THE ROCKPILE REVIEW - December Football

[Shaw66]

December football is different.   It’s intense.  There’s an urgency about it that’s missing from the games earlier in the NFL season. 

 

It happens every season.  Fifteen or twenty teams are competing for a spot in the playoffs, or for home field advantage.  Many of the teams that have been eliminated share the intensity because they don’t want to be embarrassed, they want to make a point, they want to build a resume for free agency, they want to close out a career with positives, something.   Everyone feels it.

 

The fans talk about playing meaningful games in December.  They want their team to be one of the fifteen or twenty looking to the playoffs.

 

It’s December football, and the Buffalo Bills have arrived.   

 

The Bills arrived in Pittsburgh with a 9-4 record and persistent doubts about whether they are playoff material.  The doubts were well earned, because, over the past 20 years the Bills had occasionally knocked at the front door of December football.  On rare occasions, they were admitted, only to be quickly booted out the back door and sent home.  This year, the Bills’ weak schedule and inconsistent offense fueled the doubts.  Even though the Bills had led the AFC Wild Card race for weeks, few people believed in them.   They didn’t believe even after the Bills played the Ravens essentially even the week before because, well, because the Bills didn’t win, and December football is about winning. 

 

Winning requires execution at a high level, hitting harder, making the critical plays, playing through challenges.  It requires heart, courage, and excellence.  The Bills are all of that. 

 

The Bills beat the Steelers 17-10 in Pittsburgh on Sunday night.  A December Sunday night.  They clinched a playoff spot by beating a team that has made a habit of winning December football games for decades.  They beat a team that needed a win to climb even with the Bills in the race for the playoffs.  They beat the Steelers with the Steelers fans making noise and waving those yellow towels and all of that.    

 

It’s December football, and the Bills have arrived. 

 

The Bills defense took over the game early and never let go.  The Steelers had a touchdown drive of 69 yards, one other drive of 58 yards.   The rest of the game they gained a total of 102 yards.     

 

The Bills took the Steelers out of their running game and forced Devlin Hodges to throw.  Throwing against Buffalo is a losing proposition.  Opponents attempt passes against the Bills around the league average – about 34 per game, and the Bills have the second best passer rating of all NFL defenses.   Hodges attempted 38 and couldn’t figure out the Bills.  As the pressure grew for the Steelers to get back into the game, he took more chances and turned the ball over.  The Bills were in almost total control.

 

A couple of things stood out in the Bills defensive effort.  First was the defensive line.   They were tough against the run, pretty much the entire night.  The gaping holes, the big cut-back lanes that they had allowed earlier in the season are gone.   Running against that line and those linebackers is a chore.   And the front four was getting consistent pressure on Hodges without the blitz.   The pocket kept closing in on him, increasing the pressure and forcing him to run and throw on the run, neither of which he does particularly well.  Then, when the Bills blitzed, Hodges was in trouble right from the snap. 

 

Second was the preparation for the game.  If Hodges completed a pass, in rhythm and on time, there always was a tackler, and often two or three tacklers, arriving as the receiver tried to tack on yards after catch.  There were more or less no yard after catch, particularly on multiple third down plays where the Steelers completed a pass short of the line to gain.   The Bills defense knew what to expect and knew how to respond.    It was impressive. 

 

Sean McDermott’s conservative approach to football, or at least what many fans believe to be a conservative approach, was on display in all its glory against the Steelers.  When Allen threw his interception late in the first half and was bailed out by the defense’s own take-away, McDermott had seen enough and ran out the clock.  In the second half, after White’s interception and 49-yard return with the Bills down 10-7, McDermott put the Bills offense into a shell – if they could get a first down rushing, fine; if they could get a touchdown rushing, fine; otherwise, they were taking the field goal and tying the score. The way his defense was playing, McDermott knew that getting points on the interception was much more important than getting the lead.

 

A few minutes later, with the score tied and after the defense stopped the Steelers on three plays, McDermott let Allen come out throwing, and Allen responded, first hitting Brown deep down the left sideline and then delivering a perfect pass to Kroft for the touchdown.  I expect that when Daboll was giving Allen the play call for the TD, he told Allen that if there was any chance of a pick, throw the ball over Kroft’s head and take the field goal.  Allen saw Kroft break free to the sideline and made a professional throw. 

 

That was it for to McDermott.   One more score would have put the game out of reach, but McDermott was content to run the ball and leave the game in the hands of the defense.   The defense didn’t disappoint.

 

McDermott’s approach isn’t so much conservative as it is smart.  It’s December football, and December football is about winning. 

 

Having said that, McDermott’s conservative, game-winning approach can be nerve-wracking.  The final minutes of the Steelers game were anything but comfortable; taking a knee while a couple of minutes run off the clock is a much more civilized way to end a game.   A really well prepared team wouldn’t give the Steelers a free timeout with a needless penalty; leaving the Steelers with more than a minute and half, instead of less than a minute, put the game at risk one more time.  

