Shaw66

As always, Virg, this is really good, insightful stuff. A couple comments. Rushing? It was all about the line opening holes. McCoy hasn't seen running room like that any time this season. And since the run game was getting five or six on first down, it meant that the Bills could stick with the run game, rather than going to the pass because it's 2nd and nine. I think you're too hard on Daboll. I think there's a lot of learning going on all over the team, including McDermott and Daboll. They're both relatively inexperienced at the job, just like Allen is. The offense keeps opening up, week after week. They ran that nifty little inside handoff to Ray-Ray that was a nice wrinkle. Plus, he has a rookie QB. I think he's doing just fine, and I think you'll see the offense take some big strides next season. I'm not troubled by White at all. I guess I don't think of him as a flawless shut-down corner. Those are few and far between. Everyone gets beat sometimes on those slants and square ins. He was in great position on some of the completions against him and just was outfought for the ball by big strong guys. You're right about Poyer. I wrote about Alexander, you picked Poyer. There's nothing wrong with Clay that turning the football clock back five years wouldn't fix. Tight end play has evolved in the league, and it's evolved away from guys with Clay's size and skill set. Croom is the opposite extreme, but because he's more in line with where tight end play has gone, he's proving to be more useful.

You're right! Thanks.

I agree, but you can't deny it's much more exciting to see him drop back to pass than to hand it off.

Yeah, that was something I didn't comment on. I have a different take than you. I DID think it was odd that they're down to one running back and they come out in the second half and run Ford (or pass to him) about five consecutive plays. I think there were two or three things going on there. They finally took him out and put in DiMarco, and I thought "now they'll pass." Nope, run DiMarco off right tackle. First, their game plan. I think they thought they could run on the Lions, and they were sticking to their plan. It worked. Second, McDermott is conservative. As long as the game is close, he wants to run clock. I don't like it, but that's what he does. I hope that next season, with a comfortable QB entrenched in the starting role, with an OC who's now got his feet under him, McDermott will begin to open things up. Allen's too big a weapon to not to let him throw more.

