Hank Balling: Sabres By The Numbers: Second Month in Review
- Hank Balling

Btw Hank. Nice work. Am of the opinion that Dahlin has pulled himself out of the abyss

It was a coin flip decision for the most part depending on the source.

I would have to think that by kicking the extra point, you extend the game and give yourself a slightly higher probability of winning.

Whereas by missing the two point convert it effectively ended the game, which it did.

Even if the Ravens got the two point convert, they would have led 32-31 and Aaron still would have had roughly 40 seconds and two times outs left to go get in position for a game winning FG
- Pegullaville

I feel like teams outsmart themselves going for two, usually using a novel play instead of their bread and butter.

On your potential defensemen to bring back for next season:

Pysyk - Yes
Miller - No

I feel like teams outsmart themselves going for two, usually using a novel play instead of their bread and butter.
- Wetbandit1

Pegulaville's possible explanation makes sense from that perspective. However, there are some intangibles that aren't figured into the equation. Which includes the difference between Jackson and Huntley on even making it, but also the fact that Green Bay's special teams were awful in that game. And I think they only had one time out (i think)

Btw Hank. Nice work. Am of the opinion that Dahlin has pulled himself out of the abyss
- Michael Pachla

Amazes me that it took only 6 games to pull himself from "lost cause" bin.

Weren't we trading that "bust" just 2 weeks ago?

Amazes me that it took only 6 games to pull himself from "lost cause" bin.

Weren't we trading that "bust" just 2 weeks ago?
- Powerslave

That's how it's done here

so why did the analytics say not to go for it at the end?

honest question
- Michael Pachla

I think Harbaugh mentioned at his presser that the analytics favored going for 2 slightly. I do agree that having Huntley instead of Jackson should've played into his decision tho

I think Harbaugh mentioned at his presser that the analytics favored going for 2 slightly. I do agree that having Huntley instead of Jackson should've played into his decision tho
- joevthree

I think it did

Would u wanna go into overtime with Hundley vs Aaron Rodgers?
I don’t think the odds would’ve favored BAL at all in OT
Going for 2pts there was likely their best chance to win

Amazes me that it took only 6 games to pull himself from "lost cause" bin.

Weren't we trading that "bust" just 2 weeks ago?
- Powerslave

Gotta love the constant overreaction on here

Pegulaville's possible explanation makes sense from that perspective. However, there are some intangibles that aren't figured into the equation. Which includes the difference between Jackson and Huntley on even making it, but also the fact that Green Bay's special teams were awful in that game. And I think they only had one time out (i think)
- Michael Pachla

Yeah, I was speaking more in generalities.

I haven't even seen that play, just the very end of it.

I think it did

Would u wanna go into overtime with Hundley vs Aaron Rodgers?
I don’t think the odds would’ve favored BAL at all in OT
Going for 2pts there was likely their best chance to win
- jdfitz77

Yet if Aaron drives them down for a game winning field goal, they still don’t make it to OT regardless.

I don't know how I feel about this Saints-Bucs game in the context of last week.

I don't know how I feel about this Saints-Bucs game in the context of last week.
- buffalofan19

I think that if we've learned anything in the league it is that there are no dominant teams. Nothing is surprising anymore.

I think Harbaugh mentioned at his presser that the analytics favored going for 2 slightly. I do agree that having Huntley instead of Jackson should've played into his decision tho
- joevthree

“John Harbaugh made a clear cut analytics mistake when he did not go for 2 down 8. The go for 2 at the end of the game down 1 thing is not even an analytics thing it pretty much is a toss up. Wild to see a coach get burned on it twice in a few weeks.”

https://twitter.com/pagan.../1472726018033082368?s=21

“My strongest take on this:

Under the condition that the Ravens would go for 2 at the end of the game, they should have gone for 2 after the prior touchdown (when they were down 8).

