PolishDave

I would say that a large part of the reason the running game got worse this year is because the Bills ran so frequently last year. When the teams analyze the Bills in preparation for an upcoming game, they say "the Bills are a run first team". Naturally they try to take away the run. Teams have been more successful at it this year compared to last because they have more than a full year's game film to review. And it appears that "for the most part" Hackett continues trying to do what they did last year and what they did earlier this year (in regards to the run game) which obviously isn't working very well. You would think that any coach in his situation would try mixing things up more. For example, he could try running the ball out of different formations than he is doing now. Or he could try more play action passes instead of actually handing the ball off. Or he could try running plays that use different personnel in different situations like Wildcat or something else that hasn't been tried by this team recently.

I do have an issue running the ball on first down immediately after you get a turnover. I would throw the ball deep there on first down when the turnover results in your team getting the ball on the opponent's side of the 50 yard line. That is how you go for the throat. Your chances of success there are high because you have the momentum. You also have the opportunity to draw a flag that puts you in the red zone instantly. The Bills do not take advantage of those situations enough. They go back into regular conservative offense mode which is a mistake in my opinion.

Buffalo was number 1 in rushing attempts which translated into more total rushing yards at the end of the season. But, they were ranked #14 in yards per attempt which is about average. The rushing game last year wasn't exactly magical either. This year so far they are #23 in rushing yards per attempt. So they regressed from being a hair above average last year to below average this year. And people aren't laying the blame for that solely on Hackett. They are blaming Hackett for the run, run pass drive killers. And the number of runs on first down in general, especially when it isn't working well.

My decision on Marrone will be determined by whether or not the offense gets better as the season progresses. He is either not putting enough personal effort into fixing the offense or else maybe he is equally guilty as Hackett and in total agreement with Hackett on the game plans and in-game play calling. Time will tell. And if this offense continues to struggle and not do more of the things it does best, then it is up to Marrone to make a change at the end of the year. If he is unwilling to do so, then off with his head.

I know it doesn't sound like much and maybe it isn't. But if every offensive lineman gives up 2 pressures per game, how many times does your QB get to throw the ball while not under pressure? And how many sacks do you end up with? And how many interceptions does your QB end up throwing then? I think a measure of a good game is when a lineman gives up no pressure and also does well in the passing game. By Bills standards comparatively though, maybe 2 pressures is good.

Yes....Yes.... Lots of opportunities to go for the throat and end the game early. How often do you get that many opportunities? I want a team that takes every opportunity and tries to put it away. Then go ahead and sit on the football for all I care.

Earlier this year after the first 2 games I claimed that I thought Hackett was improving because he was mixing in some better play calling. But since then I am convinced those games were anomalies. He is back to calling crap 1970's football offense. Except he has found a way to make that play calling incredible predictable. I honestly thought he was learning from his experience and getting better as the season was progressing. Now I think I was wrong in my optimism. He refuses to take full advantage of the weapons he has at his disposal and instead continues to force this team to play "his" style of offense that it is simply not good at.

Dude...you linked to a spam site. Makes you answer surveys in order to read content = SPAM

Not just this game dude..... There have been many drives in games this year where we ran for little to no gain on first and second down, setting up a passing situation on 3rd down that resulted in yet another failed drive. That is the point I am trying to make.

That video is priceless! I see that video was uploaded in 2012. I wonder if they are still doing that? After getting embarrassed by the Bills, I would bet yes. That has to really help inspire their team to victory...........NOT!

I think you are arguing just because you like to argue. I haven't seen you actually make one legit point in this thread. Defending the guy primarily responsible for putting your team in 3rd and long situations on series after series after series is insane. Seems like you just like to play devils advocate to an extreme.

It is still incredibly stupid to do it the way the Bills do it. Where the other team expects they are going to do it. And it is also stupid to continue doing it the same completely ineffective way game after game after game. Running the ball to setup play action is smart when you are actually moving the ball forward 3-4 yards per carry with an occasional 8,9 or 10 yarder. But running for 1 or 2 or -1 or -2 on first and second down repeatedly putting yourself in 3rd and long situations is just insane. It is stupid and inexcusable in my opinion. Everyone who watches football, including you, knows that it is a recipe for losing unless you have a lot of other things go your way like turnovers for example.

I think you are right here by mentioning that Marrone shouldn't get a free pass. He must buy into this idea that they should continue to pound the rock where they know it won't go. If he wasn't mentally in sync with Hackett on how this offense is being run, then he would certainly make something change. So, this continued bullheaded "pound the rock into the same spot on a brick wall hoping it will eventually break" mentality that they insist on carrying forward game after game shows you that Marrone is satisfied with Hackett's decisions. That means no change at OC even after this season is over I think. Maybe as the season plays out, that scenario will change, but if this team is .500 or better at the end of the year, you can bet we will be seeing more of this same crappy offense next year. This coaching staff was handed modern weaponry (guns and missiles) to take into battle. Yet they choose to fight with sticks and stones instead. Maddening.

I say you beat Brady by bringing pressure up the middle. He is not a mobile QB at all. If you can get pressure up the middle with your front four then fine. If you can't then you must blitz.

I would love to get a really thorough explanation from either Marrone or Hackett as to why they keep sticking with certain play calls that obviously don't work again and again and again. I would really love to hear their honest reasoning for why they wouldn't try to move outside the box a little bit instead of doing the same thing again and again.

I think the Bills need to spread the field more and try running out of the shotgun. I would like to see more shotgun draws and shovel passes instead of what we are seeing now.

It gives me great pleasure to sit and think about how much Jets fans hate their team right now. It makes me smile as I type this. Hey Jets fans......your team sucks and so do you....

When you play against quarterbacks that bad, you tend to win whether your blitz or not. And yes, both Geno and Vick are that bad. DC blitz in obvious passing situations...YES OC call deep pass plays..most definitely YES... Those are two things you should do if you want to win football games. It is football 101 buddy.

slingbox is your friend if you want to watch games when away from home.

This^^ Why would you want to encourage more holding than there already is? If anything, they could make the offensive holding a bigger penalty than it already is.

Don't bet that often but you dropped a quarter on this game? You must either be a state worker or a retired state worker.

714 is a name for quaaludes. Certain brands had 714 stamped on them. I thought that was what you were referencing as I thought 714 was a bit high in terms of realistic guesses.

Quaaludes? My guess = 373

Thanks for restoring sanity to the conversation. If the Bills lose this game against the Jets it probably won't be because the Jets beat them. It will more likely be that the Bills beat themselves. I think the Bills are a far superior team on paper. That should translate into a win. If it doesn't it will be because the Bills effed up by fumbling or throwing picks or by giving up a special teams touchdown or something like that. I am not worried at all about the Jets outplaying and out competing the Bills. If the Bills are close to mistake free, then they win this game relatively easily. Geno friggin sucks man. Come on. They have the worst QB tandem in the league.

Bills defense scores this week. Bills offense looks better than last week, but still needs to improve. Geno has a really bad day. Bills 23 Jets 6