66 replies to this topic

[Union2008]

I've held off on prediction threads until this game because its probably the best game to depend on for any type of analysis. Here are my quick thoughts:

The good:

-The defensive line is going to be very good. They Bills' won't have the best defense in the league, but they'll have one of the top 3 d-lines.

-Kyle Williams is going to make the pro bowl if he stays healthy. I think Dareus could follow him there.

-Gilmore is the real deal. I think he'll struggle for the first couple of weeks, but settle in by season end.

-Special teams looks to be improved. If McKelvin can hold on to the football, he is a legit return man.

-Our RB's are going to have a great year. CJ had a bad night, but it looks like he has improved and Fred hasn't lost a beat.

The bad:

-This was a sobering game. Mostly on offense, but even defensively. The front 4 are great, but in all of that hype we might have overlooked the shakeyness of our LBs and CBs. We are essentially starting two rookies at CB. I could easily see Leodis/McGee taking over for Williams if he continues to struggle. And as for our linebacker, Moats has shown well, and Barnett will always be good, but I'm a little suspect of their ability to prevent the short passing game. And as we know, the short passing game is going to be the number one offense against our defense.

-I hate to say it, but I'm worried our offense won't make the necessary strides to fulfill all of this hype. The O-line will gel eventually, but right now...very shakey. Everything is going to hinge on a the running game, which is great bc we have terrific RBs. But not so great in that this is a passing league and you need to throw the ball effectively and consistently in order to compete. Our WRs are just not that great. Good, but no one with the explosiveness to make teams worry. Stevie will beat a few guys with his feet, but his bread and butter is still his route running. When he is covered 1 v 1, sure, he might beat you. But when he is double teamed (as he likely will be given the lack of a 2nd receiving threat), he isn't as potent. I honestly think Graham will have the 2nd most receptions on the team when its all said it done. Gailey won't be able to keep his speed on the bench.

-Oh and Fitz looked bad. I blame a lot of his struggles on the o-line and SJ's blown routes. But still. His accuracy was supposed to be better. Its not. Thats worrisome.

I still like this team but these 10-6/11-5 predictions are a little too hyped up. I think the Bills will be in most games this season if everyone stays healthy. And I wouldn't be surprised at all if they make the playoffs. But this team is still a work in progress as tonight showed. I say 9-7.

Edited by Union2008, 25 August 2012 - 10:49 PM.

[mrags]

My biggest take aways after tonight are this:

We have 2 very good RBs and if Chan doesn't get over himself as some mastermind passing coach and just run the damn ball, he's going ringing himself out of the job. Fitz isn't great but he's not horrible either. Why you don't run the ball as much as possible when your RB is averaging 4.9 yards a carry is absolutely insane. Why you help the opposing teams offense by taking timeouts when there's only 1:30 seconds left and theyvare stuck on the sideline is also a slight to Gaileys genius. We had the lead, we were getting the ball at the half, and we had 3-4 attempts from about the 50 yard line so far and only came away with 7 so far. Just let them kill thier own clock and walk slowly into the locker room at halftime with the lead.

Well, if things go good and Gailey learns from his mistakes we should and could be around that 10-6, 11-5 mark. If he doesn't, we will be 8-8 at best and then we can hope MartyBall comes to town.

[Webster Guy]

I didn't think the Oline looked bad at all.   Cordy did well over there.   Fred is a better blocker than CJ, so when we run that 4 wide one back set, I think it's best to have number 22 in there.   Pitt defense is similar to the Jets, 5 rushers for at least half the snaps.  I'm glad we played Pitt tonite because they'll get a lot of film and lessons on picking up the blitzers.    

Fitz looked very rusty to me.   Chan said he was reading the defense very well but that's only half of the job, the other half is to be accurate and deliver the ball on time.   His velocity seemed fine but he was at least a few feet off most every throw.   He almost killed Stevie on that in-route, and thank god Nelson is 6'5 or he doesn't make that grab.   The route mixups with he and Stevie are ridiculous.   Not sure whose fault it was, probably not Fitz, but they are paid very well to get that stuff straight.  

Did Stevie really just stop running that go route?   WhatThe...   I know he had a great game against Revis last time, but until he gets his head in the game I do not trust the kid to do well on opening day.    I think he blew like three routes tonite, fumble last week, etc.  I hope Chan and Fitz have enough leadership in them to get in his face and demand better performance.

Fitz is a tough dude, and I admire his determination, but when the blitz is on you have to go to your hot read immediately or THROW IT AWAY.   When you start getting greedy and looking for the second and third options on a blitz, you are eventually going to get the ball stripped and get cracked ribs again or worse.   Its a certainty.  

