9/12/2021 Steelers @ Bills Post Game thread

[RyanC883]

1 minute ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

To be fair we were up 10-0 in our game haha so Clevelands soon to be 5 point lead doesn't matter much as we learned the hard way 🤣

 

good point.  But at least CLE is scoring and has a balanced offense.  Hey, who's that Wyatt Teller dude, didn't he play here?  Gee, don't we need guards?  Thanks Bean.  

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Oh, we unveiled “trick plays” a-plenty.  But we chose to punt on some short 4th downs I thought we could have made, and we tried to finesse a couple plays that we should have arguably tried to out-physical.  Then we tried to go for it when we could have taken points.

 

The “still trying flea flickers and half back passes” is kind of what I mean.  We were trying to finesse where “man whupping man” physicality may have been called for.

I think that was more of a no confidence in the offense thing not an overconfidence thing lol picking up a yard is tough when you don't think you can run the ball and the defense was playing well 

[RyanC883]

1 minute ago, ngbills said:

Combo of Allen not at his best and Daboll in his try to be cute mindset. We could have just beat them with fundamental football early, but was out of sorts. 

 

we needed 7 on that initial kickoff, but cute Daboll came out for a show.  It was downhill from there, with cute Daboll making reappearances at inopportune times including 4th downs.  

[blackngolddigger]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

I felt like we came out flat today and you “brought it”.

 

Well, the defense brought it, at least.  Still lots of questions and concern on the offensive side.

 

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

(despite our bitching about a couple of ticky-tack and missed calls).

 

That's why I don't visit Steeler forums or watch the game in bars here.  Reading the opposing teams fans blame everything on the refs is entertaining.   Listening to other Steeler fans do it just makes me want to hit someone with a chair.

[RyanC883]

Just now, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

I think that was more of a no confidence in the offense thing not an overconfidence thing lol picking up a yard is tough when you don't think you can run the ball and the defense was playing well 

 

I'm not sure we don't think we can't run the ball, or if Daboll just won't run the ball.  ??

[Don Otreply]

3 minutes ago, Bob in STL said:

Yes.  I agree with this too.  
 

I get it, it’s a passing league, but we have to run occasionally and be better.  Gadgets plays on 4 and 1 and mid field while clinging to a 4point lead.  

Yes, this^^^

 

play calling was very questionable at several points during the game, imo, Dabol’s play calling and offensive execution were both lacking, starters gotta play during preseason more than once, they were rusty and out of sync, and appeared to  Be believing their own press clippings…, 

 

Go Bills!!!

Edited September 12, 2021 by Don Otreply

[Meatloaf63]

Just now, RyanC883 said:

 

I'm giving Daboll a short leash after this game and others.  He simply is incapable of having a balanced attack, which you need against high caliber Ds.  

 

I'm less worried about Josh given the fact the D line was in his face all day, and they only rushed 4.  I'm more worried about our terrible OL.  

It’s more than obvious now, having an average at best oline is not going to cut it. We need to give Allen better or we are not going anywhere. We also need at least one impact player on D fense. It’s going to be disappointing if we keep going down this route…

[frostbitmic]

23 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I missed that play, what exactly happened?

The rush came from up the middle, it looked like a parting of the Red Sea. Our blockers appeared to do their jobs and left side blocked left, right side blocked right. Problem was there was a Steeler who waited a second then came in right up the middle and blocked the punt, which was returned for a TD.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

50 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Im sure we’d be losing our minds, no matter how we lost, but there’s some justifiable “it’s how we lost” in this thread.  
 

We drafted a 2nd round pass rusher who’s inactive, and re-signed a guy on the OL that many of us didn’t think was worth re-signing.  Ok, coaches think that’s the move, fine… well, our OL was dominated all game, and Daboll looked like he got body snatched by Johnny 5-wide.  Maybe we should’ve used that 2nd Round Pick on IOL, like many Bills fans were clamoring. 
 

We gave up a blocked punt on a team that has multiple special team captains. 
 

Defense, meh.  Allen, meh. 
 

