SB Nation User Blog: Ron From NM

Notes from the Bills' O-Line: Week 8 vs Texans

Ron From NM — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:01:00 -0000

More photos » by David Duprey - AP

Well, it took a while coming, but the Buffalo Bills ran into a team that refused to sink into mediocrity for an entire game. The Houston Texans shot themselves in the foot for the entirety of the first half, but during halftime, someone in their locker room said something to the effect of, "Hey, we're better than this." Sadly, a corresponding comment in Buffalo's locker room went something more like, "Keep on keeping on."

While it is small consolation, the Bills' offensive line actually improved in one key area: killed plays. While the line has been averaging 7.8 killed plays per game, that number dropped to 5 against Houston. Every lineman but one killed a play. You'll no doubt be surprised to learn that the lone exception was one Kirk Chambers.

I knew that Mario Williams had a quiet day, but I was stunned to see that he didn't even show up on the stat sheet. Yeah, weird. I'm guessing that Williams was slipping in a pool of his own drool as he salivated at the thought of going up against Buffalo's below-average tackles. Super Mario did have an impact, even if it didn't make for a line on the stat sheet, it just wasn't as much as could have been foreseen.

Drive 1
Pass 1: Josh Reed 4 yards
Demetrius Bell sealed 91 inside where Andy Levitre was waiting for him. Geoff Hangartner and Eric Wood doubled 95. Marshawn Lynch chipped Willams for Jamon Meredith, though it didn't look like Meredith really needed the help. Derek Fine let 94 move to the inside and kept him from getting back to the outside to chase Ryan Fitzpatrick on the rollout. By the way, I was absolutely delighted to see that Buffalo finally caught on to the fact that everyone else had caught on to the naked bootleg to the right/none-yard pass to the TE. The Texans seemed genuinely surprised when Fitzpatrick rolled to his left and threw the ball to a WR instead. Way to (finally) adjust!

Run 1: Lynch 8 yards through the right C gap
94 knocked Bell backwards and knifed inside to chase the play. He almost had a tackle for loss (TFL). Levitre went to the second level but had no one to block. Hangartner and Wood doubled 91. Hangartner blocked him down the line while Wood peeled and tried in vain to pick up 56 in the second level. Meredith tapped 59 in the second level but didn't lock him up. Fine let Williams rush upfield and kept him out of the play.

Run 2: Lynch 8 yards through the left C gap
Bell pushed 91 inside to seal the edge. Levitre helped with 91 then hit 59 in the second level. He then, possibly against explicit directions to the contrary since no one else did for most of the day, sustained his block until Lynch was past him. Hangartner and Wood doubled 95. While Hangartner moved him to the right, Wood peeled and hit 56. Meredith let Williams go upfield and then stoned him when he tried to chase the play. Fine jumped inside of 94 and rode him around on a circle away from the play.

Run 3: Lynch -1 yard through the right C gap
Bell chucked Williams then hit 59 in the second level but didn't sustain his block. Levitre stood up 91 and then got a two-yard push on him. Hangartner and Wood doubled 95 and drove him three yards to the left. Meredith ignored 94 to go hit 31. 94 killed the play by sending Lynch deeper than he should have had to go. However, Lynch avoided 94 and could have easily picked up the 2 yards needed for a first down by simply plunging straight ahead. Instead, he danced as he tried to spring it for a bigger gain. He's got to understand that getting the first down gives Buffalo three more chances to pick up a big play. In theory. Stop laughing! It could happen. Well, you can't rule it out at any rate... Meanwhile, Fine got under Williams' right shoulder and kept him on the edge of the LOS.

Pass 2: INC bad pass to Reed against a blitz
Bell pushed 99 past Fitzpatrick. Levitre and Hangartner doubled and stuffed 94. 91 spun inside of Wood and got into the pocket. Wood stuck with him and pushed him past Fitzpatrick. Williams got around the corner and hit the QB after the ball was away. Lynch picked up 59 who came in late, but only because Lynch had stayed in to block.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Lynch's decision to dance instead of crash forward for easily attainable yardage

Drive 2
Pass 3: Terrell Owens 3 yards
Williams got around Bell and got a hand on Fitzpatrick after the throw. Levitre and Hangartner kept 95 on the line of scrimmage (LOS). Wood and Meredith doubled 94 and Lynch picked up 91 when he stunted. Meredith was hurt on the play, bringing Chambers in for the balance of the game. Yes, Buffalo has been snake bit at the tackle position...

Run 4: Lynch no gain through the right C gap
Bell kept Williams on the edge of the LOS. Levitre chucked 95 and was then too slow to catch 56 at the second level. (56 is Brian Cushing, by the way, and he's really fast.) Hangartner helped 95 go to the left and thus out of the play. Wood rode 91 down the line and to the ground. Chambers didn't really block anyone. He tried to help Wood with 91, but Wood was already taking him away from Chambers. Had Chambers instead shot into the second level, he could have picked up 59, which would have gotten Lynch a yard or two. Fine rode 94 to the inside to set the edge.

Pass 4: Steve Johnson 5 yards (on third and 7)
Bell beat Williams to the corner. Williams shoved Bell further upfield to get inside of the pocket, but too late. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 94 initially. Hangartner kept his head moving and saw that Wood needed to release 95, so Hangartner left Levitre and picked up 95. Wood had to release 95 to keep 99 from cutting inside of Chambers. It was an example of excellent communication by the offensive line. Meanwhile, Johnson had to come back from beyond the sticks to catch the misplaced pass by Fitzpatrick. Had Fitzpatrick put the ball where it needed to be (instead of two yards short of the line to gain), Johnson would likely have had first down yardage.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Fitzpatrick's bad pass

Drive 3
Run 5: Fred Jackson 3 yards through the right C gap
Bell let Williams go upfield and kept inside of him until the play was over. Levitre went to the second level and hit 59, but didn't sustain his block. Hangartner got a little push on 92, but 92 swam past his right shoulder to get inside and chase the play. Wood chucked 91 and then popped Cushing, but didn't sustain his block. Cushing slowed Jackson down. Chambers drove 91 inside and down. Fine pushed 29 all over the field. Jonathan Stupar had a slow motion cut attempt on 94. 94 never went down, but it really slowed him down.

Run 6: Jackson 4 yards through the left B gap
Bell hit 54 and pushed him inside. He didn't sustain his block and 54 was in on the tackle. Levitre hit 54, but didn't sustain that block either. Hangartner jumped to the left of 92 and kept him from chasing the play. Wood pushed 91 to the right, then went upfield and abused 26 deep in the secondary. Chambers doubled 94 with Fine and kept him on the edge of the LOS.

Pass 5: Sack -8 yards against a 5 man blitz
Williams blew past Bell which forced Fitzpatrick to step up and into Cushing. Levitre kept 94 from working his way inside. 94 spun and got free, but too late to make a difference. Hangartner tossed a blitzing 59 to the ground. Wood and Chambers doubled 94. Fine and Stupar doubled 98. Had Bell made his block, Fitzpatrick could have drifted to his right, as there was good protection to that side. Cushing would have had to slow to turn the corner and Fitzpatrick would have had time to get his pass off. Possibly the most galling thing about the play is that the Bills had 7 blockers and still gave up the sack.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Bell's non-block on Williams.

Drive 4
Run 7: Owens 29 yard reverse for TD through the left C gap
Bell went to the second level and missed the cut on 54, but got enough of him to slow him down. 54 was about 2 steps too late to push Owens out of bounds. Levitre pushed 95 to the right. Hangartner let 95 penetrate to the right and chase the fake. Wood submarined 91 and put him down. Chambers turned 94 away from Owens and kept him there. Fine had no one to block, and Stupar tapped 56. Evans sprang the play when he came back to pick up the defensive back, sealing him off from Owens' run lane.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: N/A

Drive 5
Pass 6: Fine 9 yards
Everyone blocked like it was a run to the right. Fitzpatrick again rolled out to the left, which again caught the defense off guard.

Run 8: Jackson 3 yards through the left C gap
Bell pushed 91 to the inside to set the edge. Levitre went to the second level and stuck to Cushing, who still managed to get in on the tackle. Hangartner stood up 95. Wood helped with 95 and then popped 59, but he didn't sustain his block, instead moving on to hit 54. Chambers turned Williams upfield and kept him from chasing the play. Fine locked up 29 and wrestled him around the secondary. Stupar had a beautiful cut on 94 to open the run lane.

Pass 7: INC against a 5 man blitz
Bell handed 94 to Levitre to pick up a blitzing Cushing. Unfortunately, Levitre was helping Hangartner with 91 and never even looked at 94. 94 decked Fitzpatrick while he was throwing, leading to the INC. Wood stuffed 95 and Chambers stopped Williams at the corner. This was not a display of effective communication. Levitre should have kept his head moving.

Run 9: Jackson 3 yards through the A gap
Bell and Levitre doubled 91. Hangartner and Wood took 95 three yards off the line. Wood then picked up Cushing and battled him in the second level. Chembers got inside 94 and kept him on the edge of the LOS. Stupar hit 59 in the hole, kind of like an effective fullback. (I wish Buffalo had one of those.) Fine stuffed Williams on the edge of the LOS.

Pass 8: Reed 15 yards against a 6 man blitz
Bell stuffed 98. Levitre, Hangartner and Wood easily handled a pair of defensive linemen. Chambers effortlessly beat Williams to the corner. Fine stopped 59 and Jackson picked up a delayed blitz by Cushing.

Run 10: Jackson 4 yards through the left C gap in Wildcat formation
Bell went to the second level and hit Cushing but didn't sustain his block. Levitre kept under 95's left shoulder to slow him down. Hangartner went to the second level and didn't hit anyone, never mind that 59 was right in front of him. Wood got a three-yard drive on 92. Chambers tapped 54 but didn't sustain his block. Fine blocked 93 at the edge of the LOS and slowed him down enough to open the run lane.

Run 11: Jackson 1 yard through the left C gap in Wildcat formation
Bell drove 95 inside to set the edge. Levitre helped with 95 but then wasn't fast enough to catch anyone in the second level. Hangartner worked 92 down the line to the right. Wood turned 54 away from the play in the second level. Chambers kept Williams on the edge of the LOS. Fine didn't really block 93 on the edge of the LOS and then also didn't really block a LB in the second level.

Pass 9: Sack -2 yards against a 6 man blitz
Bell fought Williams to the corner. When Fitzpatrick stepped up in the pocket, Williams shed the block and got in on the tackle. Levitre stopped 94, but 94 was in on the tackle when Fitzpatrick tried to scramble. Hangartner let 59 shoot right past him and then curiously set up to pick up any blitzer. Wood did an okay job on 91. 98 went to the corner and easily beat Chambers back to the inside with a spin move. Jackson did a pretty good job picking up 59, all things considered, though 59 did cause Fitzpatrick to pull the ball down and try to scramble.

Blitzes: 3
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Hangartner's non-block on 59 on third and 5

Drive 6
Pass 10: Lynch -2 yard screen
Bell let 98 push him upfield then jumped outside to seal him away from the screen. Levitre semi-shielded 91 but didn't keep him from disrupting the play. Hangartner ran outside and pushed Cushing past the play. Wood couldn't get inside or under 91, even with Levitre slowing him down. Chambers got inside Williams and kept him sealed away from the play.

Run 12: Lynch 5 yards through the left C gap
Bell went to the second level and tried to keep Cushing away from the run lane. Levitre turned 94 and drove him three yards down the line. Hangartner chucked 91 and hit Cushing in the second level as well. Wood got inside of 91 and kept him away from the play. Chambers stopped 98 on the edge of the LOS. Fine crossed the formation to hit Williams, who still got in on the tackle.

Pass 11: Reed 9 yards
Bell stopped Williams. Levitre helped Hangartner with 94 and then, by staying aware of what was going on around him, helped Bell with Williams. Wood took 91 on an arc away from the QB and stuck with him after 91 tried to throw him off. Chambers kept 98 down after he slipped while trying to turn the corner.

Run 13: Lynch 14 yards through the A gap
Bell went to the second level and hit Cushing, turned him around, and then put him down. Levitre dropped back and blocked Williams like he was in pass protection. He then went to the second level but couldn't find anyone to hit. Hangartner turned 94 to the left to set one wall of the run lane, while Wood turned 91 to the right to set the other wall. Chambers had no one to block and wandered into the second level. Fine pushed 98 upfield and around the corner. The hole was so big that Lynch had plenty of room to juke 59. The hole was so enormous because the Bills caught the Texans in a blitz.

Pass 12: INC tipped pass against a 6 man blitz
Bell stuffed 98. Levitre was crushed by 94, who barely broke stride. Hangartner picked up a blitzing 59 and turned him out to open the throwing lane. Wood picked up 91, but let him get a hand up to tip the pass. Chambers neutralized Williams. Jackson stopped Cushing.

Pass 13: Evans 5 yards
Bell and Levitre doubled 94. Hangartner stopped 91. Wood had no one to block and kept looking from 91 to 90 to pitch in if he was needed. Chambers pushed Williams well past the corner.

Pass 14: INC to Owens in end zone against a 6 man blitz
This certainly appeared to be a called run play to the right, and everyone blocked like it was. Had Fitzpatrick handed the ball off to Lynch, it looked like he had a clear path to the pylon for a TD. Instead, Fitzpatrick threw the ball on a sight read. Unfortunately, he threw the ball two beats too late. If he'd thrown it on time, Owens would have had a TD pass in his (stone) hands.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Fitzpatrick's poorly timed throw to Owens

Drive 7
Run 14: Lynch 3 yards through the left B gap against an 8 man front
Bell turned 93 out, but he slid back inside to chase the play and get in on the tackle. Levitre drove 91 three yards to open the hole. Hangartner chipped 91 and went to the second level where he tapped 54. 95 went down the line with Wood and was in on the tackle. Wood just couldn't cut him off. Chambers hit 31 at the second level. Fine hit Cushing and kept himout of the play. Stupar crossed the formation to hit Williams.

Pass 15: INC long pass to Owens
Bell did a good job not letting Williams get upfield. Hangartner and Levitre doubled 93. Wood did a good job taking 91 past Fitzpatrick and Jackson helped Chambers with 94.

Pass 16: Lynch 5 yards
Bell beat Williams to the corner and reacted well to his attempt to move back to the inside. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 94. When 91 twisted, Levitre picked him up. Wood helped Hangartner with 94 when 91 twisted away from him. Jackson chipped 98 on the way out to the flat for Chambers. Lynch didn't run his pattern past the sticks. He was tackled immediately and two yards short of the first down.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 1
Drive Killer: Lynch's decision not to run his pattern to the sticks

Drive 8
Run 15: Lynch 4 yards through the left B gap
Bell fell on 29, who was just trying to absorb a blocker. Levitre pulled and cut Cushing in space. Hangartner pulled and inadvertently shielded 91 from the play. Wood hit 95 but lost him in the wash, while Chambers had no one to block. Stupar missed a cut on Cushing and Fine jumped inside of 94 to keep him from chasing the play.

Pass 17: Scramble 3 yards against a 5 man blitz - Lynch called for holding
Bell handled Williams. Levitre danced with 54 who never sold out on the blitz - possibly waiting to cover Lynch if he left the backfield. Hangartner and Wood doubled 95, but Wood kept his head turned towards 91 in case Chambers needed help. Chambers didn't need the help. The holding call was pure BS. 59 blitzed and plowed into Lynch. His momentum caused both players to go down in a heap.

Pass 18: Owens 10 yards
Lynch was assigned to help Chambers, but it really wasn't needed. Levitre gave ground to a bull rush by 95, but 95 lost his balance and fell forward. Hangartner was ready to help with 91 or pick up a blitzer. Wood took 91 upfield and Chambers stuffed 94.

Pass 19: INC Lynch drop against a 6 man blitz
Bell almost put Williams down. Levitre pushed 94 inside and got out for the screen. He then pushed 54 past Lynch. Hangartner was ready to block downfield. Wood let 91 go upfield but stuck with him in order to block him if he chased the play. 98 wound up tripping, so Chambers kept him down. It was the perfect play call, and if Lynch hadn't dropped it, he had all kinds of room in front of him. There were only 5 defenders downfield and Lynch had a couple of linemen in front of him.

Blitzes: 2
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Lynch's drop

Drive 9
Run 16: Jackson 4 yards through the right C gap
Bell locked up 94 on the end of the LOS. Levitre tried to turn 91 away from the play. He didn't succeed, but he kept under his pads and slowed him down considerably. Hangartner pushed 91 and wasn't fast enough to catch the linebackerss. Wood pushed 92 to the inside and away from the play. Chambers missed a block on 54 in the second level. Fine didn't get much of a block on Cushing. Stupar crossed the formation and cut Williams.

Run 17: Jackson 4 yards through the left C gap
Bell sealed 94 inside with Levitre's help. 91 shot inside of Hangartner and should have had a TFL. Wood hit 54 in the second level. 54 threw off his block, but Wood circled back and nailed 54 again. Chambers hit 92 but couldn't stay with him due to the wash. Stupar kept after Cushing and kept him out of the play. Fine hit 59 and stopped him in his tracks.

Run 18: Jackson no gain through the right C gap
Bell tried to cut 54 in the second level and wasn't fast enough. He did slow him down. Levitre cut 94 immediately. Hangartner went to the second level and rode 59 down. Wood got wiped out while blocking 91 by the Hangartner/59 pileup. 91 went down as well, but got up to get in on the tackle. Chambers pulled to lead the play and pushed Cushing out of the way. Fine was chopped down in the wash. Stupar killed the play by being driven 4 yards upfield by 98. That sent Jackson way too deep to get back to the line, and let the secondary react and make the tackle for no gain.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Stupar

Drive 10
Run 19: Lynch 5 yards through the left C gap
Bell and Levitre pushed 91 three yards to the right and into the wash. Hangartner held his ground against 98. Wood chipped 98 and went to the second level, but had no one to block. Chambers kept Williams on the edge of the line. Perhaps he was just frustrated, but Williams didn't really seem particularly motivated on the play.

Pass 20: INT
94 got past his block, fell, got up and hit Fitzpatrick below the knees. Levitre tried to help with 94, but was shielded from him by Bell. Hangartner kept 91 on an arc away from Fitzpatrick. Wood and Chambers doubled 98, while Wood stayed alert for any blitzers. Jackson and Lynch picked up a stunting 98. T.O. broke off his pattern, so there was no one deep except Texans. However, the drive was actually killed by the refs. There's no excuse in the world for the refs not throwing a roughing the passer flag on the Texans. It was the exact same hit that put Brady out for the year in 2008 and is supposed to be a point of emphasis with officials. Funny how that doesn't seem to apply to Buffalo's quarterbacks.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: ref's non-call of a blatant roughing the passer penalty

Drive 11
Pass 21: Owens 14 yards
Bell pushed 98 past the corner. Levitre stuffed 94. Hangartner and Wood doubled 91, while Hangartner kept looking for blitzers. Chambers beat Williams to the corner.

Pass 22: Owens 8 yards
Bell pushed 98 to the inside to Levitre and picked up a twisting 94 from him. Hangartner and Wood doubled 91. Chambers stuffed 90 at the corner.

Pass 23: Lynch 3 yards
Bell stopped Williams. Williams worked back to the inside and Bell wouldn't have been in position to stop him if the QB had held the ball. Levitre pushed 91 upfield and away from Fitzpatrick. Hangartner had no one to block. Neither did Wood, so he helped Chambers with 94.

Pass 24: Owens 4 yards
Bell and Levitre pushed Williams past the corner. Hangartner had no one to block. Wood handed 91 to Chambers in order to pick up a twisting 94.

Pass 25: Evans 24 yards
Bell and Levitre doubled 94 while Hangartner and Wood tag teamed 91. Chambers took Williams all the way around the corner.

