Week 17: Dolphins at Bills - Squish the Fish playoff hopes and dreams

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

https://www.syracuse.com/buffalo-bills/2021/01/bills-josh-allen-reportedly-to-play-vs-dolphins-make-one-last-mvp-stand.html
 

 

By Matt Parrino | mparrino@nyup.com

 

Intrigue has built throughout the week around Sean McDermott’s plans regarding playing time for his Buffalo Bills in the season finale against the Miami Dolphins.

 

Apparently the plan is to play “many key guys,” including quarterback Josh Allen.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Saturday that the Bills “might rest a few but belief is many key guys will go -- (Bills) can land 2 seed, w/ Josh Allen’s one last MVP stand,” Fowler tweeted.

[Process]

33 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

https://www.syracuse.com/buffalo-bills/2021/01/bills-josh-allen-reportedly-to-play-vs-dolphins-make-one-last-mvp-stand.html
 

 

By Matt Parrino | mparrino@nyup.com

 

Intrigue has built throughout the week around Sean McDermott’s plans regarding playing time for his Buffalo Bills in the season finale against the Miami Dolphins.

 

Apparently the plan is to play “many key guys,” including quarterback Josh Allen.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Saturday that the Bills “might rest a few but belief is many key guys will go -- (Bills) can land 2 seed, w/ Josh Allen’s one last MVP stand,” Fowler tweeted.

Yea... Reports last year against the jets were that starters were playing. Players themselves didn't even know what the plan was regarding there playing time. 

 

Starters did play.... And gut pulled after the first series. 

 

This report means nothing. 

[WideNine]

9 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Last year week 17, the Bills defense had so much depth that we throttled the Jets starters for 3 quarters despite Bills offense giving away a fumble and a pick in the 3rd.  It wasn't until the 4th Q (and I think we were playing Isaiah McKenzie at CB by then) that they managed a TD then a 2nd FG off a 2nd Barkley pick.  Now the Jets did not have an explosive offense last season, but they were a 7-9 team with a mid-level D.

 

I'm not sure we're there this year on D, but I'm also not hella-impressed with the Tua-led Dolphins offense - maybe I'm wrong and I should be.

 

I watched that Raiders game with the fish and was not impressed.

 

You stop Myles Gaskin and Gesicki and that was most of their offense. Tua stares down receivers, holds the ball too long, and lacks pocket presence. The Fish were bad picking up short yardage too. Their defense did well, but the Raiders were 0 for 9 on 3rd down conversions at one point and they had the ball in the red zone multiple times and only managed field goals. Carr looked like a statue. 

 

I don't see us not punching in those opportunities in the red zone. Normally, I would say we would roll these guys, but it all depends who we suit up to play.

 

 

 

Edited January 3, 2021 by WideNine

[Logic]

7 minutes ago, WideNine said:

 

I watched that Raiders game with the fish and was not impressed.

 

You stop Myles Garrett and Gesicki and that was most of their offense. Tua stares down receivers, holds the ball too long, and lacks pocket presence. The Fish were bad picking up short yardage too. Their defense did well, but the Raiders were 0 for 9 on 3rd down conversions at one point and they had the ball in the red zone multiple times and only managed field goals. Carr looked like a statue. 

 

I don't see us not punching in those opportunities in the red zone. Normally, I would say we would roll these guys, but it all depends who we suit up to play.

 

 

 

Come again?

[WideNine]

2 minutes ago, Logic said:

Come again?

Gaskin ...fixed

[Hapless Bills Fan]

5 minutes ago, WideNine said:

 

I watched that Raiders game with the fish and was not impressed.

 

You stop Myles Garrett and Gesicki and that was most of their offense. Tua stares down receivers, holds the ball too long, and lacks pocket presence. The Fish were bad picking up short yardage too. Their defense did well, but the Raiders were 0 for 9 on 3rd down conversions at one point and they had the ball in the red zone multiple times and only managed field goals. Carr looked like a statue. 

 

I don't see us not punching in those opportunities in the red zone. Normally, I would say we would roll these guys, but it all depends who we suit up to play.

 

So I went looking for Tua's charts on the Next Gen stats.  Here they are:

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/player/tua-tagovailoa/TAG620344/season

 

I thought it was interesting.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

3 hours ago, Steptide said:

I can't keep all the scenarios straight, but if the Dolphins lose tomorrow, are they out of the playoffs? 

