My Thoughts Got Blown Up......

[MDH]

No they aren't, but for the most important position on the field -- QB. Otherwise, the Bills are just as talented top to bottom.

 

I'd say this is pretty accurate. Switch QBs and the score would be very different. The one thing this Bills D has done well is get after the QB and if we had a QB who could consistently give them a lead it would be a different story.

[Bill from NYC]

The score didn't reflect the game imo. I assume that Hughes chasing a wideout was breakdown. Things like this happen. Aside from that, I thought that the coverage was decent. The fact is that Brees was on fire. He felt some pressure and again, the coverage wasn't SO bad.

Put Brees on the Bills and they are as good as the Saints, or at least close to it.

[thebandit27]

The score didn't reflect the game imo. I assume that Hughes chasing a wideout was breakdown. Things like this happen. Aside from that, I thought that the coverage was decent. The fact is that Brees was on fire. He felt some pressure and again, the coverage wasn't SO bad.

Put Brees on the Bills and they are as good as the Saints, or at least close to it.

 

From what I could tell, the Hughes-Stills play was a package blitz that called for Hughes to drop off if a WR ran into his zone (usually, this is a concept the team runs with Manny Lawson, since his coverage skills are above average for a LB). The outside DBs were in man-man, so Gilmore went with No. 1 when he stemmed his route inside, leaving Hughes to trail Stills on the wheel route.

 

Overall, it seemed like Brees' plan all game long was to throw to the side of the field away from Gilmore. Worked like a charm when we couldn't get to him.

[OldTimer1960]

Robert Woods- I think he's going to be a good one, but he's been MIA of late. We need more out of him now.

 

Goodwin- a couple of really nice grabs. Wasn't sure what to expect from him, but I've been pleasantly surprised by him so far.

 

Lewis- the kid is tough, but he really needs to take care of the ball better. I think he's put the ball on the carpet 5x over the last 3 weeks. His pocoket awareness isn't particularly good, IMO, which contributes to some of the shots he takes.

 

FJ - great 1Q, but ineffective thereafter. By all accounts, he's a good guy and teammate, but, IMO, he's best used as a situational, change-of-pace back.

 

Alonso - better than he was against CIN and MIA, but he still wasn't great today, especially relative to the way he played to start the season.

 

Robey - I think he'll be a solid 3/4 CB in the NFL, but he had a rough one today. The Stills TD and the pass that went right through his hands were huge plays that majorly impacted the outcome.

 

Why does it seem like opposing TEs either plow over or drag forward our Safeties, but Chandler gets tossed around by opposing safeties?

 

Lawson's absence was huge. I hope to see Hughes drop back in coverage as infrequently as possible for the rest of the year.

 

NE/MIA was like a TOR/BOS hockey game - I was desperately hoping for both teams to lose.

 

I love this team's fight and toughness - I haven't seen those traits out of a Bills team in years. We're getting there...

 

I think that Hughes is getting too much blame for coverage problems. There was a schematic problem or a missed assignment in the case where he ended up chasing Stills deep. It isn't reasonable to expect a de/pass rush LB to cover a WR - just about no LB could have covered that guy well.

 

I thought Robey was fine - had great coverage and on one TD he just couldn't make the play on the ball - perfect pass. On the deep TD, I think he wag outsized in spite of good coverage - that is why he was not drafted. Think he is a nice depth guy, but his size is a limiter

[thebandit27]

I think that Hughes is getting too much blame for coverage problems. There was a schematic problem or a missed assignment in the case where he ended up chasing Stills deep. It isn't reasonable to expect a de/pass rush LB to cover a WR - just about no LB could have covered that guy well.

 

I thought Robey was fine - had great coverage and on one TD he just couldn't make the play on the ball - perfect pass. On the deep TD, I think he wag outsized in spite of good coverage - that is why he was not drafted. Think he is a nice depth guy, but his size is a limiter

 

Like I said above, this is a concept the team runs fairly often with Manny Lawson (it lead to the Jim Leonhard INT against Cincinnati when Lawson blasted Tyler Eifert coming off the line). Obviously, with him out of the line-up, Hughes was the option-rusher yesterday and failed miserably on his assignment. Bad coaching decision and bad execution make for big plays against.