 

McDermott’s approach is driven by where Allen is in his development as an NFL quarterback.  Allen is a cannon, and I don’t mean just his arm – he has the throwing, running and leadership ability to blow up defenses.  How do we know that?   He is tied with Russell Wilson for the league lead this season with the most game-winning drives (5) and most comeback wins (4).  But he’s young and learning, so he’s a loose cannon.  McDermott has seen his cannon blow up in his face (like against the Patriots) instead of blowing up the defense.  So what does McDermott do?   He doesn’t risk things blowing up in his face unless he has too.  He plays for the win, not for the highlights. 

 

McDermott lets Allen practice managing the game, practice making the throws he needs to make without putting the team at risk.  Allen gets to practice in the first half.  As soon as the Bills get the lead in the second half, practice time is over and McDermott is playing to win the game.   Winning the game means don’t give your young quarterback a chance to blow up.  As Allen develops into a more reliable weapon, I think we’ll see McDermott open up and go for the jugular. 

 

We saw some of the loose cannon on Sunday night.   Allen made three or four poor throws on plays that should have been easy completions.  One of those resulted in an interception.   The decision making on the INT was fine, the throw was college-accurate when it needed to be pro-accurate.   We know Allen can make all of the throws, because we’ve seen it.   He needs the professional discipline to do it every time.  Until Allen shows that discipline, with a second-half lead McDermott will take the ball out of his hands.

 

Chris Collinsworth analyzed Allen’s footwork on one play, talked about Allen’s base being too wide and whatever.  I don’t know if he was right about all that, but he made a more important point, which is that Allen needs to recognize and understand what’s going on more quickly.  The extra time is what Allen needs to make the throw right, because he has the arm strength and throwing ability to make throws from all sorts of positions.   Recognition and understanding is where Allen needs work.

 

The 2019 season isn’t over, and there could be a lot more to cheer about, but 2019 already is a success for the Bills.   With this collection of players, 10-4 (even if it were to turn into 10-6) is a success, having clinched the playoffs is a success.  (I’ll admit it: I clicked on the standings more than once the day after the game, just to see the small letter next to the Bills’ name, the letter that means the Bills have clinched something.   Haven’t seen a small letter in a long time.)  

 

More importantly, 2019 is a success for McDermott’s process.  He has done what he planned to do, he’s gotten the results he expected he would get, and the process continues.   He doesn’t yet have all the talent he needs, and he and his coaches and players haven’t yet grown all the way into his system.  As Collinsworth said during the game, we’re looking at the base on which McDermott is going to build his team, not at the finished product.  It’s all what McDermott told us when he arrived, and it’s all happening.

 

Welcome to December football.  Welcome to the playoffs.   Welcome to the new era. 

 

 

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were everyday people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

[GoBills808]

This team will go as far as the defense and third down efficiency allow. 

 

We all know the flaws. The strengths keep them in every game. 

[elroy16]

I'm completely with you in regards to McDermott being conservative. We saw him go for it on 4th and 6 early in the game. He's done that in multiple games and last week he went for two while the old football heads were baffled about it. He's aggressive at times and conservative at times. 

 

I thought running out the clock at the end of the half was the correct move. Moving the ball 50-60 yards was going to be very tough, don't run the risk of giving away points when your defense is playing that well. You just got lucky, don't push it in this type of game. 

[One Buffalo]

Nobody likes it, but we have seen it before- "Defense wins championships."  Happy to see this defense flex its muscles and take over games like it has been lately.  We all know that anything can happen in January, especially with the way this team is playing.  

[Troll Toll]

This team is built like a classic championship team: Stifling defense, a competent running game and a QB that can make a handful of spectacular plays in a game.

 

If Allen can have a Flacco-like run in the playoffs, then we could be talking Super Bowl. 

[Pine Barrens Mafia]

24 minutes ago, One Buffalo said:

Nobody likes it,

 

I like it. I'm a huge fan of defensive football.

 

[Logic]

9 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

I like it. I'm a huge fan of defensive football.

 

Me too.

That game last night was an absolute beauty. Give me a 17-10, old school slugfest over a 51-48 shootout all day, everyday. 

[Figster]

What an awesome review.

 

  The conservative game approach as it relates to Josh Allens development is spot on in my humble opinion.

 

Well done Shaw

[Shaw66]

43 minutes ago, elroy16 said:

I thought running out the clock at the end of the half was the correct move. Moving the ball 50-60 yards was going to be very tough, don't run the risk of giving away points when your defense is playing that well. You just got lucky, don't push it in this type of game. 

