Poll: The Bills' No. 1 Solution

[Just in Atlanta]

We have a lot of problems right now. But many problems are not fixable. One is. What is the No. 1 thing we can do that will make us respectable?

 

Sorry for not providing more options on D. I can't think of anything else that will make it better. Firing George Edwards ain't going to happen though, and I'm not even sure it should. Given our weak D, we need to start scoring points again and hope we can continue getting INTs.

 

Fitz does need to be more accurate. But I don't think that alone will improve things much. Count me in for a tentative No. 2, although play action is a close second choice. Seems like adding two playmakers in the mix would be an easy fix as opposed to changing offensive philosophies.

Edited November 15, 2011 by JustinAtlanta

[KD in CA]

Keep drafting more talent on defense, get the OL healthy again and find a decent WR.

 

Relying on gimmick plays for guys that aren't talented enough to win a starting job isn't going to take the Bills anywhere.

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

You guys are nuts. Spiller and Brad Smith are not the answer here.

[1B4IDie]

We used the bunch formation extensively, I haven't seen the WR in a bunch to relieve the man press coverage much the last two games. I find that curious.

 

An 8-8 or 9-7 finish is going to have this team ahead of schedule on a rebuild.

 

They need to draft about 4 LBs some CBs that can play and maybe pickup a real WR or real Tackle in free agency for the 2012 play off push.

 

Remember they play the NFC west next year.

 

If they can go 2-2 in the AFC south, 3-1 in the nFC west 4-2 in division then 1-1 in the Afc north and west match ups that's 10-6 in 2012 and a possible playoff spot. If the Jets implode next year (like I expect; age on defense; sick of Rex's BS) even better.

 

This year isn't over but now the San Diego and second Jets game are basically playoff games.

 

Ten is no slouch, Den is no slouch but at home those have to be wins. Miami in Buffalo. Gets you to 8-6 (after the Dolphins loss this weak)

 

If they can somehow pull off wins @NYJ (not likely) and @SD (somewhat likely) they can still get to 10-6 but I'm not holding my breath.

Edited November 15, 2011 by Why So Serious?

[Ozymandius]

An 8-8 or 9-7 finish is going to have this team ahead of schedule on a rebuild.

 

I would say they would be on schedule, not ahead. In any rebuild with a new regime, you would expect the team to suck Year 1, be .500-ish Year 2, and make the playoffs Year 3. Ahead of schedule would be making the playoffs Year 2.

 

Consider also that the Bills already improved a lot last season, going 4-4 after starting 0-8. You would think that with another year of experience in Gailey's system, they could get ahead of the .500 pace a bit.

 

Finally, how many times can we really expect this team to start 3-0? How rare is a win over New England? To waste those two things and finish 8-8 would be a bitter pill to swallow.

[Just in Atlanta]

This is a post on immediate solutions to our woes. Drafting is irrelevant for any (longshot) possibility of making the playoffs this year. Spiller/Smith is a legitimate possibility. This team still has a chance.

 

We all know we need to draft more talent next year.

[1B4IDie]

This is a post on immediate solutions to our woes. Drafting is irrelevant for any (longshot) possibility of making the playoffs this year. Spiller/Smith is a legitimate possibility. This team still has a chance.

 

We all know we need to draft more talent next year.

 

The answer for 2011 is go back to using the bunch formation extensively and go back to getting turnovers on defense.

 

If that were an option I would choose that.

 

I didn't chose any option because non of the above would make a significant difference.

Edited November 15, 2011 by Why So Serious?

[silvermike]

We need to get back to our midrange passing game. I think that's what's being taken away right now: Fitz started the year dynamite on those 10-15 yard outs. Now it seems like they've disappeared in favor of this ultrashort game, with inaccurate attempts downfield. I think those short passes aren't going to do it for us alone, and if we're playing inside, we should start relying on our star player: Fred Jackson. Power through on first and second, set up third-and-short situations, and then start using that short game. If we can start drawing 8 in the box, those mid-range passes will re-emerge. Bringing in more tight ends will keep extra DBs off the field, and we can start working Chandler a little further downfield.

[Just in Atlanta]

The answer for 2011 is go back to using the bunch formation extensively and go back to getting turnovers on defense.

 

If that were an option I would choose that.

 

I didn't chose any option because non of the above would make a significant difference.

Fixed. See poll.

 

Seems that's what the Pats did to the Jets to prevent defenders from locking on, so bunch formations seems valid.

 

As for turnovers, that's a result, not a solution. If that were the case, I'd say "score more touchdowns."

