Phil The Thrill Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 I was listening to Joe Buscaglia preview the Bills game this morning on Jerry Sullivan and said the game is a coin flip. He thinks the Eagles have a good offense that will try to challenge the Bills and run inside. Not only is that the strength of the Philly OL, but it was a big weakness last week vs a terrible Miami OL. This is why a nobody like Mark Walton ran for a few big plays - though overall he didn’t put up a ton of numbers. Joe’s main culprit is Star Loutelelei. He said he has been terrible this year and is not winning matchups very well. While he never put up stats, he’s not doing a very good job holding his ground either. His replacement Kyle Peko has been worse. Miami pushed him around all day resulting in more big plays. Since Peko and Star were so terrible, the Bills were forced to line up Jordan Phillips who plays on the other side at 1 technique next to Ed Oliver. This is a pretty big concern to me when the guy you paid $10 million a year is awful at DT and can’t even get on the field a crucial times. The inside runs could be something to watch as Philly might try to set up for a few play action bombs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DollaBills Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 I think a big reason is lack of depth at LB too, Milano plays a key part in attacking the middle. Its hard to say if Star is overrated or just schemed against when the middle of the defense is the only area to scheme for considering how good the secondary is. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfanmiami(oh) Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 I honestly forgot he was on the team until I saw this post. 1 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whatdrought Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 (edited) I don't know about Star's performance, but I'd be willing to bet a bigger issue for the Run D last week was missing Milano. As for Star, I've seen stuff that says he's doing his job well this year. People won't agree on either end because, like most bills players, there's a lot of preconceived ideas about him. Contractually, he's probably overpaid, but It's not like we're using the money right now anyways. Edited October 24, 2019 by whatdrought 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r00tabaga Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Star has a job and it's not always noticeable. He is a big part of our success over the last 2 years. Space eater. 1/11th. 6 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Not at the table Karlos Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 8 minutes ago, r00tabaga said: Star has a job and it's not always noticeable. He is a big part of our success over the last 2 years. Space eater. 1/11th. I supported him last year but this year all I see is him being taken out of plays by a single blocker. He’s been bad. He’s not eating much space getting pushed backwards a few yards. Right now he’s a space creator. The coaching staff seems seems to have noticed as well because Phillips has been getting more snaps. Phillips and Oliver should be the starters the rest of the year. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capco Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 If the defense goes downhill for several games maybe we can start to blame Star. But he's also been a part of the success of this defense too, so you can't discredit him for that while crediting him as the reason for the poor game with the Fish. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaninSarasota Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 3 minutes ago, ScottLaw said: Star is worthless and Edmunds still has his struggles. care to elaborate ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RoyBatty is alive Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 For Star to be effective he has to take up 1 1/2 blockers every play on average...honestly i haven't focused in on him to notice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GG Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 3 minutes ago, BuffaninSarasota said: care to elaborate ? It's been discussed a plenty. He's been up and down. Fortunately he picked the Dolphins game to have an off-Sunday. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thenorthremembers Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 If Phillips keeps getting reps at the 1 tech, they need to designate Star as a post June 1st cut and get out of the contract they gave him. If Phillips was healthy I think Star would be losing more and more time. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r00tabaga Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 15 minutes ago, Not at the table Karlos said: I supported him last year but this year all I see is him being taken out of plays by a single blocker. He’s been bad. He’s not eating much space getting pushed backwards a few yards. Right now he’s a space creator. The coaching staff seems seems to have noticed as well because Phillips has been getting more snaps. Phillips and Oliver should be the starters the rest of the year. Phillips primarily rotates with Ed so not sure your point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teef Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 12 minutes ago, ScottLaw said: Star is worthless and Edmunds still has his struggles. there's our little ball of positivity! 