Pass 26: INT off tipped pass
Bell hit 56 and pushed him downfield, where he was in perfect position to tip the pass and make the INT. Levitre had no one to block. Hangartner was driven back to Fitzpatrick by 93's bull rush. Wood picked up a stunting 95 and Chambers easily handled Williams. Fitzpatrick didn't keep track of Cushing and threw the ball without realizing he was in the throwing lane.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Fitzpatrick's INT

On the third drive of the second half, the crowd really hated the third consecutive running played that was called (Run 18), but I didn't. Buffalo was trying to impose its will on Houston, and the previous 9 non-Wildcat runs had gained at least 3 yards. Buffalo was running the ball reasonably well, and a run on third and 2 against a 7 man front was a high percentage play. It just so happened that Stupar didn't do his job. The only way you can pin that one on Dick Jauron or Alex Van Pelt) would be to blame them for not doing a better job of coaching Stupar during the week... but even that rings hollow as Stupar, by and large, had a pretty good day blocking on run plays.

You can blame Jauron for the fake punt following the Stupar debacle. After all, the Bills were only down by 7. However, the Bills' offense had done nothing (again), and it seemed pretty clear that the defense had been worn down to a nub (again). In this case, blaming Jauron for his preparation during the week seems more reasonable. After all, it's not like the offensive woes are a new phenomenon.

Is anyone else wondering if Buffalo - in ‘win now' mode during the off season - erred by picking Aaron Maybin instead of a guy like Cushing? Cushing looked terrific and super fast. Yeah, I know. If Buffalo had picked him he'd be on IR due to the defensive injury curse that seems to hang over the Bills. Still, the guy has been productive, while Maybin has yet to contribute.

People might point to Buffalo's low rushing output, but consider that Buffalo averaged 5.4 yards per attempt against the Texans. Throw out Owens' reverse, and it's still a respectable 4.1-yard average. 30 runs would have put the Bills on pace for about 150 yards. Unfortunately, the miscues (bad passes, drops, missed blocks) meant that the Bills didn't have those extra 10 downs. I was both surprised and disappointed to see Buffalo essentially abandon running between the tackles for the game. Yes, the way to attack a 4-3 is on the edge, but that doesn't make it alright to abdicate the middle.

Left C	Left B	A	Right B	Right C
9-64	3-11	2-17	0-0	5-10
7.1	3.7	8.5	0.0	2.0

After a disastrous outing in Miami, Chambers bounced back to have a very average game. He did a good job containing Williams (as did Bell), sometimes with assistance and sometimes on his own. This was the Chambers of previous years, the one who was good enough to fill in for starters. Let's hope he's back to stay instead of just visiting, since it seems likely that Buffalo will be calling on him again soon.

Don't get too excited about the high run grade for Levitre or the low run grade for Hangartner. In each case, the small number of run plays magnifies the good/bad plays. Levitre had 4 good run plays against no bad ones, while Hangartner had 3 bad run plays against zero good ones. When I do the mid-season grades write up, you'll see that Levitre isn't that good and Hangartner isn't that bad when viewed over time. (Also, Meredith had only 3 run plays and 3 pass plays and had 1 bad play in each category.)

Player	Run Grade	Pass Grade
Demetrius Bell	75.0	73.5
Andy Levitre	79.2	72.7
Geoff Hangartner	71.8	74.2
Eric Wood	76.1	72.7
Kirk Chambers	75.0	74.1
Jamon Meredith	68.3	68.3

Notes from the Bills' O-Line: Week 7 at Carolina

Ron From NM — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:53:43 -0000

More photos » by Nell Redmond - AP

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Like the announcers (Steve Tasker is one of my favorite color guys even if he does butcher names on occasion), I spent most of the game absolutely certain that the Carolina Panthers would run all over the Buffalo Bills in the fourth quarter. The time of possession at times favored the Panthers 3-1, and there were times in the games where the Panthers had four times the yardage of Buffalo.

It all spelled doom, but then a funny thing happened: Ryan Fitzpatrick made a pair of clutch throws, including an astounding rocket pass to Evans for a touchdown. Like many of you, I thought Fitzpatrick would lead the team to a 2-5 record, and, like many of you, I suspected the offensive line wouldn't exactly help matters. It turns out that I was only half right: Fitzpatrick was just barely good enough to win, while the line continued to kill plays with frightening regularity.

Before diving into the heavy stuff (which is all after the jump), here's a brief reminder: based purely on grades and ease of mind, Jonathan Scott is absolutely the best man for the right tackle job at this juncture. A review of Jamon Meredith's second performance is after the jump, along with everything Week 7-related that you need to know about Demetrius Bell, Andy Levitre, Geoff Hangartner and Eric Wood.

Drive 1
For reasons that are unclear, the Bills game didn't start up on DirecTV until the end of the first series. Other guys who have DirecTV on Rumblings seemed to be getting the feed, but I do live in the sticks. I gave everyone a mark of decent for Run 1 (Marshawn Lynch, 1 yard), Pass 1 (Terrell Owens drop of a 20ish yard gain), and Pass 2 (Fitzpatrick scramble for 5 yards), as it would be peevish to penalize guys without the facts.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killer: T.O.'s drop

Drive 2
Pass 3: Incomplete to Lee Evans
Derek Fine pushed 96 inside and Bell kept him there. 92 pushed Levitre back, cut inside of him and hit Fitzpatrick as he threw - causing the wounded duck. Hangartner stopped 75, while Wood and Meredith doubled Julius Peppers.

Run 2: Lynch 8 yards through the right B gap
Bell took 96 on a wide circle upfield. Levitre hit 52 at the second level and didn't sustain his block. He did keep him out of the play. Hangartner got no real push on 75, but 75 couldn't chase the play because of a pile up created by Wood and Meredith. They had blown 92 off the line and to the inside and into 75. Peppers got off of Fine's block to get in on the tackle.

Pass 4: Incomplete
Bell stopped 96. Levitre kept 92 away from Fitzpatrick, though 92 spun late and did get around him. Hangartner waited for a blitzer and then helped Wood stuff 95. Meredith beat 90 to the corner and reacted quickly when Peppers tried to jump back to the inside.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killer: Fitzpatrick's pass to no one

Drive 3
Run 3: Lynch no gain through the left B gap
Bell went to the second level and pushed 30 to the outside to open a run lane. Unfortunately, 92 got inside of Levitre's block to make the tackle and kill the play. Oh, and it looked like Levitre was holding. Hangartner blocked 75 down the line and tripped over some random feet. Wood went to the second level but there was no one to block. Peppers sliced inside of Meredith's block to almost get a tackle for loss (TFL). Fine did an okay job on 96.

Run 4: Lynch 7 yard TD through the left C gap
Bell forced 96 inside to seal the edge and drove him 4 yards. Levitre and Hangartner had an initial double team on 75. Levitre kept driving 75 inside and Hangartner picked up a filling 59. Wood drove 92 3 yards down the line and back one more. Meredith popped Peppers hard enough to rock him back on his heels. Fine helped Meredith with Peppers. I'm not sure what happened to the Panthers defense on the play. It looked like they sold out on a run to the right so no one was home when Lynch took it off left tackle.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: N/A

Drive 4
Pass 5: Josh Reed drop
The entire line blocked like it was a run to the right and the quick pass went out to the left. It looked like Fitzpatrick was supposed to hand off but threw it out to Reed when he saw that the coverage was playing off. It was a nice theory...

Pass 6: Incomplete to T.O. (underthrown) against a blitz
Bell took 59 around the corner. Levitre stopped 96. Hangartner and Wood doubled 93. 92 spun away from Meredith and decked Fitzpatrick. Fine picked up 95. Had Fitzpatrick gotten the ball away on time, it was a likely completion, as T.O. had beaten his man. Instead, Fitzpatrick waited a beat too long and got whacked for it.

Pass 7: Evans 6 yards
91 spun inside away from Bell's block to hit Fitzpatrick. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 96. Wood got in 95's way. Peppers got under Meredith's shoulder at the corner and got a hit on Fitzpatrick.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Fitzpatrick's underthrown ball to T.O.

Drive 5
Run 5: Fred Jackson -2 yards for a safety through the right B gap
96 shot inside of Bell and got in on the tackle. 75 got the safety when he knocked Levitre back and then lurched down the line to hit Jackson. Wood and Hangartner doubled 93. Wood drove 93 3 yards down the line after Hangartner left to pick up Jon Beason. Meredith locked up a linebacker at the second level. Fine was pushed back into the Jackson/75/96 pile by 95. I'm not sure why the handoff took as long as it did. It wasn't a draw and you'd figure the offense would want the ball out of the paint as quickly as possible...

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Levitre's pathetic attempt to block 75

Drive 6
Run 6: Lynch -1 yard through the A gap
Bell danced around 33. Levitre and Hangartner had an initial double team on 75. Levitre got under 75's shoulder and drove him 2 yards. Hangartner tried to peel and pick up 52, but was too slow. Beason got the TFL. Wood pancaked 92, exactly how he had flattened a guy last week though this time he wasn't pelted with a yellow hanky. Meredith and Fine doubled Peppers and kept him out of the play.

Run 7: Lynch no gain through the A gap
Bell kept 96 on the edge of the line of scrimmage (LOS). Levitre took 92 on an arc well upfield. Hangartner got no push at all and Lynch ran right to him and the waiting arms of the defensive tackle. Wood never locked up 90, whose effectively unblocked presence forced Lynch to take it back inside. Meredith went to the second level and whiffed on 59. Fine stumbled and was too late to catch Beason.

Pass 8: T.O. 18 yards
Bell pushed 91 past Fitz after losing the race to the corner. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 94. Wood stopped 96 and Meredith stuffed Peppers with help from Jackson. It was a nice reception, the kind T.O. was brought in to make and all too often seems to drop.

Pass 9: Sack -9 yards
Bell and Levitre let 59 and 96 rush while they got out of the screen. The problem was that they didn't even try to slow them down, even a little. 96 got the sack. Hangartner turned 75 away from the screen. Wood and Meredith doubled 92. Fitzpatrick seems to hold onto the ball a beat too long again, though it's questionable whether he could have gotten it past 96.

Pass 10: Reed 6 yards
Bell and Levitre kept 96 and 75 on the LOS. Hangartner and Wood doubled 92 and put him down. Meredith got help with Peppers and even then Peppers almost got past the block.

Pass 11: Incomplete to Jonathan Stupar
Bell beat 91 to the corner. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 95. Levitre left 95 to pick up 91 when he tried to get inside of Bell. Wood had no one to block. Meredith pushed Peppers around the corner and past Fitzpatrick, who threw the ball behind Stupar. Had the pass been on target, Stupar would have had a first down. If Stupar had dropped it then he would have killed the play, but as it happened the fault was Fitzpatrick's.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Fitzpatrick's inaccurate pass to Stupar
Halftime

Drive 7
Pass 12: Fitzpatrick scramble 4 yards
Bell danced with 96. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 75. Wood and Meredith doubled 96. When 75 tried to twist away from Hangartner and Levitre, Wood picked him up. Fine did a great job blocking Peppers.

Run 8: Lynch 8 yards through the left B gap
Bell hit 52 at the second level and drove him 5 yards, but he was still in on the tackle. Levitre turned 75 inside to open the run lane. Hangartner helped with 75 and then picked up a linebacker. Wood got good push on 92. Meredith sealed 53 inside of the pile. Fine was rolled up on while ably blocking Peppers and left the game with an injury. Talk about being snake bit at a position!

Pass 13: T.O. drop
Bell really didn't need help from Lynch to stop 92. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 75. Wood and Meredith doubled Peppers. T.O. had first down yardage.

Pass 14: Incomplete long pass to T.O. against a 6 man blitz
Bell was driven back by 92. Levitre pushed the DT down the line and into the pile. Hangartner picked up a blitzing Beason. Wood stopped 95 and threw him onto the pile. Meredith took 59 to the corner. Stupar had a non-block on 96 who hit Fitzpatrick, possibly contributing to the bad bass.

Pass 15: Fitzpatrick scramble for no gain
Bell picked up 91 after he got past Stupar. Levitre stopped 95. When the DT lost his balance and fell Hangartner flopped down on him and laid there. Wood picked up Peppers when he got past Meredith to save the sack. Meredith's poor block on Peppers caused the scramble.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: T.O.'s drop of a pass for first down yardage.

Drive 8
Run 9: Lynch 4 yards through the A gap
Bell went to the second level and tapped 59. Levitre got under 75's shoulder but he was still in on the tackle. Hangartner shoved 92 and then hit Beason at the second level but he was still in on the tackle. Wood kept 96 locked up as they turned in circles. Meredith kept 95 on the edge of the LOS.

Run 10: Jackson 1 yard through the A gap
Bell kept 96 on the edge of the LOS and semi-cut him at the end of the play. 92 got inside of Levitre to make the tackle. Hangartner got a small piece of 59 at the second level. Wood got no push on 75 at all. Meredith hit a linebacker at the second level but he spun away.

Pass 16: Incomplete
Bell stopped 92. Levitre waited for a blitzer and Hangartner stuffed 96. Wood had no one to block. He could have given Meredith a hand as 95 blew past him to hit Fitzpatrick. Jackson and Lynch tag teamed Peppers. It looked like a miscommunication between Fitzpatrick and Evans.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Fitzpatrick and Evans miscommunication

Drive 9
Run 11: Lynch 5 yards through the left B gap
Bell turned 59 and kept him there, creating the run lane. Levitre had a 3 yard drive on 96. Hangartner blocked 75 down the line and shielded him from the play. Wood got inside of 92 and kept him out of the play. Meredith cut off 53's backside pursuit. Fine was back in the game and jumped inside of 90 then kept him on the edge of the LOS.

Pass 17: T.O. 4 yards against 5 man blitz
Bell and Levitre doubled 96 while Wood and Hangartner doubled 75. Meredith pushed 92 inside and away from the throwing lane.

Run 12: QB sneak 1 yard through the A gap
The line got a general 1 yard push, which is pretty impressive just considering how rotund 75 is.

Run 13: Lynch 2 yards through the A gap
Bell went to the second level and pushed one linebacker into another, causing one to trip. Levitre backed up like he was blocking for a pass. Hangartner stood up 75. Wood turned 93 out to open the run lane but didn't sustain his block. Meredith let 90 go upfield and kept him there. Fine blocked 20 then took a gratuitous shot at 30's knees.

Pass 18: Fitzpatrick scramble for 2 yards
Everyone blocked like it was a run to the left. Meanwhile, 59 was all over Fitzpatrick as he wasn't fooled by the bootleg in the least - just like no one else has been fooled by the bootleg for the past three games. Fitzpatrick's receiver, Corey McIntyre, was blanketed so Fitzpatrick tucked it and ran. AVP NEEDS TO RIP THIS PLAY OUT OF THE PLAYBOOK!

Pass 19: Incomplete overthrow to Evans
91 zipped past Bell to hit Fitzpatrick while he was throwing, leading to the high pass. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 92. Wood and Meredith doubled 95. Lynch and Fine doubled Peppers. Had Bell made his block the Bills had a shot at a first down. Instead we were treated to a graphic which showed that Buffalo had more punts than first downs in the game.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Bell's non-block on 91

Drive 10
Pass 20: Incomplete (thrown away)
Bell took 96 around the corner. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 85. Wood kept 92 near the LOS. 95 eventually got inside of Meredith but Fitzpatrick had already decided to throw the ball away.

Pass 21: Evans 14 yards against a 6 man blitz
Bell pushed 92 inside and then picked up a blitzing Beason. Levitre stopped 75. Hangartner helped Wood with Peppers until 92, shoved inside by Bell, tried to stunt through the middle. Hangartner then stopped 92. Meredith took 59 to the corner.

Pass 22: Evans 3 yards
The pass was gone so fast there wasn't time for anyone to get out of their stance. It appeared to be another of those quick hitters thrown when a DB was playing well off the LOS.

Pass 23: T.O. 6 yards against a 5 man blitz
Bell stuffed 59 at the corner. Levitre let 96 blow right past him to deck Fitzpatrick. Hangartner stopped 93. Wood did an okay job on 92's bull rush. Meredith picked up a blitzing LB. Jackson, in the backfield to pick up blitzers completely missed 96 after he ran past Levitre.

Run 14: Jackson no gain through the right B gap against an 8 man front
Bell shoved a couple of guys but never really engaged. Levitre turned 92 out and circled him away from the play. Hangartner and Wood doubled 93. Hangartner was too slow to pick up a filling Beason while Wood pushed 93 into the end zone. Meredith cut 90.

Pass 24: Evans 3 yard TD
It looked like another sight adjustment by Fitzpatrick. The ball was gone almost as soon as he had it in his hands so everyone barely had time to get out of their stance. It was, quite simply, an amazing pass by Fitzpatrick. He rocketed it between two defenders, each of whom was turned towards the ball

Blitzes: 2
Stacked box: 1
Drive killed by: no one

Drive 11
Pass 25: Evans 50 yards against an 8 man blitz
Bell stuffed 92's spin move. Levitre put 75 down when he tried to spin. Hangartner picked up a blitzing LB. Wood stuffed Peppers and Meredith took a LB around the corner. McIntyre and Jackson each picked up a blitzing LB. The Panthers sold out on the blitz and got burned badly.

Run 15: Lynch 1 yard through the A gap
Bell got under 92's shoulder. When 92 tried to spin Bell got on his back and stayed there, which isn't blocking in the back since Bell didn't start the block that way. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 75 and drove him 4 yards. Peppers knifed inside of Wood and almost had a TFL. Meredith got away with a hold on 59. Fine did an okay job on 96.

Run 16: Lynch -3 yards through the left B gap
Bell pulled wide and cut 59 in space. Levitre kept under 96's right shoulder. Hangartner went to the second level and slowed 53. Wood got under 75's shoulder and kept him turned. Meredith cut 92. McIntyre helped Levitre instead of picking up a filling Beason. Had McIntyre gotten Beason the run would have been for no gain at the worst. The negative play pretty much doomed the drive.

Pass 26: Lynch 6 yards
Bell beat 91 to the corner. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 95 while Wood and Meredith doubled 90.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: McIntyre's non-block on Beason

Drive 12
Run 17: Jackson 1 yard through the left B gap
Bell kept 96 turned out of the run lane. Levitre tried to turn 92 inside and couldn't. It looked like he held when 92 got around him. Hangartner stood up 75. Wood chucked 75 then hit 43 at the second level. Meredith turned Peppers out and kept him there. Fine hit a guy in the secondary. Lynch acted like a lead blocker. Unfortunately, he specifically emulated Darien Barnes so he didn't actually hit anyone.

Run 18: Jackson 2 yards through the left C gap
Bell and Levitre drove 92 inside and away from the run lane. Bell kept on 92 and Levitre caught 59 in the wash. Hangartner stood up 75 and moved laterally to the right. Wood kept popping Beason but never locked him up. Meredith kept Peppers on the edge of the LOS.

Run 19: T.O. 1 yard reverse through the right C gap
Bell blocked like it was a pass. Levitre turned 96 away from the play. Hangartner turned 92 away from the play and let him go into the backfield after T.O. was past. Wood turned Peppers inside and away from the play. Meredith pushed Peppers and then hit 59. Lynch whiffed on 91 in the backfield. 91 sent the play deeper than it should have gone and cost Owens first down yardage.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Lynch's non-block on 91.

Drive 13
Run 20: Lynch for -1 yard through the right C gap against an 8 man front
Bell missed a cut on Peppers. Levitre and Hangartner each missed cutting 75. Wood turned 93 inside and away from the play. Meredith went to the second level but didn't really block anyone. Fine took a DB 10 yards downfield and Stupar blocked a DB in the secondary.