 

No, I think they're still in if one of a bunch of other teams lose

[Vertig0]

2 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

No, I think they're still in if one of a bunch of other teams lose

I believe they still make it if any of Indy, Cleveland or Baltimore lose. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

28 minutes ago, Process said:

Yea... Reports last year against the jets were that starters were playing. Players themselves didn't even know what the plan was regarding there playing time. 

 

Starters did play.... And gut pulled after the first series. 

 

This report means nothing. 

 

Not quite.  A number of players were told they would be out well before the game.  I don't remember them all but they included Beasley, Brown, Knox, Motor on offense; Tre' White and Shaq Lawson on D (I think a couple others but not sure), and Andre Roberts on ST.  Then there was another handful of starters who were told they would play but not for how long, but they made it clear they'd been told "when it's time to sit, you sit"

 

Quite a bit closer to the vest and less information this year.

[WideNine]

1 minute ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

So I went looking for Tua's charts on the Next Gen stats.  Here they are:

https://nextgenstats.nfl.com/charts/player/tua-tagovailoa/TAG620344/season

 

I thought it was interesting.

 

Dinking and dunking mainly.

 

Looks like the kind of single-read offense Gailey would put together for a rookie QB to simplify the playbook. Way early to write-off Tua, but regarding that 2019 class, he is no where near Herbert's league reading coverage's, going through receiver progressions, and delivering to different spots on the field.

 

Miami is averaging about 30 rush attempts per game the past 3 games. With no Fitz on the bench to fall back to, I would expect a game plan from them to keep Tua clean and the Bills offense off the field, so expect Miami to run, and run, and run some more.

 

 

 

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

30 minutes ago, WideNine said:

Dinking and dunking mainly.

 

Looks like the kind of single-read offense Gailey would put together for a rookie QB to simplify the playbook. Way early to write-off Tua, but regarding that 2019 class, he is no where near Herbert's league reading coverage's, going through receiver progressions, and delivering to different spots on the field.

 

Miami is averaging about 30 rush attempts per game the past 3 games. With no Fitz on the bench to fall back to, I would expect a game plan from them to keep Tua clean and the Bills offense off the field, so expect Miami to run, and run, and run some more.

 

I didn't see this linked here.  One Bills Live segment where Tasker and Brown are joined by NFL analyst Greg Cosell, who Knows His Football.

Go to 12:20 in to get to Cosell and skip all the Tasker/Brown fluff.

 

Cosell is kinda blunt about Tua.   Says he has to play like Drew Brees and become conceptually elite to become a successful NFL QB, because right now physically he has no elite skills; refers to Tua's multiple serious injuries (I did not realize he'd had ankle injuries in addition to his hip) and says he is not throwing the football as well or with as much velocity as he did at Alabama.   Hopefully (from the viewpoint of Tua seems like a good kid who got a tough deal) Tua can continue to rehab off season and get that back.

 

Anyway apparently they were doing a pre-game show about the Bills and Allen, so look out for that - but Cosell apparently called Brown to find out from an Insider who was playing and for how long and went away hungry, because Brown couldn't tell him a thing.

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Sal shares my curiousity about the lack of Webb:

 

It will be interesting to see who is declared inactive

[Warcodered]

10 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

refers to Tua's multiple serious injuries (I did not realize he'd had ankle injuries in addition to his hip) and says he is not throwing the football as well or with as much velocity as he did at Alabama.

 

I just remember seeing a similar clip to this during one of the Championship games or something talking about his ankle surgery.

 

3 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Sal shares my curiousity about the lack of Webb:

 

It will be interesting to see who is declared inactive

I mean they had Barkley play when they rested starters last year I don't see why they wouldn't this one.

[Big C]

My hope is that Allen puts a little more film on tape to help his MVP case and ultimately we watch a second half where Barkley and Antonio Williams grind it out.

[Warcodered]

 

[mannc]

6 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I didn't see this linked here.  One Bills Live segment where Tasker and Brown are joined by NFL analyst Greg Cosell, who Knows His Football.

Go to 12:20 in to get to Cosell and skip all the Tasker/Brown fluff.