I agree.  I generally don't have a problem with McD's conservative moves.  McDermott believes in winning the fourth quarter to win the game, and he coaches to keep the game close.   He expects his team to win the fourth quarter, and they've been doing it.  

 

But I'm guessing that in three years, when Allen is a top 10 QB, McDermott will trust him not to screw up and might very well turn him loose in the exact same situation.   

[Bring it]

38 minutes ago, Joe in Winslow said:

 

I like it. I'm a huge fan of defensive football.

 

Yeah I’m with you on that! Great to be in this position again! It’s been a long wait!!

[Chaos]

Its a great season so far.  Every year 12 teams make the playoffs. Its not really that earth shattering.  A lucky few make it many times in a row.  To early to say where we are at in the process. Maybe we are the 2002 Patriots.  Maybe we are the 2012 Bengals.  Maybe we are the 2018 Rams. 

[Formerly Allan in MD]

Great review but no comments about Gore's ability to get outside, or is it too obvious to everyone but Mr. D?

 

We're still getting too many dumb penalties.

[kenny27]

There is one more review wich would be interest interesting http://www.mundiario.com/articulo/economia/economia-espanola-otono-2015-y-prestamos-momento/20151210135143050644.html

[finn]

I suspect that Beane and McDermott are surprised that the Bills have done this well at this early stage of the rebuilding process. I wonder if Beane is kicking himself for not bringing another RB and WR. In a sense, it's all gravy from here on. Allen really has been clutch. As we've seen, he is one of the best in the league in the red zone, in third and long situations, and, as Shaw says, come back wins. He would have had two more if Hauschka had connected in Cleveland and Brown had sold his route against Baltimore. And maybe one more if he hadn't been knocked out of the Pats* game. 

[dickleyjones]

Yes Allen needs to process faster. As you pointed out, McDermott is giving him the in game practise he needs. I am so glad mcd "gets it". 

Edited December 16, 2019 by dickleyjones

[Shaw66]

6 minutes ago, finn said:

I suspect that Beane and McDermott are surprised that the Bills have done this well at this early stage of the rebuilding process. I wonder if Beane is kicking himself for not bringing another RB and WR. In a sense, it's all gravy from here on. Allen really has been clutch. As we've seen, he is one of the best in the league in the red zone, in third and long situations, and, as Shaw says, come back wins. He would have had two more if Hauschka had connected in Cleveland and Brown had sold his route against Baltimore. And maybe one more if he hadn't been knocked out of the Pats* game. 

I don't think Beane's kicking himself, and I don't think he and McDermott are surprised.

 

They believe in the process, and it's way too early to have sold out of the process to buy talent for a championship run this season.  I suppose if you'd asked them they would have told you that Allen was a year or two away, so spending for talent for 2019 would have been a waste.   Just my guess.  

 

As for surprised about the success, I doubt it.  They have a lot of confidence in what they're doing.   If you'd told them Brown and Singletary and the oline will work out about how they'd planned, and they had no serious injuries, they probably would have said 10-11 wins was a real possibility.   

 

It just seems so obvious that they're doing it the right way, it's surprising other teams haven't built this way.   I suppose some of it is McD's personality, and you just can't copy his combination of sincerity, determination, hard work and values.  

[Billsfan1972]

Again the Bills won & I guess we can't argue with the result, but this conservative cr$p is definitely an issue.  

 

The Bills gave Pitt multiple chances to get back in the game & if not for a stupid fumble & the second Tre int who knows what could have happened.

 

Yes the Bills have had a rabbit's foot all year as there have been bad decisions made that cost them the Brown's (maybe the Baltimore) game too.

 

Remember the Browns where they relied on the Defense and Cleveland went 87 yards to win? 

 

Last week Beasley get's tripped up and a PI call on fourth down.  How many times do we see late game holding or PI calls. 

 

I'm thrilled they won, but sorry do not agree with McD's game management. 

 

And yes (before you sau McD was aggressive) they had no choice but go for it on 4th down in first as Haus was not kicking a 52 yard FG. 

[Jrb1979]

1 hour ago, Billsfan1972 said:

Again the Bills won & I guess we can't argue with the result, but this conservative cr$p is definitely an issue.  

 

The Bills gave Pitt multiple chances to get back in the game & if not for a stupid fumble & the second Tre int who knows what could have happened.

 

Yes the Bills have had a rabbit's foot all year as there have been bad decisions made that cost them the Brown's (maybe the Baltimore) game too.

 

Remember the Browns where they relied on the Defense and Cleveland went 87 yards to win? 

 

Last week Beasley get's tripped up and a PI call on fourth down.  How many times do we see late game holding or PI calls. 

 

I'm thrilled they won, but sorry do not agree with McD's game management. 

 

And yes (before you sau McD was aggressive) they had no choice but go for it on 4th down in first as Haus was not kicking a 52 yard FG. 

