This O-line is why the Bills won’t win it all this year.

[JY422]

Man I love this team.

Big 2nd half today. 
The heart.

The passion. 

Even the anger we saw today is a welcome sight. 

Tyler Bass is a stud. 
Coverage teams are great. 
This secondary is arguably the best in Bills history.
Same with the WR Corp. (some may prefer Reed, Lofton, and Beebe. Flip a coin as far as I am concerned)

Edmunds has finally started to play like the ProBowler he is and Milano is stud. 
The D-Line is more than serviceable and so are the RBs, Punting and Return game. 
Lastly, JA17 is in a hierarchy even Jimbo wasn’t in during his playing days. While I agree that it is too early to say the totality of Josh’s career will be hall-of-fame-worthy the way Kelly’s was I will point out that, at this moment of his career, JA17 is regularly discussed by national media as a “top 10 player in the NFL” and Jim’s name was never really involved in those discussions back in the day. (Those debates regularly included Rice, Montana, Marino, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Neon Deon, LT, Reggie White and maybe even Thurman and Bruce at times). 
 

All that leads me to my main point…

This O-line is the one weakness this Bills team has and they are the reason I believe the Bills cannot win the SB this year outside of some kind of other-worldly string of performances by Josh and the Defense. 

Morse is the only consistent performer and even he is only slightly above average. 
I really thought this group was going to come off the bye with a “pissed-off-us-against-the-world” mentality against a 1-6 phins squad with the 31st ranked defense in the league. Instead, it took JA17 putting the entire offense on his back and willing them to victory all while taking far too much punishment along the way. 
Mongo and Dawkins are great teammates and no doubt they give their all for the team and ALWAY have Josh’s back but they just aren’t good enough. Williams is serviceable and it is admirable that he can swing between tackle and guard on a weekly basis. Ideally he would be a high level backup swing player. If healthy, Spencer Brown is likely going to be the best OLineman by the end of the season but that isn’t saying much and he’s still a rookie.

Ike is serviceable and Ford is just a warm body occupying a roster spot.  
Playoff teams are almost always evenly matched and the games are usually won in the trenches. This Oline has yet to show anyone that they can be the reason the Bills are able to run out the clock during a tight game in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. 
Best case scenario?

Dawkins rounds into the best version of himself going into the second half of the season. Brown comes back healthy and continues to improve. Williams and Mongo play above their ability as the line gels together as a complete unit. 
I just don’t see it happening. Which will be a shame because this is such a tight knit team and it would be such an amazing story to see this be the collection of players and coaches that finally bring a championship to WNY!

 

Please, someone convince me I am wrong. 
I’ve never wanted to be more wrong about anything in sports!

 

[Augie]

Let’s just win next week. That’s all that matters at this point. I won’t even TRY to convince you that you are wrong, but we have a LOT of games to play. At this time last year the Buc’s looked like an average team. Seasons are long, and things change. 

 

The OLine has mostly been average at best. I feel confident it will get a major overhaul this off season, much like the DLine and WR the last few years. 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Think they need to stop running on 1st downs as the line isn't good enough to move bodies when the defense expects it.  On the other side, Allan can make poor line play look better with his ability to move around it and his strength.  They can have some success at running when defense doesn't expect it as much.

[BuffBillsForLife]

All of the top AFC teams are very inconsistent this year so I can see the Bills making the superbowl in spite of our poor o-line play, only to get absolutely blown up by Tampa's D-line.

[Aussie Joe]

Probably right...

 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Just now, Augie said:

Let’s just win next week. That’s all that matters at this point. I won’t even TRY to convince you that you are wrong, but we have a LOT of games to play. At this time last year the Buc’s looked like an average team. Seasons are long, and things change. 

 

The OLine has mostly been average at best. I feel confident it will get a major overhaul this off season, much like the DLine and WR the last few years. 

