How would you describe the Bills defense last year?

[NewEra]

We were good with Gaines and bad without Gaines.  

 

Obvious holes in the middle of the defense that other teams exploited during that horrendous stretch were covered up pretty well down the stretch.  The zone was amazing when the opposing QB didn’t find that soft spot on the 15 yard post.  It’s really the only pass play that really seamed tomhabe our number on 3rd down.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Would saying they were   lacking in sacks    be truthful? 

 

Edited March 1, 2018 by ShadyBillsFan

[BuffaloRush]

I’ll say overachievers.... very good secondary but a below average front 7.

 

I’ll use  “no pressure” in assessing th pass rush

[auburnbillsbacker]

They had a bend but don't break philosophy and did a pretty good job with it.  The San Diego, New Orleans, and Patriots games were disappointing though.  

[SoCal Deek]

Secondary....way better than expected

Pass Rush...way worse than expected

Run Defense...about what was expected

[BigBuff423]

One word: bi-polar

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

The front 7 was ****ty! no pass rush, couldn't stop the run . The secondary was strong! especially given how ****ty the front 7 was.

[Buddo]

With a fully healthy secondary (i.e. with Gaines), they were pretty much bend but don't break. Even with Dareus, they were always going to give up some yards rushing, but they also were able to make teams pass from time to time, with him there.

 

When he was shipped out, teams immediately went for the jugular in respect of rushing, and pretty much murdered us, until we came up with solutions.

 

Iirc, Gaines might have missed two of the 3 horrendous defensive games, so having him come back, probably meant that schematically, we were able to do other things to prevent so many big gains on us rushing.

 

If Kyle does retire, then Hughes is the only guy who you could call a 'lock' in the front 4. Lawson and Alexander may still have value in rotation, either inside or outside, but you wouldn't really want them pencilled in as your starters. We need another big lump of a DT (if Kyle does play on), and we also need another genuine edge rusher in the front 4. Due to a lack of pressure(s)/penetration from the front 4, the LBers probably did better as a unit overall, than we want to give them credit for. It's hard to make plays when the opposing O-Line aren't being moved around at all.

 

With Davis being inked, I think we can look forward to continued good secondary play,but we need more strength and athleticism, especially in the front 4, but realistically also in the whole front 7.

 

While they were generally a good ball hawking D, in the 3 game stretch of direness, they were ball hawking at times, to the detriment of using correct tackling technique, and letting RBs get by them because of it.