20 Random Simply Awful Start Thoughts

[Zodi]

It would be nice to see a more creative running game with a better sense of timing. Our best running plays have the RB a little head start by pitching it back…but Buffalo’s defense looked a lot like the Bengals from the SB on run D. Teams are going to force us to be one dimensional…worked last night.

Is it me or has our running game been seriously lacking ever since we let Kromer walk?

 

[AvengerRam]

And it gets worse:

View: https://twitter.com/fieldyates/status/1568239366383730689?s=46&t=leFa-e0eU3PWSpqWT8jDWQ

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

They need a few studs on the offensive line. Wagner looked slow.

Otherwise the rest will get fixed.

Buffalo had more to prove.

 

[Psycho_X]

And it gets worse:

View: https://twitter.com/fieldyates/status/1568239366383730689?s=46&t=leFa-e0eU3PWSpqWT8jDWQ

Fuck what is with our RB luck? Frustrating as hell. Hopefully the other two hold up against those brick walls they were running into.

 

[Faceplant]

- Was surprised to see Powell more involved in the passing game than ARob..WTF
- That running game was awful. Can't even say how the RBs did as they had ZERO lanes to run through. Not a good harbinger.
- If this was truly an indication of the talent on the OL. This is not a playoff team
- Morris's scheme tonight was putrid. They took what they wanted (underneath) from our defense all night. The players get kudos for the TO's though.
- This will either awake a sleeping giant, or expose a top heavy team.

 

[Merlin]

Edwards was also terrible out there tonight.

He was the one giving up the majority of the inside rushes to get Stafford

Edwards is no great OL but he gets benefit of the doubt with sample size too. He has gotten it done in the past.

Shelton is the one dude on that line who has no proof to him is the point. He is the one lineman where it would be appropriate to consider whether he is good enough.

Wouldn't necessarily bench him now unless one of the depth was close to him in evaluation. But point was that any fans that might call for benching him would not be unreasonable.

 

[Ewe83]

Ugly ugly ugly embarrassing performance, not much else to say, escaping to our cabin this weekend to lick my wounds. Hopefully we get our shit together next week

 

[AvengerRam]

This game shows why college football powerhouses often start their season with games against Kalamazoo Tech, Fargo Community College or The Julliard School. Its not a bad thing to get a warm-up game against an inferior opponent. Unfortunately, when you're the NFL champs, you don't get to start that way.

I'm very interested in seeing how we look against the Falcons.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

Is it me or has our running game been seriously lacking ever since we let Kromer walk?

I hadn't thought about it like that but, man, I hope that this is not the case.
I've heard really nothing but good things ever since Carberry got here, but it's true that our run game has been lagging and it's starting to get to be "nervous time" as Chick Hearn used to say.

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[Ellard80]

He also could have meant that he was too indecisive in the passing game and was holding the ball too long

mac was referring to something Stafford said to McVay on the 4th down pass into the end zone.

There were times he held on to it too long - but there were way more other times he had to get rid of it way too quick because of no protection - including his first interception.

 

[payote75]

Now our questionable starters on our offensive line are crippled.
Holy Shit nuts!!!

 

[iamme33]

imho we must remember this is our starters first live game action since last year we did not play starters in preseason. hopefully think will get better when the starters get more game time.

 

[KA210927]

I was really disappointed with the play calling but especially on the offensive side of the ball. It felt like every first down was an obvious run play, which got followed by 2 passes looking at Kupp, or checking down. The line didn’t give Stafford time to go deep too often but there is really 0 excuses why Robinson basically got no targets. Last year OBJ had much much less time to prepare and he was at least force fed a couple more targets to get him involved. McVay by the 4th quarter should be in Stafford ear to get Robinson involved and even force it in the garbage time at the end if he had to. Very disappointing game for McVay and Stafford and the OL. I would bet Robinson is pissed off he decided to go to LA at some moments last night.

The defense I thought actually did decent considering the circumstances. They held the bills to 10 in the first half which is lower than I would have expected going in. It’s hard to hold anyone down when your QB throws 3 pics and this was against a likely top 5 offense. Obviously things need to improve but the defense kept this game from being a crazy blowout.

 

[Faceplant]

ARob looked small to me in that game. I don't know if anyone else had the same impression. It was weird, cuz I know he's a bigger WR...... but he just looked.... Small out there. Then again, I was pretty shit hammered most of that game,so maybe my vision was impaired

 

[SWAdude]

There was a really fun kid with his family sitting behind us and I would guess he was around 11 or 12 and he told his Dad why do we always run on first down? Dad said we have to in order to mix it up for the run option to work. The kid said "Is it working?" Dad said "good point".