 

Morse has been a pleasant surprise overall.  Do wonder if Dawkins still is not 100% back from Covid. Brown has a good future, issue is at guard

 

Could see them signing a top level FA guard and draft a center/guard either to start next season or sit one year behind maybe Williams or Morse.  Assuming Dawkins is back to his 2020 level and Brown has a year under his belt, add FA guard and maybe another rookie starter and could improve quickly.

[cale]

I honestly don't know why they don't elevate Antonio Williams. He makes his own holes to run through. He comes from a RB machine school. I don't know much about his receiving and blocking skills. So not a great 11 personell guy. But good Lord. We need at least the semblance of a running threat. No one fears this O line.

[Nextmanup]

4 minutes ago, BuffBillsForLife said:

All of the top AFC teams are very inconsistent this year so I can see the Bills making the superbowl in spite of our poor o-line play, only to get absolutely blown up by Tampa's D-line.

No thanks.  I've had enough of watching the Bills get blown up by a dominant NFC team in the Super Bowl!

 

In all fairness, you can argue that addressing the O line (in the offseason) is the last piece of the puzzle that needs to be added for us to truly be a SB contender.

 

Probably won't happen this year.

 

 

[Motorin']

15 minutes ago, JY422 said:

Man I love this team.

Big 2nd half today. 
The heart.

The passion. 

Even the anger we saw today is a welcome sight. 

Tyler Bass is a stud. 
Coverage teams are great. 
This secondary is arguably the best in Bills history.
Same with the WR Corp. (some may prefer Reed, Lofton, and Beebe. Flip a coin as far as I am concerned)

Edmunds has finally started to play like the ProBowler he is and Milano is stud. 
The D-Line is more than serviceable and so are the RBs, Punting and Return game. 
Lastly, JA17 is in a hierarchy even Jimbo wasn’t in during his playing days. While I agree that it is too early to say the totality of Josh’s career will be hall-of-fame-worthy the way Kelly’s was I will point out that, at this moment of his career, JA17 is regularly discussed by national media as a “top 10 player in the NFL” and Jim’s name was never really involved in those discussions back in the day. (Those debates regularly included Rice, Montana, Marino, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Neon Deon, LT, Reggie White and maybe even Thurman and Bruce at times). 
 

All that leads me to my main point…

This O-line is the one weakness this Bills team has and they are the reason I believe the Bills cannot win the SB this year outside of some kind of other-worldly string of performances by Josh and the Defense. 

Morse is the only consistent performer and even he is only slightly above average. 
I really thought this group was going to come off the bye with a “pissed-off-us-against-the-world” mentality against a 1-6 phins squad with the 31st ranked defense in the league. Instead, it took JA17 putting the entire offense on his back and willing them to victory all while taking far too much punishment along the way. 
Mongo and Dawkins are great teammates and no doubt they give their all for the team and ALWAY have Josh’s back but they just aren’t good enough. Williams is serviceable and it is admirable that he can swing between tackle and guard on a weekly basis. Ideally he would be a high level backup swing player. If healthy, Spencer Brown is likely going to be the best OLineman by the end of the season but that isn’t saying much and he’s still a rookie.

Ike is serviceable and Ford is just a warm body occupying a roster spot.  
Playoff teams are almost always evenly matched and the games are usually won in the trenches. This Oline has yet to show anyone that they can be the reason the Bills are able to run out the clock during a tight game in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. 
Best case scenario?

Dawkins rounds into the best version of himself going into the second half of the season. Brown comes back healthy and continues to improve. Williams and Mongo play above their ability as the line gels together as a complete unit. 
I just don’t see it happening. Which will be a shame because this is such a tight knit team and it would be such an amazing story to see this be the collection of players and coaches that finally bring a championship to WNY!

 

Please, someone convince me I am wrong. 
I’ve never wanted to be more wrong about anything in sports!

 

 

You're wrong. The Offensive line is going to singlehandedly win the Super Bowl next week!

[Process]

1 minute ago, Nextmanup said:

No thanks.  I've had enough of watching the Bills get blown up by a dominant NFC team in the Super Bowl!