Edited November 15, 2011 by JustinAtlanta

[philip316]

When Fred got 114 yards on 13 carries, why do the Bills bother to throw the ball? Buffalo's success was to run right up the gut early in the year. Even Stink on ESPN said our front 3 were mauling guys. I know Woods is out now and he's a great player. Go with what works: give 'em a whopping dose of Fred Jacktastic who gets better the more he touches the ball!

[Just in Atlanta]

You guys are nuts. Spiller and Brad Smith are not the answer here.

Not the answer. A solution.

 

We have one week, two at most, to turn this ship around.

[KOKBILLS]

This Bills have holes and problems on both sides of the Ball...But I think nothing could help more than better Coaching on the Defensive side...And I don't think they have anyone on Staff capable of getting that done currently...The fixes for The Bills are going to start on Week 18...Otherwise known as the off-season...

[reddogblitz]

I don't think Fitz' downfield accuracy is the issue. As I saw it on TV Sunday he threw several long balls. The only bad one was the one where he missed Donald Jones miserably. He hit Spiller and Jones and Johnson in the hands several times on long passes that they just didn't catch. Defense is the main problem obviously. I'd be a proponent of more blitzing. Try to rattle the journeyman Moore and get some picks. Probably the thing that would help our offense the most is for our guys to catch the ball when it hits them in the hands.

 

I'd like to see us come out with the 2 TEs run formation and pound it in and pass off of it some on a series or two, and then come out and run the 5 wide. Mix it up. OK, so they've figured out what we've done the first 9 games. So do something different that at first looks like it's gonna be what we have been doing.

 

Fitz has the 4th highest completion percentage in the NFL behind Rodgers, Brady, and Brees. He's not the problem.

[HeHateMe]

There isn't 1 thing that needs to be done to fix this team. So many holes on both sides of the ball. This is what happens when the defense doesn't force several turnovers per game and when teams have figured out your offense.

[sfladave]

When Fred got 114 yards on 13 carries, why do the Bills bother to throw the ball? Buffalo's success was to run right up the gut early in the year. Even Stink on ESPN said our front 3 were mauling guys. I know Woods is out now and he's a great player. Go with what works: give 'em a whopping dose of Fred Jacktastic who gets better the more he touches the ball!

The Cowboys were playing against the pass for the majority of those yards. While I believe that if the Bills were the ones who jumped ahead 14-0 Fred would have had a field day running up the middle, but the vast majority of plays the Bills ran were passes because they were desperately trying to dig themselves out of an ever widening hole.

 

The Bills did have some early success with running up the middle but I would like to see a lot more sweeps and outside runs, especially against a team like the Jets, who I think is vulnerable to the outside, not the inside like we tried to run on them all day long 2 weeks ago!

[ajzepp]

I'm a long time believer in the Buddy Ryan theory on defense: You always bring one more guy than the offense can account for. I like a high risk, high reward system. We don't really have the talent for it right now due to injuries, but nonetheless the only one of those options that appeals to me would be blitzing. Put Edwards' arse on the bench, tell Wanny to design ten new blitzes before Sunday, and let loose the hounds. I don't care if it's Batten, Moats, one of our CBs off the edge, doesn't matter. But you find a way to get the blitzer into the backfield, ring the QB's bell over and over, and sooner or later we'll get some results.

 

Otherwise I would have liked the two TE set, but with Woods out our running game is going to be a bit handicapped anyway.

[dpberr]

I chose power running game. Beat them mercilessly with running the ball which opens up opportunities to pass. Let's bring back the wishbone offense.

 

 

We have big TEs, one of the better FBs in the game, and one of the best running backs in the game. We should use them.

[tennesseeboy]

power running game for sure. A fullback to hold up the defensive ends and slip away for an occassional dump off or screen and two tight ends. For sure this is the best way to deal with Miami next week. We should hold the ball the way the Jets opened up their game with us. Reggie Bush gets no yardage when he is on the sideline.

[Meark]

I have a few ideas..

 

#1. Move Nelson to the #2 receiver spot and move Roosevelt to the #3 and make Jones #4.. Jones can't seem to catch the ball when it counts..

#2. Blitz more with 5-6 vs trying to get pressure with 3-4.

#3. Stop calling 20+ yard plays on 3rd and less than 5..

#4. Run Fred on 1st down. In the Cowboys game we opened with 3 straight pass attempts.. UGGGGG!!!

[Ozymandius]

I subscribe to the philosophy that when a group or team is failing, the responsibility falls on the shoulder of its leader. For an NFL team, you look at the QB.