 

Cosell is kinda blunt about Tua.   Says he has to play like Drew Brees and become conceptually elite to become a successful NFL QB, because right now physically he has no elite skills; refers to Tua's multiple serious injuries (I did not realize he'd had ankle injuries in addition to his hip) and says he is not throwing the football as well or with as much velocity as he did at Alabama.   Hopefully (from the viewpoint of Tua seems like a good kid who got a tough deal) Tua can continue to rehab off season and get that back.

 

Anyway apparently they were doing a pre-game show about the Bills and Allen, so look out for that - but Cosell apparently called Brown to find out from an Insider who was playing and for how long and went away hungry, because Brown couldn't tell him a thing.

 

Chris Simms had the same opinion about Tua before the draft...had him ranked below Love.  The guy looks like a very low ceiling player. I cannot for the life of me understand why the Fins did not take Justin Herbert.

[Chandler#81]

6 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I didn't see this linked here.  One Bills Live segment where Tasker and Brown are joined by NFL analyst Greg Cosell, who Knows His Football.

Go to 12:20 in to get to Cosell and skip all the Tasker/Brown fluff.

 

Cosell is kinda blunt about Tua.   Says he has to play like Drew Brees and become conceptually elite to become a successful NFL QB, because right now physically he has no elite skills; refers to Tua's multiple serious injuries (I did not realize he'd had ankle injuries in addition to his hip) and says he is not throwing the football as well or with as much velocity as he did at Alabama.   Hopefully (from the viewpoint of Tua seems like a good kid who got a tough deal) Tua can continue to rehab off season and get that back.

 

Anyway apparently they were doing a pre-game show about the Bills and Allen, so look out for that - but Cosell apparently called Brown to find out from an Insider who was playing and for how long and went away hungry, because Brown couldn't tell him a thing.

 

Love that Cosel loves Matt Milano! I found myself staunchly defending and arguing here for him early in his rookie season. Loved him from his very 1st game -picking off deep sideline passes to preserve wins. His health history has been challenging, but we HAVE to give him a 2nd contract! He’s a difference maker.

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

I say sit Tre White the entire game and start Dane Jackson there. 27/58 make this defense go. They need to be 100% healthy for the post season. As for Dane, I really like the way that kid has played. Throw him right in the fire. The Dolphins need this game. We can learn a lot about Dane today. If he impresses, get him active in the playoffs. This kid has looked like our second best corner (albeit) in a small sample size. Give him one last audition against a team that is desperate. We also might play these guys again, so get him some reps.

[JMF2006]

13 hours ago, Bob Chandler's Hands said:

Wade is making perhaps 1/10 of what he made as a professional rugby player.  Practice squad guys don't even make 100k per year and he was a star in rugby. 

 

Seems crazy that he would take huge pay cut to just practice. 

[Doc]

7 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Sal shares my curiousity about the lack of Webb:

 

It will be interesting to see who is declared inactive

 

I'm not too surprised.  Webb has been in the league for 4 years now and never seen real game action.  I think he's more of a coach than a player.

 

7 hours ago, Warcodered said:

I mean they had Barkley play when they rested starters last year I don't see why they wouldn't this one.

 

Probably because he's an UFA at the end of the year and they want to see what they have in Fromm.  What better way than a meaningless game for the Bills where the other team is really trying?  It might be unfair for Fromm because he'll be playing with the backups but again, life's not fair and he'll have made over $900K this year.

 

6 hours ago, Big C said:

My hope is that Allen puts a little more film on tape to help his MVP case and ultimately we watch a second half where Barkley and Antonio Williams grind it out.

 

Rodgers will be playing all game long and likely do very well.  I'll just be happy to see Josh get his 40 yards, all to Diggs, so they can both reach milestones.

 

52 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

I say sit Tre White the entire game and start Dane Jackson there. 27/58 make this defense go. They need to be 100% healthy for the post season. As for Dane, I really like the way that kid has played. Throw him right in the fire. The Dolphins need this game. We can learn a lot about Dane today. If he impresses, get him active in the playoffs. This kid has looked like our second best corner (albeit) in a small sample size. Give him one last audition against a team that is desperate. We also might play these guys again, so get him some reps.

 

Why hasn't Jackson been elevated fully yet?  Because he's a rookie?