Mister Defense

yeah, I think he and this defensive draft and others will turn out to be very good. But we need a defensive coach NOW who knows how to use them, or this will never show itself. Starting to hope for a loss after the bye, where we see a typical babbich type defense, and that ends this man's tenure in Buffalo promptly. A loss to save the season..

Yes, of course that needs to be done. And has likely been done to a degree already. But, just as with dorsey, it was clearly not just the play calling, but the preparation for the game and that specific opponent.The play calling fiasco with both 'coordinators' is just the tip of the iceberg. If the big, obvious things are so poor--for all to see-then just imagine the neglect of the smaller details that make an NFL defense a quality unit. Things fall apart, as they have under Babbich and as they did under dorsey when this happens. A great deal of the detail work that happens during the week and then carries over into the game needs a significant change, as is seems clear that Babbich simply does not know what he is doing across the board, as the problems are comprehensive. And extremely obvious. I don't think it is over stating things to say if McDermott does not make a move, the season will be lost, and there will be a clarion call for his own head--and this time not just from a small percentage of disgruntled fans, but from a majority. He is doing what he and Beane do too often--being soft, sentimental, and letting that override the facts--and their football sense. We also see it with players like Tre White, brought back and made the starter!!, YIKES, and the same for the many retreads the Bills keep bringing back, over and over. Marv Levy and Bill Polian almost never did that, always cut bait when it was needed and then did not have an open door, come on back whenever you want policy.

Surprised someone did not get to this sooner what with McDermott's comments about supporting Babbich. As he is not seeing clearly what most others are seeing in a crystal clear way. Maybe he was not lying about Babbich. Maybe he cannot see anymore, has a very faulty prescription with his new 1970s Elton John like shades. All starts to make sense now. The Mafia should immediately get it in gear and order up a slew of CORRECT prescription glasses for McD.

No,, expect it! Demand it. Recall: McD was giving the same no way he believes what he is saying endorsement of Dorsey--until he wasn't, and dorsey was out. Hogwash that McD does not have bigtime grave concerns about Babbich. Or he is stupid. Yes on the Jets--Justin Fields is the worst starting quarterback in the NFL, at least from what I have seen. These are his last days as a starting QB, unless they are tanking to get the QB they desperately need. Seems about right for that screwball owner/his teenage son. Justin Fields will be out the league shortly; cannot even imagine him as a backup if he still looks completely lost after getting all the reps as a starter. So yes, the Bills' only excellent full game defensive effort does not count for much.

you mean as DC--or head coach?

I really hate dumb, biased polls like this so almost never participate when I come across one--so loaded in their language, with no good options for many/most posters. Here? The only option for keeping McDermott is a flat out diumb response, that clearly shows the OPs bias: "He turned the team around and deserves more time." As if THAT is a common form of reasoning, and the main one!!, for those wanting to keep McDermott! Flat out ridiculous and over the top comical bias. As, per this poll, THAT reason would be the only, or main reason, folks who think McDermott should be the head coach, use to justify his continued tenure here. And what an awful reason, eight years into his tenure, presented in this dumb poll as the sole reason many would want to keep him. 100% nonsense. It completely invalidates the poll results, as THAT is not a reason almost any Bills' fans have for sticking with McDermott--so why on earth would they choose that?? Or participate in this mega biased poil, soley designed to get as many 'fire him' responses as possible--and as few 'keep him' responses as possible. Create a valid poll, one that makes sense and is reasonable, please. Don't wasted people's time.

Yes, but people were often saying the same thing about firing Brady in the middle of the season--won't happen, too risky for NFL teams to do that, as it almost never works out.... But, as with Babbich now, it seems the ONLY plausible thing to do would be to move on, that keeping him is the ultimate risky move now--keeping someone in this vital job who is not just bad, but seems awful, like he does not know what he is doing. Like with Dorsey, I think we both get our wish now--and Babbich is out very soon. Hopefully today, but no later than just as the bye week begins.

