Nihilarian

“What people don’t understand is you’re not running the same defense that we ran last year,” Hughes said. “This isn’t the 4-3, four down linemen, go after the quarterback. This is a 3-4 defense. We know what the 3-4 defense entails because we’ve had it before,” in 2013 when Ryan coaching disciple Mike Pettine was Buffalo’s defensive coordinator. “I just think it’s going to take guys some time to get used to making those calls and get that mindset to 4-3. Last year’s gone.” http://bills.buffalonews.com/2015/10/18/rush-to-judgment-d-linemen-pin-loss-on-3-4-scheme/ This also isn't Mike Pettine's version of a 3-4 either because that defense was always creating pressure on the QB, and was the #2 team in the league in sacks! Kinda sad that the one area of the team that everyone thought would get better suddenly got worse with the very same players. This years defensive scheme stinks!! Somewhere Dave Wannstedt is smirking!

That's the thing, as he hasn't coached this scheme forever!! When Mike Pettine was his DC he ran a 3-4 style too, only he used a lot of overload blitzing, meaning he usually sent more guys after the QB then the offense had blocking. New DC Dennis Thurman is using more of a zone blitz scheme like the Steelers used to use. That zone blitz works best when you have great linebackers, and it doesn't matter if you send an average D linemen into pass coverage. With the current players the Bills have is four all pros on the D line, and they are not being used to the best of their ability. Might as well ask a RB to play TE, and see how that works.

I'd have to think there will be some talking about the team between the GM, owner, coaches, and its schemes during the bye week. I'd be really surprised if the defense keeps running this crappy coverage stuff. If the special teams keeps looking this bad I think Crossman is a goner. We will find out after this season how much tolerance this new owner has for building a bully.

One thing I noticed that when the team had Javon Kearse, and then later on Kyle Vanden Bosch, Albert Haynsworth the defense did so much better. I can only imagine had he stayed in Buffalo this year that his defense would have gotten even better. My take with his problem in Detroit was that he was overly loyal to his assistant coaches. Lets not forget that he inherited a really, really bad 0-16 team. then went 2-14, 6-10, then 10-6 in three years. Should have dumped those assistants when the team went south, and in particular his DC.

I disagree, as its really not more complicated then most defenses and that saying its complicated is just an excuse Ryan used when he was asked about it. He isn't doing anything new that has never been run before or that the players can't grasp. Its that they are being asked to do things that don't come close to what they do best. This defense is like a zone blitz that asks the D linemen to cover certain gaps, drop into coverage and for the most part asking them to not rush the passer. Going all out after the QB is what those front four do best, and its what has allowed them to make 28% of the teams payroll on just those front four. Its not their fault either because Marcel Dareus has been complaining about the way Ryan has been using the front four all year, and now Mario. Kinda why last years defense was the #1 sacking team in the league, and this year they are 20th, and 27th in sack percentage. Kinda ironical that this years slogan is "feel the rush" What rush? The rush of passes zinging to the receivers hands while making the front four look bad? The Bills defense only managed one pressure on Dalton all day, and no sacks.

The current defensive scheme is not that complicated! Its that these stupid Bills coaches are asking those great pass rushing D linemen to drop into pass coverage far to often. What do you think is the smarter thing to do with Mario Williams? If this Bills DC would just ask his front four to rush like you suggest with the Schwartz like attack, and rotate those linemen more so they are fresher in the fourth quarter then things would start looking like they did last year! I want sacks!

The Buffalo Bills have arguably the very best front four in the NFL, and those four were the very best in sacks last season. They were #2 in sacks in 2013 under Ryan's protege with the Jets in Mike Pettine. To put in perspective how bad the Bills DC is miss utilizing those highly paid D linemen. Last season they were #1 in sack percentage, and sacks. This year they are 27th out of 32 in sack percentage, and 20th in sacks. Dropping Hughes, Kyle Williams, Mario Williams into pass coverage is simply idiotic when they are so darn good at rushing the passer. This team is not designed to run zone blitzes like the Pittsburgh Steelers were as they had great linebackers, and average D linemen. So when those D linemen dropped into pass coverage it wasn't a big deal, and they weren't especially good at getting to the QB anyway.

