I am still concerned about this offense

[ganesh]

In spite of the win, there are still too many inconsistencies on the execution of this offense.

 

1. Play calling appears still bizarre..

2. No Watkins in the 2nd half on consecutive games now.

3. No true 2nd WR. Woods has been a disappointment. Losing Harvin was a big blow and the team did not have a backup plan

4. Clay needs to be more involved.

5. No bubble screens in the play book?

6. short-yard situations. We seems to keep missing critical 3rd and short situations.

7. When game is on the line, we don't see to have the ability to run out the clock.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

1. I like Roman's run game but he has a very limited and basic passing attack, IMO.

2. See number one. After halftime, teams adjust. They need to find a way to get him open.

3. Agree.

4. Roman seems to use clay based on game plan, not necessity. I'm okay with this. He needs to make third down catches and be a force in the RZ.

5. Agree.

6. Play calling here has been questionable all year. They need to be able to line up and move the LOS. Missing Karlos has not helped.

7. Karlos again. I think he will be an excellence handcuff to McCoy in the 4th. He will wear down defenses and punish tacklers. Those extra few yards are crucial.

 

 

Pretty solid points. I'd like to see them bring in someone offensively to try and develop a better, more sophisticated route combinations. It seems like our passing offense has been, "Hey, throw it up to Sammy" and it has worked thus far. However, when teams take that away, we need a counter move. Motions, rubs, formations, alignments, etc.

[ganesh]

1. I like Roman's run game but he has a very limited and basic passing attack, IMO.

2. See number one. After halftime, teams adjust. They need to find a way to get him open.

3. Agree.

4. Roman seems to use clay based on game plan, not necessity. I'm okay with this. He needs to make third down catches and be a force in the RZ.

5. Agree.

6. Play calling here has been questionable all year. They need to be able to line up and move the LOS. Missing Karlos has not helped.

7. Karlos again. I think he will be an excellence handcuff to McCoy in the 4th. He will wear down defenses and punish tacklers. Those extra few yards are crucial.

 

 

Pretty solid points. I'd like to see them bring in someone offensively to try and develop a better, more sophisticated route combinations. It seems like our passing offense has been, "Hey, throw it up to Sammy" and it has worked thus far. However, when teams take that away, we need a counter move. Motions, rubs, formations, alignments, etc.

And they did that a lot when they had Karlos WIlliams out of the backfield. They were throwing screens to Percy Harvin. Once both have gone, the short passing game has gone away.

[NoSaint]

Phrases like no backup plan for when there's any drop off from starter to backup bug me sometimes. Robert woods is having a rocky stretch but he's as talented a #3 and backup plan as you can get - even if he's not Percy harvin in his healthy prime.

[stevestojan]

Phrases like no backup plan for when there's any drop off from starter to backup bug me sometimes. Robert woods is having a rocky stretch but he's as talented a #3 and backup plan as you can get - even if he's not Percy harvin in his healthy prime.

Yep. You can't have 4 #1s at every position.

[nucci]

I'd be more concerned about the defense. Offense looks ok, not great but Taylor, McCoy, Clay, and Sammy are making plays.

[stevestojan]

I'd be more concerned about the defense. Offense looks ok, not great but Taylor, McCoy, Clay, and Sammy are making plays.

Each has shown signs of greatness though (shady and Sammy more so) and when was the last time we could even say that at those 4 key positions?

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Kind of surprised at the timing of this post. We just laid a beat down on one of the best defenses in the league.

 

The only time any of the drives stalled was when we dropped passes or committed bad penalties-- very correctable mistakes.

 

I think what you have seen is this team is going to run the ball 20 different ways and then back you off with deep throws. A pretty effective offense, considering we have one good receiver and a raw QB.

[Billsfan1972]

I forgot that harvin was thrown screens and passes at the line of scrimmage but the bills can't figure out to throw those to watkins. This is just ridiculous.

