Were We Running Into a Stacked Box?

[KOKBILLS]

I'm almost certain I heard somewhere we ran into stacked boxed more than any other team in 2024... And part of the problem may be that we also had the most success vs stacked boxes... So now they are not intimidated by them...

[NewEra]

On 11/10/2025 at 9:17 AM, MPL said:

Yes. Dolphins sold out to stop the run. Dared WRs to win one-on-one matchups. WRs could not win one-on-one matchups. Josh didn't pull trigger on some short quick throws trying to look for bigger plays. Also, not many bigger plays open. 

I haven’t watched the all 22 myself, but Joe Marino credited 4 of the incompletions vs Miami to guys not getting open.  The rest were drops, Josh turning down the open looks and OL breakdowns.  I think there were 3-4 drops and 3-4 instances of Josh turning down open receivers.  
 

I’m definitely on the Keon should sit train, but he didt beat his man deep on 2-3 occasions and either wasn’t targeted or Josh threw a bad ball.  Obviously other instances in which Josh threw catchable passes and Keon didn’t do what we drafted him to do.  Go up and use his size/body control to make a freekin play.  
 

palmer better be ready this game and we better target him.  Might be tough to do next Thursday vs the Texans though.  I’d have my money on Stingley shadowing him

[EmotionallyUnstable]

9 minutes ago, KOKBILLS said:

I'm almost certain I heard somewhere we ran into stacked boxed more than any other team in 2024... And part of the problem may be that we also had the most success vs stacked boxes... So now they are not intimidated by them...

This is something they encourage IMO. 
 

The condensed formations create so many holes and 1v1 blocking match ups. When they’re successful with them, it’s hat on a hat and cook, finds the seam. Bringing all those guys into the box actually opens up the second level of the defense when it’s executed well. 
 

The ultimate goal is to get Cook 1v1 in space vs a corner or a safety, and by bringing all the people to the party, it creates more running lanes and more open space on the boundary for cook to use his speed. 
 

Take Tyrell shavers for example. When he is in the slot, most corners or ILBs would not be playing him head up, but instead shaded inside and that is a tough ask for a WR to dig out a player who is already positioned closer to the football and has a good angle at the ball carrier. 
 

Instead they just beat that defender to the spot by  presnap alignment, giving the WR a better chance at a successful block while bringing more people into the box and less on the edges. 
 

This isn’t true for every run play, obviously, but those condensed formations are something they do BECAUSE it stacks the box in a way they find advantageous. 

Edited 2 hours ago by EmotionallyUnstable

[mbowman14]

By far my biggest complaint with Brady is his refusal this year to open up the game play-action heavy. This naturally softens the run defense. His plan in Seattle last season is the blueprint, but we refuse to try it this season. Hell the first play of the game was shotgun and all spread, screaming pass. Why not play-action instead of giving your intent away with formation. The Dolphins were ripe to roll over and our poor 1st drive and their subsequent 95-yard drive killed that idea. 

[dock581]

Why don’t we ever pass to Cook 10-15 yards down field. I would bet he could get some separation!

[Jerome007]

On 11/10/2025 at 11:30 AM, Roundybout said:

They know we can’t beat CBs one on one, so theres no need for an extra defensive back.

Well, that's not true if the schemes help. And imagine, at times, not all the time, WRs running short while a TE or RB runs deep when Josh can see it's man to man coverage. Picth runs to the outside. And yes, a few misdirections and play action!
 

31 minutes ago, mbowman14 said:

By far my biggest complaint with Brady is his refusal this year to open up the game play-action heavy. This naturally softens the run defense. His plan in Seattle last season is the blueprint, but we refuse to try it this season. Hell the first play of the game was shotgun and all spread, screaming pass. Why not play-action instead of giving your intent away with formation. The Dolphins were ripe to roll over and our poor 1st drive and their subsequent 95-yard drive killed that idea. 

Oh I agree. Yet, to be fair, on 8 opening drives before that, the Bills had scored 6 TDs, 1 FG, and no punt as the other one ended in a fumble. Perfection is not of this world. And the Bills should still have dominated if the first drive was stopped. It's a headscratcher of a game.

 

Edited 1 hour ago by Jerome007
spelling

[BigAl2526]

Cook has an amazing ability to "get skinny on inside runs to slip through small gaps, but when that wasn't working so well versus the Dolphins Brady seemed to have no effective fall back options.  Screens to Shakir behind the LOS didn't work either. A healthy Palmer may help a bit and there's a chance Hardman could too.   At the moment there's not much else the Bills can hope for.