Nihilarian

I get the impression that you mistakenly quoted the wrong post as I didn't imply in any way, shape or form that EJ had any kind of potential. The only thing I implied was that he was drastically not developed properly in his first year.

Preaching to the choir my man as I agree with it all. Now imagine if this years OC had built a better run game from the start and actually utilized McCoy in the passing game along with more short throws instead of that mid to deep passing game with so many incompletions. Moving the chains should have been the priority over the big play with the deep ball. When the team needs five yards for a first down this OC calls for a mid to deep pass which usually resulted not getting a first down. The thing is, the run game actually worked in a few games when the team had the lead because the OC would actually call for more runs then pass plays. Usually most every game the Bills passed 2x as much as they attempted to run the ball. A better Buffalo run game would keep the defense on the sidelines and allow them to be fresher. IE, not worn out each game from being on the field for most of the game. This would allow for a better pass rush as the defensive line players would spend less time on the field. The 2018 Buffalo Bills defense was #1 for awhile and is still #2 in yards allowed, #1 in passing yards allowed. While currently 18th in points allowed. So many blowouts I feel were the result of a bad offensive scheme. The 2018 Buffalo Bills only completed 63 of 204 third down conversions because of a lack of a strong run game along with a lack of a short pass game that more or less excluded the teams best receiver in LeSean McCoy. Throwing those mid to deep passes to receivers like Kelvin Benjamin with a 37.1 catch percentage was nearly futile, 62 targets, 23 catches. Zay Jones was targeted 93 times and caught 50 balls with a 53.8 percent catch percentage. McCoy OTOH has a 74.4 catch percentage. This mid to deep passing scheme might have worked more often had the team a better offensive line that would give Josh Allen more time to throw those 3 to 5 to 7 step drop backs. This offensive scheme with almost no run game and a mid to deep passing philosophy that Allen was in this season wasn't really conducive in developing a rookie QB because as you pointed out "You can't expect the rookie to win the games by himself." Not with that O line, not with those receivers and not with that scheme.

What escapes most Bills fans and some NFL coaches it seems... is how a rookie QB is developed in his first year in the NFL. I can't overstate how important it is to a rookie QB to have a veteran NFL QB on the roster to help guide that rookie QB through his first season. To have a qualified NFL QB coach to help guide him in his first season. To have an NFL qualified offensive coordinator to help guild him in his first NFL season. EJ had none of those! No veteran QB on the roster No NFL QB coach with that 2013 Buffalo staff No NFL OC with previous NFL experience on the staff One of the worst offensive lines in the NFL that season EJ had some veteran QB help during the OTA's, pre season and that ended when Kevin Kolb met that rubber mat that ended his NFL career! Besides that who even then who knows how helpful Kolb was to any of the QBs on the roster that year. Bills fans need to understand that EJ was a rookie QB, Jeff Tuel was an undrafted free agent rookie QB that year and Thaddeus Lewis was basically a rookie with only one game in Cleveland (32 attempts) in 2012. So that 2013 Buffalo Bills opening day roster had 3 rookie QBs on it with no real starting experience. Three rookie QBs, no QB coach and Nathaniel Hackett as his OC who came straight from college and was never previously an NFL offensive coordinator. Is it any wonder why EJ failed? Kinda like this year with Nathaniel Peterman as the starter and one game under his belt from the year and Josh Allen as the only QB's on the roster for the first six games. The way I look at it 2014 was more like what his rookie season should been with veteran QB Kyle Orton on the roster, and an actual NFL QB coach. Then Marrone benching EJ after a bad performance against the Texans week 4. This after asking EJ to throw 44 times vs 23 runs. That season was a clusterfluck on offense with Fred Jackson missing games, CJ Spiller missing games and when the team did run it was 70% of the time right up the middle with Hackett calling plays. Just to give fans and idea how bad that Bills O line was that year. In week 16 against the Raiders with a playoff berth on the line at Oakland the Bills only ran 13 times for 13 yards with Orton throwing 49 times! This was against the 3-12 Raiders who were 32nd in points allowed. Each time the Bills ran the ball the Buffalo RB was met in the backfield almost every run. Anyway, EJ had stated he learned more from watching Kyle Orton prepare for a game then he ever learned from anyone else on the team. What does that tell you about his OC, his QB coach? The kid never had a chance to properly develop in Buffalo due to inept coaching. Josh Allen didn't have a veteran QB for the first quarter of the 2018 season and credits Anderson, Barkley with his improvement after his injury. Still, the scheme he has been playing in is not conducive in properly developing a rookie QB.

