Bob in STL

Except for John Skourpan.

Every move is a wrong move to someone.

A lot of people call Sunday's game a late game collapse by the OL. Late game? They were completely dominated from 9:25 of the 3rd quarter to the end of the game. That is 24 minutes and 25 seconds or 41% of the game. In that time they failed to open a hole on 4th and 1, scored 0 points, had 0 first downs, gave up 2 points on offense, and gave up 2 very key sacks. I am hopeful that the OL problems for that last 41% were more related to schemes than sheer talent, strength, and will. If not it will be another long season.

The story of their game has to be: 1) no push on the 4th and 1; 2) a sack for a safety; and 3) a sack on our last possesion. They were horrible in the 2nd half which to me offset a very good first half. Improved over last season? Maybe, but last season is a poor measuring stick. I think they can develop as the season progresses but if I were Marv my prioirity for the off season would be to upgrade the talent at LT, RG and LG.

Joe, I am not a fan of McGahee's attitide but unless Willis is really hurt bad I think you stick with him. I think he can make more big plays and is a back that usually gets better as the game goes on. From my vantage point the Bills OL got mauled in the second half ... starting from the failed 4th and 1 and continuing for the rest of the game. They just did not run block or pass block very well. It is imperative that McNally and Fairchild look at the film and find out what NE did in the second half. Hopefully is was not just getting beat man-on-man and is something we can correct with blocking schemes. As for A-Train, he looked good and I would like to see him get more carries. Maybe he is the short yardage back we have been looking for? Final note, the defensive player that blew up the 4th is 1 was Vince Wolfork. He penetrated deep and slowed the play up behind the line of scrimmage. I think he is from "the U" so I would not totally knock the UM players.

Yeah right. Keep drinking the Cool Aid. They were worried about protecting a 10 point lead so the gambled a way a potential 13 point lead for a lower potential 17 point lead. Then they did not execute the 4th and 1. As most of you know, I was against the call, but so be it .. the coach showed some balls and set some expectations for his team. After the failed 4th and 1 we were out gained by 205 yards to 5, outscored by 12-0, and we never even got another first down. Lets look at how many points the Losman led Bills actually scored in the 2nd half last season. Then consider that we had the worst red zone offense and the 31st ranked offense in the league. 1st and goal from the 6 would have been great but still no garauntee that we score. It amazes me that people think that we would have won had we scored that "potential" touchdown.

.... Mike Williams Trey Teague Jerry Gray

Years of therapy? Nice meeting you too. Try makling some sense next time.

I agree. From a tactics point of view, I think it was the wrong call for the situation. The one thing I do like about the call is that Jauron has now made a statement to his players ... they are expected to pick up 3 feet. He made thge call without hesitation and did not waver. The Bills simply need to get tougher and make that play in the future.

Fair enough on 4th and 1. So Teddy is a pilot in too!! No Bob---that's the thing. He's not a pilot, he has no training. The real pilot had fallen out of the plane just before the flyover. Tedy was parking cars for the elderly in the handicapped section when he and he alone saw this. He ran to the top of the stadium and jumped mightily--as only a Bruschi could---and wrestled his way into the cockpit. Once he got in there, he just knew what to do, like, uh, like Flutie just knew how to win, you know? That's why it's so strange.... 768951[/snapback] Well flying should be easy for him because he designed the entire guidance and control system for this aircraft one summer while at camp.

Good points. These rookies held up fine and when the defense starts playing more team defense they will be very solid.

So Teddy is a pilot in too!! I give up on the 4th and 1 call. It is not the reason we lost but it sure was a turning point. Time to move on to the next game.

Taking the 3 points is the stupidest post? It was the only other real option? I think you just surpassed me with your insult. Thank you.

The point I tried to make by adding the 3 points to get 20 was to show that this "go for the juggler and get 7" approach is total nonsense. It was a gamble we did not need to make given the situation. It turns out they only scored 19 on us, yes they might have had more if they needed it. I get your point and it is not fair or balanced.

Your point is exactly why I hate this call. What juggler? What dagger? Why follow these cliches? Why is 17 any more of a dagger than 13? There was a lot of football left to play. We don't know if we win even if we got those 3 points any more than if you got 7. This call was a momentum killer.

Well, I never said anything about Jauron being conservative did I? I think he is doing a good job.

It is oversimplifed ok, maybe even foolish. But it is not juvenile, ill-informed and unrealistic in historic proportions.

I agree. I don't know that and lots of plays would have been different. Just like no one else knows that getting 7 instead of the easy 3 is really "going for the juggler". That is my real point. Once we blew the 4th and 1 we lost all momentum. We did not get another first down. Three points adds to the lead and keeps the momentum on our side.

Well maybe they don't march 93 yards for a TD after we go up 20-7? It is hard to say how it would have played out. We may have lost 22 to 20.

We need to get that yard someday. What is Rob Riddick doing these days?

Completely different situation. Belichek did not give up points. I never said this was poor coaching either. I think this was one of the best coached Bills games since about 1995. I just think the call was wrong. There were easy points to put on the board and we squandered them.

I am not sure I am typical of Bills fans. I do know that we win 20-19 with those points. I would take a 13 point lead and the momentum.

Given the benefit of hindsight three points WAS the knockout. I take the 3 points.

The worst part of it is that it should not have mattered. All that rhetoric he spouted this past week about playing hard ... hmmm

Good post.