Why Didn’t Buffalo Run the Ball?

[flippy]

Anyone think we could still end up susceptible to teams that run the ball?

This was a close game and Buffalo just kept throwing.

I think we’re going to be ok in coverage and preventing big plays. I think we have a good group up front that can consistently get pressure. And I generally think we need to figure out how to score points early and often to put other teams in position to have to throw to win against us. That plays into the strength of this D.

But I’m not ready to anoint our team as capable of stopping the run. Buffalo barely ran but still got 100+ yards on the ground and close to 5 YPC.

Now that I’ve had a day to reflect, I think this could have been entirely different if Buffalo had a balanced attack. Not sure why they didn’t?

[Starlifter]

perhaps, but unless we show inability to stop the run - I believe most teams (at least early in the season) will look at the changes we've made in the secondary and identify that as our defense's weaker point. I agree however a more balanced attack would have served them better.

[feltdizz]

Because after a nice start we had some great stops on key plays when they tried to run.

Plus the Bills just gave Allen stupid money so its his offense. On paper it looks like the Bills had success running the ball but I think we adjusted well.

We also forced a lot of mistakes and penalties that put them behind the sticks.

[steelnavy]

Because after a nice start we had some great stops on key plays when they tried to run.

Plus the Bills just gave Allen stupid money so its his offense. On paper it looks like the Bills had success running the ball but I think we adjusted well.

We also forced a lot of mistakes and penalties that put them behind the sticks.

Plus their offense got away with a lot of holding throughout the game.

[feltdizz]

Plus their offense got away with a lot of holding throughout the game.

They were called for 6 holding penalties but I counted 6 more blatant holds that were missed.

I know they say you can call it on every play but my goodness, their OL was tackling our LB’s and putting our DL’s in head locks.

I think Buffalo may have OL problems this year but maybe our D is head and shoulders above the rest of the league

[NorthCoast]

They were talking about the scheme the Steelers used on the DL yesterday, lining up Watt, Ingram and Highsmith on one side of the line while Heyward and Alualu on the other. So a ton of speed on half the line, and all beef on the other. The tackles were really struggling on the stunts with this scheme, having to block the beef but then reaching and grabbing the LBs. Butler with a good use of the talent he had available.

[Mr.wizard]

Buffalo isnt a big running team and Zach Moss being out didnt help. Their best rusher is Allen and we were all over him.

[hackjam]

They were called for 6 holding penalties but I counted 6 more blatant holds that were missed.

I know they say you can call it on every play but my goodness, their OL was tackling our LB’s and putting our DL’s in head locks.

I think Buffalo may have OL problems this year but maybe our D is head and shoulders above the rest of the league

Seems like they always call more early in the year and scale it back as you get into November and December.

With that said, our front is a bear to deal with. There's a heck of a lot of disruption between Watt, Heyward, and Ingram. You're picking your poison with double teams. Maybe you can bump Watt off course with a TE and give your QB enough time to respond. Maybe you can get Heyward off his step and hold him up for a split second. Either way you have a problem. Say you keep 6 blockers in, double Heyward and double Watt. Then you have Ingram/Highsmith and the other defensive lineman one-on-one. Like our odds there. Then you only have to deal with 4 guys in patterns with your remaining 7 defenders, one of whom is an all-pro free safety. Like our odds there too.

Injuries are the only thing that is really going to slow this defense down.

[feltdizz]

Seems like they always call more early in the year and scale it back as you get into November and December.

With that said, our front is a bear to deal with. There's a heck of a lot of disruption between Watt, Heyward, and Ingram. You're picking your poison with double teams. Maybe you can bump Watt off course with a TE and give your QB enough time to respond. Maybe you can get Heyward off his step and hold him up for a split second. Either way you have a problem. Say you keep 6 blockers in, double Heyward and double Watt. Then you have Ingram/Highsmith and the other defensive lineman one-on-one. Like our odds there. Then you only have to deal with 4 guys in patterns with your remaining 7 defenders, one of whom is an all-pro free safety. Like our odds there too.

Injuries are the only thing that is really going to slow this defense down.

last year were historic lows for holding calls in the first 4 games.

I was concerned the same would happen this year.

[Northern_Blitz]

They were talking about the scheme the Steelers used on the DL yesterday, lining up Watt, Ingram and Highsmith on one side of the line while Heyward and Alualu on the other. So a ton of speed on half the line, and all beef on the other. The tackles were really struggling on the stunts with this scheme, having to block the beef but then reaching and grabbing the LBs. Butler with a good use of the talent he had available.

Seems like Butler wasn't lying when he said they had something special for them.

[Steel Maniac]

Seems like Butler wasn't lying when he said they had something special for them.

The “something special “ was our foot to their @ss. Lol

[Steel Maniac]

Anyone think we could still end up susceptible to teams that run the ball?

This was a close game and Buffalo just kept throwing.

I think we’re going to be ok in coverage and preventing big plays. I think we have a good group up front that can consistently get pressure. And I generally think we need to figure out how to score points early and often to put other teams in position to have to throw to win against us. That plays into the strength of this D.

But I’m not ready to anoint our team as capable of stopping the run. Buffalo barely ran but still got 100+ yards on the ground and close to 5 YPC.

Now that I’ve had a day to reflect, I think this could have been entirely different if Buffalo had a balanced attack. Not sure why they didn’t?

When has Buffalo had a balanced attack in their last 20 games? They can’t run the ball well. That’s who they are. Which is why their ceiling is capped.

[hawaiiansteel]

They were talking about the scheme the Steelers used on the DL yesterday, lining up Watt, Ingram and Highsmith on one side of the line while Heyward and Alualu on the other. So a ton of speed on half the line, and all beef on the other. The tackles were really struggling on the stunts with this scheme, having to block the beef but then reaching and grabbing the LBs. Butler with a good use of the talent he had available.

that was very clever of Butler, I've been critical of him in the past but I'll give him props for this one.