I agree. Its worked so far this season cause they have played a lot of teams with average or worse offense. Come the playoffs against KC or Houston I have my doubts it will work. You need to put up points the way the NFL is now. 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, Jrb1979 said:

I agree. Its worked so far this season cause they have played a lot of teams with average or worse offense. Come the playoffs against KC or Houston I have my doubts it will work. You need to put up points the way the NFL is now. 

I don't agree with this and I don't think McDermott agrees with this, either.  

 

To take the end of the game yesterday, there are two ways you can win - by scoring again to put the game out of reach, or by keeping them from scoring.   Just because you might like to score again doesn't mean that's the best choice.   The best choice is the one that has the highest probability of succeeding.   When your QB is young and still pretty inexperienced, when he's completing only 50% of his passes and when he's shown a tendency to throw into coverage when he should throw it away, he isn't a great choice to rely on.  Then, you have to compare it to your defense, which isn't giving up many points.   

 

So, I get that it makes you uncomfortable that the games are close at the end, but I think taking the ball out of Allen's hands late in the game is more likely to secure the win.  

[Billsfan1972]

9 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

I don't agree with this and I don't think McDermott agrees with this, either.  

 

To take the end of the game yesterday, there are two ways you can win - by scoring again to put the game out of reach, or by keeping them from scoring.   Just because you might like to score again doesn't mean that's the best choice.   The best choice is the one that has the highest probability of succeeding.   When your QB is young and still pretty inexperienced, when he's completing only 50% of his passes and when he's shown a tendency to throw into coverage when he should throw it away, he isn't a great choice to rely on.  Then, you have to compare it to your defense, which isn't giving up many points.   

 

So, I get that it makes you uncomfortable that the games are close at the end, but I think taking the ball out of Allen's hands late in the game is more likely to secure the win.  

Explain the Cleveland game then?  Same scenario, however a TD and you lose, a second year QB too.  

 

They gave Pitt 2 chances to tie the game and did win but were too conservative imo.

 

As for Josh, he had multiple Int games vs. the Jets & Pats & to keep saying he is making bad decisions, throwing into coverage or high is again feeding a narrative that is wrong.

 

The Bills won, but imo were again way too conservative.

 

BTW watch NO yesterday?  Sure looked like passing & 300 yards is fun to me.

Edited December 17, 2019 by Billsfan1972

[stuvian]

and one of our TEs scored a red zone TD!

[Giuseppe Tognarelli]

What intrigues me is that we have yet to see Playoff Allen. Who knows for what we are in store.

[Shaw66]

4 hours ago, Billsfan1972 said:

Explain the Cleveland game then?  Same scenario, however a TD and you lose, a second year QB too.  

 

They gave Pitt 2 chances to tie the game and did win but were too conservative imo.

 

As for Josh, he had multiple Int games vs. the Jets & Pats & to keep saying he is making bad decisions, throwing into coverage or high is again feeding a narrative that is wrong.

 

The Bills won, but imo were again way too conservative.

 

BTW watch NO yesterday?  Sure looked like passing & 300 yards is fun to me.

No strategy works all the time.  It didn't work in Cleveland.  

 

I keep saying the same thing here, over and over.   McDermott and Beane have a long-term plan, and they're sticking to it.   Their primary objective is not to win this year, it's to build a team that can have sustained long-term success.   Part of that success will come from building in a way that supports sustained long-term success.  So, for example, someone asked the other day whether Beane regrets not getting more free agent talent this year.  I said no, I doubt he does, because going all in on talent to win this year isn't in the plan.  The plan is to build talent you can teach and keep.  

 

I think McDermott would tell you that taking unnecessary risks to win a game this year isn't consistent with his long term plan.   Putting his QB in a situation where, given his current development, he could blow the game, isn't consistent with building a winner.  I think he'd tell you that Allen needs to keep learning, and as he does he will be more trustworthy in late-game situations.   Does McDermott want to be more aggressive offensively in those situations?   I think he wants the option to be more aggressive, for sure.  But he knows what his QB does well and does not so well right now, and his defense is simply more reliable.  

 

Now, if my defense sucked, sure, I'd say let's take out best shot, meaning maybe our big QB with the big arm will make a play for us.   That might work, but it might also blow up.   In a situation like the Bills are in, where your defense is giving up very few points and where it increasingly is showing the mental and physical toughness to get stops when they really need it, relying on the defense is a higher probability play AND it's consistent with the long-term growth of the team.  

 

When Drew Brees was in his second season, the Chargers let him throw the ball 40 times a game and they finished 8-8.   Why?  Because they were 27th in the league in yards defense and 30th in the league in scoring defense, so they weren't going to rely on their defense to win games and they let the kid sling it.   The Bills are in the top of the league in defense and, like the Chargers in 2002, have a gifted but inexperienced QB and a mediocre offense - with that combination it's foolish to ask your offense to win games rather than your defense.   

