Just gonna say it: Daboll’s worst game since the first half of the season

[Bferra13]

Terrible first half play calling. Second half was marginally better. This is a terrible pass d you were facing. Play calling should have cost them the game. Reichs overagressiveness lost it.

Edited January 9, 2021 by Bferra13

[PrimeTime101]

The problem wasn't the play calling.. The problem was Indi kept us deep on our end of the field.. Field possession was horrid The D struggled to stop the run.. There is so much you can do at your own 10 yard line when you can't run yards. They only punted the ball what 2 times? Our defense and on one play special teams put us in bad possession 

[Fixxxer]

13 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

i would like to know whether Josh checked to any of those runs or QB draws. 

 

I think Josh was smartly shown some vacated space behind the Colts DL, spaces that were closed quickly by Leonard. They dared Josh to change plays, IMO. 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Agree.

 

Strange play-calls today.

 

Ran heavy sets in the first half and tried to throw out of them.

 

That designed sweep run for Allen in Colts territory on 3rd - Down was a horrible call, lost yards.

That drive in the first half where we ran 3-straight and out was strange.

 

When we went 4-wide and were determined to throw we made yards, but got away from that numerous time in this game.

 

Others said it, but no McKenzie was a game plan mistake, not sure why he didn’t touch the ball.

Edited January 9, 2021 by Straight Hucklebuck

[papazoid]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

I don’t know what Daboll was thinking today.  He went back to the early in the season mindset and making head scratching calls, trying to force the run when it wasn’t there, too conservative at times, and went with too many called QB runs.  
 

We are a passing team, and when he turned it loose we moved the ball with ease.  
 

I really hope Daboll goes back to what we have scene all during the second half of the season.  

 

boom

[Bangarang]

Daboll and Frazier both called odd games.

 

Daboll running the ball 3 plays in a row. Not using McKenzie with misdirections or jet sweeps to attack the edges. 
 

Frazier sending pressure that was obviously not getting there and left open receivers. 
 

Glad we won and I hope they clean it the ***** up.

Edited January 9, 2021 by Bangarang

[Not at the table Karlos]

1 hour ago, DuckyBoys said:

run game is catatonic  rbs 10 for 21 yds  Woooof

10 for 42. Each back had 21 yards. 4.2 a carry isn’t horrible 

[Straight Hucklebuck]

1 minute ago, Bangarang said:

Daboll and Frazier both called odd games.

 

Daboll running the ball 3 plays in a row. Not using McKenzie with misdirections or her sweeps to attack the edges. 
 

Frazier sending pressure that was obviously not getting there and left open receivers. 
 

Glad we won and I hope they clean it the ***** up.

And the Bills got away with Rivers never testing Norman when he was isolated one on one man coverage for an entire quarter. The Colts limited themselves. 

[billsfan1959]

50 minutes ago, Nick the Greek said:

in the first half every time Josh took over it was inside the 10. That’s not Dabolls fault. 

 

They've had no problem at all letting Allen air it out from his own goal line and even did it in the game today. Field position is no excuse when you have a QB playing at the level Allen is playing at. And it wasn't even just when the Bills had bad field position - Daboll called the worst run plays at the most innopprtune times and literally ended at least three drives because of it. 

[GunnerBill]

11 minutes ago, PrimeTime101 said:

The problem wasn't the play calling.. The problem was Indi kept us deep on our end of the field.. Field possession was horrid The D struggled to stop the run.. There is so much you can do at your own 10 yard line when you can't run yards. They only punted the ball what 2 times? Our defense and on one play special teams put us in bad possession 

 

That definitely hurt them first half and I do give Dabes a bit of a pass on that. You can't run 4 wides or 5 wides from your 3 yard line. 

 

But 2nd half..... there were some calls that were just head scratchers.

[PrimeTime101]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

That definitely hurt them first half and I do give Dabes a bit of a pass on that. You can't run 4 wides or 5 wides from your 3 yard line. 

 

But 2nd half..... there were some calls that were just head scratchers.

called QB run plays.. to many of them stick out to me.. I will give ya that much but not his worst game called

[GunnerBill]

11 minutes ago, Straight Hucklebuck said:

Agree.

 

Strange play-calls today.

 

Ran heavy sets in the first half and tried to throw out of them.

 

That designed sweep run for Allen in Colts territory on 3rd - Down was a horrible call, lost yards.

That drive in the first half where we ran 3-straight and out was strange.

 

When we went 4-wide and were determined to throw we made yards, but got away from that numerous time in this game.

 

Others said it, but no McKenzie was a game plan mistake, not sure why he didn’t touch the ball.

 

McKenzie was hurt. He was on the injury report all week. I know he was officially active but I think it must have affected his usage.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

McKenzie was hurt. He was on the injury report all week. I know he was officially active but I think it must have affected his usage.

Yeah good call on this.

 

Him and Beasley need to live in the training room this coming week. 

