Bills flaws starting to show

[PromoTheRobot]

Our problem is not Trent Edwards. Heck our passing game is the only thing that is playoff caliber right now. Problem #1 is our O-line. It's dreadful on run blocking and it's bad on the pass when facing a quality D-line like we faced today. Every single turnover we had today can be traced directly to the failure of our O-line.

 

Problem #2 is the D-line. Absolutely no pass pressure. None. We make almost every opposing QB look like Tom Brady because they have all day to throw.

 

Problem #3 is our vanishing return game. McKelvin is doing a pretty poor job right now. It's like the guy just dives into the pile. The guy is not impressing me as a CB or a returner. Maybe Roscoe isn't 100% yet either on punts.

 

We may make the playoffs because of an easy schedule, but we aren't going to go very far with the line play we are getting on both sides of the ball.

 

PTR

[Zulu Cthulhu]

As usual PTR you are right on target. I can live with most of our team's flaws right now; I think they will eventually be corrected. But week after week of watching Jason Peters get burnt (i.e. see safety today) is really starting to grind my gears...especially after the garbage he pulled this year.

[dave mcbride]

Our problem is not Trent Edwards. Heck our passing game is the only thing that is playoff caliber right now. Problem #1 is our O-line. It's dreadful on run blocking and it's bad on the pass when facing a quality D-line like we faced today. Every single turnover we had today can be traced directly to the failure of our O-line.

 

Problem #2 is the D-line. Absolutely no pass pressure. None. We make almost every opposing QB look like Tom Brady because they have all day to throw.

 

Problem #3 is our vanishing return game. McKelvin is doing a pretty poor job right now. It's like the guy just dives into the pile. The guy is not impressing me as a CB or a returner. Maybe Roscoe isn't 100% yet either on punts.

 

We may make the playoffs because of an easy schedule, but we aren't going to go very far with the line play we are getting on both sides of the ball.

 

PTR

Don't forget the secondary. They simply have to cover better than that.

[Mini Max Anderson Fan]

Our problem is not Trent Edwards. Heck our passing game is the only thing that is playoff caliber right now. Problem #1 is our O-line. It's dreadful on run blocking and it's bad on the pass when facing a quality D-line like we faced today. Every single turnover we had today can be traced directly to the failure of our O-line.

 

Problem #2 is the D-line. Absolutely no pass pressure. None. We make almost every opposing QB look like Tom Brady because they have all day to throw.

 

Problem #3 is our vanishing return game. McKelvin is doing a pretty poor job right now. It's like the guy just dives into the pile. The guy is not impressing me as a CB or a returner. Maybe Roscoe isn't 100% yet either on punts.

 

We may make the playoffs because of an easy schedule, but we aren't going to go very far with the line play we are getting on both sides of the ball.

 

PTR

 

I totally agree with you, seems the hopes/dreams of some Bills fans have clouded the fact this is still a team "in the works" so to speak. More work to be done (C, TE, DE, LB), but a great foundation has been laid. Days like this happen to all teams, happened to the early 90's teams too! What we want to see is the way they react to a game like this, do they show that resiliency, the ability to pick themselves up and keep their eyes on the goal? Just remember all, this is a work in progress, a young team, an up and coming team. The management of the Bills knew they couldn't fill all the holes yet, but tried to use some (un)serviceable parts. draft to their needs and continue the building process. More good is to come, enjoy the rise up too.

[Dr. Trooth]

We may make the playoffs because of an easy schedule, but we aren't going to go very far with the line play we are getting on both sides of the ball.

 

Two things...

1) you're spot on

2) you've got balls to post something like this... the rose colored glasses crowd is going to skewer you.

 

But, in the end, there are only one or two things wrong with the team. Either there is a serious lack of talent, or, there is a serious lack of coaching... or, perhaps both.

[deep2evans]

But, in the end, there are only one or two things wrong with the team. Either there is a serious lack of talent, or, there is a serious lack of coaching... or, perhaps both.

