Bills switch to man coverage vs Steelers

[YoloinOhio]

A departure from McDermott’s scheme 🤔

https://theathletic.com/2824361/2021/09/13/how-the-bills-struggled-to-put-away-the-steelers-diving-into-the-advanced-stats/?amp#click=https://t.co/TtOdk9exUW

Quote

The Bills changed tendency and went with man coverage

Over the last four seasons, the Bills defense has leaned on zone coverage. The Bills will run man coverage for specific looks, but in 2020, they ran zone on 62 percent of their defensive snaps. Against the Steelers, they flipped the script and used man coverage on 58.2 percent of their defensive snaps. The Bills ran man coverage at the second-highest rate of all teams in Week 1, behind only the Patriots.

The Bills changing identity might have something to do with Roethlisberger’s tendency to get the ball out quickly. However, the downside of running as much man coverage as the Bills did is they left their zone-specific cornerbacks in Levi Wallace and Taron Johnson susceptible to bad beats and double moves. It hurt the Bills on a handful of plays, and some reps that the Steelers did not take advantage of could have been significant gains. However, you can’t fault the defense for its overall performance and approach on Sunday. The Bills held four legitimate playmakers in Najee Harris, Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson and JuJu Smith-Schuster in check for much of the game and allowed only 16 points. Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa held on to the ball for 2.50 seconds on average in the opener, so we’ll see if the Bills get back to their zone tendency next week.

 

 

[0017]

We need CBs that can excel at both man and zone!! I think T. White can but the others have a way to go. IMHO 😬

[Malazan]

22 minutes ago, Dr. Football said:

We need CBs that can excel at both man and zone!! I think T. White can but the others have a way to go. IMHO 😬

 

The Steelers were 18/32 passing for 188 yards and only gave up 16 points. Can you point to specifics about where you think they should improve? 

[The Jokeman]

28 minutes ago, Dr. Football said:

We need CBs that can excel at both man and zone!! I think T. White can but the others have a way to go. IMHO 😬

I agree, Levi isn't fast enough for man.

[YoloinOhio]

9 minutes ago, jeremy2020 said:

 

The Steelers were 18/32 passing for 188 yards and only gave up 16 points. Can you point to specifics about where you think they should improve? 

I don’t fault the defensive strategy  either. Bills defense played well and had some crap calls go the other way. 

Edited September 14, 2021 by YoloinOhio

[Cheektowaga Chad]

Believe they have played man before for specific opponents

 

However everything that continues to come out from this game is the entire team coaches and players over thought everything. They just need to get back to basics in a way and just beat the other team, no over thinking just play football

[NewEra]

6 minutes ago, jeremy2020 said:

 

The Steelers were 18/32 passing for 188 yards and only gave up 16 points. Can you point to specifics about where you think they should improve? 

Specifically, not committing 26 yard PI’s on what was basically a Hail Mary on 3rd down.  

[streetkings01]

Seemed as if Big Ben was going after Levi Wallace on every play.

[Brennan Huff]

The defense played well enough to win the game. The offense never showed up

[Stank_Nasty]

And I say as a general Rule it was a good move. Defense showed did plenty to win this game. 
 

Anytime, in today’s NFL, you hold an opponent to 250 total Yds and 16 pts you should expect to win that game. 

Edited September 14, 2021 by Stank_Nasty

[0017]

12 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

I agree, Levi isn't fast enough for man.

I’m not sure why they haven’t pursued some speed at corner, especially with all the trouble we had with covering Tyreek Hill!! Big problem as I see it. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

29 minutes ago, Stank_Nasty said:

And I say as a general Rule it was a good move. Defense showed did plenty to win this game. 
 

Anytime, in today’s NFL, you hold an opponent to 250 total Yds and 16 pts you should expect to win that game. 

 

The points still count if ST or the other team's defense scores them.

 

I take your point that when the defense allows 16 points you generally expect a good offense to score more, so you win, but we don't get to disregard the points off ST.

[NewEra]

27 minutes ago, Stank_Nasty said:

And I say as a general Rule it was a good move. Defense showed did plenty to win this game. 
 

Anytime, in today’s NFL, you hold an opponent to 250 total Yds and 16 pts you should expect to win that game. 

The game stats are one thing.  We held them to 0 points at the half.  Not sure how many yards we gave up in the 1st half, but it was low.  Our D player lights out in the 1st half. 
 

then the 2nd half happened.  We didn’t force them to punt once in the 2nd half.  They scored on EVERY possession.  That’s not good defense in the 2nd half.  
 

our Defense wasn’t the reason we lost, but if they played better in the 2nd half, we might’ve won in spite of our OL, play calling  and mediocre QB play.  

[Stank_Nasty]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

The points still count if ST or the other team's defense scores them.

 

I take your point that when the defense allows 16 points you generally expect a good offense to score more, so you win, but we don't get to disregard the points off ST.

Well I disagree. If we’re talking about the defensive unit I’m 100% gonna disregard a blocked punt. It had nothing to do with them. 

