A Few Thoughts about the Falcons Game - Community Edition

[TheBrownBear]

27 minutes ago, TFBillsfan said:

D scheme: It’s beyond maddening how this D gets run over or constantly gives up wide open passes. The D doesn’t pass rush well, cover well or stop the run! 

I'm not a fan of the D scheme, but it's always been designed to give up the run.  The problem is that our back end guys are so atrocious now, teams are still eating our lunch in the passing game.  And these aren't even good QBs.  Wait until we face Mahomes, Mayfield, etc. It's gonna be ugly.

[billsfan714]

1 minute ago, TheBrownBear said:

I'm not a fan of the D scheme, but it's always been designed to give up the run.  The problem is that our back end guys are so atrocious now, teams are still eating our lunch in the passing game.  And these aren't even good QBs.  Wait until we face Mahomes, Mayfield, etc. It's gonna be ugly.

Isnt that the truth, reminds me of last year against the Rams and Lions.   Going to take 40 to win those.   Thats insane.   And here we still are a year later.

[BeastMaster]

Team is lost

 

They are searching for answers on both sides of the ball, and Josh doesn't seem to be playing with the type of energy and leadership we are accustomed to

 

Might be time to pull the plug

[LABILLBACKER]

@Virgil props for an excellent post. I agree with everything.  It’s really scary how easily we could be 3-3 or 2-4.  Josh's body language says it all. Beane and McDermott have failed him in so many ways. 8+ years of failing to draft a #1 WR.  Besides Walker, not one impactful player out of 16 players drafted these past 2 seasons. A list of failed FA's a mile long.  I've been eviscerated on this board for criticizing Sean. Great human being but a weak coach. Maybe by some miracle he gets this team a Lombardi.  But my money is on.... it's not happening. 

[LABILLBACKER]

3 hours ago, Nelius said:

Agree with all great write up

 

I think it’s worth extending Groot’s futility to AJ as the two combined are anything but consistent. They have a combined 9 seasons in the league now and the media still treats them as like up and coming? Any time they make a splash play it’s treated as unique and not like something that they should be doing regularly. They’re the present and we’ve unfortunately probably seen their ceiling, which is infuriating. 

They're both worthless and the mediocrity of their career stats confirm it. We overpaid on both of them.

[BobbyC81]

3 hours ago, Hawaii50 said:

Teams know our receivers cannot separate.  Blitz Josh and no one can get open.  Not a good situation.  Our defense is showing signs of live which is only positive.  Brady may need to go.  Never liked having a Brady on our team.

Yeah, I thought that’s what Josh Palmer was supposed to bring.  He did make a nice catch on that deep ball early in the game.  Then he gets hurt.  Shavers looked decent.  Let him play more.

[Trogdor]

4 hours ago, Mr. Wonderful said:

Josh suddenly looks human.  No weekly heroics like last season where it all magically came together.

Defense getting shredded.  To Beane's credit he tried to address in the draft but D is bad.  Really bad.

WR's suck.  No speed.  No separation.   Not sure what can be done to fix the lack of talent.

All teams have warts but the potential of facing Mahomes in the playoffs again looks daunting.    

He tried to address the mess he made by drafting really poorly. The only defensive contributor is a guy that fell to them thanks to an injury history. The reach for Sanders was criminal and Landon Jackson mighty never be ready. I also don't think Hairston was going to be developed right away. 

55 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

@Virgil props for an excellent post. I agree with everything.  It’s really scary how easily we could be 3-3 or 2-4.  Josh's body language says it all. Beane and McDermott have failed him in so many ways. 8+ years of failing to draft a #1 WR.  Besides Walker, not one impactful player out of 16 players drafted these past 2 seasons. A list of failed FA's a mile long.  I've been eviscerated on this board for criticizing Sean. Great human being but a weak coach. Maybe by some miracle he gets this team a Lombardi.  But my money is on.... it's not happening. 

Hopefully as the opposing defensive coordinator. 

[davefan66]

Josh can only do so much. This offense is predicated on quick passes. When Josh can’t find a receiver right away, it all breaks down. Line doesn’t hold up, Josh is running around and nothing.  His rolling to the right is no longer working as defenses have figured it out.

 

Beane needs to pull the trigger on a WR during this bye. Coleman ain’t the guy. Love Shakir but he can’t be the only threat. Where was Elijah Moore? Needed Knox to step up and that certainly didn’t happen. Trade whomever it takes to get a body on the team.. Certainly a sellers market. When will Gabe be ready to play?  
 

