Casserly: the magic is over for Bills

[ghz in pittsburgh]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16112140/week-10-thoughts-magic-is-over-for-bills

... In talking to defensive coordinators, they felt the way to stop Buffalo's offense was to jam their receivers at the line of scrimmage -- be physical with them, disrupt their timing. This makes Ryan Fitzpatrick (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/547043/ryan-fitzpatrick) hold the ball. The thought is the Bills tackles are not good enough to hold up against good ends on the pass rush. The other point is to do a good job of limiting the receivers' yards after the catch, which people have been able to do. The reason this strategy works is because the Bills don't have exceptional receivers that are hard to press. Buffalo's run defense continues to struggle (163 yards allowed) and their defense can't put pressure on the QB (no sacks). I think people have the formula to beat Buffalo. Buffalo, in my opinion, has peaked and will struggle from here on out.

[PromoTheRobot]

Casserly failed as a GM so he's now an analyst. Those who can't talk about it like they can.

PTR

[OpIv37]

Casserly failed as a GM so he's now an analyst. Those who can't talk about it like they can.

PTR

Well if we're going to use that logic, why even have a message board? If anyone here had valid opinions on football, they'd be working in the NFL instead of posting about it on the Internet, right?

[SquishDaFish]

Hes right imo

[RedEyE]

Until the Bills prove otherwise, I say Casserly is right on the money. It was fun while it lasted but the hope is gone. I've watched this team before and I've been waiting for the let down all season long. It just took a little longer this year. I guess some will call this "improvement".

[THE END OF ALL DAYS]

sounds about right to me

[Mad Bomber]

I have to agree with him. Based on the last two games, people have figured out how to limit the Bills offense. Couple this with our depleted offensive line and putrid defense, and it looks like it is all downhill from here IMO.

[justasportsfan]

Casserly failed as a GM so he's now an analyst. Those who can't talk about it like they can.

PTR


i can't disagree though. the results are there. this ol looked good with Fitz getting rid of the ball fast. If he can't the OL looks bad.

[DraftBoy]

So let's assume he's right (and I think he is for the record) what's the issue and how do we fix it offensively?

The defense is a disaster right now, so let's just focus on the offense.

[stuckincincy]

sounds about right to me

"In my day we did not have self-esteem... we had self-respect, and no more of it then we earned." ...your sig line.

:up:

[Night Train]

Hes right imo

I think so too and I'll still root for him to be wrong...but as I and hundred others have posted before, the Bills are still a good year away from having a solid roster and are several players short from being a legit playoff team.

It's NOT criticism but looking at the team for what they are. Improving but the film has caught up to their limitations and it's easier to scheme against them until the talent level is increased at key positions ( OLB,CB,DE,WR etc. )

Fair enough ? Not sensative at all to unbiased observations.

[OpIv37]

So let's assume he's right (and I think he is for the record) what's the issue and how do we fix it offensively?

The defense is a disaster right now, so let's just focus on the offense.

First and foremost, teach the receivers how to be more physical and beat jams.

Second, the tackles have to give Fitz more time. Hopefully Hairston coming back will help with that, although with Wood out we will have to be more wary of pressure up the middle.d

Third, use the RB's and TE's to chip the edge rushers and help out the tackles.

Fourth, Fitz just has to be better. He has to feel the pressure and either scramble or throw the ball away faster, and he has to be more accurate when he does have the chance to step up and throw.

Can this be done? Can Fitz, the tackles and the receivers learn the tricks and improve mid-season? I don't know, but if they don't, the rest of this season is going to get ugly.

[Mahdi]

I think that is exactly right.

I think Stevie is by far our best WR and after that it gets sketchy as to who our #2 is. Nelson has done well for himself but he is a slot guy and Jones has not lived up to a #2 WR yet.

The other thing is Johnson is our best WR against press coverage and he is not thrown to often enough which is making it as if we have several #2 WRs.

If defenses are going to press us Johnson needs to be thrown to early and often to discourage them from doing it because he has shown that he can beat press and make big plays off it.

Everything else is spot on, we know we can't rush the passer and that will limit the potential of the defense dramatically.

[methos4ever]

I think so too and I'll still root for him to be wrong...but as I and hundred others have posted before, the Bills are still a good year away from having a solid roster and are several players short from being a legit playoff team.