Coaching and the OL… TRASH
 

 

 

Allen had a couple head scratchers last season. The first game against the Pats comes to mind. I'm not trashing the season over a bad game. The best teams in the league have sloppy games. This one could've easily been an ugly win if Daboll took his head out of his *** and Sanders not dropping a PERFECT pass.  Unfortunately, it was the season opener. Best get the issues worked out early. I'm trying my best not to get upset over this as I have so many times in the past. 

[astb41]

Honestly this kind of loss feels like a good early season wake up call. Don’t get caught in the hype. Work. Trust the process.  We have not arrived so don’t act like we have. Let’s put a good 3 weeks together and head into KC and Tenn with a revamped mindset.

 

still sucks ass losing a game we should’ve won.

[SirAndrew]

1 minute ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Oh, we unveiled “trick plays” a-plenty.  But we chose to punt on some short 4th downs I thought we could have made, and we tried to finesse a couple plays that we should have arguably tried to out-physical.  Then we tried to go for it when we could have taken points.

 

The “still trying flea flickers and half back passes” is kind of what I mean.  We were trying to finesse where “man whupping man” physicality may have been called for.

I agree, hated the flea flicker and half passes, but are we truly capable of being physical ? I used to be a Daboll critic, but is he just playing to our strengths ? I don’t know if I have any evidence this team is capable of what you said in the bolded text. It’s difficult to know if that’s a function of coaching not allowing that to happen, or players being incapable of that style play. I tend to believe we aren’t a very physical team. 

[Meatloaf63]

3 minutes ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

I think that was more of a no confidence in the offense thing not an overconfidence thing lol picking up a yard is tough when you don't think you can run the ball and the defense was playing well 

Then punt, or establish a gd running game…

[34-78-83]

7 minutes ago, RyanC883 said:

 

this might be a good point.  Ben had some bizzarly off target passes to wide open guys, mostly RB Harris.  

 

That said, our OL and DL are albatrosses that Bean did nothing of any import with, and we will pay the price for that against good teams.  Our offensive playcalling is also a disaster against good teams when you need a more balanced approach.  

Agree on the OL. Our defense played well today on the whole. Gave up under 300 I think? Blocked punt isn’t on them

[97bills]

1 minute ago, RyanC883 said:

 

I'm not sure we don't think we can't run the ball, or if Daboll just won't run the ball.  ??

He just want you got to let them get going. He will run the ball for 3 yards and say well we tried lol I’ve been watching the bills for 30 years and never saw nothing like it. So frustrating 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 minute ago, SirAndrew said:

I agree, hated the flea flicker and half passes, but are we truly capable of being physical ? I used to be a Daboll critic, but is he just playing to our strengths ? I don’t know if I have any evidence this team is capable of what you said in the bolded text. It’s difficult to know if that’s a function of coaching not allowing that to happen, or players being incapable of that style play. I tend to believe we aren’t a very physical team. 

 

We had some very physical plays today which we won

[popcornpam]

We are “too vanilla”on Defense especially the first  series second half. It’s almost like the head coach wants to shorten the game keeping the clock running  by sending only  four and a soft zone. McD did that last year too
 

 

[RyanC883]

3 minutes ago, Meatloaf63 said:

It’s more than obvious now, having an average at best oline is not going to cut it. We need to give Allen better or we are not going anywhere. We also need at least one impact player on D fense. It’s going to be disappointing if we keep going down this route…

 

totally agree.  You basically described what Championship teams have.  We don't have that.  Hopefully something happens and one of the rookies or AJ breaks out, but I'm not sure what's up with the OL.  

[That's No Moon]

30 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I don’t understand what you mean by “sloppy hold”

Haack didn't catch the ball cleanly

[Rock-A-Bye Beasley]

11 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

Have you ever met the guy I was replying too?

