Andy Benoit: How Do the Bills Keep Pulling Off Upsets?

[jr1]

they worked hard in the wins but I think the Vikings and Titans were way overconfident going in

[TPS]

His most accurate description, "a lumbering offensive line..."

[teef]

from, "losing the team" to pulling off upsets.  what a crazy world we live in. 

[NoHuddleKelly12]

24 minutes ago, Call_Of_Ktulu said:

Because they are evolving into a power defense and we have 1 great RB and 2 good ones. Allen is also making some amazing passes but is still sailing some way off target. I get the feeling like this team is so much more motivated to play the better teams. I feel like if we play at home in horrid weather conditions with our good defense and strong RB's that we have a chance to upset any team. Also add in that Bills fans in that stadium are loud, rabid and savage and you have a huge advantage in home games.

This opening schedule stretch with so many away games (5 of 7) against stiff competition is brutal. but if we get back to a home friendly 2nd half schedule having gone something like 3-4 which now is a real possibility, then you have to think they're playing ahead of expectations.

20 minutes ago, jr1 said:

they worked hard in the wins but I think the Vikings and Titans were way overconfident going in

Not saying there may not have been element of truth to this, but probably only a small portion. Titans certainly would have already seen Minnie game film to know to bring their A game, and Minnie had the advantages of playing at home in a dome, and their coach thinks it was all Buffalo's play that led to that outcome.

[unbillievable]

39 minutes ago, blacklabel said:

 If the coaching can get these types of performances out of mostly JAG plays (at least on offense) I can't wait to see what they can do with some real talent.

 

What is JAG?

 

[johnnychemo]

1 hour ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

That's your "culture over strategy" right there, and that's your strategy when you lack talent.

Imagine a more talented team playing with the same intensity this one does....

Edited October 8, 2018 by johnnychemo

[One Buffalo]

Yeah but I thought team culture doesn't matter... lets fire them all and start over...   Isn't that we we have been reading on here for the past week?

[blacklabel]

6 minutes ago, unbillievable said:

 

What is JAG?

 

 

It's a football term that means "Just Another Guy." It's a designation for players who can play and fill a role for you, but they aren't special and can be replaced/upgraded any time. Basically just means an average/below average player that can hold it down until the team finds a better option.

[Shaw66]

This a good article.  He disses Allen more than necessary - Allen reads the defense much better than he says.   Allen's actually played well.  I think he's well prepared for games.  His biggest problems are with accuracy on throws that require a little more touch than velocity and with timing with his receivers.   He and Benjamin were badly off on an early throw, and the timing was screwed up on the INT.  Benoit says Holmes should have come back for the ball, but I'm not so sure about that.   It may have been thrown too early, or Holmes should have looked quicker.  And the Bills receivers still have not adjusted to Allen's ball velocity.   

 

But Benoit's pretty much on about the team - winning despite being limited in talent.  As McBeane continue to upgrade talent, this team should go places. 

[unbillievable]

1 minute ago, blacklabel said:

 

It's a football term that means "Just Another Guy." It's a designation for players who can play and fill a role for you, but they aren't special and can be replaced/upgraded any time. Basically just means an average/below average player that can hold it down until the team finds a better option.

OIS. ISHK. IDCUOAGS.

 

2 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

This a good article.  He disses Allen more than necessary - Allen reads the defense much better than he says.   Allen's actually played well.  I think he's well prepared for games.  His biggest problems are with accuracy on throws that require a little more touch than velocity and with timing with his receivers.   He and Benjamin were badly off on an early throw, and the timing was screwed up on the INT.  Benoit says Holmes should have come back for the ball, but I'm not so sure about that.   It may have been thrown too early, or Holmes should have looked quicker.  And the Bills receivers still have not adjusted to Allen's ball velocity.   

 

But Benoit's pretty much on about the team - winning despite being limited in talent.  As McBeane continue to upgrade talent, this team should go places. 

 

Zay Jones seems to be the only one adjusting to Allen's fast balls.

[blacklabel]

7 minutes ago, johnnychemo said:

That's your "culture over strategy" right there, and that's your strategy when you lack talent.

Imagine a more talented team playing with the same intensity this one does....

 

I've lost count at home many times I've seen similar tweets already. Believe it or not, the media is paying attention to the Bills, it just doesn't make for flashy TV/radio/internet to focus on and talk about a team that's in a rebuild and is gonna have a bumpy ride this season. But I've seen several tweets like this. Another one said, "Sean McDermott is one of the best coaches at getting something from so little." 

 

And just like you said, can't wait to see what's possible once they add some real talent in a number of position groups. If they can get two not-so-super-talented rosters to play this well (with one making the playoffs) I can't wait to see what they can do with a more talented group.

 

It's coming together. Keep on trusting that process.

[Big Turk]

10 minutes ago, unbillievable said:

 

What is JAG?

 

"Just Another Guy"---basically saying the dude is replaceable by pretty much any average player

[Shaw66]

Just now, unbillievable said:

OIS. ISHK. IDCUOAGS.

 

 

Zay Jones seems to be the only one adjusting to Allen's fast balls.

Right.  Zay looked like a real NFL receiver.  

 

It took Elway's receivers a while to catch on.   You have to run crisp routes and get your head around fast, because the ball is on its way and it's an express, not a local.  

[Big Turk]

4 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

This a good article.  He disses Allen more than necessary - Allen reads the defense much better than he says.   Allen's actually played well.  I think he's well prepared for games.  His biggest problems are with accuracy on throws that require a little more touch than velocity and with timing with his receivers.   He and Benjamin were badly off on an early throw, and the timing was screwed up on the INT.  Benoit says Holmes should have come back for the ball, but I'm not so sure about that.   It may have been thrown too early, or Holmes should have looked quicker.  And the Bills receivers still have not adjusted to Allen's ball velocity.   

