Tag: Sean McDermott

PODCAST: Has the Bills offense made a turnaround?

Bills Wire Buffalo Bills podcast recap of the team’s Week 11 win over the Miami Dolphins.

The Buffalo Bills went down to Miami and took care of the business, squishing the “fish”(mammals) in their second encounter of the season with a score of 37-20. It was the most points accrued by this Bills offense all season, and they shined in all aspects. Mustached Buffalo offense coordinator Brian Daboll got it done.

Despite what their record may say, Mimai was a valiant team, and had been riding high on a two-game win streak, but the Bills slowed them down. There were a few moments where the Dolphins had opportunities to take over the game, but they could not capitalize.

Miami only attempted to rush a mere 13 attempts for 23 yards, a questionable decision since rushing up the middle worked to their advantage in the first encounter.

The offense for Buffalo was essentially fan service against Miami, and the Bills social media crowd got their way. Devin Singletary was the primary running back, getting key downs and leading the rushing yardage. Quarterback Josh Allen heaved the ball around, hitting wideout John Brown for two touchdown passes, further cementing Brown’s roster spot for years to come. Brown, who many have only viewed as “just a deep ball guy” has shown that he can be the No. 1 receiver that the team has desperately needed for a long time.

Billswire Podcast Hosts Matt Johnson and Jeremy Juhasz explore the big win in Miami, and look ahead ahead toward Denver next week:

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5 takeaways from the Bills’ 37-20 win over the Dolphins

Five takeaways from the Buffalo Bills’ win over the Miami Dolphins in Week 11.

There were some concerns for the Buffalo Bills heading into their Week 11 meeting with the Miami Dolphins.

The Dolphins entered the game on a two-game winning streak. Could the Bills make that three? Turns out, the answer is now as the Bills topped the Dolphins 37-20, earning a 7-3 record in the process with the win.

With that, here are five takeaways from the Bills’ win over the Dolphins:

Buffalo Bills kicker Stephen Hauschka. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Stephen Hauschka is back

To keep Stephen Hauschka or not keep Stephen Hauschka? That has been the question for the Bills. In Week 10, Hauschka cost the Bills. First he missed an easy kick from 34 yards in the first half against the Browns in an eventual 19-16 loss. Then the more glaring miss was a wide kick on a potential game-tying kick, but it was a hard one. It was from 53 yards. However, Hauschka missed five-straight kicks from 50-plus yards. It had started to become a concern.

Hauschka put any concerns to rest against Miami. He converted on three kicks against Miami, including his first, from 51. Hauschka also hit from 34 and 21 yards in the win. He said all week he needed to maintain his composure heading into his team’s meeting with the Dolphins after an off-week, and he certainly did.

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Jerry Hughes won’t discuss tweet about Myles Garrett

Buffalo Bills DE Jerry Hughes on Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett.

Just about 99 percent of the internet decide that Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett was in the wrong on Thursday and he certainly was.

Garrett got in a mix up with Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and ripped his helmet off and swung it at him.

Garrett and others have since been suspended, Garrett is done for the year while Rudolph was fined by the NFL for his part.

But of those leaving comments about the incident, Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes left a bit of a cryptic message. He did not condone what Garrett did, but tweeted: “It’s a violent game played by violent ppl (people).”

Hughes was approached by a group of reporters on Friday in the Bills locker room following the team’s final day of practice ahead of their Week 11 meeting with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Hughes was very annoyed when asked about the tweets.

“My team runs the tweet. I don’t talk about the internet. It’s not real,” Hughes said.

Interrupting a follow-up question, Hughes repeated himself.

“My team runs the tweet. I don’t talk about the internet. It’s not real,” Hughes said. “Are we going to talk about the team coming up [the Dolphins]? Are we going to talk about the Dolphins, guys? Are we not talking about the Dolphins? We’re not talking about the Dolphins?”

The only thing further that Hughes would address is what his coach, Sean McDermott, said about the incident. Earlier in the day, McDermott revealed that he told his players in a team meeting that Garrett’s type of behavior was unacceptable.