It's NOT criticism but looking at the team for what they are. Improving but the film has caught up to their limitations and it's easier to scheme against them until the talent level is increased at key positions ( OLB,CB,DE,WR etc. )

Fair enough ? Not sensative at all to unbiased observations.
I agree with that, but then disagree vehemently with the follow up the local media and some fans have of, (wait for it) "Same ol' Bills" which to me is very far from the truth.

[Dr. Lecter]

Casserly failed as a GM so he's now an analyst. Those who can't talk about it like they can.

PTR
He got a Super Bowl ring.

Hardly a failure.

[Mahdi]

So let's assume he's right (and I think he is for the record) what's the issue and how do we fix it offensively?

The defense is a disaster right now, so let's just focus on the offense.
The solution offensively is to get into 3 WR sets with a TE instead of 4 to give Fitz more time to find Stevie.

He can beat press coverage all day. Enough of trying to get everyone involved all the time. We have a #1 WR and he should be treated that way.

I think this offense would be way more successful running with 3WR, TE and singleback and Fitz getting under center.

It would keep the defense guessing run or pass, give us better pass pro if Chambers sits in to protect and will feature Stevie more instead of spreading the ball around to less talented guys.

[DraftBoy]

He got a Super Bowl ring.

Hardly a failure.

People only remember the Texans...even though he also made the call to draft Mario Williams over Reggie Bush and also took Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels and Demeco Ryans.

[Night Train]

I agree with that, but then disagree vehemently with the follow up the local media and some fans have of, (wait for it) "Same ol' Bills" which to me is very far from the truth.

Agree..but that's always the easy way out for some people.

You expect it here but one can see how often the press takes a mulligan with such comments, proving they watch the team infrequently (if at all ) and get most of their info 3rd hand.

[Joe Fo Sho]

None of our receivers have any consistency catching the ball in traffic. I noticed it by week 3. I'm not even sure it would help if Evans was still here and healthy. This team is still rebuilding and needs a lot of help.

[DraftBoy]

First and foremost, teach the receivers how to be more physical and beat jams.

Second, the tackles have to give Fitz more time. Hopefully Hairston coming back will help with that, although with Wood out we will have to be more wary of pressure up the middle.d

Third, use the RB's and TE's to chip the edge rushers and help out the tackles.

Fourth, Fitz just has to be better. He has to feel the pressure and either scramble or throw the ball away faster, and he has to be more accurate when he does have the chance to step up and throw.

Can this be done? Can Fitz, the tackles and the receivers learn the tricks and improve mid-season? I don't know, but if they don't, the rest of this season is going to get ugly.

Its not as easy as just teaching them, Stevie knows how to beat the jam he had to playing in the SEC. At some point size and strength become more important than just tech.

2nd, 3rd, & 4th-Complete agreement, though I would add to the fourt. Fitz has to progress his reads faster. He is too willing to wait on longer developing routes. I dont think he reads pre-snap blitz schemes very well at all and for christ sake once in a while its ok to check out of a play you can tell the defense is ready for (HELLO SCREEN PASS).

[justasportsfan]

Other than Stevie every one else was questionable to begin with even without getting jammed at the LOS. Now that they are getting hit it's making them even more questionable. We usually try to get yards with screen passes, now teams have figured us out.

What I noticed we that we don't use a lot of play action even when Fred is running well but teams do it to us and we get burned.

[DraftBoy]

The solution offensively is to get into 3 WR sets with a TE instead of 4 to give Fitz more time to find Stevie.

He can beat press coverage all day. Enough of trying to get everyone involved all the time. We have a #1 WR and he should be treated that way.

I think this offense would be way more successful running with 3WR, TE and singleback and Fitz getting under center.

It would keep the defense guessing run or pass, give us better pass pro if Chambers sits in to protect and will feature Stevie more instead of spreading the ball around to less talented guys.

He can beat it that well, he has the skills but his size still hurts him some. He also gets frustrated when he can't beat it. I do agree though on him being our #1 guys like megatron are targeted 15+ times a game, how many times is Stevie? Is it even 10?

[Night Train]

Just rewind back to August, when many here thought this may be the worst team in the league and the favorites to win Suck For Luck.

You can't possibly be sensative to the fact that they may not be a 10-11 win team 3-4 months later ?

[chernobylwraiths]

So, jam the receivers at the line so that they can't get quick passes off and get a good pass rush. Now that's genius right there.