 

We don't have a serious lack of anything, except maybe pass rush. We have adjustments we have to make, especially in pass coverage and run blocking. The Bengals and Radiers have a serious lack of coaching. The Lions have a serious lack of talent. I think we'll be just fine on both fronts.

[DonInBuffalo]

Our problem is not Trent Edwards. Heck our passing game is the only thing that is playoff caliber right now. Problem #1 is our O-line. It's dreadful on run blocking and it's bad on the pass when facing a quality D-line like we faced today. Every single turnover we had today can be traced directly to the failure of our O-line.

 

We may make the playoffs because of an easy schedule, but we aren't going to go very far with the line play we are getting on both sides of the ball.

 

PTR

1st paragraph: How do you figure that? The Edwards fumble was essentially a rookie mistake made by someone who should know better. Royal's fumble had nothing to do with the OL. (Parrish fumble irrelevant anyway) The only turnover that was caused by OL play was the interception. Of course, the safety was also caused by OL play and that's arguably a turnover too.

 

IMO the OL play has improved from last season. (which isn't saying much) Grading them for the season so far: pass blocking - adequate. run blocking - marginal.

 

2nd paragraph: Agreed.

[PromoTheRobot]

Don't forget the secondary. They simply have to cover better than that.

A better pass rush would make our DB's better.

 

Two things...

1) you're spot on

2) you've got balls to post something like this... the rose colored glasses crowd is going to skewer you.

 

But, in the end, there are only one or two things wrong with the team. Either there is a serious lack of talent, or, there is a serious lack of coaching... or, perhaps both.

I'm not throwing in the towel by any stretch. We have many winnable games on the schedule. I'm just saying that games like this and Arizona, both teams with good D-lines, really expose us.

 

PTR

[PromoTheRobot]

1st paragraph: How do you figure that? The Edwards fumble was essentially a rookie mistake made by someone who should know better. Royal's fumble had nothing to do with the OL. (Parrish fumble irrelevant anyway) The only turnover that was caused by OL play was the interception. Of course, the safety was also caused by OL play and that's arguably a turnover too.

 

IMO the OL play has improved from last season. (which isn't saying much) Grading them for the season so far: pass blocking - adequate. run blocking - marginal.

 

2nd paragraph: Agreed.

The O-line has been bad on the run and decent in pass blocking, except when we play a solid D-line. Arizona and Miami made us look pretty bad.

 

Edwards had two fumbles: one on a sack, and the other when he stuck the ball out on a QB sneak. I guess that one is not directly the O-line's fault but they demonstrate over and over they can't even move the pile one yard for a RB (like on the opening drive with Jackson near the goal line.)

 

PTR

[BillsVet]

But, in the end, there are only one or two things wrong with the team. Either there is a serious lack of talent, or, there is a serious lack of coaching... or, perhaps both.

 

Every team in this league has that rough game which proves that they're not invincible. I thought Buffalo's bad loss happened in AZ. They came back after the bye week and beat down SD, though now they're almost right back where they were after the Cardinals, save for a concussed Edwards.

 

IMO, the greatest flaw is a lack of in-game adjustments from the staff. That, and moving from the run late in the game when it was working. Schonert and Fewell, along with DJ were widely praised when things were going well. Now that they're not, they deserve some criticism. To blame this entirely on the players is short-sighted.

[Andrew in CA]

The O-line has been bad on the run and decent in pass blocking, except when we play a solid D-line. Arizona and Miami made us look pretty bad.

 

Edwards had two fumbles: one on a sack, and the other when he stuck the ball out on a QB sneak. I guess that one is not directly the O-line's fault but they demonstrate over and over they can't even move the pile one yard for a RB (like on the opening drive with Jackson near the goal line.)

 

PTR

3 running plays for 16 yds after the Lynch TD. This after 20 running plays for 86 yds and a TD, including 6 on the TD drive. Why did they abandon the run? Also, on the failed 3rd and Goal from the 1, why oh why did they use FJ when Marshawn is a better piledriving back? It didn't make any sense, and I don't blame the line for that.

