McKenzie's Place in the Offense Going Forward

[Warriorspikes51]

Thoughts on how to use him going forward?

At this point, it's time to start giving more opportunities to Shakir, Hines and Cook 

I do think Isaiah is very effective when put in motion 

He quietly has 4 TD's 

 

I could see us making him inactive at Detroit and then catching the Patriots off guard a bit by giving him a lot of touches next week (which gave the Pats nightmares in the game there last season)

Edited November 22, 2022 by Warriorspikes51

[fan_in_tx]

I would add that we are not getting the production from McKenzie, that we got from our former slot receiver who I shall not name due to the political leanings of this board.  Either it is the play calling or simply McKenzie can't get open in the slot not sure which is the cause. 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

Just now, Warriorspikes51 said:

Thoughts on how to use him going forward?

At this point, it's time to start giving more opportunities to Shakir, Hines and Cook 

I do think Isaiah is very effective when put in motion 

 

I could see us making him inactive at Detroit and then catching the Patriots off guard a bit by giving him a lot of touches next week (which gave the Pats nightmares in the game there last season)

 

We're so strapped for WRs at the moment with Kumerow/Crowder/Stevenson all on IR. I can't imagine making him inactive, but I could see decreasing the snap count and being more selective about his usage.   

 

The goal having both Hines and Cook is a personnel grouping that is almost position-less.  Add Mckenzie and Knox and you basically have 4 players who you can line up in the backfield or at WR, several of which are matchup issues.  Ideally you try to run a no huddle type of offense with that grouping for a drive or something.  

 

[Gugny]

They need to cut his ass.

 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

Just now, fan_in_tx said:

I would add that we are not getting the production from McKenzie, that we got from our former slot receiver who I shall not name due to the political leanings of this board.  Either it is the play calling or simply McKenzie can't get open in the slot not sure which is the cause. 

 

I'm not seeing him targeted much at all for whatever reason.  I'd buy all-22 but i dont even know what i'd be looking at.  Play design has a lot to do with things, route spacing, is he primary, was the play checked... etc. 

[dollars 2 donuts]

Warrior...man, I love iMcK and he, despite the 4 tds, has been so disappointing this season.

 

I remember the Miami season finale '20.

 

I remember the Pats no punt game...the first no punt game (ha-ha- * U, Pats!).

 

I remember the successful reverses and running plays.

 

Just frustrating as a fan.

 

As noted by B-Cubed, we are strapped right now...not even "Next Bill Up," as it is mores so "Every Bill Available Up!"

 

 

Edited November 22, 2022 by dollars 2 donuts

[zow2]

McKenzie doesn’t know where to sit in coverages.  He doesn’t seem like a natural receiver… he’s the ultimate gadget guy. Sometimes i question his football IQ because someone that quick should be open all the time or have separation.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

I would say the Bills have 4 guys that are similar: 

 

Hines, Cook, McKenzie and Shakir (most different of the 4). 

 

But I'd start getting a real rotation going, using all 4 in motion and have them slice and dice underneath. 

 

Those guys should be in constant presnap motion, lining up all over the formation. 

 

You're going to need that against W.Gay and N.Bolton of the Chiefs.

 

 

The Bills have 7-games left. Get this started now. 

[Process]

Very original topic, I hadn't thought about it. 

 

He stinks. He's not a starting WR. The time to address it was the off-season. They didnt. There's nothing we can do now other than hope they start playing Shakir more. 

[HereComesTheReignAgain]

5 minutes ago, Process said:

Very original topic, I hadn't thought about it. 

 

He stinks. He's not a starting WR. The time to address it was the off-season. They didnt. There's nothing we can do now other than hope they start playing Shakir more. 

Signing Crowder doesn't count as addressing it in the off-season?  They probably should have been able to predict that he would break his leg.

[Matt_In_NH]

19 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

I could see us making him inactive at Detroit

They have 4 active WR's.

[BuffaloTX]

Give Shakir the ball!

[Stank_Nasty]

ten times the issue that Davis is....

[DCbillsfan]

26 minutes ago, fan_in_tx said:

I would add that we are not getting the production from McKenzie, that we got from our former slot receiver who I shall not name due to the political leanings of this board.  Either it is the play calling or simply McKenzie can't get open in the slot not sure which is the cause. 

I'd add that Allen doesn't trust him as far as catching the ball.  McKenzie has some of the damndest things happen to him regarding ball security.

[LeGOATski]

McKenzie bashing is so Week 6

[Warriorspikes51]

7 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

They have 4 active WR's.

 

Give Gentry a few looks then. He's been on the practice squad for years 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

Weirdly enough, he seems to have regressed as a receiver and route runner. Not sure what has happened. 

[Simon]

 

Probably the least instinctive football player to wear a Bills uniform since that clueless lacrosse player that us and then Belichik squeezed a couple 9 routes out of before everybody realized he had no idea where he was or what else was happening around him on the field. Chris something or other?

[GunnerBill]

2 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

Probably the least instinctive football player to wear a Bills uniform since that clueless lacrosse player that us and then Belichik squeezed a couple 9 routes out of before everybody realized he had no idea where he was or what else was happening around him on the field. Chris something or other?

