White Linen Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 I think most would categorize the 2015 Buffalo Bills as a team without a QB - meaning a "franchise QB" or in other words having one that has proven they can consistently be relied on to win games. Clearly we understand what they're doing - they attempting to win with a strong defense and running game. It's a passing league, right? The league has clearly embraced this trend in many ways by protecting QB's and defenseless receivers. Just to be clear I'm not necessarily speaking against any of that. But the rules, height of receivers, coordinators mindsets, etc have created this pass and how to stop it phenomenon. Not a whole lot has changed in terms of opportunity to run the ball. Maybe in the midst of conceding to not having a QB a new trend is about to start. Maybe teams will find out through the 2015 Bills that it's actually not prudent to keep looking for a franchise QB or even pay one if you do get one. We've seen the diminished importance of paying RB's and not too long ago teams spent a lot of resources trying to find a running back, then they just stopped. We've seen teams with franchise QB's that have had to pay a huge salary to that QB - to only watch their teams fall apart. I think it's possible the Bills are creating not only another way to win - but THE new way to win. Stop the teams that have built around their QB and destroy the teams without one because that's all they've tried to do. Remember when the team that had the ball the most usually won the game (time of possession)? I think we'll do that too. In my opinion teams that throw the ball will be the only ones with a chance to beat us and that's going to be an uphill battle. I think we're going to create panic because they'll start to figure out it's going to be a while until they see the ball again. Am I delusional? Or do the non national headline signings like Felton and Connor once again become the way to win in the NFL? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 (edited) Two of the best RBs in the league were traded/let walk from their last teams. Connor and Felton will bounce around the league for a few more years. The Bills were 2nd in the league in rushing with a pretty good defense 2 years ago and they still couldn't win. I don't think they have invented anything.... Edited June 14, 2015 by Mr. WEO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Linen Posted June 14, 2015 Author Share Posted June 14, 2015 Two of the best RBs in the league were traded/let walk from their last teams. Connor and Felton will bounce around the league for a few more years. The Bills were 2nd in the league in rushing with a pretty good defense 2 years ago and they still couldn't win. I don't think they have invented anything.... I think you'll agree we're a much different team than a couple years ago as our overall talent has significantly developed and been added upon. We ran the ball well but didn't stop the run - so we often didn't win that battle. I think there's been a concerted focus on building the team. I understand we've looked for a QB but without knowing it I think we could be creating the new way to win among the teams with the QB situation defined. I don't think we invented anything but trending back to an old way to win. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 I think you'll agree we're a much different team than a couple years ago as our overall talent has significantly developed and been added upon. We ran the ball well but didn't stop the run - so we often didn't win that battle. I think there's been a concerted focus on building the team. I understand we've looked for a QB but without knowing it I think we could be creating the new way to win among the teams with the QB situation defined. I don't think we invented anything but trending back to an old way to win. If we were much better against the run in 2013, I still don't see a winning record then. As for this year, it's not clear how far a run first offense will take them, no matter who is now on the roster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Nice topic and I certainly HOPE you're on to something. I've thought for a while the contrarian has a general advantage. As rosters get built with LB's like Kiko, smash mouth becomes more sensible. Still, the league slants everything towards passing and more scoring. This should be interesting, because there's only a handful of franchise QB's, and a lot of them are aging. Things do go in cycles, but the league wants an exciting game. And the high cost of the franchise QB would prohibit us from having the talented roster we can currently line up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boyst Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 I think what you're looking at more simply put is a strong defense that can keep the offense off the field, a defense that can generate turnovers, and stop offenses gives the ball to the offense which can move the ball with skillset plaers and control the clock with a running game. A mauling offense that has speed in the specialty positions and designed to feature maulers on the line will benefit from a defense that is designed by Rex Ryan and hopefully a bit of what we saw under Schwartz and less of that Pettine. Schwartz created a unit that swarms across the field, Pettine created a defensive backfield unit that was given complete control of the field, and Ryan will utilize the best of both of those to let his LB's clean everything in between. I have agreed for a while with your premise. We are on the verge of a run the ball down your throat league. More aggressive pass rushers on the line, tackling fundamentals fading, no hit zones, bigger CB's (yes, bigger is a bad thing on a CB when it comes to stopping the run, bigger target to block); everything that the league is turning in to is just going to make guys like Blount and big runners valuable. Guys like Peterson and Morris continue to be top level backs. Guys like McCoy and Forte solid level contributors that defenses cannot keep up with. And now that we have Felton and possibly Connor, too we have the lead blocker that teams are not accustomed to dealing with and we're going to hit people in the mouth. I can't wait. I literally cannot wait to see the playbook of this team. If it sucks I might just have to write the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevestojan Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Tl;dr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It's in My Blood Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Two of the best RBs in the league were traded/let walk from their last teams. Connor and Felton will bounce around the league for a few more years. The Bills were 2nd in the league in rushing with a pretty good defense 2 years ago and they still couldn't win. I don't think they have invented anything.... The only trend is that you need to have a quarterback that doesn't kill drives. Everything obviously hinges on that position this year. If whoever starts, hopefully Manuel, gives at least average play, we'll win the East, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireChan Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 I don't know how much a new "trend" it is to have a great defense and great running game; thus, win more games. The Bengals and their ilk want both of those things as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 A great QB has never ever won anything without a great supporting cast, great coaching, great organization and a schit-ton of luck. I don't think it has ever happened. So many things have to come together at the same time for any team to win it all that even if the Bills had this miraculous run and against 50-1 odds won the Super Bowl it wouldn't be a blueprint for other teams to follow. It's as hard to build an across the board solid team with solid coaching and solid management and solid ownership as the Bills have this year as it is to find a franchise QB. There are a very limited number. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Tl;dr Bills:bully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beef Jerky Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 (edited) If the Bills win it won't be a trend. It will be like other teams that have won without a QB, good coaching and defensive talent. Those aren't trends, they can't be trends b.c they are rare occurrences that only come together with smart ownership thar hires the right coach at the right tim, and a good GM. Edited June 14, 2015 by Beef Jerky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 I believe the OP is on to something. In our last SB year ('93) there were 8 future QB HOFers starting in the League. More to the point, were the '2 tier' guys like Phil Simms, Randall Cunningham, Esiason, Krieg & McMahon. I don't even count Hostetler or Rypien, 1-hit Wonders of our nightmares. I think there may be 4 now, with Brees & Luck TBD. But todays' 2nd Tier? Matty Ice, Flacco, Romo and Cam -among others-are all $100M players, eating nearly 20% of their teams Cap. Something's gotta give. It's an interesting dycotomy that the League enhanced the game to showcase the players of yore, only to see an alarming drop off in quality play from the position. I think it's logical to build a stronger team around average QB play today. I lament the impending death of the great QB's. http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/qb1993 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juice_32 Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Two of the best RBs in the league were traded/let walk from their last teams. Connor and Felton will bounce around the league for a few more years. The Bills were 2nd in the league in rushing with a pretty good defense 2 years ago and they still couldn't win. I don't think they have invented anything.... It's not about inventing anything and that's not what the OP implied at all. But as your usual shtick dictates you put words in his mouth. That's like saying you invented playing the devils advocated on a fine line that is border line trolling. You didn't...it's just how you choose to play the game. It's called a trend not an invention. Certainly there is more passing right now. As such teams are more often built to stop the pass. If the o-line can figure it out and Roman can keep defenses on their toes just enough with the pass...we will be a team that opposing teams hate to play. Other teams haven't hated to play us for a long time. That alone will be an upgrade and fun to watch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 Two of the best RBs in the league were traded/let walk from their last teams. Connor and Felton will bounce around the league for a few more years. The Bills were 2nd in the league in rushing with a pretty good defense 2 years ago and they still couldn't win. I don't think they have invented anything.... It's amazing to me that we had the no 2 rushing game a few years ago. My sense is that that was the case, but that we were really inefficient running the ball. Would like to see our YPC that year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOUSE Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 The quarterback bashing in buffalo is way out of control in the national and local media. EJ could easily step up and be the guy, Cassel won 11 games in New England Taylor was hand picked by Rex.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Bills Fan Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 (edited) I think most would categorize the 2015 Buffalo Bills as a team without a QB - meaning a "franchise QB" or in other words having one that has proven they can consistently be relied on to win games. Clearly we understand what they're doing - they attempting to win with a strong defense and running game. It's a passing league, right? The league has clearly embraced this trend in many ways by protecting QB's and defenseless receivers. Just to be clear I'm not necessarily speaking against any of that. But the rules, height of receivers, coordinators mindsets, etc have created this pass and how to stop it phenomenon. Not a whole lot has changed in terms of opportunity to run the ball. Maybe in the midst of conceding to not having a QB a new trend is about to start. Maybe teams will find out through the 2015 Bills that it's actually not prudent to keep looking for a franchise QB or even pay one if you do get one. We've seen the diminished importance of paying RB's and not too long ago teams spent a lot of resources trying to find a running back, then they just stopped. We've seen teams with franchise QB's that have had to pay a huge salary to that QB - to only watch their teams fall apart. I think it's possible the Bills are creating not only another way to win - but THE new way to win. Stop the teams that have built around their QB and destroy the teams without one because that's all they've tried to do. Remember when the team that had the ball the most usually won the game (time of possession)? I think we'll do that too. In my opinion teams that throw the ball will be the only ones with a chance to beat us and that's going to be an uphill battle. I think we're going to create panic because they'll start to figure out it's going to be a while until they see the ball again. Am I delusional? Or do the non national headline signings like Felton and Connor once again become the way to win in the NFL? It depends upon whether or not the Bills actually win Quietly, though, run-heavy teams without a fantastic QB have been going deep into the playoffs for a few years now. San Francisco, Seattle....Wilson is not Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers. Edited June 14, 2015 by Hopeful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What a Tuel Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 (edited) It's amazing to me that we had the no 2 rushing game a few years ago. My sense is that that was the case, but that we were really inefficient running the ball. Would like to see our YPC that year. http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/rushing/year/2013 Looks like Jackson was 4.3 and Spiller was 4.6. They combined (890+933) for 1,823 total rushing yards. Manuel and Choice amongst a few others rounded up the rest of the 2,307 total rushing yards. http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2013.htm In 2012 we were 6th in rushing with 2,207 total rushing yards. http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/rushing/year/2012 In 2014? 25th with 1,482 yards. Spiller getting injured didn't help, or Fred for that matter, but our offense was so bad in all aspects last year. http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/rushing Edited June 14, 2015 by What a Tuel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 So the OP is, roughly, arguing that the bills are inventing the Seahawks method? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattM Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 So the OP is, roughly, arguing that the bills are inventing the Seahawks method? I'm not sure that posters here are giving Russell Wilson enough credit. He may not be Manning, Brady or Rogers (or even Luck), but he's a gamer with the ability to hurt you with his arm, legs and head. If we could find someone half as good as he is, all elements considered, I think we win the East. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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