“He addressed the team and he said we shouldn’t do that. Everyone says don’t hit someone in the head with a helmet. So we’re moving forward. We’re focused on the Dolphins,” Hughes said.

“I haven’t thought too much about it, not thinking about it,” Hughes added. “I’m focused on Miami, how we can go down there and get a win, so we can get back on track.”

While Hughes is focusing on Miami and not his tweets, he might want to delete this questionable message. He then later followed up his interview with another tweet which was a video of another helmet-swinging incident in 2013 with an emoji shrugging shoulders:

For what it’s worth, Hughes is also the only Bills player who might not play against the Dolphins. He was listed on the team’s final injury report as questionable with a groin injury. That also could have factored into his emotions.

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Sean McDermott says Bills discussed Myles Garrett in team meeting

Buffalo Bills’ Sean McDermott on Cleveland Browns’ Myles Garrett.

Browns pass rusher Myles Garrett send shockwaves across the sporting world on Thursday Night Football when he ripped Mason Rudolph’s helmet right off the Steelers QB’s head and swung it at him.

Some analysts, fans, and even players have suggested legal action against him.

Like most, the Bills were watching when things unfolded or saw a replay of the action. Buffalo head Sean McDermott is amongst that faction.

“My reaction is, there’s no place in the game for that. Absolutely none,” McDermott said to WGR-550 radio.

The coach said he was so taken aback by what happened, he discussed the incident with his team during a meeting earlier Friday morning.

“We talked about it this morning in a team meeting. Just to make sure we are on the same page. When you take someone’s well-being into your own hands, that’s crossing the line. We like to believe we do things right, that we’re a class organization and it is a physical, aggressive sport. But there is a line,” McDermott said.

“The general message was that we’re an aggressive, physical football team, and within that, there’s going to be some penalties. It’s an aggressive sport. Things get called once in a while. We understand that, I understand that. There’s a line that, as a class organization, you don’t cross,” McDermott added.

Tempers certainly run high during a football game, but even football-lifer types of folks like McDermott are stunned at Garrett’s actions. Many Bills players took to Twitter to say just as much in the moment as well on Thursday. Offensive lineman Jon Feliciano was among them and suggested Garrett’s NFL career could be over.

“Myles Garrett about to be the star player in the XFL,” Feliciano said.

 

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Jerry Hughes, Dawson Knox pop up on Bills injury report

According to the team’s injury report, rookie tight end Dawson Knox and defensive end Jerry Hughes both appeared on team’s injury report.

The Bills have been extremely healthy for this time of year.

It’s 11 weeks into the regular season and they opened up their first injury report ahead of facing the Dolphins with nobody on it. That changed on Thursday.

According to the team’s injury report, rookie tight end Dawson Knox and defensive end Jerry Hughes both appeared on it. Both of those players were listed to have knee and groin injuries, respectively. Knox practiced in a limited capacity while Hughes did not practice at all.

Neither player appeared on the injury report a day prior, so one can assume the injuries took place in practice on Thursday.

While chatting with reporters following Thursday’s practice, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said he’s expected Knox to practice on Friday.

“It’s nothing to be worried about,” the coach said. “Some knee soreness.”

There were no updates on Hughes’ status.

Both are worth monitoring on Friday.

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Josh Allen reveals what Sean McDermott told offense

The Bills offense hasn’t been great in 2019 or in recent years. 

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The Bills offense hasn’t been great in 2019 or in recent years.

Quarterback Josh Allen is the centerpiece of that unit, which is ranked 23rd in the NFL in yards per game and 25th in points per game.

Allen has made some strides in Year 2. He’s not throwing as many interceptions and his completion percent, while not great, is up from 52.8 to 59.9 percent.

But perhaps those trends are indicating Allen is playing it safe and as a result, the scoring is down because the offense isn’t taking many risks. According to the QB on Wednesday, Sean McDermott sent a message to the offense which indicates the head coach wants to perhaps start rolling the dice.

