WideNine

Bass has had his share of lucky doinks off the goal posts that have gone through too. Maybe the karma bank finally came up dry last week.

I would like him to stay. My desire to see humiliating Patriot losses has not been sated quite yet.

I think we have to accept that we are going to face an AFC East opponent desperate to get out of the basement. I can remember when that was our Bills and even those crappy Bills teams often made it a game vs the Pats. Normally found ways to lose those, but the lesson is that you never take any opponent lightly. I expect us to win, but I am not expecting a cake walk.

You are not wrong took that post down. So many folks were on board with Allen playing smarter and taking what the defense was giving after that game. He has actually stuck to his mantra of run Josh run, let Allen be Allen. ...and I am sticking to mine that Allen has to adapt his game or it will go the way of other big armed running QBs...

Now that is bringing back memories of Shane Conlan and his epic battles with Okoye. "Bills nose tackle Fred Smerlas calls Conlan "The Helmet" and "Hammer-head." Smerlas can afford to make light of Conlan; he doesn't have to collide with him in practice. Center Kent Hull does and, for him, it is no laughing matter. "A lot of guys will throw elbows or forearms at you," Hull said. "Shane throws that head at you, and he's got one of the hardest heads I've ever had hit me. It's like a rock"

Just seems like the only option if a defender has to make a tackle on a player they are catching from behind. Wrap him up low, and then it is whatever rodeo move that gets that player to the turf. They have to go lower body because it would be dang near impossible around the shoulder area sans horse collar or that player easily breaking the arm tackle. I am OK with rules protecting QBs, especially from hits that are around the knees or helmet. Some of these just put defenders into awkward unnatural positions where they get injured.

Some of those miscues last week just had me shaking my head. Remember when Diggs took off all alone before the snap? That level of disconnect is new for this group so I am glad McD recognizes that something needs to change to get our offense more dialed in on game day.

On a more positive note, it did not take McD long to make the defensive adjustment to the trap plays that were springing Barkley loose. In past seasons I would watch us get run over for half the game by a run scheme before the defense made the necessary adjustments. That is an improvement.

I'll admit last week's game plan seemed uninspired, but so many plays were left on the field that it may have been a good plan going in - who knows? It devolved into funnel everything to Diggs who makes plays and to Murray to dig us out of a rutt rushing and providing the occasional veteran pass pro that Cook is still lacking in his game. We show jet motion a lot, but rarely actually use it. Allen looked better operating more from under center in that 12 personnel package. I think they missed having Kincaid in the lineup just for the way defenses have to account for him with their LBs, S, or Nickel defenders. We will see if they execute better this week. They just need to stack executing and winning reps one at a time.

Some of the play calls have been head scratchers but we had that with Dabs too. Most OCs have WTF moments. More concerning to me is how ready the offense is going into the games. How crisp they are executing the plays? How many unforced penalties? How many missed blocks? How many drops or errant throws? When I see those miscues, I think they are not ready to play and that comes down to how dialed in they are in practice, and how well they understand the game plan, their roles, their protection schemes. Last few weeks I would say it has been hard to point at one thing. A missed block here, a dropped pass there, a bad route, an errant throw, a fumble, a penalty... When those things pile up, the offense looks disjointed and has no rhythm, and sputters to multiple 3 and outs. IMO we need to clean that up, and then we can get into whatever the game plan on offense was supposed to be.

Folks keep trying to manufacture this narrative that Allen cannot change plays or go off script... he is cut off at the knees etc.. Have you considered he may be trying to play in a way that limits turnovers and unnecessary hits on his own? Not even worth debating when there is this much speculation.

Well can you blame them if they did? McD looked none too happy on that read option where Allen nearly got wishboned trying to hurdle Marcus Epps. Problem with Allen and the read option is even if he reads a defender committed to his gap he doesn't give up the ball. He wants to try to run over that guy. If we want a longer career for our QB he is going to have to learn not to take unnecessary hits. That is different than not scrambling when there is open green in front of him.

He has about 50 more yards with 7 more carries. Is that really an argument. Just looks to me like he scrambled a few more times than Allen. So is someone saying that is an element to his game that Allen is lacking or does not use when needed? Mahomes scrambles and Allen does as well. Not the same as saying designed runs where Dabs would pull lead blockers and Allen would follow and get lit up. Usually with a fumble too.

Josh and this offense need to execute better on schedule and from the pocket. This does not negate the need for Josh to scramble or get creative when things break down or defenders get a clean rush on him. I was never a fan of the designed runs for Allen where he got the snot beat out of him, or when he lowered his shoulder and took on LBs in the middle of the field when there were wide open guys he could dump the ball to. What I don't like is when we are in short yardage situations with a few feet to go and they have Allen operating from a shotgun 5 yards deep. Sneak it, or even having him under center forces opposing teams to play the sneak because he is a big powerful QB. Also gives your RB a full head of steam taking a handoff if you go that route. I don't mind the naked boots with Allen operating from under center as long as they are not lining up too wide with their ends and we run enough that those ends avoid deeper rushes up field. That way Allen can at least put on a foot race to the sideline. There are some times when Allen is scrambling where I think he could make the sticks and slide and he is trying too hard to make something happen downfield. My theory is this is new muscle memory for Allen to try to use all his weapons on offense and share the load with his playmakers. That is not a bad thing although it has looked ugly as we need more guys not named Diggs to step up.

So... preparing to stop the run?

With all the tugging and tripping the Giants' Flotts got away with in the first half I think the zebras just decided to balance the scales a bit. If those were called then, those Bills drives would not have stalled and that game would likely have never have been close at the end. Seemed like they were letting those go, but we were flagged on a slight tug on a slot route that was oddly singled out when you factor how much was not called.

It was a fumble. The ball was clearly loose before his knee touched down. If it was one of our defenders punching the ball out we would find it an easier call to defend. Was a drive killer that hurt quite a bit as they were just getting into a good rhythm.

Agree. I am all for fighting to get to the sticks, but only if you can wrap up the ball or switch it to the hand nearest the sideline. That way if it is punched out it likely goes harmlessly out of bounds. Josh had to learn how to tote the rock in traffic, remember how often he would fumble back in the day? It can be taught and Gabe has a bigger frame and should play bigger than he does at times. Davis does excel at blocking. Other than that, go down and live for the next down if it is not a 3rd or 4th down situation.

I did see Poona playing will be interesting to see his snap count vs Phillips. It would be nice if he plays back to the form he had in Seattle, is disruptive and can demand the double teams like DaQuan has. You are spot on regarding how teams can and will double Oliver if they decide they can block our other DT with one. Hopefully we can get the big guy back for the stretch run.

Exercise your right to not watch his pressers. Having your belief system does not mean that others cannot express their own. That, and there is another board for this kind of circular logic and intolerance.

A few times they came on the delayed blitz and Cook blocks like his eyes are closed. Completely whiffed and Josh had to magic away from the free rusher. McDermott had him riding the pine after. As he should. Blocking on pass plays is an important part of being an every down back.

The Giants got away with a lot of holding and tripping in the 1st half on Diggs and Davis. Weak fumble by Davis, Knox's play was uninspired. Allen hits the half-court and misses the layups. Was an ugly game by the offense with too many execution errors. It was sloppy and that is on Dorsey to correct.

Well at least they will have to run now with K. Allen.

He needs to trip the receivers while he goes to the ground. Apparently, that isn't a PI in this game.

Dorsey does have to do a better job getting these guys ready. Sloppy offensive execution week after week points to how he is prepping that unit and practices. They need to be sharper.