 

When Allen has the experience and savvy that Brees has, it will be a different story, but we tend to forget that players like Brees weren't always as good as they are now.  After his third full season starting, the Chargers drafted Eli Manning and acquired Rivers, and Brees was gone a year later.  He was NOT a guy the Chargers wanted to rely on to win games.   

[yungmack]

A most excellent essay, Shaw. Your insight on the D was especially on the money. It looked as good as any I've see this year. Smokin' good.

[Billsfan1972]

2 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

No strategy works all the time.  It didn't work in Cleveland.  

 

I keep saying the same thing here, over and over.   McDermott and Beane have a long-term plan, and they're sticking to it.   Their primary objective is not to win this year, it's to build a team that can have sustained long-term success.   Part of that success will come from building in a way that supports sustained long-term success.  So, for example, someone asked the other day whether Beane regrets not getting more free agent talent this year.  I said no, I doubt he does, because going all in on talent to win this year isn't in the plan.  The plan is to build talent you can teach and keep.  

 

I think McDermott would tell you that taking unnecessary risks to win a game this year isn't consistent with his long term plan.   Putting his QB in a situation where, given his current development, he could blow the game, isn't consistent with building a winner.  I think he'd tell you that Allen needs to keep learning, and as he does he will be more trustworthy in late-game situations.   Does McDermott want to be more aggressive offensively in those situations?   I think he wants the option to be more aggressive, for sure.  But he knows what his QB does well and does not so well right now, and his defense is simply more reliable.  

 

Now, if my defense sucked, sure, I'd say let's take out best shot, meaning maybe our big QB with the big arm will make a play for us.   That might work, but it might also blow up.   In a situation like the Bills are in, where your defense is giving up very few points and where it increasingly is showing the mental and physical toughness to get stops when they really need it, relying on the defense is a higher probability play AND it's consistent with the long-term growth of the team.  

 

When Drew Brees was in his second season, the Chargers let him throw the ball 40 times a game and they finished 8-8.   Why?  Because they were 27th in the league in yards defense and 30th in the league in scoring defense, so they weren't going to rely on their defense to win games and they let the kid sling it.   The Bills are in the top of the league in defense and, like the Chargers in 2002, have a gifted but inexperienced QB and a mediocre offense - with that combination it's foolish to ask your offense to win games rather than your defense.   

 

When Allen has the experience and savvy that Brees has, it will be a different story, but we tend to forget that players like Brees weren't always as good as they are now.  After his third full season starting, the Chargers drafted Eli Manning and acquired Rivers, and Brees was gone a year later.  He was NOT a guy the Chargers wanted to rely on to win games.   

Again if this is a log-term plan, then you let Allen throw & see exactly what you have as he is the long-term future.  They don't because they have no idea (imo) how to utilize him.  

 

What they did at the end of the half & both possessions after getting the lead is not because of any long-term plan, it is because they they have little need for the offensive side of the ball.  

 

Vs. Cleveland they too decided that a 53 yard fg to tie the game was their best shot too, as opposed to being better prepared & going for the TD.

 

We've seen for 3 years little go into that side of the game.  

 

To think that vs. Pitt was different then it would be against any opponent or QB is wrong.  McD's philosophy for game planning is etched in stone.   

 

  

[chaccof]

23 hours ago, Logic said:

Me too.

That game last night was an absolute beauty. Give me a 17-10, old school slugfest over a 51-48 shootout all day, everyday. 

The problem with defensive football is that, unlike a good old fashion blow out where I can get up, go to the bathroom, hit the fridge, not have to where my hat a certain way, etc. I have to sit there, nearly peeing my pants, making sure not to change my position in my chair, all in hopes of not causing the Bills to lose.

[Billsfan1972]

23 hours ago, Logic said:

Me too.

That game last night was an absolute beauty. Give me a 17-10, old school slugfest over a 51-48 shootout all day, everyday. 

I remember all that outrage over the Rams Chiefs game last year or NO vs. SF two Sundays ago......

 

Sorry the best Bills game I ever saw was the No Punt game vs. SF September 13, 1992......

 

I really get tired of people deriding offensive explosions and high scoring games.

 

Maybe the Cleveland 6-3 games was the best you ever saw?  It was a defensive struggle also called the worst game ever......

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/270428-worst-game-ever-buffalo-vs-cleveland-review

[Shaw66]

18 minutes ago, Billsfan1972 said:

Again if this is a log-term plan, then you let Allen throw & see exactly what you have as he is the long-term future.  They don't because they have no idea (imo) how to utilize him.  

 

What they did at the end of the half & both possessions after getting the lead is not because of any long-term plan, it is because they they have little need for the offensive side of the ball.  

