Bills 2010 Film Review: Week 7 At Baltimore (First Half)

Last week, we took a look at the Buffalo Bills' stellar offensive performance in a 37-34 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7 of the 2010 season. We'll talk about that a little bit more today, but in re-re-watching that contest, I've got some notes from the defensive side of the football to share today. After the jump, you'll find all of my notes from the first half of that game; the Bills led the Ravens 24-20 at the break.

Week 7, first half: Bills lead Ravens 24-20 - NOTES

• Torell Troup still squatting in his stance. Still blown off the ball, but more good snaps, as well.
• Haloti Ngata blows by Geoff Hangartner, but Fred Jackson side-steps him and reels off a nice gain.
• Eric Wood misses a run blitzer, holding Jackson to a short gain. An efficient block turns it into a first down.
• Chris Kelsay effectively negated in pass rush by Todd Heap. LeRon McClain was available to chip, but was not needed.
• None of the team's inside linebackers are particularly effective at shedding blocks. More concerning: they don't take those blocks on overly violently. Play too soft.
• Donte Whitner is hit-or-miss in the open field. Here, he hits, making a huge, clutch, technically sound open-field tackle on a running-for-daylight Ray Rice.
• Andy Levitre lays a terrific cut block on Ray Lewis on a lengthy, pretty Jackson run. An iffy Steve Johnson holding penalty negates the play, however.
• Levitre pull on play-action fake freezes Jarrett Johnson and Lewis at the line of scrimmage. Bills used this wrinkle early and often.
• Johnson has similarities to Jackson when carrying the ball in the open field - both are effective at creating space, setting defenders up, similar wiggle.
• Ryan Fitzpatrick looks off a safety, then throws a perfect strike to Lee Evans for a 33-yard touchdown.
• Terrell Suggs blows up a screen pass by destroying a blocker. Corey McIntyre breaks a tackle, however, and picks up nine yards anyway.
• Levitre tossed aside like a rag doll by Kelly Gregg.
• Johnson and Roscoe Parrish bust on a red zone route, end up in the same area. Fitzpatrick forces it in to one of them (hard to tell which), ball is tipped and could've been picked.
• Kelsay poor in contain on an off-tackle run to the strong side. Leodis McKelvin, covering Derrick Mason, completely disappears from the picture - no idea where he went.
• Paul Posluszny records a pretty pass break-up on a third-and-nine, forcing a punt. Made the play moving forward. Baltimore is throwing too much. Even the announcers agree.
• C.J. Spiller reels off a nice run. Levitre makes two great blocks, second one at the second level, and Demetrius Bell erases Lewis at the second level. Spiller makes two players miss, looks very natural and comfortable on the play.
• Next play: Spiller picks up seven on a cutback. Love the way he finishes this run - lowers his shoulder into two defenders, leans, picks up more yardage. Needs to do this more.
• I love watching Wood pull. So technically proficient.
• McIntyre lays the lumber on Lewis at the second level. A second straight game of solid lead-blocking.
• Fitzpatrick rolls out on a play-fake, throws into double coverage on a nice dupe by Chris Carr. Second read, Evans, was wide open.
• Suggs blows up David Martin to stop Spiller short on an otherwise well-blocked trap play. Without that, Spiller picks up tens of yards.
• Fitzpatrick throws a rope to the sideline with pressure in his face. Parrish makes an acrobatic, toe-tapping grab for a first down.
• Spiller bounces off of Baltimore's Johnson (who slipped a Bell block), turning a negative play into a short gain.
• Poor Levitre block allows Cory Redding to bat down a slant pass intended for Evans. Evans is off and running without that play.
• Stevie's TD: Fitzpatrick takes a shotgun snap, one step and two jabs, and the ball's out. Great timing. Johnson blows by Webb, six-man Ravens blitz doesn't come close to getting home.
• Andra Davis obliterated by Matt Birk at the second level. Big run for Willis McGahee.
• Drayton Florence called for a blatant pass interference penalty. Didn't get his head turned. Disputes the call anyway.
• Jairus Byrd takes out lead blocker McClain on a run blitz. Blows the play up, Posluszny cleans up for a one-yard gain.
• Next play: Whitner slips and Byrd goes for the pick rather than the ball, allowing Heap to score with ease.
• Suggs destroys a McIntyre lead block. Suggs is really a terrific run defender.
• Kelsay works into the slot pre-snap thanks to Ravens motion. He's covering Anquan Boldin. Joe Flacco throws the ball to Boldin.
• Whitner drops a pick-six on a horrid decision by Flacco. The beginning of the snowball that severely hindered the Bills' chances of winning.
• Heap blows by Davis in coverage. A better effort from Davis might allow a nice-looking delayed blitz from Posluszny to get home.
• Kelsay beats Marshal Yanda off the edge, flushing Flacco from the pocket. Dwan Edwards cleans the play up, recording a drive-ending sack and forcing a field goal.
• Spiller displays sloppy ball handling on a kickoff. After Ravens recover the fumble, Evans and Jackson speaking encouraging words to Spiller on the sideline.
• Reggie Corner's non-interception was a terrific individual effort by Corner. Boldin had one arm pinned back, so Corner caught it one-handed. A Boldin ankle away from severely depleting Baltimore's momentum.
• Bryan Scott gets turned around in coverage and Whitner is too late moving forward. Heap scores again, cutting the lead to 24-20 at halftime.