PFF: Three Buffalo Bills Pass Protectors Standing Out

by Brian Galliford on Sep 30, 2011 9:45 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

Yesterday, we briefly touched on the fact that the folks at ProFootballFocus.com have the Buffalo Bills as the highest-rated NFL team in a metric called pass blocking efficiency. That metric assigns a value to pressures surrendered (three-quarters of the value given to a sack), tallies everything up, and relates it to the number of reps spent in pass protection.

PFF has fleshed out their pass blocking efficiency data through Week 3, and it's revealed more great things for the Bills - specifically Demetrius Bell, Erik Pears and Andy Levitre.

Bell, much-maligned throughout his career, is currently the NFL's best pass-blocking left tackle per PFF, who have him down for giving up three pressures in 114 pass-blocking snaps. Pears, the journeyman everyone wanted to replace with Tyson Clabo (including the Bills), is the second-rated right tackle in the NFL, again surrendering just three pressures. (No, he does not trail Clabo.)

Levitre comes in at No. 5 on the list of pass-blocking guards, and PFF has him down for one pressure allowed in 114 snaps. As a unit, this Bills offensive line will once again have its work cut out for it, facing a strong Cincinnati Bengals pass-rushing front on Sunday.

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Someone want to put another log on the fire.

Remembering last season, Chan lit a fire under Stevie’s butt. The kid responded. Chan did the same thing this year to two of the players listed here in Bell and LeVetrie. Early reports are good but it is a long season. I love the fact that Andy is producing. He has always demonstrated high level play, but he does not measure up to the 6’5 320lb matrix that seems to be flooding the offensive line. Still glad that they are getting some support, now the ball is in their court.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Sep 30, 2011 9:55 AM EDT reply actions

Cincy D?

Why is there talk about Cincey D being so tough. They played 3 of the 6 worst offenses, including the worst.

by mquintieri on Sep 30, 2011 10:08 AM EDT reply actions

Maybe they “made” those offenses bad?

by JjR in TO on Sep 30, 2011 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions

In those other offenses’ other games too? That’s pretty impressive.

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by thefourwinds on Sep 30, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I dunno, just throwin’ it out there. :)

by JjR in TO on Sep 30, 2011 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions

The season in young.

Its hard to truely tell where anyone stands. Just because they have played “weak” offenses, does not mean they are not a strong defense.

Shun the non Billievers!

by Superduff on Sep 30, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions

@Brian

Where is the breakdown of the all snaps against NE? I’m talking about that ofensive and defensive breakdown about who played more and the % of snaps played by all the players. I like it a lot. Thanks.

by Fernando brazil on Sep 30, 2011 10:09 AM EDT reply actions

Sorry, I haven’t had time to watch it yet. Will be doing so tomorrow.

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by Brian Galliford on Sep 30, 2011 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

moneyball?

i saw the movie moneyball last night, about how to build a contender with a small budget. i wonder if this is the tactic being used in b-lo right now?

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by captainStros on Sep 30, 2011 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

I think that’s a good possibility, great point! I mean, why sign the big names if you can get just as much production, if not more, from lesser-paid guys? Let’s hope this line holds up!

by DanInSudbury on Sep 30, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

The problem with relying on statistics so heavily, even if they’re non-traditional statistics, with football is that it’s more of a team game. If you screw up in football, it’s very possible you were trying to help out another guy. It doesn’t mean you’d have screwed up if everything were equal. Baseball is much more a one-on-one type of game.

Then there’s the fact that there are 162 games in baseball vs. 16 games in football. A bad day in football has 10x the impact of a bad day in baseball.

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by WhyBillsWhy on Sep 30, 2011 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Those rankings are insane!

how much does this have to do w/ scheme- spread, blitz-beating quick routes?

by dgrid on Sep 30, 2011 10:14 AM EDT reply actions

The linemen have not miraculously improved

Fitz is just great at getting rid of the ball. Number of pressures allowed does not measure the quality of pass protection.

by paulsu04 on Sep 30, 2011 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

No, but it does measure the effectiveness of a passing offense, and pass protection is a part of that. It seems like you’re trying to say that Buffalo’s pass protection isn’t as good as it’s made out to be; it looks just fine to me.