Gotta talk about Coleman more. Dude is pretty much a bust. A one-trick pony that adds nothing to this offense. He is not a “go to” guy. He’s a 3rd or 4th receiver that is used a few times in a game in the endzone or sideline. Not a guy who is on the field every play running routes and not getting open.

 

The defense stepped up after the first half. Yes, they let a few big plays past them, but they did tighten down. Considering we lost a few guys last night on a defense that is already thin, they did all right.  They gave the offense a chance and that’s all you can ask for.  Only gave up 3 points n the 2nd half to a team that look poised to hang 50 on us.

[Poleshifter]

3 hours ago, TFBillsfan said:

 

If a change were to occur, we have ZERO in house options. 

Who is that senior defensive assistant I have heard about?  Holcomb?  Maybe he could take over at DC.

[Poleshifter]

1 hour ago, LABILLBACKER said:

They're both worthless and the mediocrity of their career stats confirm it. We overpaid on both of them.

Yes, this overpayment (aka keeping your own guys) is the kind of "loyalty" that is killing this team.  Continuity?  Of what? Continuous mediocre defense?

 

I'm afraid Terry Pegula uses that same "loyalty" concept to avoid the distasteful process of firing a coach or GM. 

 

Like @muppy said in another post, it's like a "cheaper to keep her" marriage where you just don't want to make the change because change is so... icky.

 

 

 

Thank you, @Virgil for your coherent thoughts at a depressing time like this.

[juno999]

6 hours ago, NoSaint said:

I said last year they overachieved with near every break going their way, until KC, outside very limited situations 

 

we needed to step forward, not just run it back. To play perfect wasn’t enough. To play just good is not close to enough when the ceiling is so low outside Josh. 
 

odds are we win 12 games but it’s not a dominant team

I hope you’re right about 12 wins. I can’t look that far ahead but the Panthers and Chiefs look way better than the Bills right now. I believe the Bills are staring at 4 - 4.   This defense is terrible and our receivers aren’t much better. 

[All_Pro_Bills]

Without Allen this is a 6 win roster. And the way they're playing this season maybe with him. This might be nothing but when I see Josh in a half-dozen TV commercials I start thinking he's not so focused on football anymore. 

With all that, this team's problems are the result of bad personnel decisions. Both drafting and free agency. Look at this year's draft. Hawes and Walker, that's it. Last year not any better. Lots of free agent dollars on a defensive line that can't stop the run or pressure the QB. Smaller players always hurt. No WR help when guys like Pickens and Metcalf were available for the right price other teams are willing to pay. In the draft Beane trades up and reaches for players that likely would be available by staying put. Is he trying to improve the roster or showing how "smart" he is as a GM? 

McDermott seems like a good leader but I don't see any growth as a game manager or strategist. Brady seems to have regressed and Babich I see nothing creative. The owner? Just look at the Sabres. 

This Bills teams needs a major reset in the front office, coaching, and personnel. Without some miracle coming out of the bye, the party is over for this group.

I could go on and rant for a couple dozen pages here but I think we all get it. But does Pegula? And is he capable of getting it right?

The clocks ticking down on the window of our franchise QB while the front office and coaches piss away season after season and demonstrate no sense of urgency. Blink and it will all be over soon enough. 

Edited 1 hour ago by All_Pro_Bills

[Billzgobowlin]

Don't let Allen of the hook, he was not good last night.  With that being said he literally had no one to throw the ball to after Palmer went down other than Shakir.  I fault Brady for not pivoting earlier.  Coleman and Shavers did not win one on one battles and Coleman needs to be much better or shown the door.  The defense I'm not sure what is expected by Babich.  The backend right now is a hot mess.  The DBs started looking solid with Benford and Strong and haven't looked the same with White.  He is consistently behind players and that won't work.  Safety play has been horrible with plays made by Rapp but then the next play he injures one of our own.  We can't keep LBs healthy and that is becoming a huge problem.  Shaq Thompson playing was probably one of the best things going on last night.  This defense won't get better unless they cut bait with both Safetys.  McDerm's big fault is he thinks he can help the DBs and that Hyde and young Poyer are roaming it and that is just not the case.  Also I think this is the first time I have said this but mix in some blitz packages with base defense right away.  Overreaction is that we need wholesale changes at 4-2 but that backend has been an issue that needs to be addressed.

[Dan Darragh]

Go back and look at the grades the Bills coaching staff has been given in the weekly post-game "report cards" in the Buffalo News and the Democrat & Chronicle. Coaching has been consistently bad all year, whether it's play calling, penalties (Offside? illegal formation??) or the general failure of our "very sophisticated" defense lead by our defense-specialist HC.