I agree that McD took over, as that is the pattern it seems. In games after ugly defensive performances, they often look like a completely different defense, and in all respects. Such as last week against the Pats, a much different defense than against the Saints. As if somehow a competent angel has taken over the brain of the incompetent Babbich and eliiminated all of his own thoughts about defense, replacing them with good thoughts. If so, then McD knows more than us that he has a rotting lemon on his hands, and needs to can it today. And that each day he waits it undermines his team and all who depend on it.

Noooo!! That makes literally, and I mean that literally no sense at all. A business has a manager at a high level position, one of the top 3 positions in a multi billion dollar company, and he is clearly failing miserably, consistently, and no real signs of progress. You would not say, "Let's let him keep doing this even though he is clearly undermining the success of a significant portion of the company, and his continued tenure means almost no chance of success"... You would not wait until the end of the year to fire that person, you would not put your company at risk and all who depend on it. If you know he is failing, and miserably failing, you would fire him. If you are now "99% sure" he is fired after the season, why the heck would you let such an incompetent person continue on this path when there is 65% of the season remaining?? That is not being nice but stupid. And that would only mean McDermott and Beane would also be acting incompetently as well, and putting their own jobs at risk, maybe for the first time. I love when McD talks about the defensive performance and has that shocked look on his face as he trashes their fundamentals. He knows. And will not wait until January.

And those huge gaping spaces and holes in both the secondary and on the line, for both the run and the pass have become Babich's calling card, his most consistent accomplishment to put on his resume now. He needs to lead with that, as that is the most consistent aspect of his defense almost 1.5 years into his tenure. Looked like the worst defense in the league in the first half and to me it was almost exactly the same way they looked against the Ravens, the fish, and the Saints--like a bottom 3 defense, like the cowgirls' defense. Almost no defense at all, the other team doing what it wanted at will, when and where they wanted. So when I think of more words define a Babbich defense, beyond the obvious, the lack of discipline, the horrible tackling, players consistently out of position, scary bad against the run...the words huge gaping holes sums it up, and fairly consistently. I realize the Bills have other problems too, but Babbich is a team killer, a dorsey, who cannot be allowed to continue as a defensive coordinator as he does not how to prepare his players, scheme well, or call a good defense. If Babich is still on the Bills' staff as DC by tomorrow I will be angry. If he is still on the staff a few days after the bye furious, as the season will be as lost, over, just as if McD had let the other incompetent coordinator finish the year a few years ago. Time to go. And the sooner the better. Literally, the Bills now must cut their losses. They owe loyalty to their players, the staff, the other, competent coaches, and the fans--not to one man who is clearly failing. And like Dorsey, is in waaaaaaaayy over his head.

Bills 27, Falcons 24 But if Tre White is out there at corner for the majority of the game the Bills will likely lose. He should not be on the field at all, but Beane has looked past this glaring weakness now for weeks. Inexplicable. White has been exposed and now the real damage will be done. Hope the Bills can create some turnovers and big plays on offense to overcome this. The Falcons are much better statistically than the the last three teams the Bills played, and the Bills struggled against all of them, losing to the Pats. Not confident in this obviously, but too hard to pick against the Bills to lose two games in a row.

In my view we are in a 'dire situation'. Tre White will cost us more games going forward, and maybe against the Falcons in their dome. Shocked and bewildered that Beane did nothing, zero, the last few weeks to replace a player who cannot play the cornerback position any more on a consistent basis. He is a sitting duck now. That is dire in my view--White starting or playing any amount of meannigful snaps--and not only is there not a sense of urgency to remedy this obvious, glaring weakness, but NO moves, nothing at all.. A Beane supporter here, but this is bewildering to me. Are Atlanta's receivers extremely slow? Then, the Panthers'? The Chiefs'? Dolphins and Bucs?? Then the Texans', Steelers', Bengals'? If that is the case, that the Bills are about to face a slew of super slow wide outs, then I am relieved. If not, the shi* will keep hitting the fan. But since White has been exposed so clearly so often, it will now get worse and worse going forward. The Bills will need to move a safety and or corner up often this week to stop what may be the best running back in the NFL. What will that mean for White in coverage? Yikes sums it up for me.

