TMQ fires off a shot at play calling and management

[stuckincincy]

..." 'Tis Better To Have Rushed And Lost Than Never To Have Rushed At All: Buffalo went to Houston to face the Texans, who entered with the 25th-ranked rushing defense. Yet adjusting for sacks and scrambles, Bills coaches called 47 passing plays and just 22 rushes. The Bills' average gain per rush, 4.2 yards, nearly exceeded their pitiful average gain of 4.8 yards per passing attempt.

With Buffalo leading 10-7 early in the third quarter, the Bills reached third-and-2 on the Houston 12. A run stands a good chance of making the first down, or setting up either fourth-and-1 or a field goal for a 13-7 margin. Instead it's a pass -- intercepted by J.J. Watt and returned 80 yards for a touchdown. That's a swing of 10 to 14 points; Houston won by six.

Since 2012, Buffalo management has invested three first-round draft picks, a second-rounder, two third-rounders and a fourth-rounder in its quarterback and wide receivers. (This includes the 2015 picks already spent on Sammy Watkins.) At Houston, it felt like the Bills' brain trust thought the team had to be pass-wacky to justify spending so many high picks on receivers and the accuracy-challenged EJ Manuel. Turns out all the Bills were justifying was the soon-to-come housecleaning from new owner Terry Pegula. The postgame benching of Manuel -- who was often off the mark in college, too -- shows the Bills' brain trust knows the clock is ticking on its employment.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/TMQWeekFour140930/robert-griffin-iii-blaine-gabbert-why-mega-trades-work-nfl-tuesday-morning-quarterback

[Buffalogic]

FO not responsible for idiot Hackett's game plan.

[Skooby]

This guy must of bet on Buffalo.

[Fletch]

..." 'Tis Better To Have Rushed And Lost Than Never To Have Rushed At All: Buffalo went to Houston to face the Texans, who entered with the 25th-ranked rushing defense. Yet adjusting for sacks and scrambles, Bills coaches called 47 passing plays and just 22 rushes. The Bills' average gain per rush, 4.2 yards, nearly exceeded their pitiful average gain of 4.8 yards per passing attempt.

With Buffalo leading 10-7 early in the third quarter, the Bills reached third-and-2 on the Houston 12. A run stands a good chance of making the first down, or setting up either fourth-and-1 or a field goal for a 13-7 margin. Instead it's a pass -- intercepted by J.J. Watt and returned 80 yards for a touchdown. That's a swing of 10 to 14 points; Houston won by six.

Since 2012, Buffalo management has invested three first-round draft picks, a second-rounder, two third-rounders and a fourth-rounder in its quarterback and wide receivers. (This includes the 2015 picks already spent on Sammy Watkins.) At Houston, it felt like the Bills' brain trust thought the team had to be pass-wacky to justify spending so many high picks on receivers and the accuracy-challenged EJ Manuel. Turns out all the Bills were justifying was the soon-to-come housecleaning from new owner Terry Pegula. The postgame benching of Manuel -- who was often off the mark in college, too -- shows the Bills' brain trust knows the clock is ticking on its employment.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/page/TMQWeekFour140930/robert-griffin-iii-blaine-gabbert-why-mega-trades-work-nfl-tuesday-morning-quarterback

If they had written their opinions of that prior to the season starting they would be hated in Buffalo, deemed idiots, and worse. Now they're right.

Also from that link:

The title of the piece


Why mega-trades don't work


• This April, Buffalo traded two first-round picks -- plus a fourth-rounder -- for Sammy Watkins. He's appeared in only four contests, but the initial impression gives pause. Watkins has been targeted 32 times and made just 17 catches, with six drops. His receiving stats are barely better than those of aging Buffalo utility player Fred Jackson, the league's oldest running back.

Just pointing out what should be the obvious. That also doesn't seem like it's all a QB's fault.

[stuckincincy]

This guy must of bet on Buffalo.

