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All those premium picks on defense...


whorlnut

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15 minutes ago, JPicc2114 said:

Honestly, imo Edmunds is fine. He needs some help up front. The D-line has not been good. AJ Epeneza is having a terrible rookie season, and Ed Oliver is a huge undersized DT bust. Jerry Hughes is getting old and Trent Murphy is probably under league average for DE production. They have personnel issues that Beane needs to address NOW. Otherwise, they will be lucky to beat the Patriots for the division

Jerry Hughes has been a nonfactor so far this year. 

To the folks that watch the All 22s -- what's going on with him? Is he getting double-teamed, or does he just seem to be past his prime?

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13 hours ago, whorlnut said:

...and this is what we get. Yeah, yeah, yeah...we are missing Tre and Milano. I get that. But Milano was a fifth rounder and Tre has been overall underwhelming this season. Either way...Edmunds looks completely terrible, Oliver is almost non-existent, and Epenesa looks completely lost. It’s beyond pathetic. There really isn’t an excuse with all the premium picks spent on making this a premium unit.

 

Is this a trivia?  My guess is Beatles 1965

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5 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

Jerry Hughes has been a nonfactor so far this year. 

To the folks that watch the All 22s -- what's going on with him? Is he getting double-teamed, or does he just seem to be past his prime?

 

Yes to both plus refs arent calling holding this year (and they never called it for Jerry anyways).

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13 hours ago, whorlnut said:

...and this is what we get. Yeah, yeah, yeah...we are missing Tre and Milano. I get that. But Milano was a fifth rounder and Tre has been overall underwhelming this season. Either way...Edmunds looks completely terrible, Oliver is almost non-existent, and Epenesa looks completely lost. It’s beyond pathetic. There really isn’t an excuse with all the premium picks spent on making this a premium unit.

And those were loaded drafts, with impact players available throughout the first two rounds.   We could also talk about the three third round picks that have been spent on slow running backs and a TE who specializes in back-breaking dropped passes, but I digress.  These guys have not drafted very well and it’s starting to show.

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48 minutes ago, uticaclub said:

Only Star was unexpected. Lorax retirement was expected and Shaq & Jordan could have been retained with the money they spent on other defensive free agents that haven’t performed 

The depleted defense vs. the Titans as opposed to last year:

MINUS: Shaq, Jordan Phillips, Lorax (all gone), and Milano, Tre, Levi (injured)

ADD: Harrison Phillips, Addison, Epenesa, Klein, Jefferson/Butler, Dodson

 

That explains it. It's not Leslie Frazier. It's inferior personnel. Some of it is on McBeane, but some of it is just bad luck.

Only Epenesa has the young kid/may get better excuse. My impression is that Harrison Phillips has been o.k., but he certainly seemed more effective at the start of last season before the injury. That may have to do with the guys around him too.

2 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Yes to both plus refs arent calling holding this year (and they never called it for Jerry anyways).

Interesting. I hadn't thought about the "offensive holding is not an area of concern" thing.

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Harry reminds me of Tim Anderson, pushed all over the place eventually on his back with cleats in the air and Edmunds reminds me on Posluzney, making tackles 10 yards down  field never in the hole or for minus yards. Beane has been tremendous but those are huge misses.

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35 minutes ago, mannc said:

And those were loaded drafts, with impact players available throughout the first two rounds.   We could also talk about the three third round picks that have been spent on slow running backs and a TE who specializes in back-breaking dropped passes, but I digress.  These guys have not drafted very well and it’s starting to show.

Singletary has been fine. It’s the extremely obvious run calls and run blocking that’s the issue. We run out of pretty much the same formation most of the time and it’s terrible because the players can’t block and the defender is to the TE In the backfield as Soon as the back gets the ball.

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2 minutes ago, Not at the table Karlos said:

Singletary has been fine. It’s the extremely obvious run calls and run blocking that’s the issue. We run out of pretty much the same formation most of the time and it’s terrible because the players can’t block and the defender is to the TE In the backfield as Soon as the back gets the ball.

