MasterStrategist

Yep, looked great on that sack

Everyone thought Knox was a bust too. Bottom line, the 1st and 2nd yr guys should be given until their 3rd year to be passing ultimate judgment. Ford, fine, certainly looks like a bust...Oliver has been very good, not great always It's way too early to proclaim anything on these young DL, certainly not going to say they whiffed yet. Josh blossomed into a MVP candidate, top 5 QB, so darn right Beane and staff deserve major kudos, beyond "almost makes you forgive them" status. This team needs to get the killer instinct down the stretch, we've lost 5 games that were 1 score heading to the 4th qtr...could be a diff season when a couple bounce our way or we get a key call. Until then, we are 7-6 and still in the hunt for a division title.

Everyone has different rankings, but test/metrics don't lie. He is/tested super athletic, so your original comment is off base. Not saying Boogie won't develop, but IOL was a glaring need. Doubling down on a position isn't a bad strategy either, so I'm not upset about the pick. Just saying Creed tested very well.

Scored a perfect 10 on the RAS, tested as one of the most athletic centers in quite a while...so disagree about athletic traits

Yes. Also scored a perfect 10 on the RAS (which we've analytically followed), former wrestler, and very smart/strong. Would have been a great fit for many teams, but the exact type of center you build an oline around.

this is what playcalling looks like. Mahomes asked to do very little, except throw a few quick hitting passes that are well designed. Although missed an easy TD down the middle

Agree, great post and the reason why I wasn't extremely upset after the game. TB is one of the best NFC teams, possibly the best, and we barely lost. I'd rather lose a game where we came back and showed that ability, than blowing a lead like we did against Pitt, etc. Few things I'll add to OP: 1. Dane Jackson performed very well, albeit the final play (not all his fault though, that pass rush needs to get home or impact that throw). I've said before, I've seen him play HS and college ball...and had no doubt he'd be a gamer. He's going to keep improving and be a solid player for us. 2. Defensive pressure: TBs oline is very good and Brady is a master of getting into the right play/not taking sacks. I liked our pressure packages and thought we just missed a couple turnover opportunities. We need to stay aggressive on 1st and 2nd, who cares we give up a few 10-15 yard plays. Eventually get them into 3rd and long or force a turnover. Felt like our philosophy took a 180 and hope we can continue it. 3. Offense: the quick/3 step passing game worked well in 2nd half and neutralized some blitzes, along with some timely runs. Agree we are better off with Davis in there, as opposed to Manny. Also think we need to be running more fade routes. I posted and many others did as well, commenting about the DPI calls or lack of in our favor. We don't give ourselves many opportunities to just get cheap yards. At some point, stop running those 5 yard curls and go over the top, when we see 1-1 with limited safety help I'm optimistic we can put a winning streak together. Feel like that 2nd half put us on the cusp of something great, just need that type of execution more consistently.

I'd not say rigged, just horrible calls. My opinion is how they are taught to officiate and "markers" to look for are big issues. Ie: underthrown passes, WR fighting back to ball, DB not looking or playing ball, etc are obvious things they are calling this year. Flawed rule that benefits badly thrown passes. Expect this will be a huge topic of discussion at offseason meetings. Agree Diggs was held. nonstop and typically is. We need to be doing a better job/more advantageously taking more passes that will likely get these "free yards".

I'd say it was self inflicted both times. Taron 1-1 in the flat to tackle Gronk, and maintained outside leverage, but he missed the tackle and nobody was inside (looked like their should have been). Game winning play we simply didn't get home with a 5 man pressure, and Dane left his man to pick up the stacked cross coming into him. Tremaine looks like he's to blame when he's intended to take away the middle and took a step with the double cross. Hardly some secret play by Leftwich, we were out executed on a typical man-beater.

Game went Buffalo's way when they adjusted to the TB pressure package, with quick/3 step passes (curls, slants, etc). Mixing in runs was helpful to slow down the def line stunts as well. I wish they'd run 1 or 2 fades per game, or at least back shoulder the fade and take advantage of the horrible DPI rulings. Josh sorta tried it, but Diggs wasn't on the same page 2x.

Allen's fine. And I'm only saying that because he's proven to be extremely tough and had plenty of burst on several key runs at the end. Looked like he got his ankle or foot rolled up on him. Taped and finished. He wouldn't have been cleared if it was major.

Still missing any 3 step fade. we have Diggs and Davis who can both beat 1-1 against these TB corners. Try drawing free yards, or make a big play. These 10 play drives have been difficult to sustain, we need chunk plays but get the ball out quick

Need more deep/quick passes, against the blitz. 3 step drop and let it go. Either Fades, slants, curls, drags, etc. We are basically running a 5 second developing play against every single blitz, Josh has been fortunate to escape a lot of sacks. Not oline, he or Daboll needs to get better playcall adjustments

Just tried it, but again Diggs doesn't turn his head bc he's trying to run some complex route. Just go 1-1 and fire it up. We have to draw the fewest DPI yards since last year.

I don't understand why we don't try 1 deep ball, ie: fade or post against their blitz. We don't go downfield unless it's some elaborate deep over or deep in. Just go 1-1 down the sideline

Few interesting things to watch with Active/Inactive list: 1. Who will be this weeks Punt Returner? Isiah or Speedy 2. What combo of Basham/Aj/Obada will be active? I think Basham and Obada 3. Moss back to inactive? Or is Breida still in the doghouse?

Exactly! @GunnerBill mentioned this a couple weeks ago, but we lack bluechip/true difference makers. Especially on defense, IMO, Tre being the only one. We have some very good pieces/complimentary talent, and hopefully some young guys who will become great for us. I think Beane has done great in his handful of years and our expectation for this season was through the roof because of his success. But he's not perfect. He's missed and cost us value cap $$$s, especially on the lines. To me the strategy is perplexing on how they built the front 7. Hindsight is 20/20 but when you want to be a "primarily nickle" defense, with more fast than physical LB play, then I'd think you want serious beef up the middle and balanced DEs (which we've primarily gone after). Or, you change how you attack with Edmunds and Milano, ie: get more creative with them run blitzing.

Agree with all your comments btw, and great topic starter. If there's one infuriating thing about the defensive effort, it was lack of fundamentals/poor tackling. Way too many missed "gaps", overpursuit and missed tackles that extended a couple drives. Bottom line, they performed solid and well enough to give the Off a chance to win. I'm not an Edmunds hater, but he got lost way more than usual last night. Poor angles, not disengaging from blocks. Our DTs finally learned how to play against a "trap" block...like something you're taught in HS. And similar with our def ends against toss sweeps, ie:pin and pull concepts. Fundamentals is what NE executed throughout the night, while simplistic, it was something we struggled with at times.

Great post! Agree, can't imagine many can be blaming the defense for their effort. 14 points allowed is solid no matter the weather. Lack of execution/finishing offensive drives has occurred way too many games this season. We crossed the 50, 7x against Jacksonville to only come away with 6 points. Frustrating when we've shown glimpses and certainly have the potential, hopefully they can hone in and correct the issues down the strecth

Should not even be a 2nd thought about it. Daboll needs to get some misdirection or bootlegs mixed in...NE is flowing very quickly on those stretch runs

Defer??? No way, get this opening drive in the 2nd half and March down the field.

Should, NEs choice coming out of half on direction to kick off...assume they won't give us the wind while we get the ball. So should be our wind in the 4th.

By running down the field? They hit 1 pass...

Pats going to run tight man, we should keep running shallow crosses and 1 deep outside route. Take a shot if it's there and hope for DPI, or a big catch

All of a sudden you're picking OT, as your example? We were just talking about to start the game and you said a team receiving kickoff in both halves. OK man, I dont care but your reasoning is messed up. Go Bills!