He's a Kenmore native, and has wide renown. I'm surprised you haven't heard of him, well-read as you are.

[Fletch]

He's a Kenmore native, and has wide renown. I'm surprised you haven't heard of him, well-read as you are.

You know the drill.

By the way, here are the current rookie WR stats;


<thead>

Games
Receiving


Rk
Player
Year
Age
Draft
Tm
Lg
G
GS
Tgt
Rec
Yds
Y/R
TD
Y/G
Ctch%

</thead> <tbody>
1
Kelvin Benjamin (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BenjKe00.htm)
2014
23

CAR (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
4
36
21
329
15.67
3
82.3
58.3


2
Mike Evans (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EvanMi00.htm)
2014
21

TAM (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
4
27
17
203
11.94
1
50.8
63.0


3
Brandin Cooks (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CookBr00.htm)
2014
21

NOR (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nor/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
3
30
23
199
8.65
1
49.8
76.7


4
Sammy Watkins (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WatkSa00.htm)
2014
21

BUF (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
4
32
17
197
11.59
2
49.3
53.1


5
Allen Hurns (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HurnAl01.htm)
2014
23

JAX (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/jax/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
3
24
7
186
26.57
3
46.5
29.2


6
Allen Robinson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RobiAl02.htm)
2014
21

JAX (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/jax/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
2
26
12
154
12.83
0
38.5
46.2


7
Jordan Matthews (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MattJo00.htm)
2014
22

PHI (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
2
24
15
141
9.40
2
35.3
62.5


8
Jarvis Landry (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LandJa00.htm)
2014
22

MIA (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
0
18
12
111
9.25
0
27.8
66.7


9
John Brown (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowJo02.htm)
2014
24

ARI (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
3
0
15
9
109
12.11
3
36.3
60.0


10
Philly Brown (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowPh00.htm)
2014
23

CAR (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
1
13
9
101
11.22
0
25.3
69.2

</tbody>

[better days]

You know the drill.

By the way, here are the current rookie WR stats;


<tbody>

Games
Receiving


Rk
Player
Year
Age
Draft
Tm
Lg
G
GS
Tgt
Rec
Yds
Y/R
TD
Y/G
Ctch%


1
Kelvin Benjamin (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BenjKe00.htm)
2014
23

CAR (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
4
36
21
329
15.67
3
82.3
58.3


2
Mike Evans (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EvanMi00.htm)
2014
21

TAM (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/tam/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
4
27
17
203
11.94
1
50.8
63.0


3
Brandin Cooks (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CookBr00.htm)
2014
21

NOR (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nor/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
3
30
23
199
8.65
1
49.8
76.7


4
Sammy Watkins (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WatkSa00.htm)
2014
21

BUF (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
4
32
17
197
11.59
2
49.3
53.1


5
Allen Hurns (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HurnAl01.htm)
2014
23

JAX (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/jax/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
3
24
7
186
26.57
3
46.5
29.2


6
Allen Robinson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RobiAl02.htm)
2014
21

JAX (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/jax/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
2
26
12
154
12.83
0
38.5
46.2


7
Jordan Matthews (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MattJo00.htm)
2014
22

PHI (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
2
24
15
141
9.40
2
35.3
62.5


8
Jarvis Landry (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LandJa00.htm)
2014
22

MIA (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/mia/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
0
18
12
111
9.25
0
27.8
66.7


9
John Brown (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowJo02.htm)
2014
24

ARI (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/crd/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
3
0
15
9
109
12.11
3
36.3
60.0


10
Philly Brown (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowPh00.htm)
2014
23

CAR (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/car/2014.htm)
NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2014/)
4
1
13
9
101
11.22
0
25.3
69.2

</tbody>


Post the WR stats in another 2-3 weeks.

[stuckincincy]

You know the drill.