 

Hogan and he was better than he got credit for. 

[clayboy54]

5 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Hogan and he was better than he got credit for. 

7/11 - always open.

[colin]

mckenzie is really having a down season.  not a details guy.

 

crowder getting hurt i think cost us a game or two this season.  not that he's the goat, but he was a steady vet and found soft spots on 3rd down and showed good hands.  

[ExWNYer]

I was not thrilled with them calling his number on the two point conversion attempt against the Browns. The smallest guy on the field and their 5th or 6th best option there...if that. They got too cute and outsmarted themselves. Overall, he's 'meh' to me. Seems like a great locker room guy who fills a niche but is not reliable enough to be a difference maker on a consistent basis.

[Beast]

He’s not catching passes.

 

He’s not returning kicks.

 

What good is he? Depth?

[DeltaDigital]

11 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

Weirdly enough, he seems to have regressed as a receiver and route runner. Not sure what has happened. 

too much barbecue not enough study. 

[DrDawkinstein]

I've done enough McKenzie bashing for this year. So I'll just say I've been happy to see his role reduced, and he shouldnt have been given the ball on the 2pt conversion either.

[Solomon Grundy]

43 minutes ago, Gugny said:

They need to cut his ass.

 

Let’s cut him some slack. He has a child on the way. That’s stressful enough 

[Warriorspikes51]

3 minutes ago, Solomon Grundy said:

Let’s cut him some slack. He has a child on the way. That’s stressful enough 

Oh no!  Karlos Williams part 2 😆

[DaggersEOD]

53 minutes ago, fan_in_tx said:

I would add that we are not getting the production from McKenzie, that we got from our former slot receiver who I shall not name due to the political leanings of this board.  Either it is the play calling or simply McKenzie can't get open in the slot not sure which is the cause. 

Beasley, his skills and relationship with QB1 are sorely missed. 
 

That said, he doesn’t have those skills anymore and has since retired. But we really should find a true replacement as he was the engine that drove our O when he was balling out. 

[Solomon Grundy]

5 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Oh no!  Karlos Williams part 2 😆

He better put down the nutty bars while he’s ahead 😂😂

[FireChans]

55 minutes ago, Gugny said:

They need to cut his ass.

 

TASHARD CHOICE STYLE. SEND A DAMN MESSAGE.

[HOUSE]

Reminds me a lot of Cole Beasley, they are both small 

[SCBills]

Cole Beasley in 2022 is likely not the answer.  He’s a small receiver and wore down last year.  
 

That being said.  He is literally the second most important player that Josh Allen has ever relied on in the NFL. 
 

They were, by all accounts, very close .. and Josh Allen’s development had Cole Beasley as his safety valve since his second year in the league. 
 

I think we all underestimated the loss of Cole. 
 

Now, what do we do?  If it were me, the answer is two-fold.  
 

1) Knox, one of Allen’s closest friends.. similar to the Beasley relationship, becomes the safety valve like we saw against Cleveland.  No reason he shouldn’t have the role we saw on Sunday in this offense with only Diggs and Davis demanding receiving targets.  
 

2) Flip Hines and McKenzie in the Offense.  Use Hines as the gadget/slot move around piece.  Bring in McKenzie for jet sweep motion and red zone packages. 
 

Edited November 22, 2022 by SCBills

[Chandler#81]

32 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

Probably the least instinctive football player to wear a Bills uniform since that clueless lacrosse player that us and then Belichik squeezed a couple 9 routes out of before everybody realized he had no idea where he was or what else was happening around him on the field. Chris something or other?

Agreed. Christian Wade was a better prospect than McKittrick is as a player.

[Simon]

33 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Hogan and he was better than he got credit for. 

 

Well at least this found us a place where we can diverge for once. 

2 minutes ago, Chandler#81 said:

Agreed. Christian Wade was a better prospect than McKittrick is as a player.

 

It was Hogan, not Wade and I don't think either was appreciably better or worse.

They just remind me of one another because they have absolutely zero instincts on a ball field.

[Chandler#81]

3 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

Well at least this found us a place where we can diverge for once. 

 

It was Hogan, not Wade.

And they just remind me of one another because they have zero instincts on a ball filed.

Wade, our British soccer player, is who I was referring to. Never played a regular season game, but had more common sense and actual ability than McKittrick ever has, imo.

[NickelCity]

Can we just rename the thread "Shakir" and try to figure out why the ***** we're not playing him more?

[Arkady Renko]

Fans seeing the result of chasing Beasley out of town now think the solution is chasing another player out of town. 

[RiotAct]

12 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

Reminds me a lot of Cole Beasley, they are both small 

right, but Beasley was clutch.

[Gugny]

Just now, Arkady Renko said:

Fans seeing the result of chasing Beasley out of town now think the solution is chasing another player out of town. 

 

Pretty sure Beasley chased himself out of town and there are currently 32 NFL teams who don't want him.

[Joe Ferguson]

McKenzie should be cut if Bills make the playoffs. If he's in the post season,  Bills will get eliminated.  He's the reason for all 3 Bills losses this year.