Dan Orlovsky: Bills Offensive Adjustments, Limited Concern With The Defense, Bucs Preview

Dan Orlovsky: Bills Offensive Adjustments, Limited Concern With The Defense, Bucs Preview

All right, hour number two here on a Tuesday. Happy Veterans Day, everybody. We’re out here at the Quickville at 5466 Camp Road in Hamburg for Operation Give Thanks, which is Quickville’s annual event to raise funds for veterans in need. It’s uh in its fourth year of existence. They’ve raised almost $750,000 for vets in need. So, if you’re in the area, stop by, check out some of the vet merch they got here, and make a donation. Um, but we begin the second hour, as we typically do on Tuesdays, with ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovski, whose appearances on One Bills Live are presented by Caesar Sportsbook, an official mobile sports betting partner of the Buffalo Bills. Well, Dan, uh, last Sunday was a stinker for the Bills. Um, you know, gets shut out in the first half for the first time in 36 games. Really can’t get it in gear at all on offense. Um, and it seems to be a prevailing theme in each of the three losses for the Bills this season. They don’t match the energy and juice of the opponent and they turn the football over multiple times. Yeah. I mean, the reality is before X’s and O’s, it was just flat. There was just absolutely no juice. And, you know, candidly, it’s surprising. I’m not going to use the word concerning because that’s out of respect. That a team in Miami that for years has been one that anybody that was, you know, a football analyst or just fan would sit there and go, “This group’s not physical enough.” is this they’re they’re cool at times to watch and fun and but they’re they’re not physical enough on either side of the football to truly matter to get out physicalled out toughed out hit um by that team when they really don’t have a ton to play for. That was surprising that would have my attention if I was, you know, in Buffalo. And so that that the flat element of it, it’s a big deal. And then obviously the X’s and O’s and the execution and the way it played out. Um, you know, it’s a telltale sign to when this offense doesn’t run the football. It really doesn’t have a lot of rhythm right now. The run game breeds rhythm for them. The drop back pass game leads a lot for to be desired. Um, I would sit there and tell you from a an execution standpoint, also from a a schematic standpoint, you know, their their pass game at times, you know, Kinc Kade goes out, it feels like with no Palmer, it’s, you know, okay, they got to get to the play action stuff, but really there’s only two play action concepts. They kind of run, so there’s not a a ton attached to that as well. And so, you know, it’s um I think that forces frustration from Josh and it forces him to play far too fast. Um so there’s there’s a lot in that game that you could walk away and say they got to clean up quick. Yeah. And if let’s talk about, you know, the X’s and O’s. What is you know, what’s this offense lacking? I mean, certainly Bill’s fans have been clamoring for a big number one wide receiver. And of course, if you get a big number one guy like that, he’s a great player and great players make you better, right? Um, is that a is that a concerning need? Is that a Well, it’s not happening now. Is that a front is that a front uh a front priority for you? Because, you know, if it I mean, they’re not getting one now like Brownie says, but is that going to haunt them the rest of this season or is there ways that they can still run this offense and be effective like they were in the first half? I mean, it could haunt them. There’s there’s the truth. And I know Concade’s going to be out for a stretch of time now. At least I thought Sheffy said that yesterday with the hamstring. So I think every week we’ve talked about the importance of concade and so no concade a big deal. This isn’t a small injury. They they run their pass game through him. Shir is not the guy that’s going to win down the field and Palmer’s up and down health and then Keon’s up and down performance. Yeah, it’s it there’s a there’s a huge concern right now that they’re just not going to be good enough and healthy enough on the perimeter. And so there’s this variance, you know, sometimes in in offensive football, Steve, you know this, like there’s a variance of what we can get to and all the different ways we can play, styles that we can play with no concade, with the Palmer up and down health and the reality of where they are. There’s just not a big variance for this football team offensively this year. They have to be able to control the line of scrimmage in their run game. They have to stay ahead of chains and be unbelievably efficient on third down. They’re going to have to resemble a lot of what the Chiefs were last year offensively. The quarterback has to be very clean. He’s got to be very clean on a situational operation, on a on a play-by-play basis operation. I think that that’s where Josh is lacking right now because with no Dalton in and um the up and down of the perimeter, there’s not a ton of explosiveness. And so if you’re not going to have the opportunity to make big plays in shorter drives, then you have to be crazy disciplined and efficient in those drives. Um, and right now that’s something that they’re not doing on a consistent basis. So what’s needed, um, I would tell you what’s needed is they have to dominate in the run game. Have to. Uh, and then the quarterback has to be obsessed with efficiency. And then I was just trying to think because