WideNine

Allen stared down that screen that I think they were going to... happened too fast

A Kroft sighting....

There is that corner blitz that is always given up on Dawkins side - every game.

Milano!

That was on Edmunds I believe. The wheel receiver, and could not get off the block.

Feliciano - cm'on You can play tough without the extra stuup. Not having the best game today and trying to make up for it with dumb penalties. May get the bench if he cannot get his head on right. Not like the Bills have never swapped out linemen.

TEs and misdirection, that was what I was expecting from Dabol.

I think Singletary may be able to get to the edge, but not sure if they are playing far enough off our receivers and such - would like to see it though.

Usually in that camp, but I went on record saying running into the teeth of that defense would be a bad idea. Although they have been susceptible to misdirection plays, but those have to be setup over the course of a game. Not the plays to start I would have expected. Both teams seem to be feeling each other out. Safe plays....

Gore on a stretch play to start - Dabol.... hope he gets his head out for this next series.

Some here should take some time to read the post about developing young QBs by Thurman#1 It references an article that explains how McVay has been working Goff like a meat puppet, calling all the plays and adjustments via communication in Goff's helmet. McVay also used motion as a lot of window-dressing to get a better handle on the defensive look and assignments. That all worked great till teams like Patricia's Detroit decided to ignore the pre-snap motion, and Beligoat took things a step further. Not only ignoring the motion, but realizing that communication is cut after 15 seconds are left on the snap clock Belichick's defense would make their shifts and adjustments at the 15 sec mark. McVay was helpless at the sideline and Goff on his own - the results were clear. Either way, it was an interesting read and I cannot exactly fault McVay's approach as folks are looking for rookie QB's to perform at a veteran level so why not use them like a video avatar and leverage new technology, but there is something to developing that on-field general who can pick up on defensive schemes and where to go and be able to ball on his own.

Fitz can be Fitzmagic, but last week was a clinic on how NOT to tackle. It looked like a game of two-hand touch out there that allowed for a lot of extended plays that never should have happened. You can bet that Frazier and McD will stress fundamentals this week about wrapping up and tackling. The Bills also have the kind of veteran leadership in that locker room where those guys will self-scout and see the same things they need to correct. I think we should see a much improved group keeping Wentz in the pocket and getting him on the ground when they get the opportunity to do so.

His corners have not been playing too well, I think you will see a lot of cover 1 or 2 unless he completely disrespects Allen. Which could happen - Schwartz is not known as the guy that tinkers too much with his schemes rather finds the right parts to execute within it. We will see, they are going to be pretty desperate for a win and there was a lot of talk about the "effort" they had against Dallas. Like Miami, I expect them to come out with a bit more pride and make it tough.

I don't know, we faced the Jets, Titans, and Patriots who are near the top of the league regarding percentage of blitzes called. Schwartz unit is near the bottom and if I recall at around 18%, but he loads the box and focuses on stopping the run so those who are looking for a run-heavy approach (I am usually in this camp) may want to think twice as they do not give up much there although they can fall for misdirection plays and such. Schwartz likes to generate his pressure using the guys on his defensive front and does not like to sacrifice/gamble on his pass coverage by borrowing resources in his secondary. If he had true lock-down coverage players that would likely change, OR it may change if he just does not feel that Allen can push it downfield before his blitz gets to him. That is the approach Belichick took as he has some decent man-to-man coverage resources and believed that he can get to the opposing team's QB before he can get a read on his defense and get a pass off. He plays the odds, and the odds are in his favor that his defense can force a QB off his spot and into making mistakes. Dallas has had some success against their NFC division rivals (including the Iggles) by taking advantage of the over-aggressive pursuit and reliance on their defensive fronts. Pre-snap motion, screens, misdirection on jet sweeps and such have opened things up for some big gainers. Some have commented on this, but it is a copy-cat league and Dallas' new OC Moore has taken a few plays (with most of the wrinkles) out of Dabol's playbook and had some success. Dabol likely copied his plays from someone else and so on, and so on. Schwartz likes to play a single high safety - cover 1 on a majority of snaps and I think I read that they have been pretty good at defending the boundary receivers, but they do not have the linebackers, safeties, or the nickel corners that have consistently been able to cover the middle or slot very well - queue Beasley for a good game and perhaps a "get-well" game for Knox and dare we say a coming out party (maybe) for Kroft of the OFT-injured foot. Perhaps by providence, but the offense that Dabol has been heavily calling all year with Allen may be just the right offense to run against the Eagles.