Run 21: Lynch 4 yards through the left C gap against an 8 man front
Bell went to the second level but not fast enough to lock up a linebacker. He did slow one down a bit. Levitre jumped inside 93 and shielded him from the play. Hangartner blocked 75 down the line and was eventually tripped up. Wood cut 92 and Meredith had no one to block. Fine kept Peppers from turning to chase the play. Stupar locked up 26 at the second level.

Pass 27: Reed 8 yards against a 5 man blitz
Bell, Levitre and Hangartner easily handled Peppers and 93. Wood was pushed back to Fitzpatrick by 92 but stopped him. Meredith beat 95 to the corner. This was a clutch throw and catch by a pair of much-maligned Bills. It really was the backbreaker.

Run 22: Lynch 4 yards through the left C gap
Bell buried 95 when Lynch cut back. Levitre got 02 turned and drove him into the pile. Hangartner picked up Beason in the wash. Wood got great drive on 93, pushing him all the way to the sideline. Meredith turned 26 into the pile to seal the edge. Fine wrestled Peppers to the ground at the edge of the LOS.

Run 23: Lynch no gain through the A gap against an 8 man front
96 got inside of Bell. Levitre helped with 75 and then got a pice of Beason at the second level. Hangartner got no push on 75 while Wood moved 92 back 2 yards. Meredith kept 90 on the edge of the LOS. Fine crossed the formation to pop 59 hard enough to put him off balance.

Run 24: Lynch 1 yard through the A gap against an 8 man front
Bell went to the second level and popped 26. Levitre turned 92 out and Hangartner turned 75 to the left to open the hole. Wood pitched into 75 as well and Meredith missed the cut on 90. Fine gave 91 a minor shoulder and then went to the second level. Meanwhile 91 chased the play down from behind.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 4
Drive killed by: play calling

Drive 14
3 kneel downs

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: end of game

A couple of people on the game thread were unhappy with the play calling at the end of the game. The last drive was clearly managed to kill the clock. I give Dick Jauron credit for milking as much time off as possible and setting up a high percentage field goal. It put the Bills up by 11 with just under 2 minutes to go. Meanwhile, the Panthers had burned all of their time outs. I understand the apprehension of Buffalo fans given the Bills' penchant for improbably blowing wins in the last two minutes, but Jauron played the odds and it worked out. Now if the Panthers had blocked the field goal, tied the game and won it in overtime, then Jauron would be lambasted for his conservative play calling at the end of the game. But that didn't happen. So there.

For the second straight week, the Bills have field position to thank for the win. Even with the drive that started at the Buffalo 4 factored into the mix, the average starting field position was the Buffalo 38. Three of the four scoring drives began in Panthers' territory. (The other was the 50 yard pass to Evans.) The defense - primarily Jairus Byrd - did a tremendous job of setting up the offense in prime field position. While the offense can't seem to move the ball more than about 30 yards, the defense, and to a lesser degree the special teams unit, made sure the offense didn't have to.

The Panthers didn't bring any sort of pressure against the Bills' offense. They loaded the box on 4 of 24 runs and blitzed on 6 of 27 pass plays. If you trudged through my play by play, however, you see that they generated hits on Fitzpatrick with just their front four. They were also able to limit the run game with as few as 6 guys in the box. Yikes. Look for Houston to employ a similar overall defensive strategy. After all, the Texans aren't saddled with Jake Delhomme.

Also, look for the Texans to get a turnover when Buffalo inevitably trots out that god-awful bootleg none-yard pass to the TE play. They've got some defenders who are fast enough to hit Fitzpatrick before he can even turn around to see that his TE is thoroughly covered.

The run yards were few and far between in the Panthers game. As you can see, the Bills really didn't have stellar YPA anywhere along the line and some places were downright abysmal. Keep in mind that the Panthers weren't loading the box until the end of the game. A quick glance at the linemen grades helps explain the ugly run numbers.

Gap	Att-Yds	YPA
Left C	3 - 13	4.3
Left B	6 - 19	3.2
A	10 - 10	1.0
Right B	2 - -2	-1.0
Right C	3 - 4	1.3

No one on the line covered himself with glory in Carolina. Levitre and Hangartner were well below their season averages. To make matters worse, the Bills' linemen killed 5 run plays and 3 pass plays. Those 8 plays (Buffalo averages 7.8 killed plays by linemen per game) - 5 run, 3 pass - amounted to just under 16 percent of the offensive snaps. The killed plays included the safety, which really could have been a momentum changer if the Panthers had a real QB. While the penalties abated - hopefully for good - the killed plays haven't. For the year, the Bills' linemen have 19 killed run plays and 36 killed pass plays. The line can't continue to kill an average of 8 plays per game via mistakes and penalties. Well, actually, it can, I guess, though Buffalo won't win many more games if it continues.

Player	Run Grade	Pass Grade
Demetrius Bell	75.0	73.5
Andy Levitre	72.5	73.5
Geoff Hangartner	72.5	75.0
Eric Wood	75.8	75.0
Jamon Meredith	73.3	72.0

Meredith Vs Scott

Ron From NM — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:58:37 -0000

Here are Meredith's grades for the past two games with his overall grade as well:

...................Run...............................Pass

Jets............73.5.............................72.94871795

Panthers...73.33333333............72.03703704

Overall......73.4375.......................72.57575758

Here are Scott's grades for his four (more like 3 and 2/3 since he came in for Butler in the Bucs contest) games (MIami's was at LT) with his overall grade:

...................Run...............................Pass

Bucs...........77.35294118............74.13043478

Saints........73................................73.0952381

Dolphins....75...............................70.75757576

Browns......72.33333333............75

Total...........74.4285714..............72.93103448

As you can see, Meredith and Scott are each below average in the run game. Scott is a full percentage point closer to average than Meredith but they're both on the wrong side of 75. In the pass game they grade out fairly evenly. However, if you throw out the Dolphins game--in which Scott was simply terrible but also terribly miscast as a left tackle--Scott averages about 74ish while Meredith is in the mid 72 range.

Further, Scott killed 1 run play in his almost four games, including his misadventure at left tackle in Miami. He killed 6 pass plays and has given up 3.5 sacks. Take the Miami game out of the equation to keep it an apples-to-apples comparison and Scott has killed 2 pass plays and given up 1.5 sacks. Meredith has killed no run plays (though a few missed tackles saved his bacon), 1 pass play and given up no sacks.

While it shakes out in the overall grades it’s worth it to take a look at the number of good and bad plays each has had in limited action.

Meredith

Good run …6

Bad run ….11

Good pass ..0

Bad pass ….8

Scott (without Miami game)

Good run …7

Bad run ….10

Good pass ..1

Bad pass ….6

To break it down even further you can look at what you’d expect to see per game if the averages hold. (The averages, in theory, shouldn’t hold as players gain experience and benefit from more coaching. They should improve.)

Meredith

Good run …2

Bad run ….5.5

Good pass ..0

Bad pass ….4

Scott (without Miami game)

Good run …2

Bad run ….2.9

Good pass ..0.3

Bad pass ….1.7

As you can see, there is a moderate advantage to having Scott in the lineup based on the good play/bad play averages. The wrench in the works is that Scott has tended to screw up more badly than Meredith when he has made mistakes. With the limited samples available it's tough to say that Buffalo should give Scott the nod over Meredith. I don't know that we can say that neither will work out in the long run. However, it would behoove the Bills to pick one of them and ride him through this season to see if he can develop into at least a backup caliber RT.

Shawn Nelson is out

Ron From NM — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 22:25:51 -0000

PFT is reporting that Shawn Nelson will miss the Panthers game with the flu. Damn. Fitzy was going to have enough trouble this week as it was. Losing Nelson hurts, not only in the pass game but on running plays, too. Stupar came in for a couple of plays to start overtime in New Jersey and did not impress. Now Stupar will be on the field for at least 1/3 of the offensive snaps, if not 1/2 of them.

Notes from the Bills' O-Line: Week 6 at NY Jets

Ron From NM — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:33:35 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

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The Buffalo Bills' 16-13 overtime victory over the New York Jets seemed to take forever while it was being played. It ran just under 4 hours due in part to the overtime, but even then it just kind of dragged. If you felt the same, well, imagine the unadulterated joy of spending almost six hours going back through the game frame by frame. Ugh.

If I wasn't already ill, I think I would be now.

It took as long as it did to go through the game because there was more to watch for than usual. More importantly, there were several questions that the Bills tried to answer. Would the Bills finally face a defense that stacked the box to stop the run and short passes? How would the new right tackle perform in his first start? Would the Bills employ max-protect schemes? Would the guards do a better job of sustaining their blocks? Was that Corey McIntyre I saw actually blocking people?

Answers, along with the usual analysis and play-by-play breakdowns, after the jump.

Drive 1
Pass 1: Marshawn Lynch 8 yards
Demetrius Bell stuffed 92. Andy Levitre and Geoff Hangartner ("Hang" from this point forward) doubled Kris Jenkins. 91 drove Eric Wood back 3 yards but was stopped short of Trent Edwards. Shawn Nelson hung around waiting to help Jamon Meredith, but he wasn't needed. Meredith lost 99 as he stunted.

Run 1: Lynch 3 yards through the A gap
Bell got no drive on 92 and couldn't turn him out. Levitre doubled Jenkins with Hang. When Hang left to hit 52, Levitre got a 3 yard push on Jenkins. Wood took 91 3 yards then shielded him with his back before cutting him. Meredith tried to help with 91 but 91 had moved away from him. Meanwhile, Meredith ignored 99 who came down the line and made the tackle. Nelson kept 97 out of play and Derek Fine hand fought with 57.

Pass 2: Lee Evans 12 yards
Bell got under 92's pads when he tried to twist inside. Levitre kept Jenkins pretty much on the line of scrimmage (LOS). Hang and Wood doubled 91 and Meredith kept 99 on the edge of the LOS.

Run 2: Lynch 12 yards through right C gap
Bell got no push on 92. Levitre and Hang had an initial double team on Jenkins. When Hang peeled to get a piece of 52, Jenkins threw Levitre's right shoulder over and got inside of him. Levitre recovered and got under Jenkins' right shoulder to keep him out of the play. Wood turned 91 outside and sustained his block. Meredith kept 99 turned outside, though he did eventually get around and chase the play to be in on the tackle. Nelson dogged 97 until he fell then looked for someone else to hit. Fine popped 57 but didn't sustain his block.

Pass 3: Evans 7 yards against a blitz
Bell and Fine doubled 92, keeping him on the LOS. Levitre stopped Jenkins. Hang picked up 91 and Wood stopped 99. Meredith easily beat 97 to the corner.

Run 3: Fred Jackson 5 yards through the A gap against an 8 man front
92 shot inside of Bell, who got away with a hold. Levitre had Jenkins alone and got a 1 yard push, though he shed the block to make the tackle. Hang helped Wood with 91 before sliding off to pick up 52. Wood got into 91 and wouldn't let him turn to chase the play. Meredith put 99 down. Fine let 97 take himself out of the play with an upfield rush. Nelson did an okay job on 57 at the edge of the LOS.

Run 4: Jackson 6 yards through the left B gap
Bell helped with Jenkins until he fell over. Levitre pushed past Jenkins to lock up 52. Hang tried to turn 91 but couldn't. 91 shed the block to make the tackle. Wood pulled and blew 57 five yards out of the hold. Meredith helped 92 go upfield and out of the play. Fine did a good job keeping 99 on the edge of the LOS. Nelson kept 97 on a circular arc around the play.

Run 5: Lynch 1 yard through the left B gap against an 8-man front
Bell cut 50. Levitre stopped Jenkins from cutting inside of him and drove him 3 yards down the line. Hang chucked 91 then didn't sustain a block on 52 who made the tackle. Had Hang made that block only 36 and 25 were between Lynch and the goal line. At the least Lynch would have had a first down. Wood stood up 91. 91 was in on the tackle but only because Lynch had to redirect due to Hang's whiff on 52. Meredith turned 92 out and wouldn't let him get back inside. Nelson stoned 57 on the LOS. Fine withstood a great pop from 97 and kept him out of the play.

Run 6: Lynch 1 yard through the right B gap against an 8 man front - Wood flagged for hold
Bell locked up 50 and kept him on the LOS. Jenkins swam insid of Levitre's block to get in on the tackle. Hang helped with Jenkins then popped a filling 52. Wood got great drive on 91 and put him down without holding. His left hand was on 91's shoulder which is what a ref would point to. In any event, the Bills got away with a hold they did commit and nailed for one they didn't. Meredith ignored 92 and tried (and failed) to help with 92 - again ignoring a defensive lineman who made the tackle.

Pass 4: Terrell Owens 5 yard screen against a blitz (after Nelson false start)
Bell gave 50 a push inside and went out to block. Levitre didn't sell the screen at all so 50 got on his hip and was there to make the tackle. Hang blocked Jenkins. Wood was driven back by 58 and 99 got inside of Meredith to get after Edwards.

Blitzes: 2
Stacked box: 3
Drive killer: Hangartner - the Bills got a FG

Drive 2
Pass 5: Nelson 2 yards (defense holding penalty on Owens)
Meredith got help from Fine with 93, which he didn't seem to need. Levitre and Hang doubled Jenkins. 92 popped Wood repeatedly back to Edwards. Meredith took 99 on a wide loop around the corner. Nelson waited for someone to blitz and wandered out into a pattern when no one did.

Run 7: Jackson no gain through the left C gap
Bell pulled wide and got a piece of 97 who Nelson was already blocking fairly well. Levitre didn't get the cut on Jenkins but slowed him down so much he might as well have. Hang pulled wide and bounced 93 then hit him again which sent him sprawling. Wood jumped inside of 99 and cut him. Meredith pulled but was too slow to catch anyone.

Pass 6: Owens incomplete against 5 man blitz (defense holding)
Bell didn't turn his head to see 36 blitzing. He instead helped Levitre, who was doing just fine with 93. Jenkins pushed Hang almost back to Edwards and got an assist from Wood. Meredith was popped hard enough by 99 to fall over if it weren't for a pile up that kept him upright. Fine picked up 99 when Meredith went down. Jackson did a poor job of picking up 33 who was doing a poor job of blitzing.

Run 8: Jackson -1 yard through right C gap
Bell tried to pull but couldn't get around the wash fast enough. Levitre cut 93 in slow motion. Hang and Wood doubled Jenkins and kept him well away from the play. Meredith pulled wide and missed cutting 52. Fine got outside of 92 and battled through the whistle. Nelson stuck with 97 fairly well but he got around Nelson and in on the tackle. TO killed the play with a pathetic non-block on 24.

Pass 7: Nelson 9 yards against a 5 man blitz
Bell beat 93 to the corner. Levitre took 91 around in an arc. Hang picked up a blitzing 57. Wood stuffed 52 on a delayed blitz and showed good awareness. Meredith danced with 92 on the edge of the LOS.

Pass 8: Sack -5 yards against a 7 man blitz
Bell and Levitre doubled 99. 93 got under Hang's left shoulder for the sack. Wood piled up 91 in the middle of the line. Meredith pushed 92 into the pileup Wood and 91 had created. Jackson popped 57 when he elevated. 97 got inside of Fine to get in on the tackle. Edwards was hurt on the play. The refs inexplicably failed to throw a flag for what was a blatant personal foul.

Blitzes: 3
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Hangartner allowing the sack and the refs for not flagging the defense on the hit

Drive 3
Run 9: Lynch 2 yards through the A gap
Bell turned 99 out and kept him there. Levitre turned 70 out but 70 shed his block and got in on the tackle. Hang and Wood doubled 77. Hang threw Jenkins down when he tried to circle around. Wood was too late to get more than a minor brush on 52 after leaving Jenkins. Meredith turned 79 away from the LOS and kept him out of the play. Fine hand fought with 57 and Nelson kept 97 on the edge of the LOS.

Pass 9: Incomplete one hop to Evans (Ryan Fitzpatrick's first pass of the season)
Bell beat 70 to the corner. Levitre and Hang doubled 70. Wood and Meredith doubled Jenkins and Fine hand fought with 99.

Pass: 10 Owens drop (would have been first down)
Bell pushed 93 inside. Levitre waited for a blitzer and hang picked up 99. Wood and Meredith doubled 92.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: TO's drop

Drive 4
Pass 11: Incomplete overthrown and Owens double covered
Nelson help Bell with 93. Levitre and Hang doubled Jenkins. Wood stuffed 92. Fine and Meredith doubled 99.

Run 10: Lynch 9 yards through the A gap
Bell turned 93 out and put him down. Levitre chucked Jenkins and then shielded 52 away from the play. Hang turned Jenkins away from the run lane and then fell down. Wood jumped inside of 92 and left him for Meredith to handle. Wood was going to block 57 but 57 ran himself out of the play so Wood went back and gave Meredith a hand. McIntyre got enough of 99 to make him trip on the pile. Nelson did an okay job on 97 at the periphery of the play.

Run 11: Lynch -2 yards through the A gap
Bell went to the second level and hit 57. Levitre let Jenkins get inside of him for the tackle for loss (TFL), which killed the play and the drive. Hang hit 52 but didn't sustain the block. Wood did an okay job on 91. Meredith belted 92 out of the play and down the line. Fine picked up 97 and Nelson cleaned up 92.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Levitre

Drive 5
Run 12: Jackson 5 yards through the right C gap (Hang flagged for holding)
Bell stood up 79 on the edge of the LOS. Levitre picked up 52 at the second level and held him when 52 swam past him. Hang held 91 when he got around him. Wood and Meredith doubled 70 and blew him off the LOS. Fine got inside 99 and stayed there. Nelson blocked 97 6 yards down the field.

Pass 12: Nelson 25 yards
Bell and Levitre doubled 79. Hang was walked back to Fitz by 91. Wood stoned 70 and Meredith took 99 around the corner. It was simply an amazing catch by Nelson on what wasn't a terribly good pass.

Pass 13: Scramble for 7 yards
Everyone blocked like it was a run to the left. Fitzpatrick was going to throw to Fine but the defense was all over him. Buffalo really, really needs to retire this play.

Run 13: Jackson 2 yards through the A gap against an 8 man front
Bell got no real push on 79. Levitre went to the second level to lock up 52. Hang got a little push on 91, who was in on the tackle. Wood drove 70 3 yards and stayed inside of him. Meredith kept 99 on the edge of the LOS. Fine was destroyed on the play by 57. Nelson did an okay job on 97.

Run 14: QB sneak for 2 yards through the right C gap against an 8 man front (defense 12 men)
There was a general two yard push along the line. Fitzpatrick caught the defense with 13 men on the field. It was a heads up play.

Run 15: Jackson 4 yards through the A gap
Bell went to the second level and whiffed on a cut on 57. Levitre kept inside of Jenkins and wrestled him down after a 2 yard drive. Hang went to the second level and stuck to 52. Wood bulldogged 93 to the ground and Meredith almost tossed 50 down. 50 regained his balance but too late to impact the play. Fine tapped 97 and Nelson went Jim Leonhard hunting way downfield.

Pass 14: Incomplete against 5 man blitz
Bell might have been beaten by 97 if it was a slower to develop play. Levitre stopped 93. Hang and Wood doubled 91 and Meredith stopped 99's bull rush. Evans was open for a first down but the pass was simply terrible.

Pass 15: Incomplete against a 5 man blitz
50 shot right around Bell, who starting grabbing his shoulder and turning around in circles almost from the start of the play. Levitre looked for blitzers. Hang and Wood doubled 99. Meredith never turned his head to the right, where 3 blitzers were coming from. Jackson picked up 36 and Fine took care of 52. 25 got a free hit on Fitzpatrick.