[K-9]

I think that Hughes is getting too much blame for coverage problems. There was a schematic problem or a missed assignment in the case where he ended up chasing Stills deep. It isn't reasonable to expect a de/pass rush LB to cover a WR - just about no LB could have covered that guy well.

 

I thought Robey was fine - had great coverage and on one TD he just couldn't make the play on the ball - perfect pass. On the deep TD, I think he wag outsized in spite of good coverage - that is why he was not drafted. Think he is a nice depth guy, but his size is a limiter

 

When I first saw it, I thought it was a blown coverage as well, but it was schemed that way intentionally. Gotta give Payton credit for that call and Brees for making it work. They took advantage of the mismatch with Hughes.

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

Like I said above, this is a concept the team runs fairly often with Manny Lawson (it lead to the Jim Leonhard INT against Cincinnati when Lawson blasted Tyler Eifert coming off the line). Obviously, with him out of the line-up, Hughes was the option-rusher yesterday and failed miserably on his assignment. Bad coaching decision and bad execution make for big plays against.

 

^This. I mentioned we missed Lawson a TON yesterday and someone suggested otherwise and said that Hughes actually made a great case to take Manny's job. Sorry, but I like Hughes as a pass rusher only.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[GG]

I'd only add that if you were Bill from NC the title of this thread would be "My Thoughts Done Got Blowed Up."

 

Funny, but I know a former journalist from NC who abhors the term "Blowed Up"

[Coach Tuesday]

From what I could tell, the Hughes-Stills play was a package blitz that called for Hughes to drop off if a WR ran into his zone (usually, this is a concept the team runs with Manny Lawson, since his coverage skills are above average for a LB). The outside DBs were in man-man, so Gilmore went with No. 1 when he stemmed his route inside, leaving Hughes to trail Stills on the wheel route.

 

Overall, it seemed like Brees' plan all game long was to throw to the side of the field away from Gilmore. Worked like a charm when we couldn't get to him.

 

I don't see how the mistake wasn't on Byrd. He drifted to the side of the field that had one Saints WR (who was well-covered), and vacated the side of the field where there were two Saints WRs, one of whom had a linebacker on him...

[thebandit27]

I don't see how the mistake wasn't on Byrd. He drifted to the side of the field that had one Saints WR (who was well-covered), and vacated the side of the field where there were two Saints WRs, one of whom had a linebacker on him...

 

You could well be correct...I haven't seen a good cut of the play that includes Byrd. All I could gather was based on the initial coverage concept.

 

If what you're saying is accurate, and I have no reason to believe it isn't, then I can't understand why Byrd would drift toward McKelvin when Hughes was singled up on a WR.

[BobChalmers]

5) Hughes was given more playing time and he rewarded us with some great QB pressure. But he is not a cover LB.

 

 

Really showed how important Lawson can be to this defense - great FA acquisition.

Edited October 28, 2013 by BobChalmers

[Noodlearm]

If the Qbs switched teams, score would be reversed or even more in Bills favor. Shows value of recognizing Talent at the QB position and not to belabor the obvious, one of the main reasons we're in the situation weve been in, seems like forever.

 

I like EJ too and hope he is the answer but he is still unproven. Lewis may be a good backup, hoepfully a better backup than Fitz has proven to be (and he was our franchise QB!!!).

[eball]

If the Qbs switched teams, score would be reversed or even more in Bills favor. Shows value of recognizing Talent at the QB position and not to belabor the obvious, one of the main reasons we're in the situation weve been in, seems like forever.

 

I like EJ too and hope he is the answer but he is still unproven. Lewis may be a good backup, hoepfully a better backup than Fitz has proven to be (and he was our franchise QB!!!).

 

Sorry to belabor this point, but the Bills never tagged Fitz as a "franchise QB" and he wasn't paid as one. His contract extension was essentially two 3-year deals, for middle-tier starting QB money, and the plan was for him to hold down the fort until the Bills found their franchise QB in the draft. The contract was offered at a time when Fitz had completed a 16-game run of above-average play. And then he stunk.

[metzelaars_lives]

I tried to save them, but they are in cyberspace, and I don't have time to re-write them. But I will say this.....