“At the beginning of the year, I wasn’t doing a good enough job of protecting the football. I’ve made that very important to me,” Allen said. “[This week], Coach sat us all down today and said ‘play fearless.’ To have that green light and that confidence from him still, that means a lot. Not saying I’m gonna go out there and be reckless, they’re two different terms for a reason. Just being very aware of what’s going on but not trying to be gun shy about anything.”

Earlier that same day, McDermott spoke to reporters prior to practice. After fielding numerous questions about the offense, the coach walked out of his press conference. It was not a famous, headline-grabbing, fist-slamming type of exit, but McDermott answered a question with 14 words and left in under 10 minutes of his presser. Usually his press conferences last double that.

But heck, maybe that’s a good sign. We don’t know when McDermott told his QB to “play fearless.” Was he pissed about the presser that just ensued and it lit a fire in him? Most observers of the Bills would be fine with that.

Had the coach already told that to him at press conference time? Well that probably explains some frustration. In McDermott’s mind, he was probably figuring, “Guys, I know.”

Now we wait to find out what playing fearless is.

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Stephen Hauschka says he didn’t feel ‘ideal’ vs. Browns

Stephen Hauschka has been a oft-reliable during his Bills career. Against the Cleveland Browns in Week 10, he was not. 

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Stephen Hauschka has been a oft-reliable during his Bills career. Against the Cleveland Browns in Week 10, he was not.

Hauschka missed from 34 yards and again from 53 yards, the second of which was a game-tying kick attempt with under a minute left. It missed.

On Wednesday, Hauschka told reporters going into the game he wasn’t feeling 100 percent.

“Physically I feel good… mentally, technically, this job is… you’ve got to be on his every single week. Sometimes you head into a game not feeling, for whatever reason, not feeling ideal, and most of the time you kind of get away with it. Sometimes you don’t… that’s kind of how I feel after last week, so this week I just have to do everything normal and get back into this game and the routine,” Hauschka said.

“If you kick long enough in this league, you’re going to have an off day, you’re going to have an off game,” Hauschka added.

But the 34-year-old hasn’t seemed himself for some time. He’s missed his last five-straight kicks from 50-plus yards.

Still, he insisted he’s still holding his head high.

“You can paint it however you want. They haven’t gone in recently, but I’ve still got plenty of confidence. I make them in practice all the time,” Hauschka said.

In practice is one thing, in a game is another. The Bills won’t potentially lose a spot in the postseason picture thanks to a missed kick at practice. There’s a decent chance the Bills will have to rely on Hauschka at some point down the stretch.

As now, he still have his head coach’s confidence if things come down to his foot.

“Got a lot of confidence in Stephen and obviously it didn’t work out but, we’ll remain confident in Stephen as we move forward here,” Sean McDermott said.

Hauschka is currently hitting 61.5% of his kicks, a career low. He’s missed all three of his attempts from over 50 yards this season.

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Sean McDermot won’t compare Josh Allen, Tyrod Taylor, but we will

Comparing current Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen to Tyrod Taylor and what Sean McDermott said about it.

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As the story goes, the Bills replaced quarterback Tyrod Taylor with current second-year thrower Josh Allen.

Allen is now 20 starts into his NFL career, he’s 11-9 overall in those games. First compared by Jerry Sullivan from 1270: The Fan radio on Wednesday, the Bills have had strikingly similar numbers from one of their other most recent QBs.

That so happens to be Taylor.

Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott was asked to compare those two. He ushered in the exit of Taylor for Allen, after all.

McDermott declined to do so.

“I’m never going to compare or try to compare two players. I know they play the same position but both players are different players. A lot of respect for Tyrod. The player I’m most concerned with right now is Josh Allen, in terms of this question. Josh is focused on working and improving and it’s important that we keep improving around him as well. He takes great ownership and great accountability in that and as we go offensively, it’s important that we work on scoring points, that’s the name of the game. Score points and give yourself a chance to win,” McDermott said.

But here’s your big comparison. Both players have one excused outing in those last 20 games thanks to Nathan Peterman. He started the 2018 opener and then Allen jumped in. In 2017, he shockingly started over Taylor against the Chargers and Taylor replaced him. So in both of those outings, the outcome didn’t factor into the numbers for Allen and Taylor.