Blitzes: 2
Stacked box: 1
Drive Killer: Fitzpatrick

Drive 6
Pass 16: Owens 10 yards against a 6 man blitz
Bell pushed 79 inside to the pile. Levitre and Hang doubled 70, who still got a good push. Wood did an okay job on 92 and Meredith beat 97 to the corner. Nelson stopped a rush by 57. TO went out of bounds and the ref stops the clock with 2:16 left in the half. About 10 seconds after that the clock starts to wind again and reaches 2 minutes. First, the refs are idiots. There's no excuse for them to have let the clock wind. Second, where were Jauron and AVP? They should have been on the field getting those 16 seconds put back on the clock.

Pass 17: Incomplete against a 5 man blitz
Bell beat a DB to the corner. Levitre and Hang doubled 50. Wood and Hang blocked 99 but he split their double team to hit Fitzpatrick while throwing. Fitzpatrick couldn't step into the throw so it was low, which probably saved an INT.

Pass 18: Owens INC against 5 man blitz
Bell took 57 from 67 and stopped him. Levitre picked up a blitzer after handing off 57. Hang picked up a blitzing 97 and stayed aware. Wood took 99 on an arc and then cut him. Meredith abused 36. Jackson picked up 33 and Lynch had no one to block.

Pass 19: Screen to Owens for -2 yards
Bell was too slow to get ahead of the screen. Levitre didn't sell 50 on the screen but did cut him. Hang whiffed on a block on 21. Wood blocked 99 and Meredith loped along after the screen. Josh Reed's crappy block killed the play. Had Reed and Hang made their blocks TO likely had first down yardage and possibly more.

Blitzes: 3
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Hangartner and Reed

Drive 7
Run 16: Lynch 1 yard through the right C gap
Bell slanted inside of 93 and turned him out, a very athletic move. Levitre chucked 93 then went to the second level and got inside 57, walling him off from the play. Hang was driven back 2 yards by 91 which disrupted the play. Wood whiffed on 52 at the second level, who was in on the tackle. Meredith got no drive on 92 but did sustain his block. Nelson crossed the formation to cut the legs out from under 99. Fine did a poor job on 97, who circled around to get in on the tackle.

Pass 20: Fine 5 yards
Bell stopped 93. Levitre and Hang doubled 91. Wood stuffed 92 and Meredith beat 99 to the corner.

Pass 21: Owens drop against 5 man blitz
Bell had no one to block when 97 dropped into coverage. Levitre took 50 from Hang, who had picked him up from Wood. Wood and Hang then picked up a stunting 99. Meredith tried to follow 99 on his stunt instead of staying home. Lynch picked up a DB and Jackson picked up 52.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: TO's drop

Drive 8
Pass 22: Scramble for 2 yards
Bell and Nelson doubled 92, though Nelson really wasn't terribly effective. Levitre and Hang doubled 91 and didn't let him off the LOS. Wood let 70 get under his right shoulder and almost a sack. He caused the scramble. Fine and Meredith doubled 50, who got nowhere near Fitzpatrick.

Run 17: Jackson 7 yards through the left C gap
Bell turned 93 inside to open the run lane. Levitre checked 91 then popped 52-but didn't sustain his block which let 52 get in on the tackle. Hang stood up 91. Wood went to the second level and got under 57's pads and pushed him 4 yards. Meredith rode 70 down when he tried to slant inside. Fine kept 50 out of the play. Nelson kept inside of 97 but 97 shed his block and was in on the tackle.

Run 18: QB sneak 1 yard through the A gap against an 8 man front
The line got a general 1 yard push. McIntyre got a piece of 50. It didn't help with the play but it did keep 50 from jumping on the pile.

Run 19: Owens 9 yards through the left C gap against an 8 man front
Bell went to the second level and tried to seal 57 inside but missed the block. Levitre turned 93 inside then kept dogging him until he was down. Hang checked 91 then jumped inside of 52 at the second level. Wood turned 91 and then cut him when he tried to chase the play. Meredith hit 70 for Fine and then was too slow to get to the second level. Fine kept 70 outside of the right hashmark. Nelson crossed the formation to pop 92 and open the run lane.

Run 20: Jackson 9 yards through the right B gap against an 8 man front
Bell got inside of 93 and cut him. Levitre couldn't get inside of 91 but slowed him down just enough. Hang went to the second level and fell down after tripping over 91's feet. Wood turned 92 inside and upfield to open the run lane. Meredith pulled wide and scared Leonhard into dropping all on his own. Nelson got inside of 50 and drove him to the sideline. Fine helped with 50 and got a piece of 57.

Run 21: Lynch 9 yards through the right C gap
93 got inside him but too late. Levitre chucked 91 and then got a piece of 52 at the second level. Hang stood up 91 at the center of the line until both of them were taken out by Scott and 99. Wood went to the second level and got enough of 57 to make him lose his balance. Fine hand fought with 97 and Nelson knocked 50 into the pile sealing the edge.

Pass 25: Incomplete overthrow to Evans
The entire line blocked like it was a run.

Run 22: Lynch -1 yard through the left C gap against an 8 man front
Bell and Levitre forced 93 down but clogged up the left side of the line. Hang stood up 91 and Wood stopped 92. Meredith cut 97. Fine took 57 inside and Nelson missed a cut on 99. McIntyre went right and blocked Leonhard. Lynch ran left but he had a hole to the right which would have resulted in a first down.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 4
Drive Killer: Lynch choosing the wrong hole - the Bills got a FG

Drive 9
Pass 24: Incomplete to Evans
Nelson slammed into 93 as Bell blocked him, toppling 93. Levitre stopped 91. Wood and Hang doubled 92. Meredith took 99 well around the corner. The one hop pass, by the way, was exactly the sort of throw that used to infuriate Bills fans when Losman was the QB.

Run 23: Lynch 1 yard through the left B gap
Bell wouldn't let 93 to turn to make the tackle as Lynch went through the hole. Levitre and Hang doubled 91 and turned him inside to open the run lane. Wood got under 57's pads and kept him turned so he couldn't chase the play. Meredith let 92 get inside of him and 92 went down the line to make the tackle.

Pass 25: INT against 7 man blitz (defense illegal contact)
Bell stopped 57. Levitre picked up 52 but he got to Fitzpatrick's feet, leading to the bad throw and negated pick. Hang let 50 blow right past him, which almost resulted in a sack. Wood picked up 33. Meredith popped 99 and then picked up 36 when 99 dropped into coverage. Lynch picked up 97 and Jackson crossed the formation to pick up 25.

Pass 26: McIntyre 18 yards
The line blocked like it was a run, the same play that the Bills have been beating to death with TEs. Maybe it was the fact that it wasn't to the TE confused the defense because they weren't all over McIntyre.

Run 24: Lynch 3 yards through the left B gap against an 8 man front
Bell took 70 wide and past the run lane. Wood picked up a filling 52 and turned him in circles. Hang blocked 91 down the LOS, who still got in on the tackle. Wood missed a cut on 57 at the second level. 92 got inside of Meredith and rolled down the LOS to get in on the tackle. McIntyre had a half assed block on 50, who was in on the tackle. Fine had a semi-block on 97 away from the play.

Pass 27: Incomplete to Lynch
Bell beat 50 to the corner but 50 got inside of him to chase the QB. Levitre and Hang doubled 91. Wood did a good job on 70 initially but 70 got off his block to chase Fitzpatrick. Meredith beat 99 to the corner but let 99 cut inside of him to chase the QB. The pass was high and Lynch only got his fingertips on it.

Pass 28: Evans 37 yard TD against a 5 man blitz
Bell beat 57 to the corner. Levitre picked up 36 and Hang got 50. Wood hit 50 and then stopped 97. Meredith had no one to block. It was good to see some other secondary taking bad angles for a change, by the way.

Blitzes: 2
Stacked box: 1
Drive Killer: no one

Drive 10
Pass 29: Lynch screen 2 yards
Bell took 99 to the corner. Levitre did a bad job of selling the screen and 93 stuck with him and almost got a TFL. Hang chucked 70 and then got out to lead the screen but wasn't fast enough to get 25. Wood turned 70 out but the screen was so slow to develop that 70 was able to cross the field and get in on the tackle. Meredith let 79 get inside of him to chase the screen from behind to get in on the tackle. Man, Buffalo needs to work on screens.

Run 25: Lynch 3 yards through the left B gap against an 8 man front
Bell went to the second level and locked onto 57. Levitre turned 93 inside but he spun away from the block and made the tackle. Hang chucked 70 but wasn't fast enough to pick up a filling 52. Wood kept under 70's pads and drove him around and down into the pile. Meredith turned 70 out and kept under his pads when he turned back in. Fine did an okay job on 97. McIntyre stopped 99 on the edge of the LOS.

Pass 30: Reed 10 yards
Bell and Meredith had no one to block. Levitre, Hang and Wood easily handled 50 and 99. Lynch picked up 33 and Jackson picked up 97.

Run 26: Lynch 3 yards through the left B gap
Bell turned 93 away from the run lane. Levitre went to the second level and wrestled 52 down. Hang was pushed back 2 yards by 91 who then disengaged and made the tackle. Wood went to the second level and kept 57 busy. Meredith couldn't get inside 92, who was in on the tackle. McIntyre did a good job on 99 away from the play. Fine did an okay job on 97.

Run 27: Lynch 7 yards through right C gap
Bell got inside of 93 and cut him. Levitre cut 91, which was possibly a chop block as Hang was engaged with 91 as well. The flag may not have been thrown because 91 was holding Hang. Wood pulled and popped 52 hard enough to bounce him back 2 yards and then picked up 57. Meredith pulled and doubled 99 with McIntyre. Fine kept 92 well behind the play.

Pass 31: Incomplete to McIntyre
Everyone blocked like a run to the left. Yes, it's the same bootleg none-yard pass the Bills seem determined to use at least once per quarter. It was a bad pass and McIntyre fell down trying to reach it. Had he gotten the ball cleanly McIntyre would have gotten 8-10 yards.

Pass 32: McIntyre -1 yard
Bell stopped 93 and Levitre stopped 70. Hang and Wood doubled 92 and Meredith beat 50 to the corner. Have I mentioned how much I hate the none-yard patterns Buffalo's outlet receivers routinely run?

Pass 33: Scramble for 2 yards against a 5 man blitz
Bell had no one to block when 97 dropped into coverage. Levitre passed 99 inside to Jackson then hit 50. Hang and Wood doubled 92. Meredith made 21 go so far to get around the corner that he was completely out of the play.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 1
Drive Killer: Fitzpatrick's bad pass to McIntyre

Drive 11
Run 28: Jackson no gain through left C gap
Bell and Levitre doubled 93. 91 spun Hang down and got in on the tackle. Wood helped with 91 but couldn't get to anyone at the second level. Meredith kept 92 on the edge of the LOS. McIntyre had a poor block and Fine kept 97 out of the play.

Pass 34: Evans 12 yards
Bell and Levitre doubled 93. Hang picked up 57 and Wood blocked 91. Meredith and Fine picked up 92.

Run 29: Jackson 8 yards through the left C gap
Bell turned 93 inside to open the run lane and then buried him in the pile. Levitre picked up a filling 57. Hang stood up 91 until both were wiped out by Bell and 93. Wood helped with 91 and couldn't catch anyone in the second level. Meredith pushed 92 onto the pile.

Run 30: Jackson 1 yard through the right B gap against an 8 man front
93 got inside of Bellt o chase the play and get in on the tackle. Levitre missed a cut on 91 but slowed him down enough to keep him out of the play. Hang missed a cut on 52. Wood turned 92 to the inside and opened the run lane. Meredith kept 97 turned out to open the other wall of the run lane. McIntyre fell on 36 causing a pile up. Fine had a sad attempt at a block on 57, using the side of his helmet.

Run 31: QB sneak 1 yard through the A gap against an 8 man front
The line got a general 2 yard push. By the way, isn't it nice to see that the Bills can now run QB sneaks through the A gap?

Run 32: Jackson -1 yard through the A gap against an 8 man front
Bell cut 93. Levitre tried to shield 91 from the play but 91 cut inside to get in on the TFL. Hang went to the second level and missed 52, who was in on the TFL. Wood got no push on 92, who got in on the TFL after he shed Wood's block. Meredith pushed 99 to the sideline. McIntyre missed a block on 36 and seemed to hold him as well. Fine got enough of 57 to keep him out of the play.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 3
Drive Killer: end of regulation

Drive 12 (OT)
Pass 35: Scramble for no gain
Bell took 99 to the corner and kept him there. The rest of the line easily handled 93 and 91. Jonathan Stupar and McIntyre doubled 92, who still almost got a sack. I've got no idea why the Bills started OT with a TE who hadn't gotten a snap all day.

Run 33: Lynch 2 yards through the right C gap
Bell got inside of 93 and under his pads. Levitre helped with 93 then picked up 99 who had gotten away from McIntyre. Hang kept 91 turned once Wood had popped him. Wood then picked up 92 when he got away from Meredith. Stupar did an okay job on 97 on the edge of the LOS.

Pass 36: Incomplete to Evans against 5 man blitz
Bell stopped 52 and Levitre stuffed 50. Hang and Wood doubled 99 and Meredith picked up 36. It was another one hopper to a receiver. If Fitzpatrick's playing in Carolina he'd better put a little more on some of his passes.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Fitzpatrick

Drive 13
Run 34: Jackson 2 yards through left C gap
Bell went to the second level and missed a block on 52. Levitre let 91 shed his block to make the tackle. Hang did an okay job on 57. 92 got off of Wood's block but was too late. Meredith kept 99 on the edge of the LOS. Stupar did a fair job on 97. McIntyre had a good block on 93 at the point of attack.

Pass 37: INT
Bell beat 99 to the corner. Levitre and Hang doubled 93. Wood stopped 91 and Meredith took 92 around the corner. It was just a horrible, horrible decision by Fitzpatrick.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive Killer: Fitzpatrick

Drive 14
Run 35: Lynch 1 yard through right C gap
Bell stood up 93. Levitre and Hang doubled 91 and buried him on the pile. Wood got enough of 57 at the second level to disrupt his balance. Meredith got underneath 99's pads and drove him inside creating the pile. Stupar kept 97 on the deg of the LOS. McIntyre hit 57 and put him down after Wood had him wobbling.

Run 36: Jackson 5 yards through the A gap
Bell kept 93 on the edge of the line until the play was over. Levitre drove 52 4 yards. Hang stood up 70. Wood shoved 57 5 yards despite 57’s illegal hands to the face that went uncalled. Meredith did an okay initial job on 99 but he shed to get in on the tackle.

Run 37: Jackson 6 yards through the A gap
Bell turned 99 out and away from the play. Levitre hit 57 and got enough of a push to keep him off the RB until he had a first down. Hang pushed 50 to the left and out to open the run lane. Wood chucked 70 then pushed 42 well upfield with Meredith. Lynch cut 97 which made the play - it would have been a TFL otherwise.

Run 38: Lynch 2 yards through the right B gap
Bell pulled but was too slow to catch anyone. Levitre missed a cut on 93 but slowed him down considerably. Hang hopped back and then dropped on top of 91 when 91 stumbled forward. Wood pulled and drove 52 out of the hole. Meredith pulled and turned 97 out of the run lane. Fine wasn’t fast enough to be effective while Stupar did a good job on 92.

Pass 38: Scramble 6 yards
Everyone blocked like it was a run to the right. The TE was hopelessly covered so Fitzpatrick ran the ball instead. Grrrrrr. I really hate this play. Yes, it went for 6 yards but it’s generally a loser.

Pass 39: Evans 29 yards against a 6 man blitz (replay overruled)
Bell stopped 97. Levitre was pushed back by 70. Hang and Wood doubled 91. Meredith tried to cut 92 and missed. Fine took 99 around the corner and Lynch finished off 92. It was an aggressive call. Give Alex Van Pelt and Dick Jauron credit.

Run 39: Lynch 3 yards through the right C gap
Bell pushed 70 inside to open the run lane. Levitre planted 57 when he tried to cut inside. Hang turned 91 to the right and kept under his pads. Wood helped with 91 and then hit 52 but didn’t sustain his block. Meredith locked up 91 on the edge of the LOS. McIntyre turned 99 out to open the run lane. Fine hand fought with 97 on the edge of the LOS.

Run 40: Lynch 1 yard through the right C gap against an 8 man front
Bell went to the 2nd level and tapped 57. Levitre let 91 get inside him but kept under his pads to keep him from turning. Hang chucked 70 and missed 52 at the second level. 70 got around Wood’s outside shoulder to chase the run. Meredith kept under 92’s right shoulder to let Lynch past. McIntyre hit 99 and slowed him down enough to keep him out of the play. Fine turned 97 out and kept him out of the play.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 1
Drive Killer: play calling

Let’s give Jauron and AVP credit for the long pass at the end of the game. If Evans hadn’t had that little shift/bobble the Bills would have been set up well inside easy field goal range. Something else to consider is that the Bills' offense ran an actual four minute offense to close out the game. While we naturally don’t care for Jauron’s play-not-to-lose outlook, the offense did use every second of the last four minutes of the game. It was an improvement over the Cleveland game last year in which the Browns would have had a minute (and some time outs) to drive for a winning score even if Lindell had hit the long field goal.

This was the first game that McIntyre had played a significant number of snaps. He looked quite a bit better than last year. I found it interesting that he wasn’t used as a lead blocker. Instead, he was asked to cut off backside pursuit by a defensive lineman. That allowed the line to slant away from that defensive lineman.

Last week Buffalo got the ball inside the 20 more times than I care to count. In New Jersey the worst starting position was the Buffalo 12. The average starting field position was the Buffalo 33.5. That certainly helps in a game in which the offense is doing little to improve on field position. The Jets were constantly faced with long fields while Buffalo only needed about 35 yards to get into scoring range.

This was the first game in which Buffalo faced a defense that loaded the box. The Jets had 8 or more defenders in the box on 15 of 40 (37.5%) runs. Buffalo was still able to run the ball with a degree of success. This is important because the Bills figure to see more defenses stack the box, particularly with Fitzpatrick at QB.

Meredith didn’t do terribly. I was surprised to see that the Bills gave Bell more help (5 plays) than Meredith (3). He flashed real potential but wasn’t exactly a paragon of consistency. If the question is whether to start Scott or Meredith next week the answer would appear to be, uh, sure. Seriously, if the Bills think Meredith has greater potential it’s not as if he’s got less experience than Scott.

The Bills didn’t give Meredith (or Bell) great amounts of help but it was clear that the Bills were waiting for a tsunami of blitzes from the Jets. I kept track of how many extra guys hung back to pick up blitzers. I didn’t even count guys who looked around and went out on a none-yard pattern. The Bills kept 1 guy back 10 times, 2 guys back 16 times and 3 guys back 1 time. In other words, on 27 of 39 (69%) of pass plays. Yikes! That’s a lot of guys not threatening the defense. However, it did keep Buffalo’s quarterbacks upright for the majority of the game.

Gap	Att	Yds	YPA
Left C	8	28	3.5
Left B	6	17	2.8
A	12	35	2.9
Right B	4	13	3.3
Right C	10	39	3.9

Player	Run	Pass
Demetrius Bell	75.5	74.0
Andy Levitre	76.0	74.5
Geoff Hangartner	73.0	73.5
Eric Wood	79.0	73.0
Jamon Meredith	73.5	73.0

Notes from the Bills' O-Line: Weeks 1-5

Ron From NM — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:42:05 -0000

I've been pressed for time the past couple of weeks - and having my computer die on me didn't help matters - and thus this is our first breakdown of the Buffalo Bills' offensive line in quite some time. I did break down the Bills' loss to Miami and half of the loss to Cleveland. No, it wasn't that I couldn't stomach reviewing the rest of the game (after years of eating my own cooking, I have a stomach of steel!), but rather I wasn't smart enough to hit the record button at the start of the second half. D'oh!

