THE ROCKPILE REVIEW – At the Bye

[Shaw66]

Three weeks ago, at the one-quarter mark of the season, I was reasonably pleased with the Bills. Now, two losses and a bye later, I’m really wondering whether the Bills are a team that can’t compete at the highest levels.

 

First, a disclaimer: I’m not paying as much attention to the Bills and pro football this season as I have in the past. Last season, if the NFL was on, I watched. This season, I’m watching or attending every Bills game but watching only bits and pieces of other games, sticking with a game if I’m interested, turning it off if it’s boring, or even not watching at all. There’s a sameness to the games that is making me feel like I’m watching the NBA, and the ads are mind-numbing. Point being, I’m writing about my impressions rather than from some deep knowledge and understanding of the NFL. 

 

So, what’s bothering me about the Bills? In no particular order:

 

Speed. I’m seeing teams put a lot of pressure on their opponents with raw speed. I’ve seen clips of the Chiefs, and they’re doing it with Rice back and with Worthy. Gibbs is doing it for the Lions. I guess Elijah Moore and Curtis Samuel are supposed to be the speed element with the Bills, and James Cook, but it doesn’t look the same to me.

 

Power. Several teams, particularly the Eagles and Lions, can consistently drive defensive lines off the ball. They can pound at opponents with good success, and they can protect their quarterbacks in part because they can’t be overpowered. The Bills haven’t shown that kind of power; they’re built to be mobile with enough power to get by, but I haven’t seen them dominate with either mobility or power yet. Strong defensive linemen can overpower them in the passing game. Mike Vrabel brought a powerful, aggressive attitude to the Patriots, and the Bills couldn’t handle it.

 

Fiercely aggressive defense. Some good defenses are coming at the offenses, threatening on every play. The Seahawks seem to be attacking the quarterback and pass receivers relentlessly. The Lions are playing an entire defensive backfield of backups and practice squad guys and still, they play consistently tighter man-to-man defense than the Bills starters ever show. I get that the Bills’ philosophy is shut down the big gains and to make enough plays on the short stuff to stop drives, but other teams are killing the explosive plays AND attacking all over the field.

 

Struggling with mediocre opponents. Michael Penix, Jr. looked like a franchise quarterback against the Bills. A week later the 49ers made him a non-factor. The Dolphins and the Saints pretty much can’t beat anyone, and the Bills were unable to put either team away decisively.

 

Offensive stagnation. In previous seasons, we grew accustomed to seeing the Bills put together long drives, converting on multiple third downs, relentlessly attacking the short- and intermediate areas of the field. This season, the offense has yet to find that kind of consistency. The league seems to have caught up with the defensive style the Bills have featured, and now there are several teams that make that it difficult to sustain drives like that. The Bills offense is struggling against defenses that play the McDermott style, but play it more aggressively. The Bills have been unable to attack weak spots in those defenses, and drives are stalling more frequently.

 

I continue to think that it’s a long season and that the best teams play their best football beginning in December. The Lions, the Eagles, and the Chiefs each are showing signs of becoming dominant teams, and several other teams are emerging as serious opponents.

 

Maybe what we’ve seen is all part of Sean McDermott’s plan for the season: Play vanilla offense and defense to the bye, then begin to ramp up. Maybe his plan was to go 5-1 before the bye and the plan bit him a bit. Maybe those big cushions the Bills cornerbacks give receivers are going to start tightening up, maybe the unexpected blitzes are coming, maybe the offensive line will begin to flash in the run game, maybe Josh Allen will come out of his funk and begin slicing and dicing defenses with the precision we’ve seen in past seasons. I don’t really know.

 

What I do know is that the Bills we’ve seen through six games do not look very much like the teams that are emerging as dominant forces in the league. It’s time to get going.  

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were everyday people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

 

 

[Psautcsk]

"Mike Vrabel brought a powerful, aggressive attitude to the Patriots, and the Bills couldn’t handle it."  This is the sad truth-Thank you for expressing it so well.

[ngbills]

The speed comments are spot on. It’s not just speed getting open or speed to the ball. But when I watch other games I see guys catch the ball and they are gone. 
I al not sure if it’s physical or scheme though. The Bills seem to always be running in crowds, behind blockers etc. I rarely see guys in one on one match ups wre they beat a guy with speed. It’s like they don’t have space to get up to full speed. 

[chris heff]

So since I bought your book you’re “not paying as much attention”? All I can think of is JaMarus Russell.