The Bills put in a workmanlike day on the job Sunday, and beat the Lions 14-13 at New Era Field. It was, so far as the 2018 season is concerned, a meaningless game, and it had that feel. Both teams were out of the playoff picture and were evenly matched. Tough defenses and offenses that have struggled. For the fans and even, it seemed, the officials, it was just something to do for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon in December. For the coaches and players, of course, it was serious business. How serious? How about Isaiah McKenzie, who cramped up so badly AND sprained his ankle that he had to be carted off the field to the locker room? McKenzie was back on the field fifteen minutes later, with heavily taped around his cleats, clearly pushing himself through the pain, returning punts so that Micah Hyde, also banged up, wouldn’t have to. I’ve been so focused on Josh Allen this season that I’ve intentionally not thought all that much about Brandon Beane’s and Sean McDermott’s parade of young hopefuls. Well, McKenzie made me stop and take notice when he returned to the game. It’s not that I hadn’t been aware of the plays McKenzie’s has been making over the past few weeks. The guy clearly has the talent to do damage in the NFL. But to be honest, it’s been easy to think of him for now as just another young, fast guy with some skills who might but probably won’t play well enough to be a long-term keeper. Bills fans have seen plenty of those. Getting back on the field said something different about the guy. It’s not like he’s an unknown rookie in the fourth preseason game who desperately wants a chance to make one more play that might be the difference between making the roster and getting cut. He’s put more than enough quality plays on tape this season, including against the Lions, to be at or near the top of the depth chart going into the 2019 off-season. No, this wasn’t about that. It was about heart and commitment to his coaches and his teammates. This was about winning, because there was nothing more important to him. Count me in as a newly-minted McKenzie fan. And put another check mark in the plus column for Beane and McDermott, for fostering the kind of environment where guys with that kind of heart and commitment are driving the effort to get better. And while we’re passing out kudos, how about a nod to Doug Whaley for signing Lorenzo Alexander in 2016? If ever there was a guy in a position to mail it in, it was Lorenzo Alexander on Sunday. Here’s a guy probably at the end of his career, or at a minimum no longer playing for the next big-money, multi-year deal, playing for a team that is all about the future, a future that Alexander probably won’t be a part of. Well, if the game he played on Sunday was what mailing it in looks like, I just became a fan of the U.S. Postal Service. Alexander was everywhere, making tackles, defending passes. He made a great effort trying to knock down a pass in the fourth quarter, diving and extending for a ball just out of his reach. It was a spectacular game for Alexander. Who knows what his future is, but if he’s in the League next season, I hope it’s with the Bills, youth movement or not. If you want to talk about mailing it in, let’s talk officiating. Two teams averaging a combined 13 penalties a game rack up a total of SEVEN? Were all the officials sleeping when Slay interfered with Zay Jones on the right sideline in the fourth quarter? Did they somehow wake up on the Bills’ very next play from scrimmage and call interference on a throw to Zay on the left sideline, a play that looked like pretty good defense? And how about spotting the ball on Ford’s third-and-two run when the Bills were trying to run out the clock? The outcome of the game was hanging on that spot, and it seemed like the officials said to themselves, “oh, whatever. Let’s just give him the first down and get out of here.” It was fun to see a game without a lot of penalties, but I would have like it better if I had some confidence that the officials actually were watching the game. The crowd more or less mailed it in, too. For December in Buffalo, it was a pretty nice day. Very little rain, temperature comfortably above freezing. Still, there were a lot of empty seats, and between the empty seats and the “we’re-out-of-the-playoffs-again” attitude, crowd noise was down considerably The end zone fans got into it pretty well when the defense needed a boost at either of the field, but the steady third-down roar that makes New Era special was missing for most of the game. Fans had a good time, they loved the win, but the usual intensity was missing. Still, everything about the Bills is different this season, even the meaningless games, and it’s all about Josh Allen. For the first time in nearly two decades, the Bills are a threat to win any game, simply because they’re putting Josh Allen on the field. Is he playing like a rookie? Yes, sometimes he is. Getting sacked out of field goal range is a classic rookie mistake. Holding the ball above his head and fumbling while he’s scrambling is a classic rookie mistake, although it may have a risk worth taking on fourth down. There are plenty of things that need work, some that fans see and plenty more that only coaches see. All those things that need work are the reason Allen’s stats are as bad as they are. His season passer rating at 65.5 tells it all. He’s throwing more INTs than TDs, his completion percentage is below where it needs to be, he’s been sacked 27 times in little more than half a season. It’s a classic rookie profile. (By the way, it’s the same profile Sam Darnold has, and the same profile Jared Goff had as a rookie in 2016.). Only Baker Mayfield among the rookies has stepped into the league playing like a keeper. Since returning from his injury, Allen has looked good in two wins and looked bad, at least statistically, in two losses. Some commentators actually thought the losses to the Dolphins and Jets were two of his better games. Despite the up-and-down nature of the Bills for the last several weeks, experts and fans around the country have begun to see that Allen has what it takes. He showed it all again on Sunday. With Allen, there seems to be very little confusion in the huddle or at the line of scrimmage, at least no confusion that Allen doesn’t recognize and straighten out. That’s a great first step for a rookie, but there’s plenty more to learn. Allen showed off another gutty run for a touchdown. A plus. Except that you want your QB to learn to find SOMEONE and throw it. In fact, he may have had Foster running the back of end zone. (Foster is a smart route runner and, like McKenzie, has punched his ticket to the top of the 2019 preseason depth charts.) There were more than a handful of outstanding throws. The non-interference throw to Zay and the interference throw on the next play from scrimmage. The deep interference throw to Foster. The touchdown to Foster. Multiple throws over the middle. Allen is getting nice protection on a lot of throws now, and when he stands in the pocket, he’s calm and comfortable, he knows where the play is going and he delivers the ball. Perfect? Far from it. The deep ball off Thompson’s hands was spectacular, but that pass is a lot easier for receivers to handle if it’s thrown with a little more arc and a little less velocity. Similarly the next throw to Zay over the middle. Yes, both should have been caught, and Josh’s receivers will learn, but the great quarterbacks also learn to make life easier for their receivers. To see how much Allen has to learn, all you had to do was watch the guy on the other side of the ball. I’m not a Matt Stafford fan, but, man, did he make a lot of nice throws! He played like a pro all day, and he was a botched extra point and a field goal miss away from the win. Still, I’ll take my guy. Allen is going places, and I’m ready. Meaningless or not, it sure feels good to wake up Monday morning knowing the Bills won and the Jets, the Dolphins AND the Patriots lost. Even better, it’s great knowing the Bills have a future. GO BILLS!!! The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were everyday people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