 

2 passes the second half the last two tight games is just wrong.

 

NE bills got the ball with 2 minutes and drove 30 yards in that time.

 

Vs. KC again the ball again with a chance and went nowhere (jax too)

 

Short yardage calls terrible too.

[goldenboy81]

Kind of surprised at the timing of this post. We just laid a beat down on one of the best defenses in the league.

 

The only time any of the drives stalled was when we dropped passes or committed bad penalties-- very correctable mistakes.

 

I think what you have seen is this team is going to run the ball 20 different ways and then back you off with deep throws. A pretty effective offense, considering we have one good receiver and a raw QB.

Great points JR... Agree 100%

[Jobu]

Everyone that keeps griping about the way Roman calls a passing game realize that Sanjay Lal and David Lee are our passing game coordinators right?

[Mark80]

We just put up 30 points and 390 yards against a defense that had allowed 35 points TOTAL in the previous 4 games and no more than 268 yards in any of those games. A lot of people just can never be satisfied I guess.

Edited December 9, 2015 by Mark80

[DC Greg]

We're definitely seeing the same things OP. I'm encouraged by the progress we've seen over the course of the year considering all the injuries. It's a whole new system, new coaches, new QB... it takes time to get it down. But things are coming along, and a HUGE part of that has been Shady's ability to establish the running game for us. Really cannot overstate how much of a difference that has made to this offense. That was an amazing trade on Whaley's part (although I'm kind of wishing we had given them Woods instead of Alonso).

 

I'm also baffled that we don't try bubble screens to Sammy... at all. He gets a cushion from corners on a lot of plays. There should just be some sort of audible system where on first or second down,Tyrod has the option to check it to a screen to Sammy if they're in the right formation (i.e. a slot receiver is on his side that can block) and the defense is giving him a cushion. Watkins was just too damn good with the ball in his hands and especially on screens at Clemson not to try this at least once a game. He's more than a deep threat receiver, and we should be getting him more touches.

 

It's frustratingly similar to how HackMarrone refused to try screens with CJ. He was a beast on them with Gailey, but some coaches are more wedded to their vision than what actually works. Hoping Roman will continue to make adjustments.

Edited December 9, 2015 by DC Greg

[Billsfan1972]

We're definitely seeing the same things OP. I'm encouraged by the progress we've seen over the course of the year considering all the injuries. It's a whole new system, new coaches, new QB... it takes time to get it down. But things are coming along, and a HUGE part of that has been Shady's ability to establish the running game for us. Really cannot overstate how much of a difference that has made to this offense. That was an amazing trade on Whaley's part (although I'm kind of wishing we had given them Woods instead of Alonso).

 

I'm also baffled that we don't try bubble screens to Sammy... at all. He gets a cushion from corners on a lot of plays. There should just be some sort of audible system where on first or second down,Tyrod has the option to check it to a screen to Sammy if they're in the right formation (i.e. a slot receiver is on his side that can block) and the defense is giving him a cushion. Watkins was just too damn good with the ball in his hands and especially on screens at Clemson not to try this at least once a game. He's more than a deep threat receiver, and we should be getting him more touches.

 

It's frustratingly similar to how HackMarrone refused to try screens with CJ. He was a beast on them with Gailey, but some coaches are more wedded to their vision than what actually works. Hoping Roman will continue to make adjustments.

Agreed. But the real issue is that Rex touted this Defense as the #1 in the FL and they are far from it. He then expected that the O would be below average at best but could rely on the D. That hasn't been the case and they haven't addressed it with play calling. That the Bills are last in YAC and that SW one of the most dynamic receivers after the catch in college is 207th in the NFL is unfathomable.

 

Add to that the inability to run a hurry-up offense, SW and no where near enough targets, convert 3rd & shorts + most 3 & outs in the league there is plenty of room for improvement.

[John from Riverside]

Our offense is actually OUTPLAYING our defense

[NoSaint]

Kind of surprised at the timing of this post. We just laid a beat down on one of the best defenses in the league.