No, I’ve never met anyone from this board, but I heard my uncle is on here. Don’t know his handle though 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

Just now, Meatloaf63 said:

Then punt, or establish a gd running game…

I mean running the ball up the middle for a one yard gain on second down is just shooting yourself in the foot too so you have to call the plays that give your team the best chance to win and with our team against the steelers that results in a lot of passes.  As a fan we can criticize everything after the fact our job is easy 😁

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

I hate the idea of passing out of the spread almost every single down. I know what we did last year, I’m fully aware it was a season to remember offensively…I just never feel it’s sustainable. I want this team to be more balanced. I want to see play action and movement and runs and allowing Josh to roll out. I hate the idea of standing there and throwing 50 times. I just think you really open up issues against good defenses. Making yourself one dimensional is doing the defense a favor. Before anyone asks, yes I was saying it last year when we were winning. This team needs balance. Purposely taking an entire element of your own offense away, is something that helps the other team. You can still throw, but do it in ways that doesn’t declare it to the world pre snap.

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

1 hour ago, BTB said:

I love these posts.  Anyone watch the game?  The refs were the least of the Bills issues. 

I find the “refs hate us” excuses lazy and tiresome…. Like did you even watch the game?

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

8 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

Yes, this^^^

 

play calling was very questionable at several points during the game, imo, Dabol’s play calling and offensive execution were both lacking, starters gotta play during preseason more than once, they were rusty and out of sync, and appeared to  Be believing their own press clippings…, 

 

Go Bills!!!

Yea gadget plays are just a disaster optics wise when they don't work...I dont think anyone would fault them for trying a qb sneak and not getting it 

Just now, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

I find the “refs hate us” excuses lazy and tiresome…. Like did you even watch the game?

I try not to be that guy that says that but in this game it felt the holding calls were all going one way when Pitt was holding like crazy too.  We played bad though no question 

[Playoffs?]

1 minute ago, RyanC883 said:

 

and Cincy.  

Haha!  True!

[Supe]

Marino’s one dimensional Dolphins were good - but not good enough to win a Super Bowl. We need to run the ball more. We need to let the O line push forward instead of getting pushed back all the time in pass protection. 

[RyanC883]

1 minute ago, AlCowlingsTaxiService said:

I find the “refs hate us” excuses lazy and tiresome…. Like did you even watch the game?

 

agree. The NFL officiating is generally bad all around, IMO.  Too many missed calls everywhere and total lack of consistency as to what gets and does not get called.  

Just now, Supe said:

Marino’s one dimensional Dolphins were good - but not good enough to win a Super Bowl. We need to run the ball more. We need to let the O line push forward instead of getting pushed back all the time in pass protection. 

 

I'm fearing we will become, at best, those 90s Dolphins.  

[DCofNC]

1 hour ago, Playoffs? said:

What do you mean there is no running back on this team?  You got a large enough sample size of Singletary to decide he can’t play??  I thought he did pretty well all things considered..

Yeah, he’s been a replacement level player for 2 years, don’t need to see more to know what he is.

[Playoffs?]

17 minutes ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

I'm sick to my stomach.  They better wake the eff up on offense

Hopefully this has a Hail Murray effect on the team. I’ll be sick to my stomach if we lose in Miami next week!

[KOKBILLS]

It's 10-0 when Tre has the pick that gets called back...That, and the blocked punt, are the game changers (obviously)...

 

Those 2 plays go our way I think the Bills win...Still would have been ugly...But those 2 plays were absolute killers...

 

I give the Pitt D the credit they deserve. They absolutely manhandled our O-Line regularly. Not sure how many holding penalties...but it seemed like 100...More than that though the pressure was clearly throwing Josh's timing off...He was just a little off on a couple big ones...Oh well...

 

This was a humbling experience...There are PLENTY of teams with VERY athletic and tough D-Lines. They may not all be Pitts caliber, but there's plenty of good ones. And we better fix this line crap pronto if we want to go far...

 

BTW...D played OK...Better vs the run then I thought they would. They held a team that would like to run 1st to 75 yds rushing...I thought Edmunds looked better...They got a couple tough breaks, and Pitts best play seemed to be the chuck it up and pray...

 

Anyway...

 

Doomed...

 

GO BILLS...

Edited September 12, 2021 by KOKBILLS

[Mr. WEO]

11 minutes ago, Meatloaf63 said:

It’s more than obvious now, having an average at best oline is not going to cut it. We need to give Allen better or we are not going anywhere. We also need at least one impact player on D fense. It’s going to be disappointing if we keep going down this route…

 

 

No more obvious than it was after the AFCC game last year.  This unit picked up exactly where it left off......getting their genitals handed to them.