I always liked Sestak, but was told one day that the reason he starred was because Jim Dunaway was double-teamed on more or less every play. Those were some good football players, and Shaw too. I'm proud to keep his name on display.

I can't imagine the Bills would trade for Peterson. McBeane are completely about building through the draft. I don't see them trading picks for players. Their style is to trade players for picks. What I expect to see is the Bills keeping or adding to their picks. I expect they'll be active in free agency, going after guys coming off their first contracts, but not older guys. (With a possible exception here or there.)

I agree. And for those who don't think knowing how to close out games is a "thing," do you think having a losing attitude is a "thing"? A "winning attitude"? Attitude has a lot to do with performance.

I agree with this. My point wasnt to suggest that Brown was or is better than Edmunds. My point was that Brown had a presence on the field that came from his experience. He handled his job in a professional and determined way others on the team could follow. Edmunds hasn't been around long enough to be that kind of leader.

Although I agree that the Bills need talent, the talent they have seems to be good enough to play well for three quarters. If the Jets and Dolphins had better talent, wouldn't they have led their entire games? Did their talent get better in the fourth quarter? I don't think so. Having said that, I agree very much that this is a young team, and it's a young HC. They have a lot to learn. So learning how to win is probably just one of those things that they need to learn.

I like 808's comment. I think there's a difference between having Preston Brown in the middle late in games and Tremaine Edmunds. Two years from now, tremaine will be playing at a level Brown could only dream of, but right now I don't think Edmunds teammates are thinking they have to man up like Tremaine. He just isn't that kind of leader yet.

I think you're right about that. I think one part of the Bills problems late in games is exactly what you say - inexperienced players. Having a ten-year vet in the huddle calling plays is better than having Edmunds. Edmunds isn't ready yet to model the right behavior and get others to follow him. And that isn't a knock on Edmunds. Playersmfeed off of leadership, they gain self confidence seeing the confidence and intensity of their leaders. Thanks. Interesting comment.

As I understand it, every day Belichick ends practice with an end of game situation and practices what to do. Sometimes offense, sometimes defense, different score, different down, different time remaining. At the end of the game the pressure is heightened, and if the players have seen something like it before they're better prepared. I don't think it's fan speak. You think Belichick isn't going to be teaching his team how to handle mthat last play better? Of course he is. He isnt going to just forget about it and expect that will never happen again.

I think the important question is whether he will change. I think we've seen plenty of examples of his conservative approach to the game. Conservative is good, but only in moderation. He has to recognize that winning require aggressive play AND aggressive play calling. McDermott studies his own performance. I think we will see a change in philosophy as his offense improves and his understanding of whatnot takes to win is refined.

Man, you can't give up drives like that with the game on the line. That's not good.

Yeah, I know, put the game away early and all that. Do you think Bill Belichick is saying to his team, "just post better early and we won't have to make a play on some gadgets the Dolphins run"? The fact is that every team is in close games every season. Good teams make plays to win thise games. They make plays because they are prepared to make them. They are prepared for clock management issues. They are prepared to increase their intensity. They are prepared to adjust based on what they've seen through the game. Coaches TEACH end of game strategy and practice situations. The Bills give me the feeling that they don't yet have what it takes. Some of it is just talent, to be sure. And some of it is you can't win every game. But some of it is being ready, and they don't look ready to me.