 

In all fairness, you can argue that addressing the O line (in the offseason) is the last piece of the puzzle that needs to be added for us to truly be a SB contender.

 

Probably won't happen this year.

 

 

The Bills are the best team in the AFC and it's really not even close. 

 

I'm gona go out on a limb and say that they are probably a Suberbowl contender this year. 

 

They are #2 in best odds to win the SB at all sportsbooks. Might be #1 if the Bucs lose.

 

Jesus effing christ

[Augie]

5 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Morse has been a pleasant surprise overall.  Do wonder if Dawkins still is not 100% back from Covid. Brown has a good future, issue is at guard

 

Could see them signing a top level FA guard and draft a center/guard either to start next season or sit one year behind maybe Williams or Morse.  Assuming Dawkins is back to his 2020 level and Brown has a year under his belt, add FA guard and maybe another rookie starter and could improve quickly.

 

For what it’s worth (which could be nothing), I met Morse’s uncle on a flight to the opener. He said it would be his last season in Buffalo. I mentioned I thought he had another year on his contract, and he just shrugged and said “we’ll, you know…” 

 

That could be meaningless, but it makes me curious. 

[Big Blitz]

My reasons why we'll win the SB list is pretty lengthy.  

 

My list of reasons why we can't is very short but it's exactly what the OP says.   

 

I'd add no "game breaking RB" to concern defenses as a part of it.  

 

 

We need Knox.  He's clearly important.  

Edited October 31, 2021 by Big Blitz

[notwoz]

Good lord, you're so freaking smart.

[benderbender]

It’s an indictment on our OL when a rookie can be inserted into the lineup, gets hurt, and we greatly feel his loss.

[Warcodered]

But in other news we won today.

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

29 minutes ago, JY422 said:

Man I love this team.

Big 2nd half today. 
The heart.

The passion. 

Even the anger we saw today is a welcome sight. 

Tyler Bass is a stud. 
Coverage teams are great. 
This secondary is arguably the best in Bills history.
Same with the WR Corp. (some may prefer Reed, Lofton, and Beebe. Flip a coin as far as I am concerned)

Edmunds has finally started to play like the ProBowler he is and Milano is stud. 
The D-Line is more than serviceable and so are the RBs, Punting and Return game. 
Lastly, JA17 is in a hierarchy even Jimbo wasn’t in during his playing days. While I agree that it is too early to say the totality of Josh’s career will be hall-of-fame-worthy the way Kelly’s was I will point out that, at this moment of his career, JA17 is regularly discussed by national media as a “top 10 player in the NFL” and Jim’s name was never really involved in those discussions back in the day. (Those debates regularly included Rice, Montana, Marino, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Neon Deon, LT, Reggie White and maybe even Thurman and Bruce at times). 
 

All that leads me to my main point…

This O-line is the one weakness this Bills team has and they are the reason I believe the Bills cannot win the SB this year outside of some kind of other-worldly string of performances by Josh and the Defense. 

Morse is the only consistent performer and even he is only slightly above average. 
I really thought this group was going to come off the bye with a “pissed-off-us-against-the-world” mentality against a 1-6 phins squad with the 31st ranked defense in the league. Instead, it took JA17 putting the entire offense on his back and willing them to victory all while taking far too much punishment along the way. 
Mongo and Dawkins are great teammates and no doubt they give their all for the team and ALWAY have Josh’s back but they just aren’t good enough. Williams is serviceable and it is admirable that he can swing between tackle and guard on a weekly basis. Ideally he would be a high level backup swing player. If healthy, Spencer Brown is likely going to be the best OLineman by the end of the season but that isn’t saying much and he’s still a rookie.

Ike is serviceable and Ford is just a warm body occupying a roster spot.  
Playoff teams are almost always evenly matched and the games are usually won in the trenches. This Oline has yet to show anyone that they can be the reason the Bills are able to run out the clock during a tight game in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. 
Best case scenario?

