How problematic is the red zone for Buffalo?
by Brian Galliford on Aug 17, 2009 1:29 PM EDT
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintRight now, the Buffalo Bills' newly-installed no-huddle offense is all the rage in Western New York. Through two pre-season games, Bills quarterbacks - yes, all four of them - are completing a whopping 77 percent of their passes, and the team has averaged 311 yards per game. All of this was accomplished despite the fact that the full projected starting offense has not yet played a down together (RT Brad Butler missed the first pre-season game, and WR Terrell Owens missed the second).
Despite all of that success and all of the well-founded excitement, however, the fact remains that the Bills have only scored three offensive touchdowns to this point - and two of them were set up deep in enemy territory by forced turnovers. None of those touchdowns have occurred before halftime, when most of the team's starters and key reserves are on the field. The red zone offense, in particular, has been a problem area - and despite all the excitement, it's an area that needs to be addressed quickly if the Bills wish to end their nine-year playoff drought.
Starters are only 0/1
Before y'all get your pants in a hitch and prepare to freak out, it's important to realize that Buffalo's starting offense - which, again, has yet to play together as an eleven-man unit - has made only one red zone trip in four series. While that drive ended only in a field goal, one drive isn't cause to label this anything more than an issue in need of work.
Right now, the Bills are 3/8 in converting drives that reached the red zone into touchdowns. Again, two of those were drives that began at the opponents' four-yard line, thanks to back-to-back interceptions by rookie CB Ellis Lankster. All but one of the drives were converted into scores (the Bills lost one possession on downs).
The two scores late in the Chicago game were encouraging to a degree, but after years of fielding a low-scoring offense in Buffalo, it's natural for fans to fear what seems to be the inevitable when the starting offense has produced three points in four drives.
It's all about personnel
Without reading too much into this - after all, the Bills are hardly going to unveil every plan or wrinkle they have to put points on the board - the issue appears to be centralized around personnel. Red zone targets such as Owens, Steve Johnson and James Hardy have missed time. Shawn Nelson has gotten work in that area extensively, but not so much in games with the first unit. Meanwhile, the Bills have struggled to run the ball at times, which has further hampered their already limited reps to put the ball in the paint.
We have harped all off-season, it seems, about Turk Schonert being willing to use some of his talented, big targets in the red zone. Other veteran players such as WR Josh Reed, WR Roscoe Parrish and tight ends Derek Schouman and Derek Fine (who clearly are far less experienced than the receivers) have not had an impact in the red zone at any points in their careers. Right now, teams have keyed on Lee Evans and Marshawn Lynch down close - in other words, it's been business as usual.
My caution to you this afternoon is this: yes, the red zone offense hasn't been great, and yes, if we're not proficient in this area, we're not going to be winning many games. Hold off on proclaiming the season a lost cause because of this; the Bills are four drives into the pre-season with their starting offense, and they've been dealing with some minor injuries that has removed some valued targets from their disposal. As with any work in progress - and yeah, this no-huddle is very much a work in progress - it's going to take time. The pieces are in place. We just need to get them on the field.
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We’ll need a bigger sample size. I completely agree with Brian’s assessment of NOT using Reed and Parrish in the red zone as often as we do. These players, though effective within the 20’s, have never been known to have any presence in the end zone or really even scoring TD’s in general.
Use Reed and Parrish between the 20’s. Use Johnson, Hardy, and Nelson in the red zone (along with Owens and Evans, of course).
by nateinrochester on Aug 17, 2009 1:55 PM EDT reply actions
Shawn Nelson
Nelson is going to be a big factor this year for the Bills in the red zone. Last pre season game against the Bears, he used his great size to snatch a Fade like pass for a touchdown. He is an incredibly athletic reciever with great size who gives any team in the NFL matchup problems in the redzone (at least on fades).
In addition, T.O. is a great Fade option.
Completely agree. I mean the one time during the first season the Bills were going towards the end zone it ended with an INT (just saying we didn’t get to see Owens work the redzone).
And this past game Ownes didn’t play at all. I know we aren’t counting on Owens to score on every drive, but I think his most important part is in the endzone.
And I completely agree with Brian about Hardy/Johnson and we have to see them work the redzone as well.
That TD that Nelson caught was a good/great play on his part. I am hoping we get to see him in the redzone or at least with the first team at some point this offseason.