 

The Bills have been dominant for exactly 5 quarters this year, one against the 1-5 Ravens and 4 against the 0-6 Jets. The rest of the time, watching them has been reminiscent of the bad old days - not the really terrible teams but the Tyrod-Fitzy-Orton teams that were kind of OK but couldn't do anything when it mattered.

 

I heard someone say that the NFL is a passing league, but not when the Bills are playing; just run the ball and get 180 yards that way.

 

I heard someone say that when a team blitzes it leaves opportunities open but not when the Bills are playing; nobody seems to be able to run a hot route and our coaches can't scheme up an extra blocker in the backfield - too bad we don't have a FB on the team.  Oops, we do.

 

Maybe I sound like a broken record (and maybe the younger people on the board don't even know that expression) but this team hasn't been right since 13 seconds and I think it's because there has never been any accountability for what was clearly a coaching meltdown.  Without that, we can't expect these guys to lead us to the next level.

[Billzgobowlin]

1 hour ago, davefan66 said:

Josh can only do so much. This offense is predicated on quick passes. When Josh can’t find a receiver right away, it all breaks down. Line doesn’t hold up, Josh is running around and nothing.  His rolling to the right is no longer working as defenses have figured it out.

 

Beane needs to pull the trigger on a WR during this bye. Coleman ain’t the guy. Love Shakir but he can’t be the only threat. Where was Elijah Moore? Needed Knox to step up and that certainly didn’t happen. Trade whomever it takes to get a body on the team.. Certainly a sellers market. When will Gabe be ready to play?  
 

Gotta talk about Coleman more. Dude is pretty much a bust. A one-trick pony that adds nothing to this offense. He is not a “go to” guy. He’s a 3rd or 4th receiver that is used a few times in a game in the endzone or sideline. Not a guy who is on the field every play running routes and not getting open.

 

The defense stepped up after the first half. Yes, they let a few big plays past them, but they did tighten down. Considering we lost a few guys last night on a defense that is already thin, they did all right.  They gave the offense a chance and that’s all you can ask for.  Only gave up 3 points n the 2nd half to a team that look poised to hang 50 on us.

I think a good comp is Dawson.  He will show up every now and again with a great play but never consistent.

2 minutes ago, Dan Darragh said:

Go back and look at the grades the Bills coaching staff has been given in the weekly post-game "report cards" in the Buffalo News and the Democrat & Chronicle. Coaching has been consistently bad all year, whether it's play calling, penalties (Offside? illegal formation??) or the general failure of our "very sophisticated" defense lead by our defense-specialist HC.

 

The Bills have been dominant for exactly 5 quarters this year, one against the 1-5 Ravens and 4 against the 0-6 Jets. The rest of the time, watching them has been reminiscent of the bad old days - not the really terrible teams but the Tyrod-Fitzy-Orton teams that were kind of OK but couldn't do anything when it mattered.

 

I heard someone say that the NFL is a passing league, but not when the Bills are playing; just run the ball and get 180 yards that way.

 

I heard someone say that when a team blitzes it leaves opportunities open but not when the Bills are playing; nobody seems to be able to run a hot route and our coaches can't scheme up an extra blocker in the backfield - too bad we don't have a FB on the team.  Oops, we do.

 

Maybe I sound like a broken record (and maybe the younger people on the board don't even know that expression) but this team hasn't been right since 13 seconds and I think it's because there has never been any accountability for what was clearly a coaching meltdown.  Without that, we can't expect these guys to lead us to the next level.

It's maddening.  They hold these RBs most of the time but like last night one play of 80 yards is where Robinson got over half of his yards.  What happens on that one play where they can't stop the guy, it happens so much.

[Pete]

7 hours ago, Virgil said:

 

 

5 - Babich - This defense has shown nothing since Babich took over as defensive coordinator.  Babich needs to be fired before the plane touches down in Buffalo.  The Falcons have two weapons in total, and they killed us with it.  Our inability to take any offensive player out of a game is painful to watch.  Just look at how Diggs picked us apart last week, then had one catch the next week.  We commit huge penalties (thanks Groot), can't get off the field on third down, can't tackle, and found a way to make almost every returning player on defense regress.  Babich needs to be fired, McD needs to run the defense, and see if he can keep his job.  Falcons offensive yards - 436 ( Robinson and London had 379 of them)

 

