothesis with two more games!

 

Go Bills!

[Buffalo03]

2 minutes ago, NORWOODS FOOT said:

Upon further reflection, I think McDermott showed some growth and made a great situational call to run Josh from the shotgun on 3rd and Goal at the end of the game. Here’s why:

 

1) 4th Down was going to be a FG attempt no matter what because you go up +8 there and not give the ball back to an offense that was having success only up +5.

 

2) Don’t pass: you have 3 possible outcomes (TD, incompletion, interception) and 2/3 are bad because either the clock stops or there is a turnover. 
 

3) Tush Push was unlikely to get us 2 whole yards.

 

4) Keep the ball in Josh’s hands and give him the chance to catch the Ravens off guard and look for a hole. 
 

My only qualm is that MAYBE he should have challenged the spot. 
 

But other than that I feel like McDermott made the best possible call in a critical moment, and that looks like growth to me. 
 

I have lamented on this message board a number of times that the Bills are always “good but not great”, especially McDermott. But seeing him make what I think was the best call tonight in a pressure cooker gives me a bit of hope that he is growing. 
 

Can’t wait to test that hypothesis with two more games!

 

Go Bills!

On 3rd and goal, you try a tush push. That would have been our best shot

[Governor]

I would’ve rolled Josh out with the option to throw on 2ND down. Then run (not from shotgun)on 3rd down, FG. Tush push was a bad idea.

Edited 4 hours ago by Governor

[LABILLBACKER]

Was not a fan of the call. Game over if we score a td there. Believe in Josh's intelligence to roll out and throw or run. He's not throwing an int there. If it's incomplete, then kick the fg which was 200% the right call by Sean. The 3rd down play was ass. I would have even tolerated a tush. Maybe we score? or get it marked inside the 1?  Gives you alot more options.  I'm waiting for clever new plays from Brady that never seem to come. This is his playbook and he's exhausted all his plays.

Edited 4 hours ago by LABILLBACKER

[Ethan in Cleveland]

When they screwed us on the spot, they should have run a play action fake on third down.  Give Josh a chance to make a play with his arm.

Kicking the FG was the correct decision.

 

It would have been interesting if they ran two QB sneaks in a row.  Sooner or later they need to run a fake QB sneak pass play out of that formation.  

[NORWOODS FOOT]

Yes! A “pop pass” like Tebow used to do in college!

 

(forgot to quote. This is @Ethan)

Edited 4 hours ago by NORWOODS FOOT

[LABILLBACKER]

11 minutes ago, NORWOODS FOOT said:

Upon further reflection, I think McDermott showed some growth and made a great situational call to run Josh from the shotgun on 3rd and Goal at the end of the game. Here’s why:

 

1) 4th Down was going to be a FG attempt no matter what because you go up +8 there and not give the ball back to an offense that was having success only up +5.

 

2) Don’t pass: you have 3 possible outcomes (TD, incompletion, interception) and 2/3 are bad because either the clock stops or there is a turnover. 
 

3) Tush Push was unlikely to get us 2 whole yards.

 

4) Keep the ball in Josh’s hands and give him the chance to catch the Ravens off guard and look for a hole. 
 

My only qualm is that MAYBE he should have challenged the spot. 
 

But other than that I feel like McDermott made the best possible call in a critical moment, and that looks like growth to me. 
 

I have lamented on this message board a number of times that the Bills are always “good but not great”, especially McDermott. But seeing him make what I think was the best call tonight in a pressure cooker gives me a bit of hope that he is growing. 
 

Can’t wait to test that hypothesis with two more games!

 

Go Bills!

We should've challenged the spot. The ball was on the 1 when Josh's knee first touches on the slide. It was one of many inaccurate spots by these guessing refs.

[NORWOODS FOOT]

Just now, LABILLBACKER said:

We should've challenged the spot. The ball was on the 1 when Josh's knee first touches on the slide. It was one of many inaccurate spots by these guessing refs.

Yes, the primo move was a (successful) challenge and a tush push.  

[Rew]

Agreed, not understanding the love for a sneak.  It's not a gimme from that distance and they had like 13 in the box.  If you know you are kicking on 4th, you make a play to try for it.  Wish they did something off the edge or rolled Josh out, but glad they made a call to try and get it in.  Also glad they made the right call on 4th.

[Figster]

50 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Was not a fan of the call. Game over if we score a td there. Believe in Josh's intelligence to roll out and throw or run. He's not throwing an int there. If it's incomplete, then kick the fg which was 200% the right call by Sean. The 3rd down play was ass. I would have even tolerated a tush. Maybe we score? or get it marked inside the 1?  Gives you alot more options.  I'm waiting for clever new plays from Brady that never seem to come. This is his playbook and he's exhausted all his plays.

Waiting for clever new plays? You mean like Andy Reid trickery? The Bills O scored allot of points this season. Very balanced and hard to defend IMO. Everyone eats in this Offense

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

2 minutes ago, Figster said:

Waiting for clever new plays? You mean like Andy Reid trickery? The Bills O scored allot of points this season. Very balanced and hard to defend IMO. Everyone eats in this Offense

Ravens tackled so freakin well all game…I don’t even think Brady called that bad of a game tbh.  Kyle Hamilton is a beast it felt like he was everywhere 

[Lieutenant Aldo Raine]

Completely disagree because if the Ravens score the 2pt conversion and somehow win in overtime, we are going to go back to that play at what cost us.  We got lucky, plain and simple.  Instead of being up 31 to 19 and a two-score game, we left it at a one-score game.  That's the crap that got Dorsey canned - going shotgun on short yardage in critical moments.  You're putting the QB at a disadvantage at the 5/6 yard line.  

 

If you get stuffed by some circumstance, you still have the FG.  But more probable outcome is either TD or 4th and inches.

Edited 3 hours ago by Lieutenant Aldo Raine

[DapperCam]

I'm pretty much fine with not doing a tush push because it was 3rd and a full 2. That's not a gimme, and if they were going to kick the FG for sure on 4th down I understand not using that play there.

I'm not sure I love the shotgun run for the same reason to not do the tush push. Ravens are in their goal line defense, and they are great against the run. Maybe spread them out a little bit. Maybe roll out. If they are all bunched up like that, don't run directly into it. Maybe that's a little bit on Allen, who I think is supposed to check in/out of plays based on the defense.