[Weatherman]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

I don’t know what Daboll was thinking today.  He went back to the early in the season mindset and making head scratching calls, trying to force the run when it wasn’t there, too conservative at times, and went with too many called QB runs.  
 

We are a passing team, and when he turned it loose we moved the ball with ease.  
 

I really hope Daboll goes back to what we have scene all during the second half of the season.  

Not a single screen called against a team that blitzed all day long.  Agree this was an awful game for both our O and D coordinators.  

[GunnerBill]

Just now, Weatherman said:

Not a single screen called against a team that blitzed all day long.  Agree this was an awful game for both our O and D coordinators.  

 

And our ST coordinator. 

 

Didn't love any of the plans. Think Indy had better plans. But we had the bounces of the ball and we had Josh Allen. 

[Bangarang]

5 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

The designed QB sweeps clearly not working.... why keep trying? Daboll sucked today. Allen bailed him out.

I wonder if some of those were checks made by Josh at the line.

Edited January 9, 2021 by Bangarang

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Well now don’t let the door hit him on the way out after this year! 

 

 

in all seriousness, I totally agree with OP’s point, but also feel like Dabs has earned a bit of benefit of the doubt with how this year has gone. We’re not all perfect all the time, and today we still overcame a “bad” game in stretches to win. I’m sure there have been lessons learned from today, and Josh will hopefully tell him to knock off the QB runs too.

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, Bangarang said:

I wonder if some of those were checks made by Josh at the line.

 

There was one that definitely was but I only spotted one. 

[Helpmenow]

Where was #19 today

[Wayne Cubed]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

There was one that definitely was but I only spotted one. 

Yea I remember that one. Josh also checked out of a QB sneak when he saw the Colts defense adjust gaps. 

[Teddy KGB]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

I don’t know what Daboll was thinking today.  He went back to the early in the season mindset and making head scratching calls, trying to force the run when it wasn’t there, too conservative at times, and went with too many called QB runs.  
 

We are a passing team, and when he turned it loose we moved the ball with ease.  
 

I really hope Daboll goes back to what we have scene all during the second half of the season.  

Allen making miraculous early Russ Wilson type plays out of the pocket saved the day.    

[MasterStrategist]

1 hour ago, Alphadawg7 said:

I don’t know what Daboll was thinking today.  He went back to the early in the season mindset and making head scratching calls, trying to force the run when it wasn’t there, too conservative at times, and went with too many called QB runs.  
 

We are a passing team, and when he turned it loose we moved the ball with ease.  
 

I really hope Daboll goes back to what we have scene all during the second half of the season.  

Well obviously field position in the 1st half hampered the offense.

 

Overall, I can't complain too much.  There were 2 drives that we could have tried to throw instead of run/use Josh as our RB.  But we overall played well offense, Davis with some huge catches but Josh took a bad sack then fumbled.

 

Colts have a solid team, solid defense.  They were a few plays from being 12-4 or 13-3. 

 

I'm not giving the offense or Daboll an A rating, but they didn't turn it over and managed some long scoring drives.  its the playoffs, this was a solid effort vs a very talented/coached defense

[Kelly the Dog]

While the D was clearly a bigger issue, I agree with OP. Was not happy with Daboll most of the game. He’s been so good overall, hopefully this was an aberration. 

[Comebackkid]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Our running backs are not very good. They are both decent number 2s but neither is a guy I want to depend on when I gotta have a play.

Well the o-line Line run blocks about as well as I paint. And trust me I struggle with stick figures

[Kelly the Dog]

Just now, Comebackkid said:

Well the o-line Line run blocks about as well as I paint. And trust me I struggle with stick figures

They’re awful. 

[GunnerBill]

Just now, Comebackkid said:

Well the o-line Line run blocks about as well as I paint. And trust me I struggle with stick figures

 

I agree. The oline is built to pass block not to run block. But that isn't helped by two backs who really do not accelerate to the hole. When you combine an oline that struggles to hold its run blocks with two backs that don't hit the hole quickly you get an anaemic run game.

[Kelly the Dog]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I agree. The oline is built to pass block not to run block. But that isn't helped by two backs who really do not accelerate to the hole. When you combine an oline that struggles to hold its run blocks with two backs that don't hit the hole quickly you get an anaemic run game.

I would argue there are no holes. Jonathan Taylor would get more yards than our guys. But IMO they are not missing holes on 90% of the stuffs. They have nowhere to go. Especially short yardage 

[Comebackkid]

2 minutes ago, Kelly the Dog said:

I would argue there are no holes. Jonathan Taylor would get more yards than our guys. But IMO they are not missing holes on 90% of the stuffs. They have nowhere to go. Especially short yardage 

And it's even worse when they decide to do a delayed  hand off and the defense gets there by the time the running back gets the ball

[CommonCents]

Just going off of the title of the thread I’d say you nailed it.

 

He called a conservative game and changed everything they had been doing. Did McKenzie even touch the ball? Conservative runs on 2nd and third and short. 