[Comebackkid]

it will be very interesting to see what the bills brass rolls out after the bye.  by this we can kind of take away how they read the situation.

 

it seems the they had one plan to build and that build had been a do or die theme.    its worked in the past but they dont have the players to pull it off now.

 

The D back field needs to be restocked with starter caliber players.   the Offense really needs an overhaul to get with the times or even better 

yet get ahead of the times.    

its amazing to me how the chiefs can be medicore to good all season and then outstanding especially on D during the playoffs, like they have that other gear.

where as the Bills on D come on ragged and worn out just trying to hold on. 

 

The coaching staff needs to show they can integrate some forward thinking into their coaching and even drafting or the Bills are stuck in the mud

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

Three weeks ago, at the one-quarter mark of the season, I was reasonably pleased with the Bills. Now, two losses and a bye later, I’m really wondering whether the Bills are a team that can’t compete at the highest levels.

 

First, a disclaimer: I’m not paying as much attention to the Bills and pro football this season as I have in the past. Last season, if the NFL was on, I watched. This season, I’m watching or attending every Bills game but watching only bits and pieces of other games, sticking with a game if I’m interested, turning it off if it’s boring, or even not watching at all. There’s a sameness to the games that is making me feel like I’m watching the NBA, and the ads are mind-numbing. Point being, I’m writing about my impressions rather than from some deep knowledge and understanding of the NFL. 

 

So, what’s bothering me about the Bills? In no particular order:

 

Speed. I’m seeing teams put a lot of pressure on their opponents with raw speed. I’ve seen clips of the Chiefs, and they’re doing it with Rice back and with Worthy. Gibbs is doing it for the Lions. I guess Elijah Moore and Curtis Samuel are supposed to be the speed element with the Bills, and James Cook, but it doesn’t look the same to me.

 

Power. Several teams, particularly the Eagles and Lions, can consistently drive defensive lines off the ball. They can pound at opponents with good success, and they can protect their quarterbacks in part because they can’t be overpowered. The Bills haven’t shown that kind of power; they’re built to be mobile with enough power to get by, but I haven’t seen them dominate with either mobility or power yet. Strong defensive linemen can overpower them in the passing game. Mike Vrabel brought a powerful, aggressive attitude to the Patriots, and the Bills couldn’t handle it.

 

Fiercely aggressive defense. Some good defenses are coming at the offenses, threatening on every play. The Seahawks seem to be attacking the quarterback and pass receivers relentlessly. The Lions are playing an entire defensive backfield of backups and practice squad guys and still, they play consistently tighter man-to-man defense than the Bills starters ever show. I get that the Bills’ philosophy is shut down the big gains and to make enough plays on the short stuff to stop drives, but other teams are killing the explosive plays AND attacking all over the field.

 

Struggling with mediocre opponents. Michael Penix, Jr. looked like a franchise quarterback against the Bills. A week later the 49ers made him a non-factor. The Dolphins and the Saints pretty much can’t beat anyone, and the Bills were unable to put either team away decisively.

 

Offensive stagnation. In previous seasons, we grew accustomed to seeing the Bills put together long drives, converting on multiple third downs, relentlessly attacking the short- and intermediate areas of the field. This season, the offense has yet to find that kind of consistency. The league seems to have caught up with the defensive style the Bills have featured, and now there are several teams that make that it difficult to sustain drives like that. The Bills offense is struggling against defenses that play the McDermott style, but play it more aggressively. The Bills have been unable to attack weak spots in those defenses, and drives are stalling more frequently.

 

I continue to think that it’s a long season and that the best teams play their best football beginning in December. The Lions, the Eagles, and the Chiefs each are showing signs of becoming dominant teams, and several other teams are emerging as serious opponents.

 

Maybe what we’ve seen is all part of Sean McDermott’s plan for the season: Play vanilla offense and defense to the bye, then begin to ramp up. Maybe his plan was to go 5-1 before the bye and the plan bit him a bit. Maybe those big cushions the Bills cornerbacks give receivers are going to start tightening up, maybe the unexpected blitzes are coming, maybe the offensive line will begin to flash in the run game, maybe Josh Allen will come out of his funk and begin slicing and dicing defenses with the precision we’ve seen in past seasons. I don’t really know.

 

What I do know is that the Bills we’ve seen through six games do not look very much like the teams that are emerging as dominant forces in the league. It’s time to get going.  

 

GO BILLS!!!

