All this talk about lack of separation in passing game

[LabattBlue]

Two things…

 

1 - How much of a WR being wide open is scheme, and or blown coverages?  
 

2 - Very often you see passes completed with a defender very close by…and if the ball wasn’t thrown that way, you would say “he wasn’t open, no separation”. 

[FireChans]

7 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

1 - How much of a WR being wide open is scheme, and or blown coverages?

Some.

 

7 minutes ago, LabattBlue said:

2 - Very often you see passes completed with a defender very close by…and if the ball wasn’t thrown that way, you would say “he wasn’t open, no separation

Very often you see those types of passes either broken up, tipped, or picked as well. 

[JP51]

I wont even pretend to know this... but I will say this... I often say when watching a Bills game... why are we not even dedicating 1 person to cover their best receiver as they run open in the middle of the field... conversely am amazed at how Josh sees someone open when they look so covered... is this cause we are playing soft zone and Josh is looking at Man all the time... I cant think you would want to pull full on zone against 17 all the time he would kill you.. so is our blown coverage.. I really dont have any idea but I am interested... 

[T master]

WE all have seen those passes that Josh had thrown to Diggs that were put in what looked to be a nearly impossible to catch place but was caught, and then there are those that Coleman would say just put it up higher and low and be hold Josh did & so did Coleman .

 

So a good WR along with a really good QB like Josh that has the arm strength and accuracy to put it in those ridiculous places that no one would ever think that a catch could be made can make it happen with out separation and they will come up with the reception no matter where the ball is put .

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Coleman gets no separation. He is absolutely blanketed on every throw.

 

Cooper we don’t see enough to make a judgement. 

He catches a 30-yard TD, and then disappears for two weeks and plays 30% of snaps. 

 

It’s Samuel and Shakir on crossers, and Mack Hollins gets loose 1-3 times a game.

 

 

[CNYfan]

26 gets open

[BuffaloBillies]

Speedy, quick, shifty, precise route runners get open by separation:

- Shakir/Samuel

- Amon-Ra St. Brown

- Garrett Wilson

- Jaxon Smith-Njigba

- Ladd McConkey

- Tyreek Hill

- Etc.

 

And certain freaks are always open regardless of separation:

- Ja'Marr Chase

- Justin Jefferson

- CeeDee Lamb

- Puka Nacua

- Etc.

 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Going forward we can do this Everybody Eats idea with better players. 

 

There is no law that says Keon Coleman needs to play 60+% of snaps. 

[Bangarang]

WR is still very much a need for this team.

[strive_for_five_guy]

22 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Coleman gets no separation. He is absolutely blanketed on every throw.

 

Cooper we don’t see enough to make a judgement. 

He catches a 30-yard TD, and then disappears for two weeks and plays 30% of snaps. 

 

It’s Samuel and Shakir on crossers, and Mack Hollins gets loose 1-3 times a game.

 

 

Yet Coleman was on the field way more than Cooper the other day, wasn’t he?  Is Cooper just not able to get separation at this point, and Coleman is the better option?  Is Cooper just not committing enough during the week and hence not seeing the field?  I was excited about the trade for him, but his recent usage is perplexing.

[Toledo Bill]

Just watching Josh look downfield, waiting, waiting, waiting and not throwing to any of our wideouts kind of suggests little separation. That and Josh trying to eliminate turnovers is another element.

[strive_for_five_guy]

1 minute ago, Bangarang said:

WR is still very much a need for this team.

Agreed, we need to draft another with one of our 1st or 2nd rounders this year.

[Jauronimo]

1 minute ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Going forward we can do this Everybody Eats idea with better players. 

 

There is no law that says Keon Coleman needs to play 60+% of snaps. 

I propose the everybody eats but we have the Joey Chestnut of WRs so you better eat fast offense in 2025

[Don Otreply]

1 hour ago, LabattBlue said:

Two things…

 

1 - How much of a WR being wide open is scheme, and or blown coverages?  
 

2 - Very often you see passes completed with a defender very close by…and if the ball wasn’t thrown that way, you would say “he wasn’t open, no separation”. 

Folk tend to run with what they heard /read somewhere and rarely get into the nitty gritty of what is actually happening, so i take the “not getting separation “ with a grain of salt for the most part, being that even the best WRs “don’t get separation “ like folk think it happen, 

[Toledo Bill]

1 minute ago, strive_for_five_guy said:

Yet Coleman was on the field way more than Cooper the other day, wasn’t he?  Is Cooper just not able to get separation at this point, and Coleman is the better option?  Is Cooper just not committing enough during the week and hence not seeing the field?  I was excited about the trade for him, but his recent usage is perplexing.

I have to believe that we are so committed to the run game that they want the best blocking receivers out there. Can't say that I would agree with it but just a guess.

[Brand J]

5 minutes ago, strive_for_five_guy said:

Yet Coleman was on the field way more than Cooper the other day, wasn’t he?  Is Cooper just not able to get separation at this point, and Coleman is the better option?  Is Cooper just not committing enough during the week and hence not seeing the field?  I was excited about the trade for him, but his recent usage is perplexing.

Hollins was even on the field more than Cooper. McD was asked about it, but he just brushed it away as a non-issue. Sounds like the Bills think other WRs can help them more.

[Don Otreply]

1 hour ago, FireChans said:

Some.

 

Very often you see those types of passes either broken up, tipped, or picked as well. 

Sure, but that happens to every team, look at our Bills defense, they force that type of scenario on most teams they play, their turnover numbers are really good, 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

2 minutes ago, Brand J said:

Hollins was even on the field more than Cooper. McD was asked about it, but he just brushed it away as a non-issue. Sounds like the Bills think other WRs can help them more.

Joe Brady was asked about it as well. 

 

Basically said Cooper was not featured in the game plan because the Bills had an idea of how the game would go and what their game plan would be as a result. 

 

I don't buy this. Something isn't right. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

They need speed outside. Adding a true deep threat to Brady’s offense would open so much up. I’m not sure how to approach it.

 

A cheap option is Darius Slayton. He fits culture, price, and speed.

 

I would also draft someone in the 3rd-5th rounds.

Edited 1 hour ago by Buffalo_Stampede

[Brand J]

1 minute ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Joe Brady was asked about it as well. 

 

Basically said Cooper was not featured in the game plan because the Bills had an idea of how the game would go and what their game plan would be as a result. 

 

I don't buy this. Something isn't right. 

Does feel like something is off and for as much as Cooper loves playing for the Bills, I can’t see him re-signing here, unless both parties agree to something super cheap (doubtful).
 

We traded a 3rd round pick for him and don’t use him much. KC traded a 3rd for Hopkins and he hasn’t been impactful for them either so that sort of smooths it over a bit (not sure the percentage of Hopkins’s snap count).