Bills OC Joe Brady on offensive plan in 2024: 'I think some of that is still TBD' 

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady took over midway through the 2023 season and helped get the offense back on track, employing a more balanced approach, which helped unleash Josh Allen.

Brady had the offseason to fully implement his plan for the 2024 Bills offense as the club reshuffled the wide receiver room. Heading toward training camp, the OC conceded on the “Centered on Buffalo” podcast with former Bills offensive lineman Eric Wood that the plan is always fluid and will likely depend on how things shake out during training camp.

“Some of that remains to be determined,” said Brady. “When you get down to it, in football we’re all running the same plays, they might just be named or taught slightly differently. The differences come in the blocking schemes or the routes and depths of the timing and alignments. Ultimately, we’re all running similar plays. For me, it’s most important to fine-tune the details and ensure our execution is flawless, making sure we’re all on the same page with our splits and understanding Josh’s eye movements. It’s important to know where the ball carrier is going and how he’s interpreting the play. It’s less about the specific plays and more about how we’re executing them and refining those procedures.”

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One noticeable change when the Bills fired Ken Dorsey and promoted Brady to play-calling duties was the team’s commitment to the run. After Brady took over in Week 11, the Bills generated more than 100 yards rushing in each contest, including a 266-yard Week 15 against Buffalo.

Brady explained to Wood that the reliance on the running game was more a reaction to how defenses confronted Allen and the Bills, rather than an overarching philosophy.

“He commented that last year’s fun elements and aspects he hopes to improve upon taught him that finding various winning strategies as an offense can really challenge defenses. He also mentioned the subtle difference between personality and identity, explaining that a team shouldn’t simply decide to throw the ball with every play, neglecting the element of toughness. Instead, they should seek diverse ways to win and identify their strengths against the opposing defense.”

The Bills’ run game, with James Cook and Allen leading the way, helps open the entire offense. Given the revamped receiving corps, we expect Brady to lean on the ground game once again, particularly early in the season.

Another aspect of Brady’s strategy is to make things easier for Allen. The Offensive Coordinator wants the quarterback to understand that he doesn’t need to be the hero in every play, but rather find the simple outlet to advance the game.

“Josh is an exceptional quarterback, but his desire to continuously improve is really notable,” Brady said. “Even when we show him footage of an amazing play he made, we remind him that not every play has to be incredible. We’re always trying to figure out how to simplify the game for him. He has the ability to make plays that no one else can, but we don’t need him to do that every time. Our focus is on executing routine plays consistently and making the game smoother for him. He communicates effectively with the skill group, even during routes, often saying, ‘Hey guys, this is how I see it.'”

This season, the Bills are relying on Allen to elevate their entire offense. The continued success of the ground game under Brady will assist the Pro Bowl QB in doing precisely that when the circumstances require it.