Bills’ approach to player participation in plays builds confidence

Start by reviewing the running game and then move on to the passing plays, asking position groups and individual players what plays they would like (and wouldn’t like) to see called in the upcoming game. Allen takes notes from the meeting and passes the plays discussed to offensive coordinator Joe Brady.

The same meeting takes place every Friday after practice. Allen has led it since Brady instituted the meeting when he took over as interim offensive coordinator in Week 11 of the 2023 season. Offensive-only meetings, which are typically not long and are described by players as “super calm,” are held about 15 minutes after practice ends.

The meeting helps create an open dialogue for players to express what plays they like and don’t like, and facilitates conversation between position groups.

“It’s good, because other things like, say, tight ends don’t like it, like, ‘Hey, why don’t you like it? Oh, I didn’t think of it that way. That makes sense. Let’s get it out of the way.’ ‘” center Connor McGovern said.

That approach from Brady and Allen fosters buy-in for the offense, across the board, and allows for player input into what’s called during games.

Rookie running back Ray Davis compared the meetings to a band getting together and figuring out what songs they like to play.

Players have also progressed to texting Brady if there are specific things they like, or writing them down during practices.

“I think a lot of it comes down to ownership, guys taking responsibility,” Allen said. “If I told Joe I want this play and he calls it, I have to go and make it work because we’re taking a risk in terms of him trusting us. And as long as we keep running some of the Plays that we like, he’s going to keep calling them. … Joe always talks about how the biggest reward for doing them is the opportunity to do more.”

And this offense is certainly doing more. The Bills are off to an 8-2 start, the team’s best since 1993, while Allen has put together a commanding performance behind a consistent offensive line. He’s also getting help like never before with the highest yards after catch per reception in 10 games (6.7) of his career and Allen unusually isn’t the team leader in rushing touchdowns (James Cook, 8). The offense behind those numbers will be on display in the eighth meeting between the Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs since 2020 on Sunday (4:25 p.m. EST, CBS).

Part of the Bills’ offensive woes this season have included slower starts, and allowing an undefeated Kansas City team that has been losing in eight of nine wins this season to linger is a dangerous approach. The Bills have been trailing at halftime in five games this season, and won three of them. In two other games, they only led by one point at halftime, despite a +9.7 scoring margin per game during the season. Even amid slow starts, Brady says he prefers to run where players are confident, reflecting the belief that success will come.

“Obviously, I want us to get off to a quick start, but I want the guys to know that I’m going to trust them and the plays that they have and that they want,” Brady said. “And I also believe in plays.”

Here’s a breakdown of some of the plays chosen by Bills players, and the players explain the details of their preferences.

TE Dawson Knox’s play selection

Week 8, Bills at Seahawks: 13:58 | First quarter | First and 10 | BUF 10 | 0-0

Playback result: Allen to Knox for a 23-yard gain

“The play we opened with was one I wanted to defend, which was 100% Joe Brady’s scheme,” TE Dawson Knox said. “He wanted the first play to be called. Josh did a great job of alerting him, but I wanted it to be called because I thought it was a great play, a great scheme by [Brady] and grateful to have received the call.

Knox said that when he decides to defend a certain play, he looks for: whether it worked in practice; if you think they will get the right look from the defense and; if it features tight ends.

This was the first offensive play called by the Bills against the Seahawks in Week 8.

McGovern said that as soon as Allen sits down for the weekly meeting, he says, “‘All right, Connor, Dave [left guard David Edwards]I know you want a goalie to start.'” The play is a middle zone to the left. McGovern also said that Brady approached him on the plane to Seattle to ask him what he wanted to see run, but before he could even answer, the coordinator already knew it.

“It’s a good way to see the defense, how they’re going to play, and then if we can get it going, then it gets the play action going,” McGovern said. “So before we start that, other things open up.”

They ran it early in Seattle, and McGovern said it came out perfectly in the middle of what ended up as an opening 14-play scoring drive.

QB Josh Allen’s play choice

Week 8, Bills at Seahawks: 1:08 | Second quarter | Third and 3 | MAR 36 | 7-3 Buffalo advantage

Playback result: Allen runs for nine yards. The result of the drive was a touchdown pass to TE Dalton Kincaid.

“Third down, third and short. There was a timeout. Go to the sideline. I told them a play I wanted, and he called it, and it worked, and I’m glad it worked. But for me [Brady]It’s also like ‘Okay, I trust this guy in what he’s seeing.’ And having a healthy relationship like that with your OC and him trusting you in that way, it’s a really good feeling.”

In some cases, Allen will communicate on the sidelines what plays he thinks are good to run during the game. Sometimes that happens during timeouts with quarterbacks coach Ronald Curry often serving as a playmaker on the sideline while Brady is in the booth.

“Many times, while I communicate even [Curry]…’Josh, any thoughts on Josh?’ or ‘Hey, what’s he thinking?'” Brady said. “And there might be a timeout, and he goes to the sideline and tells RC, ‘Hey, give me this. Hey, tell Joe.'”

Practice squad quarterback Mike White, who joined the team at the beginning of the season, emphasized that outside of the quarterback room, he had never seen this approach before. White said he noticed how doing so gave the players a sense of ownership. He pointed to Brady’s experience as a wide receiver in college and not being too far removed from the game as background that helped in that approach.

For Brady and Allen, that trust is key.

“There [were] play [against the Colts] where [Allen] He comes to the sideline like, ‘Give me that play,’ and he’s going to make it work,” Brady said. “And if he doesn’t, it’s not the end of the world. “I will continue to trust him in the next game, so I believe in ownership and most of the time he will find a way.”

Allen leads the NFL in rushing touchdowns (10) and pressures (nine) as he prepares to face a Chiefs defense that has attacked at the third-highest rate in the NFL this season. Allen’s four interceptions are his fewest in 10 games, and he is tied for the lowest sack total of his career in 10 games (13) last season.

RB James Cook’s play selection

Week 2, Bills against the Dolphins: 3:45 | Second quarter | 1 and 10 | MIA 49 | 17-7 Buffalo advantage

Playback result: Allen delivers to Cook for a 49-yard touchdown

Cook scored three touchdowns in the team’s first win over Miami this season.

“The play goes to me first, and then how, the way the line was blocking it,” Cook said of why he called out this play.

After Allen handed the ball to Cook, he navigated a tight opening between McGovern and right guard O’Cyrus Torrence before finding space and then exploding up the sideline and finally down the field before turning toward the end zone.

The third-year running back is off to the best start of his running career, including a career-high nine touchdowns on the season. Value the ability to offer opinions.

Players like wide receiver Khalil Shakir and Davis expressed that while they appreciate open communication with Brady, expressing a desire for a certain play to be called isn’t necessarily in their wheelhouse.

“I think everything that’s going to happen, is going to happen,” Shakir said. “Whatever play I want called to me, if it’s meant to be overturned, it will be overturned. I’m a go-with-the-flow kind of guy.”

Cook, meanwhile, described Brady’s openness to calling the plays players want as “the best thing ever.”