Rather than do my usual spiel, I'll review how the linemen have done through what is essentially 4.5 games' worth of film. Also, I'll spend some time talking about the loss to Cleveland in particular.

The Browns game was one in which pretty much everyone - not just linemen--took turns screwing the pooch. Six offensive linemen drew penalties, never mind that there are only five offensive line positions. (Thanks, Kirk Chambers!) At least one lineman screwed up on runs 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 14. I only had 15 run plays to review, so on more than half of the running plays I saw, some lineman was doing something badly. It was only marginally better on pass plays, with screw-ups on passes 1, 5, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, and 17... of the 18 pass plays in the first half, or just under half. Ugh. Would you be surprised to learn that only Jonathan Scott made it through the first half without a bad pass play? I sure was!

8 of 15 run plays in the first half were C gap runs, either left or right. The Bills only tested the A gap on three occasions - for 8 yards. Yeah, I know, it's not good, but it was nice to see Geoff Hangartner hang with Cleveland's mammoth nose tackle, Shaun Rogers. Along with the two runs each to the right B and left B gaps it was enough to keep the defense honest.

The Bills gave the tackles more help in the first half on passing downs. Demetrius Bell had help on passes 2 and 18, the help on 18 coming immediately after he had been cleanly beaten for a field goal attempt-killing sack. Scott was helped on plays 6, 10, and 17. While it's good that the Bills recognize the need to give the tackles some help, keeping three guys back to block while sending out only two receivers (pass 3) just isn't the answer either. Kind of hard for Trent Edwards to go downfield in that situation.

And then there were the penalties. Yes, they're young guys. So what? Even young guys can learn to move on the snap count. In their own stadium. With crickets in the background... only replaced by loud boos when the linemen kept making stupid penalties. There's just no excuse for the entire line to be so poorly disciplined.

Through 4.5 games, the Bills had 49 offensive drives, of which only six were successful - meaning they ended with touchdowns. The other 43 drives were killed as follows:

Trent Edwards: 10.5 killed drives
Demetrius Bell: 4.5
Terrell Owens: 4
Kirk Chambers: 3.5
Eric Wood: 3
Fred Jackson: 3
Halftime/End of game: 3
Geoff Hangartner: 2.5
Jonathan Scott: 2.5
Lee Evans: 2
Andy Levitre: 1
Seth McKinney: 1
Derek Fine: 1
Coaching decisions: 1
Josh Reed: 0.5

Leaving out coaching and halftime/end of game situations, here's how drives were killed by positional groups:

Offensive Line: 18
Quarterbacks: 10.5
Skill positions: 10.5

The line is really killing the team. Those five positions have killed almost as many drives as the guys who actually are responsible for handling the ball. I think we kind of knew this would happen, given the rookie guards and a fairly young guy playing center in the NFL for the first time. What's made it atrocious has been the play at the tackles. Unsurprisingly, the offensive line numbers seem to track right along with the line killing numbers.

Demetrius Bell
6 killed plays, 2 sacks allowed
Opponent	Run Grade	Pass Grade
@ NE	78.2	71.1
TB	75.6	73.2
NO	77.1	72.6
@ MIA	N/A	N/A
CLE	75.0	73.9
Overall	76.4	72.6
Andy Levitre
5 killed plays, 0 sacks allowed
Opponent	Run Grade	Pass Grade
@ NE	82.4	73.2
TB	77.4	73.3
NO	78.0	74.5
@ MIA	75.0	75.0
CLE	76.3	72.8
Overall	77.9	73.9
Geoff Hangartner
8 killed plays, 2 sacks allowed
Opponent	Run Grade	Pass Grade
@ NE	75.0	73.2
TB	74.4	72.1
NO	73.0	74.0
@ MIA	73.9	73.8
CLE	76.3	71.7
Overall	74.4	73.1
Eric Wood
6 killed plays, 2 sacks allowed
Opponent	Run Grade	Pass Grade
@ NE	73.9	73.8
TB	77.9	74.4
NO	80.0	73.1
@ MIA	73.7	73.8
CLE	73.7	71.7
Overall	76.4	73.5
Jonathan Scott
7 killed plays, 3.5 sacks allowed
Opponent	Run Grade	Pass Grade
@ NE	N/A	N/A
TB	75.6	73.2
NO	73.0	73.1
@ MIA	75.0	70.8
CLE	72.3	75.0
Overall	74.4	72.9

I've said before that it's very hard to even get to 75 on pass plays in my grading system. Simply stopping a guy from reaching the QB isn't going to count as a good play, but rather as a decent one. Thus, the bad plays tend to effectively carry more weight, since there are few good plays (generally screens, though things like tossing a defensive lineman down and laying on them counts as good as well) to offset them. With that said, Bell and Scott are below the 73% mark - Scott mainly due to a terrible day playing left tackle in Miami, and Bell largely thanks to a dreadful day in Foxboro. Levitre, Hangartner and Wood all had letdowns against the Browns, which many of you likely noticed as Edwards was having to scramble away from even three-man rushes. Overall, however, their pass protection is decent.

Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston were abysmal in the run game, each in the 70% range. Hangartner has consistently been in the mid-70s. Amazingly, his two best games have come against some of the biggest and toughest DTs in the league. You've got to love a guy who rises to a challenge. Scott has been better than expected in the run game, coming in just behind Hangartner. Bell has been encouraging and currently has the second-highest run grade of the linemen. Levitre and Wood are both above 75%, which speaks well of their future potential.

On the subject of potential, I mentioned before that some of the coaching staff had Levitre as rated higher than Wood. So far Levitre has shown them to be astute judges of talent, at least in this specific case. He's currently got the highest grades for both run and pass plays.

As the chart below shows, the Bills have been running the ball around the ends and straight up the middle. Don't pay too much attention to the 6.5-yard average in the left B gap, as almost all of it came on one run by Jackson against the Bucs. Take out that one play, and it's more like a yard per attempt. Clearly, Buffalo has run the ball most effectively around the ends, but that doesn't mean the team should give up on pounding it up the middle. Something to remember is that Marshawn Lynch's running style is better suited to running up the middle than is Fred Jackson's.

Gap	Att	Yds	Avg
Left C	27	113	4.2
Left B	11	72	6.5
A	30	96	3.2
Right B	11	42	3.8
Right C	27	139	5.1

I don't track how many plays linemen pull, but I can tell you that Buffalo has had some good success with those plays this year. They certainly help account for some of the yardage being picked up on the outside. Something else that has really helped on outside runs has been the play of Shawn Nelson. He doesn't have great stats, but he's getting better and better at blocking. It also really helps that the tackles have killed just two run plays between them.

Through 4.5 games, Edwards has faced blitzes (I define those as five or more rushers) 54 times. He has picked up 363 yards (6.7 yards per blitz), 14 (25.9%) first downs and 3 touchdowns against those blitzes. He'd be doing quite a bit better were it not for an appalling 9 drops, 6 bad passes, and 1 batted ball. Think about that for a second: add the 15 mistakes the Bills have made against the blitz and the first down percentage goes to something like 54% and the yards per blitz would be around 13-15. The Bills have to stop shooting themselves in the foot soon - there can't be much left to hit anyway.

On the topic of hitting oneself in the head with a hammer because it feels so good when one stops, it's well past time for the Bills to put away the rollout pass to the tight end. Defenses aren't falling for it at all. Even when the pass is completed, it is for no gain. Which brings me to another sunny point: Buffalo needs to stop sending receivers on none-yard patterns. Why can't the TE at least go 3 or 5 yards downfield and be tackled immediately there instead of at the line of scrimmage? To my mind, that's a Turk Schonert issue.

It turns out that I had a little more time than I thought I would so here's the first half breakdown for the Browns game. (I'm adding this after Brian did a terrific job cleaning up my drivel so I hope it doesn't cause problems....)

Drive 1

Run 1 Lynch 11 yards through the right C gap

Bell got a ½ yard push on 98. Levitre chucked 98 and then kept 52 out of the play. Hang and Wood doubled Rogers (92) initially. Hang peeled off to hit 58. As soon as he did so Rogers spun away from Wood and almost had a tackle for loss (TFL). Scott got a 2 yard drive on 90 and wouldn’t let him turn. Fine kept 96 shielded from the play.

Bell drew a false start flag, setting up 1^st and 15.

Run 2 Jackson 2 yards through the left C gap

Bell got a 2 yard push on 98 but allowed him to shed the block and make the tackle. Levitre went to the 2^nd level and took 52 on a wide loop away from the play. Hang managed a lateral push on 92 one on one—something Preston/Fowler never could manage—and kept him out of the play by sustaining his block through the whistle. Wood went to the 2^nd level and got a piece of 50 but didn’t lock him up. Scott didn’t get any drive on 90 but kept him busy. Fine did an okay job on 96 while Nelson kept 95 out of the play.

Pass 1 sack -1 yards

Bell, Levitre and Hang kept 92 and 95 well away from Edwards. Wood helped with 92 and didn’t keep his head on a swivel—which allowed a LB to run through the right B gap. While Wood didn’t cover himself with glory, Jackson’s whiff on the blitz pick up was a play killer. It should have been about an 8 yard loss but Edwards evaded the tackle and almost got back to the line of scrimmage (LOS). Scott was doing an okay job on 90 but when Edwards ran forward in the pocket 90 was able to get in on the tackle.

Pass 2 Jackson 9 yards

The line easily handled the 3 man rush, particularly since Bell had tight end help.

Blitzes: 0

Stacked box: 0

Drive killed by: Bell’s stupid penalty and Jackson’s inept blitz pick up

Drive 2

Run 3 Jackson 2 yards through the right C gap

Scott pulled to lead the play and buried a LB into the pile. Levitre turned out to keep 98 from chasing the play. Hang turned 92 away from the play but didn’t sustain his block. 92 chased down Jackson from behind, which should give you an idea of how slowly the play developed. Wood gave 92 a little push and then wasn’t fast enough to catch 52 at the 2^nd level. Scott got no push on 90 at all, which is what slowed everything down. Nelson sustained his block on 95.

Pass 3 Owens 18 yards against a 5 man blitz

Bell did an okay job on 98. Levitre and Hang stuffed 92 while Wood and Scott stopped 90. Fine and Jackson doubled a blitzer and Nelson handled 95 on his own. It was a 2 WR pattern, which says a lot about how AVP views the offensive line.

Pass 4 Nelson incomplete

The entire offensive line blocked to the left as if it were a run while Edwards bootlegged to his right. The only problem was that defenses have seen this play far too many times to be fooled by it. 90 sat on the edge of the line and just watched Edwards—when he kept the ball 90 went after him, knowing that Nelson was going to be well covered. While Jauron has talked about running a few plays the offense executes well over and over the downside is that defenses look for those plays. Even if Nelson had made the reception it would have gone for no gain. Hey, AVP! Retire this friggin play!

Run 4 Jackson 2 yards through the right C gap

Bell pulled to the middle and whiffed on his block on 50—who made the tackle. Hang turned out and kept 98 out of the play, getting a 3 yard drive in the process. Hang got under Rogers’ pads and drove him two yards. Wood hit 52 in the 2^nd level after chucking 92. Scott again got no drive on 90, who shed his block and was in on the tackle. Nelson again sustained his block on 95 while Fine missed a cut block on 96.

Pass 5 Owens 6 yards against a 5 man blitz

Bell took 95 around the corner. Levitre picked up a blitzing LB. Hang was bull rushed by Rogers, who got inside of his block to hit Edwards. Wood did okay at first but then 99 got past his outside shoulder to hit Edwards. Scott danced with 90.

Blitzes: 2

Stacked box: 0

Drive killed by: play calling—the wasted down (rollout none-yard pattern to the TE) would have been better spent on a 2 yard plunge into the line….which would have extended the drive

Drive 3

Run 5 Lynch 4 yards through the right B gap

Bell got a 3 yard push on 90. Levitre kept 50 out of the play. Hang and Wood got a 3 yard push on 71, though it was mainly Hang that got him moving backwards. Scott got a 3 yard drive on 90.

Pass 6 Owens 7 yards (rollout)

Bell and Levitre blocked like it was going to be a screen to the left. Hang kept 71 turned away from the rollout and Wood stuffed 69. Scott got help from Nelson, which he needed. 95 got outside of Scott’s shoulder and was in position to chase Edwards on his rollout when Nelson popped him.

Run 6 Lynch 4 yards through the left C gap

Bell and Fine sent 98 4 yards in reverse like he was on roller skates. Levitre and Hang doubled 71 and got some push. Wood stood up 69 but didn’t get much push. Scott danced with 95 away from the play. Nelson did an okay job on 96 but 96 shed his block and was in on the tackle.

Run 7 Lynch 4 yards through the A gap

Bell got a 2 yard push on 98. Levitre shoved 71 then took 52 on a five yard tour of the second level. Hang drove 71 back 4 yards. Wood went to the 2^nd level and popped a LB but didn’t sustain his block. Scott didn’t get much push on 69, who got inside of him and in on the tackle. Fine stopped 96 and Nelson crossed the formation to keep 95 out of the play.

3^rd and 2, the line is taking it to the Browns defense and Levitre has a false start. Way to kill momentum, Andy.

Pass 7 INC to Reed against a 5 man blitz

Bell laid on 95 after he slipped. Levitre stuffed a bull rush and wouldn’t let him elevate. Hang stopped 92. Wood picked up a blitzer and kept his arms down. 99 almost got around Scott but Scott got under his pads and pushed him past Edwards. It wasn’t a great pass—it should have been a little farther ahead of Reed.

Pass 8 Nelson INC

Bell stopped 99. Levitre, Hang and Wood stopped two defenders as they tried to twist. Scott stopped 93 at the corner. It looked like a bad pass but in reality Nelson stumbled as he made his break. Maybe it wouldn’t have been completed anyway but I don’t know that you can pin this one on Edwards.

Blitzes: 1

Stacked box: 0

Drive killed by: Levitre’s stupid penalty—with two downs and two yards to go (before the penalty) you’ve got to believe Lynch would have gotten that first down.

Drive 4 (starting at the 1 yard line)

Run 8 QB sneak for 2 yards against an 8 man front through the A gap

The line generated a 2 yard push pretty much across the board. All things considered it was a pretty good effort given where the Bills began the possession.

Run 9 Jackson for 2 yards through the A gap against an 8 man front (Jackson??? WTF??? Where was Lynch?)

Bell got a 2 yard push on 98. Levitre chucked 71 then hit 52 at the 2^nd level. Hang got a 2 yard push on 71. Wood hit a filling 50 but (again) didn’t sustain his block. Scott allowed 69 to shed his block to the inside and make the tackle.

Pass 9 Nelson -1 yard

Bell and Levitre doubled 98. Hang stayed home and picked up a rushing 52. Wood stopped Rogers and Scott kept 69 on the LOS. Edwards never turned his head to the left, where he had Evans open for first down yardage. I’m guessing he was trying to get the ball to Owens and just hoping that he wasn’t committed from the get-go to throw a none-yard pass to Nelson.

Blitzes: 0

Stacked box: 2

Drive killed by: Edwards locking in on the right side of the field

Drive 5

Pass 10 INC—almost a sack

Bell had no one to block. 98 got inside of Levitre and almost got the sack. 98 had Edwards’ legs wrapped up, which led to the terrible pass and killed the play. Hang stuffed a rushing 52. Rogers walked Wood back to Edwards and got an arm on the QB. Scott had help stuffing 98.

Run 10 Lynch 12 yards through the right C gap

98 got inside of Bell but too late to catch the play. Levitre went to the 2^nd level but couldn’t catch 52. Rogers cut inside of Hang and almost had a TFL. Wood popped 50 hard enough at the 2^nd level to keep him out of the play but (again) didn’t sustain (grrrrrrr). Scott got a 2 yard push on 98, who lost his balance and fell. Nelson turned 96 in multiple circles and really made the play.

Run 11 Lynch 2 yards through the left B gap

Bell pulled wide and helped Nelson with 96. Nelson didn’t look like he needed the help and Bell could have picked up one of the filling defenders instead. Levitre engaged in a slow motion cut on Rogers. Hang pulled and took out a filling 50. Wood got inside of 69 and was doing an okay job of blocking him….until Wood was taken out by Scott who was trying to help with 69. 69 then chased the play.

Pass 11 well overthrown INC—Edwards hit while throwing

Bell and Levitre doubled 98. Rogers pushed Hang back into Edwards, disrupting the throw. Wood split his attention between 92 and 69. He probably should have committed to helping with Rogers but he was also ensuring that no one blew threw his gap. Scott stopped 69.

Pass 12 scramble for 21 yards

Bell beat 95 to the corner. Levitre pitched into 95 when he tried to get inside of Bell. 92 got inside of Hang and caused the scramble. 69 bull rushed Wood into Jackson’s legs, taking both Wood and 69 out. Scott stopped a rushing LB at the corner.

Run 12 Lynch 2 yards through the left B gap against an 8 man front

Bell got a 2 yard push on 95. Levitre drove 69 1 yard but then 69 shed his block and was in on the tackle. Hang didn’t get much push on 71, who shed his block to get in on the tackle. Wood and Scott doubled a defensive lineman. Wood peeled and went to the 2^nd level but by then there was no one to block.

Run 13 Owens reverse for 6 yards through the right B gap

Bell, Levitre and Hang blocked like it was a run to the left. Wood fired into the 2^nd level and blocked 52 away from the run lane but (yet again) didn’t sustain. Scott sustained his block on 99 and kept him on the LOS. Stupar had no one to block when TO cut the run back to the inside.

Pass 13 INC—pass interference on the defense

The line provided a clean pocket and the defender clearly hit Reed a full second before the ball arrived. I wasn’t at all surprised to see one of the flag happy refs not throw his flag despite the blatant penalty on the Browns. The ref in question had turned and was clearly watching the play so there’s just no excuse for him not to have thrown his flag. Happily, another ref did.

Run 14 Lynch 2 yards through the right C gap

Scott had no one to block. 98 got inside of Levitre (again!) and made the tackle. Hang went to the 2^nd level and popped 52, right next to Wood who popped 50. Scott got a 2 yard pop on 69. Fine kept 96 on the edge of the LOS. After the play 96 threw Fine down which somehow failed to draw a flag. Hmmmm. Who blocked Shaun Rogers? Stupar. Yes, Stupar. Rogers couldn’t believe it either, which probably explains why it worked.

Pass 14 Lynch 9 yards

Bell stuffed 98. Levitre was pushed back to Edwards by Rogers. Hang gave a little bit of assistance to Levitre. Wood and Scott tag teamed 69. A rushing LB never made it near Edwards even though no one blocked him—he just couldn’t navigate the sea of large bodies in time.

With momentum and the ball at the Cleveland 17 Scott has a false start.

Run 15 Lynch -3 yards through the left C gap against an 8 man front

Bell got outside of 98 to set the edge. Levitre went to the 2^nd level and eventually blocked 71. Hang blocked 71 down the line but 71 eventually broke off and went to the 2^nd level to meet Levitre. Wood got a piece of 99 and Scott had no one to block. Nelson, who had done a good job run blocking, was beaten by 53 who made the TFL and killed the play.

Pass 16 Screen to Lynch for 3 yards

Bell sustained his block on 98. Levitre missed his block on 95 and Hang stuck with 71. Wood got too far upfield too quickly. The same ref who wouldn’t throw a flag on pass interference on Reed earlier in the drive watched Wood the whole time with his hand on his flag. It’s like he couldn’t wait to throw it and did—the moment Wood took a step past 5 yards downfield. Scott kept 99 away from the play.