By the way, here are the current rookie WR stats;



Thanks for the chart. Slim picking for this years' wr crop regarding the qbs tossing to them, after 4 games into the season. Cooks has NO with Brees, J. Brown has Palmer who is injured, Matthews has the up and down Foles. The rest of the qbs - eh.

[Homegrown]

... Bills coaches called 47 passing plays and just 22 rushes.

I applaud the Bills coaches for calling the game the way they did ...it exposed EJ for the player he is - not very good - and the coaches had to accept it ... now we can move on from the EJ era.

[colin]

kinda strikes me as a goofy stat line argument from this guy. he just looked at the box score and some published stats. it's not like he broke down the play and said we passed vs 7 in the box on first down when we should have ran. if they are leaving guys uncovered (like sammy on the pick 6 play) you have to call the pass and the qb has to not be horrible.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

I used to respect Easterbrook, but he clearly doesn't do research.

Like this:

The New England Patriots have the most victories in the past decade, and the Patriots don't engage in mega-trades. Their transactions usually are the reverse of mega-trades, surrendering high-profile draft picks to accumulate midrange choices.

They also dealt away their Pro Bowl guard for a bag of magic beans and promptly saw their interior OL collapse.


The Seattle Seahawks just won the Super Bowl, and did it through gradual, painstaking accumulation of talent, not some panicky trade-up.

Umm a 1st, 3rd, and 7th for Percy Harvin slip your mind there? It's easy to forget, it's not like he was a superstar player at the Super Bowl or anything.


The Falcons gave up two first-rounders, a second-round pick and two fourth-round selections for Julio Jones, while Jacksonville traded first- and second-round selections for Gabbert. Jones is a star, though for the price, Atlanta expected a Super Bowl invitation.

Yeah Jones only stomped a mudhole in the league's #2 defense in the NFC Championship game, too bad he didn't stop Matt Ryan from two 2nd half turnovers.

He does stuff like this all the time. He once criticized the Cardinals for not running the ball more in the playoff game where the Packers made their epic comeback a few years ago. Of course, he neglected to mention that Kurt Warner was playing arguably the all-time best game by a quarterback. Yeah, take the ball out of hid hands and give it to Beanie Wells!

[OpIv37]

FO not responsible for idiot Hackett's game plan.

They're responsible for hiring him in the first place, which is worse.

[Buffalogic]

They're responsible for hiring him in the first place, which is worse.
Marrone is responsible for hiring him. FO isn't to blame for everything, they aren't going to micromanage every single hiring move.

[OpIv37]

Marrone is responsible for hiring him. FO isn't to blame for everything, they aren't going to micromanage every single hiring move.

And you don't think they asked Marrone who he would hire for coordinators in the interview?

No, they shouldn't micromanage. But there is no need to if they pick competent people in the first place.

[Fletch]

Thanks for the chart. Slim picking for this years' wr crop regarding the qbs tossing to them, after 4 games into the season. Cooks has NO with Brees, J. Brown has Palmer who is injured, Matthews has the up and down Foles. The rest of the qbs - eh.

Yeah, exactly.

- - - Updated - - -


I applaud the Bills coaches for calling the game the way they did ...it exposed EJ for the player he is - not very good - and the coaches had to accept it ... now we can move on from the EJ era.

Finally. It never should have begun.

[Fletch]

Marrone is responsible for hiring him. FO isn't to blame for everything, they aren't going to micromanage every single hiring move.

Come on, same thing. They hired Marrone and I'm sure that they asked him about his plan for coaching. Only a fool wouldn't.

Marrone was a poor hire too anyway.

Pegula needs to ****can anything that even has the odor of the current OBD if it has anything at all to do with how this team is run from a personnel perspective. If he doesn't do that then he's going from savior to a mere owner receiving criticism faster than anyone in the history of the game. I hope he understands that. This isn't the NHL and the media and fans aren't as patient or forgiving.

What he has to do is a no brainer. Throwing money around is one thing, doing the smart things after that quite another.

[Buffalogic]

And you don't think they asked Marrone who he would hire for coordinators in the interview?