[YoloinOhio]

40 minutes ago, Cheektowaga Chad said:

Believe they have played man before for specific opponents

 

However everything that continues to come out from this game is the entire team coaches and players over thought everything. They just need to get back to basics in a way and just beat the other team, no over thinking just play football

White has followed WRs on occasion 

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

The points still count if ST or the other team's defense scores them.

 

I take your point that when the defense allows 16 points you generally expect a good offense to score more, so you win, but we don't get to disregard the points off ST.

Or disregard allowing them to score on every 2nd half possession and after doing the opposite in the first half.  

[YoloinOhio]

36 minutes ago, streetkings01 said:

Seemed as if Big Ben was going after Levi Wallace on every play.

As he should 

[Stank_Nasty]

1 minute ago, NewEra said:

The game stats are one thing.  We held them to 0 points at the half.  Not sure how many yards we gave up in the 1st half, but it was low.  Our D player lights out in the 1st half. 
 

then the 2nd half happened.  We didn’t force them to punt once in the 2nd half.  They scored on EVERY possession.  That’s not good defense in the 2nd half.  
 

our Defense wasn’t the reason we lost, but if they played better in the 2nd half, we might’ve won in spite of our OL, play calling  and mediocre QB play.  

You’re not wrong. I’m looking at it more as whole. Anytime your defense comes out of a game with those sort of cumulative numbers you should expect to win IMO… and honestly you should win handedly. 

[CaptnCoke11]

Pittsburgh was very vanilla in the first half.  When they put pressure on our secondary in the second half we crumbled.  I think the 2nd half defense is the real Bills defense 

[Malazan]

3 minutes ago, NewEra said:

The game stats are one thing.  We held them to 0 points at the half.  Not sure how many yards we gave up in the 1st half, but it was low.  Our D player lights out in the 1st half. 
 

then the 2nd half happened.  We didn’t force them to punt once in the 2nd half.  They scored on EVERY possession.  That’s not good defense in the 2nd half.  
 

our Defense wasn’t the reason we lost, but if they played better in the 2nd half, we might’ve won in spite of our OL, play calling  and mediocre QB play.  

 

You often strike me as a 'If there was a 3rd half..." kind of guys. 

Edited September 14, 2021 by jeremy2020

[NewEra]

Just now, Stank_Nasty said:

You’re not wrong. I’m looking at it more as whole. Anytime your defense comes out of a game with those sort of cumulative numbers you should expect to win IMO… and honestly you should win handedly. 

And TOP 33 minutes to 26

[Stank_Nasty]

1 minute ago, NewEra said:

And TOP 33 minutes to 26

Truthfully most of the metrics fell in our favor by a wide margin. I think I read 8 of our first 11 drives ended up in Pitt territory. That’s a bad look for our situational football. It just…. Is what it is I guess. 
 

Edited September 14, 2021 by Stank_Nasty

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, jeremy2020 said:

 

You often strike me as a 'If there was a 3rd half..." kind of guys. 

cool story bruh.  Have another

[SCBills]

2 minutes ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

Pittsburgh was very vanilla in the first half.  When they put pressure on our secondary in the second half we crumbled.  I think the 2nd half defense is the real Bills defense 

So the Steelers just gave away an entire half of football? 
 

Bold strategy…

[NewEra]

1 minute ago, Stank_Nasty said:

Truthfully most of the metrics fell in our favor by a wide margin. It just…. Is what it is I guess. 

A blocked punt for a TD and some terrible coaching decisions for were too much to overcome.  
 

 

[Stank_Nasty]

5 minutes ago, NewEra said:

A blocked punt for a TD and some terrible coaching decisions for were too much to overcome.  
 

 

Right. I think I read 8 of our first 11 drives ended up in PITT territory. And you end up with 16 friggin points. That just screams bad situational football. Inexcusable 

[SCBills]

Y’all gonna lose it when we open up in a 3-3-5 against Miami. 

[The Jokeman]

8 minutes ago, NewEra said:

A blocked punt for a TD and some terrible coaching decisions for were too much to overcome.  
 

 

The way the Bills offense was struggling it really gave the Steelers needed emotionally all things considered.

3 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Y’all gonna lose it when we open up in a 3-3-5 against Miami. 

If Klein can get to the QB better than Hughes (who was quiet yesterday)  I wouldn't mind that formation.

[Locomark]

1 hour ago, Cheektowaga Chad said:

Believe they have played man before for specific opponents

 

However everything that continues to come out from this game is the entire team coaches and players over thought everything. They just need to get back to basics in a way and just beat the other team, no over thinking just play football

This was it in a nutshell. Play to your strengths. Daboll getting cute on short yardage. McDermott going for 4th and 8 when he has a guy who can kick the 52 yarder and a lead, Josh looking deep all game long because they told him they need to hit more big plays when there were guys open at 10 yards all game, getting a blocked punt, a one man pattern on a flea flicker, running Sanders as your deep threat instead of Davis or Diggs, putting 39 on an island when they can’t run the ball on you. All are coaching impacted. This not only played mediocre but it’s coaching staff looked amateurish yesterday. 
 

