Buffalo’s much talked about no-huddle offense has played under their new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt to mixed results.
They played well the first two weeks, but scored only 17 points combined the last two games against the Saints and Dolphins. Trent Edwards has struggled to get Terrell Owens and Lee Evans involved.
One side effect of the no huddle offense that it often leads to an inability to possess the ball.
The Buffalo News points out that the Bills are averaging just 25 minutes and 26 seconds time of possession (TOP), dead last in the league.
“We’re not helping our defense at all,” running back Fred Jackson said this week. “You can’t score if
you don’t have the ball. We have to do a better job of staying on the field and keeping drives
alive.”
The Colts showed in their Monday Night Football win over the Dolphins that TOP can be overrated, but Trent Edwards is no Peyton Manning.
Making matters worse, the Bills defense is a lightweight group that has been forced to play a number of backups because of injuries at key spots. They have allowed 27.5 points per game, fourth worst in the league.
The Saints seemed to outlast the Bills defense, exploding for 17 fourth quarter points. The Dolphins ran over Buffalo from the moment the game started.
The Bills time of possession is low largely because they are struggling on third downs; only Kansas
City and Tampa Bay are worse. This is not the type of company Dick Jauron wants to keep in year four of his program.
On Sunday, the Bills get to face a Browns defense that is second to last in the league in yards and points allowed. This is a matchup in which Edwards and the offense should be able dictate play on their terms, helping out the defense.
It’s also a game the Bills and Jauron absolutely need to win for any chance to maintain relevance this year.
(For the record, I picked the Bills to escape with a win.)
I think I remember TO saying how much he didn’t like the no huddle. As much as I don’t admire TO, I think the Bills are wasting talent up there.
Need a top QB to run no huddle effectively, Edwards is not that QB.
“We’re not helping our defense at all,” running back Fred Jackson said this week. “You can’t score if you don’t have the ball. We have to do a better job of staying on the field and keeping drives alive.”
Exactly! Trent Edwards can run the “no huddle” offense, but…… EVERYONE needs to be on the same page and that isn’t happening.
If the O-line can’t do a better job of protecting Edwards this team is going nowhere in a hurry.
T.O. and Lee Evans CAN’T be doubled teamed at the same time….. so why is Trent Edwards not getting the ball out quicker.
Maybe T.O. is right… “I just run the plays that are called.”
Answer: The Bills need to find the RIGHT plays that take advantage of both Evans and T.O. other teams can accomplish this…. why not the Bills?
I get excited every time the redzone channel goes to a Bills game and their playing defense. I get to watch the worst linebacker ever Kawika Mitchell. He acts all amped up before the play- head moving, fingers wiggling, then when the play starts and he sees it’s a run or short pass he’ll either run away from the play like he saw something, or he’ll find a blocker and hold on until it’s safe. Then when the play is all but over, just as the whistle is blowing he flies in like he’s a ballhawk and puts a hand on the already tackled ballcarrier. He does it so well that often the announcers give him credit for being part of the play when he just swoops in and touches the guy. I guess he’s probably the first jersey number they see since he doesn’t take part in the tackling.
The Bills need to scrap the no huddle and “get back to basics”..
Pretty straight-on read
http://www.buffalosportsdaily.com/2009/10/bills-need-to-get-back-to-basics-offensively/
Funny how the 3 teams that fired their O.C.’s right before the season can’t win games or score points…….
The Bills would be have the same problems even if they were using a huddle on each play, because that is not what is hurting them. Their problem is that they have a pathetic offensive line. Since the season started, they have lost both their LT and their RT and replaced them with players who would not even be back-ups on other teams. Their Center was a back-up for Carolina last year and their two Guards are rookies.
Long time Bills fans know that a GOOD no huddle offense wins games.
The K-Gun this is not.