6 - Brady - I think Brady thought McD was complimenting him when referring to his offense as cute, because he called another series ending sweep on short yardage that ended up on the turf.  When the Falcons sent 5 on defense, we didn't have a sixth lineman on the field.  No slants our quick release passes to slow down the pass rush.  Cook off the field on third and short.  No passes to Cook.  When Palmer left with an injury, the offense looked helpless.  If Palmer is the dealbreaker on offense, we are in a lot of trouble.  Also, our lack of go-to plays on 4th and short or 2 point conversions is baffling to me.  I don't know who his replacement would be, but this just isn't 

 

 

I will sign this in blood.  If only one gets canned, please let it be Brady.  McD can take over D calls.  Brady is throwing wrenches into gears.  Bills have top OL, Josh ***** Allen, James Cook- and Brady cannot get one ***** yard!!!!!!!

[Dan Darragh]

2 hours ago, davefan66 said:

Gotta talk about Coleman more. Dude is pretty much a bust. A one-trick pony that adds nothing to this offense. He is not a “go to” guy. He’s a 3rd or 4th receiver that is used a few times in a game in the endzone or sideline. Not a guy who is on the field every play running routes and not getting open.

This is clearly true.  So it makes you wonder why the front office was so fixated on him back on draft day.  They traded down not once, but twice, because he was the guy they really wanted.  Never mind who else was on the board and how good they've turned out to be.  That's a shame, but the real concern here is that the front office was so wrong about a guy they were so fixated on.  And if you want to write the story of the Elam draft, you can copy-paste.

 

The only two really good draft choices this team has made in recent seasons (besides Walker, for whom it's still too early) were both random later round dart board shots: Bernard and Benford. 

[davefan66]

9 minutes ago, Billzgobowlin said:

I think a good comp is Dawson.  He will show up every now and again with a great play but never consistent.

 

If Coleman was Knox, I’d be happy with that.

 

Coleman is nonexistent.  3 catches for 11 yards last night? What is that?

 

Worst part about his game? I don’t think Josh believes in him.

[GunnerBill]

1. The defense is absolutely trash. There is no question it is poorly coached at the moment and dreadfully called. But the players can't execute the most basic stuff either. Babich has to go. I don't think that is a silver bullet but the not being lined up right on 3rd down in the redzone type stuff has only been a feature since he has been in charge. He is in over his head. Fire him and make McDermott directly accountable for improving the defense.

 

2. That said there is some Brandon Beane blame there too. Bishop is trash. Williams is worse. Tre White is washed. Rapp is a backup out of his depth. And extending Bernard was a mistake. 

 

3. On offense, Brady isn't faultless - the Falcons never stopped James Cook. He had 4.3 ypc at half time and yet had only 7 carries. He ended at 5.1 ypc on 17 totes. I don't care about load management he is our only weapon. He has to get the ball. Last week and this we have gotten away from him to put the game in the hands of bad receivers. It makes no sense. I don't want to be a run first team but with this roster we HAVE to be. 

 

4. Josh was crap last night. I didn't think he played poorly last week really except for the pick but last night he was bad. The ball never quite seemed to be coming off his hand right and then he got frustrated and was pressing and it spiralled. But I do not for a minute put this on Josh because......

 

5. The ineptitiude on offense isn't really on the OC or the QB. It is on the General Manager. He thought Keon Coleman was worth the 33rd pick. WRONG. He decided to spend his cap dollars on mid range FAs lile Samuel and Palmer. WRONG. He vehemently and aggressively defended his total under prioritisation of receiver by blaming radio guys in the spring. WRONG. Teams are basically bracketing Shakir, manning up everywhere else and daring our receivers to win and not a single one of them can. Yes I hated Brady going back to the gimmick sweep play, but he is running gimmicks because he knows what you know, what I know and what Josh Allen knows. In conventional drop back offense his skill guys cannot get open. And that is on talent. And that is on the GM. 

 

6. That is as bad a Bills performance as I can remember since the Peterman meltdown in San Diego. Pathetic. McDermott is squarely on the hook for the defense and as I say I'd make him directly accountable for that the rest of the way. Brandon Beane is on the hook for the offense. I think everyone (possibly except Pegula) believes the extension of their tenures should be a year to year decision at this point. They will be evaluated at the end of the season but right now there are more black marks than credit points on both ledgers for 2025. Both seats should feel boiling hot.

[Billzgobowlin]

5 minutes ago, davefan66 said:

If Coleman was Knox, I’d be happy with that.

 

Coleman is nonexistent.  3 catches for 11 yards last night? What is that?

 

Worst part about his game? I don’t think Josh believes in him.

Do you blame him?