3 Wide Formation?

by moncheri on May 12, 2008 3:13 PM EDT

Before the draft, a lot of people were screaming for a pass-catching TE. But the only TE we got from the draft was Derek Fine, who by all accounts is a good blocker and has good hands yet runs very slowly. So he is not the pass-catching TE who is big and tall and can run pass LB whom we are looking for; nor is Courtney Anderson (assuming Teyo Johnson gets cut) giving us fans a lot of confidence in meeting this "requirement". But I've been thinking, why are we setting these "requirements" in the first place? Why can't the Bills consider dropping the TE and go 3 Wide from 1st to 3rd downs? Parrish and Reed have proven that they are not legit #2 receivers. However, if Hardy can really perform as a #2 receiver (especially when teams have to game plan for his height advantage), I can see Parrish or Reed flourish as a slot receiver when they are up against the nickel back instead of one of the top CB of the other team. Both have shown the ability to produce at the slot receiver role. The whole idea of having a pass-catching TE is to give Edwards more options to throw to (be it that the TE is taller to get height separaton or he is faster to get distance separation), but if our TE's do not match up well to become the Bills' advantage why push for low percentage plays? Why can't the option be a slot receiver instead of a TE? Yes, the Bills want to run the football a lot when they have Lynch, and a TE is supposed to help block for running plays, but I do not see any catching TE options which the Bills have can also block well. Of course, this implies that the slot receiver will have to block well during a running play; from my understanding Reed is a pretty good blocker, and can be very effective blocking against a nickel back during a run play. The idea behind offense coordination is about getting mis-matches and making sure there will always be high percentage play options for Edwards to work on every down. I'd say, right now, the Bills is better off having 3 Wide on every down instead of using any of our existing TE. If the Bills are serious about opening the playbook a bit this season (which Turk claimed), and if they can trust Edwards' on-field decision making more, I think this is a viable option to consider. Of course, they might use other formation for special situations, but I suggest 3 Wide as the basic Bills offense formation for this season.

You guys are more expert than I. What do you think?

This FanPost written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings.

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Comments

Royal

For some unknown reason I still think the Bills like Royal and will keep him on the field for most first and 10’s.

by Berg79 on May 12, 2008 4:22 PM EDT 0 recs

Reason for Royal

He’s a good blocking TE. On first down that’s a good thing to have on the field. Picking up 3-5 yards on first down allows for greater flexibility on 2nd and 3rd downs. Buffalo will keep a blocking TE on the field on first down, whether along with another TE or 3 WRs.

by Ron From NM on May 12, 2008 7:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

Predictability

I actually agree with you guys that I think it is more likely than not the Bills will have a TE on 1st down. But the problem I see is that the personnel we have at TE is mostly blocking TE, and the Bills offense then becomes too predictable. I think it’ll be difficult to have an effective offense (no matter how good your TE can block) when you are predictable.

Bills fan half way around the world

by moncheri on May 13, 2008 7:37 AM EDT up 0 recs

You are onto something moncheri

The optimal run formation is 4 wide with TE in one slot – this was the KGun with Keith McKellar being the K in the gun. Teams wind up with coverage packages (dime and nickel) on the field and leave themselves very vulnerable to the run as they are often left with only 5-6 DLs/LBs in the box.

QB keys on OLBs and Safeties to determine if he should run or pass and audibles accordingly. Not an option last year as we did not have personnel to run this formation and Fairchild DID NOT allow QBs to audible.

All that will change this year. See legendary San Fran / Bills game with Kelly vs Young with no punts – there are offensive options galore out of this formation. Metzalaars was the difference in that game receiving and blocking – was often unaccounted for in the Niners pass D.

This year should be fun!

by freddyjj on May 12, 2008 5:17 PM EDT 0 recs

well

The Bills will use plenty of 3 and 4 WR sets this season, but they shouldn’t use those formations every down.

This is still a run-first team and with a second year QB, they will have to be. A 255 pound TE playing on the line of scrimmage will be 10X more effective than a 210 pound WR in the slot on run plays. I want a TE on the field on every first down, sealing off the DE and getting to the second level and hitting LBs. Josh Reed can effectively block the DB that is covering him, but that won’t matter much on first downs when defenses will have 4 DL and 3 LBs in the game.

Also the only teams that use 3 WR sets as often as 2 WR sets are the teams with great QB play (NE, GB, SEA). Even pass first offenses with great QBs like New Orleans and Cincinatti typically stick with a 2 WR set as their base formation. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that teams with young or average QBs use TEs to improve the run game and offer additional blocking on pass downs.

by kaisertown on May 12, 2008 5:43 PM EDT 0 recs

Well said kaisertown

Trent has a lot to learn and to prove before he is ready to run the K-gun. If Trent looks more like a healthy Chad Pennington this year, I will be happy.

by Joe P. on May 12, 2008 11:23 PM EDT up -1 recs

All Hinges on Trent Edwards

The West Coast Offense which the Bills run (or try to run) depends on quick decision making by the QB. Isn’t this the exact reason why Dick Jauron picked Trent over JP as the starting QB in the first place? Like it or not Trent has to learn and improve A LOT in his 2nd season, or else the Bills are not going to make the playoffs. Spreading the field and not being predictable is essential to sustainable success by the Bills. Trent must be able to execute checkdowns and high percentage throws, and that in itself will setup the run instead of a putting a TE who can only block.

Bills fan half way around the world

by moncheri on May 13, 2008 12:29 PM EDT up 0 recs

ok, let's elaborate

If we vary personnel in the slot – aka Fine/Royal/Anderson/Schouman – versus WR’s we can spread out the DLine and force teams to go nickel or dime. My point is that on 2nd down and 3rd down in makable yardage situations, 4 wide is tough to defend. And you can run out of it. The Kgun was a running offense first and foremost.

Our short yardage package was hoorible the past 2 two years because we always went elephant with 2 TEs and an H back. Spreading them out via varied formations will work better.

by freddyjj on May 13, 2008 9:27 AM EDT up 0 recs

3 Wide

I suggest we not sell short the capabilities of rookie TE Derek Fine. The Bills brass say he was the most complete TE on their board. Though the brass has erred before with evaluating TEs, I’m giving Fine a chance to contribute significantly. For sure, he’s an outstanding blocker. With our WRs and their strengths, Fine doesn’t have to be a stretch-the-field type of receiver. Rather than a 3 wide formation, I’m actually visualizing a double TE sets with Royal and Fine.

Kevin J. Hartnett

by ChipShot on May 13, 2008 8:12 AM EDT 0 recs

SI Article

Check out this article by Mike Lombardi of SI:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/michael_lombardi/05/14/nfl.myths/index.html

Basically Mike is in agreement to what I mentioned. However, it also comes as no surprise that the teams which can succeed with the West Coast Offense also happen to have elite QBs. The outline and personnels are all there, it’s just a matter of whether Trent can execute according to plan. If not, DJ might have to change the plan to adjust to Trent’s development speed.

Bills fan half way around the world

by moncheri on May 15, 2008 3:33 PM EDT 0 recs