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by Brian Galliford on Sep 30, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions

I would also like to add that the size of the holes that are being opened up for freddie and cj to run through are much bigger than last year. Also, i have yet to re-watch any of the 3 games thus far this year, but from what i see, the o line is getting downfield for great blocks, we are successfully, that being the key word, executing screen plays. It also looks like to me that they are winning the battle up front, getting great push. O line looks great, and we havent seen too many penalties on them, besides to 2 in a row from Wood against the pats, he wont be doing that much.

by The Sweeglings on Sep 30, 2011 10:28 AM EDT up reply actions

That’s always going to be a huge element of ‘pass protection.’ New England’s lauded 07 line was a similar situation. They weren’t individually that talented, but they worked together as a group well and had a QB who knew how to move within the pocket. Put Trent Edwards behind a pro bowl line and he’s still going to get sacked more than Fitz.

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by cjf4 on Sep 30, 2011 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Let's give credit where credit is due.

Fitz has only been sacked on 0.9% of his dropbacks this year. Some of that is due to his elusiveness in the pocket and quick release, but not all of it, that’s for sure. Our offensive tackles, duly considered the weakness of our line (indeed, our offense) have completely performed so far this year. Color me impressed. There is really nothing else that can be asked of them in the past three games, and if there’s more that we can ask for, I don’t know what it is.

Go Buffalo Bills, Utah Jazz, and Arkansas Razorbacks

by Dyl on Sep 30, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions

Got my crayons ready. What color is “impressed” :)

"WE PROTECT AND LIVE FOR THE HONOR OF RIDING IN THE WAGON BLASTER" -abayarde

by BuffaloBlueBlood on Sep 30, 2011 11:31 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Royal Blue, Red and White...... :)

Or it could be pigskin brown…..

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by coolness1 on Sep 30, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Why does it have to be miraculous?

New line combination: Wood at center and Urbik/Rinehart at RG and Pears at RT.
A chance for this new group to spend a training camp together and another year in the system.
Wood and Bell are another year removed from serious injuries that limited their ability to practice.
Bell has another year to develop, people forget that two years ago when he started, he should have been solely focused on improving strength and technique.

Fitz got rid of the ball last year too. Line play, both pass and run blocking is definitely improved. Will they finish the year in the top three? Seems unlikely. But I can’t simply attribute this improvement to Fitz.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Sep 30, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

Exactly right

It takes some time for OT’s to develop (it’s a very complicated position to play) and we are now at the point where Bell and Pears are coming into their own (Bell’s development having been delayed a year or so by his serious injury in 2009). We are getting to see what both of these guys really have to offer, and it’s pretty impressive. Two different coaching staffs (including Chan Gailey himself) have been telling us how incredibly talented Bell is as a LT. It turns out that they have been right.

by Macktruck on Sep 30, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

I Don't Know...

what games you’ve been watching, but the reality is that there have been numerous pass plays in all three games where Fitz had all the time in the world in the pocket.

Why don’t you think people can improve?

by mikeo76 on Sep 30, 2011 2:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah, and he’s made some deep throws as a result. Part of the OL’s success is Fitz, and part of Fitz’s success is the OL.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Sep 30, 2011 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Deep Routes

Yes Fitz does get rid of the ball quicker this year, but we have had a lot of deep plays, which generally take 4 -5 seconds to develop. So the line is doing a much better job, so far.

by the buffahoe on Sep 30, 2011 10:30 AM EDT reply actions

The OL has been a pleasant surprise.

I think part of it is how fast he is getting the ball out, though he won’t admit it.

Let’s just hope they can keep it up when Fitz needs more time in the pocket.