Chan went to backups right away in the second half because he wasn't about to stick Fitz back out there to take another round of hits until they correct some issues.  I don't blame him.

Ron Brooks is going to get flagged a lot in the NFL unless he starts turning around and looking at the ball.

Morrison looked fast.

Shep had a better game than last week for sure.

Easley dropped another wide open ball.   He's gone.

I think the surprise roster move will be keep Roosevelt over Hagan.

There is a good chance that Mario, Dareus and Kyle are all in the pro bowl this year.

Direct snap to Spiller on 3rd down with Fitz as a wideout?   Awesome.

How does Fred look so slow out there but still blow by everyone?  What an athlete.   Choice nailed down the 3rd spot tonite.

I think our team is built for more smashmouth than Chan would like to admit.

[billsfan89]

I keep thinking that the Bills are mailing in the pre-season from an offensive stand point. I hope Chan has a secret game plan for the first few weeks of the season. I think that Chan is likely going to use Freddie and CJ more so then he has in the preseason (At least I hope so). I agree with a poster who said this is a more smash mouth team then Chan thinks.

[Kelly the Dog]

A huge part of our offense was not shown in this game so it's very hard to take away anything from it. We started the game with Lee Smith and a two TE offense. I doubt we will see that much. I remember one play where CJ and Fred Ex were in the game at the same time, we're going to see that a lot. Chandler played no part in this game, we're going to see him a lot. We didnt run the Wildcat, which we will.

Fitz did not have a good game at all. Nor did the OL as far as pass blocking. But we did not at all go to our strengths this game at all. To me, Gailey was saying, okay we know we can do certain stuff so lets try to perfect other stuff we're not nearly as good at.

I'm not worried about the offense at all. That is not to say they are going to come out and play well. Only that this is no indication of how good or bad they will be when the real bullets fly.

What I do know is Fred Jackson is a stud. CJ has a lot of talent. SJ can get open and catch. Nelson and Chandler are viable threats over the middle. Gailey is a pretty good if not very good offensive coach. We should be able to move the ball and put points on the board.

[RyanC883]

Was ok overall.  But the play at the end of the first half by the defense was alarming, as was the first teams D in the red zone all night.

[Bufcomments]

As a couple of posters said I think this team would be better as a 4 yds and a cloud of dust team. With Fred on your team you kinda have to be.

Fitz was pressed tonight by a team that is well coached and they got to him and it showed. The Jets are gonna do the same thing watch. Think they will be more ready or at least I hope so come Sept. 9th.

Fred Jackson is awesome. As long as Fred is back there we will be a balanced Offense.

Kyle Willams maybe our best player on D.

McGee still is not ready. They might have to put him on the PUP list and let him heal.

VY was doing the same thing in Philly last year. If Andy Reid let him go there had to be a reason.

[mrags]

JohnnyGold, on 26 August 2012 - 12:01 AM, said:

Geez, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll make sure to apply when Gailey is let go.

The point isn't that this was only a pre season game. The point is that Gailey is pass happy. Always has been. The point is the Gailey always outsmarts himself. The point is that wrong descisions were made tonight. Does this mean it's going to be this way all season? Maybe, maybe not. But Gaileys track record over the past 2 years is pretty close to what happened tonight. All I'm saying, is IF Chan doesn't realize that running the ball is our best chance to win, he might be out of the job after this year. I really hope I'm wrong and I'm just blowing the pre season out of proportion but we looked horrible on too many fronts tonight from coaching on down. I don't know about you but I was there tonight and it was ugly at times, even for the pre season.

[Kelly the Dog]

mrags, on 26 August 2012 - 12:50 AM, said:

Geez, thanks for the vote of confidence. I'll make sure to apply when Gailey is let go.

The point isn't that this was only a pre season game. The point is that Gailey is pass happy. Always has been. The point is the Gailey always outsmarts himself. The point is that wrong descisions were made tonight. Does this mean it's going to be this way all season? Maybe, maybe not. But Gaileys track record over the past 2 years is pretty close to what happened tonight. All I'm saying, is IF Chan doesn't realize that running the ball is our best chance to win, he might be out of the job after this year. I really hope I'm wrong and I'm just blowing the pre season out of proportion but we looked horrible on too many fronts tonight from coaching on down. I don't know about you but I was there tonight and it was ugly at times, even for the pre season.

