The discipline of this defense.

[AmishRifle]

Getting a little ahead of our skis with the talk of Frazier getting snapped up.  I wonder how McDermott is approaching the potential loss of assistants?  Does he sit down with them and help prep for interviews or does he not lend support?  If we continue to be successful we will have to deal with the loss of key coaches and the continuity it brings.  

[warrior9]

1 minute ago, AmishRifle said:

Getting a little ahead of our skis with the talk of Frazier getting snapped up.  I wonder how McDermott is approaching the potential loss of assistants?  Does he sit down with them and help prep for interviews or does he not lend support?  If we continue to be successful we will have to deal with the loss of key coaches and the continuity it brings.  

Based on everything we know of McDermott. I'd be absolutely SHOCKED if he doesn't help his assistants get HC jobs. Your goal as a boss is to set up people you care about for success and help them achieve their goals.. 

 

I don't think Frazier gets snagged and I don't think Daboll has done enough yet. However, I can see Ken Dorsey getting an OC job or a college job some where. 

[MR8]

13 minutes ago, warrior9 said:

I wonder if Frazier wants another HC job. I wonder if he really likes his position and being a part of building this thing.

 

Not to mention, with the way the league is going with young offensive minds... does he get consideration as a past coach that didn't do great as an HC(especially as a defensive guy)?

 

The NFL is a pendulum, it will swing back the other way... as more of these "Offensive Gurus" like Crazy Eyes Gase and Fast Freddie Kitchens bust out of the league, teams will be more willing to go back to Defensive guys who can stop the offensive minded HCs, and hope the coordinators they pick will make the teams competitive on both sides of the ball.  Much like what we're building. 

 

I see what you're saying about the trend, but It will swing back to where teams realize not everyone can be the Chiefs or Rams, so maybe be the Bills on D to stop those teams and get a good OC so you can do both.... stop the high powered offenses and score.  

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

Yea they are extremely well coached, have game specific plans, make solid adjustments and have some depth in key areas. 

 

2nd in the league in yards per game

3rd in the league in points per game

 

And they are not doing it forcing a bunch of turnovers where you always wonder how sustainable it is.... they are just doing it with great football. 

 

So last year when everyone was handing their hat on yards and how the defense was elite, I say the difference between last year and this year is night and day. 

 

And you can can see how dominant they look every down. And it’s confined by the points allowed. 

 

I dont think the field position stuff is dramatically different this year, in fact I think on the whole the turnovers have been worse. 

[technobot]

Nice post, OP. We've seen good defense during the stretch of mediocrity, and while it's still early, I don't think we've seen a defense like this.

 

The Pats game really stood out to me. We've seen the movie a million times before in years past, the defense plays heroically for the most part all game and by the last third of the fourth quarter, the big runs by the opponent start. It's obvious our defense is gassed and they can't keep up anymore.

 

It didn't happen this year. The defense shut down the Pats again, got the ball back for the offense, and we just couldn't close the deal. But the defense came through and stayed strong until the end.

 

Watching the end of yesterday's game, it felt like there were a couple blips leading to big plays and a touchdown, but the defense was so stout all game. There was no surprise when the D shut the door on TEN yet again.

 

Gunner made a good point about turnovers; we haven't even had a bunch. We're just playing strong defense throughout the game, and adjusting where necessary. Barring another nightmare Bills collapse, we're witnessing something new (a truly elite/dominant defense) and it can actually get better (we start getting more turnovers).

 

This kind of recipe (shutdown defense with a ball control offense and reliable special teams) is still very tightrope, with little room for error. Some years, you get none of the breaks and finish 7-9/6-10 despite having a historical defense. But other years, the schedule/sequence of league injuries COMPLETELY goes your way, and out of nowhere a team goes 13-3. This could be that year for them. Not saying it will happen but heading into the bye, I'm loving my Bills.

[Rochesterfan]

49 minutes ago, AmishRifle said:

Getting a little ahead of our skis with the talk of Frazier getting snapped up.  I wonder how McDermott is approaching the potential loss of assistants?  Does he sit down with them and help prep for interviews or does he not lend support?  If we continue to be successful we will have to deal with the loss of key coaches and the continuity it brings.  

 

Considering the FO works hard with their staff to be ready for job offers or promotion- I would be floored if McDermott is not the same.

 

I also think right now - they are focused on game to game study.  There will be time to be ready for getting other offers.

 

 

[foreboding]

51 minutes ago, MR8 said:

 

The NFL is a pendulum, it will swing back the other way... as more of these "Offensive Gurus" like Crazy Eyes Gase and Fast Freddie Kitchens bust out of the league, teams will be more willing to go back to Defensive guys who can stop the offensive minded HCs, and hope the coordinators they pick will make the teams competitive on both sides of the ball.  Much like what we're building. 