Pass 17 sack for -8 yards against a 6 man blitz

Bell was beaten cleanly by 95’s pure speed for the sack. Levitre took 52 on a wide arc. Hang stuffed 92’s spin move. Wood picked up 93. Scott and Fine stopped 69 and Lynch stuffed a blitzing 23. If Scott hadn’t been beaten like a trailer park wench on a Friday night there was an excellent chance for the Bills to set themselves up inside the 10. The sack instead took the team out of field goal range leading to….

Pass 18 INC—jump ball in the end zone

Bell was belatedly given help from Nelson and stopped 95. Levitre and Hang doubled Rogers. Wood and Scott stopped 69.

Blitzes: 1

Stacked box: 2

Drive killed by: Bell’s sack

And that’s all I’ve got due to being too inept to hit ‘record’ at the start of the 2^nd half. At first blush Wood did seem to do a better job of sustaining his blocks in the second half and Levitre wasn’t as susceptible to inside moves. The penalty flags, of course, continued to rain down on the Bills.

Time to clean house

Ron From NM — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 20:44:05 -0000

Siimply put, why wait?

The Bills were abysmal on offense, committing one stupid penalty after another. I had the nfl.com site up as the game went on and it was amazing to see the drive charts. For every couple of lines in blue (offensive plays) there was a yellow line marching the team backwards. The penalties were systemic and that utter lack of discipline falls on the coaching staff.

The offensive line had 6 guys draw flags, never mind that there are only 5 offensive line positions. The line repeatedly allowed the Browns to generate immediate pressure on Edwards, even against 3 man rushes! What's the rationale for keeping Kugler around? The fault also lies with AVP, a man who has done nothing to dispell the notion that he is in way over his head.

The special teams unit has been nothing short of dreadful. The Bills started 2 possessions inside their own 1 and another possession on the 4 yard line. I'm not going to assume that Buffalo would have won the game if not for Parrish's fumble but the team absolutely did lose the game because of it. Well, that and the fact that the Bills had stupidly burned two timeouts early in the second half. One of those wasted time outs is directly the fault of Bobby April. Who else could be blamed for the special teams unit not getting on the field at the end of the 3rd quarter to cover a punt? Instead of assuming that the Browns were going to wait until the 4th quarter to punt it was April's job to get the punt coverage unit on the field. Throw in the constant stream of penalties and it's clear that April has lost his touch. Do you seriously think the unit will be any worse without April?

Dick Jauron has overseen this slow motion train wreck and taken no steps to turn things around. Yes, there have been plenty of injuries. Chambers is the 3rd RT and Buggs the 3rd MLB. Good coaches acquire and coach depth players who can do a halfway decent job filling in when starters are inevitably injured. Jauron hasn't done that. Jauron will also not be leading the team to a winning season, much less the playoffs, so what's the point in keeping him around?

It's time for Wilson to pick up the phone and line up one of the coaches who will be pounced on by large market teams at the end of the season.

Time IS ripe for Jauron Firing

Ron From NM — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:13:36 -0000

Let me say upfront that this is not a bash Jauron piece. Further, I'd appreciate it if the comments maintained a civil tone. In terms of Jauron's job status it doesn't matter what you or I think of Jauron personally so don't vent here. This is also not the place to make excuses for the results of the last 3+ seasons. Fix the problem(s), not the blame.

There is no reason to believe that Buffalo will finish any better than 7-9, and even that close to .500 seems unlikely at this point in the season. There will certainly be no playoffs and even a winning season would be a minor miracle. Based on Wilson's comments the writing is on the wall: Jauron is done in Buffalo and will never again be a head coach in the NFL. The only question that remains is when Jauron will get the shoe. Brian made the case that now isn't the time to replace Jauron. I disagree.

I'll start my disagreement by agreeing with Brian that there's simply no point in dumping Jauron for a guy like Fewell, AVP or April. They'd run the same system and simply limp through the year only to be replaced in January. Buffalo may or may not win an extra game or two along the way under one of those guys but the long range prospects wouldn't change an iota.

I absolutely disagree that Buffalo should forget about the big names for several reasons:

First, when January rolls around people like Dan Snyder and Jerry Jones will be parking dump truck loads of cash under the noses of the available big names. Firing Jauron now allows Buffalo to be the only team with a coaching vacancy, the only game in town as it were. Each of those big names wants back into the NFL and each of them knows there will only be so many seats around...and that none of them want the chair tethered to Al Davis. Buffalo has a chance to secure the services of a coach who wouldn't look twice at the Bills in January.

Second, taking over a team during the season allows for much more than mere player evaluations. Entire offensive schemes can be implemented. After all, given that the expectations for the remainder of the year will have been ground to dust, there's no real push to win games. Instead, fans can get genuinely excited as they see the new system begin to take root and produce--yards and TDs if not wins. The sense of building towards next year--as opposed to building during next year--will be palpable.

Third, as touched on above, there is no accountability for the current year. It simply doesn't matter if the new coach wins in 2009 or not. In a deeply cynical sense, it's almost better to be epically bad in that it leads to better draft position. In short, it's a no-lose proposition for the new coach.

Fourth, the Rooney Rule is both blatantly illegal--any team that challenges it in court is certain to prevail--and easily circumvented. After all, Wilson would need to look no farther than Perry Fewell. Conduct a sham interview (Fewell) or simply ignore the rule and file suit when the NFL levies a fine. My guess is that Wilson would go the sham interview route.

Fifth, one of the big names will indeed be attracted to a coaching gig which includes significant GMesque duties. That won't happen in Dallas, where Jerry Jones is the defacto GM. It also won't really happen in Washington, where Dan Snyder likes to cripple the team's long term strategy by signing random free agents. It could happen in Buffalo, where the big name would initially carry great weight (so to speak....not making a crack about Holmgren's walrus-like heft) within the inner circle.

Sixth, one of the big names could bring with him strategic vision that Buffalo has failed to execute. He would have about half of a season to install his system and get a feel for which players were going to work out and which needed to be replaced. He could then go into the draft knowing which holes need to be filled in order for his system to work....planning to pick up secondary needs in free agency, the 2011 draft and so on.

Poll

Since it's clear that Jauron won't be coaching the Bills in 2010 the Bills should....

...keep Jauron through the 2009 season and then scramble for a big name coach in January.

19 votes

...keep Jauron through the 2009 season and then scramble for one of the hot coordintors.

17 votes

...fire Jauron, replace him with a coach on the staff for the rest of the season, then go after a coordinator or big name.

43 votes

...fire Jauron and replace him with Holmgren, Gruden, Shanahan, Cowher, Schottenheimer, Billick, etc.

203 votes

282 votes | Poll has closed

Notes from the Bills' O-Line: Week 3 vs New Orleans

Ron From NM — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 19:11:01 -0000

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I postulated before the Buffalo Bills' Week 3 matchup with the New Orleans Saints that New Orleans would blitz (and run blitz) like maniacs. After all, the Pats and Bucs had each worried obsessively about Terrell Owens and Lee Evans. In each case, they were eaten alive by underneath passes and runs; Buffalo won one game and should have won both. Unlike the Pats and Bucs, the Saints had the offense to trade touchdowns with Buffalo, so I thought they'd go with a pressure defense. It turned out that I was half right, or half wrong if you want to phrase it pessimistically.

I counted 22 blitzes on 42 passes, but the Saints only loaded the box on 4 of 20 run plays. The Saints dared T.O. and Evans to burn them on repeated blitzes. Buffalo responded by gaining a paltry 99 yards against those 22 blitzes (4.5 yards per blitz). Combined, the Bills had more drops (3), sacks (2), balls thrown away (1), bad passes (1) and offensive penalties (1) than first downs (5) when blitzed. Look for the Dolphins to bring the heat in Week 4, which could be interesting in that the drops, bad passes and penalties are all unforced errors - and therefore correctable.

Drive 1
Run 1: Fred Jackson -1 yard through the A gap
- 91 got inside of Demetrius Bell. Andy Levitre went to the second level and tapped 51. Geoff Hangartner (henceforth referred to as "Hang") and Eric Wood blew 98 off the line. 94 jumped inside of Jonathan Scott and should have had a tackle for loss (TFL). Scott killed the play. Derek Fine never really blocked anyone.

Pass 1: Fine 10 yards against a 5-man blitz
- Bell stopped 91. Levitre and Hang doubled 98. Wood would have picked up a twisting DT if Scott hadn't. Scott, however, should have directed his attention first to the blitzing DB instead of just waiting around for the twisting DT - who Wood would have gotten anyway.

Pass 2: Josh Reed 14 yards against a 5-man blitz
- Scott tried to pick up 55, but 55 was dedicated to breaking off his rush and hitting Jackson to keep him from being Trent Edwards' outlet receiver. Levitre's DT got around him but too late to stop the play. Hang turned 98 and pushed him past Edwards. Wood stopped 94 and Scott did an okay job on 58.

Pass 3: Reed 9 yards against a 5-man blitz
- Everyone blocked like it was a run to the left while Edwards did a bootleg. The Saints were, as predicted in comments made last week, all over Fine in the flat. While it's great that Buffalo has found some plays that work well, the downside is that defenses start to recognize those plays and take them away. It's time to put this particular play on the shelf for a while.

Run 2: Jackson 4 yards through the right B gap
- Bell pushed 58 upfield. Levitre turned 91 out and away from the play. Hang got no push but neither did 98. Wood and Scott had initial double on 94. Wood kept after 94 while Scott peel to pick up 51. Fine locked up 58 on the edge of the line of scrimmage (LOS).

Pass 4: Thrown away against a 5-man blitz
- Bell abused 20 on the LOS. Hang and Levitre doubled 91. Wood danced with 98 before he dropped into coverage on Jackson. Scott and Fine doubled 94.

Pass 5: Owens juggle-drop against a 5-man blitz
- Bell stopped 58. Levitre was pushed back by 91 but not enough to disrupt the play. Hang did an okay job on 98 who twisted to try to go between Wood and Scott. Wood pushed a DT inside and picked up 98. Scott stuffed 55. Owens dropped a first down even though he had multiple chances to secure it before going out of bounds.

Pass 6: Screen to Jackson for 6 yards
- Fine helped Bell contain 91. Levitre, Hang and Wood got blocked on 55 and 98 and then let them go to get in front of the screen. Jackson outran them so he had no blocking. Scott let 94 get upfield but didn't turn to lead the play.

Blitzes: 5
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Owens' drop of a certain first down

Drive 2
Pass 7: Thrown away
- Bell pushed 22 past Edwards. Levitre stuffed 91's spin move. Hang helped Bell with 94 who stuck with 94 instead of passing him off to interior linemen - thus letting the DB force Edwards to throw the ball away. Wood never turned his head to see the rushing DB, though really it isn't the typical assignment for a guard.

Run 3: Jackson 2 yards through the left B gap
- Bell missed the cut on 91 who made the tackle. Levitre chucked a DB then locked up 58 and kept him out of the play. Hang got a 3-yard drive on 98. Wood drove 94 and put him down. Scott chipped 94 then drove 51 five yards. Fine was thrown down while blocking 55 but kept him busy until the play was all but over. Jonathan Stupar followed 93 on a circle around and behind the play.

Pass 8: Reed for 18 yards against a 5-man blitz
- 91 zipped past Bell and almost had a sack. Levitre tried to follow 58 on a stunt and lost him in the mass of humanity. Hang handed 98 to Wood and picked up a twisting 94. Wood blocked 94 until he twisted to Hang. Scott helped with 94 but never turned his head to see blitzing safety. Fine saved the play by throwing a leaping DB, sending him rolling into another DB.

Pass 9: Evans drop against a 5-man blitz
- Bell pushed 58 past the corner. Levitre stopped 69 and Hang stopped 98. Wood kept 94 on an outside arc and Scott beat 55 to the corner.

Pass 10: Jackson for 9 yards against a 5-man blitz (plus 15 yard roughing the passer penalty)
- Bell stopped 58. Levitre was pushed back into Edwards by the DE. Hang turned Hargrove from the passing lane. Wood easily handled a spin move by 94. Scott pushed 55 past Edwards.

Pass 11: Jackson 0-yard catch against a 5-man blitz (Jackson slipped after catching pass)
- Bell and Levitre doubled 69. Bell didn't even look at a blitzing 20. Hang handed 92 to 70. Wood waited for 92 but 92 dropped back when the pass was thrown. Scott handed 97 to Fine and picked up a blitzing 51.

Run 4: Jackson 4 yards through the A gap
- Bell got inside of 69, who managed to get in on the tackle - but only after Jackson was four yards downfield. Levitre put an arm on 69 then stood up 55 at the second level. Hang pushed 92 to the right and opened the run lane. Wood popped 51 at the second level. Scott locked onto the DE and wouldn't allow him a clean release. Fine did a great job on 52 on the edge of the LOS.

Pass 12: Fine drop (may or may not have been a first down depending on run after catch)
- Bell stuffed 91 and kept his arms down. Levitre and Hang tag-teamed 92. Wood waited for a LB to blitz and helped Scott with 94 when the LB stayed in coverage. It looked like Scott's initial good block turned into an uncalled hold.

Fake FG for a 25-yard TD. Bobby April bailed out the offense.

Blitzes: 4
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: no one

Drive 3
Run 5: Jackson 4 yards through the right C gap
- Bell pushed 91 down the line and around the pile. Levitre and Hang drove 98 down the LOS. Wood got an 8-yard push on 94. Scott went to the second level and hit 51, who eventually got in on the tackle. Stupar kept 55 out of the play. Fine had a half-hearted block on 58, who made the tackle.

Run 6: Jackson 12 yards through the right C gap
- Bell and Levitre doubled 91 and then Bell peeled and shoved 50 five more yards. Hang stood up 98. Wood chucked 98 and then hit 51 at the second level. 51 slipped his block and was in on the tackle. Scott got under 94's pads when he tried to move inside and wouldn't let him turn back to chase the play. Stupar drove 55 all over the field. Fine kind of ran in circles without blocking anyone.

Run 7: Jackson 6 yards through the left C gap
- Bell went to the second level and popped 50, who was in on the tackle. Levitre turned 91 in circles. Hang didn't follow 98 when he dropped back to chase the play. Wood chucked 98 and missed a filling 51. Scott locked up 94 and rode him down the LOS. Stupar did another solid job on 55 while Fine corralled 58.

Run 8: Xavier Omon 5 yards through the right C gap - Wood called for holding
- Bell got a 2-yard push on 94 with Levitre's help. Hang got a little push but lost his balance and fell, allowing 98 to get in on the tackle. Wood went to the second level and locked up 58 - very clearly without holding him. Scott drove 94 inside and was almost certainly the guy they called the hold on. It really didn't look like a hold, as the defender turned while being blocked, but was the sort of call the refs had promised to make this year. Stupar and Fine shut down 55 and 58 on either end of the line.

Pass 13: Fine 9 yards
- Bell and Levitre stopped 91 while Hang and Wood stopped 92. 94 turned Scott in a circle and got a run on Edwards.

Run 9: Jackson -3 yards through the left B gap against an 8-man front
- Bell and Levitre blew 50 and 51 well into the second level. 91 shot inside of Hang and made the TFL, killing the play. 92 got inside of Wood but not quickly enough to stop the run. Scott missed a cut on 94. Stupar was pushed back into the run lane by 53. Fine missed 41 at the second level.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked boxes: 1
Drive killed by: Hangartner's missed block on 91

Drive 4
Run 10: Jackson 4 yards through the left C gap - Stupar holding
- Bell chucked 91 then peeled and picked up 51 in the second level. Levitre turned 91 from the run lane and drove him 4 yards. Hang popped 98 and when they separated hit him again. Wood went to the second level and locked up 58, refusing to turn him loose to chase the play. Scott got a little push on 94. Stupar literally tackled 55 by the ankle when 55 shed his block. Fine kept a LB on the other side of the formation.

Pass 14: Fine 7 yards
- Bell allowed 91 to get under him and turn the corner. Levitre and Hang doubled 98. Wood pitched into 98 when no blitzers appeared. Scott stuffed 94.

Pass 15: Sack -12 yards
- 91 got around the corner to chase Edwards. Levitre and Hang kept 98 on the LOS. 94 knifed inside of Wood and got the sack. Scott hand fought with 93.

Pass 16: Horrible overthrow
- The line easily handled a 3-man rush

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Wood allowing the sack

Drive 5
Pass 17: Reed 10 yards against a 6-man blitz
- Scott beat 55 to the corner. Levitre pushed 91 away from the pass lane. 98 took himself out of the passing lane but then spun back inside to get to Edwards. Wood dropped back like a tackle but had no one to block. Scott fired into 94 like he was a guard.

Pass 18: Scramble for 11 yards against 5-man blitz
- Bell pushed 58 well past the corner. Levitre did an okay job on 91. Hang pushed 98 to 70 in order to pick up blitzing 55. Wood had 94 and pushed him to Scott to pick up 98. Scott shoved 94 to the ground.

Pass 19: Parrish for 5 yards against a 6-man blitz
- Bell chucked 91 but never looked at the blitzers (41 and 27). Levitre handled 91. Hang took 98 on a wide arc around Edwards. Wood helped Levitre with 91 and Scott beat 94 to the corner.

Pass 20: Intentional grounding (as good as a sack) against a 5-man blitz
- Bell kept 58 on the edge. 91 got around Levitre's outside shoulder leading to an uncalled hold. Hang was doing okay on 98 but then abandoned him to pick up a blitzing 55. 98 promptly tackled Edwards. Wood fell down while helping Scott with 94.

Pass 21: Evans 8 yards
- 91 threatened Bell upfield then came back inside to hit Edwards. Levitre and Hang doubled the DT. Wood had no one to block so he and Scott handled the DE.

Blitzes: 4
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Hang leaving 98 to block a blitzer who Edwards may well have beaten to the outside of the pocket, making the intentional grounding a manageable 3rd-and-5.

Drive 6
Run 11: Jackson 6 yards through the left C gap
- Bell pulled and cut a filling 51. Levitre pulled really wide but wasn't fast enough to get in front of the play. Hang got inside of 98 and kept in from of him, shielding him from the play. Wood missed a cut on 98. 94 knifed inside Scott and chased the play from behind.

Run 12: Jackson 10 yards through the left C gap
- Bell drove 91 inside and then down. Levitre locked up 57 and drove him 7 yards. Hang popped 98 and turned him away from the run lane, then drove him 2 yards for good measure. Wood wouldn't let 94 of the LOS when he tried to chase the play. Scott popped 58 at the second level but 58 shed his block and was in on the tackle.

Pass 22: Thrown away
- The line again blocked like it was a run to the left while Edwards rolled out. The Saints were all over the play. So much for shelving a play that isn't working...

Pass 23: Incomplete long pass to T.O. against a 6-man blitz
- Bell kept 93 from making the turn at the corner. Levitre kept 91 near the LOS and hang took 98 on an outside arc around Edwards. Wood had no one to block and waited for a blitzer in his area. Scott did a good job keeping 94 from cutting inside and then stopped him when he tried to go outside instead. It wasn't a great pass - it seemed to be underthrown - but it also didn't seem that T.O. was overly interested in trying for it either. Give Edwards credit for going for the long pass when he knew T.O. would be open, even if it wasn't a good throw.

Pass 24: Fine -1 yard
- The Saints rushed 3 and the line easily contained it, particularly since Fine chipped 94 for Scott before going out on his useless pattern.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Edwards' miss on the TO pass

Drive 7
Run 13: Jackson 4 yards thorugh the right C gap
- 91 jumped inside of Bell to chase the play. Levitre locked up 58 at the second level. Hang fell while trying to block a DT. Wood drove 94 3 yards and put him down. Scott chucked 94 then went to the second level and wiped out 51. Stupar helped Bell with 91 and Fine blocked 55 well enough to let Jackson get past.

