Can Our D Become More Versatile in 2022? If So, How?

[st pete gogolak]

Kudos to the Bengals DC for the second half game plan against KC.  Playing a lot of 3 man fronts with a spy and man to man in the back was pretty brilliant.  Would our 2021 D even been capable of pulling that off?  All I saw all year long was 4 man front, some blitzes (we were middle of the pack on blitzing I believe) and two high safety zone, fairly soft zone at that.  Even in the first NE game, when NE is bringing in an extra OL and obviously emphasizing the run, we're playing our usual 4-2-5.  

 

Should we try to add some flexibility in 2022?  If we retain Frazier, could we?  One thought is that if we are retaining Edmunds, draft a run-stopping MLB in the middle rounds and play a 4-3 against run heavy teams with Edmunds outside.  Experiment with some 3 man fronts in the pre-season.  Something, anything, that would give our opponents something to think about.

[BuffaloMatt]

Bigger and meaner

[Playoffs?]

Seems more like coaching than whether or not our team could execute.

[TheBeaneBandit]

Stop the run with numbers?

[LongTermBuffalonian]

I think/hope we need two things:

 

Groot to come into the training camp bigger/faster/better conditioned so he becomes the pass rusher we need.

A true mauler Defensive tackle - ie a HEALTHY and consistent Star Lotulelei equivalent. Obviously - probably not Star....

 

The Bengals were able to confound Mahomes by using 3 up front and dropping 8 into coverage for much of the second half. We need someone big and nasty on the line that they HAVE to double team.

[Boatdrinks]

Yes. Get a new defensive coordinator. That’s about it. 

[BuffaloRebound]

Get more aggressive! 

[oldmanfan]

7 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Get more aggressive! 

Bingo.  We have some guys like Edmunds who are asked to play passively.  If McD does anything this offseason it should be to realize that when you say you need to more aggressive, it's on both sides of the ball.

[RyanC883]

new DC.  Vet DE who can contain and get sacks.  Someone like Cincy got last offseason, while we just threw darts at the draft board in the first 2 rounds for DEs.  

[Marvlevydraftdaygenius]

Get rid of Lesile Frazier.

[Big Turk]

Problem is Bills got burnt by Hill twice now on short crosses that he just ran away from everyone on.

 

Bills played scared after that in both games. They have to not let one play define who they are.

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

Keep tre healthy and get a better CB2 also.  Seems like playing man against the chiefs worked for the bengals but I don’t think we could’ve handled that with Levi/Dane starting. Tre was definitely the one guy we could not afford getting injured we just didn’t have the cb depth. 

Edited February 1, 2022 by Generic_Bills_Fan

[CaptnCoke11]

Get another more athletic CB who can cover. Get Tre healthy but unfortunately he will probably miss most of the 2022 season.  

[TC in St. Louis]

Hey, we had KC beat.  Our defense is strong, but we need a mean streak.  

The loss of Tre was finally felt during that game.  He'll be back.  

 

I kind of agree that we could use a new DC.  But it's hard to argue with the achievements last year.  They gave up some huge runs to Indy and Tennessee (and one big one against NE in the Wind Bowl).   Focus on building a scheme that stops the run  The backfield is great.

[purple haze]

51 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

Yes. Get a new defensive coordinator. That’s about it. 

Frazier’s philosophy lines up with McD’s philosophy.  If you get a new DC  he will be in the same vein as McD.  And most times their philosophy worked.    When it didn’t work it was beaten by more explosive athletes.  

The focus of fans should be on athletic, explosive talent acquisition or hope McD adjusts his philosophy.  Which do you think is the more probable occurrence?

[TheyCallMeAndy]

Ed Oliver could be an interesting watch, he legitimately had a few snaps (and a sack) from DE.

 

Oliver - Groot

Boogie - AJE

 

Not bad DE depth chart…

 

 

He’s also a beast at DT.

Edited February 1, 2022 by TheyCallMeAndy

[Joe Mama]

Need an assassin DB like Jack Tatum or Lester(the molester) Hayes to take a shot (personal foul ok) at critical times.

 

Or something like these fellows---

 

Edited February 1, 2022 by Joe Mama

[JohnNord]

3 hours ago, st pete gogolak said:

Kudos to the Bengals DC for the second half game plan against KC.  Playing a lot of 3 man fronts with a spy and man to man in the back was pretty brilliant.  Would our 2021 D even been capable of pulling that off?  All I saw all year long was 4 man front, some blitzes (we were middle of the pack on blitzing I believe) and two high safety zone, fairly soft zone at that.  Even in the first NE game, when NE is bringing in an extra OL and obviously emphasizing the run, we're playing our usual 4-2-5.  

 

Should we try to add some flexibility in 2022?  If we retain Frazier, could we?  One thought is that if we are retaining Edmunds, draft a run-stopping MLB in the middle rounds and play a 4-3 against run heavy teams with Edmunds outside.  Experiment with some 3 man fronts in the pre-season.  Something, anything, that would give our opponents something to think about.

2 things that Cincinnati did that the Bills are unable to do:

 

Get good play from their ends - not just in pressure but also containment.

 

Have corners that bump and run with the Kansas City WR’s 

 

and yeah replacing Edmunds for a linebacker that actually makes plays would be a good move too.  Not gonna happen.  
 

Playing well against a good QB would be nice too

1 hour ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Ed Oliver could be an interesting watch, he legitimately had a few snaps (and a sack) from DE.

