Rochesterfan

I thought the Bills did a great job. We forced 7 punts today nearly a quarter of their yearly total. The run offense barely cracked 100 yards. They put it all out their and it just wasn’t enough, but if that is the best team in the NFL - we played toe to toe. We can play with anyone.

Foutes repeatedly talked about with that cross wind the QBs could not put any loft on the ball. The pass that ended up short to foster across the middle - Allen put some loft (probably 3-5 degrees) and the wind knocked it straight down 7 yards short. The wind in that stadium has gotten into his head, but we should not be throwing those passes in gusty situations- it decreases the probability even more.

They had already stopped them once and you do realize that strong run game barely cracked 100 yards and was 27% on 3rd down. We easily - even with the Bills running clock. Could have kicked a FG with 3:30 left - kicked off deep - and forced a punt with over 2 minutes left if needed. We had timeouts and the 2 minute warning left. There was plenty of time to get the ball 2 times if that was what w needed. As it was - we only needed 1 score so we ran clock and used 4:30 minutes on the final drive rather than doing any hurry-up. That was because we knew we only needed 1 TD - it effects the outcome.

Well said. Especially since after our TD and 2 point at 7 minutes - we stopped the Ravens with over 5:30 left and got the ball back. We were then in FG range at 3:30 even without hurry up. We still had timeouts and the 2 minute warning. There was time to kick a FG and kickoff deep and still have nearly 2 minutes left if needed to score the TD had we missed the 2 pt. The percentages change very little because being down by 15 late - either call has little chance of changing the outcome, but going for 2 early opens up more options and allows you to adjust you thoughts sooner.

It was the right call. They were in FG range with 2 minutes left and timeouts. They could have kicked it then and gone onside. The point is they knew they needed just a TD - so they ran the ball and clock. They ran 4:30 off the clock. If they had needed 9 - don’t you think they run a different drive. They had plenty of time to turn that into 2 drives.

This is a crew that likes to call penalties and NE has had a ton to keep KC drives alive early.

They were down by 15 - they needed a 2 TDs and one 2 pt conversion. You are correct if they missed they would have been down by 9, but if the missed on the last TD with under 30 seconds left - they lose by 2 with no time to correct the issue. The 9 pts is irrelevant because if they had kicked the extra point - it was still 8 and you would still need the 2 pt later.

Yes, but you needed the 2 at some point to tie the game.

Totally disagree - completely the right call whether he makes it or not. It allows you to focus on what you need as early as possible. The later in the game makes it a 2 pt to tie or a loss. With 7 minutes left the Bills still had time to have 2 possessions if needed.

Incorrect - your assumption is they do not get the 2 pt. If they do not get the 2 pt with 7 minutes left - you know you need 2 possessions- you can speed up- use your timeouts - etc. You know what you need and still have time adjust. If you wait until the end and miss it you are done. There is nothing you can do if we had scored with John Brown and needed the 2 with 30 seconds left and that is the point they miss the 2 pts. They knew they needed 2 TDs and one 2 pt conversion- you go as early as you can to adjust what you need - especially with timeouts, momentum and a chance.

Just watch the KC game today - multiple bad calls and penalties including a fumble that was going for a TD get called down. Games like this are why even NE fans feel screwed.

What is the alternative? They needed 2 TDs and 1 2pt conversion. If they kick the extra point - they would still need a 2 pt on the next score, but if you miss the 2 the game is over. By going for 2 first - you know if you need 1 drive and a TD or if the 2 pt failed - you need 2 drives a TD and FG. It was 100% the right move. Nope because the only way is to know exactly what you need - sorry you are 100% wrong.

Agreed - I also don’t think if the Bills had been awarded the claim - it would have meant anything. There were not going to cut Hauschka to allow him to go to NE. The claim was as much about preventing a mid level kicker making it to NE as it is about our Kicker. My guess is we would have rolled with 2 kickers until our season was done.

They talked about this on OBL - many kickers have their own kicking coach - like Hauschka. The special teams coach does not teach kicking or punting - they teach the techniques to block or tackle, but the kicking aspect is usually handled by the player or a specific coach they utilize year around. This is very typical for almost all teams/players because each individual kicker is different and having a unique coach for that process on your team can mess up a guys technique. It is like trying to switch swing coaches in golf - it can take years to master a new swing and in the mean time you are vulnerable to a lot of misses. The Bills and Hauschka are set up with this as he has access to his kicking coach to make sure his technique is fine.

Do you think Rivera could bring Norv Turner and family back to Washington - LOL ? That would be fun time.

