Old Coot

That's one of the theories; see the link I provided

Goodbye Mr Spalding from the Natural

On a related note, no one knows why the city is called Buffalo. I don't think that buffalo ever ranged in WNY. I know that someone will point out that the city is named after Buffalo Creek but that just shifts the question to how did the creek get its name. I once read an after-dinner speech by Grover Cleveland delivered about 1885 on this issue. I can't find it on the web now but here's a link that includes much of what was in that speech: https://owlcation.com/humanities/How-Buffalo-New-York-got-its-Name

Expect a healthy does of RPO from the patriots offense this year.

The Old Coot's memory isn't what it used to be. I think that I was thinking of the Bill's last playoff victory -- 30 Dec 1995 against the Dolphins. The Bills rushed for 341 yards. Tasker only for 7 but he did have 108 yards receiving on 5 receptions. Plus they may have run the Wing-T not the single wing. That game was also Shula's last game.

Tasker was uncoverable as a receiver. I don't know why he wasn't used as a slot receiver more often. Edelman reminds me of the kind of receiver Tasker was. Tasker could also be an effective ball carrier. I recall a game in which the Bills used the old single wing formation and ran the pants off of whomever they were playing. Tasker had almost 200 yards rushing. This guy could do it all.

In response to MrEpsYtown: You are right. I should have said Tilted one technique. I know better than that. What I had in mind was Oliver lining up tilted over the center's ball hand. If the center tries to block him, he can't. Thus, the OL must double team him using the right guard. This is a technique that favors a quick undersized DT and so I thought it would play to Oliver's skill set. Star doesn't have Oliver's quickness.

Here's a discussion of the tilted 3 technique. It was developed by Mean Joe Greene. Warren Sapp used it to good effect. https://www.bucsnation.com/2013/5/4/4290148/the-4-3-tilted-nose-tackle-history-scheme-and-the-buccaneers

I think that using Oliver in a tilted 3 technique would add an interesting wrinkle to the Bill's D. It forces the technique-side guard to double team Oliver to prevent him from blowing past the center. What do you think?

More film study of some Bills defense and offense plays, courtesy of Cover 1. The recent studies are only days old. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClL6eJS1s8xmRoYRQbYgxQQ

Good interview with nickel safety Dean Marlowe with his extended analysis of some plays. His commentary shows the mental side of his play not just the physical.

During the sports lull lets do some speculating. Presumably Diggs will be WR 1 and will often draw double coverage. Can our WR 2 (presumably Brown but feel free to discuss whomever you think will be WR 2) consistently beat one on one coverage? If not, can play design accomplish this, for example by stick or other route combinations.

Screens aren't difficult to design but they are difficult to execute, particularly when a defense can play man because they don't respect your receivers. In man LB's can key on the RB's. Next year we may be better at screens because we upgraded at receiver.

Ritchie Lucas.. Look him up.

Interesting story behind the Bills' initial switch to red helmets in the 1980's. It involves QB Joe Ferguson. Read it here: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/06/23/the-story-behind-the-bills-red-helmets/

A video on Mike Stratton's career. At 1:20 you can see two views of the "hit heard 'round the world." https://buffalonews.com/2020/03/25/buffalo-bills-mike-stratton-afl-championship-hit-heard-round-the-world/ Chargers' coach Sid Gilman called it the most beautiful tackle he had ever seen.

Conrad Dobler. Why? Look him up.

Several causes for this loss but mainly it's on the Defense. It's the no. 3 defense; we're up 16 points at the half & we let them score 19 straight points. As for the defense, it wasn't the play-calling, it was guys getting out hustled. Under McDermott's watch we are getting closer to being a good football team -- we can play with the big guys but we don't have the personnel to beat them consistently. We need a better O line, bigger, faster WR's and a stud DT. I'm pleased with Allen's growth this year. His footwork & accuracy are much improved as is his football sense. That said, he needs to have better ball security. I hope Daboll doesn't leave. He calls a good game. Plus Allen doesn't need to have to adjust to another OC. On to a bigger & better next year.

Beasley said it previously: "It's not the play calling, its the Jimmys & Joes." Can you imagine Brady and [fill in any Patriot's receiver you like] not being on the same page?

On the plus side Allen's footwork has greatly improved from last year.

Basic question. The Bills Base run D does the DL play 1) to tie up the OL to keep the LBs clean so they can make the tackle, or 2) to defeat the OL & make the tackle?

So Beasley is not willing to throw his OC under the bus but is willing to throw unnamed players aka "willies & joes" under the bus? Remember that its often not possible to judge play calling from the play actually run. The OC will likely call 2-3 plays depending on what the OC's call sheet says is likely the kind of defense the other team will call for that yard marker, down & distance. The QB will set the play (in the huddle or by audible) according to what he sees before the hike.

They better fix the run D. They'll be getting a steady diet of run plays until they show that they can stop the run.

The Eagles offense run plays designed with lots of distraction. I can see a second year man getting confused out there. I wouldn't judge Edmunds based just on the eagles game. That said, there's no question that he needs to improve.