 

1) I blasted Marrone last week, and I won't back down. I don't mind consensus disagreement, nor even personal insults lol. I think that he needs work on challenges and especially clock management. That said, this team fights back. I didn't notice one player quitting. The truth is that I am, and will be a Bills Fan under any and all conditions. But if I am going to blast him, I want to also credit him big time about the players not letting up.

 

2) Thad Lewis was exposed today. He was hurt, under some pressure, and he is inexperienced. But, he lacks touch. Again, I hope that they utilize his ability to run. There now seems to be very little to lose.

 

3) Go Bills!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Didn't like either of the challenges but I really hope people aren't going to start saying that we should have run the clock out with 4 minutes left in the first half...

[maddenboy]

Robert Woods- I think he's going to be a good one, but he's been MIA of late. We need more out of him now.

 

 

We like Woods because he gets open. We like Stevie because of what he is supposed to be able to do after the catch.

 

EJ liked Woods because he gets open. It looks like Thad likes Stevie because . . . he's stevie. We have all seen Thad lock onto one receiver until he gets open. I think this is why it seems Woods is MIA. Havent seen the All-22 but I bet Woods still gets open.

[Bill from NYC]

Havent seen the All-22 but I bet Woods still gets open.

 

I thought so too. I am not at all worried about Woods. In fact, he looked frustrated on a play or 2. He is going to be an important part of the foundation of this football team.

Goodwin was very impressive. On one particular catch he looked like he had soft hands. If this is the case, he has the potential to be a star.

 

The Bills have talent. I am sure of this. A draft as good as 2013 would be a lot to expect, but if they can even approach it, they will be contenders IF EJ develops into a good quarterback. He doesn't have to be great. Dalton isn't.

 

Just imagine this roster with another pass rushing DE, some help at Guard, another linebacker, and most of all a better than average quarterback! We might not be that far away. I just hope that Pettine stays around for a while.

[yungmack]

We like Woods because he gets open. We like Stevie because of what he is supposed to be able to do after the catch.

 

EJ liked Woods because he gets open. It looks like Thad likes Stevie because . . . he's stevie. We have all seen Thad lock onto one receiver until he gets open. I think this is why it seems Woods is MIA. Havent seen the All-22 but I bet Woods still gets open.

Woods is having the same QB problem TJ had with EJ.

[Rob's House]

 

 

Did he have any holes to run through?

 

I really think this offseason we need to look to upgrade our O Line.

 

I couldn't tell if it was poor line play or if the defense just fully committed to the run, but it seemed like Jackson & Choice both had someone in their face as soon as they touched the ball.

[Tcali]

I don't know, man.

He's got significant accuracy issues and doesn't have a great feel for what's going on immediately around him.

I agree that he's played beyond expectations but I have my doubts about him being a primary backup in this league.

 

oh I thought u were talking about EJ

[Dibs]

No they aren't, but for the most important position on the field -- QB. Otherwise, the Bills are just as talented top to bottom. We were playing with a 3rd string QB for crying out loud, and without our most explosive weapon.

 

I watched this game with two well-versed Saints fans -- they were worried during the 2nd quarter, and even after the Bills scored to make it 28-17. They both told me this is all about Brees, and that the Saints just find ways to win at home. Both were impressed with how the Bills played and commented about how a couple of key plays made the difference.

 

The rest of the world doesn't view the Bills as negatively as most on this board. I know your post wasn't negative, but I'm tired of reading how the Bills aren't talented. They are, and it's showing itself each week.

 

I think that there is little doubt that if we were playing with Brees as our QB & the Saints had Lewis as theirs......we would have won the game. Furthermore, I tend to think that we would be at least 7-1 on the season if we had Brees playing on the Bills each week.

 

People knock the Offense, the Defense, the Coaches, the Players and Special Teams.......but put a star QB on this team and we are a legitimate contender in today's NFL.

Edited October 29, 2013 by Dibs

[HurlyBurly51]

I just hope that Pettine stays around for a while.

 

I'm not worried about it. I think this is a self perpetuated worry. While the defense is far and away better to watch than last year, their overall rankings still in the bottom third of the league. I don't see other teams fighting each other to get at him, at least not this year.