[PromoTheRobot]

3 running plays for 16 yds after the Lynch TD. This after 20 running plays for 86 yds and a TD, including 6 on the TD drive. Why did they abandon the run? Also, on the failed 3rd and Goal from the 1, why oh why did they use FJ when Marshawn is a better piledriving back? It didn't make any sense, and I don't blame the line for that.

I don't think they abandoned the run. The run worked better when Edwards was hitting his passes. In short yardage situations we were helpless.

 

PTR

[Andrew in CA]

I don't think they abandoned the run. The run worked better when Edwards was hitting his passes. In short yardage situations we were helpless.

 

PTR

They only attempted 3 runs the rest of the game after a long, run filled, effective drive. The run was making the pass, and they abandoned it.

[BillsWatch]

Injuries are showing and unlike last year there are not some unheralded player to pick up slack. Our LB depth is decimated, returner specialists was really two players - Parrish and McGee - and they were both injured, defense line has improved in most cases but McCargo has regressed and Schobel has been shadow of former self, and the OL never learned to run block and Jason Peters is still in strike shape.

 

I missed game (car troubles) but from what I heard on radio it appears that once we lost Reed & OL and defense was exposed it was all down hill.

 

I hoped some the rookies got extra snaps during bye but now it appears not so no reinforcements coming that way.

[DDD]

As usual PTR you are right on target. I can live with most of our team's flaws right now; I think they will eventually be corrected. But week after week of watching Jason Peters get burnt (i.e. see safety today) is really starting to grind my gears...especially after the garbage he pulled this year.

 

The OL has been together for a season and a half. They are not going to get any better. There is no major glaring weakness but all in all they are an average unit, and the talent will need to be upgraded in the offseason if the Bills want to be an elite team.

[Dante]

Our secondary played way soft. Never adjusted. Pennington was just dropping the passes over the LBs all game. No way that team would beat us deep. Move up the secondary and take that $h1t away. Sure we made mistakes but we should have shut down the Dolphins. We could have afforded turnovers then. Despite the obvious mistakes on the field, to me this is a coaching loss.

[colin]

we absolutely need

 

a new pass rusher

a guard/C

a real tight end

 

but i think our biggest failing in our loss today was a lack of identity.

 

what do we do when the game is on the line, who do we go to?

 

our D was decent actually, tons of turn over and we only allowed 2 touchdowns. the problem is we don't seem to have a tempo or a go to set on O

 

we kinda sorta do a spread thing, but we run the same damn things from the same sets all the time.

 

we haven't found our way on O

[Tcali]

Our problem is not Trent Edwards. Heck our passing game is the only thing that is playoff caliber right now. Problem #1 is our O-line. It's dreadful on run blocking and it's bad on the pass when facing a quality D-line like we faced today. Every single turnover we had today can be traced directly to the failure of our O-line.

 

Problem #2 is the D-line. Absolutely no pass pressure. None. We make almost every opposing QB look like Tom Brady because they have all day to throw.

 

Problem #3 is our vanishing return game. McKelvin is doing a pretty poor job right now. It's like the guy just dives into the pile. The guy is not impressing me as a CB or a returner. Maybe Roscoe isn't 100% yet either on punts.

 

We may make the playoffs because of an easy schedule, but we aren't going to go very far with the line play we are getting on both sides of the ball.

 

PTR

 

Of course you are correct. The problem is it will take 1-2 years minimum if we are lucky to fix the lines. We need about 2 free agents next year who are on the Stroud level of play. Drafting linemen---well that takes a lot of development time. And we want them to become good while our good players(the non-linemen) are still in their primes. Tricky.

[Tcali]

The OL has been together for a season and a half. They are not going to get any better. There is no major glaring weakness but all in all they are an average unit, and the talent will need to be upgraded in the offseason if the Bills want to be an elite team.

yeah we are very very average on the o line.....-the d line..well our DEs are way under average--and paid tens of millions

[Arkady Renko]

The Bills should just tank the rest of the season to get a better draft pick.