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 2 hours 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.

[dave mcbride]

22 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

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.

Gotta say, the whole approach of "rely on Josh to make the free rusher miss and then manufacture a play" seems like a pretty unsustainable approach. I feel like we saw this vs. Atlanta and early on in the Tampa game too. 

[ScotSHO]

Get Allen back on schedule 90% of the time.  This scramble stuff is fun occasionally, but not sustainable long term when it's 50% of your offense by indirect design.  

Edited 1 hour ago by ScotSHO

[Low Positive]

2 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

Gotta say, the whole approach of "rely on Josh to make the free rusher miss and then manufacture a play" seems like a pretty unsustainable approach. I feel like we saw this vs. Atlanta and early on in the Tampa game too. 

But this article indicates that this is how Josh wants to play, so he has some blame here too. 

[dave mcbride]

2 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

But this article indicates that this is how Josh wants to play, so he has some blame here too. 

I don't disagree. It implies that he's not really that interested in managing more complex protection schemes pre-snap, which is not how Manning and Brady operated.

[Low Positive]

Just now, dave mcbride said:

I don't disagree. It implies that he's not really that interested in managing more complex protection schemes pre-snap, which is not how Manning and Brady operated.

Or Joe Burrow, for that matter. Josh is elite at many things, but the presnap part of playing QB is not one of them. 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Mesh concepts in short yardage situations are absolute killers in Madden. Brady is 34, let us pray there is no correlation... 

[Avisan]

3 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

Or Joe Burrow, for that matter. Josh is elite at many things, but the presnap part of playing QB is not one of them. 

It's not that he can't do it, he just doesn't like to do it

 

Like you can tell the games/stretches where he does his homework and the ones he doesn’t.  The start of the 2024 season predictably was a trainwreck in large part due to his postseason "I'm the best athlete in the world/I'm not much of a film guy" arc

 

Still obviously an amazing quarterback but he has yet to come around to WANTING to kill teams with homework, and it does limit our offensive options to an extent

[MasterStrategist]

We have 1 guy who can win 1-1 against man, and that's Kincaid.  Palmer, Shakir next on the list but both are not sure things --- especially against the teams we've played this season with strong #1 corners.

 

Our 2nd outside WR is almost always shut down against the #2 corner.  Samuel can get separation, at times, but is hurt literally every game.  And Kincaid can't stay healthy.  Gabe/Keon is basically 50/50 or less.

 

It's either mesh concepts, or we do what we did against NE and try some 1-1 downfield shots.  

 

I think what could help:

1. Using the RBs more - swing passes, angle routes, chip/release in the flat

2. Using TE or RBs to "chip" the DEs --- with our OL not playing as well as LY in pass pro, I think we need to give Josh more time with chipping with a back or TE on the edge.  It also gives the WRs more time to get downfield with intermediate routes --- and often times, chip/releases by the TE or RB to the flat or dump offs, work for easy 4-5 yard plays/occupy a LB(s).

 

We need to manufacture more, you can do that in a variety of ways --- but to me, it's give Josh more protection/time, which will lead to WRs getting downfield and into their routes and Josh more freedom to move around in the pocket.

 

 

[Low Positive]

7 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Mesh concepts in short yardage situations are absolute killers in Madden. Brady is 34, let us pray there is no correlation... 

You're probably joking, but there is a lot of truth to this. Younger NFL coaches, of course, grew up playing Madden, like any football-obsessed kid. There was an article about college coaches using Madden verbiage to explain plays so that Gen Z will understand them, but I can't find it right now. But here is Ben Johnson talking about Madden in a very interesting way. Clearly, he played more than "occasionally."

 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

13 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

I don't disagree. It implies that he's not really that interested in managing more complex protection schemes pre-snap, which is not how Manning and Brady operated.

There is a tremendous amount of evidence to support this, free rushers aren't always the OLs fault and it's been a common occurrence for years. I will say, rarely does it seem to have a negative impact until this season. 
 

There is a story where Favre went most his career without knowing what a nickel defense was, and was too embarrassed to ask. When he finally did, and the answer was provided, he responded "oh... who gives a *****?"

 

Farve is a legend, but what could he have accomplished if he actually worked on his weaknesses and not tried to out gunslinger everything?

 

I think we all want to see free rushers handled better than "who gives a *****" pre and post snap, especially as he is getting older.

[Rubes]

1 hour ago, ProcessTruster said:

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.  

 

There's this as well...

 

 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

6 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

You're probably joking, but there is a lot of truth to this. Younger NFL coaches, of course, grew up playing Madden, like any football-obsessed kid. There was an article about college coaches using Madden verbiage to explain plays so that Gen Z will understand them, but I can't find it right now. But here is Ben Johnson talking about Madden in a very interesting way. Clearly, he played more than "occasionally."

 

Let's say I'm more exaggerating the likelihood. I'm a year or two older than Brady, I have played a game or two of Madden in my life. I wouldn't be shocked if some, some, of his situational knowledge comes from that game. 
 

It's just funny because in Madden, in that scenario on 4th down, I'm also calling mesh crossers. I do it all the time lol

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

Worth a watch!I view it much differently after watching. Beane and Brady have really screwed the pooch!!!

[NoSaint]

25 minutes ago, Rubes said:

 

There's this as well...

 

 

it’s almost as if talent matters 

[Jrb1979]

4 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

it’s almost as if talent matters 

It definitely does. It feels like Beane and McDermott value culture over talent. 

[Billz4ever]

2 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

“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/

 

8 sacks is simply unacceptable and that doesn't even factor in the other plays Allen took hits on. Before this game, Allen himself mentioned how he got "beat up" in the Houston game last season. I guess Brady decided to draw up an encore performance.  Games like that are how 17 gets injured and has his career shortened.