Daboll might have the New England Patriots play book... but he has no idea how to use it like they do. The Patriots QB Brady had one of the very worst games I've ever seen him play with only 13 of 24 for 126 yards passing, 2 INTs. So what does Pats OC McDaniel's do? He ran the ball down the Bills throat for 47 attempts for 273 yards. Michel rushed 18 times for 116 yards with a 6.7 YPC average. All they did was move the chains by running the ball with 15 first downs rushing, thus controlling the clock and ToP. The Bills meanwhile asked the rookie QB to carry the game in a stadium that rookie QBs never fair well in! And to the tune of 41 passing attempts vs only 18 rush attempts. Ford did okay with a 4.7 YPC average but was only asked to run 7 times. The Bills offense was a complete joke against NE by asking Allen to carry the team with a mid to deep passing scheme too. If the Bills needed 5 yards for a first down this OC wouldn't call a 6 yard out and instead called for a mid to deep pass play that takes time to develop. This with a bad O line and lousy receiving corps. McKenzie targeted 8 times in the passing game caught one ball. The Bills receivers were targeted 40 times and caught only 20 balls. The offensive players might be bad, but the run game coordinator/offensive coordinator are just as bad. Dunno why the special teams coach still has a job either.

Go back and look at what happened to that 83 draft class with all those great QBs. #1 Elway, #7 Blacklegde, #14 Kelly, #15 Eason #24 O'Brian, #27 Marino. Some went on to the HoF and some flamed out. O'Brian in his second season went 11-5 and it all went downhill from there. The best Eason did was 10-4. Blackledge always stunk. Marino went to a SB his second season and never went back. The first season doesn't mean much...especially when you have a bunch of scrubs for coaches who beat themselves.

After watching today's game I don't know how on gods green earth any Bills fans can be happy with this year play calling. Today was the epitome of what Daboll has been doing all season long when the team gets behind in points. Puts the entire offense on the rookie QBs shoulders to carry it. Rookie QBs have never had good games in Gillette stadium and even second year phenom Patrick Mahomes didn't do so well there this season. Yet this Bills OC calls for 41 passes. If the offense needed 5 yards for a first down this OC wasn't going to call a 6 yard out or a hitch, a screen and instead he would call for a mid to deep pass which is what he has been doing all year. This with a rookie QB no less, with a bad line, with a bad receiver corps. Bottom line the Patriots did to Buffalo exactly what the Bills should have done to them. The cheaters ran the ball 47 times to Buffalo's 18 and Ford was getting a 4.7 yard per carry average he was being treated like he was Shady as he was only called on for 7 carries all game long. Meanwhile, like a microcosm of most of the season Daboll ignored the run game and asked the rookie QB to carry the offense by asking him to throw 41 times. As bad as Allen was today he was better then Tom Brady who finished with 13 of 24 for 125 yards 1 TD, 2 TDs a 48.3 RTG and the Bills still lost. When will this franchise hire a head coach who can beat Tom Brady... even when he is at his worst?

Asking Josh Allen to throw 41 times in that game was ridiculous vs 7 carries for Ford who averaged a 4.7 YPC. The Bills ran the ball only 18 times vs the 47 attempts by NE. It was a clear case of a set of coaches being out coached by better coaches. No rookie QB has even had great success in NE the last decade so why ask the rookie to throw all game long. And if that isn't bad enough the Bills OC doesn't ask Allen to throw a 6 yard out when he needs 5 yards for a first down. Instead he keeps calling mid to deep passes looking for that big play with a bad line, bad receiver corps.