 

The only time any of the drives stalled was when we dropped passes or committed bad penalties-- very correctable mistakes.

 

I think what you have seen is this team is going to run the ball 20 different ways and then back you off with deep throws. A pretty effective offense, considering we have one good receiver and a raw QB.

Interesting to be surprised by a post regarding concern about the offenses ability to be consistently good when in your own post you essentially finish with "they did pretty well despite these obvious concerns that would jeopardize their long term consistency"

 

Though with woods and clay and McCoy out of the backfield you seem to discount their receiving options too much.

[Rockinon]

Keep in mind that this is TT's 1st year as a starter. I think the philosophy of going with a ground and pound attack and sprinkling in some shots down field is a good one. The are not a lot of route combinations because we simply do not throw often and that is good for a 1st yr starting QB. TT is doing great so far. His numbers are fantastic. As time goes by though, I think Buffalo's aerial attack will become more sophisticated.

 

Personally, I think the coaches are doing the right thing and bringing TT along at a steady pace. We are seeing an improved chemistry with Sammy. That catch in the endzone where Woods cut back to catch the TD was a well timed shot. There is a lot to like about what they are doing. We aren't done yet either. Even Hogan has looked pretty good this year. Taylor is progressing and as he does so will the passing game.

Edited December 10, 2015 by Rockinon

[CardinalScotts]

In spite of the win, there are still too many inconsistencies on the execution of this offense.

 

1. Play calling appears still bizarre..

2. No Watkins in the 2nd half on consecutive games now.

3. No true 2nd WR. Woods has been a disappointment. Losing Harvin was a big blow and the team did not have a backup plan

4. Clay needs to be more involved.

5. No bubble screens in the play book?

6. short-yard situations. We seems to keep missing critical 3rd and short situations.

7. When game is on the line, we don't see to have the ability to run out the clock.

givin our limitations first year starting qb who's brand new to you (O-line and missing peices off and on - Henderson/Miller) and injuries (McCoy/Karlos/Watkins/Harvin even Gray) Roman has done a great job 9 of 12 games we have put up 21 or better..we are throwing it 25 times a game not 50. We're 10th in offense yards and 10th in scoring and if Carp wasnt struggling we could easily be as high as 6th

 

Sammy had a incomplete pass 3rd quarter Mulligan holding.....big 3rd down 15 conversion of 38 yards deep down the middle lead to a missed Field Goal

Woods is a good number 2 again your comparing to a team that throws it much more than Buffalo does. You want 10 deep at each spot and everyone is good, unrealistic

Clay was more involved last week has 9 receptions last 2 weeks

Screens require the most important element- lineman who can run, although were better than last year still not gonna get out front too much

Line is not people movers and we have a tiny qb, we've gone to the pulling guard even in short yardage

Game on the line took over at 2:32 scored the go ahead touchdown

Edited December 10, 2015 by CardinalScotts

[Billsfan1972]

And prior two weeks down by a TD with the ball we went nowhere..... The 2 minute offense vs. NE was pathetic. The second half vs. KC was putrid (as was NYJ). Not blaming TT at all. Blaming terrible playcalling and forgetting Watkins is on the Bills.

 

The Houston game was a great run by McCoy and a blown coverage...... All credit goes to TT for reading it and making the play.

[PromoTheRobot]

In spite of the win, there are still too many inconsistencies on the execution of this offense.

 

1. Play calling appears still bizarre..

2. No Watkins in the 2nd half on consecutive games now.

3. No true 2nd WR. Woods has been a disappointment. Losing Harvin was a big blow and the team did not have a backup plan

4. Clay needs to be more involved.

5. No bubble screens in the play book?

6. short-yard situations. We seems to keep missing critical 3rd and short situations.

7. When game is on the line, we don't see to have the ability to run out the clock.

You do realize the Bills rank 10th in scoring?