 

Fitz has got to play better. I don't think anyone thought that Fitz would ever raise his level of play to the Rodgers / Brady level (at least I hope nobody thought that), but can he please not be a big turd? Especially after signing that big contract.

 

His stats since becoming the $60 million dollar man:

 

2 games, 35 of 62 (56%) completions, 168.5 yards / gm, 2 TDs, 5 INTs

 

Stop playing like a turd, Fitz

[beggar13]

Fire Edwards.

[dickleyjones]

catch the damn ball

[C.Biscuit97]

I subscribe to the philosophy that when a group or team is failing, the responsibility falls on the shoulder of its leader. For an NFL team, you look at the QB.

 

Fitz has got to play better. I don't think anyone thought that Fitz would ever raise his level of play to the Rodgers / Brady level (at least I hope nobody thought that), but can he please not be a big turd? Especially after signing that big contract.

 

His stats since becoming the $60 million dollar man:

 

2 games, 35 of 62 (56%) completions, 168.5 yards / gm, 2 TDs, 5 INTs

 

Stop playing like a turd, Fitz

 

 

Fitz hasn't played good at all the last couple of weeks, but there were plays to be made (Jones and Spiller). Fitz gives his guys a shot to make catches like all good QBs do. A guy liek Dez Bryant was making similar catches to the ones Jones was missing.

 

I really like our receivers but we could use a flat out stud in the AJ Green, Bryant, or Calvin Johnson mode. I hate drafting receivers high but the NFL is a glorified flag football league now, so wrs are more important than ever. I doubt he will be there when we pick, but Justin Blackmon fits that mold to a tee.

[billsfaninva]

Fired Edward

[Jim in Anchorage]

Looks like putting Fitz in a position to collect Van Gogh's backfired. Looked better hungry. To late now. They are human, after all.

[Buffalo Barbarian]

Power ball baby, Nix and Chan talk about being physical and tough and then we play no fullback 5 wide spread offense which is the epitome of soft football and the last two weeks has exposed this weakness.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

You guys are nuts. Spiller and Brad Smith are not the answer here.

 

OK Nancy, you've had your Negative shot, educate the masses: what is the answer here?

[BUFFALOKIE]

I chose power running game. Beat them mercilessly with running the ball which opens up opportunities to pass. Let's bring back the wishbone offense.

 

 

We have big TEs, one of the better FBs in the game, and one of the best running backs in the game. We should use them.

 

That's my vote too! Mack attack!!!! Whoever plays center this week, along with the rest of our OL, should expect a few bruises to their glutes, because unless they get a good push, Mack is gonna shove a charging bison up their....

 

That said, we need to do all of this!!!

 

1)Diversify with a power game--FB and two TEs

2)Give the ball to Fred all day long

3)Blitz like crazy to mask a porous defense

4)Diversify with some play action

5)Open the game up with Spiller and Smith

6)Better downfield accuracy from Fitz

7)Rinse and repeat!!!

Edited November 16, 2011 by Stranger in a Strange Land

[The Dog]

Just Give Fred the Ball

[1B4IDie]

Power ball baby, Nix and Chan talk about being physical and tough and then we play no fullback 5 wide spread offense which is the epitome of soft football and the last two weeks has exposed this weakness.

 

 

That's my vote too! Mack attack!!!! Whoever plays center this week, along with the rest of our OL, should expect a few bruises to their glutes, because unless they get a good push, Mack is gonna shove a charging bison up their....

 

That said, we need to do all of this!!!

 

1)Diversify with a power game--FB and two TEs

2)Give the ball to Fred all day long

3)Blitz like crazy to mask a porous defense

4)Diversify with some play action

5)Open the game up with Spiller and Smith

6)Better downfield accuracy from Fitz

7)Rinse and repeat!!!

 

To run a power running game you need a power o-line.

With Fred Jackson at RB, Levitre at C and McIntyre at FB, you have maybe 3/7th of what you need to run a power running game.

Edited November 16, 2011 by Why So Serious?

[drinkTHEkoolaid]

Donald Jones needs to be upgraded badly. Open things up with a respectable downfield passing attack. And don't abandon the run game too early. Wtf did we sign brad smith and draft CJ for again? Why are they not involved

[BUFFALOKIE]

To run a power running game you need a power o-line.

With Fred Jackson at RB, Levitre at C and McIntyre at FB, you have maybe 3/7th of what you need to run a power running game.

 

I understand that. And to have a pass attack you gotta have pass blockers. What is your vote? Lay down and die?