 

Vs. Cleveland they too decided that a 53 yard fg to tie the game was their best shot too, as opposed to being better prepared & going for the TD.

 

We've seen for 3 years little go into that side of the game.  

 

To think that vs. Pitt was different then it would be against any opponent or QB is wrong.  McD's philosophy for game planning is etched in stone.   

 

  

I think you'll see you're wrong.  

 

McDermott is all about winning.  He is going to do everything that will make the team a consistent winner, including on the offense.   

 

Next year's offense will have better talent, a more mature QB, and it will be more aggressive.  

7 minutes ago, Billsfan1972 said:

I remember all that outrage over the Rams Chiefs game last year or NO vs. SF two Sundays ago......

 

Sorry the best Bills game I ever saw was the No Punt game vs. SF September 13, 1992......

 

I really get tired of people deriding offensive explosions and high scoring games.

 

Maybe the Cleveland 6-3 games was the best you ever saw?  It was a defensive struggle also called the worst game ever......

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/270428-worst-game-ever-buffalo-vs-cleveland-review

I'm kind of with you here.  Defense is great, and I love defensive games, but the no punt game was incredible.   Cleveland 6-3 was also incredible, but very difficult to watch. 

[Billsfan1972]

I do like your analysis and you do a great job.  However I think McD is all about the D & has has blind spot with respect to offense as there is no reason it could not have been better this year (a perfect signing forgetting his 4 game suspension would have been Golden Tate). 

 

BTW How else do you explain the Nathan Peterman experiment, not once, but twice?????

[Figster]

1 hour ago, Billsfan1972 said:

Again if this is a log-term plan, then you let Allen throw & see exactly what you have as he is the long-term future.  They don't because they have no idea (imo) how to utilize him.  

 

What they did at the end of the half & both possessions after getting the lead is not because of any long-term plan, it is because they they have little need for the offensive side of the ball.  

 

Vs. Cleveland they too decided that a 53 yard fg to tie the game was their best shot too, as opposed to being better prepared & going for the TD.

 

We've seen for 3 years little go into that side of the game.  

 

To think that vs. Pitt was different then it would be against any opponent or QB is wrong.  McD's philosophy for game planning is etched in stone.   

 

  

Speaking of the Browns, letting Mayfield throw to see what you have despite having a boatload of talent around him caused a very talented team to miss the playoffs in my humble opinion. Chubb is one of the best RB's in the league and the Browns should have rode him into the playoffs.

 

Out of the great QB class of 2018 its no coincidence IMO the 2 QB's taking their team to the playoffs have both been well managed, have good D's backing them up, and for the most part have not been asked to carry the team throwing the football.

 

Myself personally, a very strategic and well balanced approach to Allens development is a big reason why Buffalo is 10 - 4 and headed to the playoffs.

Edited December 17, 2019 by Figster

[SCBills]

For as frustrating as it is, I think McDermott is on the mark with how he and Daboll are bringing along Allen.  We have solid talent on the Offensive side, but no gamebreakers outside of Allen's "potential". 

 

That deep flick of the wrist 50/50 ball to John Brown should be a staple of this offense with Allen's arm, but it's tough to do that throwing primarily to Brown/Beasley and Knox.  Still holding out hope we see someone emerge from the Kroft/Foster/McKenzie/Roberts grouping to give us one more receiving option heading into the Playoffs. 

 

Where I do believe McDermott and Daboll should be more aggressive with Allen is in the red zone.  He's an absolute monster in that area of the field and has done nothing to warrant a possession of 3 straight runs and kick a FG. 

 

I also believe some of this is the opponent.... I can say with almost certainty that the coaches have a good feel for the game and if they know they need more points, will allow for more aggressiveness.  Against the Steeler Offense, they knew 17 points would win us the game, and were correct.

 

 

Edited December 17, 2019 by SCBills

[Shaw66]

23 minutes ago, Billsfan1972 said:

I do like your analysis and you do a great job.  However I think McD is all about the D & has has blind spot with respect to offense as there is no reason it could not have been better this year (a perfect signing forgetting his 4 game suspension would have been Golden Tate). 

 

BTW How else do you explain the Nathan Peterman experiment, not once, but twice?????

Second question first.  How do I explain Peterman?   McDermott saw things in practice he liked.   He thought it would work.   It didn't.    First Peterman, McDermott didn't like Taylor.  He didn't execute he offense the way he was supposed to.  Peterman did it in practice, and McDermott wants guys who execute the system.   Plus, the team wasn't playing well.  So he tried Peterman.  Second time, McDermott really wanted his rookie on the sidelines, not on the field.   By the time they got to the first game of the season, Peterman was the only option.   So McD tried it, and it failed.  So he went with Allen.   McD knew that the 2018 season wasn't going to be a loser; he told us before the season started.  So he hoped he get something out of Peterman just to protect the rookie.   Made sense. 