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by The Buffalo Kid on Sep 30, 2011 10:54 AM EDT reply actions

I'm really hoping this becomes a season-long trend

Indeed, a seasons-long trend. While I’ve been supportive of our interior line, I’ve been extremely critical of our tackles particularly Bell. I’m still not sold, but only because I want to see this kind of play consistently through the year from him and Pears. And hey, if fan skepticism is fueling Bell’s move to make an improvement even just a little bit, I’ll happily stay skeptical all year en route to a crow feast come playoff time!

Go Buffalo Bills, Utah Jazz, and Arkansas Razorbacks

by Dyl on Sep 30, 2011 11:03 AM EDT reply actions

Part of this has to be Lee Evans is gone, right? Bills don’t have to wait for two or three moves on a route.

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by MattRichWarren on Sep 30, 2011 11:40 AM EDT reply actions

That sounds like a bit of a stretch to me, in all honesty. Evans wasn’t the only receiver on the field last year; they still ran more empty set than anyone else.

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by Brian Galliford on Sep 30, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

A bit of a stretch

I see what you did there. :-D

"Being a Bills Fan is a Tough Job for Tough People…" – Luther6

by Montel on Oct 1, 2011 11:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

This offensive line

Fits the spread offense like a square peg in a square hole. The biggest most important improvement for me is the ability to run block effectively. Each game Freddy’s confidence is getting more and more sure of it. C.J. won’t be to far behind, I just hope they can get into the second level for their blocks before C.J. does. Still the spread offense is designed to the strength of these guys and these guys have trained to be strong for the spread offense. You don’t need to pass 30 – 40 yards on every pass play. Getting the ball out in two to three seconds is fine. WE are not trying to duplicate Tom Brady, just beat him. WE are not trying to duplicate Peyton Manning that’s why we focus on bigger run blocking type O-Lineman. This line is a perfect fit for this offense. Good plan Chan and Buddy.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Sep 30, 2011 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

I am thankful they have been running more routes that are designed for YAC now. It seemed before (especially to Evans) the only routes they ran took them out of bounds after the catch.

Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!

by thefourwinds on Sep 30, 2011 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

This O-Line is only going to get better!!

I love me some Amish Rifle.....

by coolness1 on Sep 30, 2011 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

Falcons line critized

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d822af23b/article/saving-ryan-falcons-offensive-line-could-see-changes?module=HP11_headline_stack

Clabo not exempt.

GO BLUE!!!

by Kumario! on Sep 30, 2011 12:17 PM EDT reply actions

Who's Clabo?

;o)

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by ChuckBuffInFlo on Sep 30, 2011 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Im loving every minute of this....

but can someone please explain when and how did this happen? We went from having one of the weakest offensive line units in the league if not the worst to one of the best in one offseason a lockout cant practice offseason at that. Please someone help me wrap my head around this????

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by Moe_frm_B_ on Sep 30, 2011 4:17 PM EDT reply actions

Good coaching and some consistency will do wonders. Also, Gailey’s scheme puts them in a position to succeed and keep the defense guessing. We also haven’t faced a particularly stout pass rushing team yet (except possibly the Raiders).

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on Sep 30, 2011 4:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Having bigger linemen has made a difference too..

"Being a Bills Fan is a Tough Job for Tough People…" – Luther6

by Montel on Oct 1, 2011 11:38 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I think that might be the key the comfort and maturation of the offense as a whole in the Gailey scheme is probably the most important key to the success of the offensive line and the offense as a whole so far

Rrrawrrrr, rrrawrrr like a dungeon dragon-Busta Rhymes
"Maybe i'm talking fast or your just listening slow"

by Moe_frm_B_ on Sep 30, 2011 4:48 PM EDT reply actions

Bigger Linemen

With Jasper in the wings, my guess is we will draft several offensive linemen in the 320+ range. The league wide trend is for bigger d-linemen. I suspect Nix and everyone else is going to stack heavyweights on both sides of the ball. In this regard the Bengals and Raiders defense is staffed well. I think the Giants, Packers and Titans have heavy d-lines as well.

"Being a Bills Fan is a Tough Job for Tough People…" – Luther6

by Montel on Oct 1, 2011 11:46 AM EDT via mobile reply actions