I’d like to begin by thanking the Bills for ruining an absolutely perfect day in the stadium. Buffalo doesn’t offer 75 degrees days in October that often.
Anyway, the Bills played “inspired” football for about one quarter, but finished with more frustrating and ultimately humiliating play that had me leaving Orchard Park even more embarrassed to call myself a Bills’ fan. All in all, this game was just more of the same from our Bills.
Pass Rush
– We’re on the Bills’ defense because they surrendered 200 plus rushing yards again, but another aspect of their team that’s equally discouraging is the lack of a pass rush, which has become all too familiar for me.
Marcus Stroud and Reggie Corner registered sacks, but on nearly all of David Garrard’s drop backs, he had way too long to throw the ball. I don’t care how “great” your secondary is – no defensive backfield can cover for six seconds. The Bills’ certainly don’t have the best secondary in the NFL like Drayton Florence and Donte Whitner told us this summer, but the pass rush is the main reason why Buffalo’s allowing the highest quarterback rating through five weeks.
It’s like the defensive lineman are complacent with simply running into their blockers. I saw a few stunts that were obviously called plays, but little to no counter moves are being deployed. I will give Kyle Williams and Dwan Edwards some credit, they played hard from whistle to whistle, but can’t do it alone.
Run Defense
– There’s not a lot to say here that you don’t already know. The Jaguars were just like every other team, they ran simple run plays, their offensive line dominated the Bills’ front four and easily reached the second level. None of Buffalo’s linebackers and secondary members can consistently get off of blocks, and when they do, they whiff on tackles. Everyone’s accountable.
Paul Posluszny
– I waver back and forth on Paul Posluszny. Sometimes I think he’s overrated by the Bills’ fan base and is merely a role-playing linebacker in a star position on this brutal Bills’ defense. But after keeping a close eye on him the past two games, I think that Poz’ is the product of all the poor play around him. He’s not great in coverage by any stretch, but he’s a sideline-to-sideline guy and is a good enough tackler to be efficient in the new defense. He’s no Patrick Willis, but fans think he’s much worse than he really is.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
– He at least makes things interesting. He’ll thread a needle like he did on Lee Evans’ touchdown pass in the first quarter, and then bounce a bubble screen to Roscoe Parrish. I love the guy’s heart but Sunday’s performance indicated why he’s a career backup. For those of you who didn’t see the game and are wondering why I’m knocking a 20 of 30, 220 yard, 3 TD effort from a Bills’ quarterback, believe me, he missed badly when it mattered most. He threw behind, over and into tight coverage and tossed incompletions on crucial third downs. The Jaguars have one of the worst pass defenses in the league and any competent signal caller would have easily thrown for 300 yards and won the game. Maybe I’m being a little too harsh, and I do want Fitz’ on the roster next year, but we’re going to see a lot more poor quarterback play the remainder of the season.
Cast-off Free Agents
– Cornell Green is the worst tackle in the NFL. He’s got to be. Andra Davis is only somewhat servicable. Akin Ayodele is invisible. Reggie Torbor is invisible. These are guys the Bills brought in this year through free agency. I’m tired Buffalo signing washed-up cast-off veterans and labeling them as valuable experience. Outside of Dwan Edwards, another brutal free agency for the Bills.
Offensive Line
– The offensive line is a cohesive unit, and right now Eric Wood and Andy Levitre are being pulled down by the tackles around them. I’ve already touched on Cornell Green, and Demetrius Bell is what we thought he was, an un-drafted lineman from a small school that’s not of NFL caliber. I like the infusion of Cordaro Howard and Kraig Urbik for the future, but right now, they’re leaving Levitre and Wood out to dry. I don’t think the second-year linemates are future Hall of Famers, but the continual missed assignments from the rest of the line really gives them no chance on some plays. It’s a shame.
Questions
Why isn’t Aaron Maybin on the field? I had him in on only one play, a play in which he forced a holding call. (Update – He played TWO snaps)
Why did the Bills run on just about every 1st down? Fred Jackson runs so hard, but we’re headed back to the Steve Fairchild era of predictable play-calling. Hopefully I’m wrong.
Why aren’t the Bills running C.J. Spiller to the outside? He’s one of the fastest players around the corner I’ve ever seen, but the Bills use him between-the-tackles. Or how about simply using him more? Five carries on the day? Also, blocking for him on kick-returns would help, too.
Final Thoughts
– There’s a real chance the Bills could go 0-16. I’m the biggest optimist out there, but after watching this defense over and over, I can’t find a team in the remaining schedule that I can fathom the Bills beating. The offense will be able to hold my interest because of Jackson, Fitzpatrick, and the unheralded receiving corp, but the defense is swiss cheese. I’m afraid to watch the Baltimore game in two weeks.
– On Monday, the Bills released 2008 third-round pick Chris Ellis to make room for Shawn Nelson. WTF. Ellis isn’t an impact guy, but he started two games this year and someone like John McCargo, who’s been a healthy scratch all five games is still on the roster. How many more idiotic moves can Bills’ management make? Looking back, the draft’s in Buffalo during the 2000s had to be the worst of all time. How Tom Modrak still has a job is beyond me. He should be the next cut.
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