McD strategy blunders

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

1 hour ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

Every single football talk show host and panelists agreed it was a bad gamble with the prospect of Mahomes with more time and the ball on the 40. How could you say the odds are the same starting at the.15 or the 40 with less time at the  15. There’s only time for2 plays from the 15 if a ball is thrown in the field of play.

 

You're completely ignoring the fact that if he made the FG the game is over (for all intents and purposes) and that making the FG is more likely than missing it. 

 

We had an identical in-game situation back in week 3 against the Dolphins that was barely talked about because Prater executed and made the FG. 

[folz]

That's the beauty about being a negative fan with football. You are never wrong.

 

If we lose, there is always something you can point to as the reason...obviously.

 

But, even if we win, you can still point out some 50/50 game decisions that "almost" let the other team win. And if not for (insert blank---usually Josh), we should have lost the game because of that decision. I've seen posters all year say that we "almost lost" to the Dolphins and Saints when the combined scores for those games were Bills 62, Phins/Saints 40 (11-point average margin of victory). And yet between 74% and 81% of NFL games are decided by one score---8 points or fewer. That means the winning team in almost 80% of NFL games "almost lost." And none of those teams (K.C. included) were even driving late in the game for a go-ahead score. Saints were down by 9 points on their last drives, Dolphins were down 7 and then 10 points on their last two drives. Chiefs were down 7 and needed to go 60-yards in 22 seconds with no timeouts, just to try and tie it (not win it). So, the Chiefs needed to convert a Hail Mary and then still try to win the game in OT (when Buffalo had pretty much dominated the game---despite the close score). No question, my heart was in my throat too...but we weren't actually that close to losing that game. I mean, what is the percentage of successful Hail Marys?

 

But the beauty of 50/50 coaching decisions, is that whichever way the coach decides to go, you can say he should have made the opposite decision. People are questioning a FG that had plenty of leg and doinked the upright. We are talking about it being off by like inches. It's not like it was an impossible try for Prater. Yet, if we punted and KC still got to mid-fieldish, the same people that denounced the field goal would have been saying we should have gone for the win and kicked the field goal or gone for the first down (McD always plays not to lose). Either way the negative fan is right, they just have to wait for the outcome and then decide which were the blunders that made us lose or "almost" lose (with a preconceived bias about McD's decsion making, of course).

 

It's particularly funny that people denounce the field goal try and then bring up "13 seconds" as well. Maybe McD's decision to go for it and to try and win the game was because of his past history of giving Mahomes the ball last and losing. FG goes through, it doesn't matter what Mahomes does after that. 

 

Very few NFL games are blowouts, yet some negative fans think unless it is a blowout, we suck. I really wish some of those fans would evaluate and scrutinize other head coaches like they do McDermott. They would see that plenty of other coaches' decisions can be scrutinized in the same way (and at the same volume or worse). Andy Reid was run out of Philly for bad game management and bad decisions in big games. He was the guy who could "never" win the big game (or a Super Bowl) because of his poor coaching decisions. Over the years people on this board have lauded Sean Payton as a great coach (wishing the Bills would have hired him). Yet just one Super Bowl appearance in 20 years with a Hall-of-Fame, top 5 QB of all time. And just look at some of their playoff exits, every bit as bad as 13 seconds, etc. Yet Payton is a genius and McD should be fired. Why? Too many fans look at McDermott in a vacuum, not actually in relation to his peers (or reality), and act like he is one of the worst coaches in the league in game decisions, yet I have never seen anyone evaluate his decisions in relation to other coaches, or to prove in some way that he is worse than even the good coaches, let alone vs. the average or worse coaches. All you ever hear is "13 seconds." Get over it already guys (it was almost 5 years ago already).

 

 

[HamptonBillsfan]

8 minutes ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

You're completely ignoring the fact that if he made the FG the game is over (for all intents and purposes) and that making the FG is more likely than missing it. 

 

We had an identical in-game situation back in week 3 against the Dolphins that was barely talked about because Prater executed and made the FG. 

It wasn’t a chip shot, it was 50 yds.  You keep defending this guy’s in game decisions, how has it worked so far? He didn’t make it and Mahomes had the ball with enough time

to run 4 plays from the 40. 

[Billsatlastin2018]

1 hour ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

You're completely ignoring the fact that if he made the FG the game is over (for all intents and purposes) and that making the FG is more likely than missing it. 