Singletary has been OK.  He belongs in the league, but he's a change of pace back who has no business being the number 1 option.  The third round is early to take a 
RB; third round RBs need to become feature backs, not role players.  The Bills used third round picks on RBs two years in a row and still don't have a guy who they can give the ball to on third and 1.  At this point, their only option on third (or fourth) and short is Josh Allen or McKenzie.  I'll admit the jury is still out on Moss, but so far he looks slow and he's been constantly injured, just like he was in college.  

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Drive 1 - Norman got beat after the INT.

Drive 2 - 3rd and 20 and Johnson somehow loses kalif raymond for the conversion.  They attack him again with brown.  Then they score.

Drive 3 - They dinked and dunked - but that DPI call was kinda bad on 3rd and 4.  Other than that they pretty much attacked norman and johnson on the boundaries again.  

Drive 4 - started at the 12 and they got a roughing the passer call so... thats a TD.

 

I guess i just dont get the edmunds hate.  Seems like we should give more to norman and johnson.  They stunk yesterday.  

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3 minutes ago, mannc said:

Singletary has been OK.  He belongs in the league, but he's a change of pace back who has no business being the number 1 option.  The third round is early to take a 
RB; third round RBs need to become feature backs, not role players.  The Bills used third round picks on RBs two years in a row and still don't have a guy who they can give the ball to on third and 1.  At this point, their only option on third (or fourth) and short is Josh Allen or McKenzie.  I'll admit the jury is still out on Moss, but so far he looks slow and he's been constantly injured, just like he was in college.  

In three tries, Yelden converted three third-and-shorts last night ...

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Just now, dave mcbride said:

In three tries, Yelden converted three third-and-shorts last night ...

Yes, Yeldon needs to get more carries.  He's been buried on the bench for the last two years because he fumbled in a pre-season game.  But it still doesn't justify using premium picks on Singletary and Moss, guys with low NFL ceilings.  

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13 hours ago, Jerome007 said:

Edmunds is playing injured so I'll wait before saying that. But Oliver... yikes. 


Does his Shoulder hurting make his friggin brain stop? I was literally able to call out his misreads in real time last night.  One was particularly awful, there was a run fake towards the left, he didn’t move, Tannehill drops back to pass and Edmunds finally runs left, leaving his gap wide open for Tannehill to throw right through for a big gain.  He’s so far behind he’s almost early in abandoning his assignment.   They have to get him off the field ASAP.

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2 hours ago, JohnNord said:

We all love Brandon  Beane who has made a lot of great moves as GM.  But when you look at the players he drafted - particularly on the defensive side of the ball, they aren’t looking so good.
 

The Bills preach “draft, develop, resign” and while this has worked for picks like White and Milano, the high to mid-round draft picks Beane has made are not making the difference you would expect.  I know that it takes time to develop but we’re 2 seasons in and the excuses are running out. You will notice that severa players on this list stood out last night in a defensive meltdown for the wrong reasons. 

 

Tremaine Edmunds - Round 1, Pick 16   2018

Yes he’s young and he has been injured this year, but his weaknesses haven’t seemed to change much since his rookie year.  Good coverage LB, but a major liability against the run.  Unfortunately he hasn’t made any strides in shedding blocks and has missed too many tackles. Not good enough for an MLB in this defense. Bills have a tough decision on his option at the end of the year. 

 

Harrison Phillips - Round 3, Pick 96  2018

He had shown promise last season but seems to be having a tough time coming back from ACL surgery.  Right now he’s just another guy on defense and maybe a below average DT since his return.
 

Tauron Johnson - Round 4, Pick 122  2018

Opposite of Edmunds - good run CB, a liability in the pass game.  He has been a major weakness this year and maybe THE biggest weakness. 

 

Ed Oliver - Round 1, Pick 8 2019

Oliver has shown flashes at times but seems to be invisible for long stretches.  So far he hasn’t been been as effective as fellow 2019 DL’s like Quinnen  Williams or Jeffrey Simmons have been.   Out of all the picks on the list, I feel he has the most upside.  Still you’d like to see him do more in year 2.

 

AJ Epinesa - Round 2, Pick 54

Very very early to make a call on this pick, but so far  there hasn’t been anything that stands out.  Also the Offside penalty was a killer.
 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I think the offensive picks have been pretty good.  But it seems like a lot of the struggles can be attributed to the lack of development of draft picks who are called upon for big roles. 

