dave mcbride Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 (edited) A lot has been made about the team's talent deficiencies going into the offseason, but I think it's now pretty clear that the Bills are a very strong team talent-wise on defense. They did this kind of stealthily, piece by piece. To begin: both starting safeties are really good. Of their two corners, one is terrific (White) and the other -- Davis -- has had some genuinely elite seasons in recent years (he was PFF's #2 CB in 2014) and if healthy, a decidedly better than average corner. They also drafted a guy who can play slot in round 4 and a hybrid safety type who can presumably serve as passable depth. On the front seven, their d-line/edge rotation is actually pretty impressive: Lulutelei, Kyle Williams, Harrison Phillips, Hughes, Murphy, and Shaq Lawson (plus OK depth behind them), and at LB/edge they have Edmunds, Alexander, Milano, and (again) Murphy. Murphy not only had 10 sacks in 2016; he had 55 pressures! That's right: 55. Assuming he's healthy, he's a player. That is a SOLID unit overall. I'd like to see another CB in as competition because I worry about Davis, but I have to presume the Bills did their homework on him. If he's healthy, he's good and not a step down from Gaines. (Still, I'd have liked to have been able to keep Gaines too.) More broadly, it's clear that they're implementing a plan: build the D and get the QB first, and put the offensive pieces in place next. Expect some low scoring battles next season. Edited April 30, 2018 by dave mcbride 18 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWATeam Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 D should be very strong. Strong D and a good run game is a pretty great formula for bringing a young QB along. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billspro Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 I think this unit has a chance to play as well as the 2014 unit. I love that they are flying under the radar. 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave mcbride Posted April 30, 2018 Author Share Posted April 30, 2018 Just now, SWATeam said: D should be very strong. Strong D and a good run game is a pretty great formula for bringing a young QB along. Agreed. It's what the Steelers did with Roethlisberger, actually. Even though Roethlisberger started in season one, he didn't really throw it that much. In 2004, the Steelers were #1 in defense (both yards and points), 32nd in passing attempts, and first in rushing attempts. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 Agreed Dave I also like that the team has much of the "cornerstone" talent on D under contract beyond 2019. Next offseason, there will likely be only 1-2 starting jobs available (LB and corner) on that side of the ball, which will allow the team to be aggressive in their pursuit of WR and OL help. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhitewalkerInPhilly Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 1 minute ago, SWATeam said: D should be very strong. Strong D and a good run game is a pretty great formula for bringing a young QB along. I agree. I just wish that we had a bit more talent in the trenches on O-line 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave mcbride Posted April 30, 2018 Author Share Posted April 30, 2018 Just now, WhitewalkerInPhilly said: I agree. I just wish that we had a bit more talent in the trenches on O-line That's next year's task. Hard to do everything at once! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhitewalkerInPhilly Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 (edited) 1 minute ago, thebandit27 said: Agreed Dave I also like that the team has much of the "cornerstone" talent on D under contract beyond 2019. Next offseason, there will likely be only 1-2 starting jobs available (LB and corner) on that side of the ball, which will allow the team to be aggressive in their pursuit of WR and OL help. I am also keeping an keen eye on the salary cap. We should have plenty of money and some great WRs potentially hitting free agency. My biggest worry is that we push Allen out too fast before he is ready, and he gets the EJ treatment: a freak physical talent who needs to ride the bench for a while getting shoved into a situation with few WR targets and a poor O-line. Edited April 30, 2018 by WhitewalkerInPhilly 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teef Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 2 minutes ago, dave mcbride said: Agreed. It's what the Steelers did with Roethlisberger, actually. Even though Roethlisberger started in season one, he didn't really throw it that much. In 2004, the Steelers were #1 in defense (both yards and points), 32nd in passing attempts, and first in rushing attempts. this is pretty incredible actually. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWATeam Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 1 minute ago, dave mcbride said: Agreed. It's what the Steelers did with Roethlisberger, actually. Even though Roethlisberger started in season one, he didn't really throw it that much. In 2004, the Steelers were #1 in defense (both yards and points), 32nd in passing attempts, and first in rushing attempts. Yep. And this is why, to me, Allen is the favorite to start this season. Plus, we have a new OC coming in so none of the QB's have an advantage there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave mcbride Posted April 30, 2018 Author Share Posted April 30, 2018 1 minute ago, SWATeam said: Yep. And this is why, to me, Allen is the favorite to start this season. Plus, we have a new OC coming in so none of the QB's have an advantage there. Tommy Maddox actually started the first 2 games of that season. Of course, he also started one other: the final game of the season against ... the Bills. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MiltonWaddams Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 2 minutes ago, dave mcbride said: Tommy Maddox actually started the first 2 games of that season. Of course, he also started one other: the final game of the season against ... the Bills. Why'd you go and bring that up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 10 minutes ago, dave mcbride said: A lot has been made about the team's talent deficiencies going into the offseason, but I think it's now pretty clear that the Bills are now a very strong team talent-wise on defense. They did this kind of stealthily, piece by piece. To begin: both starting safeties are really good. Of their two corners, one is terrific (White) and the other -- Davis -- has had some genuinely elite seasons in recent years (he was PFF's #2 CB in 2014) and if healthy, a decidedly better than average corner. They also drafted a guy who can play slot in round 4 and a hybrid safety type who can presumably serve as passable depth. On the front seven, their d-line/edge rotation is actually pretty impressive: Lulutelei, Kyle Williams, Harrison Phillips, Hughes, Murphy, and Shaq Lawson (plus OK depth behind them), and at LB/edge they have Edmunds, Alexander, Milano, and (again) Murphy. Murphy not only had 10 sacks in 2016; he had 55 pressures! That's right: 55. Assuming he's healthy, he's a player. That is a SOLID unit overall. I'd like to see another CB in as competition because I worry about Davis, but I have to presume the Bills did their homework on him. If he's healthy, he's good and not a step down from Gaines. (Still, I'd have liked to have been able to keep Gaines too.) More broadly, it's clear that they're implementing a plan: build the D and get the QB first, and put the offensive pieces in place next. Expect some low scoring battles next season. I’m not sure how sneaky it was with the bulk of free agency and lot of picks spent. last years 1st, a trade up in this year’s 1st, this year’s big cornerstone signing and last year’s biggest (though I suppose Hyde might be sneaky?) Outside fans focusing on qb it’s been noticeable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Tuesday Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 They don't have any elite players on that D (except maybe Tre), and they lack speed and depth at linebacker - they need Edmunds to develop quickly. But they're solid across the board and should be very difficult to run on next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 I wouldn't rule out a vet offensive lineman who gets cut somewhere ending up here either. There are usually 1 or 2 who get let go shortly after the draft by a team that selected one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickelCity Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 Agree with everything being said here. I'd actually be fairly optimistic overall if I wasn't convinced Castillo was going to go with Bodine and Ducasse. Effing Castillo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave mcbride Posted April 30, 2018 Author Share Posted April 30, 2018 3 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said: They don't have any elite players on that D (except maybe Tre), and they lack speed and depth at linebacker - they need Edmunds to develop quickly. But they're solid across the board and should be very difficult to run on next year. Edmunds is pretty darn fast - 4.54. Milano isn't slow either - 4.67. That's decent for a linebacker. 6 minutes ago, NoSaint said: I’m not sure how sneaky it was with the bulk of free agency and lot of picks spent. last years 1st, a trade up in this year’s 1st, this year’s big cornerstone signing and last year’s biggest (though I suppose Hyde might be sneaky?) Outside fans focusing on qb it’s been noticeable Yeah, what I really meant is that no one looking at the Bills has been discussing the defensive personnel as a unit and noting the pretty major makeover/talent upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrotherChazz Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 (edited) In general, the D is looking good. Hopefully Murphy boosts our pass rush, and Shaq starts producing more. Based on the film I've seen of Edmunds, it's going to take some time to come into his own. Obviously Milano is a good young player, but outside of that we're looking at LorAx and Humbert. We'll definitely need to make an upgrade next offseason. Lorax and Humbert are slow and old. And We'll all be crossing our fingers that Vontae can stay Healthy. Edited April 30, 2018 by BrotherChazz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Nails Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 14 minutes ago, GunnerBill said: I wouldn't rule out a vet offensive lineman who gets cut somewhere ending up here either. There are usually 1 or 2 who get let go shortly after the draft by a team that selected one. I'm willing to bet that RIchie eventually comes back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwai San Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 (edited) 1 minute ago, Jamie Nails said: I'm willing to bet that RIchie eventually comes back. THAT will be a circus.....whats a better bet is IF Beane/McD WANT him back......after this offseason....they gonna be wondering. Edited April 30, 2018 by Kwai San Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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