Generally the saying I follow and have followed every preseason is that you should never pay too much attention to what happens during the preseason, as it’s mostly a game of backups playing against each other; this, of course, changes the starting-point of such discussion as this one regarding the ineffiency of our red-zone offense quite a bit. Let me just enhance how we have lacked a guy like Marshawn in the redzone, and everybody who have followed this team under Dick Jauron knows that he loves to run the football, when he comes within the 20 last yards of the field. Marshawn is as we all know clearly our best RB and missing him in the redzone is going to be a tough pill to swallow.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Aug 17, 2009 3:05 PM EDT reply actions
Ongoing problem
This was a big problem going into last year, as I remember. James Hardy was supposed to be an answer, providing the proverbial “big target” in the end zone. That didn’t work out (mostly because Hardy didn’t play a lot), and the team continued to have difficulties punching it in. Now there’s Owens and Nelson and Hardy. You’d think that would have things covered. So there’s reason to be optimistic there. The play-calling has to stop being quite so predictable, too. And I think it might be improving.
Though I agree that when it comes to looking at what’s happening in preseason games for evidence of anything we’re really just catching faint glimmers of hope and identifiying vague causes for concern. Only thing here is that this has been an ongoing problem and the first couple of games have given more cause for concern than glimmers of hope. Just have to wait and see.
The run blocking is where the major improvement really needs to be. If we can’t run it inside the 20, we won’t be able to catch anyone off guard with the pass. If teams can jusyt sit back and know they can shut down the run game, then we’ll be kicking a lot of FG’s again this year…
~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 Aug 17, 2009 4:34 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Yup
That’s been my biggest concern during these non-playoff years – not converting on third-and-short and fourth-and short with the running game. Until we get an offensive line that can push back the defense and make these plays, we are going to struggle to score……period.
by ccthemovieman on Aug 17, 2009 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions
great point Kurupt
Even with the taller receivers, you need the threat of the run not only to set up play action but also to draw the corners off the receivers, and that’s something that hasn’t been there. Chicago and Tennessee both are capable of shutting down the run however I think the real issue has been with the run blocking.
Mix Nelson in with the starters
I’d love to see #5 to #89, Nelson should be sprinkled in with the starters a bit during the pre-season. Especially in the last game where TO & Scuba Steve were both out, we need some size miss-matches – I want to see if Trent is able to recognize mismatches when he sees them.
Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!
I will tell you he has been at practice. Maybe they are waiting for MNF to unleash him. :-)
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Aug 18, 2009 9:21 AM EDT up reply actions
Thank you
I was hoping that that was the case. We need an athletic receiving TE so bad. Still I was disappointed not to see him in the redzone first team. Jauron seems like a very nice guy and a coach that really respects his veterans to the point where I think he lets it cloud his judgment. Trent & Nelson need to get some reps in pre-season too in order to get in synch
Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!
DJ isn’t the one deciding who is on the field. He trusts his coaches. Blame it on Turk if you want, at least during the regular season.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Aug 18, 2009 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Ultimate Redzone Unit
Hardy(6’5"), Fine (6’4"), Nelson(6’5"), Owens (6’4") with the beast in the backfield
3 very athletic receiving weapons over 6’4", a great blocking/receiving TE at 6’4" and a mean middle (Levitre/Hangman/Wood) with a beast behind them.
How the hell can teams stop that?
Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!
How the hell can teams stop that?
Trent has 2 seconds to throw…….
But yeah – throw that sucker high and let whoever is singled up make the play.
I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying
by J2 on Aug 17, 2009 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m not so sure about size in the WR corps being the solution for the red zone problems. I like size in WRs, don’t get me wrong. But in the red zone, everything is so compact, I don’t think just being big helps.
It’s at least somewhat of a factor… watching Nelson against a DB on Saturday was almost comical. He just turned around and jumped. The kid covering him had no chance and it was Nelson using his size to shield the ball that caused that situation.
Yes, I also liked that even though the DB tried to get his hands on Nelson right away, Nelson never pushed off. He just turned around and jumped. It was a sweet reception (and well-thrown by Hammy, too).
"I know I'm a true receiver..." Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills - May 2009
"In my heart, I know I'm funny." Lt Steven Hauk, Good Morning Vietnam - 1987
by thefourwinds on Aug 17, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions
size really does help
Because it allows you to throw corner routes and “jump balls.” The reason you need big wrs is exactly BECAUSE the red zone is compact. The speedy guys aren’t going to get separation against corners because they don’t have enough space. But if you have a receiver who is physically bigger and stronger than the corner you can challenge the corner one on one.
just keep this in mind...
We’ve sucked in the redzone for quite some time now right? check.