[psubills62]

So let's assume he's right (and I think he is for the record) what's the issue and how do we fix it offensively?

The defense is a disaster right now, so let's just focus on the offense.
Put guys in motion to avoid the jam. Double move routes where the receivers actually catch the ball. As I said before, use wheel routes out of the backfield to also avoid the jam. Possibly even bunch formations that help one or more receivers stay clean.

More play-action would be good, especially with some bootlegs/rollouts. That had a decent amount of success (as much as you can have throwing 4 yards to Chandler in the flat each time) against Dallas. Gives Fitz a little more time to work with and our OT's don't have to block for 5 seconds.

Would also like to see them use some fake screen passes. The defenses have been reading those too well lately.

[RedEyE]

Just rewind back to August, when many here thought this may be the worst team in the league and the favorites to win Suck For Luck.

You can't possibly be sensative to the fact that they may not be a 10-11 win team 3-4 months later ?

You're probably right.

I guess; for me, I'm just tired of the constant build up and let down from this team.

They played well enough the begining of this season to beat any team in the league. Now they're well on their way to being the joke team the rest of this league and the media labels them.

The reason that I'm mad is probably because I bought into it hook, line and sinker this year. Silly me. I took everything I knew about football and the Buffalo Bills, threw it out the window, and said "Facts be damned, maybe this is a good team and it was difficult to recognize it.".

In the end, this team is essentially the "Nobody's" we initially assumed they were.

I'm pissed and if you haven't noticed I'm having a hard time dealing with it.

[DraftBoy]

Put guys in motion to avoid the jam. Double move routes where the receivers actually catch the ball. As I said before, use wheel routes out of the backfield to also avoid the jam. Possibly even bunch formations that help one or more receivers stay clean.

More play-action would be good, especially with some bootlegs/rollouts. That had a decent amount of success (as much as you can have throwing 4 yards to Chandler in the flat each time) against Dallas. Gives Fitz a little more time to work with and our OT's don't have to block for 5 seconds.

Would also like to see them use some fake screen passes. The defenses have been reading those too well lately.

You're talking about having Fitzy hold the ball for longer on many of those plays, which some think is already part of the issue. Double moves, and motion take time and without percision WR's (which we don't have outside Stevie) those routes have a lower success rate because timing and depth is off.

[psubills62]

He can beat it that well, he has the skills but his size still hurts him some. He also gets frustrated when he can't beat it. I do agree though on him being our #1 guys like megatron are targeted 15+ times a game, how many times is Stevie? Is it even 10?
Early on I feel like Steve was targeted a good amount, but lately I don't think he's had 10 targets in the last 3 games combined.

Another thing we need to do is use the size of our WR's. David Nelson is 6'5"...maybe Fitz should throw to him like he's tall instead of Parrish-sized.

At this point, Donald Jones needs to get it together or he's a waste of a person on the field. He's not that tall, not that fast, and his hands aren't that good. I'd actually like to see Roosevelt more - the kid has done well nearly every time I see him.

[RedEyE]

Or, the Bills FO could stop spending money and picks on project journeymen and/or non-essential "luxuries" like CJ Spiller.

[DraftBoy]

Or, the Bills FO could stop spending money and picks on project journeymen and/or non-essential "luxuries" like CJ Spiller.

Or the coaching staff could develop an actual plan for how to use dynamic style players like Spiller.

[Oaf]

Quick, can someone send this report to Gailey?

[DraftBoy]

Early on I feel like Steve was targeted a good amount, but lately I don't think he's had 10 targets in the last 3 games combined.

Another thing we need to do is use the size of our WR's. David Nelson is 6'5"...maybe Fitz should throw to him like he's tall instead of Parrish-sized.

At this point, Donald Jones needs to get it together or he's a waste of a person on the field. He's not that tall, not that fast, and his hands aren't that good. I'd actually like to see Roosevelt more - the kid has done well nearly every time I see him.

I just honestly don't know what we are doing on offense anymore. Every game for the last 3-4 has looked like the exact same gameplan and if they run that ****ing screen pass one more time when its key that everybody in the stadium is reading it I dont know what Im going to do.

[DraftBoy]

Quick, can someone send this report to Gailey?

UPS or FedEx?

[RedEyE]

Or the coaching staff could develop an actual plan for how to use dynamic style players like Spiller.

Why? So we can see him fall more at first touch? He's better suited for Dancing with the Stars.

