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Week 14: All Three Units Awful In Rout
Nobody showed up for the Bills in this one.
by Steve Saslow
Here are our position by position grades:
Quarterback:
EJ Manuel was just plain awful. He threw four interceptions and two were on terrible passes. Just when it looked like the Bills may make a mini run in the third quarter he threw a terrible pass and was picked off by Mason Foster ending any though of a comeback. He had no answers for the pressure he received and was inaccurate most of the game.
Grade F-: Had a 31.2 QB rating.
Running Backs:
C.J. Spiller had an 83 yard TD on a screen pass called back by a penalty. Finished with 22 yards on 11 carries and was credited with 26 yards on that screen pass.
Fred Jackson was a non-factor for the first time this year. He just wasn't a big part of the gameplan until the game was out of reach. Only ran the ball five times for 12 yards and caught four passes for just 26 yards and had a drop.
Ronnie Wingo had his first carry on the final play of the game for four yards and one catch for two yards.
Grade F: Just didn't help out an anemic offense.
Receivers:
Stevie Johnson didn't seem to shake off the fumble against Atlanta. He dropped a pass and deflected another that went for an interception. He did lead the way with five catches for 67 yards.
Robert Woods was drilled by Darelle Revis after a catch and the ball bounced out of his hands and into the hands of Lavonte David who returned it deep into Buffalo territory. He was then called for a holding penalty that wiped out the score by Spiller. Had three catches for 20 yards.
T.J. Graham had his only catch called back by a penalty.
Marquise Goodwin was called for a holding penalty that negated a good run by Spiller. That was the only time he was even brought up on offense. Did not get one ball thrown his way.
Scott Chandler had two catches for 24 yards and actually tackling Stevie Johnson on a play downfield.
Grade F: They were awful as well.
Offensive Line:
Eric Wood was called for a false start penalty and a holding penalty as he may have had his worst game as a Bill.
Kraig Urbik was called for a holding penalty negating a completion.
J.J. Unga was active for the first time and saw some action at right guard.
Cordy Glenn was beaten for a sack in the third quarter.
Erik Pears was called for a false start on the very next play after Wood's penalty.
Grade F-: Worst unit in a game where every unit was awful. Seven sacks and too many pressures to count.
Defensive Line:
Mario Williams got pressure on Glennon to force him to throw it away on third down.
Marcell Dareus got the team's only sack in the third quarter.
Kyle Williams was very quiet in this game with just one tackle.
Jerry Hughes was called for a neutral zone infraction on 3rd and 5 giving the Bucs a first down late in the first half. Had one tackle for a loss.
Alan Branch deflected the first pass of the game.
Grade D: Didn't get much pressure against a much maligned offensive line.
Linebackers:
Manny Lawson had a nice tackle for a three yard loss in the third quarter. He had six tackles.
Kiko Alonso missed a tackle on Rainey's 80 yard TD run. He made a nice tackle at the line of scrimmage on a shovel pass in the final minute of the first half. Made a nice open field tackle on a screen pass that went for an 8 yard loss. He had a very pedestrian six tackles.
Ty Powell was one of the many young players getting playing time. He was used off the edge and got some good pressure on and containment at times.
Grade C: Average at best for this unit.
Secondary:
Jairus Byrd got a nice interception early in the second quarter after Manuel threw a pick. He called for a pathetic roughing penalty when he hit the QB in his thigh with his shoulder.
Stephon Gilmore had a beautiful interception at the three yard line. He then broke up a bomb down the field on the next possession. Was called for a holding penalty.
Leodis McKelvin was beaten for a 22 yard gain by Jackson. He was then called for pass interference on a long sideline pattern even though it looked borderline at best.
Nickell Robey was beaten by Jackson for a 38 yard touchdown. He was called for pass interference on the play but the ball was caught anyway.
Aaron Williams broke up a pass in the end zone.
Grade C-: Two interceptions overshadowed by big penalties and big plays given up in first half.
Special Teams:
Brian Moorman took a big shot and drew a roughing the kicker penalty on his first punt. He had seven punts, three were inside the 20 and averaged 43.7 yards per kick and a 40.7 yard net.
Dan Carpenter hit both field goal attempts from 40 and 46 yards out for the team's only points.
Leodis McKelvin has dropped too many punts this year and finally lost one in this game. He fumbled another punt return but Da'Norris Searcy covered it up. He did average 7.2 yards on five punt returns
Marquise Goodwin averaged 15.7 yards on three kickoff returns.
Coverage Units gave up two punt returns for 21 yards and a 20 yard kickoff return.
Grade B: Not the reason for the loss.
Coaching:
Doug Marrone has seen what December football is like when you a Buffalo Bill. Atrocious and he didn't have his team ready to play. He looked dejected on the sidelines and the team feeds off of that mentality.
Nathaniel Hackett had no answers for the relentless front four of the Bucs defense.
Mike Pettine has to do what no Bills defensive coordinator has done in a decade, figure out how to stop the run. They failed again early in this game with the long TD.
Grade F: Things have gone backwards for this team.
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