Bills o-line scheme and reliance on mesh routes - The Athletic (Mike Sando)

[dave mcbride]

“6. Two-minute drill: Bills' predictable offense?

 

Bills quarterback Josh Allen took eight sacks, and his offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, took criticism from some analysts for overusing mesh concepts on third down in a 23-19 defeat at Houston.

What's the truth?

 

On the sack front, the Bills have empowered Allen to handle free rushers instead of leaning on intricate protection schemes to do the job, according to coaches familiar with Buffalo.

 

Allen can make defenders miss and break away from their grasp as well as just about any quarterback. He can also play freer without directing more of his energy and preparation toward setting protections. But with Allen taking sacks at a higher rate this season (7.9 percent) than in any since he was a rookie (eight percent), that's an area the team might be wise to revisit. The Bills have also led the NFL in rate of plays using five-man protection, the minimum number possible, in each of Brady's two seasons as coordinator, per TruMedia.

 

The answer is nuanced regarding Brady's love for mesh concepts, which deploy receivers running shallow crossing routes to create natural rubs against man coverage in particular.

 

Critics had a point Thursday night when Brady called mesh concepts on failed third-down plays with 1, 3 and 6 yards to go for a first down. Houston played Cover 3 Seam and Cover 1 defenses on these plays, ideal schemes for either defending crossing traffic (Cover 3 Seam) or making tackles immediately before the sticks (Cover 1).

 

On the one mesh rep against zone Thursday night, Allen found no one open and tried running up the middle, only to have Texans linebacker Denzel Perryman slam him to the ground from behind with great force.

 

Mesh was a successful go-to concept for the Bills last season, but Buffalo's effectiveness on those plays has plummeted in 2025.

 

How Brady adjusts will be important for Buffalo.”

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6808180/2025/11/24/chiefs-eagles-playoffs-super-bowl-hopes/

Edited 1 hour ago by dave mcbride

[ProcessTruster]

Without Hardman, Samuel and Kincaid (perhaps our best man-beaters or deep ball guys), mesh was the perhaps the only reliable way to get guys who can't seperate (ie the remainder of the WR group)  open.  Especially against 2 of the best man corners in the league.   Not sure Brady had many options.   Injuries matter in this league.   You can't have half a position group out and expect things to just run as normal.   

 

Bills were in real trouble on offense from the get go in this one.   

 

But if Gabe gets that second foot in , they win anyway.   Funny game this is.  

[Sweats]

The problem is that Brady isn't adjusting and still trying to work concepts that worked last season and either he hasn't realized or accepted that teams have caught up to him or he just doesn't care.

 

You can't tell me that McD is completely void of any O knowledge as the HC, so the blame lies squarely on him, and Brady needs to move along now.

[Coach Tuesday]

I saw this today too and found it interesting.  Perhaps it's time to transition the offense based on how Allen has evolved as a player - they can't rely on him to make unblocked rushers miss like they used to be.  The progressions, timing, and protection schemes need to change YESTERDAY.