[Dan]

They absolutely..have..to develop a run game.  We don’t have to run more than we pass... but when you have a 10pt lead, you have to run and burn some clock.  You have to. 
 

And find a way to pressure the opposing QB.  Sitting back in soft zones is a sure way to let a good team back in the game.    
 

I’m not panicked.    No one should be.  But, they clearly have some things to work on if they want to win against tough, physical teams like the Steelers. 

Edited September 12, 2021 by Dan

[Playoffs?]

Just now, DCofNC said:

Yeah, he’s been a replacement level player for 2 years, don’t need to see more to know what he is.

I hear ya… but he ran very well today.  Tough, faster, and elusive.  
 

It’s hard to get into any kind of flow if you never get the ball. I’d like to give him the ball 20 times and see how that goes.. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

4 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

I hate the idea of passing out of the spread almost every single down. I know what we did last year, I’m fully aware it was a season to remember offensively…I just never feel it’s sustainable. I want this team to be more balanced. I want to see play action and movement and runs and allowing Josh to roll out. I hate the idea of standing there and throwing 50 times. I just think you really open up issues against good defenses. Making yourself one dimensional is doing the defense a favor. Before anyone asks, yes I was saying it last year when we were winning. This team needs balance. Purposely taking an entire element of your own offense away, is something that helps the other team. You can still throw, but do it in ways that doesn’t declare it to the world pre snap.

The problem with Pitt and an elite defense is they could easily stop the run without committing extra personnel to do so...then you're just throwing downs away if you're running for 2 ypc...cowboys were in a similar predicament against the bucs Thursday night.  Offensive coordinator is not an easy job haha we left a lot of plays on the field even before getting into those odd 4th down decisions 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

Maybe other teams will make them look good too because they possibly are good 🤣 guess we'll have to wait and see...they got away with a ton of holding though not sure if thats gonna be an every week thing 

 

That’s really my beef - we got multiple holding penalties called, while they seemed to be holding a lot.

Maybe it’s ooaching and we need to be more clever about what we do

[BillsFan1]

The Bills were in control of the game.   Then McDermott gave the Steelers good field position twice.   Once on the 35 and once on the 50.   That turned the game.   Try the field goal from the 35.   Bass has a big leg.  If he makes it, that gives the Bills a big boost.   The one from the 50, punt the ball deep.   Make Pittsburgh go the length of the field.

 

And the blocked punt was horrendous at the professional level.

 

McDermott needs to own up to the loss and start believing in the process instead of trying to be a hero with his "go for it  Coach" calls.

 

The players on the other side are good too.   Coach smart.   Terrible game from Mcdermott

[OldTimer1960]

Clinging to hope that total lack of playing time in preseason hurt the O.

[Coach Tuesday]

I will hate to hear during the week that Darryl Johnson usually manned that blocking position on the punt team…

[AmishRifle]

My quick take:  We’ve been rewarded in the past, mostly last year, for being aggressive.  It’s kind of like getting addicted to drugs in that our 3rd and 4th down success rate makes you think that it is sustainable; when it’s not.  I think we are paying back that stat Gods this game.  We definitely returned to the mean.  We’ll get it figured out.  I think McD will force a return to more conservative football.  I think, and hope, the light bulb went off today.  

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

3 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

No more obvious than it was after the AFCC game last year.  This unit picked up exactly where it left off......getting their genitals handed to them.

I think every team knows this but the pool of available OL players is shrinking every year because college guys are all playing in spread offenses.  Really having a mobile qb with a good arm like allen is the best way to overcome that 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

3 minutes ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

The problem with Pitt and an elite defense is they could easily stop the run without committing extra personnel to do so...then you're just throwing downs away if you're running for 2 ypc...cowboys were in a similar predicament against the bucs Thursday night.  Offensive coordinator is not an easy job haha we left a lot of plays on the field even before getting into those odd 4th down decisions 

Singletary had 72 yards on 11 carries. Maybe give him the ball before it’s out of hand. Keep the Defense honest and then break them over the top with the play action