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Message: [QUOTE="pattycuse, post: 2306641, member: 256"] Now that I have had time to cool off, a few thoughts: 1) Starting with the positive- fantastic performance by the defense. Six sacks of a strong, mobile QB like Newton shows the strength of the unit and the scheme. Hughes showed up in a big way- and he certainly was not alone. This was the type of d-line performance that was common under Schwartz and was MIA under the Ryan boys. Absolutely something to build on...but as usual it all is interconnected. The d-line doesn't get the pressure it got without the performance of the secondary yesterday. How good have Hyde and Poyer been as acquisitions? Also, I didn't feel like there was a lot of YAC by the Panthers, with one or two exceptions. Hard to not be optimistic about the defense- they came to play and deserved a better outcome. 2) Credit the Panthers defense- they completely bottled up McCoy and routinely were in the backfield. It will be interesting to see if other teams can replicate this formula...of course the run-run-pass approach taken really doesn't help matters. How about some misdirection? Maybe a screen pass? Running repeatedly off tackle into the teeth of the defense was a questionable approach at best. It also set us up to routinely face 2nd and long scenarios...which put stress on a passing game that can't handle much of it. It felt like the Bills were constantly behind the 8-ball on down and distance situations yesterday. 3) I feel like we are going to have this chicken-and-egg argument all year. Is Tyrod struggling because his receivers can't get open? Or is he missing throws and open angles because he can't see them? Regardless the passing game is absolutely atrocious. Major, major talent upgrades are needed in both positions. I am bullish on Jones (even though he dropped the key pass at the end- more on that last drive in a minute) but while I think he'll be a good one- I'm not sure he'll be a difference maker. 4) The last drive- a few thoughts: A) While Jones has to make that catch, you should never be in the position where you need the game winning play because you have only scored three (THREE!!) points. I don't know enough about the route to determine whether his stumble cost him, if he ran the wrong angle, or if it was a bad throw. B) The PI on Holmes was complete garbage. You could literally throw that flag on every pass play in the NFL! Arms not extended. Just a terrible call. C) McDermott should have used a timeout at the 30 yard line with 45-50 seconds to play (don't remember the exact play). I know you want to keep one in the holster...but 20-25 seconds is infinitely more valuable in that situation. Chalk that up to a rookie head coach. I'll get concerned if it becomes a pattern. 5) LOVED that the Bills went for it on 4th & 1 around midfield. HATED the play call, but that's correctable. Nice to have a head coach that is willing to roll the dice. All in all a disappointing day, and with the Broncos coming to town this weekend we're going to learn quick whether yesterday was a pattern: great defense and a lousy offense. Let's hope the latter breaks and the former maintains. [/QUOTE]

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