 

 

If you think Quinnen Williams have played better than Ed Oliver since they have been drafted then you don't watch the Jets play. Most Jets fan already consider Williams a bust.

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I've always been more of a 350+ lb DT type of guy...

 

Sam Adams and Ted Washington lined up next to each other was amazing. That's my dream come true for a DL!

 

A smaller DT who doesn't lift cars off the ground as his warmup like Aaron Donald does is a liability. I really miss Phillips and Star... Star would occupy 2 OL and others were free to wreak havok. 

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I dont get the love for Edmunds. What exactly has he done? Consistently makes tackles 4, 5, 6 yards down the field. He has 0 TFL this year. In coverage he doesn't make plays. Last night there were at least 2 plays I could see that should have been picked if Edmunds was a good MLB. Instead both were caught for first downs... I will admit the DL didnt help as Olineman were climbing to Edmunds nearly every run play. 

 

My hope is the Bills let Milano walk move Edmunds to his spot ( more of a coverage in space position) and draft or pick up a solid run stopping MLB

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14 hours ago, Johnnycage46 said:

For sure.  This D stinks.  And if the O has a bad outing (like tonight) we are toast.  Even when we have been at full strength we let teams hang around.  Going to be a long season.

I said a few weeks ago that our O would hiccup once or twice this year and the D would have to win the game.  The O hiccupped last night.  Both sides contribute and compliment each other.  I continue to feel very good about our O.  They've proven themselves this season.  The D has not yet proven themselves to me.  it appears that our chances of winning relies much, much more on our offense this year.  I have little faith in our D contributing much more than they have to date.

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16 minutes ago, dbfla10 said:

I dont get the love for Edmunds. What exactly has he done? Consistently makes tackles 4, 5, 6 yards down the field. He has 0 TFL this year. In coverage he doesn't make plays. Last night there were at least 2 plays I could see that should have been picked if Edmunds was a good MLB. Instead both were caught for first downs... I will admit the DL didnt help as Olineman were climbing to Edmunds nearly every run play. 

 

My hope is the Bills let Milano walk move Edmunds to his spot ( more of a coverage in space position) and draft or pick up a solid run stopping MLB

 

I think they should do everything they can to keep Milano.  At this point if I had to choose between Milano and Edmunds, I would take Milano every time.  He just seems to have a knack for being around the ball and is very instinctual and athletic.  Edmunds...not sure.  He has elite/freak size but just can't put it all together.

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The NFL has allowed massive holding this year for all teams. The problem is the Bills defensive was made for new generation of quick, fast players and once you hold them they aren't even remotely elite. The same is true of the Chargers defense who are also struggling.

 

 We basically built a defense around the older enforcement and we aren't adjusting. Adjustment needs elite talent, we spread out the talent by rotation. 

 

It can be argued, rightfully, we haven't properly addressed pass-rushing since McBeane's start. I think they look at WRs and the D line as an effort by committee more than stand-outs. 

 

For that reason we suck this year. 

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40 minutes ago, BillsToast said:

The NFL has allowed massive holding this year for all teams. The problem is the Bills defensive was made for new generation of quick, fast players and once you hold them they aren't even remotely elite. The same is true of the Chargers defense who are also struggling.

 

 We basically built a defense around the older enforcement and we aren't adjusting. Adjustment needs elite talent, we spread out the talent by rotation. 

 

It can be argued, rightfully, we haven't properly addressed pass-rushing since McBeane's start. I think they look at WRs and the D line as an effort by committee more than stand-outs. 

 

For that reason we suck this year. 


I agree with the defense aspect... not necessarily with our view of WR.  I think the trade for Diggs shows we prioritize elite talent there.  
 

In terms of defense, it seems like the teams having success are doing so via flooding passing lanes and through coverage.  We seem to be getting close a lot on the pass rush, but close only counts in horse grenades... and then, of course, we’re not defending anyone with WR’s and TE’s open all over the place on quick hitters.  

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I've never been sold on Edmunds unfortunately. He was supposed to be this stud LB that would anchor the group for years to come...a Patrick Willis type if you will. 


