Bills #1 Problem – Play Calling

The Buffalo Bills play against the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday in what really is a battle of very disappointing teams this year.  Buffalo should be able to handle whatever the Chiefs throw at them provided that they stick to an offensive game plan and stick with it for the entire game.  Buffalo appears to be over-thinking their offensive game plan far too much rather than sticking to what made them successful and adjusting once a defence is able to stop them.  So far this season Buffalo has done a great job utilizing screen plays in order to utilize Fred Jackson as well as to lure defenses in in order to free up mid range and deeper passes.  Too often this season Buffalo has shown that they have a diverse attack on offense only to play their next game and not utilize all the plays that helped them to succeed the game before.

Buffalo does not have the luxury of having a complete, healthy and game tested offensive line and must utilize play action and screen plays more often.  When they do these things, they are able to move the ball well and put points on the board.  Buffalo is in trouble when they decide to square up against teams and attempt to beat them with their QB’s arm or running up the middle trying to prove their offensive line can hold up against the other team’s defence.  Buffalo needs to understand that the only thing that needs to be proven is that they can win.  Buffalo and their coaches need to accept that they do not have the offensive line to pull off half of their playbook and need to instead focus on the plays that they can have success with.

This game will come down to Alex Van Pelt.  His play calling will be the difference between winning and losing this game.  Buffalo has so many weapons but not enough protection and it is on Alex Van Pelt to figure out how to exploit his weapons while maximizing on their weakness; the offensive line.  At some point Buffalo needs to adjust their play calling to fit their personnel, and although he is a defensive coach, Perry Fewell needs to understand that he is now the head coach and must make the necessary adjustments on offense as well.  How he handles the rest of the season, and to a smaller degree, the Chiefs, will speak volumes on how successful he can be at scoring an interview for what will be the vacant Buffalo Bills head coaching job at the end of the year.  He cannot leave it in the hands of first year coordinator Alex Van Pelt as he has proven thus far to only be a capable QB coach, which is not what you want in an offensive coordinator.

Tags: Alex Van Pelt, Buffalo Bills, Perry Fewell