1 10 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freester Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 I think he's gone at the end of the year and they will try to resign Jordan Phillips 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 (edited) 10 minutes ago, RoyBatty is alive said: For Star to be effective he has to take up 1 1/2 blockers every play on average...honestly i haven't focused in on him to notice From Joe B's All-22 breakdown on The Athletic: Quote 3) Do the Bills have a 1-tech problem? The Dolphins opened up a wound the Bills thought they sewed shut early in the season. In the first half — and even early in the third quarter — the Dolphins had success on the ground. The Bills improved their team run defense this season, but without starting linebacker Matt Milano on Sunday, they couldn’t hide their deficiencies. The most glaring is at one-technique defensive tackle. In a game that featured a high-dosage of base defense, Star Lotulelei had only had eight more snaps than his backup. It’s been a rough start to the season for Lotulelei, who appears to be getting pushed off his spot more than he had been in 2018. The primary function of the one-technique player is to stand his ground, effectively setting the table for his teammates. Lotulelei has faced plenty of one-on-one matchups in 2019, and is consistently letting the offensive linemen beat him. Without Harrison Phillips, who was outplaying Lotulelei before his injury, the Bills have turned to former practice squad player Kyle Peko. The results, through three weeks, have been a significant downgrade at the position. To compensate, the Bills flipped Jordan Phillips to one-technique defensive tackle with the backup unit in the second half. The switch seemed to work, but Phillips shouldn’t be a long-term fix there. He’s at his best when lined up as a three-technique, where his primary responsibility is to penetrate the backfield. Miami doesn’t have a talented offensive line, which makes the Bills’ performance at the position more concerning. With both Lotulelei and Peko struggling this season, it’s fair to wonder if the Bills will look to upgrade the position ahead of the trade deadline. We are really missing Horrible Harry 3 minutes ago, r00tabaga said: Phillips primarily rotates with Ed so not sure your point. See above Edited October 24, 2019 by DrDawkinstein 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MAJBobby Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 The most Over paid player on this football team, and sad thing is they are stuck with that Contract thru next year too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r00tabaga Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Harry is definately miss'd 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virgil Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 Can’t he be cut this offseason with little financial repercussions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 8 minutes ago, r00tabaga said: Phillips primarily rotates with Ed so not sure your point. Through 4 games he did. But it started in Tennessee and it carried on against Miami. There has been Jordan Phillips at the 1 tech and there were snaps where both Phillips and Oliver were out there in both games - not that surprising on obvious passing downs but it has started to happen on early downs too. When a number of us were commenting in the offseason about the disappointing level of Star's play we were told we just didn't understand his role on the defense. But that was rubbish. I know his role. I know he isn't there for pressures and sacks but even the things he is supposed to be good at he was below average in 2018. The response then was "McDermott and Beane don't agree with you message board GMs because he is still getting plenty of time on the field." Well guess what? His time on the field has reduced markedly this season. So now maybe Beane and McDermott do agree? Oliver, Phillips and Harrison have all significantly outplayed him. Star's Bills future is in jeopardy make no mistake. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDawkinstein Posted October 24, 2019 Share Posted October 24, 2019 2 minutes ago, Virgil said: Can’t he be cut this offseason with little financial repercussions? Looks like after next season... Year Age Base Salary Signing Roster Workout Cap Hit Dead Cap Yearly Cash 2018 28 $3,500,000 $2,600,000 $500,000 $100,000 $6,700,000 $18,600,000 $17,100,000($17,100,000) 2019 29 $7,150,000 $2,600,000 $1,500,000 $250,000 $11,500,000 $18,800,000 $8,900,000($26,000,000) 2020 30 $6,250,000 $2,600,000 $1,000,000 $250,000 $10,100,000 $7,800,000 $7,500,000($33,500,000) Potential Out: 2021, 3 yr, $33,500,000; $5,200,000 dead cap 2021 31 $6,500,000 $2,600,000 $1,500,000 $250,000 $10,850,000 $5,200,000 $8,250,000($41,750,000) 2022 32 $6,500,000 $2,600,000 $1,500,000 $250,000 $10,850,000 $2,600,000 $8,250,000($50,000,000) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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