He's above average in coverage when the rest of the DB's are healthy, but he's not consistent game to game. 

Oliver isn't the Aaron Donald type DT he was so often compared to. That much is obvious. Don't know what can be done about that at this point, but it seems the scouting department/coaching staff needs to utilize their picks better. Our drafts really haven't yielded many hits aside from Tre, and that was technically when Whaley was still in office instead of Beane right?

As long as Allen pans out, we ultimately still win in the long run. But as long as the Packers have had Aaron Rodgers, how much has their drafting throughout his tenure really helped him? We don't want that situation (tbh, I may just be forgetting some solid early round picks from them, but I just can't think of any).

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13 hours ago, Gene1973 said:

The Bills players are professional football players. They get paid a lot of money to play football. They had their chance to opt out.

Beane botched the D-line, no other way to put it...

If you are professional, you do everything to win. That includes the owner raising holy hell about another team's coach messing up, and getting over a half month's vacation. If the Bills pulled this, they are forced into a forfeit. The pro move was to refuse the terms. If the league puts down the Bills lost, fight it all year long. They tested positive on Sunday and had a crowd in the stadium with the Bills on the road.

 

13 hours ago, uticaclub said:

Titans had a lot more starters and players out then the Bills. The players that opted in, knew this was a possibility going into the season. No matter what the circumstances a team with championship aspirations rarely play like the Bills did yesterday 

 

So don't play. This was the worst idea. You risk getting sick, and melt down in prime time, again.

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14 hours ago, NewEra said:

I refrain from the boards after a loss due to extreme overreaction........

 

but Tremaine Edmunds was so bad yesterday that I’m starting to really dislike him.  If you see him on the screen, he’s likely making a mistake, overrunning the play, biting on a misdirection, hitting the wrong hole, following the FB on the goal line fake instead of Derrick Henry, being confused in coverage, getting touched an OL which effectively ends his play..... I could go on.  Definitely not a MLB yet, after 2.25 years.  
 

 

 

I really hate getting down on the kid...I do...But my eyes don't deceive me either...

 

He has to be one of the most easily blocked/manipulated ILB's in the NFL. He rarely fires the gap correctly to make plays in the backfield like Milano. He rarely stacks and makes a play at the point of attack...usually he's effectively blocked then drags down the ball carrier 7 yds past the line...if that...He's just a mess right now. They need SO much more from that position than he's capable of currently. And now I'm really concerned that NFL teams have figured him out...😎

 

 

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19 minutes ago, KOKBILLS said:

 

I really hate getting down on the kid...I do...But my eyes don't deceive me either...

 

He has to be one of the most easily blocked/manipulated ILB's in the NFL. He rarely fires the gap correctly to make plays in the backfield like Milano. He rarely stacks and makes a play at the point of attack...usually he's effectively blocked then drags down the ball carrier 7 yds past the line...if that...He's just a mess right now. They need SO much more from that position than he's capable of currently. And now I'm really concerned that NFL teams have figured him out...😎

 

 

Sad.  I actually bought a signed Edmunds jersey this offseason thinking he would take the next step to superstardom.  Last year, he was a MUCH better player.  Maybe it’s his shoulder?  Idk.....but it’s so frustrating and sad at the same time.  Maybe we should pay milano and let him go.  At least milano is a force to be reckoned with when he’s out there.  I pray that what we’ve seen from Edmunds this year has been a fluke and he turns things around.  🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 

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Just now, NewEra said:

Sad.  I actually bought a signed Edmunds jersey this offseason thinking he would take the next step to superstardom.  Last year, he was a MUCH better player.  Maybe it’s his shoulder?  Idk.....but it’s so frustrating and sad at the same time.  Maybe we should play milano and let him go.  At least milano is a force to be reckoned with when he’s out there.  I pray that what we’ve seen from Edmunds this year has been a fluke and he turns things around.  🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 

 

Milano is a better football player than Edmunds...He just is...He's instinctive, and when he commits he come like like a flash of lightning...He's a disrupter...I do think the shoulder is still an issue with Tremaine. Frazier mentioned it in his presser today. Says Edmunds needs to be more physical, throw his body around more, etc, and that once he feels 100% healthy he should get back to that...We'll see...Edmunds is a better player then he's showed most of this year...My concerns with him have a lot more to do with instincts and, to be honest, I don't think MLB is where he best fits in an NFL Defense.😎