 

The Rockpile Review is written to share the passion we have for the Buffalo Bills. That passion was born in the Rockpile; its parents were everyday people of western New York who translated their dedication to a full day’s hard work and simple pleasures into love for a pro football team.

 

 

Shaw as always, great work.  I feel the league has caught up,and neither coordinator or McDermott know how to adjust.

 

I feel Josh has changed completely this offseason and its good for him,bad for us.  He now says a Superbowl is no longer the goal, that going out and playing etc is.  He said Hailee has helped him realize he isnt just a QB.  I see a guy who now is just there.  Im not saying he doesnt like to win,but if we do we do, if not its ok,he is going home to his wife.  I just dont see the fire or passion of years past.

 

This is his 9th year, and this team is honestly further away from getting to and winning a Superbowl, so maybe part of it he has said screw it.  He sees Beane hasnt done crap talent wise and maybe he doesnt think McDermott can get the job done...so he isnt going to put as much of himself into it.  Sure fans think its impossible,but he is human and just got married to a woman who has opened his eyes to life.  

 

I am wondering if next year is his last.  10th season, 1st in the new stadium, married for 2 and just over 30. He has set NFL records and if this team is still stagnant or worse going in reverse... I can fully see him retiring.

 

Beyond that... you are 💯.   No speed, no power, no aggressiveness and we cant even execute fundamentals.  

Edited 15 hours ago by SoonerBillsFan

[hondo in seattle]

We don't have the right players to play offense with speed or power. 

 

We don't have the right players to play aggressive defense.

 

I don't think we have the right coaches to play innovative (i.e. non-stagnant) offense.  

 

Sadly, the problems you list are not easily fixed.  

It seems to me that making a run in the playoffs will require:

 

*  Josh to play hero ball.

 

*  Babich to coach his guys up to a higher level. While we don't have great athletes on D, they can communicate better, miss fewer assignments, swarm to the ball more energetically, play to the whistle more often, and cover each other's mistakes, etc. as we've seen in previous iterations of the McD defense.

 

*  Brady to be much more consistent at developing effective game plans and calling good plays. 

 

 

[DuckyBoys]

12 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

Shaw as always, great work.  I feel the league has caught up,and neither coordinator or McDermott know how to adjust.

 

I feel Josh has changed completely this offseason and its good for him,bad for us.  He now says a Superbowl is no longer the goal, that going out and playing etc is.  He said Hailee has helped him realize he isnt just a QB.  I see a guy who now is just there.  Im not saying he doesnt like to win,but if we do we do, if not its ok,he is going home to his wife.  I just dont see the fire or passion of years past.

 

This is his 9th year, and this team is honestly further away from getting to and winning a Superbowl, so maybe part of it he has said screw it.  He sees Beane hasnt done crap talent wise and maybe he doesnt think McDermott can get the job done...so he isnt going to put as much of himself into it.  Sure fans think its impossible,but he is human and just got married to a woman who has opened his eyes to life.  

 

I am wondering if next year is his last.  10th season, 1st in the new stadium, married for 2 and just over 30. He has set NFL records and if this team is still stagnant or worse going in reverse... I can fully see him retiring.

 

Beyond that... you are 💯.   No speed, no power, no aggressiveness and we cant even execute fundamentals.  

Scary thought, we fans B word about Josh getting older and never think about him pulling a "Barry "and walking away  Who could blame him

[SoCal Deek]

Let me see if I got this right: The Bills aren’t fast enough, big enough, tough enough, or smart enough. 
 

Okie Dokie! 

[Dan Darragh]

36 minutes ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

I feel Josh has changed completely this offseason and its good for him,bad for us.  He now says a Superbowl is no longer the goal, that going out and playing etc is.  He said Hailee has helped him realize he isnt just a QB.  I see a guy who now is just there.  Im not saying he doesnt like to win,but if we do we do, if not its ok,he is going home to his wife.  I just dont see the fire or passion of years past.

 

[nedboy7]

You nailed it. Great write up. 

[Special K]

7 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

Let me see if I got this right: The Bills aren’t fast enough, big enough, tough enough, or smart enough. 
 

Okie Dokie! 

 

I think the Bills need a visit from Stuart Smalley after that scathing review!!🤣

 

[PonyBoy]

Halfway through your book. Good Stuff! 

 

C'mon TBD, let's support this guy! 

The book is called Stories of Buffalo and the Bills- FAN, order one, it's an interesting read if you're from the area or not. 