Dawkins rounds into the best version of himself going into the second half of the season. Brown comes back healthy and continues to improve. Williams and Mongo play above their ability as the line gels together as a complete unit. 
I just don’t see it happening. Which will be a shame because this is such a tight knit team and it would be such an amazing story to see this be the collection of players and coaches that finally bring a championship to WNY!

 

Please, someone convince me I am wrong. 
I’ve never wanted to be more wrong about anything in sports!

 

I think you’re comparing our roster to an ideal team in an ideal year…the reduced salary cap has left all teams with pretty glaring holes. If not the bills who do you see in the super bowl from the afc? Seems wide open and I’d bet on the team that’s plus like 130 in point differential lol our two losses feel more unlucky this year compared to us getting absolutely embarrassed twice last year 

Edited October 31, 2021 by Generic_Bills_Fan

[oldmanfan]

I keep saying football comes down to physically beating the guy in front of you.  Our O line cannot do that against the better DTs.  They just are not strong enough.

[JoPoy88]

27 minutes ago, JY422 said:

Man I love this team.

Big 2nd half today. 
The heart.

The passion. 

Even the anger we saw today is a welcome sight. 

Tyler Bass is a stud. 
Coverage teams are great. 
This secondary is arguably the best in Bills history.
Same with the WR Corp. (some may prefer Reed, Lofton, and Beebe. Flip a coin as far as I am concerned)

Edmunds has finally started to play like the ProBowler he is and Milano is stud. 
The D-Line is more than serviceable and so are the RBs, Punting and Return game. 
Lastly, JA17 is in a hierarchy even Jimbo wasn’t in during his playing days. While I agree that it is too early to say the totality of Josh’s career will be hall-of-fame-worthy the way Kelly’s was I will point out that, at this moment of his career, JA17 is regularly discussed by national media as a “top 10 player in the NFL” and Jim’s name was never really involved in those discussions back in the day. (Those debates regularly included Rice, Montana, Marino, Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Neon Deon, LT, Reggie White and maybe even Thurman and Bruce at times). 
 

All that leads me to my main point…

This O-line is the one weakness this Bills team has and they are the reason I believe the Bills cannot win the SB this year outside of some kind of other-worldly string of performances by Josh and the Defense. 

Morse is the only consistent performer and even he is only slightly above average. 
I really thought this group was going to come off the bye with a “pissed-off-us-against-the-world” mentality against a 1-6 phins squad with the 31st ranked defense in the league. Instead, it took JA17 putting the entire offense on his back and willing them to victory all while taking far too much punishment along the way. 
Mongo and Dawkins are great teammates and no doubt they give their all for the team and ALWAY have Josh’s back but they just aren’t good enough. Williams is serviceable and it is admirable that he can swing between tackle and guard on a weekly basis. Ideally he would be a high level backup swing player. If healthy, Spencer Brown is likely going to be the best OLineman by the end of the season but that isn’t saying much and he’s still a rookie.

Ike is serviceable and Ford is just a warm body occupying a roster spot.  
Playoff teams are almost always evenly matched and the games are usually won in the trenches. This Oline has yet to show anyone that they can be the reason the Bills are able to run out the clock during a tight game in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. 
Best case scenario?

Dawkins rounds into the best version of himself going into the second half of the season. Brown comes back healthy and continues to improve. Williams and Mongo play above their ability as the line gels together as a complete unit. 
I just don’t see it happening. Which will be a shame because this is such a tight knit team and it would be such an amazing story to see this be the collection of players and coaches that finally bring a championship to WNY!

 

Please, someone convince me I am wrong. 
I’ve never wanted to be more wrong about anything in sports!

 

People said the same thing about the OL early last year and they figured it out enough to get all the way to the AFC championship game. Why don’t you calm down.