without anybody getting at it at the deadline, you’re essentially relying on the brain power and creativity of Joe Brady, Aaron Chromer, and the other offensive staff to devise ways to make it not appear like such a heavy lift in the passing game. Um, what are your thoughts about possibly reintroducing the backs into the passing game? This was a a a trio of backs last year that caught 70 passes, eight for touchdowns. Um, maybe in games where the run game hits the skids a little bit. Could you use that as a potential extension to the run game? There’s no doubt about it. I think last year as well, I mean, you know this too, Chris, like this offense was so rhythmic last year and so consistently dominant that they were calling plays. I mean, they I would love to know, and I haven’t searched it, like how many plays they’re averaging per game in this really stretch of month that they haven’t necessarily played great outside of Kansas City in comparison to last year because, you know, right now it feels like the playbook has shrunk. it feels like the the the amount of times they can get to different things has been shrunk, you know, and um you know, it’s always the fine line of are we trying to do too much rather than are we leaning into the things that we’re great at, you know, and so um you know, the question is, well, okay, let’s get James involved in the pass game, but then the devil’s advocate would say, why not just turn around and hand the ball off to him as well? I mean, if we have a very good offensive line and we’ve got these tight end groupings that are good and a fullback that’s a good player, we can equally say, let’s hey, let’s hand the ball off and try to, you know, be very efficient and somewhat dominate the line of scrimmage in the run game. And so, I was thinking about this this morning because, uh, you know, if and I know Chromemer comes from the Rams and with the way the Rams play, um, I think that there’s a lot that that can be learned from that. Uh they’ve got two elite receivers. I don’t want to take that away from it. But what happened was when Puka went out for an injury and Devonte was still kind of okay this year. This offense first stretch had to figure out in LA, what were they going to get to? And what they’ve done is a little bit I think what Buffalo should entertain is one there’s they’re wildly efficient in the run game. They have the least amount of negative plays in the NFL by a far margin. They’re not overly complicated in that. And then two, they bootleg Matthew Stafford a ton in their pass game and they run a bunch of different stuff out of it. I think that’s something with where this offense is right now that that’s something worthy to entertain more of. Getting more of the bootleg game for Josh out there. It’ll free some people up. It’ll give you some easier completions. It gives you the chance for some chunks. and gets an athlete on on space because I think they’re searching right now in their pass game what to get to. When the Bills come out on defense uh on Sunday, this last Sunday against Miami and they they’ve got like nine guys hurt. Um Joey Bosa’s out there with a club on his hand. Christian Benford’s out, Taran Johnson’s out, Ed Oliver’s out. um all these guys, they still hold the Dolphins to 16 points through three quarters and that game is really in doubt u all the way up until they snap off two big runs at the end. what would you know what is your thought about the Bills defense what they’re doing well what they need to do more of and obviously get healthy is probably at the top of everybody’s list but they are seemingly particularly with Max Haristston’s emergence and Cole Bishop playing with a lot of confidence right at the moment they’re way more athletic than they have been in the back end what else do you see from this defense that that really for three quarters this last week gave their team a chance to win yeah and even in that 16 points it’s a double move touchdown bomb that, you know, it’s probably the first time Haristston’s seen that. You know, I think everyone, you know, really on Monday morning TV, and I’m I’m a part of that at times, was, you know, somewhat critical or overly critical, I thought, of the defense. I thought the defense was okay. You know, this is a dynamic offense that you’re playing against when they’re in rhythm and specifically at home. I would tell you, I think a couple of things, Steve, were one, I I do think Haristston had a little bit of a um an eye-opening experience. It’s his first time going against a guy like that, you know, and so he got beat at times more than he had previously. And so good learning experience for him of how to play and whatnot. Still able to track a football and get another pick. So again, that’s a good thing. Um even the long run by Achan that really starts to break the lead. They’re in the hole to make the tackle and I think it’s Lewis just misses the tackle and then all a sudden it’s 60 yard away. So like they’ve got a body there. They just got to, you know, make that. now does Terren Johnson and I don’t want to but does he make that tackle all that stuff. So that um you know and then the the last run is just a little bit of a desperation you know play by that defense and so I think even to this point like Miami came out with six offensive line in multiple snaps and Buffalo State a nickel. I think that just speaks to health. I I don’t really think that schematically you’re sitting there going, “Yeah, can’t wait for this, you know, nickel that gives up 130 pounds of this offensive line and to have to