No, they shouldn't micromanage. But there is no need to if they pick competent people in the first place.
Agreed.

[Buffalogic]

Come on, same thing. They hired Marrone and I'm sure that they asked him about his plan for coaching. Only a fool wouldn't.

Marrone was a poor hire too anyway.

Pegula needs to ****can anything that even has the odor of the current OBD if it has anything at all to do with how this team is run from a personnel perspective. If he doesn't do that then he's going from savior to a mere owner receiving criticism faster than anyone in the history of the game. I hope he understands that. This isn't the NHL and the media and fans aren't as patient or forgiving.

What he has to do is a no brainer. Throwing money around is one thing, doing the smart things after that quite another.
Marrone very well may have been the best candidate of a bad coaching class that actually wanted the job. It's Marrone's fault. I like him less and less each day that passes.

[YardRat]

The pick 6 wasn't a 'bad' call necessarily, and certainly wasn't poor play design...Watkins was wide open to the left and might have scored. That's on execution (EJ), and only a dumbass would hang it on Hackett. I'm not saying Hackett is 'all that' by any means, but his contribution to that specific play was successful, it was the players (EJ) that ****ed it up. Certainly not impressed with the pass/run disparity and two-minute play design though.

[TacklingDummy]

TacklingDummy fires off shot at players execution.

It's only 1 person for inaccurate passes.

[Fletch]

Marrone very well may have been the best candidate of a bad coaching class that actually wanted the job. It's Marrone's fault. I like him less and less each day that passes.

Chip Kelly seems to have been a better choice. Tough to say that since there are an almost limitless number of candidates out there, not just those that the media tells us are available.

Either way, one more example of the FO waiting until there's a lousy class of something to make a move for it. Hopefully the new people, and hopefully there will be new people, understand that you go after people in rich draft or coaching classes, not poor or lousy ones after forcing yourself into a corner.

[Fletch]

The pick 6 wasn't a 'bad' call necessarily, and certainly wasn't poor play design...Watkins was wide open to the left and might have scored. That's on execution (EJ), and only a dumbass would hang it on Hackett. I'm not saying Hackett is 'all that' by any means, but his contribution to that specific play was successful, it was the players (EJ) that ****ed it up. Certainly not impressed with the pass/run disparity and two-minute play design though.

One thing I've read about Orton is that he prefers throwing the ball to a spot, where the receiver is supposed to be. That's not necessarily a bad thing, can be good, but it does take time to develop chemistry with his receivers if that's the way he's gonna play here.

[Albany,n.y.]

Post the WR stats in another 2-3 YEARS

Fixed

[Jry44]

The notion that this article makes of the Bills calling so many pass plays only to justify the heavy investments in the passing game is completely and utterly absurd. We had receivers running around wide open all over the place! Manuel just couldn't hit them. I do agree however that we should have run a bit more...

[YardRat]

Chip Kelly seems to have been a better choice. Tough to say that since there are an almost limitless number of candidates out there, not just those that the media tells us are available.

Either way, one more example of the FO waiting until there's a lousy class of something to make a move for it. Hopefully the new people, and hopefully there will be new people, understand that you go after people in rich draft or coaching classes, not poor or lousy ones after forcing yourself into a corner.

Regardless of which one is the better coach atm or who becomes the better coach, IIRC Kelly took himself off of the coaching radar until after Buffalo's position was filled.

Actually, I just looked it up. Marrone was hired Jan 7, Kelly Jan 16...

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/21563514/eagles-hire-chip-kelly-away-from-oregon

Kelly flirted with Philadelphia earlier in the offseason but ultimately turned down multiple NFL advances (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/21509437/undefined) in order to return to Oregon (http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/teams/page/OREG/oregon-ducks). Or so we thought?

It's absolutely stunning news to see Kelly flip-flop like this...

Can't blame the front office for 'waiting' if they actually pursued him and he declined to come here.