Some thoughts.

[Coach Tuesday]

If today was one thing, it was a microcosm of much of the season - esp. the early part of the season. I think we'd all agree that we lost today because of the same weaknesses we all have been aware of, and worried about. Putting aside some weird freelancing by the d-line which resulted in giving up some big chunks of yardage on the ground, I think this loss really came down to a few simple concepts.

 

First off, obviously, Bledsoe has taken too many hits in his career. IT'S OBVIOUS. When does he struggle? Against teams that pressure consistently up the middle. Watching him today, you just could tell he was nervous as hell out there. He threw a ton of passes too early, falling backwards, shying away from the often phantom rush. There are a few things you can do to remedy this sort of problem, should you choose to do so (personally I would choose to just cut bait, move on, and stop trying to hinge an entire franchise/city's hopes on one washed up headcase):

 

1) beef up the interior o-line to prevent the bullrush

2) give him lots of options over the middle of the field where the blitzes are coming from - as in a capable TE, slot receiver, backs slipping out to catch passes, etc.

3) throw long early and often to loosen up the D

 

For whatever reason, NONE of these things were done today. Number (1) is really more of a personnel issue, and I'm sure it's priority #1 for Donahoe this offseason. Our guard play was TERRIBLE today. Tucker got bowled over multiple times, and when Villareal left, it was just a massacre in the trenches. This should've been addressed last offseason - you just don't protect a shellshocked QB like Bledsoe with inferior guards. You can bet, also, that this weakness would have been exploited fatally in the playoffs. There is no way this interior line would've stood up on the road against heavy blitzing by Belicheck's or even Wade's squads. No way.

 

Number 2 above is combined personnel/coaching. People have been saying for weeks here that we need a solid TE and they're right - how do you not give a guy like Bledsoe a go-to TE, or at least a solid slot receiver? It's just baffling. Clearly, Josh Reed isn't the answer, either - what a disgrace. A total bust. There is NOTHING over the middle in this offense, which just exacerbates Bledsoe's weaknesses.

 

As for the third one, I just have to think that the coaches called deep routes that the line's poor protection prevented the offense from executing. Anyway, it's not as important as 1 or 2 - you don't need to throw long if you have the right personnel to win with a short passing attack. For example, Pittsburgh won today without throwing long.

 

Finally, it's also obvious that Lindell is a liability. What irks me about it is that he's also overpaid - which means Donahoe is unlikely to admit that he's a problem. But, those of us who've watched this year know that his stats are misleading - he misses some really easy kicks, and the coaches have shown that they aren't sold on him by vastly limiting the opportunities he's given, more often electing to punt than go for a 46+ fieldgoal. Obviously, Donahoe understands the importance of special teams, so why he would neglect the one aspect of special teams that has the opportunity to produce points is beyond me. We all knew Lindell was gonna cost us a game or two sometime, let's be honest - no one here is surprised.

[deep2evans]

If today was one thing, it was a microcosm of much of the season - esp. the early part of the season.  I think we'd all agree that we lost today because of the same weaknesses we all have been aware of, and worried about.  Putting aside some weird freelancing by the d-line which resulted in giving up some big chunks of yardage on the ground, I think this loss really came down to a few simple concepts.

 

First off, obviously, Bledsoe has taken too many hits in his career.  IT'S OBVIOUS.  When does he struggle?  Against teams that pressure consistently up the middle.  Watching him today, you just could tell he was nervous as hell out there.  He threw a ton of passes too early, falling backwards, shying away from the often phantom rush.  There are a few things you can do to remedy this sort of problem, should you choose to do so (personally I would choose to just cut bait, move on, and stop trying to hinge an entire franchise/city's hopes on one washed up headcase):

 

1) beef up the interior o-line to prevent the bullrush

2) give him lots of options over the middle of the field where the blitzes are coming from - as in a capable TE, slot receiver, backs slipping out to catch passes, etc.

3) throw long early and often to loosen up the D

 

For whatever reason, NONE of these things were done today.  Number (1) is really more of a personnel issue, and I'm sure it's priority #1 for Donahoe this offseason.  Our guard play was TERRIBLE today.  Tucker got bowled over multiple times, and when Villareal left, it was just a massacre in the trenches.  This should've been addressed last offseason - you just don't protect a shellshocked QB like Bledsoe with inferior guards.  You can bet, also, that this weakness would have been exploited fatally in the playoffs.  There is no way this interior line would've stood up on the road against heavy blitzing by Belicheck's or even Wade's squads.  No way.

 

Number 2 above is combined personnel/coaching.  People have been saying for weeks here that we need a solid TE and they're right - how do you not give a guy like Bledsoe a go-to TE, or at least a solid slot receiver?  It's just baffling.  Clearly, Josh Reed isn't the answer, either - what a disgrace.  A total bust.  There is NOTHING over the middle in this offense, which just exacerbates Bledsoe's weaknesses.

 

As for the third one, I just have to think that the coaches called deep routes that the line's poor protection prevented the offense from executing.  Anyway, it's not as important as 1 or 2 - you don't need to throw long if you have the right personnel to win with a short passing attack.  For example, Pittsburgh won today without throwing long.

 

Finally, it's also obvious that Lindell is a liability.  What irks me about it is that he's also overpaid - which means Donahoe is unlikely to admit that he's a problem.  But, those of us who've watched this year know that his stats are misleading - he misses some really easy kicks, and the coaches have shown that they aren't sold on him by vastly limiting the opportunities he's given, more often electing to punt than go for a 46+ fieldgoal.  Obviously, Donahoe understands the importance of special teams, so why he would neglect the one aspect of special teams that has the opportunity to produce points is beyond me.  We all knew Lindell was gonna cost us a game or two sometime, let's be honest - no one here is surprised.

189508[/snapback]

 

good post. right on. my only comment is that losing our #1 and #2 TE's hurts more than we think.

[SilverNRed]

Bledsoe, Reed, and Lindell were my three goats as well.

 

Reed and Lindell are both complete wastes of space while Bledsoe can't win a big game to save his life. You can't win a Super Bowl if your QB can't perform at all against NE and Pittsburgh. You don't expect him to have his best game against teams like that but he can't crumble the way he did.

[Turf Toejam]

excellent analysis-----was looking forward to your take on the game.

[Formerly Allan in MD]

You are absolutely right about going over the middle. The Bills Super Bowl teams always had that threat and effectively used it. The problem with Bledsoe, as you say, is that if they don't come up the middle, they'll come from elsewhere; but they will come. No coach worth his salt would/should hesitate to take advantage of DB's glaring weaknesses.

 

The sooner we get rid of DB, the better. And I'm not suggesting that Losman is the answer, yet. TD has to bite the bullet and admit he made a mistake. If you invest everything in figuring out how to protect Drew, you are going to short change yourself in other areas. Let's move on.

[c-biscut]

Maybe if we had one of our top two tight ends avaialble things may have been different.

[ExiledInIllinois]

Very good analysis.

 

In a way I am glad it is over... The Bills O would have looked horrible in the PO's.

[rastabillz]

Great analysis. I used to be a big Josh Reed supporter but he has vanished from this offense. The lack of a credible slot receiver after Cambell got hurt really limited Drews effectiveness. Cambell was really coming on before he got injured. I think today Sam Aiken passed Josh on the depth chart and he may not be long for this team.