 

In any case, it was a poor choice.  But all coaches make mistakes, and all young coaches especially.   He's learning, just like everyone else.  

 

First question.  Does he have a blind spot?  Absolutely not.  I don't think you've been listening to and about McDermott.  McDermott has been studying to be a head coach for 20 years.   He has a few hundred notebooks full of information about coaching.   He's a student of the game.   One of the things he says is that it's a three-phase game, and all three phases have to complement each other.   He doesn't say it's one or two phases, it's all three.   

 

And McDermott's system is evaluation.  Everything gets evaluated all the time, including the offense.   There is not possible way, zero, that he has a blind spot as to the offense.   No way in the world.   

 

This offense is a year away.  They improved the o line with a bunch of journeymen players this year, but they aren't close to done.   They have a QB who has improved tremendously but still looks like a rookie some of the time.  They have mediocre receivers.   They have an offensive coordinator who is learning the job too.   They all will be better next season because McD's system demands that everyone get better and figures out how to do it.   That's what he's doing here.   The offense isn't good enough, not because McDermott isn't paying attention, but because it has exactly one player carried over from two years ago (Dawkins), and he isn't great.   They have a second-year OC and a second-year QB.   

 

If you have a mediocre offense and a great defense, it makes complete sense to prefer having the defense on the field when the game is on the line.   As I said in earlier posts, and for the reasons I gave in the preceding paragraph, next season it will be different, and next season you will see McDermott be more aggressive with the offense on the field.  

[LABILLBACKER]

Shaw the team was prepared defensively but struggled again on offense. With 3 timeouts and 1:53 on the clock, Sean decided to call it a half. With 7:55 left we allowed the Steelers 3 more possessions and chances to tie. All year I've waited patiently for our offense to pick up the defense. Its yet to happen this season.  

[Logic]

1 hour ago, Billsfan1972 said:

 

 

Maybe the Cleveland 6-3 games was the best you ever saw?  It was a defensive struggle also called the worst game ever......

 

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/270428-worst-game-ever-buffalo-vs-cleveland-review

Nope.

There's a big difference between a defensive struggle and two putrid offenses trying to out-crap each other. I was at that Browns-Bills game, and it was the latter, not the former. Everybody knew it. ESPN even showed only punts on their "highlights" from the game, because it was just two historically crappy teams trying to out-crap each other. It was NOT a defensive struggle.

Sunday night's game against the Steelers, though? THAT was a defensive struggle, and it was awesome. 

People can be entertained by whatever they want. Me, personally? I'm entertained by hard-hitting, every-play-matters, black and blue slugfests, and those usually come in games where two teams with great defenses square off. Seeing which team can impose their physical will on the other more effectively is what football is all about, and that's what the SNF game two nights ago offered.

 

[Shaw66]

5 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

 Its yet to happen this season.  

I've been saying for more than a year that it is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS SEASON. 

 

Read what I just wrote up above.  This is an offense with mediocre talent everywhere except QB and center, and it's actually an improvement over the offense a year ago.  The 2019 offense isn't and never was expected to be a power house or a top-10 offense.   That's coming, but not this year.   

4 minutes ago, Logic said:

 Seeing which team can impose their physical will on the other more effectively is what football is all about, and that's what the SNF game two nights ago offered.

 

You're right about this.   Watching that game, and the Ravens game, made me realize I've forgotten what football is about.  It's two teams of 11, one trying to acquire territory, the other trying to protect territory.  It's a a territorial war.  Sunday night and the Ravens game was 11 on 11 battle - if you didn't hit and tackle every play, you lost.  It was a desperate fight, every play, to acquire and defend territory.  

 

The wide-open passing games with high scores are more like modern, remote control or video war.  

[Billsfan1972]

38 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Shaw the team was prepared defensively but struggled again on offense. With 3 timeouts and 1:53 on the clock, Sean decided to call it a half. With 7:55 left we allowed the Steelers 3 more possessions and chances to tie. All year I've waited patiently for our offense to pick up the defense. Its yet to happen this season.  

And that is Shaw's blind spot too?.....  He explains everything away & McD made the right call even if the end result failed.....  However 10-4 is not bad, however as other's have noted 2020 will be a much sterner test.

 

Give McD credit where credit is due, the team did not take games off & won the games they were supposed to (Miami, NYJx1, Wash, NYG, Denver, Cincy) & won road games vs. Tenn, Dallas & Pitt all of whom were caught at thje right time.

34 minutes ago, Logic said:

Nope.

There's a big difference between a defensive struggle and two putrid offenses trying to out-crap each other. I was at that Browns-Bills game, and it was the latter, not the former. Everybody knew it. ESPN even showed only punts on their "highlights" from the game, because it was just two historically crappy teams trying to out-crap each other. It was NOT a defensive struggle.