 

We had an identical in-game situation back in week 3 against the Dolphins that was barely talked about because Prater executed and made the FG. 

Only if you believe Noodle Arm Tua is Paddy Mahomes!

[Buffalo Ballin]

All we have to say is this, if we don't reach the AFC Title game this season, then what?

 

Okay, let's forget 13 seconds.

 

- Cincinnati Bengals eliminating us in 2023 Playoffs.

- Kansas City Chiefs eliminating us in 2025 AFC Title game.

 

McD doesn't have anyone to hide behind anymore. Started last year. Even Josh Allen owned up and took responsibility for losses.

 

Yes, we have a terrible defense this season. However, the latest win vs. Chiefs show that we can still hang. This team, as we said multiple times, starts and ends with Josh Allen. NOT McD.

 

We cannot piss away Josh Allen's prime years especially since, NOW, he's on pace to win 2nd League MVP award. If we don't reach AFC Title game, then what? Protect McD at all costs? I think "NO."

 

 

[PromoTheRobot]

9 hours ago, WIDE LEFT said:

No and no. Not a McD “hater” here.. I recognize he brings a lot of positives to the team as a HC. But time after time his game strategy decisions are terrible, especially in the biggest games. In previous posts I have advocated for a strategy coach, an advisor who sits in the booth, away from the chaos of the sidelines, and is able, based primarily on solid analytics, to present options and recommendations. Take a look at the Bills sidelines during a game. McD clapping, totally engrossed in each play, now calling defenses etc etc. Like every NFL sideline - chaos. The WORST possible environment to make strategic decisions. Every NFL coach could use a strategy coach.BTW, Vrabel in New England employs one.

 

     And he is not getting better at this. Last year, year 7 as HC, he made what ESPN’s Mike Greenberg called “probably not the worst decision we will see this year, but certainly the dumbest” by throwing choosing to throw 3 times at games end from his own one yard line, which handed Houston a win. McD then went on the to make the WORST decision of the year, calling a timeout with less than a minute to go with the Bills at the Rams one yard line. Brady, who was calling the game, reacted immediately, calling out what a horrible decision that was, as it left the Bills no chance to win, other than recovering an onside kick. And of course McD has a history of bad decisions - 13 seconds etc etc

 

Sunday McD strikes again. A strategy coach would have strongly advised against kicking that last field goal. A punt, a punt angled out of bounds ( to prevent any possible return) was the correct strategic decision. It’s virtually impossible for a team drive the ball down the field, 80 + yards, in 22 seconds with zero timeouts. It’s even unlikely a team could even get in position to throw a Hail Mary under those circumstances. Recall the 13 seconds game KC had all three timeouts and only needed a FG. Instead McD blunders again, and Mahomes second last pass was way too close to tying that game. These games are won on the margins, especially playoff games, and his strategic blunders have cost the Bills playoff losses in the past, and I don’t see any improvement in this area.Hire a strategy coach, not to make the final decision but to present best options away from the chaos that is an NFL sideline 
 

 

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

It wasn’t a chip shot, it was 50 yds.  You keep defending this guy’s in game decisions, how has it worked so far? He didn’t make it and Mahomes had the ball with enough time

to run 4 plays from the 40. 

McDermott Punts it everybody says he has no spine 

 

He trust this kicker who has been kicking good.. and is an NFL veteran.. boneheaded mistake 

 

Half of this board says he always plays to not lose and not to win.. guess what he played to win

[HamptonBillsfan]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

McDermott Punts it everybody says he has no spine 

 

He trust this kicker who has been kicking good.. and is an NFL veteran.. boneheaded mistake 

 

Half of this board says he always plays to not lose and not to win.. guess what he played to win

It’s a bottom line business, he missed and Mahomes was on the 40 when a pooch punt starts him inside the 15 with 5 seconds less on the clock.  When you beat KC 4 times in the regular season and lose 4 times  in a row in the playoffs , coaches decisions get questioned. Don’t be satisfied with losing.

[Buffalo716]

10 minutes ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

It’s a bottom line business, he missed and Mahomes was on the 40 when a pooch punt starts him inside the 15 with 5 seconds less on the clock.  When you beat KC 4 times in the regular season and lose 4 times  in a row in the playoffs , coaches decisions get questioned. Don’t be satisfied with losing.