There is zero question in my mind that the reason we run consistently well is because we pass two thirds of the time. Gailey knows that. It's pretty obvious. That doesnt mean he can't run a little more... 2-3 times a game... or more 3rd and shorts... but if we ran significantly more we simply would not be able to run like we do. We play against nickel and dime defenses on every play. That's why we run well.

[MARCELL DAREUS POWER]

how did carrington/heard/gilbert look?

[mrags]

Kelly the Dog, on 26 August 2012 - 12:59 AM, said:

There is zero question in my mind that the reason we run consistently well is because we pass two thirds of the time. Gailey knows that. It's pretty obvious. That doesnt mean he can't run a little more... 2-3 times a game... or more 3rd and shorts... but if we ran significantly more we simply would not be able to run like we do. We play against nickel and dime defenses on every play. That's why we run well.

This is an argument that I can comprehend. It makes sense. I don't know the facts of the play breakdowns as well as the defenses that we face at those times but it is a logical arguement. Thank you for not belittling me and making me sound like an idiot. Apparently, just us fans can't observe the team and have certain opinions. I defenately agree that it doesn't need to change much, just 5-10 plays a game where we run instead of pass. I don't know the %s but I'd guess off the top of my head it's a little higher than the average. Good argument :-)

MARCELL DAREUS POWER, on 26 August 2012 - 01:06 AM, said:

how did carrington/heard/gilbert look?

I honestly didn't notice any of them. I did notice Moore in on a few plays and I liked what I saw.

[MARCELL DAREUS POWER]

mrags, on 26 August 2012 - 01:22 AM, said:

This is an argument that I can comprehend. It makes sense. I don't know the facts of the play breakdowns as well as the defenses that we face at those times but it is a logical arguement. Thank you for not belittling me and making me sound like an idiot. Apparently, just us fans can't observe the team and have certain opinions. I defenately agree that it doesn't need to change much, just 5-10 plays a game where we run instead of pass. I don't know the %s but I'd guess off the top of my head it's a little higher than the average. Good argument :-)


I honestly didn't notice any of them. I did notice Moore in on a few plays and I liked what I saw.

for the 9th dlineman, who would you keep?

[kobe808lak]

The sooner than Chan realizes this is a ball control running offense, the better..  Fitz cannot be the focal point of the offense.  It will not end well.  Gailey should have learned this during last seasons losing streak but it doesn't look like he has.

[mrags]

MARCELL DAREUS POWER, on 26 August 2012 - 01:40 AM, said:

for the 9th dlineman, who would you keep?

I'd have to say:
Williams
Williams
Dareus
Anderson
Kelsey
Edwards
Johnson
Moore
Carrington

IF they keep 9 that's my guess. Kelsey as a backup at either DE position, Edwards, Johnson and Carrington could all play either DE or DT if needed IMO and Moore seems like a very good backup for the RE. I'm just a fan but that's my guess.

kobe808lak, on 26 August 2012 - 01:42 AM, said:

The sooner than Chan realizes this is a ball control running offense, the better..  Fitz cannot be the focal point of the offense.  It will not end well.  Gailey should have learned this during last seasons losing streak but it doesn't look like he has.

That's the point I was trying to make.

[taC giB ehT]

Fitz had 6 consecutive miss-fires with Stevie.

OLiNe looked fine, couldn't handle the extra guy though.

[Boludo]

heres all you need to know about the team:

qb: below average
rbs: above average
line: average
wrs: below average

dline: above average
lbs: below average
dbs: average

kickers: average
coaches: below average

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Boludo, on 26 August 2012 - 02:42 AM, said:

heres all you need to know about the team:

qb: below average
rbs: above average
line: average
wrs: below average

dline: above average
lbs: below average
dbs: average

kickers: average
coaches: below average

Thanks for your rationalized assessment based on pre-season games...you should work for bleacher report my friend.

[Kemp]

Fitz was off-target too much but people complaining about play selection and results in a pre-season game do not understand the goals of pre-season. The one troubling thing to me was our lack of depth, something that was supposed to be a major asset this year, especially on defense.

On the plus side, Pitt was a good team to have scheduled in the only pre-season game that has any relevance. A good gauge and evaluation tool going forward.

[vincec]

MARCELL DAREUS POWER, on 26 August 2012 - 01:06 AM, said:

how did carrington/heard/gilbert look?

Carrington = got worked
Heard = got worked
Gilbert = made a least two plays that I remember and looked like he might have some potential although he didn't make any drive stopping plays while the Steeler backups were steamrolling.

[MARCELL DAREUS POWER]

carrington really got worked?