Together, these decisions don't make sense”

https://twitter.com/benbb.../1472726299013754886?s=21

I don't know how I feel about this Saints-Bucs game in the context of last week.
- buffalofan19

It's a divisional game

“John Harbaugh made a clear cut analytics mistake when he did not go for 2 down 8. The go for 2 at the end of the game down 1 thing is not even an analytics thing it pretty much is a toss up. Wild to see a coach get burned on it twice in a few weeks.”

https://twitter.com/pagan.../1472726018033082368?s=21

“My strongest take on this:

Under the condition that the Ravens would go for 2 at the end of the game, they should have gone for 2 after the prior touchdown (when they were down 8).

Together, these decisions don't make sense”

https://twitter.com/benbb.../1472726299013754886?s=21
- Pegullaville

I think the Bills did this very thing against Baltimore 2 years ago. They got the conversion but didn't get the next TD anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/w...el=VeteransOfThePsychWars

Yet if Aaron drives them down for a game winning field goal, they still don’t make it to OT regardless.
- Pegullaville

Well sure
But Rodgers could’ve possibly done that whether they went for 2 or tied it,
so that point just doesn’t matter

Looks like the line to watch tonight will be Murray - Cozens - Tuch.

Alex Tuch is set to make his Sabres debut tomorrow!

That & updates on Tage Thompson in today’s practice report.

#LetsGoBuffalo | @1LECOM https://t.co/rpK1uVJyis

https://twitter.com/Buffa...FTjXpfEK88IVjvJS1vnA&s=19

On your potential defensemen to bring back for next season:

Pysyk - Yes
Miller - No
- kingcong39

Sign me up for that

I like how many people here called McDermott a female dog for not being more aggressive and going for it on 4th down

Then harbough does something similar and fails. Now he’s the worst coach ever for going for it.


Which is it ladies?

I like how many people here called McDermott a female dog for not being more aggressive and going for it on 4th down

Then harbough does something similar and fails. Now he’s the worst coach ever for going for it.


Which is it ladies?
- Sabretooth9

Never said Harbaugh was the worst coach ever, all I said was blaming analytics for it was false.

Looks like the line to watch tonight will be Murray - Cozens - Tuch.

Alex Tuch is set to make his Sabres debut tomorrow!

That & updates on Tage Thompson in today’s practice report.

#LetsGoBuffalo | @1LECOM https://t.co/rpK1uVJyis

https://twitter.com/Buffa...FTjXpfEK88IVjvJS1vnA&s=19


- kingcong39

Cozens with an actual winger.

Never said Harbaugh was the worst coach ever, all I said was blaming analytics for it was false.
- Pegullaville

Say what you will about analytics, Harbaugh's aggressive use of them has won him far more games than it's lost. It's not an exact science, though, which is why you end up with results like games against Pittsburgh and Green Bay.

As far as McDermott is concerned, I genuinely believe he got spooked by what happened in Tennessee. However, once the record the Bills' record fell to 7-6, I think (or more appropriately, hope) a sort of "nothing to lose" mentality set in, hence the going for it on 4th and 2. Although, I do not believe it was that much of a risk. Even if you fail at that, you're still up two scores with 2 minutes left against a team without a kicker, or an offense that could move the ball with any sort of quickened pace.

Say what you will about analytics, Harbaugh's aggressive use of them has won him far more games than it's lost. It's not an exact science, though, which is why you end up with results like games against Pittsburgh and Green Bay.

As far as McDermott is concerned, I genuinely believe he got spooked by what happened in Tennessee. However, once the record the Bills' record fell to 7-6, I think (or more appropriately, hope) a sort of "nothing to lose" mentality set in, hence the going for it on 4th and 2. Although, I do not believe it was that much of a risk. Even if you fail at that, you're still up two scores with 2 minutes left against a team without a kicker, or an offense that could move the ball with any sort of quickened pace.
- buffalofan19

do you have the game-by-game empirical data to back that up?