Old Coot

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.

100 Roundtable on Defensive Ends on NFL.com tonight: Bruce gave props to Ben Williams. On tape he noticed that Ben always kept his arms moving. He asked ben why & Ben replied that it kept the OT. from holding him. Bruce realized that separation from the OT was the key. If you keep separation you can run and once your hip is behind the OTs hip it's over. Jason Taylor gave props to Bruce for the way Bruce could slant his body outside of the OT.

I agree that the three throws were bad decisions. That said, however, this guy has a cannon for an arm. The trajectory of the two deep interceptions was relatively flat making it easier for the DB to intercept. Had he put more air under the ball, who can say what might have happened. Compare the arching throw Barkley made to Brown (?) along the sideline for big yardage. Tight coverage but the DB had no chance. This game showed that, while the Bills are an improved team, they aren't in the Pat's league yet. I especially liked the way the D kept Brady off balance for most of the game.

Has Allen's accuracy and anticipation on short to medium throws improved enough so he can hit these routes consistently?