Our receiving core last year was:
Evans (5’9"), Reed (5’10") & Parrish (5’9") in the slot. Using Bring hands Royal at TE instead of Fine was a coaching aberation late last season but that’s sort of besides the point because our 3 receivers were under 5’10". Unfortunately Hardy didn’t develop that well last season and will require more time to learn the intricacies of his position.
This year we’ve added 7-8 inches per receiver without giving up athleticism – So yes, I am convinced that size does matter.
Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!
I meant to write Brick hands Royal
Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!
But you don’t have to go entirely in the other direction. All short players on the field at once is obviusly a recipe for disaster, but that doesn’t mean we should put the four tallest guys on the field. If Steve Johnson is better than Hardy, then let Hardy stay inactive, get a good feel for his knee and pick things up in practice. Evans is a useful player in the red zone too. We shouldn’t take our best players off the field so that Trent has 4 jump ball options.
We shouldn’t take our best players off the field so that Trent has 4 jump ball options.
Thank you kaiser. This was the point I was making. Just throwing out big guys isn’t the best option….
Keysh is certainly onto something, I just think he went a little too far with it. Comparing this year to last year, we’ll obviously see TO outside with Reed in the slot or off the field. That alone is a huge difference. Then, I think all Buffalo has to do is take Reed off the field and put a 2nd bigger, taller option in the game and that player could be Johnson or a 2nd TE (any TE). If Trent needs to throw a jump ball, then TO should be the target most of the time and when he’s doubled, Trent will still have another taller option or two.
yes but like it or not that jump ball is why we drafted Hardy. They even said he pretty much was drafted for endzone work. I’m sure they have grander designs for Nelson but you saw how he exposed that bears CB.
And terrell owens is both one of our best players AND tall so he definitely should be in there.
I think for some plays in the redzone their is nothing wrong with having 4 jump ball options. Maybe not every time because that would be too predictable, but what else has worked?? Weve tried running weve tried screen passes, passes to the back of the endzone all sort of gimmicks that haven’t worked and so I think it’s time the Bills start bringing in these big playmakers for redzone work.
I certainly do not disagree with bringing in Scuba-Steve, at 6’2" he has the size to be there in redzone situations.
The only shorter guy that I’d play in redzone is Lee but Parrish & Reed both suck in redzone and definitely should not be on the field.
Hardy was drafted for redzone plus he needs to get onto the field. It’s not only being tall, they are also well over 200lbs which gives then added leverage getting off the line. We look like the peewee herman team out there when we trot out Parrish, Evans & Reed. It’s not about rewarding guys with a TD it’s about winning and the team must put the proper personnel to get the job done. The reason we can’t run in redzone is not a reflection on Marshawn’s hability as much as the fact that they can handle our little guys 1:1 and mostly concentrate on stopping the run. Trot-out 4 big guys and then you have them on their heels and I guarantee you that the Beast will come alive up the middle. So Keiser, it’s not so much about sending out 4 jump-ball options as much as to make the defense have to respect our 4 options to jump and clear the middle so that Marshawn can do his thing.
Your ability to control the LOS is directly linked to your ability to win football games!
FEED the BEAST!
I totally agree. The only problem with Hardy being in the red zone is that I don’t think he’ll be active for games. Other wise, I would find ways to get him in there as long as it isn’t at the expense of Evans.
And I don’t think Buffalo has any intention of using Reed and Roscoe near the end zone. It seems like they aren’t using specialized packages and are sticking with their 2nd and 3rd teams because its the preseason. Or at least thats what I’m hoping.
One has to think it is going to be a huge problem without Lynch in the first 3 weeks. You have to wonder if we will be able to keep pace with NO or NE in the couple weeks. We lose Lynch but gain TO in the red-zone…I’m calling that a wash and there is no doubt the red-zone offense and specifically red-zone playcalling has to be the biggest concern for the offense. I feel the team will move the ball well btw the 20s but that will only get you so far. Like to 7-9.
As Nate said
We need a bigger sample size. Every team in the league goes through games where they only put up 3 points in four drives. One field goal in four drives is not alarming; five field goals in twenty drives is.
a bunch of questions
should i be worried that the bills don’t seem to see nelson as a starting TE yet?
I’m worried we might be overhyping him a bit. He had to be a 4th round pick for a reason (which I believe was his blocking?) and it seems like they trust Schouman and Fine over him at this point. Has he just not had enough reps yet?
Who is the #1 TE at the beginning of the season? by week 4? by week 17?
doesn't buy posluzny.
I don’t mind at all that he’s not going to start. He said himself his head had been swimming trying to learn everything.
I do wish they’d give Nelson a shot at the red zone with the first team offense.
