What defensive wrinkles might the Bills use with 2 starting LB's out?

[maryland-bills-fan]

We will be down two starting linebackers and lack quality depth there.  Might the Bills use a 5-2  https://footballadvantage.com/5-2-defense/  scheme to cover that or cover 3 with a safety replacing a linebacker?(rip/liz)?

 

[atlbillsfan1975]

You might be onto something. I was thinking maybe a 5-1-5, with an extra safety. I think Sean and Leslie will mix it up a ton. They aren’t going to confuse Fitz, just can’t let him get comfortable. Chan’s offense is short timing passes. Need to press receivers at line and throw them off their routes.

Edited September 20, 2020 by atlbillsfan1975

[oldmanfan]

My guess is you see 1 LB with Marlow and Neal on the field together a lot.

[Rochesterfan]

The Bills currently run a ton of 4-2-5 - Nickle looks as it is.  My guess is that they run a bunch of 4-1-6 Nickle/Dime looks using Marlowe and Neal in the Milano role to cover the TE/RBs.

 

They will most likely rotate Klein and Dodson as the single backer depending on down and distance.

 

I also expect to see some 5-1-5 personnel on early downs, but using Addison or Hughes as a OLB to give some size and stoutness to prevent runs and using them and/or Dodson on Blitzes to get some pressure on Fitz.

 

I expect from the All-22 the overall Scheme will run similar to their standard Nickle package just using 1 LB and filling that second role with either a smaller faster DB for coverage or a larger DE for run stuffing and blitzes.  
 

I also expect them to try and use some standard 4-3 looks, but again using just Dodson and Klein (both with positional flexibility (MLB/OLB) to dictate the Dolphins strong and passing sides.  They will fill the 3rd position with an extra coverage safety to again help get through the game.

[wvbillsfan]

I don’t know about a wrinkle but as a game plan I’d say we play almost zero man coverage or if we do play man my guess is we see Klein blitzing a lot with 5 man pressure. 

[CSBill]

24 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

My guess is you see 1 LB with Marlow and Neal on the field together a lot.

 

Agree, and Jaquan Johnson

[Westside]

1 hour ago, CSBill said:

 

Agree, and Jaquan Johnson

Is he on the team? I thought he was cut?

[cage]

36 minutes ago, westside2 said:

Is he on the team? I thought he was cut?

 

No chance.  They love that guy.  He's a also a core ST player

 

[2020 Our Year For Sure]

Everybody keeps saying they'll switch to 1 linebacker but I disagree, I think they have enough confidence in both Klein and Dodson that we'll see them on the field together plenty. I was telling my Dad last night though that I don't think they'll play three LBs at all, they'll use Neal or Marlowe instead of the third LB.

[AirAllenPower]

I dont think much will change.  Maybe some more big nickel with Neal,  they play nickel 85%...

 

Epenesa should be active. 9 dlineman for the heat

[TBBills]

2 hours ago, maryland-bills-fan said:

We will be down two starting linebackers and lack quality depth there.  Might the Bills use a 5-2  https://footballadvantage.com/5-2-defense/  scheme to cover that or cover 3 with a safety replacing a linebacker?(rip/liz)?

 

Patriots had no problems and they have no starters as LBers.

[Reality Check]

3 minutes ago, AirAllenPower said:

I dont think much will change.  Maybe some more big nickel with Neal,  they play nickel 85%...

 

Epenesa should be active. 9 dlineman for the heat

100%. They will be in a nickel or dime the majority of the time. Pass coverage between the hashes on quick throws is all Fitz will get today on his reads. I think it's still EZ money. As long as the D-line stays healthy, this defense should be quite resilient. I even expect one of these back-up LBrs  to get a pick today.

[artmalibu]

The offense will be the defense.  Lots of running to kill the clock.

[machine gun kelly]

I think they’ll play the 4-2-5, and they run the ball a ton.  I hope Moss and Singletary ate their wheat ties this morning, as well as Allen.  Just hold onto the darn ball Josh.

[Clyde Smith]

14 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

I think they’ll play the 4-2-5, and they run the ball a ton.  I hope Moss and Singletary ate their wheat ties this morning, as well as Allen.  Just hold onto the darn ball Josh.

Wheat Ties? Lol

[T master]

With the new LB's taking Edmunds & Millano's place this week they will try to make them think they are slow and not as athletic and bait them into throwing against them then they will have them right where they want them !! 💪

[K-9]

9 minutes ago, Clyde Smith said:

Wheat Ties? Lol

[thebandit27]

The oldest trick in the book: if you have a backup defender on the field, blitz him. The one thing just about any defender can do is cause a disruption on a QB if he comes free.

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

3 hours ago, atlbillsfan1975 said:

You might be onto something. I was thinking maybe a 5-1-5, with an extra safety. I think Sean and Leslie will mix it up a ton. They aren’t going to confuse Fitz, just can’t let him get comfortable. Chan’s offense is short timing passes. Need to press receivers at line and throw them off their routes.

 

Was thinking something like this too, maybe lineman all standing so make it hard to know who's actually rushing.

 

But my one fear is with anything meant to confuse him the biggest plus for Fitz is he's a very smart QB

[Punching Bag]

13 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Was thinking something like this too, maybe lineman all standing so make it hard to know who's actually rushing.

 

But my one fear is with anything meant to confuse him the biggest plus for Fitz is he's a very smart QB

 

Yes better to attack Fitz's body with players he cannot physically react fast enough than his mind until he gets behind where unlike SOME QBs will not take chances trying to win.

Unlike fans he only cares about wins rather than QB stats.

[YoloinOhio]

Darryl Johnson at OLB

[Shaw66]

Read the posts in this thread and what stands out is the part of the defense that no one is talking about - the front five.   

 

The Bills clearly will be weaker in the back seven - can't lose Milano and Edmunds without losing some talent, some speed and some savvy.  In the back 7, Bills will do all the things people are talking about here.  They'll use their usual sets and defenses and they'll add some wrinkles.  There will be six DBs on the field more often than we've seen in the past.  There will a variety of things.

 

But the key will be the front 4-5.  Solid run defense and consistent pressure on Fitz is what will minimize the damage suffered by losing the two linebackers.  

[Dragoon]

Im glad Edmunds and Milano are out. 
 

Miami is not a good team. 
 

I want to believe the Bills have the talent to make the AFC Championship. 
 

If the Bills can’t overcome Milano and Edmunds absence today, they’re not AFC championship worthy....

 

This game shouldn’t be close. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

31 minutes ago, Dragoon said:

Im glad Edmunds and Milano are out. 
 

Miami is not a good team. 
 

I want to believe the Bills have the talent to make the AFC Championship. 
 

If the Bills can’t overcome Milano and Edmunds absence today, they’re not AFC championship worthy....

 

This game shouldn’t be close. 

I understand where you are coming from. 

No position except QB really makes that much of a difference. 

That said however, losing Edmunds and Milano at the same time will be a challenge. It immediately exposes the weakest backup situation on the team. 

I hope McD and Frazier scheme something to cover for the lack of ability of Klein and Dodson. However creativity is not a strong suit of either McD or Frazier. I suspect they will roll out the standard defense and simply take a next man up mentality.  

[bigK14094]

1 hour ago, YoloinOhio said:

Darryl Johnson at OLB

Not fast enough, but, of course, Lornezo Alexander last year wasn't that fast either.