WideNine

It's the bi-polar nature of this board. The truth is always in the middle somewhere in shades of grey, not black and white and there are plenty of folks keeping it real, and providing course-correction. I have a few repeat customers that definitely keep me honest if and when they spot any misinformation from me. But speaking in absolutes is more confrontational and is the click-bait that drives a lot of the dialogue. "He will never..." "He always..." I respect Wood as he has played the game, but to be balanced if we are going to give credit to Daboll for his creativity when it works, we also have to point out that it is his responsibility when the offense sputters. That may be the execution and not the play called, but he is responsible for ensuring that both work. I do think Allen will be a better QB for having been in a creative offense even if all the pieces are not clicking yet.

Have to admit that the first thing that popped in my head when I read the OP subject line, was an image of Belichick playing the role of Hannibal Lecter and Darnold as Clarice. The way he creepily grinned on the sideline as Darnold was falling apart on the other side of the field. "Have the lambs stopped screaming Samuel"?

Daboll is a bit socially awkward and defensive behind the podium....you can tell that he would rather be anywhere else. Maybe it is just the way he looks like he is counting all the exits. Not sure a lot of the media guys in B-lo help themselves that much as all the loaded questions clearly make him very guarded with his responses, if they threw him a bone now and then maybe he would relax a bit and open up. "That was a really effective screen can you take us through that and explain why it worked so well?", "What did you see that made you feel that would work?", or "Can you walk us through a typical week of prep for your next opponent?". Not really sure what he was saying there, maybe just that each week the next opponent dictates their game plan and personnel decisions?

If Allen dissed Daboll in a public interview his next game plan would feature 20 designed QB runs off tackle.

This. Oliver is a rookie, having rookie growing pains, getting stronger, diagnosing plays, playing a new position in a new scheme. And he has enough size for the way this defense wants their DTs to play. Same height as Aaron Donald and although close in build, Oliver is nearly 10 lbs heavier. The comparisons should and do stop there. He isn't there yet (obviously), but it took some time to see Harry come into his own in this scheme, Oliver needs time too. Making him earn playing time is not a bad thing. If he does not take the limited reps as a challenge to work hard and up his game, then the Bills would have a problem. Way too early, and we need to see how he responds and takes steps in the right direction.

Don't lose hope, there is the fumbles on the designed runs... In all seriousness, of course there are things Allen needs to work on like ball security on runs. And I put that on the coaching staff to correct those things. I am satisfied seeing progress and watching a player grow into a role, some want the fully-baked results immediately. I am ok with game plans where Allen is forced to leverage the team around him and is not expected or asked to win by himself. IMO that would have ruined him and all the god-given raw talent he was gifted with. As raw as he was coming into the league I am satisfied with the approach the Bills are taking to develop Allen. Some folks are not, and some have gradually warmed to the idea.

You have to consider how your defense is playing too. Also, the no huddle always had a great mix of run and pass as it normally operated using the same personnel grouping that included a running back in the backfield. Thurmal could pass protect, was excellent on delayed hand-offs with a knack for always making that first guy miss, and was a terrific receiving option. The receiving match ups Kelly wanted on offense were there because defenses could not substitute packages and personnel and had to decide if they were going to commit to stopping the run or the pass. I don't mind slinging the rock, but on a day like we had with the Eagles where the winds are blowing and it is raining, the Eagles are steamrolling our offensive line, and our defense is getting run over, an OC has to find a way to slow that pass rush down and give the defense help by keeping that other offense off the field that means leaning on your running game more. Running Singletary once per/half is hardly even close to some kind of ground it out game that folks seem to fear. Last week seemed like a grind it out game, but I think I read somewhere that we ran on 51% of the snaps - someone can correct me if I am wrong. Either way, I think we were just more balanced which opens up more of the passing opportunities. I am on the fence whether I like the empty backfield set as much as we use it. I like it when we spread things out, but prefer always having to have the defense think about the run being an option. As Josh gets better receiving tools to work with and grows as a QB that empty set will continue to become more productive - just my opinion and folks are welcome to disagree.

Who knows? There are those points in a thread where it makes a left turn at reason and ends up where this has gone. Agree to disagree and move on. I just basically look at the magical 300 yd/game mantra as just another moving back of the goal posts folks set regarding Allen's development, and that just tells me that if the argument regarding Allen's lack of development has to regularly be amended to move the bar higher, then logically the trend of his development as an NFL QB is going in the right direction. I am OK with that.

Truth, there are time that their big guys win against our big guys opening holes and credit the Skins as their run blitzes were hitting the right holes in those short-yardage situations and getting into the feet of our RB, so there may be some improvements the Bills can make in how we are telegraphing those runs via personnel or alignments. There was also an attempted sweep with McKenzie but I think Dawkins missed his assignment and let a defender walk right in and set the edge so he had no where to go and had to turn back into pursuit. Don't think the play was designed to let that happen. Daboll owns both the plays called and how prepared the offense is to execute them so either way it is on him, but I cannot in good conscience applaud him for our red zone offense which has been very good, and then ding him because there was a red zone series that did not unfold in one game the way I would have liked.

I think McD and the coaching staff got together and probably reminded Daboll that his game plans cannot exclude field and weather conditions. After the sloppy pass-heavy game against the Eagles he has leaned on the run. It could be just his demeanor, but he has seemed a bit saltier and more defensive in his pressers since that game and my theory is that he has had to accept more input into his game plans.

It devolved into winning style points.