Figured someone was going to claim him. I wish other teams that claimed had to announce it also.

I said this in a different thread, but I could see him coming in for the rest of this season as a front office assistant doing self scouting. I don’t think McDermott wants to change the dynamic of his staff, but I could see them asking Rivera to use his coaching eye to help out with self scouting from an outsider perspective. He wouldn’t have to move local and can look for trends that a coach might see and how to use those trends to show one thing and spring another. I know that Rivera would rather be a HC, but a chance to step back and rebuild and regenerate would be a huge help long term.

Just crazy. First - Pegula has already seen how difficult it is to find the right HC (especially paired with a GM) and what a failure it can be to miss. So there is no way he would allow it - even for multiple/many 1st rd picks. Second - McDermott has built a team his way and has a GM he trusts and is closer to “home” here than in Carolina. I do not see any way he allows a change that could vault him backwards. Third - McDermott has repeatedly talked about this fan base and the support and what that brings to a team - does he really want to go back into a place with much less support. Finally - Carolina is removing this current regime- why would they go backwards and it sounds like they want a new wave offensive coach - so I do not think he would make Tepper’s short list. Overall I give this a less than 0% chance and it is based on a weird tweet from a nobody in Carolina that has no idea what the plans seem to be.

I would not mind if the Bills brought him in - not as a coach, but more as a film review - self scouting type front office addition for the rest of the year. I think it would be nice to have legitimate coaching eyes on the film looking for tendencies that the Bills have both offensively and defensively. He could provide some valuable feedback on how other teams are seeing the Bills and maybe when to break a tendency to create a big play. I also think he could do some of that down at his home and help provide another trusted voice for this team to grow. My only fear of bringing him in would be if he gets a job offer next year would he poach staff.

I hear you - I agree that I don’t think they would block him for a promotion- I believe the only way he would leave would be if Rivera gets an opening and wants Dorsey as an OC. Other than that - I would expect him back with the Bills learning and growing as a coach.

He is specifically referring to the 2 players he @‘d in the title - Ford and Dawkins. They also talked with Baldy on OBL on Monday and he was complementary of both tackles and the time they gave Allen in the pass game. It is obvious that Ford’s weakness is his quickness and his first step - allowing these speed rushers to get parallel and pressure Josh, but you also see the adjustment the Bills made. JA is setting a bit shallower and Cody is big enough and strong enough that he is able to ride that guy up field and give JA a huge running lane behind the edge rusher. Speed Rushers are his problem, but the teams that have had success against Allen recognize that rushing with edge speed allows JA more room because he is good at avoiding the rush by stepping up and then escaping. The technique Ford is using appears to be to first ensure no inside pressure and he is a bit slow to get outside, but my guess is they have told him - if you are going to get beat, get beat out there and widen as much as possible. Teams with success have used strong DE/EDGE guys to form a pocket- keeping JA from moving around and ensuring that JA can’t escape the pocket. I agree that Ford could be great at OG, but I think he can also play tackle and has a lot of flexibility- allowing the Bills to find and pay guys they want and then shifting him as needed.

I am not overly worried about it. They just got rid of Rivera and want to move on from that staff - why would they go back into his former staff to hire a new HC. I think Daboll gets some looks, but I think he is back. I think he is a bit to much like Kitchens in Cleveland - very expressive and brash and I think that will turn off a few teams. I think Dorsey could get some looks at OC, but I think the Bills will offer a bit of a raise and unless he gets a perfect fit - I think he will be back. I am hoping the failure of Kitchens, Gase (although he will be back), Nagy, Gruden, etc. that teams will realize that it is less about finding the next McVay and more about finding a leader and letting the OC and DC be your McVay. We will see. So I guess my answer to your question would be - I expect our OC next year to be ........... Daboll with Dorsey as Assistant OC and QB coach.

Agreed - when I said let him go - I meant decided not to keep him. Depending on the next coach - he is still a high level LB that is on a good contract. Not sure he will be available depending on the level of rebuild.

I could see some of this, but why would they want to stick with their past. It seems like they should be trying to clean house and getting a total new regime - not bring back former front office and coaching staff that were here with Rivera.

Nope - Kuechly has made a living as a MLB in the exact defense McDermott runs. Up until this year - with the switch to a 3-4 - he has always played the Edmunds role. He is the perfect mentor and trainer to help Edmunds continue to grow. I do not see them getting rid of Luke, but he would be a great add. He has an in depth knowledge of this D and would be like another coach. He also talked about his respect for McDermott during the summer - so I could see this if they let him go. Mentor/future coach role.