I am so sick of hearing how Daboll spent 60 hour weeks all summer working on how to counteract what teams would be doing to stop us. Just play our game, like KC plays their game, and make someone prove they can stop you. Don’t change your game trying to be cute. 

Edited September 14, 2021 by Locomark

[LABILLBACKER]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

The points still count if ST or the other team's defense scores them.

 

I take your point that when the defense allows 16 points you generally expect a good offense to score more, so you win, but we don't get to disregard the points off ST.

I hate it when the defense gives up blocked punts.

[LeGOATski]

Two time the CBs were beat (long throw to Claypool; TD to Johnson) White and Wallace had perfect position, but the WR just made a great play.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

Pittsburgh was very vanilla in the first half.  When they put pressure on our secondary in the second half we crumbled.  I think the 2nd half defense is the real Bills defense 

 

I would have to re-watch, but I think one reason the Steelers put pressure on our secondary in the second half was in part we weren't getting as much pressure up front - playing like we were gassed.   So Big Ben had a bit more time to pick us apart.

 

We have (relatively) smaller guys on our DL and they have to play with very high energy to beat the bigger guys on OL

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

5 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

I hate it when the defense gives up blocked punts.

 

 

I quote "You don't get to disregard the points off ST"

[MPT]

16 minutes ago, Locomark said:

I am so sick of hearing how Daboll spent 60 hour weeks all summer working on how to counteract what teams would be doing to stop us. 

 

I actually haven't heard that at all. If true, it's interesting that he decided not to put any of that preparation to use yesterday.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, jeremy2020 said:

 

You often strike me as a 'If there was a 3rd half..." kind of guys. 

 

I strike me as an "I have no idea what that means" kinda guy

 

1 minute ago, MPT said:

I actually haven't heard that at all. If true, it's interesting that he decided not to put any of that preparation to use yesterday.

 

Ouch.  But apparently true.

[MPT]

2 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

 

I quote "You don't get to disregard the points off ST"

 

If you're discussing the performance of the defense, then you can absolutely disregard points off ST. If anything, a blocked punt is more closely related to the offense.

[Malazan]

1 hour ago, NewEra said:

cool story bruh.  Have another

 

Not quite a "I know you are, but what am I", but close. Really close. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

4 minutes ago, MPT said:

 

If you're discussing the performance of the defense, then you can absolutely disregard points off ST. If anything, a blocked punt is more closely related to the offense.

 

I'll try one more time. 

 

The oft-quoted metric is that if a team holds their opponent to less than 20 points, they should generally win.

Let me say that again a little louder for the guys in the back: if a TEAM holds their opponent to less than 20 points, they should generally win.

 

It's a TEAM thing.  The defense doesn't get to sit back and say "hey 23 points?  Well ***** only 16 of 'em were ours, so who the ***** cares if we let the opponent score on every single drive in the 2nd half while the offense needed time to come from behind?  We did OUR job!"  That's not how football works.

[MasterStrategist]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I'll try one more time. 

 

The oft-quoted metric is that if a team holds their opponent to less than 20 points, they should generally win.

Let me say that again a little louder for the guys in the back: if a TEAM holds their opponent to less than 20 points, they should generally win.

 

It's a TEAM thing.  The defense doesn't get to sit back and say "hey 23 points?  Well ***** only 16 of 'em were ours, so who the ***** cares if we let the opponent score on every single drive in the 2nd half while the offense needed time to come from behind?  We did OUR job!"  That's not how football works.

There's 3 phases to football and nobody is saying the defense is reacting like your post above.  And I know you know this.

 

Simple fact, blocked punt led to 7 points.

 

If you and others want to call out the defense for their 2nd half performance, obviously go for it.  But as I've said in other threads:

1. Momentum was given to the Steeler offense 2x, on failed 4th down conversions.  Like it or not, that's a real thing and impacts the play going forward in the game

 

2. Two questionable penalties, took away an early INT and then the second took away a 3rd down stop and led to a Steeler TD.  

 

3. Steelers have a talented offense, they did this to Cleveland and Colts at the end of last year (play bad in 1st half then turn it on in 2nd half).  

 

Just my opinion, but I'm looking at the overall performance and very pleased with the defense effort.

[MPT]

3 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I'll try one more time. 

 

The oft-quoted metric is that if a team holds their opponent to less than 20 points, they should generally win.

Let me say that again a little louder for the guys in the back: if a TEAM holds their opponent to less than 20 points, they should generally win.

 

It's a TEAM thing.  The defense doesn't get to sit back and say "hey 23 points?  Well ***** only 16 of 'em were ours, so who the ***** cares if we let the opponent score on every single drive in the 2nd half while the offense needed time to come from behind?  We did OUR job!"  That's not how football works.

 

That is how football works though. This isn't basketball or hockey where everyone plays offense and defense. They are completely separate entities. If the defense only gives up 16 points, they did their job well. Obviously it's still a team loss, but you can't say the defense played poorly when they only gave up one touchdown. 

 

Just curious, would you still blame the defense if we lost 6-3? 10-6? Where's the cutoff?