Problem is not McDonald

[IthacaBarrel]

Bills have some parts and pieces, I don't understand the love fest for Marrone, they could have a winning record. The choice to have a rookie qb start was his

 

[money3189]

I was able to go to the Wake game and by watching it live I focused on the WR's. They were not able to get separation just like many have said. Am I the only one thats thinks Jerome is just a serviceable power back? He's not a stud to me. He is a hard worker, he runs hard, he's productive. But if teams stack the box he is not the type that can make them pay for that. He can bounce it out every now and again for yards. PTG is a great complement. To me, Mcdonald is doing all he can do with the lack of speed and playmaking ability from the wideouts and serviceable but reliable RB's. McDonald took shots down they field but we didn't hit them. Im not seeing he is a polished/proven OC but he is not the reason for our mediocre offense. Shafer is definitely telling him to be safe and not make hunt do things out of his skill set. I would do the same thing if I was shafer. It's gotten him to 4-4 and 2-2. We have to do this until we get more play makers in, for now this is the way you win ball games in a tougher conference. Keep the game close going into the 4th quarter and after the opponent is beat up from our hard nose play thats when jerome starts pounding them with his running style. Thats when he's most productive and that's the reason why I think he doesn't get a ton of carries early on.

 

[All4SU]

You mean the one legged RB who ran for over a 100 yards last week? Or the team who ranks 6th in rushing in the NFL? Watch the play calling and honestly tell me he is doing a good job. If you haven't watched all the games you really have zero room to make a comment.

I've watched enough to know that Spiller has been far below 100% nearly all season. I've watched enough to know that Buffalo doesn't have an NFL QB. I have no idea how Hackett rates as an OC in the NFL when compared with other OCs. It's a dumb comparison because there are just too many variables. Is the guy experienced in the NFL? No. But to claim that the guy is horrible because Buffalo has been unsuccessful is a bit inconclusive.

 

[money3189]

Hackett s doing a fair job. They havent lost a game because of his play calling. Lots of injuries and they've had the chance to win most of their games.

 

[Orangello]

there's some baffling things going on irrespective of talent. continued runs across the formation to the outside that could never develop. play action passes on third and long. no designed integration of tight ends. confused players and penalties coming out of time outs.

i can't rationalize this stuff. i'm chalking it up to him learning...but things like play action on third and long are just a waste. weird.

This is my take away as well. An awful lot of the play calling seems completely arbitrary/random as opposed to calculated/strategic. That and an awful lot of confusion with players clearly not on the same page.

 

[orangeintheacc]

If anyone is keeping score put me down in the Gmac has sucked so far camp. I've seen every game - most of them in person and like some of you I just see some of these plays called and shake my head. For example, the GT game they were blitzing us up the middle all day and we knew they were coming yet we continued to run these slow developing off tackle plays with PTG or 5 step drop passes were Hunt would have to throw it away or get sacked. How about a screen or draw or short passes to the backs out in the flat? Do we even have have those plays?
Saturday against WF we had 1 first down and Smith had 5 carries just before halftime. Arguably, our most dynamic player (Broyld) got the ball zero times - you can't throw him a couple of swing passes out of the backfield and let him make someone miss? We had zero points through 6 quarters until the second half of the WF game and our yards per game are terrible.
I agree that Hunt hasn't played well and he's missed some plays he should make, but it's interesting that some of you want to give Gmac a pass because he is new, but won't do the same for Hunt who's got even less experience. Damn, a lower tier MAC team could have come into the Dome and put up better numbers.

Wasted time outs every game, confusion, penalties because of confusion, too many trick plays, etc.

I'm sure Gmac will get better, but 8 games in I'm not feeling it.

 

[timkay99]

I'm not sure why people don't understand the cool kids offensive strategy - my perception so far - he is a pass first OC based upon his background as a WR position coach - power running doesn't look to be in his DNA. Just not s e x y enough for him.

He likes the high risk high reward passing plays but inherited a dink & dunk passing game to go along with the power run game that Marrone & company set up - and Marrone being an OLine player & coach wanted to re-establish that tradition here at Syracuse - the power run attack.

My view is Hunt would have done very well in Marrone's system using the power run game along side with a short passing game with outlet passing to TEs & RBs. Almost completely opposite in terms of what the cool kid wants to do.

I agree 100%. McDonald is a big play offense type of guy. He prefers the speed backs that can catch the ball and break open big running plays (which is why Gulley plays so much).

