Tag: Bills PFF

PFF: Bills’ Tre’Davious White impresses vs. Commanders

Tre White’s PFF metrics vs. the Commanders were impressive (via @TejasVemparala):

Buffalo Bills’ cornerback Tre’Davious White impressed many as part of the fantastic defensive outing against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

The defender has been part of the Bills’ organization since 2017, but tore his ACL in 2021. He started last season on the physically unable to perform list.

In Week 3, the talented defender picked off Commanders’ QB Sam Howell in the end zone to prevent a touchdown:

The cornerback, who has received plaudits in the past, was tasked with pass coverage of Washington’s strong receivers–Namely Terry McLaurin–and excelled. While and Bufffalo’s secondary allowed the pass rush time to pressure Howell into multiple bad throws.

According to Pro Football Focus metrics, the cornerback was excellent. In the 32 coverage snaps he played in, he was targeted six times and only allowed three receptions for 19 yards in addition to the interception he corralled.

When Commanders QB Howell targeted the Washington receiver that White was covering, he had a 17.4 passer rating. For context, an average passer rating is 66.7.

That’s a great day at the office for the veteran cornerback. We are looking forward to seeing more of him when he is tasked with coverage of the talented Miami Dolphins wide receivers.

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PFF: Where the Bills offensive line ranks after Week 1

PFF: Where the #Bills offensive line ranks after Week 1 (via @TejasVemparala):

Buffalo Bills fans expected to see improvement by the Bills offensive line from last year. Despite center Mitch Morse’s Pro Bowl nod along with Dion Dawkins and Rodger Saffold, the unit were ranked 23rd in the 2022 NFL season.

As the preseason ended, the Bills’ season opener was the first chance to see whether the offensive line had indeed progressed from last year. However, following Monday’s overtime loss to the New York Jets, the stats highlight that the Bills offensive line was more of what we have seen – not any worse but not any better.

According to Pro Football Focus, who ranked the performance of all 32 NFL teams’ offensive line units during Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, the Bills ranked No. 23  after Week 1. PFF listed the ranking of each team in order from best to worst performing, and the Bills are sandwiched in between the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals, both of whom lost on Sunday.

Here is the full excerpt from the football analytics outlet:

Projected Week 2 starters:

LT Dion Dawkins
LG Connor McGovern
C Mitch Morse
RG O’Cyrus Torrence
RT Spencer Brown

Rookie right guard O’Cyrus Torrence was solid in his NFL debut, letting up three pressures on 50 dropbacks and earning the highest run-blocking grade on the Bills’ offensive line.
The Bills needed right tackle Spencer Brown to take a step forward in 2023; however, the third-year player gave up five pressures against the Jets, which was tied for the fourth most he has allowed since the start of the 2022 season.

Best player: Dion Dawkins
Dawkins was the only Buffalo offensive lineman not to allow either a sack or a quarterback hit against the Jets.

For each team, Pro Football Focus highlighted players that were determined to be the weakest links. The three for the Bills, Morse, Torrence, and Brown, were highlighted by PFF as the Bills’ weakest links in WEek 1.

It is only one game, but the first impressions of the offensive line seem to be more of what we saw last season. The Bills offensive line unit should have an easier time in Week 2 with a Las Vegas Raiders defense that many predict will not be good.

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PFF: Bills’ Mitch Morse among top NFL centers in this key stat

PFF: #Bills’ Mitch Morse among top NFL centers in this key stat:

The Buffalo Bills provided stability for the immediate future recently by extending C Mitch Morse to continue to anchor the team’s offensive line.

It would appear there is a good reason beyond his familiarity and cohesion with the offense behind that decision, in addition to the financial flexibility the new deal created for the Bills.

Pro Football Focus recognized Morse as one of only four NFL centers with a 70+ blocking grade over the past three seasons:

Morse has stated a preference for remaining in Buffalo for the remainder of his career and can be a part of the consistency the team has sought for their offense up front.

As GM Brandon Bean has prioritized protecting Josh Allen, solidifying the offensive line with moves that have included re-upping with Morse has been a part of that effort.

Given the GM’s long-term focus on competing and building depth all around the roster to sustain that level of on-field performance, it would stand to reason the team may look to add talent to the center position. This would be consistent with the player development culture in Buffalo under Beane and head coach Sean McDermott and make sense given both the short-term deal Morse signed.

Given Beane’s track record of signing veteran talent to short-term pacts and developing younger players behind them at the position, Morse will have the chance to continue to contribute toward Buffalo’s goal of winning a Super Bowl over the next couple of seasons.

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PFF: Bills’ Stefon Diggs had most yards vs. press coverage past 2 seasons

PFF: #Bills’ Stefon Diggs had most yards vs. press coverage past 2 seasons:

WR Stefon Diggs has put up some career numbers since joining the Buffalo Bills in a March 2020 trade that brought him to Orchard Park.

The seven-year pro out of Maryland is coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl season complete with a new career-best 10 touchdown catches.

What’s more, Diggs ranks first in receiving yards versus press coverage over the last two seasons, ahead of none other than star NFL wideouts Cooper Kupp and Devante Adams:

With Josh Allen as his quarterback, Diggs has had some NFL-high stats at the receiver position over the past couple of years.

Buffalo made it to the AFC Championship game in the 2020 season and almost returned again this season, coming up short both times to Kansas City. Still, the team has owed a significant share of that progress to Diggs’ play.

The Bills number one receiver commands coverage and brings his signature route running to the club’s offensive drives, and has been very instrumental to their success. He may also be in line for a new contract soon.

In 2020, Diggs would finish the season leading the NFL with 1,535 receiving yards and 127 receptions. He followed that up with a 2021 campaign that included 1,225 yards receiving and 103 receptions.

With his play against coverage, he’s continuing to establish himself as being among the best WRs in the NFL.

With the emergence of fellow Bills wideout Gabriel Davis, and GM Brandon Beane possibly adding another talent to the receiving corps this offseason, it will be interesting to see what Diggs can accomplish next season as the passing game might open up even further.

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