Pass 25: Evans 11 yards against a 5-man blitz - defense late hit penalty
- Bell's LB fell before reaching the corner. Levitre stuffed 91's spin move. Hang stopped a DT. 94 slipped as soon as he made contact with Wood. Scott helped keep 94 down when 93 stunted away from him.

Pass 26: Evans 9 yards
- Bell never looked at a blitzing DB and really had no one (else) to block. Levitre, Hang and Wood easily stopped a pair of DTs. Scott, unlike Bell, learned from the earlier play in which 2 DTs and 2 DBs rushed and easily stuffed the DB rushing on the right side of the formation.

Run 14: Jackson 5 yards through the right C gap
- Bell drove 51 in a wide arc around the edge of the play after chipping 69. Levitre aggressively pitched into 69 when he tried to spin. Hang and Wood initially doubled 98 and then Wood peeled and pushed 58. 94 obligingly jumped inside of Scott so he drove him to the left side of the formation. Stupar tried to block 93 but wasn't fast enough. Fine did a good job on 55.

Run 15: Jackson -1 yard through the right C gap against an 8-man front
- Bell got under 69's pads and drove him down the LOS. Levitre pitched into 69 then went to the second and missed a block on 58. It looked like he grabbed and tried to hold 58 - uncalled. 98 worked inside of Hang and got in on the tackle. Wood dug 94 off of the LOS and back 2 yards. Scott fell down helping with 94. 55 shed Fine's block and made the TFL. Stupar crossed the formation and missed the block on a LB.

Pass 27: Edwards scramble for 2 yards - ticky tack personal foul on 69
- Bell pushed 69 inside like Bell was a guard. Levitre dropped back like a tackle to pick up a LB at the corner. Hang and Levitre doubled 94. Scott couldn't beat 32 to the corner, though at least he saw him and tried. Omon picked up 32.

Run 16: Jackson 5 yards through the A gap
- Bell chucked 91 then hit 51 at the second level. Levitre drove 91 three yards and put him down. Hang and Wood doubled 98. Hang turned him away from the play while Bell peeled and got enough of 55 to put him down. 69 jumped inside of Scott and almost had a TFL. Stupar kept 55 on the edge of the LOS and Fine neutralized 93.

Run 17: Jackson 2 yards through the left C gap
- Bell turned 91 inside and into the pile. Levitre hit 55 at the second level and drove him 5 yards. Hang got a bit of a push on 92 but 92 slipped his block and was in on the tackle. Wood blew 69 3 yards off the line and put him down. Scott chucked 69 then locked up a LB. Fine kept a LB on the edge of the LOS while Stupar let 58 run upfield and out of the play.

Pass 28: INT against a 5-man blitz
- Bell and Levitre doubled the DE. Hang stuffed a DT and Wood kept 69 from elevating. Scott picked up 58 at the corner. It was just a bad pass that looked like it hit the DB's hands. Once it was up in the air there were 8 or so Saints right there to make the INT.

Blitzes: 2
Stacked box: 1
Drive killed by: Edwards' INT

Drive 8
Pass 29: Thrown away
- The line easily handled the 3-man rush, but the 8 defenders meant there was no one open to throw to.

Run 18: Jackson 6 yards through the right B gap against an 8-man front
- Bell rode 91 across the formation. Levitre couldn't get in front of 92 to block him. Hang went to the second and flattened 51. Wood gave a little ground to 94 then cut him. Scott went to the second level and planted 50. Fine had a half-hearted block on 41, who was in on the tackle. Stupar locked up a LB.

Pass 30: -3 yard sack - Wood called for tripping
- Bell pushed 91 around the corner which would have been fine had Edwards not been stumbling around. 91 got the sack but it wasn't Bell's fault. Levitre put 58 down when Hang handed 58 to him. After handing off 58 Hang helped Scott with 94. Wood cut 92, unfortunately right into Edwards' feet, causing him to stumble and letting 91 sack him. The tripping call was completely bogus.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 1
Drive killed by: Wood allowing the sack

Drive 9
Run 19: Jackson 4 yards through the right B gap against an 8-man front
- Bell missed the cut on 91. Levitre pulled and plowed into the scrum. Hang got an initial stiff arm on 98 and popped him again as 98 reached the point of attack (POA). Wood pulled and nailed a LB at the second level. Scott pulled and took out a LB at the POA. Fine shielded 55 from the play and Stupar did an okay job on 94 at the POA.

Pass 31: Evans 3 yards (Seriously? Gazelles running in between rhinos?)
- Bell beat 55 to the corner. Levitre took a DT to the inside. Hang set to block 98 but 98 dropped into coverage. Wood had no one to block. Scott took on a DE early and slowed him to a crawl.

Pass 32: Overthrow to T.O.
- Bell beat 91 to the corner while the rest of the line stuffed twisting DTs. Fine was left to handle a DE on his own, which he did just fine (pun). T.O. was open but the pass was just a yard or so too long. It was a TD waiting to happen.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 1
Drive killed by: Edwards' inaccurate throw

Drive 10
Pass 33: Reed 12 yard against a 5-man blitz - Wood called for being downfield
- Chambers, in for Bell for the rest of the game, pushed 69 past the corner. Levitre and Hang planted 92. Wood abused a blitzing 20, again pretending to be a tackle. Scott, pretending to be a guard, pushed 94 into 92.

Pass 34: Fine 11 yards
- The line easily stuffed a 3-man rush.

Pass 35: Fine drop against a 5-man blitz
- Chambers hit 41 and pushed him into the DT. Levitre and Hang doubled the DT. Wood had no one to block and Scott beat the DE to the corner.

Pass 36: Reed 8 yards against a 6-man blitz
- Chambers went to the corner with 91, who then beat him back to the inside. Levitre and Hang doubled 98. Wood picked up a blitzing LB and Scott stuffed a LB on the LOS. Needing 2 scores with only 7 or 8 minutes in the game 4th-and-1 seems like a pretty good bet...

Blitzes: 3
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Fine's drop

Drive 11
Pass 37: Owens incomplete out of bounds against a 5-man blitz
- Chambers stuffed 41. Levitre pushed 91 to Hang who stopped him. Wood had no one to block and Scott beat the DE to the corner. It sure looked like Owens could have gotten both feet down instead of just going out of bounds. He can cry all he wants about his ‘consecutive games with a catch' streak (which is complete and total BS since he has missed games due to injury) coming to an end, but this was the second time in the game he had a ball on his hands and didn't make the reception.

Pass 38: Sack -5 yards
- Chambers kept 91 from turning the corner. Levitre had no one to block. Hang was destroyed by 98 for the sack. Wood tried to help with 98 when Hang went down, but wasn't fast enough. Scott kept 98 on the edge.

Pass 39: Sack -8 yards against 6-man blitz
- Chambers stopped 20. Levitre stuffed 91 despite the fact that 91 had, and kept, his hand under Levitre's facemask - uncalled illegal hands to the face. Hang circled 98 around the QB. Wood helped with 98. Scott was beaten around the corner by 94 for the sack.

Pass 40: Jackson 12 yards
- The line easily managed the 3 man rush.

Blitzes: 2
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Owens' drop

Drive 12
Run 20: Jackson for no gain through the right C gap
- 59 slipped Chambers' block and made the tackle. Levitre pressed 92 into 97, who was being stood up by Hang. Wood and Scott sealed 92, 97 and a LB to open the run lane. Fine ignored a run blitzing DB who was in on the tackle.

Pass 41: Reed no gain
- The line easily stopped 3 defensive linemen while Fine and Jackson took on a LB.

Pass 42: Thrown away against a 7-man blitz
- Chambers stopped a LB. Levitre hit 92 who then backed out and stunted. Hang stood up a DT. 20 got inside of Wood who then held him grievously - uncalled. Scott beat 39 to the corner but when Edwards was flushed 39 was in position to chase him.

Grades

Player	Run	Pass
D. Bell	77.1	72.6
K. Chambers	55.0	72.8
A. Levitre	78.0	74.5
G. Hangartner	73.0	74.0
E. Wood	80.0	73.1
J. Scott	73.0	73.1

I wouldn't read too much into Chambers' 55%. He was in for exactly one run play and it was a bad one for him. Of greater concern are the combined 18 bad pass plays the line had. The Saints had the equivalent of 5 sacks, an awful lot for a team not exactly renowned for defensive prowess. Look for defenses to begin to mimic some of the rushes the Saints threw at the Bills, specifically rushing 2 DBs and 2 DLs. Bell never did figure those out.

Run plays by gap
LC	LB	A	RB	RC
5-28	2--1	3-8	3-14	7-29
5.6 ypa	-0.5 ypa	2.7 ypa	4.7 ypa	4.1 ypa

As with Chambers' 55% I wouldn't worry too much about the dismal -0.5 ypa in the left B gap as the team only ran there twice. The yards were there to be had, though it seemed that Buffalo got away from the run game. Quite often it was out of necessity as someone created a negative play. That, in turn, led to bad down and distance combinations in terms of rushing.

On that note, there was a piece Brian wrote yesterday regarding unforced errors, and the Bills made many of them. I was appalled at how many times Edwards was reduced to picking up snaps from the turf during the game. That should be automatic, but apparently isn't with the Bills. I counted 7 bad snaps, or one out of every six passes. When the passing game is predicated on quick reads, it doesn't help that the QB has to spend the first second of the play looking down at his feet.

Drops continue to be a problem, as do errant passes from Edwards. Drops led to several punts, while bad throws cost the team at least 10 points - the INT stopped at least a tying field goal, and Edwards' overthrow of T.O. would have been a go-ahead touchdown. Buffalo can't afford to let those opportunities slip away.

Notes from the Bills' O-Line: Week 2 vs Tampa Bay

Ron From NM — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:18:44 -0000

Believe it or not, it's really not much more fun to break down the game when the Buffalo Bills win than it is when they lose. Sure, there's the giddy thrill of watching Terrell Owens score a long TD, but my attention is primarily in the trenches. Wins generally also equate to more runs, which take longer to analyze than pass plays. Given that I'm home sick today, I had plenty of time to wade through the 34 run plays (and 35 pass plays) between all too frequent trips to the bathroom. [Ed. Note: ... ew.]

Enough whining! Onto the Bucs game, and how Buffalo was able to put up 200+ yards rushing playing half of the game without their most seasoned offensive lineman, right tackle Brad Butler.

Speaking of Butler, when I saw that Kirk Chambers was inactive, I wondered to myself if this was the Fourth Annual Brad Butler Injury Day. It turned out it was. While I like Butler and have been one of his biggest cheerleaders (even at a mere 140 pounds, I doubt any of the Jills outweigh me... though it's a good bet quite a few are taller than my meager 5'6"), it looks like it is time for the Bills to move on and find a permanent starting right tackle - perhaps a stopgap guy now (more on that later) and a new guy in the early rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft. As much as I like the guy, Butler has proven too fragile to be counted on week after week.

Drive 1
Run 1: Owens reverse for 13 yards through the left C gap
- Demetrius Bell went to the second level and kept 54 busy enough to let Owens by. Andy Levitre pushed 95 inside and rode him in a circle away from and behind the play. Geoff Hangartner went to the second level and blocked downfield. Eric Wood turned 98 away from the play. Butler pulled to the right and stuck his hand in 26's chest. With Fred Jackson coming around the right side it, looked like a run to the right. Derek Schouman cut 57 and Shawn Nelson ran with a DB at the second level.

Run 2: Jackson 5 yards through the A gap
- Bell kept 90 (Gaines Adams, a former Top 5 pick) on the end of the line. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 95. Levitre tried to peel and hit 54 but was too late to reach him. Wood and Butler doubled 98 and blew him 5 yards off the line. Wood put 98 down and Butler peeled off and locked up 51. Nelson was left alone with 97 and drove him back four yards. Schouman locked up 57 at the second level and put him down.

Run 3: Jackson 4 yards through the right B gap
- Bell went to the second level while Levitre missed a cut on 95. Hangartner went to the second level as well and tapped 51 at the end of the play. Wood stood up 91 and turned him away from the run lane. Butler pulled wide and blew 21 back 10 yards. Nelson drove 58 and spun him down. Schouman held his own against 97 and turned him away from the run lane.

Pass 1: Evans 32 yard TD against a 6 man blitz
- Bell blocked inside on 95 while Levitre split his effort between helping with 95 and 98. Hangartner gave up 4 yards to 98. Wood stuffed 97 when he tried to spin and Butler stopped a LB at the corner. Schouman blocked 90 and kept him on the edge of the line. Jackson picked up a blitzing 58. The play was a terrific audible; Trent Edwards saw he had Lee Evans one on one and took the shot.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: no one

Drive 2
Run 4: Jackson 6 yards through the left C gap
- Bell sealed 95 inside (and fell on him at the end of the play) after Levitre had driven him 2 yards. Hangartner chipped 98 then peeled and locked onto 51. Wood got a little push on 98 but 98 slipped his block and got in on the tackle. Butler kept 97 on the edge of the line of scrimmage (LOS). Schouman got a five yard drive on 90 but 90 got off the block and in on the tackle. Nelson had a half assed block on 58, who almost made a tackle for loss (TFL).

Pass 2: Nelson for 14 yards against a 5 man blitz
- Bell stuffed 90. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 95 until Levitre disengaged to pick up a blitzing 54 with an assist from Jackson. Wood and Butler doubled 98. Schouman blocked 97 like it was a run play. The pretty play action by Edwards sucked up all three LBs and opened the field for Nelson.

Run 5: Jackson -2 yards through the A gap
- Bell sealed 95 inside and inadvertently pushed him toward the RB. Levitre had initial block on 95 but lost his footing and fell. Hangartner and Wood doubled 95 with Wood throwing him down at the end of the play. Butler kept 97 on the edge on the right side while Schouman did the same to 90 on the other side. Nelson tried to pick up the filling 58 but just bounced off of him (shades of Darian Barnes... no wait, Nelson made contact so that isn't fair) which allowed 58 to make the TFL.

Run 6: Jackson 2 yards through the left C gap
- Bell pulled and got a piece of 21 but he was still on the tackle. You'd figure Bell would dwarf toss pretty much any DB... Levite failed to cut 95 and Wood failed to cut 98. Hangartner went to the second level and hit a LB. Butler went to the second level but had no one to block. Nelson attempted to redeem himself by cutting 58 and failed. Schouman blocked 91 down the LOS.

Pass 3: Incomplete to Owens
- Bell was beaten badly by 91's speed rush and flagrantly held, killing the play and the drive. Levitre and Hangartner initially doubled 95, who went around Levitre and then Hangartner and almost got the sack. 97 spun away from Wood and right into Edwards' path as he moved in the pocket. Butler pushed 90 well upfield. Owens had a shot at the reception for a first down but, because of Bell, it wouldn't have mattered even if he'd caught it.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Bell (Bills got a field goal out of the drive)

Drive 3
Run 7: Jackson 8 yards through the right C gap
- Bell let 90 run upfield and out of the play. Levitre got some push on 95 alone. Hangartner hit a LB at the second level. Wood did just enough to 98 to keep him out of the play. (98 eventually fell over Schouman.) Butler doubled 97 with Schouman and kept him out of the play.

Run 8: Jackson no gain through the left C gap
- 90 got inside of Bell and almost had a TFL. Levitre was tossed aside by 95, who made the tackle. Hangartner went to the second level and fell down without hitting anyone. Wood turned 93 and kept him on the line. Butler chipped 97 for Schouman and then went to the second level too late to catch 54.

Pass 4: Jackson 2 yards
- 90 buckled Bell so it was a good thing Edwards had a quick pass called. Levitre gave 2 yards to 95. Hangartner and Wood doubled 93 and Butler stopped 97 at the corner.

Run 9: QB sneak 1 yard through the A gap against a stacked box
- The entire line surged forward a full yard. Derek Fine did a good job of getting under 58. Give Jauron credit for going for it on fourth and inches in Buffalo's end of the field. Also, there's no way the Bills would have ever run a sneak through the A gap with Melduke Prestfowsuck at center so give Hangartner his due, too. Oh, and give the defense credit for ripping Edwards helmet off as he laid on the top of the pile in full view of at least four officials who littered the field with yellow hankies.

Pass 5: Owens 5 yards plus a second facemask penalty
- 91 beat Bell to the corner but was too late to stop the quick pass. Levitre was destroyed by 95. Hangartner and Wood doubled 98 and Butler stuffed 96.

Run 10: Jackson 2 yards through the A gap
- Bell blew 91 4 yards off the LOS with help from Schouman, who put 91 down. Levitre got a 2 yard push on 95 but 95 pushed him aside and was in on the tackle. Hangartner and Wood doubled 98 and drove him 4 yards off the LOS. Butler chucked 96, who still got in on the tackle, and went to the second level.

Pass 6: INC to Evans in end zone against 6 man blitz
- Bell sent 91 around the corner. Levitre turned the DT out and rode in a circle following Bell and 91. Hangartner and Wood doubled 96 who came in on a stunt. Butler gave up a little ground to 98. Jackson picked up a blitzing DB. A LB got a free shot on Edwards, seemingly due to lack of communication between Hangartner and Wood. The ball hit Evans in the hands. True, the defender was right there and got his hand up near Evans but Evans has to make that catch - particularly since Edwards went to him in the face of the blitz knowing Evans would have one on one coverage.

Pass 7: INC hurried
- Bell did an okay job on the DE but when Edwards dropped farther back the DE was able to get around Bell and chase the QB. 95 (Hovan) blew right past Levitre to force Edwards back and abandon the pocket. Hangartner and Wood doubled 97 after Hang looked around for a blitzer. Butler stuffed 90.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 1
Drive killed by: Evans' drop

Drive 4
Run 11: Jackson for 11 yards through the left B gap
- Bell pulled wide and crushed 20 at the point of attack (POA). Levitre tried to cut 95 and got enough of him to slow him down and keep him out of the play. Hangartner went to the second level and hit 51, moving him across the formation and eventually putting him down. Wood rode 98 part of the way across the formation until they tripped over Levitre. Butler went to the second level and had no one to block. Fine did a great job on 90 at the POA and Schouman missed a cut.

Run 12: Jackson 2 yards through the A gap
- Bell tossed 54 to the ground when he tried to circle behind the play. Levitre got a 2 yard drive on a DT. Hangartner went to the second level and missed a block on a LB. Wood blocked 98 alone and kep him out of the run lane. Butler went to the second level and had no one to block again. He looked a bit lost. Fine did a good job on 97 but Schouman had an outstanding cut on 90. Gaines Adams looked like the arrestor wire on an aircraft carrier had whipped his legs out from under him.

Pass 8: Owens drop against a 6 man blitz
- Bell picked up a delayed blitzer. Levitre chucked a LB who broke off to chase the TE. 95 almost got around Hangartner. Wood and Butler doubled 98. Butler peeled off to pick up 97 when he rushed as well. Owens had a TD in his hands and just dropped it. It was the perfect play call (audible) against the blitz.

Pass 9: INC to Evans against a 6 man blitz
- Bell pushed 95 to Levitre and waited for any other threats to emerge. Levitre took on 95 and between them made too much of a roadblock for a twisting 91 to get around. Hangartner and Wood doubled 97. Butler pushed 90 around the corner. Schouman pinned a blitzing DB when he slipped and Jackson helped in the middle of the line. The bad pass is on Edwards.

Blitzes: 2
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Owens

Drive 5
Run 13: Jackson 24 yards through the left C gap
- Bell and Levitre blew 93 4 yards off the LOS and then sealed him inside to open the run lane. Hangartner got under 98's shoulder and kept him off balance. Wood chipped 98 and then popped 54 and kept him turned. Butler locked up 96 on the edge of the play. Nelson and Schouman doubled 97 and caught 58 up in the wash, taking both of them out of the play. A filling DB whiffed on Jackson, which would have limited it to a short gain.