[boyst]

The problem is as much on defense as anything. We cannot rely on turn overs. We need to rely on solid Lb play. The defense is getting used and abused. As long as teams can run the ball they run our offense. KW AND kelsay being out hurt us. I am starting to think Merrimac had some sort of impact, too

[RuntheDamnBall]

This is not on anyone's radar, but I'd like to see better equipment managers working in conjunction with the trainers. Injuries could be prevented if our guys weren't slipping all over the turf, or were wearing braces when they need to at the line positions, especially. There is really no excuse for our guys slipping and tripping all over their own field, and it's been happening for years. Here's one where either Ralph is cheap, or the team doesn't see the value in finding the very best at this position (for the cost of much less than a league-minimum rookie).

[Just in Atlanta]

This is not on anyone's radar, but I'd like to see better equipment managers working in conjunction with the trainers. Injuries could be prevented if our guys weren't slipping all over the turf, or were wearing braces when they need to at the line positions, especially. There is really no excuse for our guys slipping and tripping all over their own field, and it's been happening for years. Here's one where either Ralph is cheap, or the team doesn't see the value in finding the very best at this position (for the cost of much less than a league-minimum rookie).

Yeah, I think Eric Wood was wearing my grandma's Keds sneakers. That's why he got hurt. Cheap bastards, can't even outfit their players with cleats.

 

Having said that, we do seem to be having an above-average amount of injuries. I'd like to see some data supporting or disproving this.

 

Causes for injuries: Maybe it's a normal amount. Or, maybe, the lockout. Or, other teams have just been tougher. I don't think it's equipment.

[1B4IDie]

I understand that. And to have a pass attack you gotta have pass blockers. What is your vote? Lay down and die?

 

The answer for 2011 is go back to using the bunch formation extensively and go back to getting turnovers on defense.

[greenmohawk]

Somebody shake fitz and tell him to drink a cup of coffee and wake up. Sulking on the bench brings the team down, go talk to your receivers and work out these interception problemos. Fire up!! Our big o-line, and run somebody over. . More wildcat . More short passes to Spiller.

[benderbender]

catch the damn ball

 

And I see people wanting to get T.O. He taught Stevie how to drop passes

[boyst]

This is not on anyone's radar, but I'd like to see better equipment managers working in conjunction with the trainers. Injuries could be prevented if our guys weren't slipping all over the turf, or were wearing braces when they need to at the line positions, especially. There is really no excuse for our guys slipping and tripping all over their own field, and it's been happening for years. Here's one where either Ralph is cheap, or the team doesn't see the value in finding the very best at this position (for the cost of much less than a league-minimum rookie).

Don't.forget that it is not Ralph who buys the field. The county does.

[PDaDdy]

The answer is simple but it won't help us this year.

 

We lost our top 3 speed burners at WR so we have no true deep speed threats (4.3 speed accept no substitute). The WRs we have left are having trouble beating press coverage that defenses seem to be using on us to screw up our timing and delay routes. Our line can't hold up long enough to account for the screwed up timing and delayed routes.

 

On top of that our line is getting even worse due to injury. They are not capable of a power running game if we even tried. All of our RBs not named Fred Jackson COMBINED average 2.8 carries a game. This is despite the fact that Spiller has a 6.3yds/carry average vs Freddy's 5.6 yds/carry. Both are GREAT numbers but for some reason Spiller gets approximately 2 carries for an entire freaking game. You can't run a power running game with that kind of disparity. Freddy wouldn't last the year.

 

What does that leave us with for this year? In all likelihood a lot of disappointment. Doing anything different is better than the results we have had the last 2 weeks. Try to run the ball more but use all of our backs not just beat the crap out of Freddy. Try going back to those stacked WR formations that allowed some of our guys to get off the line clean avoiding the press.

 

OH....how about this? NEVER NEVER NEVER come to the line with an empty backfield formation. NEVER!!! We give away TOO much presnap information and teams figured out how to beat our empty backfield set. Instead set the RB behind the QB. See what the defense gives you AND THEN if appropriate motion the RB out to a WR spot to see how the defense reacts to get some presnap information. Make every play look the same and then motion people to their eventual spots to see how the defense reacts.

 

Donald Jones needs to be upgraded badly. Open things up with a respectable downfield passing attack. And don't abandon the run game too early. Wtf did we sign brad smith and draft CJ for again? Why are they not involved

 

I seem to recall some Lee guy that was better and faster than Donald "Stone Hands" Jones.

Edited November 17, 2011 by PDaDdy