[JY422]

10 minutes ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

I think you’re comparing our roster to an ideal team in an ideal year…the reduced salary cap has left all teams with pretty glaring holes. If not the bills who do you see in the super bowl from the afc? Seems wide open and I’d bet on the team that’s plus like 130 in point differential lol our two losses feel more unlucky this year compared to us getting absolutely embarrassed twice last year 

No one in the AFC is better than the Bills. 
Although I believe the AFC playoffs will be a slugfest, I believe the Bills will emerge. 
However, the title of the post refers to winning the championship. 
I just think the Bucs, Pack, and Rams may be more than our Oline can handle after making it thru the AFC matchups with (likely) TN and Baltimore. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

2 minutes ago, JY422 said:

No one in the AFC is better than the Bills. 
Although I believe the AFC playoffs will be a slugfest, I believe the Bills will emerge. 
However, the title of the post refers to winning the championship. 
I just think the Bucs, Pack, and Rams may be more than our Oline can handle after making it thru the AFC matchups with (likely) TN and Baltimore. 

Fortunately we don’t have to play all three of those teams in the playoffs and only one will make it to the super bowl lol they also don’t see us as often as the dolphins do. On paper the dolphins d really isn’t far behind any of those teams it’s impossible to say how much has been them underperforming up to this point and how much was us struggling. Lots of games to go to figure that out 

Edited October 31, 2021 by Generic_Bills_Fan

[JY422]

13 minutes ago, JoPoy88 said:

People said the same thing about the OL early last year and they figured it out enough to get all the way to the AFC championship game. Why don’t you calm down.

Calm down? I’m sitting in my favorite chair with a smile on my face after sweeping our most long lasting rival. I’m the epitome of calm. 
also, you made my point for me. 
they didn’t even win the AFC championship last year due to their below average Oline, mush less the Super Bowl, which is what the title of this post is referring to. 

[Scott7975]

I don't know about all that but this line is terrible.  It cant run or pass block.

[Haslett_Stomp]

The Bills will not win the Super Bowl this season with the way the O-line is currently playing.  Watch any other game and you don't see the line for an "elite" team being dominated by an opposing defense.  Week after week...

Edited October 31, 2021 by Haslett_Stomp

[daz28]

I think Mongo has been playing through a lingering injury.  Hope they give him adequate rest for a couple weeks.   

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

Seems like every week we play scary front 7s even though our opponent overall is bad lol outside of the Houston game who is terrible at everything…so I can’t even really tell what’s happening. 

[daz28]

1 minute ago, Scott7975 said:

I don't know about all that but this line is terrible.  It cant run or pass block.

Sometimes they can pass rush, but it's offset by the fact that they all too often completely miss a block.  As for run blocking, as long as we run the Allen Packer's power sweep, it's effective.  

[Scott7975]

Just now, daz28 said:

Sometimes they can pass rush, but it's offset by the fact that they all too often completely miss a block.  As for run blocking, as long as we run the Allen Packer's power sweep, it's effective.  

 

 I think the only real time they can pass block is when the defense drops all into coverage.  Even then sometimes...

[Roundybout]

Might not be the reason we don't win a Lombardi but man they're mediocre at best. 

 

It's really disgusting when we bring in an extra lineman and LOSE two yards on the ensuing draw play. 

[bbillyfootballcoach]

1 hour ago, Process said:

The Bills are the best team in the AFC and it's really not even close. 

 

I'm gona go out on a limb and say that they are probably a Suberbowl contender this year. 

 

They are #2 in best odds to win the SB at all sportsbooks. Might be #1 if the Bucs lose.

 

Jesus effing christ

so because Vegas says something its a done deal?  Did you not see the game?  Do your eyes not work?  the game and the crap oline play is what this post is referring to and the OP is right.   But maybe ill drink some cool aid and check vegas odds and live in fantasy...like you...genius.

[GunnerBill]

If anything is going to stop us it will be the line.