Classic out coaching. With Brady looking so shaky why not do the exact same thing and stack the box to stop the run. My point was though with Ford averaging 4.7 yards per carry why not have him run the ball more then 7 times? The Bills offense only attempted 18 runs vs the Patriots 47 carries.

I wonder If I will live long enough to see this franchise hire a head coach who can have a winning performance and beat the Patriots to take the division. The Patriots just beat their B word as usual to win an NFL record 10 straight division titles! The Buffalo Bills new owners hire a new HC and he regresses in the second season Rex Ryan from 8-8 to 7-8 fired after that 8th loss. Sean McDermott 9-7 to what? 5-11? 6-10. Unacceptable in my view as this team had a good enough defense and simply kept asking a rookie QB to carry the offense with a bad line, bad receiver corps. Not a recipe for success. This current head coach has a load of bums on his staff, Crossman, Castillo and Daboll stinks too. Make Bruce Arians, Jim Harbaugh an offer they can't refuse. Or go after John Harbaugh

It certainly didn't matter that Brady had a worse rating then Allen as Brady had a 48.3, Allen a 52.6. Their stats were similar. The difference in the game was that the Patriots were easily able to run the ball on Buffalo with Michel having a 6.1 YPC average. who had 18 carries for 116 yards, 1 TD. The Patriots also ran the ball 47 times vs Buffalo 18 times despite Ford averaging 4.7 YPC. Bills leading rusher with 7 carries for 33 yards. MEANWHILE, Allen 20 of 41 for 217 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs. Sure, make the rookie QB carry the offense and throw 41 times in Gillette stadium where no rookie QBs have ever had success.

What is a rookie QB to do when the OC doesn't call 6 yard outs when he needs 5 yards as he calls 15 or deeper plays hoping for that big play. It's not about moving the chains like it is when NE, with Daboll it's all about the big play. It had better be Crossman's last year in Buffalo AND Juan Castillo too. Otherwise kick McD out the door with both those bums. Allen is the result of an OC who calls plays like he has an experienced veteran QB behind center and an outstanding offensive line to allow for those mid to deep pass plays he keeps calling. They work when you get the lead and start the game with a bomb to scare the DBs and if that doesn't happen the run game and pass game don't work. This year's team has so many bad players on offense and yet I know this HC/ GM with draft a DT, LBer with the first two picks. WHEN will this franchise hire a head coach capable of beating the Patriots?

Not to worry as McD will make the first two picks in the draft defensive players and one is sure to be a DT.

Jests beating the Packers ATM...

So McD can draft two DTs with the first two picks next draft

Games like this makes me want the owners to fire this entire coaching staff

W000T Turnover!!!!

Daboll might have the NE playbook but he sure doesn't know how to use it to move the chains like McDaniel's does.

This OC doesn't understand the concept of just move the chains and instead always wants the big play.

Gotta catch it!!!!!

Called TO to tell Daboll to call for a deep pass

Ohhh, lucky it wasn't a pick six... I like the sound of that for Marcia

Written by the HCR staff... one fat kid in his moms basement who mostly doesn't have a clue. While McD, Beane faltered this year, they also corrected some issues. This could have been a winning season even with a rookie RB had the team built a better offensive line and ran the ball more often early on. We need to see how free agency and the draft work out in 2019. The owners might not be happy with a 5-9 season. I know I'm not!

It's going to be interesting to see how Belichick sets up his defense against Josh Allen. The Lions sat back in coverage forcing Allen to stay in the pocket with a spy on him to stop his running while waiting for him to make a rookie mistake in the passing game. He basically took them apart and burned them for not rushing/ blitzing him more. I kinda doubt the Patriots will attempt the same thing. The Patriots are 29th in sacks with only 26 so far and they are 23rd in total defense while 17th against the run, 23rd against the pass. They can be had by running at them as the Steelers did with Jaylen Samuels 19 carries for 142 yards a 7.5 YPC average. Even Dolphin old man Frank Gore had 12 carries for 92 yards with a 7.7 YPC average. Let's hope that Shady is fully healthy and Daboll opens the offense like he did against Detroit with the run game as the Bills ran the ball a lot in that game. 37 times to be exact and not really with great success as they only had a 3.2 yards per rush. But what that run game did do was keep the lions defense honest in stopping the run. Meanwhile Allen had a lot of time in the pocket to throw and he played pretty well. Lastly, I can only hope if Allen throws it to Zay Jones in this game he catches the ball more and if not stop throwing to him and more throws to Foster, Croom and McKenzie. Shady too.