 

I see what you're saying about the trend, but It will swing back to where teams realize not everyone can be the Chiefs or Rams, so maybe be the Bills on D to stop those teams and get a good OC so you can do both.... stop the high powered offenses and score.  

Right, for every Sean McVay there are lots of Kitchens, Gase etc- I would far prefer a defensive minded HC. Take a look at SB winning teams...

[Lurker]

Everything hinges on the pass rush.   It has been an extremely well-executed team effort by all the D-linemen so far this year, even with the injury to Harry.

 

If they continue to consistently generate pressure with the front 4-5 guys throughout the season, this could be a special year...

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, warrior9 said:

The fact that they are doing this without turnovers means it's much more sustainable, no? A lot of times pics, fumbles, etc are "luck" in the NFL. Can we create more opportunities? sure but forcing 5 + 3 and outs week in and week out is very sustainable. 

 

That was my point. 

[Buffalo Junction]

1 hour ago, technobot said:

Nice post, OP. We've seen good defense during the stretch of mediocrity, and while it's still early, I don't think we've seen a defense like this.

 

The Pats game really stood out to me. We've seen the movie a million times before in years past, the defense plays heroically for the most part all game and by the last third of the fourth quarter, the big runs by the opponent start. It's obvious our defense is gassed and they can't keep up anymore.

 

It didn't happen this year. The defense shut down the Pats again, got the ball back for the offense, and we just couldn't close the deal. But the defense came through and stayed strong until the end.

 

Watching the end of yesterday's game, it felt like there were a couple blips leading to big plays and a touchdown, but the defense was so stout all game. There was no surprise when the D shut the door on TEN yet again.

 

Gunner made a good point about turnovers; we haven't even had a bunch. We're just playing strong defense throughout the game, and adjusting where necessary. Barring another nightmare Bills collapse, we're witnessing something new (a truly elite/dominant defense) and it can actually get better (we start getting more turnovers).

 

This kind of recipe (shutdown defense with a ball control offense and reliable special teams) is still very tightrope, with little room for error. Some years, you get none of the breaks and finish 7-9/6-10 despite having a historical defense. But other years, the schedule/sequence of league injuries COMPLETELY goes your way, and out of nowhere a team goes 13-3. This could be that year for them. Not saying it will happen but heading into the bye, I'm loving my Bills.

I kind of feel like we’re where the bears were before they added Mack. Different team, different style, etc.... but we’re a dominant pass rusher away from being the best in the league. 

[Bring it]

As far as Frazier leaving, I’m sure that McDermott already has a small group of candidates in mind. He is THAT organized!!

 

I couldn’t help but notice the general atmosphere in the locker room post game!! Confidence is  growing and this team is starting to really believe that they are good!! This team has a lot more in them! I still don’t think we have seen the ceiling of this defense yet!!!

[Rocket94]

3 hours ago, warrior9 said:

After watching yesterday, I continue to be blown away at how incredibly sound and well coached this defense is. There was two plays in particular where I thought, "WOW, that is a combination of great coaching, execution, and discipline." This defense follows their keys like a team I haven't seen in a long time. Here are the plays:

 

1) Siran Neal blitzes off of the edge, and the Titans ran a swing with their WR. Based on that blitz, one wrong misstep or misread by our defense that play beats us 95% of the time for a big play. Poyer (could have been Hyde) comes from the safety position and fills with a gain of ~1 yard making a great open field tackle.

 

2) Titans run a power stretch. We're 100% beat to the outside. Hughes was being double and to make up ground, spins to the outside and forces Henry back inside for the LB's to fill. It was truly a very savvy play by Hughes that I don't think he makes even last year. 

 

When I'm watching this defense, the cohesion has been absolutely unreal. There's very little drop off with sub packages and our rotation is strong. If we stay healthy, we have a VERY special defensive unit. It's been very fun to watch.

Another thing to remember is that the defense will get even better. I did not expect this kind of progression. Just a silent and sudden ascent. 

[warrior9]

1 hour ago, Rocket94 said:

Another thing to remember is that the defense will get even better. I did not expect this kind of progression. Just a silent and sudden ascent. 

I agree..

 

As Oliver, Edmunds, Milano, Wallace, even Murphy keep progressing.... we're going to keep getting better.... I didn't like Trent Murphy because I initially thought he was brought in to get sacks. Now I realize that he's not being asked to be a pass rushing specialist, he's play his part and has been above average against the run. I think he's finally feeling caught up from his ACL and all those injuries last year.

[Freddie's Dead]

7 hours ago, Xwnyer said:

however the red zone defense has been not as good.  not sure why the RZ defense is giving up TDs every visit except for penalties by Tenn this year.  But they aren't letting folks get to the RZ often either.

 

Don't forget the TD that the refs gifted to the Titians yesterday by blowing the false start call and instead calling encroachment on the Bills.