Sunday night's game against the Steelers, though? THAT was a defensive struggle, and it was awesome. 

People can be entertained by whatever they want. Me, personally? I'm entertained by hard-hitting, every-play-matters, black and blue slugfests, and those usually come in games where two teams with great defenses square off. Seeing which team can impose their physical will on the other more effectively is what football is all about, and that's what the SNF game two nights ago offered.

 

On the Bills side of D maybe (against a bad QB).  To me the Offense turtled and was afraid to impose their will. 

30 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I've been saying for more than a year that it is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN THIS SEASON. 

 

Read what I just wrote up above.  This is an offense with mediocre talent everywhere except QB and center, and it's actually an improvement over the offense a year ago.  The 2019 offense isn't and never was expected to be a power house or a top-10 offense.   That's coming, but not this year.   

And I say they are not trying & we see it in the play calling over & over.  Even the worst offenses in the NFL can throw for 300 yards is case in point.

 

BTW the quicker we see what the Bills have in Allen the better......

Edited December 17, 2019 by Billsfan1972

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, Billsfan1972 said:

And that is Shaw's blind spot too?.....  He explains everything away & McD made the right call even if the end result failed.....  However 10-4 is not bad, however as other's have noted 2020 will be a much sterner test.

 

Give McD credit where credit is due, the team did not take games off & won the games they were supposed to (Miami, NYJx1, Wash, NYG, Denver, Cincy) & won road games vs. Tenn, Dallas & Pitt all of whom were caught at thje right time.

On the Bills side of D maybe (against a bad QB).  To me the Offense turtled and was afraid to impose their will. 

And I say they are not trying & we see it in the play calling over & over.  Even the worst offenses in the NFL can throw for 300 yards is case in point.

 

BTW the quicker we see what the Bills have in Allen the better......

Quicker is not how they're building. They never were about a quick turnaround.   They've told us that for years.   They're building for sustained long-term success, and that approach sacrifices short-term performance.   If you understood that's what they're doing, you'd understand it's unreasonable to expect high-end performance this year. 

 

And the Bills already know what they have in Allen.   He's one of the best QBs in the league over the next ten years, absent injury.   

 

It's always been about 2021 and beyond, not this season.    Every win after the Steeler game, including wins in the playoffs, is gravy.  

[Billsfan1972]

15 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

Quicker is not how they're building. They never were about a quick turnaround.   They've told us that for years.   They're building for sustained long-term success, and that approach sacrifices short-term performance.   If you understood that's what they're doing, you'd understand it's unreasonable to expect high-end performance this year. 

 

And the Bills already know what they have in Allen.   He's one of the best QBs in the league over the next ten years, absent injury.   

 

It's always been about 2021 and beyond, not this season.    Every win after the Steeler game, including wins in the playoffs, is gravy.  

That's coach speak for "Don't blame us if we suck".....  

 

Look how quick SF has turned it around.  Many examples.

 

If they know what they have in Allen, then let him loose every once in a while.  The Baltimore game was just horrendous when it came to the play calling as he was under pressure all game and seemingly no adjustments..  

 

These <200 yard games are just way too common.

 

Remember I think Allen is the real deal, but these games we see over & over are 100% (at least 90%) on the coaching. 

 

 

[Shaw66]

2 hours ago, Billsfan1972 said:

 

 

Look how quick SF has turned it around.  Many examples.

 

 

SF has the guy who was generally regarded as the best young offensive coach in the league, and they have a QB who studied under Belichick and McDaniel for four or five years before coming to SF.   Even with that, Garoppolo has thrown for only 600 more yards than Allen, and Garoppolo is playing in much better weather.  

 

I get that you don't like it.  To expect that McDermott will take your approach over the approach he has chosen doesn't make sense.  Do you want to fire McDermott?  If not, live with it. 

[Billsfan1972]

3 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

SF has the guy who was generally regarded as the best young offensive coach in the league, and they have a QB who studied under Belichick and McDaniel for four or five years before coming to SF.   Even with that, Garoppolo has thrown for only 600 more yards than Allen, and Garoppolo is playing in much better weather.  

 

I get that you don't like it.  To expect that McDermott will take your approach over the approach he has chosen doesn't make sense.  Do you want to fire McDermott?  If not, live with it. 

And again I will then point to a team that thought they had it all figured out......  The 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars.  The #2 defense in the league that should have gone to the SB (if they didn't crumble in the 4th vs. NE) with a QB drafted 3rd overall...... And what has happened to them (Offense & Defense) since then?

 

We do not have a crystal ball & as I've said over & over I HATE the Offensive philosophy & think they are a lot better then they are allowed to show (or are coached).

Edited December 18, 2019 by Billsfan1972