Mario Williams stated after the game that he probably set a record by dropping into pass coverage. http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/182076-mario-williams-talks/

He might not get fired but the owner may finally hire that football czar that Pegula has been thinking about since buying the team. I can only think that someone talked Pegula out of hiring that football czar, and that same person told the owner that "he" would know who to hire as head coach. Terry Pegula was in talks with Bill Polian about taking a temporary job at the top of the org, and may yet again.

The Bills sack percentage is currently 27th out of 32. Last season they ended the year at #1 out of 32 with 54 sacks against 559 pass attempts with a sack percentage of 8.8. This is a huge difference between last years defense and this years so far!

Wanna know why the Bills defense isn't anywhere near as good as last year!! "Mario Williams: I think I set a record for dropping into coverage" "The Bills fell to 3-3 in a 34-21 loss to the Bengals on Sunday that saw Andy Dalton throw three touchdowns without being sacked once by the Buffalo defense." http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/10/18/mario-williams-i-think-i-set-a-record-for-dropping-into-coverage/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs The Bills defense was not able to pressure Andy Dalton all game!

8) Things changed so much on offense for Buffalo once Watkins went out of the game. The team was already missing Percy Harvin, Marquise Goodwin, and that left Clay, Woods, and Hogan as the only choices left. Teams were easily able shut down Taylor with no Watkins in there. EJ wasn't that good, but then the penalties, play calling, and field position weren't good either. 9) Rex Ryan deserves all the credit for this turd the team played. Far to many penalties again. His "we are going to build a bully" statement was as stupid as he is, and as stupid as his team that leads the league in penalties! 10)

The Bills have more troubles then just a QB.Leading the league in Penalties, bad coaching, far to many injuries, and a bad offensive line for instance.

Arron Williams was playing in the Patriots game, and the defense still allowed a franchise worst 466 yards passing to Brady. The differences are the scheme, lack of D line player rotation, and penalties

Seriously, hard to blame the scheme? when they play a coverage type defense and not the overload blitz scheme Pettine used to run? The only thing that's changed is the scheme, and Ryan needs to go!

And when he sucks because the offensive line doesn't give him the time or the injuries to the receiving corps takes away three of five starters... what then? and whats wrong with TT?

Hard for me not to get angry at the stupid penalties that plague this team game after game. I get angry that the Bills had the #4 defense in the NFL, and led the NFL in sacks and couldn't even touch Dalton all day. Its not the players but the lame coverage schemes the team is attempting to continue to run. I also get mad about all the bad luck with injuries that follows this team. If Tyrod Taylor had more then 50 yards passing in the first half the Bills may indeed have won. But since that has happened only once this year I kinda doubt it. Once Watkins went out of the game the passing offense went with it as it was to easy to cover the remaining receivers. No Watkins, No Harvin, No Goodwin leaves only Hogan, Clay.

Get well Bill !!

I see that EJ wasn't very good. But then he wasn't the one making costly penalties. He wasn't the one who couldn't stop a cold on defense. You do realize the Bills Defense was not able to sack Andy Dalton and in fact only got one pressure on him all day! Some fans are so myopic that all they see is the QB.

Previous to this last game the Bills were 27th in sack percentage after leading the NFL all of last year!! This is a huge disparity!

Yep, I noticed it during the Patriots game and was slammed for commenting on it. read more about the defensive problems here - http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/181760-carucci-disconnect-exists-between-dl-and-scheme/page-14

Some fan just want to spew at the QB, its all they see.

The offense did better with Sammy in there, and was just not the same after. Crappy special teams had the Bills in bad field position almost day, EJ's fault The Bills defense couldn't even get close to Andy Dalton all game = no sacks, EJ's fault The offense didn't have 3 of 5 of their starting WR's, EJ's fault Damn EJ for all those penalties too

Special teams was bad in giving up penalties, bad field position for a lot of the game. The defense was bad, and couldn't stop the run or rush the passer The offense was better then i expected with Sammy, and then went into the crapper after Watkins went down. Bills missing three of five starting WR's, and Shady playing hurt.