 

Ok @Shaw66 Make check payable to PonyBoy $1,000,000 😀

 

 

[1st&ten]

It seems to me that they are keeping Josh in the pocket more. I think Josh is at his best when he rolls out to the right & left during the game, I think it makes the defenses more nervous & it usually makes a corner back move up leaving more space for a receiver to get open.

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, DuckyBoys said:

Scary thought, we fans B word about Josh getting older and never think about him pulling a "Barry "and walking away  Who could blame him

That's my concern. He just isnt "him" this year.

42 minutes ago, Dan Darragh said:

 

Yeah dammit

[90sBills]

2 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

 

I feel Josh has changed completely this offseason and its good for him,bad for us.  He now says a Superbowl is no longer the goal, that going out and playing etc is.  He said Hailee has helped him realize he isnt just a QB.  I see a guy who now is just there.  Im not saying he doesnt like to win,but if we do we do, if not its ok,he is going home to his wife.  I just dont see the fire or passion of years past.

 

I’ve noticed this as well. Just before the season he was saying he envisions a Super Bowl parade in Buffalo. Now he’s saying essentially whatever happens happens and that he’s more than just a football player. Why do you think that is? My opinion is he wants to temper expectations and focus on one game at a time. At least I hope that’s what it is. 

[Richard Noggin]

Really solid writeup that I also happen to agree with almost note for note.

 

The responses questioning Allen's on-field fire/desire are curious/interesting, but too heavily reliant on unrelated off-field circumstances and very recent poor results. Correlation is not causation. What I've seen on the field hasn't looked great the last two weeks especially, but in no way suggests to me that the guy isn't putting it all on the line out there. One COULD reasonably question what playing this long for the same conservative (some might say gutless) head coach eventually does to a DAWG like Allen. Like maybe he's being robbed of a small piece of his competitive soul each week, each camp, each season, since 13 seconds. But the off-field, personal conjecture is kinda silly and undeserved for a dude who risks it all in ways most QBs won't and consistently plays through all kinds of damage. 

[Utah John]

5 hours ago, Psautcsk said:

"Mike Vrabel brought a powerful, aggressive attitude to the Patriots, and the Bills couldn’t handle it."  This is the sad truth-Thank you for expressing it so well.

Vrabel did more than that.  He figured out how to defend the Bills, with an outstanding QB, excellent RB, above average O line, and mediocre receivers.  Josh hasn't had the opportunity to run, and when he has taken off, he's been hesitant.  He doesn't have quite as much time to pass as he had last year.  Vrabel attacked Josh and the O line couldn't hold up.  But the biggest problem is that the scheme that Vrable used, and which everyone else will copy until the Bills beat it, worked. 

[Figster]

26 minutes ago, Utah John said:

Vrabel did more than that.  He figured out how to defend the Bills, with an outstanding QB, excellent RB, above average O line, and mediocre receivers.  Josh hasn't had the opportunity to run, and when he has taken off, he's been hesitant.  He doesn't have quite as much time to pass as he had last year.  Vrabel attacked Josh and the O line couldn't hold up.  But the biggest problem is that the scheme that Vrable used, and which everyone else will copy until the Bills beat it, worked. 

This is a big test for Joe Brady. Ken Dorsey lost his job when the Bills Offense stopped winning football games. To me this is a big test for the whole regime. The Bills OC and DC are both question marks. Josh Allen should have a 1WR. The Bills drafted heavily on D without results. 

 

  

[BeastMaster]

4 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

Really solid writeup that I also happen to agree with almost note for note.

 

The responses questioning Allen's on-field fire/desire are curious/interesting, but too heavily reliant on unrelated off-field circumstances and very recent poor results. Correlation is not causation. What I've seen on the field hasn't looked great the last two weeks especially, but in no way suggests to me that the guy isn't putting it all on the line out there. One COULD reasonably question what playing this long for the same conservative (some might say gutless) head coach eventually does to a DAWG like Allen. Like maybe he's being robbed of a small piece of his competitive soul each week, each camp, each season, since 13 seconds. But the off-field, personal conjecture is kinda silly and undeserved for a dude who risks it all in ways most QBs won't and consistently plays through all kinds of damage. 

The QB is always a reflection of his coach

 

I have no doubt that McDermott has influenced him, and not in a positive fashion when it comes to his mentality as a football player

 

It's to the point now where I feel as if it's damn near criminal what this organization has made Josh deal with, and if he ever voices his displeasure or asks to be moved, I would completely understand it and support him because he's been done no favors by McDermott or Beane