Dude, let it go. You went for your point and he disagreed. Now your in the battle of witty comments territory and looking a bit roasted. Its a subjective subject either way unless you put some definitive definitions around "greatest" defense.

not saying they can't pull their heads out, but Snyder used to do this in Washington all the time. He would pay for every big name free agent with big name egos and think they would out-talent other clubs. Teams need cohesion and clarity of vision and goals, selflessness to play the role needed even if that role does not put that player in the spotlight that week. They are a talented club on paper, but they will always struggle against good teams with role players. Those are also the kind of teams that tend to implode when they hit a rough patch rather than come together. We will see, I am not counting any Bills games as a "W" - just too many holes in our game to ever feel that confident against any team.

That mental edge is certainly part of it. They go in expecting their game plan to win, opposing teams go in hoping to not get embarrassed. Advantage NE. I do think Allen went into our game with them shakey, but was pulling himself together after the half. Will never know if he could have redeemed himself if he had not gotten that helmet to helmet hit. Allen was hurting them with his legs and arm up to that point.

Why hate on Allen, to prop up Jackson. That is what I don't get. One has nothing to do with the other. Having been one of the few to give props to Jackson early on for being more than a gimmick and throwing a good ball, I also believe he stepped into the best situation he could - solid org, one of the best o-lines, and a coach that knows how to tailor an offense to his skills. Do you honestly think that Jackson has that game against NE if he were behind our line with Daboll calling the plays? Does he have that game if he was in Darnold's shoes in NY with Gase whispering to him? And that is why I don't feel like I have to say Allen, Darnold, or any young QB sucks just to somehow give props to Jackson for having a good game. And it is a bit disingenuous to pick a position outside QB for your comparison, I can play this too - Quinton Nelson is better than Spain at guard. Pressers don't usually include players other than QB for a reason. The QB position is a focal point for an NFL org and constantly throwing shade on your QB does make me wonder what some fans are trying to prove.

Whatever. Become a Ravens fan.

Yeah, these guys would be trouble for our D the way they run it and a very mobile QB. Heck, Fitz ran one in for a TD from like 25 yards out on us - and Fitz is no Jackson.

Their o-line run blocking is something else...someone said a while back that you cannot run on the Pats. Not true tonight.

NE has not really had to play from behind this year... Have to root for Baltimore as I loathe NE.

I am still wondering if Gore got hurt because I have ever seen him hit the holes so slowly. On one short yardage situation the run lane was there for Gore, but Morse crapped the bed and was fork-lifted back into Gores legs to trip him up. Either way, it was clear to most of us watching that he had lost a step and Daboll kept going to the well. Finally, just left Singletary in the game. I still prefer when we spread it out a bit on short yardage and have run/pass options when it is not goal line. Feel like it creates a bit more space for the run and still makes the defense defend sideline to sideline.

I think had he gotten it out quickly in front of Gore the linemen keeping Allen from running was not in position to make a play and the linebackers coming from center field would have been in time to take an angle on tackling Gore, but I don't think it was a pick six waiting to happen. I feel like Allen waited a second too long playing it safe and then yes by then - it would have been a pick and I am glad he ate the ball. Would have rather seen him throw it away, but glad he did not turn it over. Conjecture at this point, and you could certainly be right. I just think that the coaching staff has preached turnover-free football so much to Allen that he is just a bit late getting the ball out as he still wants to visually confirm his guy is open rather then throw a pass where he has to trust his receiver to make a better play on the ball than the defender. With the receivers he has had to work with, I am not sure I blame him for the caution-filled approach he has now. He needs to have play makers that bail him out enough that he trust them with 50/50 balls. Brown is the closet thing he has to that on the roster I think.

We can do both, but I have seen some posters that can ONLY point out the negative, the truth is usually somewhere in the middle. Like I enjoyed the win, but would have liked to see Allen throw Gore open on that red zone series that stalled - let Gore make that catch and see if he could get in, but I think they have drilled Allen so much on not turning the ball over, he is reluctant to pull the trigger some times. Then on the very next play with the sweep to McKenzie that was blown up, what the hell was Dion Dawkins doing? It was like he did not know what play they called because he turned inside and let the edge defender come clean on McKenzie and kind of jogged down the LOS to the opposite side to basically lean into a pile of bodies no where near the play. I wonder if Gore got dinged at some point, he had zero burst and Daboll kept calling his number. I am also counting how many weeks in a row that Daboll will try to use Gore on a stretch play for no gain. I have seen some stubborn coaching, but sheesh. Either way, a good win and some things this team can build upon.

I would not say the OP is negative, just pointing out some concerns that need to be corrected if we are going to hang with better opponents. I will take any win, and am sure Virgil will too. I liked Oliver and still do, but his game is quickness and hitting gaps to pressure the pocket. At this point in his development he can be exposed trying to defend the run. I would expect his rotation reps to go down and the Bills to put in some bigger bodies against teams that are determined to run up the gut on us. It is a bit early to grade this kid because I think he has some foundational elements that cannot be taught, but he will need to get stronger and perfect his use of leverage and technique when teams look to move him on running plays. That pass on the run from Allen that hit Brown in the hands was amazing and wish Brown could have reeled it in, but they made up for it with that laser catch on the sideline.

I saw a screen attempt where the Redskins were all over it and Allen threw down into the ankles. We did have one screen to Singletary to the right with a bit of weakside misdirection where no one from the Skin's defense seemed to expect it. Our chubby guys were thumping downfield looking for anyone to block and basically just in Singletary's way.

Knox seemed to have found his hands again, but thought we would hear Kroft's name a bit more. Thought Daboll was all about creative plays that use his tight ends, although the way that right side of the line has been holding up in pass pro and considering how Lee Smith is a penalty machine, he may have been keeping Kroft in there to help out all game. Would have to go back and look, but did not remember hearing his name called once. If he was in blocking, that is not a bad thing.