Yup to all, but they need more than just Hairston, been saying that since the draft. They have to get some decent/good players for backups, depth. Or Tre White, who should never play for the Bills again, will soon be out there again. Cannot happen. If White cannot play the position effectively--and he cannot--then he cannot be a backup either. Bills need to get much much more diligent now in their pursuit of corners. It is shocking that Beane has not made any moves lately on this vital, completely undermanned position. And I am a Beane supporter. The Bills are not contenders now, and won't be until they get several good corners--anyway they can get them.

But he looked very bad against Miami too, though he had some good plays. The pattern this year it seems. He looks like he cannot run or move, twist and turn..., with wide receivers now, in general. He seems to be the weakest link on the defense, and gives up conversions too often. He has excellent technique but that often does not matter if he cannot keep up with the players he is covering. He looks like he did last year when playing for the other two teams, some good plays but too many bad plays to be a viable NFL corner now, a starter or a backup. If he was a weak running back, that is different. That would mean he is getting fewer yards per carry than others. But as a weak NFL corner, it means he can give up big, important plays, conversions, touchdowns on a fairly consistent basis. If I was an offensive coordinator and need an important play, I would definitely target White. And likely be rewarded for this choice. I think Tre White should not be playing for the Bills now, as he is a liability and will cost the Bills games going forward, as his weaknesses are going to be obvious to all offensive coordinators now. He was one of my favorite Bills in this era. It would be awful to see him embarrass himself and also cost Bills' games, as that may be our lasting impression of a once excellent player.

Yup on your last point. But cannot have a player at that position, period, who makes a good play HALF of the time. After the Miami game I said basically what you are saying about that, but with the understanding that that is why he should never again play corner for the Bills. Just think of the repercussions at THAT position. He is a sitting duck, as a cornerback with that lack of consistency would give one big, vital play after another--or, every other play. If you were a QB and there is an important play to make, for a third down, or to score, who would you target? I know that Tre White would be my man, and that is what we are seeing now, over and over. It will get even worse now as there is so much tape on how disarmingly poor White is now. Can't have that, not if you hope to be a contender. I will say it again--they need to get players right now in there who can cover NFL wide receivers consistently. No matter what it takes, including player for player swaps, trades for draft picks, off of practice squads--need players who at least have the ability, the potential, to cover NFL wide receivers, as Tre White clearly does not. It may be a roll of the dice, but they made a mistake of rolling the dice with a player who clearly did not look like an NFL corner last year and rolled snake eyes as a result. Now they need to take much more intelligent chances, rather then ignoring the facts, such as what was so clear to anyone watching White last year.

Tre White was done as an NFL cornerback last year. Just some strange rose colored glasses and affection for the man himself caused the Bills to make this very bad move. He can't run or move fast enough to be an NFL player anymore. We all saw him last year and then up close this year. Time to cut their losses, Tre White, and search every practice squad and trade option to get two cornerbacks. This week. Use the money they save by cutting White to sign these guys. Then let's sell that house and never use it again.

Kind of a duh one here--the Bills must, must, must get 2 capable cornerbacks as the cupboard is bare, and just as bare whether they do the right thing and cut White this week or keep him as either way they do not have a cornerback who can play the position consistently. True in the summer, true now--the Bills are in jeopardy of blowing this season, not giving themselves more than a tiny chance of winning it all, with White as cb. And they need depth behind Hairston/in front of him until he returns and after. Not a Beane basher, but maybe about to be if he does not fix this.

Wait, they are still The Cheats, even though their namesake, ol' Bill is gone? I did not know that. Vrabel seems honest enough-? Bills 31, patriots 21 I think the Bills' passing game comes alive against a pretty weak pass defense, as they set up the run with the pass. I will be there tonight, and if the defense looks horrible again Bobby and I will have a short, specific conversation right after the game..

If only... Then we would have a defense that looked like a McDermott defense, one of the best defensive coordinators and minds in the league. But I do think this week that may be the case against the patriots, as, like I said, McDermott has likely been pasted to Babich and the defense this week, after almost losing to the aints and the dolphins. And looking startlingly like last year's weak defense. So I hope this week, yes, a puppet. As McDermott needs to have his hand completely up his puppet's kiester, moving and directing it to match his coaching.