By the way he is recruiting, he wants a speed based offense that is a spread attack with guys who can take it to the house from every position. You have Edouard or Long at QB, you have Morris and McFarlane at RB and you have Broyld, Estime and a host of other talented, fast WR's outside. This should be an offense that, with all its pieces, can take advantage of the Dome.

Pass-first with speed at every position... Haven't people been clamoring for this offense for the Dome for ages?

Will it work? Who knows. But, you will learn a lot more about GMc the OC next year as opposed to this year.

 

[007]

I agree 100%. McDonald is a big play offense type of guy. He prefers the speed backs that can catch the ball and break open big running plays (which is why Gulley plays so much).

By the way he is recruiting, he wants a speed based offense that is a spread attack with guys who can take it to the house from every position. You have Edouard or Long at QB, you have Morris and McFarlane at RB and you have Broyld, Estime and a host of other talented, fast WR's outside. This should be an offense that, with all its pieces, can take advantage of the Dome.

Pass-first with speed at every position... Haven't people been clamoring for this offense for the Dome for ages?

Will it work? Who knows. But, you will learn a lot more about GMc the OC next year as opposed to this year.

I would be very happy if that is the direction that the O takes.

I think I remember GM talking about being physical, spreading the field and running the ball when he was first hired.

 

[OrangeBlood]

I was able to go to the Wake game and by watching it live I focused on the WR's. They were not able to get separation just like many have said. Am I the only one thats thinks Jerome is just a serviceable power back? He's not a stud to me. He is a hard worker, he runs hard, he's productive. But if teams stack the box he is not the type that can make them pay for that. He can bounce it out every now and again for yards. PTG is a great complement. To me, Mcdonald is doing all he can do with the lack of speed and playmaking ability from the wideouts and serviceable but reliable RB's. McDonald took shots down they field but we didn't hit them. Im not seeing he is a polished/proven OC but he is not the reason for our mediocre offense. Shafer is definitely telling him to be safe and not make hunt do things out of his skill set. I would do the same thing if I was shafer. It's gotten him to 4-4 and 2-2. We have to do this until we get more play makers in, for now this is the way you win ball games in a tougher conference. Keep the game close going into the 4th quarter and after the opponent is beat up from our hard nose play thats when jerome starts pounding them with his running style. Thats when he's most productive and that's the reason why I think he doesn't get a ton of carries early on.

Agree with all of this... the point I was trying to make, you just made it better

 

[Zcuse]

[Under Hackett, who has been a competent NFL coordinator, the offense struggled until Nassib became a true threat behind center. Hackett/Marrone had a great design, but it took Nassib to execute it and execute it brilliantly for the offense to be successful.
You had me up until this part. I think he is the worst OC in the NFL and has cost the Bills at least two games this year.

I am unfortunately a huge Bills fan (lots of heartbreak with that loyalty) and I have watched every minute of their games this season. Hackett has done an incredible job with a rookie to start with, a practice squad QB (when Manuel got hurt), and then the third string undrafted rookie. Add to that, injuries to Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller. The Bills were one of the only teams in the NFL to score over 20 points (Denver was the other) in their first 7 games. He is doing great job with trying conditions. I think the problem with Marrone/Hackett in 'Cuse was that they played a "pro" style offense most of the time, which relied on strong offensive line, strong receivers, adequate RB and great QB. If one play went awry due to penalty, sack, etc, they had tons of trouble (always behind the sticks). Until all of their O-linemen matured, and Nassib hit his peak, the offense was tough to watch. I think (just my observation) that McDonald wants to move us to a spread philosophy, but is in-between with the talent on the team. The spread is much more giving to the teams that don't recruit 4* linemen and 5* QBs. That's why so many WRs being recruited. I don't think we've seen what GMC wants to do at all yet. Give him time.

 

[NovaOrange]

My problem is he is a very predictable play caller. That has cost us two games no matter what anyone says. You can't do that in the NFL period and the 20 points a game has been aided by the defense giving us great field position on turnovers not great play calling. I have no idea what games you all are watching.

 

[TheCusian]

My problem is he is a very predictable play caller. That has cost us two games no matter what anyone says. You can't do that in the NFL period and the 20 points a game has been aided by the defense giving us great field position on turnovers not great play calling. I have no idea what games you all are watching.

I've watched a few - but honestly it doesn't matter... Any OC in the league should be given the benefit of the doubt when you have the QB situation they do.