Bills Game Previews
- Thread starter Reverend
- Start date
M
MentalDisabldLst
Guest
It's a very minor point, but it can be confusing to call "Passer Rating" as "QB Rating", since the "QBR" stat that ESPN developed has a very different scale (0-100). An 85 passer rating is a little below average, though not abysmal; an 85 QBR is a fantastic single-game score. Articles confuse the two all the time and it bugs me. There's a lot that goes into the rating of QB play besides how effective they are in the instances when they choose to throw the ball downfield. In evaluating the latter, "Passer Rating" at least doesn't try to do more than it claims.
Anyway, as to the substance: the passing article had some great breakdowns and descriptions. The analysis around getting Buffalo into Cover-2 was really well done.
I had a question about the Running article, though, given my limited understanding of these tactics. If the Buffalo DEs are trying to use their positioning to get upfield quickly and contain the edge, why wouldn't the OTs just push them up farther into the backfield on rushing downs, and not just run "off-tackle" but actually bounce a run to the outside at that point? Just, underneath the DE, rather than trying to get over the top of them and around them. He's lost contain once you've run him upfield, and the RB just has a LB to beat for a big gain. As the article says, lead with a FB or pulling Guard... but then instead of just plowing ahead through the B gap, use the sheer size of that game to pick a lane to the outside and get into the secondary.
Isn't that the natural vulnerability of having DEs who are never in front of the OL to start a play? I mean, if I had a nickel for every time Matt Light ran an overaggressive DE 15 yards upfield over the years, I could probably retire. Works great for pass protection, obviously, but I'd think the reliability of being able to do that would mean some rushing vulnerability underneath the DE too. Am I missing something?
Anyway, as to the substance: the passing article had some great breakdowns and descriptions. The analysis around getting Buffalo into Cover-2 was really well done.
I had a question about the Running article, though, given my limited understanding of these tactics. If the Buffalo DEs are trying to use their positioning to get upfield quickly and contain the edge, why wouldn't the OTs just push them up farther into the backfield on rushing downs, and not just run "off-tackle" but actually bounce a run to the outside at that point? Just, underneath the DE, rather than trying to get over the top of them and around them. He's lost contain once you've run him upfield, and the RB just has a LB to beat for a big gain. As the article says, lead with a FB or pulling Guard... but then instead of just plowing ahead through the B gap, use the sheer size of that game to pick a lane to the outside and get into the secondary.
Isn't that the natural vulnerability of having DEs who are never in front of the OL to start a play? I mean, if I had a nickel for every time Matt Light ran an overaggressive DE 15 yards upfield over the years, I could probably retire. Works great for pass protection, obviously, but I'd think the reliability of being able to do that would mean some rushing vulnerability underneath the DE too. Am I missing something?
M
MentalDisabldLst
Guest
Also, Mark Schofield's bio should mention whether he played with Bill Belichick during his time on the football team at Wesleyan. His adoring public needs to know.
MentalDisabldLst said:
No, you're right on. Step one in running inside v. the wide 9 is letting those DEs take themselves out of the play. The second step (and the one other teams have had trouble with this season) is what happens next. Their LBs do a great job of filling that gap the instant they recognize run, which they have to do because of the wide alignment. (Sometimes too quickly as they've been exposed v. play action). If Develin and pulling guards can do their jobs of meeting the LBs in that B gap, the running game should have success, particularly on then being able to bounce runs to the outside. Teams that relied on combo blocks scraping up to the LB filling that hole had trouble.
As for your second question, Coach Belichick was at Wesleyan a few years before me...
And as always, thanks for reading man. Good to see people enjoying the work.
Fascinating read, as always. Wondering if we get MIA/SD-Spikes (20-odd snaps) or if he plays more, like in the last 2 games.
Mark, great job as usual. I am wondering what formations are more likely to to shift the Bills defense into a Cover 2 zone. I imagine bunch/trips formations usually force the defense to shift out of man. And then, what routes or combinations are the best Cover 2 beaters? Flood concepts and/or other concepts with high-low reads for the quarterback?
It will be interesting to see how much no-huddle (and even the hurry up exhibited against Cincy) they use today. Crowd noise is always a factor on the road. But the two tight end, no-huddle offense can work to simplify the looks and coverages a defense is able to give you.
It will be interesting to see how much no-huddle (and even the hurry up exhibited against Cincy) they use today. Crowd noise is always a factor on the road. But the two tight end, no-huddle offense can work to simplify the looks and coverages a defense is able to give you.