Okay, yes on the stats. BUT you have watched the last few games. I have very little confidence that they are going to en up as even a middle of the road defense on 3rd down. Do you have a lot of confidence that the positives you point out on 3rd down defense are what we will see going forward-=-and not the awful numbers? To me, they LOOK like a defense about to have an awful year at this again. And ditto for their run defense. Unless something dramatic is done. Hope you're right in that last point above. I have worked too hard in the off season, and during the season, to not field a championship contender. The long hours need to pay off..

Great stuff, had not read those quotes yet. The fact that he wants to be out there more, more than we had thought when signed, is such a promising sign for what he will do this year and in the future. As he seems to be enjoying it so much here, having a great time on a winning team, that I think he will want to be here long term, even if it may mean a little less money. And this will get much better once the defense is fixed, I think. And I believe that fix is on the horizon. Hope so, as he likely has several good years left as he is only 30.

Yes, of course, on Schwartz, a no brainer here, compared to what we have. And in general, a high level defensive mind and coordinator. And having a great year now, maybe his best, creating the best defense in the NFL on a team without a high level offense. The Cleveland defense after 4 weeks: #1 in total defense #1 in run defense #4 in pass defense I like him a lot as a DC, but sometimes it seems, and when here, that the type of defense he coaches breaks down more than the defenses of some of the other top DC's like Fagio's and others. Maybe they take too many chances at times, when not needed, and so then be exploited by good OC's ?? While I am fairly convinced, at least for now, that McD will soon take over for Babich, and turn things around dramatically, like Brady did, I think McDermott is too concerned with the big picture as head coach, with all aspects of his team, to be the defensive coordinator long term. So, will not want to continue to do that in the 2026 season if he is the guy for the rest of this year. So, let's hope for a Cleveland collapse!, the firing of their head coach, and Schwartz wanting out, or getting tossed out with the rest, as he is likely a very good choice for the Bills again. I know this will get some negative feedback but for a while have thought the combination of his defensive ideas and coaching philosophy and McD's would make for a superb long term defense for the Bills.

I agree that is a more likely scenario, possibly. Depends on circumstances how it is exactly done. I think the longer it takes maybe the more likely he is just demoted or dismissed. As it would be very obvious very soon to all, at that point in the season anyway, that Babich was done with his DC duties. Good point in the last sentence, had not considered that. Yes, and that is an understatement even--Frazier's defenses were MUCH more prepared and he was a dramatically better play caller than Babich. But McDermott took over as he did not like some of it--so imagine what he is thinking now!? And Beane too.

I agree. It will at least like an easier lift for the defense against the Patriots. At home, at night, and after a poor defensive performance, I expect the Bills to do what they almost always do in games like this--look a lot better on defense, and likely on offense too. Like I have said on here, the defense often looks almost the opposite of the previous week's defense in games after very poor performances and it seems clear that someone else is working VERY closely with the defense that weel, taking over, to get the ship upright. The Saints are better than people realize, or getting there. And Rattler could be a long term answer at QB. But I am more concerned with a QB like Mayes right now, as he has the big arm, legs, andthe dynamic playmaking ability of a future star QB. But on Sunday night, hoping for some defensive domination. Kind of expecting it maybe? I am not sure. But that won't mean the ship has been fixed.

? Hmm, well, not sure which team's young secondary you have been watching, but this is not a young, inexperienced starting secondary, except for Cole Bishop, in his second year. These are the facts: Tre White: 9th year in the NFL Taylor Rapp: 7th year Christan Benford: 4th year Taron Johnson: 8th year So, the only player of the five starters one can say is "inexperienced" is obviously Bishop, right? And I think Bishop is already playing better than Hamlin was last year. So, does the fact that the 'fact' you use to get to your position is naccurate make you reconsider your point? Think about this: what if the Bills' leaders are doing this, saying things, thinking things, that are simply untrue. What would be the result in general, and in this case, as they attempt to fix a poor defense? I think they would make awful decisions if they did things like this, consistently. They would be ignoring the actual problems, and instead focusing on things that are not relevant. And spinning their wheels, or worse, regressing. If you don't know what your actual problems are how can you fix them?