Run 14: Jackson 8 yards through the A gap
- Bell cut 54, who got up and in on the tackle. Levitre missed a cut on 93. Hangartner pulled wider than nay lineman but had no one to block. Wood gave a little ground to 98 and then cut him. Butler pulled and popped 51, sending him back 3 yards. 80 hand fought with 58. Nelson battled with 96 who eventually got off the block and in on the tackle.

Pass 10: INC to Evans
- Everyone blocked left like it was a run but careful not to go downfield. Schouman would have blocked the DE if he didn't fall for the bootleg and instead was an outlet receiver. Since Schouman was well covered Edwards threw it towards Evans, who had come back towards the LOS to give Edwards a target.

Run 15: Jackson 13 yards through the A gap
- Bell let 90 take himself out of the play by going upfield. Levitre pulled and pancaked 93 in the hole. 93 was certain he was going to get a TFL. Hangartner wrestled a DT down. Wood went to the second level and did enough to keep a LB out of the play. Butler abused 51 at the second level. Schouman got in 90's way but it wasn't a really good block.

Run 16: Jackson 12 yards through the right C gap
- Bell hand fought with a De and Levite did the same with 95. Hangartner went to the second level and took 51 on a circle away from the run. 98 tried to jump inside Wood but was stopped and dropped. Butler again didn't really have anyone to block. Schouman got under 97's left shoulder to seal the edge. Everyone but Hangartner blocked like it was a pass play.

Run 17: Jackson 1 yard through the left C gap
- Bell pulled wide and had no one to block. Levitre missed cut on 95. Hangartner tried to cut off 51 at the second level but couldn't reach him and he made the tackle. Wood blocked 98 all over the formation, peeled off and popped a LB when 98 finally got past him. Butler went to the second level and had no one to block. Schouman and Fine blocked 90 and sealed him inside.

Pass 11: Scramble for 20 yards
- 91 beat Bell with pure speed never mind that it looked like Bell was holding, too. Bell caused the scramble. Levitre blocked 93 with initial help from Hangartner, who then helped Wood with 97. Butler waited patiently for 90 to get around Schouman's block but it never happened. Meanwhile, Bell and 91 rolled up on the back of Butler's legs ending his season.

Pass 12: INC to Schouman - bad pass
- Bell and Levitre doubled the DE and then also picked up a twisting DT. Hangartner gave Wood a little help with 93. Scott had a decent initial play against 96.

Run 18: Jackson -2 yards through the right B gap-fumble returned 70+ yards
- Bell popped 91 then hit him again at the second level. Levitre got inside of the DT and kept him shielded from the play. Hangartner went to the second level and went after a LB. Wood blocked 97 down the LOS. Scott let 96 circle past the run lane and kept him from chasing the play. Parrish missed the block on 20 who made the tackle.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Jackson's fumble; Parrish missed a block but Jackson didn't secure the ball

Drive 6
Run 19: Jackson 9 yards through the left B gap
- Bell locked dup 54 at the second level. Levitre moved the DT out of the run lane. Hangartner went to the second level and fell on a DB. Wood got on 97 and pushed him 12 yards downfield. Scott went to the second level and bulldogged 51, pushing him 5 yards. Fine kept 90 out of the play. Schouman pulled across the formation and popped a DE who was trying to close down the run lane-great block.

Pass 13: Josh Reed 7 yards
- A DE pushed into Bell and after popping him used the space he created to get inside and get after Edwards. Levitre was marched backwards by the DT. Hangartner and Wood doubled 97. Scott stuffed 90.

Pass 14: Schouman 27 yards
- Bell pushed the DE past Edwards, causing the DE to slip. Levitre, Hangartner and Wood tripled 97. Wood left to pop 90 for Scott, who didn't seem to need the help.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: halftime

Drive 7
Pass 15: Schouman 1 yard
- The entire line blocked like it was a run. They easily handled the 3 defenders who were playing the run. The left DE realized a hair too late it was a pass play.

Run 20: Jackson 5 yards through what appeared to be the A gap
- The network was too busy showing TO near tears to bother to broadcast anything other than the tail end of this play. Jerks.

Pass 16: Reed 13 yards
- Bell was almost toppled by the DE but regained his balance. Levitre almost had his DT slide between himself and Hangartner. Wood blocked his DE alone and kept him near the LOS. Scott was helped (only time in the game) when 90 started to gain the corner. Jackson chipped 90 and Scott recovered.

Run 21: Jackson 1 yard through the A gap
- Bell helped Levitre with 93 then locked up 54. Levitre got 93 turned around and then moved him 5 yards downfield. Hangartner went to the second level and missed 51. Wood was shoved back by 98, who made the tackle. Scott doubled 97 with Schouman and they turned 97 in a circle.

Pass 17: Sack -2 yards (right after Reed had an offsides penalty)
- Bell had no one to block since Jackson and Schouman took care of his DE. Levitre and Hangartner doubled the DT. Wood kept 93 3 yards from Edwards but 93 got the sack when Edwards tried to scramble. Scott caused the scramble by letting 97 get around him which forced Edwards to run forward and into 93.

Run 22: Jackson 7 yards through the A gap
- Bell kept 91 on the edge of the LOS until Jackson was past. Levitre hit a LB at the second level. Hangartner turned a DT in a circle away from the run lane. Wood and Scott doubled 97 and drove him 5 yards, accidentally towards Jackson as it turned out. Schouman missed a cut on 90.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Scott (allowed a sack) and Reed (stupid penalty)

Drive 8
Pass 18: Schouman 6 yards
- The DE feinted inside and then went right around Bell. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 96. 98 pushed Wood back almost to Edwards. Scott waited for 97 to engage but he never did.

Run 23: Jackson -2 yard through the left C gap (another facemask penalty on defense)
- Bell pulled wide and missed a block on 58. Levitre pushed 95 down the LOS, slowing him down (but not stopping him) before falling himself. Hangartner went to the second level and locked up 51. Wood blocked 98 into Levitre's prone body, tripping 98. Scott went to the second level but had no one to block. Schouman missed a block at the second level and Fine fell down trying to make a block. It wasn't a pretty play.

Pass 19: Schouman 11 yards
- The DE jumped inside of Bell, making it a good thing that it was a quick pass. Levitre gave quite a bit of ground to a bull rush. Hangartner helped Wood and then pushed a DT past Edwards. Wood was pushed back to near Edwards with a bull rush. Scott did a nice job on 97 on the edge.

Run 24: Jackson 2 yards through the right C gap
- Bell drove 91 3 yards. The DT jumped to Levitre's outside shoulder who then rode him in a circle away from the play. Hangartner crunched 54 as he tried to fill. Wood took 98 back 4 yards like he was on greased roller skate standing on ice. (It kind of reminded me of a reverse Preston-Wilfork situation.) Wood almost took out 51 in the bargin as well. Scott pulled to the inside and got tangled up. Schouman tried to turn 97's shoulder but couldn't so 97 was in on the tackle. Fine wiped out a LB at the second level.

Pass 20: Jackson -4 yard screen
- Bell blocked the DE on the edge. Levitre let 93 move upfield and pushed him past anything useful. Hangartner missed 54 while he got out to block for the screen, which killed the play since 54 made the TFL. Wood got the initial block on 98 and then tried to get out to lead the screen. Scott locked up 96 and moved him inside.

Pass 21: Sack -8 yards
- The DE beat Bell with a spin but Schouman was waiting for him. (It was the only time Bell was helped.) Levitre stuffed 95. Hangartner helped with 90 and then 95. Wood stopped 90 cold when he twisted inside. 97 started inside and Scott got under his shoulder pads. 97 spun away and got to Edwards. However, by that point Edwards had had 5 seconds so the sack really can't be hung on Scott. Instead the blame falls to Edwards for not finding someone.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Edwards

Drive 9
Pass 22: Owens 4 yards
- Bell stoned a spin move by the DE. (Way to learn from your mistakes, Bell!) Levitre waited for a blitzer and eventually helped Bell. Hangartner took a DT past the QB. Wood wouldn't let 98 elevate and Scott stopped 97.

Pass 23: Schouman 10 yards
- Bell pushed the DE well past Edwards. Levitre and Hangartner tag teamed 95. Wood stopped 98 and Scott stuffed a bull rush by 97.

Pass 24: Jackson 10 yards
- Bell stopped a DE. Levitre, Hangartner and Wood easily handled a twist by 95 and 98. Scott pushed 97 upfield.

Pass 25: INT intended for Evans
- Bell pushed the DE past Edwards. Levitre had no one to block when 95 dropped into coverage. Hangartner and Wood doubled 98. Scott circled 97 past the QB.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Edwards' terrible INT

Drive 10
Run 25: Roscoe Parrish reverse for 9 yards through the right C gap
- Bell let 90 go upfield and take himself out of the play. Levitre pushed 95 back a yard, turned him to the left and then pushed him another yard. Hangartner went to the second level and drove a LB 5 yards downfield. Scott unintentionally got in 96's way while he helped Wood with 93. Wood then peeled to pick up a blitzing LB, who he pushed on an arc past the play. Schouman danced with a CB on the edge of the play. 96 was left alone for Parrish to fake out, and he did.

Pass 26: Schouman 7 yards - Schouman injured
- Bell stuffed 90 and knocked him off balance when he tried to elevate. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 95 and kept him from elevating. Wood and Scott doubled 93. Wood should have peeled off to pick up a twisting 96, who got a shot on Edwards.

Pass 27: Jackson 6 yards
- Bell and Levitre easily managed a twist by 95 and 91. Hangartner waited for a blitzer and picked up 97 when he spun away from Wood. Scott blocked 90 but 90 didn't really rush so much as wait to chase the inevitable short pass down from behind.

Run 26: Jackson 1 yard through the A gap
- Bell got under 95's shoulder and spun him around, shielding 91 from the play in the process. Levitre chiped 95 and then hit a LB at the second level and drove him downfield. Hangartner and Wood doubled 97. Hang peeled too late to pick up a filling 54, who was in on the tackle. Scott hand fought with 90 on the periphery of the play.

Pass 28: Reed 14 yards
- Bell barely contained a bull rush by 91 after 91 got under his pads. 95 got some drive on Levitre and Hangartner just waited for someone to break through. Wood chipped 97 and then popped 90 hard enough as he tried to stunt that he lost his balance. Scott blocked 97.

Pass 29: Scramble 2 yards
- Bell put 91 down when he tried to turn the corner. Levitre locked up 97. Hangartner and wood doubled 98. Wood shoved 98 rather dismissively to the ground and then looked for someone else to hit. Hangartner dropped on 98 and laid on him. Scott beat 90 to the corner and kept him in front of him when 90 tried to move back inside.

Pass 30: Jackson 9 yards against a 6 man blitz
- Bell picked up a blitzing 51 but was never seriously engaged as 51 waited to chase down the dump off pass. Levitre was driven back by 97 and Wood by 98. Hangartner got just enough of a stunting 91 to keep him off of Edwards. Scott picked up 96 and had to let 54 (the outside most rusher) get a free shot on Edwards.

Run 27: 3 yards through the right B gap
- Bell and Levitre doubled 97 and drove him 3 yards. Hangartner went to the second level and missed 51, mainly because 97 was driven into Hangartner from behind. Wood drove 98 3 yards off the line and Scott kept 96 on the edge of the line. Fine locked up 91 on the edge of the line.

Pass 31: Reed for 11 yards
- Bell stoned 91 when he tried a speed rush and then stuffed him when he tried a bull rush. 95 blew past Levitre but lost his balance and fell down. Hangartner and Wood doubled 98. Scott stuffed 90.

Pass 32: INC to Omon - bad pass
- 91 blew right around Bell and got around the corner but not to Edwards. Levitre and Hangartner doubled 95. 93 got inside of wood but Wood then recovered and pushed him past Edwards. Scott kept 90 on the edge of the line.

Pass 33: Jackson drop
- Bell and Levitre doubled 90 while Hangartner and Wood doubled 93. Scott stopped 97.

Pass 34: Jackson 3 yard screen
- Bell set up like he was going to pass block and was never engaged by 91. Levitre went downfield and blocked 58 but he shed and got in on the tackle. Hangartner missed a block on a LB in the second level. Wood slowed 97 down and then went downfield but had no one to block. 90 tried a spin move on Scott but was put down and kept down.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: Jackson (drop) and Edwards (bad pass to Omon and not checking out of a screen call against a man line). Buffalo did get a FG.

Drive 11
Run 28: Jackson 6 yards through the left C gap
- After chucking 93 Bell didn't get much push on 91 but still managed to get him down. Levitre got under the DT's left shoulder, pushed him 2 yards and wouldn't let him disengage. Hangartner and Wood doubled 98 initially. Hangartner peeled off to get a piece of 54 at the second level. Wood got a 4 yard push on 98 by staying under his left shoulder. Scott got under 96's left shoulder and drove him 3 yards off the line. I kind of doubt it's a coincidence that 3 guys did the same thing to defensive linemen on the same play. Fine chipped 91 and then went to the second level to get a piece of 51.

Run 29: Jackson 4 yards through the A gap (defense offside)
- Bell let 90 go upfield and pushed him past the play. Levitre drove 93 3 yards and opened the run lane. Hangartner had an initial chuck on 93 but picked up a filling 51 and wouldn't let 51 chase the play. Wood and Hangartner doubled 98 until Wood peeled and missed 51 at the second level. Fine blocked 96 unintentionally back towards Jackson.

Pass 35: Owens 43 yard TD against a 6 man blitz
- Bell pushed 90 inside then pushed a blitzing 54 upfield. Levitre picked up 90 from Bell. 93 got past Hangartner and almost had a sack - Hangartner got just enough push to move him past Edwards. Wood gave ground to 98 and Scott stuffed 96. Fine stayed in to protect and stopped a blitzing 20.

Blitzes: 1
Stacked box: 0
Drive killed by: no one

Drive 12
Run 30: Jackson 3 yards through the left B gap
- Bell gave 93 a mild shove for Levitre then missed 51 at the second level. Levitre pushed 93 off the line and then well downfield when he tried to spin. Hangartner gave 98 a chuck and then went to the second level and hit 54. Wood dogged 98 until he got him down. 96 tried to get upfield on Scott and then spin back but was stopped cold. Fine danced with 20.

Run 31: Jackson 43 yards through the left B gap
- Bell let 90 go upfield and kept him there. Levitre drove 93 3 yards and turned him to open the run lane. Levitre made this play. Hangartner chucked 98 then went to the second level and sealed 51 off from the run lane. Wood didn't get much push on 98 but wouldn't let him extend his arms to try to grab Jackson. Scott rode 96 in a circle away from the play. Fine got an initial pop on 96 and then locked onto 54. Reed got away with a mild hold on 20 as he walled off the outside of the run lane.

Run 32: Omon 4 yards through the A gap against an 8 man front
- Bell ignored 90 and went to chuck 95 but couldn't reach him so he blocked 23 instead. Bell couldn't reach 95 because Levitre blew him 3 yards off the line. Hangartner went to the second level and locked up 51. Wood got a 2 yard drive on 98 while Scott went to the second level and hit 54. Fine had 96 alone and didn't get much of a block.

Run 33: Omon 5 yards through the right C gap against an 8 man front
- Bell doubled 90 with Fine and they pushed him away from the play along the LOS. Levitre got a 2 yard drive on 95. Hangartner went to the second and hit 51, who still got in on the tackle. Wood blew 93 4 yards off the line. Scott couldn't catch up to 93 to help Wood. He should have blocked 96, who slowed Omon down.

Run 34: Jackson -1 yard through the A gap against an 8 man front
- Bell let 90 get inside of him for a TFL. Levitre turned 95 and slowed him down but both clogged up a possible run lane. Hangartner helped with 95 and got a piece of 51. Wood turned 93 away from the run lane but got no drive. He and 93 clogged another possible run lane. Scott drove 91 into the end zone by getting under his shoulder pads. Fine circled 96 away from the play.

Blitzes: 0
Stacked box: 1
Drive killed by: Bell

	RUN PLAYS				PASS PLAYS
Name	G	D	B	K	H	G	D	B	K	S
Demetrius Bell	6	23	5	1	1	3	25	6	1	0
Andy Levitre	10	18	6	1	0	1	30	4	1	0
Geoff Hangartner	3	27	4	0	0	0	30	5	1	0
Eric Wood	8	23	3	1	0	1	32	2	0	0
Brad Butler	1	15	1	0	0	0	11	0	0	0
Jonathan Scott	3	13	1	0	1	1	20	2	1	1

Run plays by gap
LC	LB	A	RB	RC
8-50	4-66	14-49	3-5	5-36
6.3 ypa	16.5 ypa	3.5 ypa	1.7 ypa	7.2 ypa

Legend, chart one: H=Help; G=Good; D=Decent; B=Bad; K=Killed; S=Sack
Legend, chart two: LC=Left C; LB=Left B; A=A gap; RB=Right B; RC=Right C; ypa=yards per attempt

A few things stood out as I watched the game, most of which related to the offensive line but a few did not.

The gaudy 16.5-yard average through the left B gap was helped out tremendously by the 43 yard run. Also, the 6.25 average through the left C gap would have been a good deal more pedestrian without the 24 yard run included. The offensive line as a whole continues to need to eliminate mistakes in pass protection. It was good to see that Levitre wasn't a one game wonder and also terrific to see Wood improving as well. The TE situation may be dicey for a while, which could be a real problem for Buffalo. Fine has never demonstrated the ability to be a receiving threat. If Nelson can't go I can see Stupar being activated to be that underneath outlet that is giving defenses so much trouble.

First, the Bucs were all over the bootleg pass to Schouman. Pretty much every time the Bills ran the play Schouman had someone on him from the moment he released from the line. Perhaps the Bills have gone to that well a bit too often. It doesn't matter if it's a play that the offense runs well if the defense consistently diagnoses it.

After the game the Bucs coach called out Gaines Adams. It's easy to see why. They moved Adams (90) from left to right defensive end all game long. He just wasn't a factor until the last run play. It's kind of amazing to me that a Top 5 draft choice can be stymied by a pair of tackles with one game of starting experience between them. Further, the Bills continued to rely on the tackles to win their matchups without assistance so Adams can't even gripe about being constantly chipped. Gaines Adams appears to be an outright bust.

Scott and Butler split the number of runs evenly. The Bills ran right only 5 times with Scott in the game for 21 (4.2 ypa) total yards. You can try to read into it but the Bills only ran left 5 times after Butler was out. Take out the 43 yard play and you're left with 4 runs to the left for 16 yards or 4.0 ypa. I don't think the Bills will be shy about running right in the coming week.

While some point out the number of blitzes that the Bucs unleashed (8 out of 35) the Bills haven't seen a pressure defense. The Bucs stacked box only 4 times, 3 of which were near the goal line at the end of the game and the other was a QB sneak. So far neither the Pats or the Bucs chose to shut down the run and short pass and make Edwards beat them with long passes to Evans and Owens. Someone will give it a try. The Saints have an awesome offense that can score with anyone and a so-so defense. They seem like the perfect team to load the box against the Bills, blitzing and run blitzing with an abandon. Why wouldn't they try it?

Trent Edwards against the blitz should give most teams (as in teams other than the Saints who can score whenever they want) pause when it comes to blitzing heavily. Of the 8 blitzes, Edwards threw TDs of 32 and 43 yards, had a 13 yard first down and a 9 yard pick up. Evans couldn't come up with a TD catch (yes, there was good coverage) and Owens dropped a certain long gainer/possible TD. Edwards really had only one bad pass against the blitz (pass 9) as his only other pass against the blitz (3) got to the receivers hands. Edwards is deadly against the blitz and can burn teams that pressure him.