[Process]

1 minute ago, bbillyfootballcoach said:

so because Vegas says something its a done deal?  Did you not see the game?  Do your eyes not work?  the game and the crap oline play is what this post is referring to and the OP is right.   But maybe ill drink some cool aid and check vegas odds and live in fantasy...like you...genius.

Hahahha

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

5 minutes ago, Haslett_Stomp said:

The Bills will not win the Super Bowl this season with the way the O-line is currently playing.  Watch any other game and you don't see the line for an "elite" team being dominated by an opposing defense.  Week after week...

I think every elite team has been absolutely crippled by bad pass blocking at times this year…josh seems to handle it better than most if not all. Every team’s fans are probably saying the same thing as you right now lol

[bbillyfootballcoach]

1 hour ago, Warcodered said:

But in other news we won today.

oh and in other news the sun came out in parts of the world and they sky is blue...great post!   maybe a win against a 1-6 team doesnt mean we win the superbowl....read the op again and try to say something 1/3 smart.

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

2 minutes ago, bbillyfootballcoach said:

so because Vegas says something its a done deal?  Did you not see the game?  Do your eyes not work?  the game and the crap oline play is what this post is referring to and the OP is right.   But maybe ill drink some cool aid and check vegas odds and live in fantasy...like you...genius.

I mean they certainly consider the bad offensive line play when they set their odds to be fair…and despite the bad offensive line play against a defense that has underperformed but undeniably has a lot of talent we covered one of the biggest spreads of the year 

[Haslett_Stomp]

6 minutes ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

I think every elite team has been absolutely crippled by bad pass blocking at times this year…josh seems to handle it better than most if not all. Every team’s fans are probably saying the same thing as you right now lol

 

No running game, at least one that makes the opposing defenses respect the run.  Beane to Dabol:  you realize we gave Josh a $200 million contract, right?

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

2 minutes ago, Haslett_Stomp said:

 

No running game, at least one that makes the opposing defenses respect the run.  Beane to Dabol:  you realize we gave Josh a $200 million contract, right?

Yea you give him 200 million to win these exact games and he did…there aren’t just dozens of great well rounded offensive linemen hitting free agency every year.  the dolphins have had a ton of draft capital to build a team to beat us specifically and josh is a Charles clay drop away from beating them 8 times in a row. Division games are always slugfests

Edited November 1, 2021 by Generic_Bills_Fan

[Bills Fan of St Augustine]

Need to trade for an OL at the deadline. DL for OL? Morse is barely average, maybe.. when he's not concussed... The rest simply blow. Spencer Brown is a good find. He is the best of the group. Felecia has regressed, lost weight a plausible reason? Dawkins not back yet and was never a great run blocker. Williams never the answer as a RT. G play is very sad. That said, they aren't bad pass blocking as a unit, but cannot dominate at the LOS and will continue to be dominated by the elite DLs.   

[Augie]

1 minute ago, ScottLaw said:

Unfortunately next offseason may be too late…the AFC is their for the taking this year with KC struggling, Baltimore with all the injuries…. Won’t be the case next year, IMO…..They should make a move before the deadline. 

 

Thank you, Eyore, for finding a downside there. If we could find a great OL addition at a reasonable cost, I’d be all for it. I just don’t think that’s going to happen. I’d love to be wrong.  Every team has a weak spot (or three), and we know ours. We will almost certainly have to wait until the offseason to deal with it. We are not the only team with needs, so let’s take our best shot at it! 

[Augie]

29 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

I think you get aggressive if a interior lineman is available…. Even overpay if that is what it takes…..agree with the OP, the line is going to hold them back from winning a SB…..This is the year to do it, IMO. 

 

I don’t totally disagree, but I just don’t see it happening. As I said, I hope I’m wrong. I would not overpay TOO much, as we want to be built to last.

 

I would fear that the only guys available would be a lot t like the guys we already have. We don’t need MORE, we need BETTER. I suspect that only comes in the offseason. 

 

 

.

Edited November 1, 2021 by Augie

[Joe Ferguson]

Was o line the problem on every game?