Using the Pass to setup the Run - Key to success in the AFC Est

by keysh67 on Jun 28, 2009 1:47 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

Anyone that has read any of my posts knows how much I believe in smash mouth football. I strongly believe that being a power running team in buffalo is the right approach because of the weather conditions. I however have changed my opinion about Turk's approach, which is to use the passing game to establish the running game. The AFC East is a very dominating division comprised of 3-4 teams with the exception of the Bills. This division has amongst the best Nose Tackles in the league with Wilfork, Furgeson & Jenkins. The 3-4 scheme is primarily designed to funnel the runner to the middle, to essentially render the opposing team one dimensional.

The main reason why I really believe that we can be successful this year is because of what TO brings to the table. Our division is dominated by big Nose Tackles & defenses that are very stout against the run but not so dominant against the pass (Last year NE was 15th against the run and 11th against the pass, NY was 7th/29th and MIA was 16th/25th). Teams that need to establish the run to get the passing game going are not going to be that successful in our division. I find TO is a huge upgrade for us because he gives us two very good #1 receivers and we should be able to pick our division apart through the pass and by doing so, setup the run. Add the no huddle and you are really in business.

The way to beat the Patriots is clearly through the air because they are very stout at the LOS and they have a revolving door at the CB position. Both O'Neil & Hobbs are gone and have been replaced by Springs & Bodden - both coming off less than stellar seasons and both getting up there in age. They know their weakness and proof is that they spent two of their first 3 picks on DBs (Patrick Chung & Darius Butler). Honestly I doubt that the Patriots will have much of an answer for both Evans & Owens and then still be able to handle Reed / Fine & Freddy - Actually, I really think that Freddy will be a huge contributor for us this year in the passing game.

The Dolphins have lost Goodman to Denver and still have the old man Will Allen who is over 30. Although they drafted Vontae Davis in the first round, I still believe that their main weakness in 2009 will be the passing game.

The Jets are really designed to stop the run with Kris Jenkins and even though they have one of the best young CBs in Darrelle Revis, they still only managed to rank 29th against the pass, so clearly their main weakness is there.

- - -

After taking a step back I have come to realize that the only way to establish ourselves offensively in the AFC East is through the passing game. As much as I hate to admit it, I was wrong last year. I love the running game and I really love the guys we have, Lynch is an awesome power runner that is impossible to bring down but unfortunately our division is designed to stop the onslaught over the middle... By designing a team around the quick arial strike, we should be able to open things up to the point where Lynch will be able to punish them with his relentless running style.

Luckly for us, the same holds true against the falcons & Titans - both power running teams that do not pass that much. Our quick strike approach is not something that they do so their defenses are not geared to stop it.

I know many Rumblers are concerned with our new re-vamped O-line and I must admit that I too have some concerns. I was a huge fan of Alex Mack and I was really disapointed when OBD decided to sign Hangman because I knew that it meant that we wouldn't draft Mack but I have come to accept it because I realized that it was critical to get a guy with experience in the pivot position, a guy that could make the calls on the line. I love the fact that we got two nasty Guards in the draft because I think ultimately it makes us that much better.

This FanPost was written by a registered user of Buffalo Rumblings. Its views do not necessarily reflect the views of Rumblings' editorial staff, but are just as valued as our own.

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We were one dimensional because

Trent couldn’t pass when teams dropped 8 into coverage, and even then, our crappy O-line could open up holes. You have to be a complete team, meaning you have to be able to both run and pass the ball effectively. If you can’t, you won’t be able to set up anything. Teams will call their defenses to stop your strength and gamble that your weakness will not be able to hurt them on a regular basis.

The danger with the pass first game plan is the offense going 3 and out on a regular basis, which puts the defense back on the field with little rest. Also, it most likely means we will be playing from behind. All bad things for our defense which excels when it can play fresh, fast, and with the lead.

