After the Buffalo Bills’ 35-25 loss in Washington eliminated the franchise from playoff contention, defensive end Mario Williams had some pointed comments about the team’s game plan.
Mario criticized the #Bills subbing to match personnel: "If you're a bully on the field you don't let anything else dictate what you do."
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) December 20, 2015
Regardless of whether you’re a bully team or not, matching personnel is a practical need, so that’s not an incredibly compelling case. When the changes happen, though, is relevant, and Williams took issue with that.
Mario: "We're trying to switch men as they're coming out of the huddle. That's happened a few times in 10 years with me. A few times."
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) December 20, 2015
Williams couldn’t be more correct there. This doesn’t paint a picture of a team that has a sense of what they want to do. When the opposing team is coming out of the huddle, good defenses aren’t scrambling men on and off of the field. That’s a sign of disarray and even mediocre offenses can usually find where the problems are and exploit them. Obviously, the Redskins did that today.
Before the game began, it was reported that Williams might be playing his final games in a Bills uniform and while he didn’t exactly confirm that thought after the game, he didn’t deny it either.
More Mario on next year: "Now, me personally, if I don't fit in the scheme, if it's just me and it's obvious it's just me, then so be it."
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) December 20, 2015
Rex Ryan also said that changes may be coming in Buffalo.
Whether those changes will include Williams, Ryan, or both remains to be seen.