Horsehockey! Daboll's scheme calls for a lot of mid to deep passing plays and it has all season long. That is a big reason as to why this team didn't win many games all season as Peterman and Allen didn't have the needed experience to read a pre snap defense and set the proper protections. Meanwhile it usually takes more then two seconds and sometimes up to four seconds to take a 3 to 5 step drop back to throw those mid to deep passes. This behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league. This year the Buffalo Bills have attempted only 203 passes that were within 5 yards of the LoS which is the third fewest passes in the league. Nearly 50% of all of Josh Allen's passes have been for more then 10 yards or more past the LoS. 20% of his passes have gone for over 20 yards. Basically 1 in 5 passes this offense is going deep. Not only does the OC call for deep passes with a bad line that has difficulty protecting the QB. The deep passes were going to players that really don't catch the ball all that well. Zay Jones with 84 targets, 45 catches a 53.6 catch percentage. Kelvin Benjamin 62 targets, 23 catches a 37.1 catch percentage. That said this years offense would be better off (as would Josh Allen's completion percentage) in throwing more to LeSean McCoy with his 40 targets, 29 catches a 72.5 catch percentage. McCoy led the 2017 Buffalo Bills in receptions with 59. Clay was next with 49. There are real reasons as to why this years team is 5-9 with a top defense and that is because this offensive coordinator runs his scheme regardless of who the QB is behind center.

This! The Bills are currently 31 in offense, 32nd in TD passes. I think Bills fans must equate their love for the new franchise QB to the offensive coordinator doing a great job. Nothing could be further from the truth as most fans seem to have a short memory. The first half of the season was mired by teams blowing out the Bills by the Ravens, Packers, Colts, Patriots and Bears. This, with a not bad Buffalo defense too. The QB play in those games was also pretty bad as the team had almost no run game to support those rookie QBs and the OC basically forced those rookies to carry the entire offense with mid to deep passing plays. Watching this was like watching Rex Ryan ignoring the talent on the roster while wanting to run his scheme despite the players. Ryan ran his crappy 3-4 scheme while asking the not very good Bills linebackers to make plays while the superstars on the D line were asked to drop into pass coverage or take on 300+ O linemen...rather then rush the passer. Daboll only seemed to find the run game when McCoy was out injured or when the team wasn't behind in points. Then when you look at the player stats you see that Kelvin Benjamin, Zay Jones were the primary receivers and yet those two were the worst at catching passes. KB with 62 targets, 37.1 catch percentage. Jones with 82 targets, 53.6 catch percentage. Meanwhile, Daboll basically ignoring the teams best pass receiver from the previous season in LeSean McCoy who also seems to also have the best catch percentage @ 72.5. Or throwing short passes to move the chains and instead called quite a few mid to deep pass plays. Now that wouldn't normally bother me if the team had a better then average offensive line or experienced veteran QBs behind center to call the proper protections at the line, read the defensive pre snap coverages. They didn't! If Daboll had been calling games from the start of the season like he did in this last game against Detroit the team might have a better record then 5-9. The Bills started out running the ball and finished the game 37 attempts for 117 yards, 1 TD and while no Bills RB dominated the game. Working the run game like they did managed to make the Lions think stop the run, which opened up the passing game and have some time for Allen to throw. All that said, I equate Daboll to Mike Martz with his mid to deep passing scheme. This scheme could be good enough to have a greatest show on snow at some point...provided the FO gets a stud WR like *DeAndre Hopkins who plays angry and catches everything thrown his way! AND they build a quality offensive line to equal that great St Louis line that protected Kurt Warner. Also, provided Allen doesn't get killed between now and then.