To be fair it is a bit of a bad analogy using that Dallas team as they did win a lottery of sorts. The infamous Herschel Walker trade deal with Minnesota in 89 which was the largest (and most lopsided) NFL trade deal in history that involved 18 players and pics. It had a trickle down effect across the NFL - I think I read somewhere that the Bills landed Cornelius Bennett through some mechanism due to that trade. Minnesota floundered in the basement while Dallas loaded up their roster for their multi-title run. Sans bone-headed mega-trades I think that the prescriptive and slow process of rebuilding teams via drafts and strategic trades would normally produce more parity regarding SB participants, but there will always be the outliers like NE who have maintained a system with the same coach and some key players that allow them to avoid the dips and spikes in performance by simply replacing a component player as needed and tailoring their game plans to their strengths each year - a framework I think McDermott is trying to replicate in Buffalo.

Yep, can hear it now. "My man, Kyle Allen is tearing it up in Buffalo!".

It is interesting to note that much was made of finding a QB who had the arm to keep those deep shots more on a rope because of the wind conditions at our stadium. Too much arc and it catches the wind and it is either going to flutter and die..... aka an INT, or it will catch a tail wind and float long. I did not think about that as a factor, but it is. I just figured he either did not have his timing down with Roberts who is not regularly in at WR. Or...my other simple theory He sees cover 0, gets an adrenaline rush, and fires the football like an RPG 10 yards too deep on a 65 yard route. If that's the case then Allen just needs seasoning and more time behind center to settle down a bit. He is uber-competitive so this may just take some time. Not overly concerned; everything else folks said Allen would never be able to do, he has not only done but has gotten more consistent doing. I think he will work this out too.

I am thinking the only expectations are: Can you get open? Do you catch with your hands? Do you win contested balls? Edit, and nod to culture: You're not a me-only player that is a locker room cancer currently under some kind of legal indictment?

Just thinking that the other day, how funny it would be if we won the Superbowl and power rankings (whatever), still had us ranked below other teams. But not stomping the Dolphins like NE curb-stomped the Jets just lends credence to the argument folks are looking to make to begin with. But I don't see McD doing that to another team's rookie QB with that kind of lead. In the 4th he would have run and run to run out the clock then have Allen take a knee to close it out. Was also thinking how silly those questions seemed at the OBD pressers, "what about the perception that the Bills aren't real?" when posed to McDermott and Frazier. The answer is always it really doesn't matter and they can only control what happens inside their own 4 walls.

Yep....it could get ugly.

It's not like NE was lighting up the score board. Their defense has been ridiculous keeping every team but the Allen led Bills out of the end zone. That being said, they have given up defensive scores to teams. I think Jones may have had one TD toss post Allen game too. Belichick prob has a sour taste in his mouth after the last win they squeeked out against us, he will want a signature beat down to try to ensure the Bills remember their place and get back under their AFC East rock. That crushing of the Jets and Darnold's confidence was a message about who owns this division. The goat is not going to roll over and concede anything, a team is going to have to step up and take it from them.

Yeah, I saw in Frazier's presser how he was fine with Wallace giving up the 6 to 8 yard curls and slants. Seems it is more schemed for Wallace to give that cushion and keep it all in front of him. Not sure I like the idea of being fine giving up 8 yard chunks, but it has been working for them.

Truth.

I mean they are close right?

Well, we will see the next time he goes up against a bigger physical receiver who can high-point the ball. Just something to keep an eye on