Gap Integrity & Tackling

[IgotBILLStopay]

After the second half gashing from the Rams, I predicted the coaches will be talking about Gap Integrity from the front 7 all week. Here is Frazier this morning:

 

https://billswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/29/buffalo-bills-defensive-struggles-los-angeles-rams-sean-mcdermott/

 

Quote

“We have to be more gap sound and tackle better,” Frazier said.

 

The good news is that this is a fixable problem - and, more importantly, McD has faced the issue before (first 2 games of the 2018 season). And they came back and pitched a near shutout of the Vikings in week 3 after harping about Gap Integrity all week. FYI that was the Allen hurdle game.

 

 

Boy - it is always so sweet talking about fixing things coming off a win, doesn’t it? Ya we got the win but it makes me excited to think we are nowhere close to the ceiling.

 

Another FYI down memory lane regarding Edmunds’ Week 2 struggles with RBs in 2018 - of course we fixed them in game 3.

 

https://www.cover1.net/tremaine-edmunds-buffalo-bills-nfl-chargers/

 

Edited September 29, 2020 by IgotBILLStopay

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

34 minutes ago, IgotBILLStopay said:

Another FYI down memory lane regarding Edmunds’ Week 2 struggles with RBs in 2018 - of course we fixed them in game 3.

 

https://www.cover1.net/tremaine-edmunds-buffalo-bills-nfl-chargers/

 

I hope you are right about the run defense being fixable. 
For Edmunds, those struggles were 2 years ago as a rookie. Those excuses are gone. Maybe the shoulder was bothering him? Regardless, he needs to play much better. 

[mjt328]

Going back through the course of the game, I think our linebackers (Edmunds and Milano) were gassed by the 3rd/4th quarter.  Once you start getting fatigued and tired, it becomes more difficult to maintain your lanes, get off blocks and make tackles.

 

The Rams require the LBs to be EXTREMELY disciplined, so they are not getting caught with all the motion and misdirection.  Part of me wonders if they were not in proper game condition after missing Week 2, and then going half-speed in practice all week.  

 

I'm also starting to think the Bills are missing Star Lotulelei more than anyone anticipated.  The only 1-tech on our roster is Harrison Phillips, and he doesn't seem to be the same guy as before the ACL tear.  Our struggles on the D-Line at the point of attack are allowing blockers to reach our second level, which allows for big runs.  That in turn, opens up play action for the passing game.  If the same problems persist, I wouldn't be surprised if we bring in some 1-Tech DTs off the street.

 

[JoshAllenHasBigHands]

1 minute ago, Bob Chandler's Hands said:

I hope you are right about the run defense being fixable. 
For Edmunds, those struggles were 2 years ago as a rookie. Those excuses are gone. Maybe the shoulder was bothering him? Regardless, he needs to play much better. 

 

You could see Edmunds bracing for contact when he hit the line during the game. He was clearly playing soft because of his shoulder. 

 

That said, his gap integrity issues were visible his rookie year. Last year, he was actually pretty good. However, by that time, the narrative had begun, so no matter how much evidence to the contrary, fans had made their decision. A good example is the Eagles games. Fans were up in arms about Edmunds, completely missing that it was Milano that was the guy out of position giving up those big runs. This year seems to be about the shoulder. 

[Bongo]

I am definitely no scheme expert. My guess is that it was the misdirection. But it seemed like every Rams run play, Tremaine immediately sprinted on a 45 degree angle to the right and Henderson ran through the hole he was just standing in. I’m sure that’s an exaggeration but even my family noticed it. It was maddening. 

[ILBillsfan]

45 minutes ago, mjt328 said:

I'm also starting to think the Bills are missing Star Lotulelei more than anyone anticipated.  The only 1-tech on our roster is Harrison Phillips, and he doesn't seem to be the same guy as before the ACL tear.  Our struggles on the D-Line at the point of attack are allowing blockers to reach our second level, which allows for big runs.  That in turn, opens up play action for the passing game.  If the same problems persist, I wouldn't be surprised if we bring in some 1-Tech DTs off the street.

 

This the quiet no stat line that Star provided the Bills LB's

[Lurker]

Less guessing by Edmunds and more "read and react" would go a long way toward fixing that integrity.    He took himself out of plays, way, way, way too many times Sunday...

 

 

Edited September 29, 2020 by Lurker

[K-9]

Fit it up, Leslie!

[First Round Bust]

same old issues come up..gap and tackling...safe to say our interior misses Star L big body, very under-rated presence...Edmunds reads and reacts always going to be a topic of concern...big play Derrick Henry coming-up after LVR game, get it fixed guys

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Bob Chandler's Hands said:

I hope you are right about the run defense being fixable. 
For Edmunds, those struggles were 2 years ago as a rookie. Those excuses are gone. Maybe the shoulder was bothering him? Regardless, he needs to play much better. 

 

100% correct on Edmunds. He took a fairly significant step forward in 2019. The first two games of this season have represented regression. Maybe he is not healthy, who knows, but Week 1 and Week 3 I think he has played poorly. Yes he is more exposed by smaller DTs trying to play the run which is not what they were brought here to do but the Bills are not asking Edmunds to do anything special. The defense gets a lot better if Edmunds can just do his 1/11th. So far this season, he hasn't.