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12 hours ago, KOKBILLS said:

 

Milano is a better football player than Edmunds...He just is...He's instinctive, and when he commits he come like like a flash of lightning...He's a disrupter...I do think the shoulder is still an issue with Tremaine. Frazier mentioned it in his presser today. Says Edmunds needs to be more physical, throw his body around more, etc, and that once he feels 100% healthy he should get back to that...We'll see...Edmunds is a better player then he's showed most of this year...My concerns with him have a lot more to do with instincts and, to be honest, I don't think MLB is where he best fits in an NFL Defense.😎


100% correct.  He’s built to be an OLB to start with and has no instincts to be the guy making snap decisions on which hole to jump, TE to run w etc.  he’s completely reactionary and it doesn’t work.  Move him outside and let him see the ball, at least there he can use his speed to pursue.  Right now he a less instinctive, lighter Paul Pozluzny, captain 6 yard gain.

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On 10/13/2020 at 11:56 PM, Bangarang said:

 

Oliver is not and never will be a 4-3 DE.

That’s because he sucks. Fans like him and it still boggles my mind as to why. 

 

he has a wrestling background.  I have no clue if he's played well or not, but that seems to carry a lot of weight with McD.  All I know is it looks like the entire DL is moving backwards on plays.  

 

We need a great run stopper and run blocker in next years draft.  A pass rusher will be nice, but a great one is hard to find where we draft.  I'd take a look at someone from a small school.  That said, we should have drafted Maxx Crosby 2 yrs ago! 

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On 10/13/2020 at 9:04 PM, bills6969 said:

I’m more disappointed in the FA signings— Addison, Jefferson, Butler.  These guys have done diddly- poo.  We have 0 pass rush.  One of these guys was supposed to replace the production of Shaw Lawson. Lol.

I think Addison has been our best player in the front 7.

I'm more concerned about guys that were already on our roster who were were planning on being major contributors like Oliver, Edmunds, and Phillips. At this point, I'm declining Edmunds 5th year option and unless the light goes on real soon for Oliver, I think next year it would be the same thing.  On top of that, Jerry Hughes and Murphy aren't getting it done at all. I'd rather give those snaps to Darryl Johnson and see if the kid can do something.

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Is it coaching? Or is it the players? Ed Oliver had 5 sacks last year but now he’s a total bum? Edmunds made a Pro Bowl but now he sucks? Tre White has also looked bad too and he was once a top 2-3 corner in the NFL. That’s three big time players for us who are now marginal starters at best! I think Eric Washington has done a terrible job with that DL. Losing Bill Teerlinck has really set this defense back.. He had our guys playing great. Think it starts in the trenches and our DL has been absolutely terrible.. People are getting hurt because teams are getting 300lbs linemen and 250lbs RBs into the second and third levels of our defense.. surprised that Poyer and Hyde are still alive..

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4 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

How many over reaction “our defense sucks” threads do we need?  

 

I imagine many more.  Our offense has sucked for like 2 decades.  The one thing this team has had for a long time (not every year) is a good to great defense.  People aren't use to the Bills allowing a scoring drive on a crapload of drives.  IMO its not really an over reaction.  The defense has barely been average.  They are terrible at stopping the run unless they sell out.  They are bad at coverage.  They are bad at rushing the passer.  What are they good at?

 

It's not an over reaction to say the defense is bad if the defense is indeed bad.  The defense is bad.

 

Last season the offense couldn't put together more than half a game.  This season the defense cant put together more than half a game.

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On 10/13/2020 at 9:08 PM, ChanticleerBillsFan said:

We have one of the highest paid defensive lines in the league and do not stop the run or pressure well.....

Thats what happens when you throw money at something. It was like when I started playing golf, I figured I am good a just about every other sport so it has to be the clubs. Wrong!!!!!! I spend over 2,000 on new clubs and I still sucked, it wasn’t until I just paid 200$ for lessons that I started getting better.

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