X-Era
09-10-2008, 06:34 AM
Many, many things were very good. The type of team that can win alot of games. I say type of team that can win alot of games instead of saying this team will win alot of games. Its critical to realize that this was just one game; its the consistency of play that separates good from bad teams.
But, there were things we saw that are areas for improvement.
Trent Edwards had a very slow start in the 1st half. It seemed that his throws were errant when the rain was falling. It harkened back to the Cleveland games from last year. A game in which we were in the playoff hunt and in a must-win game. There is no way around the fact that the Bills will play in the weather. If its not just in our heads, and weather conditions are an issue, I hope its not an issue that will haunt us late in the season. If we get in this jam in the future, its probably best to run, run, run. Which brings me to my next point.
In the first series or two, we ran the ball consistently but quickly went to throwing the ball more. The Bills were getting a consistent push and Marshawn was showing why he was a first round pick. The very best teams are able to run consistently. In my opnion, the BIlls should not abandon the run so quickly. They were much better about this then they were last year, but still not as good as they can be. I liked what I saw from the play calling with Lynch. Trent wouyld throw to him in the flat, and they were willing to run him off tackle. I think the bulk of successfull run plays will come from around the edges, not up the middle. I think thats a proven situation. So, I thank the Bills for moving him around. He wasnt the only player being moved around.
The Bills went against many of the philosophys of the past in this game. I expected to see the fullback in on 1st and 2nd down, and then going out on 3rd. I remember that being so predictable as to what the Bills would do in the Henning, Smith, Gash years. Yet, instead we saw the Bills in all kind of formations including the wishbone. The were moving people all over the place, and they were getting yards. Evans was getting open. I think we should keep up the good work.
The defense harkened me back to the days of big Ted and the #2 defense in the league. They were flat out nasty. We had 4 sacks on Hasselbeck in the first half. We showed great push led by the unstoppable Marcus Stroud. He was in the backfield over and over. Jabari Greer stepped up yet again. Even on the touchdown pass, Greer was in perfect position and had his hand right up in there to break it up. It just didnt go our way. I also didnt notice Keith Ellison as being a weak spot, like we came to expect from when Chris Watson was on the field. Instead, he was in on many plays. Maybe, just maybe, he wasnt as bad as many thought but was part of a bad defense. We will have to see. This defense played like a Superbowl caliper defense. But itr was one game, and we were at home. Can they play this inspired on the road?
The special teams are very special in Buffalo. Bobby April is at most two seasons away from serious consideration for a head coaching job. There is no better coach than him for special teams. Its apparent because all the players play together. Roscoe would never have had that run if he didnt get long sustained, legal blocks. Thats not talent, thats coaching. Roscoe has true talent, but he cant do it alone. Our field goal fake was masterful and certainly well organized. Again, thats coaching. These appear to be the type of special teams that could score a late season or playoff Music City Miracle of our own.
It wasnt perfect. There is room to improve. There are challenges which must be faced and won. We now have to go against a team that has beaten us plenty recently and makes it to the playoffs in Jacksonville. And in their house. Good teams will find a way to win this game. If we can win against them, we make a strong statement to ourselves to work toward believing that we can win against anyone and anywhere; something that will improve our chances when we have to go to Lady Schick stadium. Furthermore, if we can win this one, we then play Oak, Ari, and SF. Those are all winnable games. Is possible for us to go 5 and 0 into our bye week. Will we see us play and win the tough ones this year or will we lay an egg like last year at times? We will have to rpove ourselves each and every week, but this upcoming week is special. But, the Bills showed they can be pretty special too.
But, there were things we saw that are areas for improvement.
Trent Edwards had a very slow start in the 1st half. It seemed that his throws were errant when the rain was falling. It harkened back to the Cleveland games from last year. A game in which we were in the playoff hunt and in a must-win game. There is no way around the fact that the Bills will play in the weather. If its not just in our heads, and weather conditions are an issue, I hope its not an issue that will haunt us late in the season. If we get in this jam in the future, its probably best to run, run, run. Which brings me to my next point.
In the first series or two, we ran the ball consistently but quickly went to throwing the ball more. The Bills were getting a consistent push and Marshawn was showing why he was a first round pick. The very best teams are able to run consistently. In my opnion, the BIlls should not abandon the run so quickly. They were much better about this then they were last year, but still not as good as they can be. I liked what I saw from the play calling with Lynch. Trent wouyld throw to him in the flat, and they were willing to run him off tackle. I think the bulk of successfull run plays will come from around the edges, not up the middle. I think thats a proven situation. So, I thank the Bills for moving him around. He wasnt the only player being moved around.
The Bills went against many of the philosophys of the past in this game. I expected to see the fullback in on 1st and 2nd down, and then going out on 3rd. I remember that being so predictable as to what the Bills would do in the Henning, Smith, Gash years. Yet, instead we saw the Bills in all kind of formations including the wishbone. The were moving people all over the place, and they were getting yards. Evans was getting open. I think we should keep up the good work.
The defense harkened me back to the days of big Ted and the #2 defense in the league. They were flat out nasty. We had 4 sacks on Hasselbeck in the first half. We showed great push led by the unstoppable Marcus Stroud. He was in the backfield over and over. Jabari Greer stepped up yet again. Even on the touchdown pass, Greer was in perfect position and had his hand right up in there to break it up. It just didnt go our way. I also didnt notice Keith Ellison as being a weak spot, like we came to expect from when Chris Watson was on the field. Instead, he was in on many plays. Maybe, just maybe, he wasnt as bad as many thought but was part of a bad defense. We will have to see. This defense played like a Superbowl caliper defense. But itr was one game, and we were at home. Can they play this inspired on the road?
The special teams are very special in Buffalo. Bobby April is at most two seasons away from serious consideration for a head coaching job. There is no better coach than him for special teams. Its apparent because all the players play together. Roscoe would never have had that run if he didnt get long sustained, legal blocks. Thats not talent, thats coaching. Roscoe has true talent, but he cant do it alone. Our field goal fake was masterful and certainly well organized. Again, thats coaching. These appear to be the type of special teams that could score a late season or playoff Music City Miracle of our own.
It wasnt perfect. There is room to improve. There are challenges which must be faced and won. We now have to go against a team that has beaten us plenty recently and makes it to the playoffs in Jacksonville. And in their house. Good teams will find a way to win this game. If we can win against them, we make a strong statement to ourselves to work toward believing that we can win against anyone and anywhere; something that will improve our chances when we have to go to Lady Schick stadium. Furthermore, if we can win this one, we then play Oak, Ari, and SF. Those are all winnable games. Is possible for us to go 5 and 0 into our bye week. Will we see us play and win the tough ones this year or will we lay an egg like last year at times? We will have to rpove ourselves each and every week, but this upcoming week is special. But, the Bills showed they can be pretty special too.