Der Jaeger
Generational EBUG
Some Bills thoughts:
Offensively, the Bills look a lot like the Pats post-Moss and Welker. They've got weapons, but Allen is throwing to the open receiver almost every time. I think he forced a couple in the red zone, but that was it. Also, you're seeing designed plays to get the ball out of Allen's hands fast early in the game. Shakir, Smauel, and Cook got touches early. Lots of short throws with YAC potential. It's a ball control passing attack which gets Allen into a rhythm. You saw the outcome of that approach later, as he started hitting open receivers downfield. That's a far cry from the downfield attack he was asked to run under Daboll and Dorsey. And what Brady is doing is working - and it's the correct approach.
Defensively, Buffalo is a zone team with the same personnel requirements as the Tampa 2. You need a lot of talent in the front 4, which allows the back 7 to scheme and work to strength / taking away opposition strengths. Babich is doing a lot to get the QB off the spot, and taking away the downfield reads. Teams will eventually be able to drive on Buffalo, but they'll be longer drives with more opportunity to make mistakes. The flip side is that teams will have opportunity to keep Allen on the sidelines.
The biggest challenge going forward this season is to keep possession offensively and avoid 3 and outs early. Brady is doing a great job of this. Once Buffalo can start to operate with some pressure on the opponent to score, Babich can start to turn up some scheme options, particularly against the pass.
This type of team game is what McDermott was talking about when he said the team needs to play complimentary football. The Pats used to play like that, and they would regularly demolish opponents. Bills are starting to look like that.
I'd also start looking at replacements for Edwards and a longer term LT (with a Dawkins move to LG as he ages).
Bills are winning the line of scrimmage. They need to make sure it stays that way.
Offensively, the Bills look a lot like the Pats post-Moss and Welker. They've got weapons, but Allen is throwing to the open receiver almost every time. I think he forced a couple in the red zone, but that was it. Also, you're seeing designed plays to get the ball out of Allen's hands fast early in the game. Shakir, Smauel, and Cook got touches early. Lots of short throws with YAC potential. It's a ball control passing attack which gets Allen into a rhythm. You saw the outcome of that approach later, as he started hitting open receivers downfield. That's a far cry from the downfield attack he was asked to run under Daboll and Dorsey. And what Brady is doing is working - and it's the correct approach.
Defensively, Buffalo is a zone team with the same personnel requirements as the Tampa 2. You need a lot of talent in the front 4, which allows the back 7 to scheme and work to strength / taking away opposition strengths. Babich is doing a lot to get the QB off the spot, and taking away the downfield reads. Teams will eventually be able to drive on Buffalo, but they'll be longer drives with more opportunity to make mistakes. The flip side is that teams will have opportunity to keep Allen on the sidelines.
The biggest challenge going forward this season is to keep possession offensively and avoid 3 and outs early. Brady is doing a great job of this. Once Buffalo can start to operate with some pressure on the opponent to score, Babich can start to turn up some scheme options, particularly against the pass.
This type of team game is what McDermott was talking about when he said the team needs to play complimentary football. The Pats used to play like that, and they would regularly demolish opponents. Bills are starting to look like that.
Bills need DTs and a high end rush end to eventually replace Epenesa.
I'd also start looking at replacements for Edwards and a longer term LT (with a Dawkins move to LG as he ages).
Bills are winning the line of scrimmage. They need to make sure it stays that way.
