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[Vague Title] The Defense


WizdomCalling

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Back in 2018 I remember the defense was a bit sloppy over the first 3 games. After our first win that year (against the Vikings) I remember the defense changing and getting statistically better across the board. This year our defense has been sloppy over the first 3 weeks. I hope history repeats itself and they turn it around because while I am happy with the output of the offense we need to get back to shutting teams down.

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We're basing the defense's play largely against one of the league's easiest schedule last season.  

 

Los Angeles has a very good offense, but the league is built for teams to score and defensive rules changes suit that.  It was a mistake to invest so many resources in 2017-19 into defense with the league trending in this direction going back at least 15 years.

 

This team lives or dies based on how the offense performs...just like most of the NFL's top teams have fared going back more several seasons.

 

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5 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

We're basing the defense's play largely against one of the league's easiest schedule last season.  

 

Los Angeles has a very good offense, but the league is built for teams to score and defensive rules changes suit that.  It was a mistake to invest so many resources in 2017-19 into defense with the league trending in this direction going back at least 15 years.

 

This team lives or dies based on how the offense performs...just like most of the NFL's top teams have fared going back more several seasons.

 


If you look back at the 27/28 victories in the 3 seasons (with 2020) the best Teams/QBs that Buffalo has beaten

 

2017 - Ryan/Falcons, Smith/Chiefs

2018 - No one

2019 - Prescott/Dallas (and even they weren’t a playoff team)

2020 - Goff/Rams

 

the rest have been victories against non playoff teams in the season they were beat with questionable/underperforming QB Starters

 

So should they play quality QBs who are in control of their teams...

 

...wel I would expect the “dominance” to not be there.

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I really think we will turn it around on defense. We’ve started slow before with McDermott as OP stated and then turned it around. Too much talent to believe that won’t be the case again this year. 
we know what this defense can do. We’ve seen it against some good teams over McDermotts tenure. 

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Today our defense in the 2nd half reminded me of two recent scary Pats games: 1. The complete collapse of the Falcons D in that SB and The Pats Defeat of Reid and KC in the AFC championship 2 years ago. In both those cases and today you had defenses that were in disarray, exhausted and seemingly defeated and the coaches had no answers. Surely there is something that coaches can go to when their defenses are on the ropes like that. Some sort of new schemes or substitution. That was just way too easy for McVeigh to shred us.

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37 minutes ago, RalphWilson'sNewWar said:

If you look back at the 27/28 victories in the 3 seasons (with 2020) the best Teams/QBs that Buffalo has beaten

 

2017 - Ryan/Falcons, Smith/Chiefs

2018 - No one

2019 - Prescott/Dallas (and even they weren’t a playoff team)

2020 - Goff/Rams

 

the rest have been victories against non playoff teams in the season they were beat with questionable/underperforming QB Starters

 

So should they play quality QBs who are in control of their teams...

 

...wel I would expect the “dominance” to not be there.

 

Don't want this thread to devolve into revisionist history, but McD has not been good against playoff teams or in the playoffs.  From 2017-19, he's 3-17 against that group and 22-8 against non-playoff teams.  Last year I believe they were 1-5.  

 

That said, I know McD was transitioning the defense from RR's scheme to his and that required new players in those years.  I just think he went overboard and neglected the offense until the 2019 off-season.  

 

It's why whatever happened is now in the past.  Josh is the force multiplier and I hope McD has the sense to place more trust in him and less on that defense he's been investing so much in.  It's also hard to depend on defense week in and week out to provide the margin for wins.  

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Our defense has a bad habit of disappearing for multiple games at a time. This has happened every season under Mcdermott. 

 

2017

Week 9 21-34 L to Jets

Week 10 10-47 L to Saints

Week 11 24-54 L to Chargers

 

That was 3 consecutive games our defense couldn't stop a thing (remember the Saints running the ball 15 consecutive plays?) 

 

2018

Week 1 3-47 L to Ravens

Week 2 20-31 L to Chargers

 

The defense allowed a TD on pretty much every drive until the 2nd half of the Chargers game 

 

2019

Week 7 31-21 W vs Dolphins

Week 8 13-31 L to Eagles

 

Our run D was absolutely gashed in consecutive weeks. Luckily the Dolphins were a terrible team and didn't capitalize. 

 

2020

 

Weeks 2 + 3. Don't think I need to elaborate here. Thankfully Allen and the offense are playing fantastic football and we're winning. 

 

McDermott is slow to adjust, but he has adjusted in every season and righted the ship. I have faith he'll do so again this season. 

 

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