Having said that, Taylor was also 11-9 in his last 20 games as the Bills’ starting quarterback.

In addition, in that same time span, Allen has averaged 196 yards passing per game. Taylor lands at 195 in that same category.

 

Looking deeper, as dual-threat QBs, Allen has 34 total touchdowns in that time frame to 18 interceptions. Taylor is at a 34-8 ratio. Taylor has also thrown for 4,652 passing yards with a completion rate of 62 percent. Allen clocks in at 3,919 and 56 percent.

Breaking down this comparison, there’s still two sides of the coin to consider. First, the last 20 starts for Allen are the first 20 of his career. While there are skeptics, Allen is still young and hopefully there’s room for growth.

Having said that, Taylor wasn’t 22 like Allen, he spent a few years on the bench as a backup with the Ravens. But he wasn’t getting any playing time then, either. He was so basically a rookie as well.

Plenty of variables here to compare as well. Talent around the QBs, etc.

So, make what you will with the comparisons, but those are hard numbers.

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Sean McDermott shows frustration, abruptly leaves presser

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott displayed some rare frustrations in front of the camera on Wednesday.

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Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott displayed some rare frustration in front of the camera on Wednesday ahead of his team’s game against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11.

It’s no secret that the Bills have a better defense than offense. The defense is the NFL’s third-best, while the offense ranks No. 23 out of 32 teams.

The Bills’ bench boss was asked about any frustrations he may have with how the offense looks so far. After answering numerous questions about the unit, McDermott abruptly, for his standards, ended his press conference early.

“Am I concerned with… am I concerned with, the success of our offense?” McDermott responded when asked about his level of frustrations with the unit. “Move the ball, score points. If we don’t do that, I’m frustrated… Simply put.”

The press conference was then over at about nine minutes in length. McDermott walked away without fielding another question after this answer when such press conferences tend to last in the 15-20-minute range.

Here’s McDermott shutting things down via WKBW-TV:

While not quite a Herm Edwards’ “you play to win the game,” or Dennis Green’s “they are what we thought they were,” this isn’t usually the calm, cool, and collected public relations wizard the Bills have as their coach. A full video of the interview shows McDermott asking for the question to be more specific.

McDermott also was asked to compare Josh Allen and Tyrod Taylor, who McDermott decided to move on from. The coach wouldn’t do that, and it’s worth noting that Taylor was 11-9 in his last 20 starts with the Bills. Allen is 11-9 in his first 20.

Everyone can have their opinion on Allen or Taylor, but one thing seems for certain: McDermott wasn’t happy with the line of questioning.

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9 things to know about the Bills’ Week 11 opponent, the Dolphins

The Bills and Dolphins will complete their 2019 pair of games on Sunday in Week 11 from South Florida. These aren’t your father’s Dolphins, and they’re not your Dolphins from like a few weeks ago when Buffalo topped Miami in 31-21. Things have …

The Bills and Dolphins will complete their 2019 pair of games on Sunday in Week 11 from South Florida.

These aren’t your father’s Dolphins, and they’re not your Dolphins from like a few weeks ago when Buffalo topped Miami in 31-21. Things have changed in three short games since then.

With that, here are nine things to know about the Bills’ Week 1 opponent, the Dolphins:

Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott and Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores meet following the game at New Era Field. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Red hot Dolphins

The Bills were huge 15.5 opening favorites against the Dolphins in their first meeting. Buffalo took a 31-21 win and didn’t cover that. Actually it was nearly just a three-point win had it not been for a goofy onside kick score from Micah Hyde late.

But since then, it’s been smooth sailing for the Dolphins. After topping the New York Jets for their first win of the season, 26-18, Miami beat the Colts last week 16-12.

Yes, the tanking Dolphins are on a winning streak. Buffalo is still the favorite, but hey, if they’re hot, they’re hot. Along with their winning streak, the Dolphins have led in four-straight games as well, dating back to that loss in Buffalo.

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