IMO, the key for our offense this season is to sustain long drives by being less predictable with our play calling. The No Huddle should help in this area as teams will not have as long to call the defense, make substitutions, and Trent should have the freedom to read the defense and call a play that takes advantage of match-ups. Hopefully, T.O. will help cause some of those match-up problems. Then, all Trent has to do is execute and not get killed.

The Prayer of Pass Rush - Hail Maybin, blessed with a quick first step, Bruce is with thee; most reverenced art thou among DEs in the AFC, and blessed be the fruit of thy pass rush. Holy Lord, Father of the swim move, we pray for our QB hurries to be numerous and our sacks to be plentiful. Be with us in Victory and at the hour of our Defeat. Amen.

by Joe P. on Jun 28, 2009 8:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2 things

1) even with 8 in coverage, with TO & Evans and Reed, Fine & Jackson I think we’ll be able to move the ball consistently.
2) with the new nasty maulers that we drafted I’d love to see a team drop 8 because we’ll run it up their throats!

Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!

by keysh67 on Jun 28, 2009 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, point one really depends on point two

If you are putting Fine out in the pattern, then not only do our two new nasty maulers (which by the way helps more with the run game than the passing game) have to play like Vets, but Walker also has to prove he can cut it at LT. T.O. has to be kept happy and avoid the dropsies, Reed has to stay healthy, and Fine has to prove he can be an asset to the passing game. That is a tall order even for the most optimistic of us.

by Joe P. on Jun 28, 2009 10:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have no clue...

Where all those links came from?? Brian, I didn’t add any links??

Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!

by keysh67 on Jun 28, 2009 9:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

it’s a name-recognition feature that was added recently.

by the_prophet on Jun 28, 2009 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it sucks big time!

Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!

by keysh67 on Jun 28, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can edit your post if you’d like and take them out…

~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."

by Kurupt on Jun 29, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great write up. The Bills are definitely going to have to throw the ball with success to get over the hump and compete for a spot in the playoffs. Especially when teams in the division have some of the weaknesses in the secondary that you pointed out.

You’ve got maybe the single worst group of coverage LBs in the league with the Jets. It’s actually a really solid secondary and they have one of the better pass rushes in the league. But the Jets D is a good matchup for Trent and his quick decisions and check downs. There’s a reason why Trent has had a couple of his better games as a pro against the Jets.

NE isn’t the best pass rushing team and have given up deep passes in buches over the last couple of seasons.

Miami has a pair of safeties who are better run stoppers than pass defenders and are still trying to figure out who their second CB is going to be. Evans has a history of burning Miami over the top too.

This is definitely a division that is vulnerable to the passing attack. TO makes so much sense as a signing that I almost don’t believe Buffalo actually pulled it off.

I’ve never really bought into teams running to set up the pass or vice versa. Teams like Arizona and Indy were some of the best passing teams in the league last year despite being the two worst running teams. Kansas City averaged a very impressive 4.8 yards per carry despite being the 5th worst passing team in the league. Obviously being good at one makes the other a little easier, but when a team calls an 8 man coverage, it doesn’t give a team calling a run any advantage. LBs and safeties can read run or pass very quickly based off what the offensive line does. The only major advantage of being one of the better passing teams in the league or passing a lot early in a game is getting a team to line their safeties up far from the LOS and forcing opposing edge rushers to stay disciplined.

by kaisertown on Jun 28, 2009 11:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Tks Kaiser.

I agree with you that Arizona really sucked in the running game but they didn’t have what we have. Lynch & Jackson are a fantastic tandem and then add Rhodes to mix and we’ve got ourselves a really strong backfield. I disagree with you on the Indy comment, when addai was out maybe their backfield was weak but Manning has always commanded respect in the passing enough that it opens things up for the running game big time. Actually, Turk’s offense reminds me a lot of Indy’s.

Favre/Green Bay always was a great example of using the run to setup the pass. Manning/Giants, Collins/Titans, Rivers/Chargers
Manning/Indy is a great example of using the pass to setup the run. I would also put Schaub/Houston & Brees/Saints in that category.

Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!

by keysh67 on Jun 29, 2009 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs