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

[Not at the table Karlos]

Everyone knew we needed better OL and run game than last year. We did nothing to improve(developmental tackles isn't improving). That starts with Beane. The OL coach hasn't improved the line at all. The run blocking is still trash and the pass blocking has regressed.

[Marvlevydraftdaygenius]

2 hours ago, JohnNord said:

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

 

You think Singletary would be racking up yards against that because the draw back of the cover2 is the middle linebacker has to drop back and cover deep because the two safeties split on third downs. shot gun draws to the running back up the middle kills that defense but also a fast tight end running streaks down the middle also kills cover 2.

[Worstcaseontario]

Fire daboll please

[Hapless Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

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.

 

The problem with "uptempo short passing game" is that when teams can flood the middle of the field with 7 defenders, it takes time for even guys like Beasley and Sanders to get open, and throws are dangerous and must be pinpoint accurate to avoid disaster. 

 

The first MIA game, Josh's INT on a short passing game throw to Diggs is an example of this.  The throw was at or just a little bit behind Diggs instead of leading him, and the defender (playing tight) was able to pick it.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

2 hours ago, dorquemada said:

 

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

On a jet sweep does anyone care? 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

12 minutes ago, Worstcaseontario said:

Fire daboll please

 

Care to explain exactly what firing Daboll would accomplish at this point?

 

Oh, noes, Silly me, of course you don't.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

46 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Cover 2 shell defense.  Line blocks. Josh gets time. Beasley finds the opening but drops the ball.

 

I think so much of the problem is the OL:

 

You just can’t expect 5 seconds to throw all the time. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

40 minutes ago, TheProcess said:

That’s fair. I’m not absolving the players here. They have to execute what’s called. But Daboll knows his weaknesses going into the game. He knows the line and backs are weak. Yet, he doesn’t call plays to hide some of their weaknesses. No Knox, no Brown, no Mongo and he keeps calling the same stuff. He has to be more self aware and call a better game. And, yes, absolutely the team needs to execute better on whatever is called. 100%. 

 

Just what exactly do you want Daboll to call?

[dorquemada]

1 minute ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

On a jet sweep does anyone care? 

 

We've already seen it. When DL are there before the WR can get to the outside it's a guaranteed loss of yards

 

also while we're talking about cutesy playcalling, let's have more of those passes that are 5 yards behind the LoS to the sideline to the RB that always lose at least 3.  Surely one of them will break for a big gainer!

[JohnNord]

1 minute ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

You just can’t expect 5 seconds to throw all the time. 

Agreed but Josh barely had half of that yesterday.  Watch how easy the pocket crumbles:  

 

 

[Lagoon Blues]

I find it odd we have abandoned the jet sweep.  I am guessing it is to protect our returner.  But that was a successful play that has completely disappeared.

[Motorin']

2 hours ago, SWATeam said:

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

 

We miss Knox, big time. He's a mismatch that can take the top off and draw a Safety away from half the field, which opens it up for the wrs on that side. 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

2 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Agreed but Josh barely had half of that yesterday.  Watch how easy the pocket crumbles:  

 

 

He still had 3-4 seconds.  Just can’t expect more than that when the DL doesn’t even pretend to worry about a run. 

[Blainorama5]

Know and more motion - WHERE are the jet sweeps???

[KOKBILLS]

2 hours ago, JohnNord said:

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

 

 

They sure as heck seem to think WR screens are the answer...

 

They're not btw...At least not the way the Bills run them...

[Hapless Bills Fan]

48 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Cover 2 shell defense.  Line blocks. Josh gets time. Beasley finds the opening but drops the ball.

 

I think so much of the problem is the OL:

 

 

That was ...sarcasm?  Although if Josh felt trust in his OL, he could maybe take a little bit more time and make a more accurate throw.  That's a wholly catchable ball though.

 

I'll put it out there, I think the coaches are giving too much latitude to Beasley's self-evaluation that he can be "full go" for games where he's seriously injured.

I think when Beasley drops a throw like that, it could be a sign that he's playing hindered enough that he needs to sit his ass down and give McKenzie a chance.

 

Likewise, Sanders is a problem IMO.  He gushes about Josh in practice, but for whatever reason, he is not coming through in games if the ball isn't perfect (and sometimes not even then).  He couldn't practice all preseason due to "foot" and now he can handle 84% of the snaps in a game?  He played >90% of the snaps in the 3 games we lost and was 4 of 8, 5 of 8, 4 of 8.  Now some of those throws were deep overthrows from Josh but that begs the question - why?  Is Josh throwing to a guy he sees in practice, to the spot that guy can get to in practice, but can't hold up and turn it on the same way when he's playing that many snaps in a game?

 

I think our WR and offensive coaches need to do some self-scouting of game performance.  These guys are professionals, these guys are competitive, they want to be out there and they want to get the ball.  They're also 34 and 32.  The fact is, Josh isn't getting some of the clutch catches that he got from Davis (and early in the season, from Smoke) last year.

 

Playing time vs performance is one of the things the coaches had better examine.

[TBBills]

2 hours ago, Pete said:

but TBD tells me we dont need stud RB

You don't... Get over it.

[Pete]

1 minute ago, TBBills said:

You don't... Get over it.

alright, lets keep rolling with Singletary and Moss.  Opposing D will continue to game plan to stop those 2.  Moss and his 3.6 YPC strikes fear in rest of NFL

[TBBills]

2 minutes ago, Pete said:

alright, lets keep rolling with Singletary and Moss.  Opposing D will continue to game plan to stop those 2.  Moss and his 3.6 YPC strikes fear in rest of NFL

Your inability to see problems is the reason why you are in this loop of wanting a RB. Even though it's proven throughout the NFL that RBs are not needed as much. O Line is needed more than a RB.

 

I don't see you getting smart on the issue so it's useless to try with you anymore.

Edited November 8, 2021 by TBBills

[TampaBillsJunkie]

2 hours ago, Gene1973 said:

Been saying this a while, wanted them to draft one in at least the 2nd round. But, Beane knows best and the Bills look like crap.

Najee Harris is making an impact in Pittsburg and keeping the ghost of Big Ben alive.  You can't plug and play late 3rd rounders and hope they become great lead backs.