Throne Logic
09-13-2007, 10:34 PM
For years now the Buffalo Bills have been relying on the big play to generate offense. I would agree that the big play can be quite exciting. Its the bread and butter of every highlight reel and pumps up the stats for both QB and WR. The problem is, that's not a good way to run an offense.
The "all-or-nothing" theory is just not a sound foundation for NFL football gameplanning. The Bills have become so reliant upon the big play that they actually went to the "all-or-nothing" bomb ball as their fall-back option on 3rd in 5 with three minutes left and the lead in the Denver game. That's just not good. Most teams have a nice simple fall-back option play designed for a 5 yard gain.
The long ball to Evans was the most consistently effective play in our 2006 offense. That should really tell us something. Especially when you consider that this relatively effective bombing didn't serve to open up the run game. Teams are often willing to risk giving up the one or two TD's off that big-play long ball because they realize that the success rate is severely limited, even with the Bills. They also recognize that their own offenses, working with Time of Possessions in the 40 to 50 minute ranges, will have plenty of time and a damn good chance of putting up more than 20 points against us. It doesn't even matter if Buffalo plays a poor offensive team. You give any NFL offense enough possessions and they will score points against you. Especially when your defense begins to wear down from simply being on the field all night.
I would like to see Evans more involved with the short and mid range passing offense. Heck, I'd like to see anyone in a Bills uniform involved in it. This team MUST find a way to control the ball on offense. For years, they have been unable to demonstrate any sort of ability to march down the field. Yet, week in and week out, we painfully watch every decent opposing offense do this very thing to our Bills. It's that 10 minute, 20 play drive that that builds up a team's confidence and momentum while simultaneously grinding the life out of their foe. The Bills just can't seem to do it. As soon as they begin to develop some sort of strong drive, they either shoot themselves in the foot with a dumb penalty or they get overexcited and go for broke. This is just not an encouraging way to run an NFL offense.
I want short slants. I want skinny posts. I want screen passes - hell, of all the teams to be using the screen, this should be one of them. The Bills try to run the ball enough times that they could at least attempt some play actions. I realize that an ineffective run game lessens the potential effect of the play action. However, JP is particularly good at it. What would it hurt to try? Cripes, I'll even settle for that rediculous shovel pass that Denver kept running on Sunday. We can probably skip the option, although with JP running it, it might occasionally be effective.
Anything that gains 4 yards in a single down is good. Especially on first down. A four yard pass play shouldn't be a problem. Quick slants and short routes would do it. Teams do it against us all the time. Once you get your drive rolling with the short passes, the running game should open up just a little bit so Lynch might actually see a crack here and there for him to run through.
I a nutshell, I'm just sick and tired of the all-or-nothing offensive approach.
The "all-or-nothing" theory is just not a sound foundation for NFL football gameplanning. The Bills have become so reliant upon the big play that they actually went to the "all-or-nothing" bomb ball as their fall-back option on 3rd in 5 with three minutes left and the lead in the Denver game. That's just not good. Most teams have a nice simple fall-back option play designed for a 5 yard gain.
The long ball to Evans was the most consistently effective play in our 2006 offense. That should really tell us something. Especially when you consider that this relatively effective bombing didn't serve to open up the run game. Teams are often willing to risk giving up the one or two TD's off that big-play long ball because they realize that the success rate is severely limited, even with the Bills. They also recognize that their own offenses, working with Time of Possessions in the 40 to 50 minute ranges, will have plenty of time and a damn good chance of putting up more than 20 points against us. It doesn't even matter if Buffalo plays a poor offensive team. You give any NFL offense enough possessions and they will score points against you. Especially when your defense begins to wear down from simply being on the field all night.
I would like to see Evans more involved with the short and mid range passing offense. Heck, I'd like to see anyone in a Bills uniform involved in it. This team MUST find a way to control the ball on offense. For years, they have been unable to demonstrate any sort of ability to march down the field. Yet, week in and week out, we painfully watch every decent opposing offense do this very thing to our Bills. It's that 10 minute, 20 play drive that that builds up a team's confidence and momentum while simultaneously grinding the life out of their foe. The Bills just can't seem to do it. As soon as they begin to develop some sort of strong drive, they either shoot themselves in the foot with a dumb penalty or they get overexcited and go for broke. This is just not an encouraging way to run an NFL offense.
I want short slants. I want skinny posts. I want screen passes - hell, of all the teams to be using the screen, this should be one of them. The Bills try to run the ball enough times that they could at least attempt some play actions. I realize that an ineffective run game lessens the potential effect of the play action. However, JP is particularly good at it. What would it hurt to try? Cripes, I'll even settle for that rediculous shovel pass that Denver kept running on Sunday. We can probably skip the option, although with JP running it, it might occasionally be effective.
Anything that gains 4 yards in a single down is good. Especially on first down. A four yard pass play shouldn't be a problem. Quick slants and short routes would do it. Teams do it against us all the time. Once you get your drive rolling with the short passes, the running game should open up just a little bit so Lynch might actually see a crack here and there for him to run through.
I a nutshell, I'm just sick and tired of the all-or-nothing offensive approach.