Its OK for the Bills to be a run-first team

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

While I like our ground game, I just don’t feel like it’s the kind of run offense that is going to get you anywhere when the going gets a lot tougher (playoffs) … when it inevitably gets stopped, I have almost zero faith that our passing game will be able to overcome this

[BananaB]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Which solid receivers? No we haven't. It is the talent. 

Diggs production dropped off a cliff in Brady’s O. Guess what, we all thought he was done but he’s proven to be a solid WR. Maybe not as good as he was but definitely solid. Cooper was a solid WR who had a great season with Flacco and the Browns before coming to Buffalo. Samuel, Palmer, Moore all pretty solid players else where but have been total garbage here. Shakir is the only guy who’s got production in this O and that’s because he got a gift for running after the catch. If he didn’t get that yac he’d be considered garbage as well. He can actually do more than what he’s doing, just go watch his play from his first two seasons when he got on the field. Brady only uses him one way though

Edited 6 hours ago by BananaB

[BillsVet]

3 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

It is alright, and it is who they have to be at the moment. But it is not alright that we have got here partly by accident. I think the staff always wanted balance. They did not want this inability to throw the ball down the field. That is not by design. It is a result of piss poor personnel decisions. 

 

The coaches are leaning into how the team has been built. But there are major questions marks about that build - both in strategy (which Beane and McDermott both have a hand in) and in talent evaluation (which is squarely on Brandon Beane). 

 

2.5 seasons running this style of offense isn't partly by accident at this point because, despite a lot of evidence to the contrary, it's what they believe works.   

 

They also have a historic habit of overestimating their WR group and then act surprised when those guys can't get it done.  Not to mention, they've poorly/under invested in WR going back to about 2021.    

 

This year it was expecting Coleman to become a boundary receiver primarily because he was their pick.  Or, expecting paying Shakir to become more than a RAC guy who could be a true slot.  Or, expecting Kincaid to improve (he has) but remain healthy (he hasn't).  Or, expecting Josh Palmer to be a WR2/3 type.  And to a lesser extent, expecting Moore to be better than the Cleveland version of himself or Samuel to be the player he no longer is apparently.

 

Has to change in the off-season, but it's McD and Beane and their stubbornness is legendary at this point.  Until then, yeah...all they can do is lean in and go with it. 

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, BillsVet said:

 

2.5 seasons running this style of offense isn't partly by accident at this point because, despite a lot of evidence to the contrary, it's what they believe works.   

 

They also have a historic habit of overestimating their WR group and then act surprised when those guys can't get it done.  Not to mention, they've poorly/under invested in WR going back to about 2021.    

 

This year it was expecting Coleman to become a boundary receiver primarily because he was their pick.  Or, expecting paying Shakir to become more than a RAC guy who could be a true slot.  Or, expecting Kincaid to improve (he has) but remain healthy (he hasn't).  Or, expecting Josh Palmer to be a WR2/3 type.  And to a lesser extent, expecting Moore to be better than the Cleveland version of himself or Samuel to be the player he no longer is apparently.

 

Has to change in the off-season, but it's McD and Beane and their stubbornness is legendary at this point.  Until then, yeah...all they can do is lean in and go with it. 

 

What I think is partly by accident is exactly the point you go on to make. They think their wide receivers are better than they are year after year. 

 

Whether it is telling us Samuel can contribute outside (he can't and I said so even when they were publicly proclaiming he could), drafting Keon and thinking he was an answer on the boundary (he isn't and was never going to be) or signing Palmer and talking him up (I called him the bare minimum option a week before FA began). 

 

They want to be balanced and run it and not take high risks with the ball in the passing game. I agree. They don't want to be this bad throwing the ball. That is the bit that is by accident and it is because of poor talent evaluation.

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

What I think is partly by accident is exactly the point you go on to make. They think their wide receivers are better than they are year after year. 

 

Whether it is telling us Samuel can contribute outside (he can't and I said so even when they were publicly proclaiming he could), drafting Keon and thinking he was an answer on the boundary (he isn't and was never going to be) or signing Palmer and talking him up (I called him the bare minimum option a week before FA began). 

 

They want to be balanced and run it and not take high risks with the ball in the passing game. I agree. They don't want to be this bad throwing the ball. That is the bit that is by accident and it is because of poor talent evaluation.

I also seem to recall Beane saying Shakir was a top 5 or 10 receiver a year or so back.

[GunnerBill]

10 minutes ago, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

I also seem to recall Beane saying Shakir was a top 5 or 10 receiver a year or so back.

 

They also drafted him saying he had "inside / outside versatility". I said it then - he doesn't. 

[Nihilarian]

For those Bills fans upset that Buffalo didn't retain Stephon Diggs or Mack Hollins, or lamenting the current Bills offense. Then go take a look at the stats from the last few games of the New England Patriots games to discover that they are running an "everybody eats" style offense.

 

Against the NY Giants this past week, 8 receivers were targeted and all 8 caught at least one pass. Diggs was the 6th leading receiver with 3 receptions for 23 yards. Hollins was next at 7th with 3 receptions for 23 yards, and their TE Hunter Henry was the #1 receiver who had 4 receptions for 73 yards...look familiar? 31 passes with 29 rushes. 

 

The week previous against Cincy, the Patriots had 9 receivers targeted with at least one pass, and their TE Hunter Henry was their leading receiver with 7 receptions for 115 yards. Diggs was 5th at 2 receptions for 20 yards, Hollins 2 receptions for 30 yards. 35 passes, 31 rushes. 

 

Now going back further against the NY Jets in week 11, Diggs was the leading receiver with 9 receptions for 105 yards, Hollings was #2 with 4 receptions for 64 yards, and Henry was 3rd with 4 receptions for 45 yards. 34 passes, 27 rushes.

 

Against the Bucs, Hollins was the #1 with 6 receptions for 106 yards. Diggs was 3rd with 5 receptions for 46 yards. Henry was 5th with 1 reception for 9 yards and again, 8 receivers were targeted. 31 passes, 27 rushes.

 

Going back further, it looks like the Patriots mix things up with their leading receiver week to week, which is smart, and it also looks like both Diggs, Hollins are fading towards the end of the season. More than anything, Diggs is the team's rah-rah guy, perhaps Hollins too.