 

Oliver - Groot

Boogie - AJE

 

Not bad DE depth chart…

 

 

He’s also a beast at DT.

Except the fact that you get nothing from AJE

1 hour ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Ed Oliver could be an interesting watch, he legitimately had a few snaps (and a sack) from DE.

 

Oliver - Groot

Boogie - AJE

 

Not bad DE depth chart…

 

 

He’s also a beast at DT.

Levi Wallace has 2 INT on the season…he’s a playmaker 

[Dont Stop Billeiving]

Good OP, an interesting idea that I hope the Bills will be working towards.

 

In my mind, the Bills defense can become more versatile in four ways:

 

- A huge defensive tackle who can stop the run and provides some upside rushing the passer. Hopefully means more success stopping the run using a light box and more pressure when only rushing four.

- A third LB to run alongside Edmunds and Milano who can hold up in coverage / run with TEs so Milano doesn't always have to be assigned to that role and the QB doesn't know who's going where. 

- A CB with either elite length and/or speed (we don't have either of these traits on the roster despite having a pretty good CB group). Would allow Buffalo to stay in man coverage when needed. 

- Another starting-caliber safety to run some of the three safety looks that Tampa and NE have utilized so successfully in recent years.

 

I wouldn't expect Buffalo to be able to obtain all four this offseason with limited cap space and a draft I hope will lean towards the offense, but getting two out of the four should help keep offenses guessing more often. 

[st pete gogolak]

I agree with almost all the comments above but I guess I'm not making myself clear.  Even if we bring back the same personnel (we won't), can we mix it up more on D so we're not giving opposing offenses the same look every game.  As far as I can tell, we played 4-2-5, rush four, blitz occasionally, play zone with two high safeties.  I didn't see much 4-3-4, even against run heavy teams.  Can't recall seeing any 3-2-6 ala what Bengals played in second half against KC.  Did we play any man-to-man?  My point is that we just can't trot same defense out every game, especially against elite QB's.  Hopefully, we'll get some new personnel so that we can effectively throw some different looks at teams next year.

 

Somewhat off topic, if you're a DC and you're playing Josh next year, are you thinking of playing the 3-2-6 with a spy similar to what Bengals played?  Of course, the way to attack that D is to hammer with the run, preferably with a power back.  We definitely need to run the ball better next year, especially out of the gate.

[Success]

I assume we'll have a pass rush in '22.  That alone makes us twice as versatile.

 

[LABILLBACKER]

9 hours ago, Boatdrinks said:

Yes. Get a new defensive coordinator. That’s about it. 

 

9 hours ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Get more aggressive! 

I tired of Leslie's stoic conservative approach.  It doesn't work and half the time McD has to take over anyway. Unless we're playing Indy or Tenn, I'd love to see us rotate between 3 and 4 man fronts. Especially against younger and more athletic  qbs like Mahomes,  Burrow and Herbert.

[wppete]

Draft a big mean aggressive LB. 

[Richard Noggin]

12 hours ago, st pete gogolak said:

Kudos to the Bengals DC for the second half game plan against KC.  Playing a lot of 3 man fronts with a spy and man to man in the back was pretty brilliant.  Would our 2021 D even been capable of pulling that off?  All I saw all year long was 4 man front, some blitzes (we were middle of the pack on blitzing I believe) and two high safety zone, fairly soft zone at that.  Even in the first NE game, when NE is bringing in an extra OL and obviously emphasizing the run, we're playing our usual 4-2-5.  

 

Should we try to add some flexibility in 2022?  If we retain Frazier, could we?  One thought is that if we are retaining Edmunds, draft a run-stopping MLB in the middle rounds and play a 4-3 against run heavy teams with Edmunds outside.  Experiment with some 3 man fronts in the pre-season.  Something, anything, that would give our opponents something to think about.

Didn't the Bills successfully employ a 5-man D-line (a 5-2-4 with Edmunds aligned on the edge) against the 49ers in 2020? And didn't they often utilize 3 LBs against the Pats the 2nd time this year and again in the playoffs? I know those are only a few examples, but I think the failures-to-adjust often loom larger than the successes-to-do-so.

 

That being shared, I STRONGLY believe the Bills D is too damned predictable, especially in critical passing situations (which often decide games).  

[Lothar]

 

25 minutes ago, Richard Noggin said:

Didn't the Bills successfully employ a 5-man D-line (a 5-2-4 with Edmunds aligned on the edge) against the 49ers in 2020? And didn't they often utilize 3 LBs against the Pats the 2nd time this year and again in the playoffs? I know those are only a few examples, but I think the failures-to-adjust often loom larger than the successes-to-do-so.

 

That being shared, I STRONGLY believe the Bills D is too damned predictable, especially in critical passing situations (which often decide games).  

 

The interesting thing about our defense with McD is we've consistently been one of the poorest tackling defenses in the league. Is that a function of having speedier LB and smaller DL than most? I doubt we're going to suddenly be good at tackling without some major changes to personnel.

 

We are usually middling in sacks but near the top in pressures. And in general, the Bills have a sound defense that can't be beat deep. I'm not sure we can ask for a whole lot more besides a top flight rusher to actually convert pressures into sacks. And that's easier said than done.

 

As far as the above bolded comment, we are still one of the top 3rd down defenses in football. We don't play passive - we usually go man and ramp up pressure on passing downs. I think there's some recency bias here.