[DraftBoy]

Why? So we can see him fall more at first touch? He's better suited for Dancing with the Stars.

How would we know, he only sees the field 2-3 times a game. Tell me what RB is good with only 2-3 touches and touches that don't even suit his strength which is getting to the outside and using his speed.

[psubills62]

You're talking about having Fitzy hold the ball for longer on many of those plays, which some think is already part of the issue. Double moves, and motion take time and without percision WR's (which we don't have outside Stevie) those routes have a lower success rate because timing and depth is off.
It's not like every play is a disaster for our OL. We've had guys open on deep balls - I'm saying part of the problem is that they aren't executing those. We can attempt those passes all we want, but until we start consistently completing them, teams won't worry about it.

I'm pretty sure only the double moves suggestion and fake screen passes require Fitzpatrick to hold onto the ball longer. And I've seen fake screens executed very well and very quickly by teams like New Orleans (yes, I know they're much better than us).

[DraftBoy]

It's not like every play is a disaster for our OL. We've had guys open on deep balls - I'm saying part of the problem is that they aren't executing those. We can attempt those passes all we want, but until we start consistently completing them, teams won't worry about it.

I'm pretty sure only the double moves suggestion and fake screen passes require Fitzpatrick to hold onto the ball longer. And I've seen fake screens executed very well and very quickly by teams like New Orleans (yes, I know they're much better than us).

Agreed not every play is bad, but there are enough to give pause for concern right now.

I dont think we'd know how to execute a fake screen at this point even if we wanted to. You're talking about a rather complex play that takes multiple people doing their job. Not really our fortay the last few weeks.

[trapezeus]

again, what other teams are using their third string LT, one of the most important positions in the game?

that transition is making it hard to run and hard to get time to throw. fitz is panicked whether he knows it or not which throws off his accuracy.

And now with a new center, it's not going to get much better.

I really don't think this is a WR issue as much as it is a total change in the line. Even Fred isn't running well. people have to come back healthy and the bills need to help themselves with more depth on the line and LB positions to withstand this.

I think the ol starters are good, we need depth. I think the LB depth is probably ok, but we need some big time starters.

[RedEyE]

How would we know, he only sees the field 2-3 times a game. Tell me what RB is good with only 2-3 touches and touches that don't even suit his strength which is getting to the outside and using his speed.

And why would you? He's half the man Freddy Jackson is. And Spiller shows us all he's capable of with wonderous kick returning abilities. He's a joke. Another wasted pick. And my previous point was that he was not even a necessity at the time. It's good to see the Bills gamble on such a hot commodity.

I'd be more intuned with your arguement if we were discussing Brad Smith. Because Gailey's utilization of him is beyond sub-par. I'd go as far as labeling it piss poor. Why did they sign this guy to the money he's being paid? To ride pine as a 3rd string QB and wild-cat formation specialist. Please. What a joke.

[Night Train]

I just honestly don't know what we are doing on offense anymore. Every game for the last 3-4 has looked like the exact same gameplan and if they run that ****ing screen pass one more time when its key that everybody in the stadium is reading it I dont know what Im going to do.

I was saying the same thing to a friend 3 weeks back. Everyone on earth can now read the Freddie screen pass and it must be set aside for a while. They can still hit him on quick rollouts or other patterns.

[DraftBoy]

And why would you? He's half the man Freddy Jackson is. And Spiller shows us all he's capable of with wonderous kick returning abilities. He's a joke. Another wasted pick. And my previous point was that he was not even a necessity at the time. It's good to see the Bills gamble on such a hot commodity.

I'd be more intuned with your arguement if we were discussing Brad Smith. Because Gailey's utilization of him is beyond sub-par. I'd go as far as labeling it piss poor. Why did they sign this guy to the money he's being paid? To ride pine as a 3rd string QB and wild-cat formation specialist. Please. What a joke.

Your argument for Gailey's mismanagement of Smith is the same one I have for Spiller.

[madness]

Jamming the receivers only works due to how poorly our line has been playing compared to beginning of the year. When you can generate pressure before the QB even finishes his drop, not many receivers can do much with that, press or not. Losing Wood is going to hurt but I'd expect a little better offensive showing with some LT's actually on the field to help negate the outside pressure that's been killing the offense lately.

[RedEyE]

Your argument for Gailey's mismanagement of Smith is the same one I have for Spiller.