 

But Benoit's pretty much on about the team - winning despite being limited in talent.  As McBeane continue to upgrade talent, this team should go places. 

 

Allen also has issues with blitz recognition, especially from DB's and throwing hot.  

[Spiderweb]

4 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

This a good article.  He disses Allen more than necessary - Allen reads the defense much better than he says.   Allen's actually played well.  I think he's well prepared for games.  His biggest problems are with accuracy on throws that require a little more touch than velocity and with timing with his receivers.   He and Benjamin were badly off on an early throw, and the timing was screwed up on the INT.  Benoit says Holmes should have come back for the ball, but I'm not so sure about that.   It may have been thrown too early, or Holmes should have looked quicker.  And the Bills receivers still have not adjusted to Allen's ball velocity.   

 

But Benoit's pretty much on about the team - winning despite being limited in talent.  As McBeane continue to upgrade talent, this team should go places. 

When Holmes turned the ball was there a split second later. He looked like he wasn't ready for that so one may well agree the WRs aren't used to how quickly Allen's throws get to them. With that said, I really dislike Holmes as a receiver, period. He may have value on ST and he did make a few decent blocks in the running game but keep him out of the passing game.  

[blacklabel]

6 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

This a good article.  He disses Allen more than necessary - Allen reads the defense much better than he says.   Allen's actually played well.  I think he's well prepared for games.  His biggest problems are with accuracy on throws that require a little more touch than velocity and with timing with his receivers.   He and Benjamin were badly off on an early throw, and the timing was screwed up on the INT.  Benoit says Holmes should have come back for the ball, but I'm not so sure about that.   It may have been thrown too early, or Holmes should have looked quicker.  And the Bills receivers still have not adjusted to Allen's ball velocity.   

 

But Benoit's pretty much on about the team - winning despite being limited in talent.  As McBeane continue to upgrade talent, this team should go places. 

 

Adam Archuleta (I think?) did the color commentary for yesterday's game and said the same thing about Holmes that Benoit did. He said Holmes waited for the ball to come to him when he should've been working his way back toward the QB, especially since he had a defender closing in. 

 

And I agree there have been times where Allen zips it when he should've let off a little bit. I noticed at least two instances yesterday of where Zay had to correct where KB lined up. I saw an article of post that described KB's play/demeanor this season as "uninterested" and that's pretty accurate. Maybe he lost it, maybe he never had it, but the kid just doesn't look passionate about the sport. And he's in a contract year. Normally, players in his position wanna ball out in hopes they can land a nice deal. He doesn't seem to be interested in doing that. Or maybe the lack of chemistry with Allen is getting to him and that causes his effort to plummet, who knows, ya know? Either way, he just has not been good enough. I never like to ridicule or be overly harsh in criticism of players but honestly, KB strikes me as soft. I think I heard about that around the time he was drafted. Something like, "he may be 6'5" 245 but plays like a much smaller receiver." Not great, Bob. 

 

Team obviously needs WR help. I also think they may try to add a more talented TE. I think Clay is alright but I'm pretty sure his knees have kept him from being the player he knows he can be. And with the way his contract is structured, I can see them moving on from him after this season. And I bring up the TEs as well because Daboll uses them a lot in his offense. Can't wait to see what this team can do with upgrades on offense.

[Philo]

3 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

Right.  Zay looked like a real NFL receiver.  

 

It took Elway's receivers a while to catch on.   You have to run crisp routes and get your head around fast, because the ball is on its way and it's an express, not a local.  

 

I agree with regard to Zay. He seems to be the only WR that has started to "click" with Allen so far. I look forward to watching them find better chemistry as the season goes on. 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[blacklabel]

7 minutes ago, matter2003 said:

 

Allen also has issues with blitz recognition, especially from DB's and throwing hot.  

 

This is where I think a guy like Derek Anderson can help a lot. There's no substitute for on field experience. Sure, Allen has had Culley and Daboll guiding him a long but I don't think either of those guys has ever taken a snap. Anderson has over 10 years in the league, has played in nearly 150 games and started a bunch as well. He's seen a lot and surely can help Allen out much the same way he helped out Cam.

[teef]

2 minutes ago, blacklabel said:

 

Adam Archuleta (I think?) did the color commentary for yesterday's game and said the same thing about Holmes that Benoit did. He said Holmes waited for the ball to come to him when he should've been working his way back toward the QB, especially since he had a defender closing in. 

 

And I agree there have been times where Allen zips it when he should've let off a little bit. I noticed at least two instances yesterday of where Zay had to correct where KB lined up. I saw an article of post that described KB's play/demeanor this season as "uninterested" and that's pretty accurate. Maybe he lost it, maybe he never had it, but the kid just doesn't look passionate about the sport. And he's in a contract year. Normally, players in his position wanna ball out in hopes they can land a nice deal. He doesn't seem to be interested in doing that. Or maybe the lack of chemistry with Allen is getting to him and that causes his effort to plummet, who knows, ya know? Either way, he just has not been good enough. I never like to ridicule or be overly harsh in criticism of players but honestly, KB strikes me as soft. I think I heard about that around the time he was drafted. Something like, "he may be 6'5" 245 but plays like a much smaller receiver." Not great, Bob. 

 

Team obviously needs WR help. I also think they may try to add a more talented TE. I think Clay is alright but I'm pretty sure his knees have kept him from being the player he knows he can be. And with the way his contract is structured, I can see them moving on from him after this season. And I bring up the TEs as well because Daboll uses them a lot in his offense. Can't wait to see what this team can do with upgrades on offense.

i saw a replay maybe once, but i'm not sure he even started to turn his head around until the ball was almost up on him.