Joe Buscaglia Shares The Root Cause of The Bills Struggles and Why It’s a Major Issue

[JohnNord]

Is it Daboll, Josh, The O-Line, the RB’s?   YES to all, but it’s a bit more complex.  

 

On the Bills Beat podcast Joe Buscaglia revealed the reason for the Bills offensive struggles:

 

The short:

Teams are selling out to stop the passing game and the Bills haven’t found an answer.

 

The long:

The offense has not been able to beat a Cover 2 Shell defense.  The scheme has allowed less talented teams to bridge the gap with inferior players.   It’s basically the KC treatment this season and unless they can figure out a way to solve this, I think what has happened to KC might be a comp.

Of course like any issue, there are many reasons:

 

Offensive line - perhaps the “trunk” of the issue.   Can’t pass protect and can’t run block.  OL is getting good running looks but can’t generate any yards.  Easily the biggest issue.

 

Running backs - See above…but also our backs don’t threaten anyone or make teams pay for having a light box.

Quarterback - Josh, like Mahomes this season, is getting no help from his backs & OL.  He’s trying to do much including moving when he doesn’t need to.  

Play calling - Brian Daboll had not found a scheme to consistently get teams out of Cover 2.  The easiest thing to do would be to run the ball against a light box. But issues with #1 and #2 above really limit what they can do.  They did try to use Beasley as a RB yesterday to move the sticks but he couldn’t get any YAC.  This week, Daboll & crew need to go back to the drawing board and completely install new routes plays to offset the terrible OL and of course this scheme.  

 

Next week will be a major test for the Bills and could be the turning point of the season.  It’s possible they could find an answer.  Also possible that the a question mark going into this season (the OL) could sink their chances.  
 

Joe isn’t pushing the panic button yet but says that this is a major concern that the Bills will need to address or else, teams will just play the same defense.  
 

As fans we just have to take this week to week.  Hopefully they find an answer.  
 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-buffalo-beat-a-show-about-the-buffalo-bills/id1373776577?i=1000541080089

 

[PromoTheRobot]

Very accurate description of our issues. The answer to me is a uptempo short passing game.

 

I might also add we need to get over settling for field goals. We seem to have this mindset that getting three is failure. That cost us the game.

 

 

Edited November 8, 2021 by PromoTheRobot

[bigduke6]

just what i was afraid of,  the Bills,  like the Chefs,  have been figured out.   u cant be one dimensional in this league and hope to succeed on a regular basis.   the offense has been off all year,  and it become really obvious the last few weeks that opposing DCs have figured out what works against us.    u want to do what u do best,  but if its taken away u need to adapt.   appears we cant at this point.   not looking good for the near future.    gotta find some sort of run game.

[SWATeam]

I think having knox to threaten the seem is how they plan to attack cover 2

[CEN-CAL17]

The Bills could lose to the Jets, that’s obvious cause they lost to Jax. Yesterday’s loss says any team can beat the Bills…. Not looking good fans.

[Nitro]

Change up the scheme and personnel.   Traditional two back sets would be an option.  The O line is what it is.  

[Big Turk]

Why is McKenzie not being utilized at all on jet sweeps this year with his speed and quickness??

10 minutes ago, CEN-CAL17 said:

The Bills could lose to the Jets, that’s obvious cause they lost to Jax. Yesterday’s loss says any team can beat the Bills…. Not looking good fans.

 

Could but I doubt they will. How many times have they lost to inferior opponents? Almost never.

[Pete]

but TBD tells me we dont need stud RB

[dorquemada]

3 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Why is McKenzie not being utilized at all on jet sweeps this year with his speed and quickness??

 

 

 

Because within a half second of the snap there are 4 DL in the backfield

[Coffeesforclosers]

In terms of broad trends, looks like the RB position isn't going to be plug n play anymore.  We might see more of Breida, if holes are only going to flash open, we need speed.  Long term, we need speed and power rather than elusiveness. Get a big back, get him going down hill, and make nickel and dime looks pay a price.

 

Also, ya know, some decent guards would be nice, along with a firm commitment to an identity in the run game, and an OL coach who can execute it.