take on outside zone against them.” I don’t really believe that’s the case. It’s just a whole thing. So, um I I I you know, I think that with where Buffalo is right now, I’m so much more focused on this offense and how to build consistency in this offense and really where on who are going to be the answers. I think the defense is be going to be okay. They got to get healthy. It’s also going to be about matchups. Who are they going to play when it matters? They’re going to match up well against other teams and they’re going to match up at a disadvantage versus some others. But for me, it’s um this defense is going to have to get healthy, but I think they’re going to be okay. It’s really on the offense right now. Uh last one from me, Dan. Uh Tampa on deck next here. They lost a close one to the Patriots at home. They now have to come up here to Buffalo this weekend. Um they’re still trying to get guys healthy, too. Doesn’t look like Irving’s going to play. He remains out. Same thing with Godwin. Uh Ibuka has been a revelation as a rookie, obviously. Um and they still have Rashad White in the back field. Um maybe just give us your thoughts on, you know, Baker who obviously started off hot this season. Has he carried that through to this point? Has he regressed a bit? Where would you say their offensive operation is at right now? Yeah. So, obviously some of the health people that you mentioned are a big deal. Ibuka is outstanding. He is great in space. He’s phenomenal at the point. You know, he’s strong. He’s a savvy savvy route runner. And so, whoever gets matched up on him in those situations, if it’s Haristen, this will be another big time test. They want to push the ball downfield. They’re a very aggressive early down play action passing team to try to hit the middle of the field. Tez Johnson is a big part of their offense as well. I think the second thing is and this will go as just as much as slowing down that pass game is this defense has just struggled with misdirection this year. Um they’re they’re one of the best counter run games in the NFL. Get you flow one way, bring it back to the other way. They will get it to multiple ways. Sometimes with tight ends, sometimes with backs, sometimes with receivers as the lead people. And so that’ll be a huge thing having to stop. Baker’s legs have been a massive story for them in clutch moments. So, this is still a very viable offensive unit. And then defensively, they’re phenomenal against the run. Vita’s very good. Pressures are going to be absolutely outrageous. They’re bringing Brit they’re doing stuff in their secondary. I really haven’t seen teams do a ton this year when it comes to their coverages and rotations. They got a young corner that’s playing at a high level, Morrison. So, um I think Tampa’s a very, very, very good team. They’re not in that probably top four of the NFC anymore right now, but they are no question one of the five or six best NFC football teams. Absolutely. It’s a good challenge for Buffalo. Yeah. And this it does seem like two teams with identical records coming in both uh although the P Tampa Bay is leading their division uh after coming and both coming off tough losses. Um this is one of those games where you’re kind of in the meat of the season here, right? you’re playing a a fi an unfamiliar opponent uh out of conference, out of division, but you still think, man, you got to win these games to keep pace. Oh, there’s no question in the AFC, too. I mean, we were looking at it today because with the news of the potential Joe Burrow coming back, you know, Buffalo, I think, is sitting at that five spot right now, but then maybe the six, yeah, the six spot, but you know, Jacksonville’s up and down. Kansas City can beat anybody. Houston defensively is sensational. Baltimore, I’m telling everybody, they’re they’re getting in the way their defense is playing. Their offense hasn’t even played good and they’ve scored 30 the past two weeks. And so, if you’re Buffalo, it’s it it’s still very much so of, hey, there are three or four teams that are right on our heels that are not that far off. And I can make the claim that, you know, Houston has a unit that’s playing better than either side with Buffalo. Baltimore has a unit that’s playing better than either side with Buffalo. And so those two teams would have my attention. So yeah, these games are a big deal. Yeah. And they’ve got and they’ve got Houston next week on the road on a short week, Thursday Night Football. So they got to get this one and then hope for the best on the road. Absolutely. I know the charts. It was the same. It was the same problem last year. They went down there in week five and uh lost on a 60 yard field goal at the end of the game. They didn’t have Shakir in that game, but still in all, I mean, that defense, especially at home, that Houston, oh my god, they are tough. So, yeah, that’s going to that might be their toughest game this season being that it’s on the road and on a short week with that defense. So, thanks, Dan. Appreciate it. We’ll catch up with you next week. Happy Veterans Day, guys. Thanks.

ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky joined One Bills Live for his weekly appearance. He talked about last week’s loss in Miami, the injury to TE Dalton Kincaid, the overall concern with the passing game, and how the offense can get back on track. He went on to discuss the defensive effort overall despite the injuries and looked ahead to Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.

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