Everyone within distance just started loudly cracking up.

It was just so obvious to everyone it was not working.

We all still had a great time. Better for sure being World Champions.

 

[SWAdude]

ARob looked small to me in that game. I don't know if anyone else had the same impression. It was weird, cuz I know he's a bigger WR...... but he just looked.... Small out there. Then again, I was pretty shit hammered most of that game,so maybe my vision was impaired

He looked small to me also.

And I only had one $20 Modelo beer in me.

 

[OC--LeftCoast]

1. That was tough to watch.

2. I'm going to start by giving credit to the Buffalo Bills for what they are - possibly the best team in the league right now.

3. The Bills defense is very strong, and Von Miller does seem to be the final piece they needed.

4. Josh Allen leads an offense that will keep opposing defenses off balance and strike with big plays.

5. But, for fuck's sake.... we're the defending champions. There is no excuse for such a poor showing.

6. The biggest disappointment by far was the play of the offensive line. No push in the running game, and absolutely dismal performance in pass protection.

7. The lack of protection provides context for Matthew Stafford's poor outing, but I'm not going to fully absolve him. He held the ball way too long, and failed to spread the ball around meaningfully. And no... it wasn't because of his elbow.

8. Cooper Kupp did his thing, but he can't be asked to be the whole offense week after week.

9. Allen Robinson was the invisible man tonight. Very surprised by that. Whether it was a function of Stafford's lack of time, a lack of chemistry, or something else... time will tell.

10. Makes me think that we missed Van Jefferson more than I thought we would.

11. Makes me REALLY think that we need to stop messing around and finally sign OBJ. While I know he can't help for a while, we may need him to make another playoff run.

12. As for the defense.... we continue to be vulnerable to misdirection and quick throws. Those are, after all, the only things that can neutralize Aaron Donald.

13. The secondary was just plain bad tonight. I don't know what Jalen Ramsey was doing on the Diggs TD. Perhaps he rightfully expected help, perhaps it was his fault. Either way, it was embarrassing.

14. Can the defense come around? Absolutely.

15. Can the offensive line get where it needs to be? Its fair to doubt that.

16. I was surprised to see Darrell Henderson starting, and even more surprised to see Cam Akers with such a minimal role.

17. Nick Scott gets credit for forcing two fumbles. Those turnovers, along with Allen's two interceptions, prevented an even worse outcome.

18. As big and strong as Allen is, he's not going to last if he keeps taking unnecessary hits. Just ask Cam Newton.

19. I expected adversity this season, just as we had last year. Guess it's coming sooner than expected. We'll see how the team reacts. Certainly, having a couple of extra days to prepare to host a weak Atlanta team is favorable.

20. For seven months we had joy and revelry. That's over now (though the memories will last forever). Now we're back to the grind. This was a tough day. Better days will come.

Agree with most of your points, as usual

Except you forgot to mention our QB isn’t physically 100% (right arm) and probably won’t be anytime soon

Of course my opinion but I’m fairly confident I’m correct

 

[AvengerRam]

Agree with most of your points, as usual

Except you forgot to mention our QB isn’t physically 100% (right arm) and probably won’t be anytime soon

Of course my opinion but I’m fairly confident I’m correct

I don’t think anything that happened on Thursday had to do with Stafford’s elbow.

 

[BC Ramfan]

There was a really fun kid with his family sitting behind us and I would guess he was around 11 or 12 and he told his Dad why do we always run on first down? Dad said we have to in order to mix it up for the run option to work. The kid said "Is it working?" Dad said "good point".

Everyone within distance just started loudly cracking up.

It was just so obvious to everyone it was not working.

We all still had a great time. Better for sure being World Champions.

The word going into the game was that Buffalo D had:
• Great DTs
• Great ILBs
• Great Safeties.
So why in the HECK would you persistently run up the middle over and over when it never worked?

Similarly, Josh Allen was getting the ball out in 2.3 seconds.
So why in the HECK would you give them free release and 8 yard cushions and watch them march down the field all game. ZERO punts forced.

It's seemed like McVay and Morris considered it another PreSeason game. My son said the game plans were so inappropriate it was almost like they wanted to humble the team.
Sounds crazy I know but I just don't get it.

BC

PS Jalen's postgame video cast is worth watching.

 

[SteezyEndo]

Assuming we start off slow and say go 0-4. Then after start winning games straight til playoffs could the majority of the fans handle that? Its a gamble but we could play possum in the beginning and start showing up afterwards.