GunnerBill

I disagree. I think you can. The defense wasn't clutch in the big moments. Indisputable. But it doesn't invalidate everything else.

Frazier's D was a top 3 D. You are arguing with facts to say otherwise. If you want to say they were not clutch in the post season be my guest. But they were a top defense.

McDermott ran the defense quite differently in 2023 from Frazier though. There was plenty of Frazier's own influence in how he ran it. Each of the three DCs we have had (McD included) has run the defense quite differently even if the fundamentals of their scheme are broadly consistent. I am on record as not thinking the fundamental scheme is the issue. I know I am in the minority on that, but fine. True, I more meant about where he was apportioning the responsibility.

There was one person...... We had one of those. He is now Assistant Head Coach in Seattle.

This is all fair but to add that the confusion pre-snap and the 3rd down struggled are largely on Babich. Because they have not been issues prior to him being the DC. It is completely fair to put poor run defense and inconsistent pass rush on McDermott and to a lesser extent Beane, because those have been repeated problems across multiple DCs over many years and they haven't solved them either with scheme or player acquisition. It's also fair, of course, to say McDermott hired Babich and so is accountable for that. What it is not fair to say though is firing Babich would just be scapegoating. There are problems on this defense of his making. Wanting them to keep him to "punish" the HC for hiring him in the first place is an odd way of some fans (not saying you) thinking.

And he is particularly fond of the double overload blitz with off coverage behind. Which means not only is there a big window for a receiver to get into and be available to his Quarterback but if they can connect they basically have one man to beat on that side of the field. He seems to run that blitz at least once per game. I'm sure it will get home someday. McDermott should just order him to take it out of the playbook.

I point fingers at McDermott for the things that I think it is reasonable on a proper assessment of evidence to point fingers at him for. And I certainly don't give him credit for all the positives. A lot of what was right on defense the first six years of this regime was Leslie Frazier as much as it was anyone.

Yea, he really only got three years of backup level play from Phillips but I'm not blaming Beane for the injury. These things can't be helped.

Eight premium (day 1 or 2) picks in eight drafts on the defensive line by Brandon Beane. Only the two first rounders - Oliver and Groot are starters or have ever been proper starters. He has invested SIX day two picks on defensive linemen and from the four that happened before this past draft he has got just four years of rotational backup play from Harrison Phillips and now six years of situational pass rushing from AJE. It's the area of the roster where his return on investment is worst IMO and that's just the draft.... when you consider FA as well it is even more stark! But hey, he will "never apologise" for investing in the defensive line.

AJE played well Sunday.

He is definitely better than he was coming out.

Of course. That is not in dispute. But people are talking like the defense has always sucked and has never been good. People are saying that in this thread. And I'm afraid for as bad as the current defense is and looks that is simply not true.

while I totally agree with the assessment of where we are now the people who keep saying "the defense has never been good" and "it's the same every year" really do have short memories. Leslie Frazier had three top 3 ranked defenses and one other top 10 defense in six seasons here. They are consistently top 10 in the league in takeaways (ever season of McDermott) and under Frazier they were top ten on 3rd down 5 out of 6 years too. Sure, the defense never dominated in the playoffs, that is undeniable. But the Bills had a number of really good defenses under Leslie and I think fans have simply forgotten how good we had it. The current defense is a mess. We are already blitzing way more than normal. After week 3 we were second in the league for blitz %. It doesn't look pretty. We should be blitzing way less.

He doesn't have the leg for Buffalo. Very shaky beyond 50.

Was definitely their worst game of the year.

At his age and with speed still his calling card I'd be surprised if he can get back and be effective personally.

You have to sometimes look at what makes up the grades too. Bosa a classic example, he got really poor run defense and tackling grades but his overall grade was propped up by his pass rush grade, which was 90 plus.

He wasn't. Still on his rookie contract. But yes, he was in MVP contention.

For sure. I am not saying one is right and one is wrong. My point was more the salary cap forces you to make some choices and then you need a bit of luck for those choices to work out.

Think this is a fair summary. I think people are a little quick to forget Knox at tight end and he is still playing an important role for them this year (and is blocking just as well as Hawes by the way) but I take the point that his continued presence as a Buffalo Bill beyond 2025 is a big question mark given there is no way at all he plays on his 2026 cap number.

He hasn't. I posted them above. Knox leads Bills tight ends in snaps. Positional splits for the year: Hawes - 90 of his 108 snaps have been inline, 16 in the slot and 2 split wide; Knox - 96 of his 145 snaps have been inline, 29 in the slot, 17 split wide and 3 in the backfield; Kincaid - 51 of his 134 snaps have been inline, 55 in the slot, 28 split wide; That shows you how the three guys are used pretty differently. They use Kincaid primarily as a matchup weapon in the passing game, the use Knox as a versatile chess piece who can play in multiple packages and they use Hawes really as an inline blocking tight end who occasionally will chip then leak out. They are not really fighting one another for snaps. Their usage game by game is more about gameplan and personnel packages.

I'm not sure I agree that the offense doesn't have any rhythm. It definitely lost its way in the second quarter on Sunday when Brady decided to return us to trying to be a downfield passing offense (which we are not very good at) but when they run the ball with Cook and can get Shakir and the tight ends involved I think they have plenty of rhythm. What they lack is explosiveness. If you are not my answer is do something else. If you can only enjoy sports if you win Championships then they are not for you. Because it doesn't matter how many championships any team wins, in an average life as a sports fan they will lose them much more than they win them. I know the answer will be "just give me one" but what are you going to do, call any other Bills season that doesn't end in a Superbowl meaningless? It's just self-preservation as a fan. Preparing oneself for the worst is a human defence mechanism.

He hasn't but I give him a ton of credit for toughing it out Sunday. Even the original punt where he got hurt.... he knew as he dropped that ball "I'm getting lit up here" and he didn't take his eyes off it and he went through with the kick. Classic stubborn Australian toughness. And coming out to hold (then having to do anything but a routine catch and hold with Reid's struggles) with a torn knee and a brace.... kudos sir. Warrior.

Hawes outsnapped all other tight ends in this game with 31. Knox was second with 24. Kincaid 22. For the season Knox leads tight end snaps with 145, Kincaid 134, Hawes 108. Hawes has earned his snaps and Kincaid has shown some improvements as a blocker but Knox is still the guy that gives the Bills the most flexibility when he is on the field. He remains the most "two-way" of the tight ends. That's why he is continuing to get snaps. I shouldn't shock anyone. There is no way he plays on his 2026 number. So he is either cut before then or he renegotiates, extends and takes a pay cut.

Agree. Roquan went out Sunday too, not heard an update yet. Reminder again that even some of the better teams in the league find 3 or 4 of their best players going down is too hard to overcome. Next man up is a cute theory. When it is your best guys it simply doesn't work. EDIT: worth adding as well that is even more the risk you take when you go for the stars and filler model of roster building. When I look at their roster I struggle to find a single spot where their depth is as good as the Bills depth. I can find plenty where their starters are better, sure, but their build relies a lot more on their guys staying healthy. I have been as critical as anyone of the Bills lack of stars, but it is right to credit them with their depth.