[Freddie's Dead]

I'm for it.

[wvbillsfan]

Agree I think we get it straightened out soon. There is a harmony in defense that all 11 guys need to be linked that doesn’t necessarily exist on offense. 
Offensively if a running back takes a play off after doing a play action fake he may be able to get away with it. We’ve heard of wrs taking running plays off. Oline misses a block qb can bail them out. Offensively you don’t have to be perfect in today’s NFL if your qb is on. 
 

Defensively I think it’s a different story. You can’t take a play off or a good QB or coach will find and exploit it. You can’t miss an assignment or the same thing can happen. While our defense is mostly intact from last year our front four saw some pretty big changes. Yes we’ve added talent but that talent has to work together to play well. You might not think Shaq and Phillips were better players, maybe they were, maybe they weren’t, but they knew how to execute their assignments without thinking about them. 
I don’t know that our front four is there yet. Which can have an effect on how our back 7 is playing. 

[ndirish1978]

Dline has not jelled yet. Like, at all. Harry didn't play all last year and has plenty of rust, we have 3 new guys putting in time in the rotation and no offseason. Hoping they learn how to play together sooner rather than later  

[GoBills808]

2 hours ago, mjt328 said:

Going back through the course of the game, I think our linebackers (Edmunds and Milano) were gassed by the 3rd/4th quarter.  Once you start getting fatigued and tired, it becomes more difficult to maintain your lanes, get off blocks and make tackles.

 

The Rams require the LBs to be EXTREMELY disciplined, so they are not getting caught with all the motion and misdirection.  Part of me wonders if they were not in proper game condition after missing Week 2, and then going half-speed in practice all week.  

 

I'm also starting to think the Bills are missing Star Lotulelei more than anyone anticipated.  The only 1-tech on our roster is Harrison Phillips, and he doesn't seem to be the same guy as before the ACL tear.  Our struggles on the D-Line at the point of attack are allowing blockers to reach our second level, which allows for big runs.  That in turn, opens up play action for the passing game.  If the same problems persist, I wouldn't be surprised if we bring in some 1-Tech DTs off the street.

 

I anticipated it. Defenses tend to fall back when he isn’t playing and improve when he is. It’s just that casual fans don’t understand what he contributes.

[Bill Lewes]

3 - 0 
And, we haven't truly played our A-game, yet!
It's nice to be this good and know we're getting better and better

[blacklabel]

Methinks we all probably underestimated the impact of Star Lotulelei has on that DL. People wanna whine that his numbers are never special but that's not what he's asked to do. He's asked to plug up the lanes and eat up blocks and free up his linebackers, and he's pretty good at it. I've noticed on more than a few plays that if he gets the leverage he wants, he's extremely difficult to move off the line. They're missing that right now but I have faith they can figure it out. 

[Ralonzo]

Chris Simms had a good take about the Rams' success at rushing was 100% scheme, and targeting the Bills' base 4-2-5 nickel - specifically isolating Taron Johnson. Which is why he led the team in tackles. Basically, hat-on-hat for the front-6 and scheme Johnson into first, making a decision as to run or pass, and second, have him (at best) as the guy who should be in the hole 1-v-1 on the back.

 

Buffalo could use a top level EDGE on defense but a positionless, Isaiah Simmons/Kyle Dugger type defender in a 4-2-4 would make the Bills defense incredible, because that would counter this scheme.

 

 

 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

44 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

Chris Simms had a good take about the Rams' success at rushing was 100% scheme, and targeting the Bills' base 4-2-5 nickel - specifically isolating Taron Johnson. Which is why he led the team in tackles. Basically, hat-on-hat for the front-6 and scheme Johnson into first, making a decision as to run or pass, and second, have him (at best) as the guy who should be in the hole 1-v-1 on the back.

 

Buffalo could use a top level EDGE on defense but a positionless, Isaiah Simmons/Kyle Dugger type defender in a 4-2-4 would make the Bills defense incredible, because that would counter this scheme.

 

 

 

 

Makes sense, they play 11 personnel like the entire game - they also mix in no huddle quite a bit to force buffalo into similar looks.  Not everyone's going to be able to do that, but they're one of the best at PA for a reason.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

2 hours ago, First Round Bust said:

same old issues come up..gap and tackling...safe to say our interior misses Star L big body, very under-rated presence...Edmunds reads and reacts always going to be a topic of concern...big play Derrick Henry coming-up after LVR game, get it fixed guys

 

He definitely got caught in the wash too much, and caught up field too much.  But the zone scheme was moving our guys and creating holes. all over the place.

[TN Bills Fan]

Edmunds way over-rated.  Every game he misses crucial tackles.  Missed one for a TD against the Jets.  Missed 2 for TDs this week: Woods screen and at the goal line.  He plays so upright he gets no pop on his tackles.  He covers the pass well, but that's  like hearing your blind date has a good personality.  You really want to know is she pretty personality is bonus?  What you really want to know about a MLB is can he stop the run?  He may have to bulk up or move to OLB or  DE.  Watch how often the opponents attack his spot.