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

Making yourself voluntarily one dimensional on offense only helps the other defense. It’s senseless. I have been saying it even all through last year. Then you have the Jeremy Whites of the world that  just says, the answer is throw it more. You absolutely need to get some semblance of a running game going or every physical team is going to beat us. I love the players on our offense but I have the design of our offense.

[All_Pro_Bills]

The line up of Dawkins, Feliciano, Morse, Williams, & Brown was at least functional.  Losing Feliciano and Brown hurt.  Ford is flat-out bad.  Must be somebody better sitting out there on one of the other 31 practice squads.  But given the context of a 3 point game getting your QB consistently hit while calling 47+ pass plays, in a 3 point game where your "D" surrenders just 3 FG's, vs. 9 touches for your RBs isn't a sound strategy.  Giving up way too early on the run. 

Its almost like Daboll is letting his ego dictate the game plan in order to prove he's going to make it work.  And will stick to it until it does.  Way too predictable and maybe its time to drop the genius tag and call a more balanced game.  The offense didn't need to be dominant or great yesterday, only average to beat the Jags.  But for me it looks like they're swinging for the fences all the time instead of playing and calling a more situational game

Edited November 8, 2021 by All_Pro_Bills

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

Just now, All_Pro_Bills said:

The line up of Dawkins, Feliciano, Morse, Williams, & Brown was at least functional.  Losing Feliciano and Brown hurt.  Ford is flat-out bad.  Must be somebody better sitting out there on one of the other 31 practice squads.  But given the context of a 3 point game getting your QB consistently hit while calling 47+ pass plays in a 3 point game 3 FG's vs. 9 touches for your RBs isn't a sound strategy.  Giving up way too early on the run. 

Its almost like Daboll is letting his ego dictate the game plan in order to prove he's going to make it work.  And will stick to it until it does.  Way too predictable and maybe its time to drop the genius tag and call a more balanced game.

 

Problem is RB'S are not that good.....

Edited November 8, 2021 by Buffalo Bills Fan

[Blank Stare]

Now they are struggling against the vanilla cover 2 shell. Not some complex defense bringing pressure from everywhere. No…f’n cover 2. That’s embarrassing and on Daboll just as much, if not more, than the players. 

[Mr. WEO]

Terrible in the red zone again.  Past 3 games: 50%

[TBBills]

No one can explain why the teams sold out for the pass last year and it wasn't a problem. The only problems this year are the teams are selling out the pass and the Bills are trying to run against it instead of doing what they are good at.

[thenorthremembers]

If a NFL Offensive Coordinator cant beat a Cover 2 Shell, he needs to be fired.   That said, the Bills will figure it. 

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

Just now, TBBills said:

No one can explain why the teams sold out for the pass last year and it wasn't a problem. The only problems this year are the teams are selling out the pass and the Bills are trying to run against it instead of doing what they are good at.

 

Easy rush 4 use rest in coverage.  Many teams using this. Along teams using this vs Chiefs. Bill's have a bad o-line. They cannot run to suck up the lbs in play action or even run the ball. o-line has been bad all year. Teams figured that out what they are good at.

1 minute ago, thenorthremembers said:

If a NFL Offensive Coordinator cant beat a Cover 2 Shell, he needs to be fired.   That said, the Bills will figure it. 

 

Think they will figure out too. Have to do many things different this point forward.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

Just now, TheProcess said:

Now they are struggling against the vanilla cover 2 shell. Not some complex defense bringing pressure from everywhere. No…f’n cover 2. That’s embarrassing and on Daboll just as much, if not more, than the players. 

This isn’t new. Any team with at least 2 guys in their front 4 that can win one on one vs o line, wrecks this offense. Then drop the other 7 into coverage. 
 

The Bills should be consistently ripping off 7 yard runs with this look. 
 

it’s what Tennessee has done effectively twice now. Jax and Pittsburgh did the same. 
 

What’s most disappointing is they seem to allow this coverage to completely remove the best WR in the NFL last year from the game. 

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

Just now, ScottLaw said:

The problem is a lot more the blocking than the backs…. The backs are slow but they are solid IMO…. Unfortunately their line is just a bad unit…. Especially the one they trotted out yesterday.

 

 Both are bad this year.