Last time I checked the bills won 

 

And the past has no relevancy on a future meeting

[HamptonBillsfan]

7 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Last time I checked the bills won 

 

And the past has no relevancy on a future meeting

Winning is great but if his decisions are bad doesn’t that make you worry that he make ruin us in the playoffs.

[DuckyBoys]

Maybe put the ball into Josh's hands on one of the three downs they ran right into run fronts  He could boot, have a safe throw or take sack if nothing was there  McDermott was more comfortable with a long fg attempt than letting the best QB in the game at least one down to get the first 

[DeepPass]

9 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

If Prater makes the kick, no one is complaining. If McDermott punts there he's "spineless, gutless and clueless. Needs to trust his kicker to win and not play not to lose."

Thank you for the sanity!  

[Rat-boy]

16 minutes ago, DeepPass said:

Thank you for the sanity!  

 

Only partly sane — as in the event the FG were good, the complainers, whiners, and haters would have found something else to complain about, whine over, and hate on.

Edited 22 hours ago by Rat-boy

[philholbroo]

he does have a tendency to revert back to trying to not lose, rather than winning. but i dont think the fg was an example of that; punting and playing way soft zone would have been that historical mcdermott. 

[jkeerie]

6 hours ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

It wasn’t a chip shot, it was 50 yds.  You keep defending this guy’s in game decisions, how has it worked so far? He didn’t make it and Mahomes had the ball with enough time

to run 4 plays from the 40. 

Actually what was more puzzling was the run play before that put the ball on the right hashmark.  Prater prefers kicking from the left.  Had the ball been on the left hash, Prater may not have hit the upright.

[Mike R]

I didn’t have a problem with trying the field goal. It would have sealed the game and left no chance for Mahomes. I am not a fan of McD’s game management though. I don’t believe the Bills will ever win a Superbowl under McDermott. He has gotten better and more aggressive each year but he still crumbles under pressure when it matters most. Josh was playing extremely well against the Chiefs and McD neutered him to play it safe at the end. Probably the smart thing to do playing the odds but the Bills need a couple of go to plays to pick up first downs in situations like that. I hate running into a stacked line when they know it is coming. I also don’t like it when they do that at the end of blow outs with Trubisky in the game. Why not practice the offense and give some of the back up players and receivers a chance to run plays instead of handing it off to a rb who runs it between the tackles for a loss? And on defense with any lead he takes his foot off the gas and falls back into his safe zone defense with everyone sitting back on their heels waiting for the play to come to them. They should be in attack mode for 60 minutes. His scared conservative nature will not let him stay aggressive the entire game.

[GunnerBill]

15 hours ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

It wasn’t a chip shot, it was 50 yds.  You keep defending this guy’s in game decisions, how has it worked so far? He didn’t make it and Mahomes had the ball with enough time

to run 4 plays from the 40. 

 

It was the right call. 52 yards in the modern NFL in high leverage scenarios is must make. 

 

Prater missed.

8 hours ago, jkeerie said:

Actually what was more puzzling was the run play before that put the ball on the right hashmark.  Prater prefers kicking from the left.  Had the ball been on the left hash, Prater may not have hit the upright.

 

This is actually a VERY good point. Well done that man. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

17 hours ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

It wasn’t a chip shot, it was 50 yds.  You keep defending this guy’s in game decisions, how has it worked so far? He didn’t make it and Mahomes had the ball with enough time

to run 4 plays from the 40. 

I think the make rate from 50 these days is just over 70% 

[stuvian]

If we're going to criticize Clappy we should also point at Andy Reid who refused our invitation to run Kareem Hunt down our throat. We were in dime defense the whole game and our run D is a known vulnerability 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

21 hours ago, DuckyBoys said:

Maybe put the ball into Josh's hands on one of the three downs they ran right into run fronts  He could boot, have a safe throw or take sack if nothing was there  McDermott was more comfortable with a long fg attempt than letting the best QB in the game at least one down to get the first 

 

I had more of an issue with not getting a playcall in and having to use the last timeout before 4th down.  I don't blame them for using the timeout, a delay of game makes the FG further, and in buffalo weather that isn't a good thing.  However, having to rush onto the field and kick at the 1 against a team known for blocking kicks isn't ideal.