"I know I'm a true receiver..." Roscoe Parrish, Buffalo Bills - May 2009
"In my heart, I know I'm funny." Lt Steven Hauk, Good Morning Vietnam - 1987
by thefourwinds on Aug 17, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions
I want Nelson out there more than he is, too
But remember that Derek Fine was also a 4th round draft choice. I know, I know, it still seems like he was a 6th or something and Nelson was a 2nd or 3rd the way he’s been talked up. And then Kevin Everett was a 3rd rounder.
We might have to resign ourselves to the fact that Nelson won’t be a key cog in our offense this year.
Entirely possible he gets only limited playing time. Similar to Hardy and Johnson last year.
It takes some time for these guys.
Even Owens said in a news conference that, unless you’re a first rounder or maybe a high second round pick, there is no guarantee you even make the team. You have to prove yourself every day in camp and in practice just to earn a roster spot.
I really like the fact that there is good competition at many of the backup positions. If you’re a competitive football player, it’s bound to bring out your best when you do get an opportunity to play, if only for a play or two.
by Defensewinsgames on Aug 17, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions
should i be worried that the bills don’t seem to see nelson as a starting TE yet?
If you thought/were hoping that Nelson was going to be a major contributer on offense this year, then yes.
If you think he’s going to catch 10-20 balls this year and a few of those will probably be important TDs, then no.
He had to be a 4th round pick for a reason (which I believe was his blocking?)
Right his blocking is bad. That’s why they have been splitting him out wide.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
by MattRichWarren on Aug 18, 2009 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions
totally agree
I agree with everyone that has stated that, in order to be successful, run & run blocking need to be the biggest area of improvement. That’s not to say that the no-huddle attack (and the apparent proficiency being shown) are not grounds for encouragement but it will not produce very many points when the field shrinks to 20 yards or under. Even during the late 80’s & early 90’s the concept was “run & stop the run and win the turnover battle”…. having great weapons to throw to is awesome but without the ability to sustain some semblance of a running game is a dangerous proposition. I agree that you can set up the run by proficient passing (not merely throwing a long bomb to Evans or Parrish once or twice like many media types will claim is “stretching the field”) I’m talking about the 6 – 10 yard pass play being consistent…that will cause linebackers & safeties to be honest as well as put the fear of over-commitment in their heads thus, I believe it would definitely open it up for counter’s, some off tackle lanes & screens….. just my thoughts…thanks
but it will not produce very many points when the field shrinks to 20 yards or under.
Yeah, Buffalo needs the OL to open actual holes. Once you hit that 10 or 15 yard line, teams are putting 9 in the box because you can’t throw over the top anymore. The closer you get to the end zone, the more important the OL becomes and the less important the RBs are. Lynch and Jackson can create their own yards in the middle of the field, but they can make two guys miss near the goal line and there’s still another handful of defenders right on top of them.
Excellent article. Great point about the offense being 0/1. And the offense is a big 0/0 in the red zone with Edwards and Owens on the field at the same time.
And I wouldn’t worry one bit about the personnel Buffalo has been using in the preseason. I think the coaches are just sticking with whatever team is on the field (ie: Reed and Roscoe with the 2nd team) regardless of the situation. I think they have every intention to put specific red zone units on the field, but havn’t in the preseason because they don’t want to show their hand, want to give the vets every opportunity to get their reps in, want to see all the players in every scenario and because it’s the preseason. Everything is more scripted this time of year. We’ll see Johnson on the field, in the red zone (I don’t think we’ll see Hardy early in the year because I doubt he’ll be active) and we’ll see Nelson if he continues to earn it with good red zone performance in practice.
For me, the biggest concern about the red zone is the running game. It’s a little early to worry about it, but I’m not sure if this team can grind out first downs when the field shortens and I’m not sure if they can hammer home those runs on the goal line.
O Line Blocking
Is coming along..It’s not as easy a process as one would think..Right now I see a lot of progress at pass blocking,and let’s face it keeping Trent alive has to be the top priority this early on..I would imagine that different blocking techniques are inserted into the game plan every week as they evaluate which blockers can handle what moves the best.I’m a realist so thinking that these guys,as good as they seem to adhere to their positions,will take a few weeks into the real season before we see the real push off the snap of the ball..Just my opinion..Until then,dinking those passes will work ok..End zone is a crowded place to run for a pass so the size thing works pretty well,but sure hands like we see with guys like Fine,Evans,and TO are going to be the bread and butter for us..
by FanFromThe80s on Aug 18, 2009 11:03 AM EDT reply actions
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