Simon

Maybe it's just hope messing with my head, but this is pretty much what I am leaning toward as well.

They've also been kicking him inside at DT on some passing downs

Can you find all 9 melons?

I agree that was a factor in the first two weeks, but last night with a healthy Taron against a fast team against whom they have run almost 100% nickel over the last couple years, they suddenly ran a 4-3 for about a third of the game again. 🤷‍♂️

Yeah, when Lewis comes on when they go into a dime they'll often only leave Bernard on the field at LB.

I cannot stop this thought from running through my head at least 10 times a week during the season.

That was a great example of how to fool a blocker with your eyes. It's a really hard concept to explain in text, but he basically made Ingold think that Archane was several feet from where he actually was so that he was out of blocking alignment and Thompson had a path to get to the spot he wanted to be at without interference. That's good, smart veteran stuff right there.

Agreed in regards to protecting Taron, since he won't protect himself (did you see him trying to pick up another concussion last night with about 10 seconds left in a two score game) and agreed about the Ravens and Jets. But I do not agree at all about the Dolphins. That is one of the fastest offenses in the league and over the last two years the Bills have played virtually zero 4-3 against them; they've run a base nickel (or a dime) against them at a rate of nearly 100% of their defensive snaps. Now, even with a healthy Taron Johnson and an injured Milano, they're suddenly playing a full third of a game in a 4-3 they haven't shown them at all? Something different is going on here and I'm curious what it is.

Shaq Thompson is a 32yr old injured 230lber, Dorian Williams couldn't cover a three-legged elephant with a circus tent and Taron Johnson has been one of the very best nickel backs on the planet for the last 5+ years. Take your nonsensical rants to another thread; they have no place here.

The Bills were on that call like a hobo on a ham sandwich and there was really nowhere to go. When you factor in the pucker factor with a free-running 330lb DT closing fast, Tua was more or less out of options by the time he even hit his drop. I haven't loved Babich's work so far this year, but I give him full credit for reading McDaniel's mail on that one.

The Bills have spent about a third of every game so far running in a 4/3 with Williams or Shaq Thompson as the other 'backer. That is a significant increase in how much they've used 3 LBs in the past. I know that this has been partly a result of matchups and injuries (Taron), but I'm not sure that's the entire reason. Is this trend going to continue going forward? And if so, why?

Fun for most of us

Dorian Williams could end up hearing some footsteps if he continues to have trouble with reads and angles

I think it's tough for a lot of people to pick up both what and how DT's are actually doing while watching live. I feel like DaQuan has been really reliable and pacing himself smartly so far this year, particularly with the noticeably high number of snaps he's being asked to play. He's been on the field a LOT, aside from the 2nd half of the Jets game.

Yeah, that's not about the yardage, that's about the change of possession.

If I remember right, I think that the other defender whom Allen threw a guy at was none other than Leonard Floyd

Checking up on his route on the first TD was exactly the kind of progression we need to see from him. That recognition will start putting him on the same page as Allen if he keeps it up. Last year he wouldn't have slowed a beat and would have run himself right into coverage. This year he ends up with the ball in the endzone. Granted he was probably a half step slow to recognize and react to it, which put Allen's throw off a bit because he probably thought Kincaid wasn't going to check it, but slow or not, he did it. It wasn't perfect, but we're not looking for perfect yet; we're just looking for better. And that is happening. That was Minkah Fitzpatrick, a legit killer that the Phish gave up JRamsey and Jonnu Smith for. This is going to pay off in spades if Brady plays this right.

Agreed with all this, but they also desperately needed a spark at that point in the Baltimore game and I think McD was trying to give it to them from the sideline.

Yeah, they called and executed that game very conservatively on both sides of the ball. I looked at it more like a don't beat yourself sort of gameplan vs a team that you clearly outclass, but they may have also been making a conscious decision to keep things close to the vest.

It did. I have no problem with the TO on 3rd/7. And I'd ahve no problem with the TO on 2nd down if it was 2nd/long. And I'd have no problem with the TO on 2nd/5 if Miami was down closer to the 10yrd line. But with it being only 2nd/5 and with the ball being out around the 25 with plenty of room to operate, I think that gamble accomplishes nothing but giving a helping hand up to an inferior team.

I think he had Coleman singled up over there and I thought for sure they were going to take a shot at that skinny white boy.

There's more on this at the Sabres website and Facebook page

It was 2nd/5 when he started calling them. He was trying to repeat the success he had in a similar situation in the Baltimore game, but this was a different scenario and he should not have done it. Nor do I want it to become a habit for him.

The fact that you want to bring a stat sheet into it is part of the you problem. He's doing exactly what he's being asked to do and doing it very well, as per usual. If you want to chew on McD and Babich for chaining him to the LOS, have at it. I agreed with it the first two games and understood it to a point last night, but it's becoming excessive.