Touche. At least there is a place for Smith to be playing. Spiller is forced to the sidelines because he's being out played. Jackson is just better.

Where as Smith could be used as a WR option. They had the opportunity to explore when Brick Hands Jones was out. They squandered it. Sending him in slant routes with the rest of the receiving team. Its the only pass play the Bills seem to know.

[T-Long]

I have to say, we all have been saying the exact same thing as Casserly. It doesn't take a former GM to figure out what has gone wrong the past two weeks. It's obvious the short passing game we have been successful in the past with has not been b/c the corners have been playing up man on man and jamming at the line.

[methos4ever]

I was saying the same thing to a friend 3 weeks back. Everyone on earth can now read the Freddie screen pass and it must be set aside for a while. They can still hit him on quick rollouts or other patterns.
They need to go the the Pats old tried and true double screen. Have it faked (even with a blocker) as if it's going to Fred and if there's 8 guys running at him like vs the Cowboys SURPRISE it's going to Spiller the opposite way with more blockers up field to help him.

[trapezeus]

the bills may want to put macintyre in the backfield as well and keep a TE in on blocking every now and then. this way they can kind of buy time to stretch the field and see if it really is a WR issue.

The spread isn't going to work with these current 5 OL all out of position and playing hurt. Give them some help and re-establish the running game. then send the TE out every now and then for a quick pass, and then keep the TE in and let Stevie get open down field.

that's how i'd try to manage this dearth of talent issue on the OL.

[Ickybaluky]

He got a Super Bowl ring.

Hardly a failure.

He actually has 3 from when he was with the Redskins. He started with the Redskins when George Allen was coaching.

[ddaryl]

this is obviously what is happening

the disappointing part is the coaches don't seem to have a plan B or C.

Part of it is were still a team with missing pieces, and injuries....

however the bigger problem still remains our lack of a pass rush and our inability of our CB's to cover anyone

[Historian]

Its comical watching these "experts" drool all over themselves when the Bills are winning, and even more comical watching them run for cover when they play a couple bad games.

[BertSquirtgum]

I just honestly don't know what we are doing on offense anymore. Every game for the last 3-4 has looked like the exact same gameplan and if they run that ****ing screen pass one more time when its key that everybody in the stadium is reading it I dont know what Im going to do.

I would like to know why the routes being run on 3rd an 8, 3rd and 7, 3rd and 10 are being run so close to the LOS instead of close to the first down marker. It blew my mind Sunday when I saw the passes caught two yards away from the first down marker numerous times Sunday. What the **** Chan?

[BertSquirtgum]

Touche. At least there is a place for Smith to be playing. Spiller is forced to the sidelines because he's being out played. Jackson is just better.

Where as Smith could be used as a WR option. They had the opportunity to explore when Brick Hands Jones was out. They squandered it. Sending him in slant routes with the rest of the receiving team. Its the only pass play the Bills seem to know.

Brad Smith has proven that he cannot catch a ball during game time. He sucks ball as a receiver.

[kingJofNYC]

Our O hasn't been there but we're not getting stops on D so we've become more one dimensional than we already are.

If they jam up our receivers, they have no outside force defenders for the run, so they bring down the safety, we make that block and Freddy's going to rip off huge runs. Even with the focus being on Freddy he's still killing it on the ground.

Our DL was manhandled against Dallas and that's with scrubs like Phil Costa playing center. Dareus was dominated by Costa, Free killed Edwards, the only guy who looked good on the DL was Heard, though he didn't get many snaps.

Dareus/Heard should be getting most of the reps, with Edwards and Carrington rotating in. God our D coordinator is ****. Just leave Coleman/Moats/Batten out there, I can't stand the sight of Spencer Johnson in a 2pt stance.

[djjimkelly]

basically just like alot of have been saying

we need better wrs some of them would be fine as our 4th like nelson 3/4th

and on D simple solution whetner it be FA or DP

get some real OLBs and our D will be fine we need 2

[Goobylal]

Casserly's right...as long as the Bills have an OG playing LT. Get Hairston or preferably Bell back at LT, Levitre back inside (he'll have to play center, with Wood out for the season), and see what happens.

But one thing that needs to change is the WR's need to CATCH THE FRIGGIN' BALL WHEN IT HITS THEM IN THE HANDS!

[!Papacrunk!]