I have one reaction to the Jets game: the Bills have now lost two games in a row by failing to make plays to win the game. Didn’t make the plays against the Dolphins, and didn’t make the plays against the Jets. I can only speculate about it. It’s some combination of player talent and coaching. I’d guess mostly coaching. McDermott talks a good game, but I’m not sure how good he is at getting his team ready for anything that could happen. Whatever the reason, this team needs to learn how to close out games. McDermott and the players have to learn. That’s what good teams do. Or maybe not; maybe it’s just that you win some (Titans, Jags) and you lose some (Texans, Dolphins, Jets).

That pretty much captures it.

I actually have only one old VCR in the house. I never re or anything. I don't thing I subscribe to anything where replays are available. I know that's at least a little weird. I think I think of games as events when they're live and history after that. Anyway, I haven't seen the game and don't expect I will. Not having seen the game, I really can't comment. Sounds right. Thanks. However, regardless of why the game is close at the end, good teams find ways to win close games. Among a variety of things keeping the Bills from being a good team is an inability to finish.

I said something similar in another thread. Yes, he gets another year, but is a team that just doesn't make plays when they need them the fault of the talent? Maybe, I suppose, because a lot of them are young. But I don't get the feeling that McDermott's team is really schooled in how to play. Really, the reason we say he gets another year is that it's just too early to tell about McD. He's learning, his talent is changing. The talent is learning. Lots of moving parts. THe Pegulas knew they were buying a longer-term project with McDermott. He isn't failing, but he hasn't shown that he's succeeding, either.

Virg - Thanks for the write-up. I didn't see the game, and it's nice to be able to get some in depth commentary. Nice job. I don't know if I feel as positive about the team as you do. Allen, Foster, Zay and Milano? I'm thrilled about Allen, Zay's a slot/#2, Foster's a role player. Milano is a mystery. He might be turning into a stud. (I haven't looked at any reports, but I understand he got hurt. I hope he's okay.) I see too many things that look like they aren't right yet. Offensive line, receivers, tight ends, clutch play in the fourth quarter. I'm optimistic, but it's hard to be jumping up and down celebrating the growth in the team. Not saying you were jumping up and down; just saying I see a lot that doesn't look like a winner yet. Next season will be the serious test for McDermott. He'll have some new and better talent, and we will have two full systems to implement his process. In some ways the Bills look like they're close to being a winner instead of a loser, but it's hard to win in the NFL. McDermott needs to do it.

“No Review This Week” I didn’t see the game. I followed a lot of the game on Gamecast. I have one reaction: I have no idea who played well and who didn’t; I have no idea whether there were bad calls. I have no idea what kind of decisions McDermott made on the sideline. What I do know is the Bills have now lost two games in a row by failing to make plays to win the game. Didn’t make the plays against the Dolphins, and didn’t make the plays against the Jets. I can only speculate about it. It’s some combination of player talent and coaching. I’d guess mostly coaching. McDermott talks a good game, but I’m not sure how good he is at getting his team ready for anything that could happen. Whatever the reason, this team needs to learn how to close out games. McDermott and the players have to learn. That’s what good teams do. Or maybe not; maybe it’s just that you win some (Titans, Jags) and you lose some (Texans, Dolphins, Jets). I’ll be at New Era next week, and I’m sure I’ll have more to say. GO BILLS!!! The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were everyday people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

I get that, but he's really just a person who didn't fit what McBeane are doing. He doesn't have the intensity and desire to play on this team.

Guy made a lot of plays. That's good.

Fundamentally, I think he's good because he LOOKS good. All of him looks good. He looks good throwing from the pocket. He looks good scrambling. He looks good throwing on the run. He looks good running. He makes plenty of perfect throws. He makes spectacular throws. He isn't stupid. You can't actually look good at all aspects of play and not be good. Not all aspects of his decision making are as good as they need to be, but for me it's simple: Who's the QB you would trade even up for Allen? For me there definitely are fewer than 20, probably fewer than 15.