 

Some of Allen running looked like it was things that Allen himself checked to. After that sideline hit early in the game he seemed to take it personal and wanted to challenge the Colts physically. 

 

Hopefully he grows from that. Daboll needs a stiff drink before the next game so he loosens up and gets back to being creative and not conservative. 

Edited January 10, 2021 by CommonCents

[GunnerBill]

2 minutes ago, Kelly the Dog said:

I would argue there are no holes. Jonathan Taylor would get more yards than our guys. But IMO they are not missing holes on 90% of the stuffs. They have nowhere to go. Especially short yardage 

 

There are some. Not a lot. But some. They are shut by the time our guys are up to speed. They would both be okay behind a big powerful line. The line would look less bad if they were blocking for backs with a proper burst. It is the combination of the two that is so ugly. 

 

 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

20 minutes ago, MasterStrategist said:

Well obviously field position in the 1st half hampered the offense.

 

Overall, I can't complain too much.  There were 2 drives that we could have tried to throw instead of run/use Josh as our RB.  But we overall played well offense, Davis with some huge catches but Josh took a bad sack then fumbled.

 

Colts have a solid team, solid defense.  They were a few plays from being 12-4 or 13-3. 

 

I'm not giving the offense or Daboll an A rating, but they didn't turn it over and managed some long scoring drives.  its the playoffs, this was a solid effort vs a very talented/coached defense

Colts were doing something that daboll thought he could exploit with designed qb runs im curious what it was...Colts tackled so well though josh got stood up a few times in the open field...i can't say I've ever seen that before 

[MasterStrategist]

Just now, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

Colts were doing something that daboll thought he could exploit with designed qb runs im curious what it was...Colts tackled so well though josh got stood up a few times in the open field...i can't say I've ever seen that before 

Colts were man to man alot with 4 man dline.  Just like when Josh ran to the 5 yard line at the end of 1st half then finished the drive with a RPO rushing Td.

 

Colts were a very well coached defense and had good talent.  They ranked ahead of us on defense by most analytics.

 

Bottom line is our 1st half starting field position was horrid.  Cant scheme much when you start at your 5 or 10 yrd line

[Gen2]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

I think it was one of the worst coached games of the McDermott era. And not necessarily Sean himself. I thought the plans by all 3 coordinators were mystifying. 

 

Why did we keep running Allen?

Why did we keep blitzing Rivers on 3rd down?

Why did we insist on the short kickoffs and the bringing out their kicks offs when struggling for Field Position?

 

None of it made much sense. Now ultimately that is on Sean and he will take accountability I am sure, but the Bills had some strange plans.

 

 

While I agree on all of your points ... I believe "style points" only count during the game, once the final gun sounds the only thing that matters is was it a win or loss. So while I hated the game DURING the game, I love it now.

 

 

just sayin

 

[GunnerBill]

Just now, Gen2 said:

 

 

While I agree on all of your points ... I believe "style points" only count during the game, once the final gun sounds the only thing that matters is was it a win or loss. So while I hated the game DURING the game, I love it now.

 

 

just sayin

 

 

Ha. I totally get it. I will be there tomorrow I am sure. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

Just now, MasterStrategist said:

Colts were man to man alot with 4 man dline.  Just like when Josh ran to the 5 yard line at the end of 1st half then finished the drive with a RPO rushing Td.

 

Colts were a very well coached defense and had good talent.  They ranked ahead of us on defense by most analytics.

 

Bottom line is our 1st half starting field position was horrid.  Cant scheme much when you start at your 5 or 10 yrd line

Right i think we were pretty conservative when backed up...if the Colts were holding up in man coverage then I would be less worried going forward since I don't think any other teams left in the playoffs can really do that to us 

[Dr. K]

I don't think Daboll called such a bad game. Maybe not his best, but the Colts were charged up and playing their best game.

 

Bills were getting beat all afternoon at the line of scrimmage. Rivers had all day to throw, and the Colts racked up ten minutes more TOP.

 

The Bills' offense scored a lot considering how little they had the ball, and how terrible their field position was.

[Big Turk]

2 hours ago, Billznut said:

Our biggest obstacle today was our god awful defense. Not sure which game you watched. 

 

Except when they shut the door on 4 straight plays inside the 4 yard line?

[Heitz]

2 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

 

Except when they shut the door on 4 straight plays inside the 4 yard line?

Well, yes, except that...

 

:beer:

 

[Xwnyer]

Maybe he is trying to tank his interview tomorrow?

[colin]

I think the coaches messed up in not having the team ready.  Dumb return game errors and some play calls got us in a bad spot, and the d was an open book for a lot of the game.

 

The d did have a couple drives where they just played super fast and made things happen, including the goal line stand and the final drive.

 

Need to get back to that and going with strength on o.  Brown was a waste if a spot most of the game, I think he's not right physically, and beez isn't either.

 

Gives us good things to improve on!