Sometimes with players/teams it depends on what happens when film/footage catches up to them. Look what happened when Henne started out pretty decent when he became a starter. Then look at what happened when the game film caught up to him.

[ParanoidAndroid]

"In my day we did not have self-esteem... we had self-respect, and no more of it then we earned."



Jane Haddam wrote that.

[mrbojanglezs]

I agree with him

[The Jokeman]

Early on I feel like Steve was targeted a good amount, but lately I don't think he's had 10 targets in the last 3 games combined.

Another thing we need to do is use the size of our WR's. David Nelson is 6'5"...maybe Fitz should throw to him like he's tall instead of Parrish-sized.

At this point, Donald Jones needs to get it together or he's a waste of a person on the field. He's not that tall, not that fast, and his hands aren't that good. I'd actually like to see Roosevelt more - the kid has done well nearly every time I see him.
Also Scott Chandler isn't one draws Safety attention by himself. I think if we could re-sign Stevie and an UFA like Jermichael Finley (who can lineup at TE or on the outside) it help our O immensly.

[Extremebillsfan247]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/16112140/week-10-thoughts-magic-is-over-for-bills

... In talking to defensive coordinators, they felt the way to stop Buffalo's offense was to jam their receivers at the line of scrimmage -- be physical with them, disrupt their timing. This makes Ryan Fitzpatrick (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/547043/ryan-fitzpatrick) hold the ball. The thought is the Bills tackles are not good enough to hold up against good ends on the pass rush. The other point is to do a good job of limiting the receivers' yards after the catch, which people have been able to do. The reason this strategy works is because the Bills don't have exceptional receivers that are hard to press. Buffalo's run defense continues to struggle (163 yards allowed) and their defense can't put pressure on the QB (no sacks). I think people have the formula to beat Buffalo. Buffalo, in my opinion, has peaked and will struggle from here on out.He's right. JMO

[mjt328]

Casserly is right on the money.

HOWEVER... I wouldn't be suprised if we still have a few good games.


There are way more "Dick Jauron" coaches in the league than "Bill Belichek" coaches. I have a feeling that some of the teams we face will completely ignore this formula and try using soft zone coverage against us anyway.


Fans will get their hopes up, only to have them crushed again a week later.

[psubills62]

Also Scott Chandler isn't one draws Safety attention by himself. I think if we could re-sign Stevie and an UFA like Jermichael Finley (who can lineup at TE or on the outside) it help our O immensly.
I was just reading an article that mentioned how hybrid TE's are being used.

I think we really need one. Look at the way the Pats and Jets have battled back and forth over the last few years. The Jets built a defense specifically to beat the spread that the Patriots used (same one we use now, which is why the Jets match up so well against us, because we don't have Moss or Welker or Brady or that OL). Patriots countered by getting Hernandez and Gronkowski and using a lot more 2 TE sets. Meanwhile, we Bills are stuck trying to get an offense going that has been somewhat figured out within the division (by one team at least).

[kingJofNYC]

I think Nelson is our hybrid WR/TE, Gailey uses him in a very similar fashion. Everything he catches is usually between the numbers, he motions him in the run game to crack block, heck I've even seem him motioned into the backfield to pass block.

Only difference is that he never lines up as a conventional TE, only as a TE split wide.

[BoyILuvLoznStupidly]

So let's assume he's right (and I think he is for the record) what's the issue and how do we fix it offensively?

The defense is a disaster right now, so let's just focus on the offense.

Start running the ball more. Give Freddy more than just 14 carries in a game. To me it seems like Chan is to pass happy.

And yes I understand when you are down 28-7 you can't. If I recall on the first drive we threw on all three downs and punted. Also on the one TD we had it was first and goal on the 3 and we passed on 1st down and 2nd. There were a few 3rd and shorts where we should have run the ball but instead passed the ball and did not convert

[zone]

Start running the ball more. Give Freddy more than just 14 carries in a game. To me it seems like Chan is to pass happy.

And yes I understand when you are down 28-7 you can't. If I recall on the first drive we threw on all three downs and punted. Also on the one TD we had it was first and goal on the 3 and we passed on 1st down and 2nd. There were a few 3rd and shorts where we should have run the ball but instead passed the ball and did not convert
Exactly, Chan should start to adapt... If teams have the formula to beat what was working, change the formula.

Use Fred and CJ as a 2 headed monster, run the ball and open up the play action pass.

