Power Play Of The Week: Charles Clay Goes Deep

by Brian Galliford on Nov 22, 2011 3:00 PM EST in Sponsored Posts

It seems that in recent weeks, there's one play early in a Buffalo Bills game that lets you know that a game is already over. In a Week 10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, that play was Dez Bryant out-jumping Leodis McKelvin for the game's first touchdown. In Sunday's debacle against the Miami Dolphins, that play was a huge gainer from a guy most people probably haven't heard of.

That's not to say that Charles Clay isn't a talented player, of course. The rookie sixth-round pick was a force as a runner and receiver at Tulsa, where in four years he caught 189 passes, ran the ball 179 times, and scored 20 touchdowns. Still, the 6'3", 245-pound Clay didn't have a true pro position entering the NFL. He's been a fullback in Miami, and going into Week 11, he had eight receptions for 133 yards on the year.

With Buffalo trailing 7-3 late in the first quarter, the little-known and little-utilized Clay torched Buffalo's beleaguered defense on a 46-yard fly route. He beat venerable safety Jairus Byrd to the spot. The gain was an early dagger, and two plays later, Miami's lead was 14-3. The game was over - and Clay would later rub it in with a touchdown grab of his own.

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I may be misremembering the play, while Byrd was late covering, I felt Florence make a poor choice in letting go of Clay to cover….well, that’s just it, not sure who Florence thought he was switching off to cover, but Flo ended up all by his lonesome watching in vain to see if Byrd would get there in time.

Byrd was late, Flo took the easy way out.

I was a fan of Florence but not anymore, he’s step slow, taunts when he makes the occasional play and has taken way too many penalties this season.

In the off-season, Flo Must Go.

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Nov 22, 2011 3:12 PM EST reply actions

http://youtu.be/vIoAlzgNh5g

At about the 1:00 mark, you see Florence let Clay deep while turning to cover the underneath receiver who was already being covered, so Flo spins back around to look for Clay, by that time it is too late and the catch is made (with Byrd being about a second too late, only being able to make the immediate tackle).

by PineWoodsBillsFan on Nov 22, 2011 3:20 PM EST up reply actions

Clay’s TD on the subsequent “highlight” is another botched coverage. He emerged from the backfield without a Bill in sight. There were many others too.

by Rick A on Nov 22, 2011 3:37 PM EST up reply actions