[X-Era]

Quick slants is one possible fix.

Shotgun is possibly another.

I think Casserly pulled a classic analyst move where he tried to oversimplify what's happening. Does anyone honestly think Gailey wouldn't know that opposing D's are trying to jam his WR's at the line? Or does anyone believe that Casserly knows why were failing but Gailey doesn't?

I give Chan way more credit than that and I think the situation is way more complicated than just jamming at the line and decent pass rushers.

And one of Stevie's best traits is his ability to get separation.

[Coach Sal]

I specifically asked Chan about this yesterday, even mentioning that it was Casserly who brought it up. You can see it/hear it right here at the :52 second mark:

http://www.buffalobills.com/media-center/videos/Chan-Gailey-Wednesday-Press-Conference/6b51209d-4153-4132-a746-87be59b24ae9

Here it is in written form:
We’ve been getting more bump (coverage) but it’s because that’s what the other teams do. It’s not because that’s what gets us. We’d been bumped before this year. That’s not something that concerns me. At times it does disrupt your timing but they take that chance, too, that you get the fade or you get the pass interference down the field. It’s a give and take when you bump and run.

[BillsWin]

I believe I posted in a thread a few weeks ago when we were flying high that our offense would sputter eventually as defenses caught on and that injuries would eventually be too much to handle and we'd miss the playoffs going 8-8 or 9-7. I still feel that's true. I think we have a shot at a solid season that we can build off of but we're not there yet.

[madness]

I specifically asked Chan about this yesterday, even mentioning that it was Casserly who brought it up. You can see it/hear it right here at the :52 second mark:

http://www.buffalobills.com/media-center/videos/Chan-Gailey-Wednesday-Press-Conference/6b51209d-4153-4132-a746-87be59b24ae9

Here it is in written form:
We’ve been getting more bump (coverage) but it’s because that’s what the other teams do. It’s not because that’s what gets us. We’d been bumped before this year. That’s not something that concerns me. At times it does disrupt your timing but they take that chance, too, that you get the fade or you get the pass interference down the field. It’s a give and take when you bump and run.
Totally forgot you're in there now... I heard that question and thought to myself "excellent question"!

I agree with Gailey though. It's not like these guys weren't getting bumped before but when you can pressure the QB within 3 sec. it's just common sense to bump.

[madness]

Quick slants is one possible fix.

Shotgun is possibly another.

I think Casserly pulled a classic analyst move where he tried to oversimplify what's happening. Does anyone honestly think Gailey wouldn't know that opposing D's are trying to jam his WR's at the line? Or does anyone believe that Casserly knows why were failing but Gailey doesn't?

I give Chan way more credit than that and I think the situation is way more complicated than just jamming at the line and decent pass rushers.

And one of Stevie's best traits is his ability to get separation.

WR Stevie Johnson
On defenses taking away the slants:
I don’t know, just play through it. Teams aren’t stupid. They change their defense. They have guys running out underneath, they have somebody over top and they have somebody playing press. It’s tough but that’s how this league is. I just have to play through it and maybe move around a little bit. For the most part it’s been like this since the beginning of the season. Other people just have to step up. I still have to step up myself no matter what coverage they throw at me.

[Stewie]

Who's been wrong more than Charley Casserly since he left the Redskins? Wherever he's been, whatever he's done, his percentage is like a meteorologist...He has no relationship with this team, I'd say less than zero. He's never here, I don't know if he's ever been to a game. He's never been to a practice...at least he put his name on it and I'll put my name on it and say, like he usually is, he's 100-percent wrong.

-Stewie Belichick

[Its_Sal]

I disagree. Can't deny how ugly the last few weeks have been but I honestly think they were a little too hyped up for the Jets game (the whole "white-out and everything) and fell flat (pretty much exactly what happen to the Jets against the Pats last week actually) then we just got steam rolled by the Cowboys who are a team that has some very favorable match-up against us.

That said though, going forward the schedule isn't very hard with the two hardest games being against the Jets and Pats. All the other teams are either awful (like the Fins) or teams I think we match up very well against (like the Bolts).

I think the Bills will most likely end up 9-7 or 10-6 with a little luck. They'll probably fall short of the playoffs (hell, with a little luck we might sneak in, probably not but, hey, I can hope) but after the last decade I would be happy with a winning record and a very bright outlook for the future.