Rd 3, Pick 89 (25): LB Terrell Bernard, Baylor

[No_Matter_What]

On 4/30/2022 at 2:24 PM, LEBills said:

Beane’s presser confirmed what I had expected. Said he, McD and Frazier all called Aranda about him and that they trust his opinion because he is a straight shooter. Beane says it will be up to coaches to figure out how to use him. Not exactly inspiring words from Beane, definitely a depth piece and ST initially.
 

Hopefully he turns into something down the line like the heir to Milano. Still pretty bummed we took him in the third but maybe we will get someone in the 5th or 6th that wasn’t expected to fall and it will all kinda wash.

You sir are a prophet.

[John from Riverside]

10 minutes ago, No_Matter_What said:

You sir are a prophet.

That’s the way the draft works it’s all about who the players are at the end not where they were drafted

[wjag]

14 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

Watch this.  It's obvious why the Bills wanted this guy.  Smartest football rookie I've ever seen.  

 

https://www.buffalobills.com/video/terrel-bernard-can-t-say-enough-good-things-about-the-people-here

 

So agree.  It seems like every Buffalo Bills player can hold their own behind a microphone.  Definitely get a good vibe off of his interview. 

[MrEpsYtown]

Joe Marino said something interesting in his recap, that Bernard could allow them to play more 4-3 sets as opposed to always being in that 4-2-5 front. Having Bernard and Milano as outside backers gives you enough coverage ability that you can get away with more base sets and have a stronger run defense. I thought it was a good point. Bernard could enter into a bit of a job share with Taron Johnson. 

[DCofNC]

14 hours ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I would love to see some 4-3 under sets with Edmunds as the SAM setting the edge on the line and Milano and Bernard running to the football. Used to be a staple for the them in Carolina but have not seen it much here. 

Step one, have a LB who can actually set the edge, Edmunds gets tossed like a rag doll.

[SWATeam]

18 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

Joe Marino said something interesting in his recap, that Bernard could allow them to play more 4-3 sets as opposed to always being in that 4-2-5 front. Having Bernard and Milano as outside backers gives you enough coverage ability that you can get away with more base sets and have a stronger run defense. I thought it was a good point. Bernard could enter into a bit of a job share with Taron Johnson. 

Taron is great but it would be nice to reduce his snaps a bit.  Don't need him out there banging every snap.

[DCofNC]

6 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

Dane Brugler in his draft compendium "The Beast" had Terrell Bernard as his 12th ranked LB and gave him a 4th round grade.

 

The Bills made him the 7th LB drafted.

 

This is what Brugler had to say about him: 

 

BACKGROUND: Terrel (tuh-RELL) Bernard, who is one of six children, was raised in La Porte (a bay town southeast of Houston) by his mother (Laura). He started playing sports at age 6 but chose to focus on football when he attended La Porte High and made varsity as a freshman. Playing both inside and outside linebacker, Bernard earned First Team All-District honors as a sophomore with 114 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and two interceptions. As a junior, he again earned All-District honors with 148 tackles, 9.0 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks and two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Bernard led La Porte to a 9-3 record as a senior and had his best season with 201 tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks. He was named Second Team All-State and District MVP in 2016 and saw time on offense as a running back all four seasons, finishing his prep career with 10 rushing touchdowns.

A three-star recruit out of high school, Bernard was the No. 66 outside linebacker in the 2017 recruiting class and the No. 141 recruit in the state of Texas. He started receiving scholarship offers as a sophomore and finished with offers from Power 5 programs like Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Northwestern and Texas Tech. Bernard committed to Houston the summer before his senior year, but when Matt Rhule was hired as Baylor’s head coach in December 2016, Rhule was able to flip him to Baylor shortly before signing day. Bernard graduated with his degree in health, kinesiology and leisure studies (August 2020) and recently received his master’s degree in sports management (December 2021). Bernard accepted his invitation to the 2022 Senior Bowl.

 

STRENGTHS: Plays with plus speed and range ... moves well laterally to track the football up-and-down the line of scrimmage ... trusts his eyes and diagnoses quickly vs. the run to fill (Rhule: “He’s just a great football mind.”) ... resets his vision well to adjust his movement patterns on the fly ... has the foot quickness to give blockers the slip ... alert and active in zone coverage with smooth coverage transitions ... flow-fast blitzer who finished his career No. 3 in school history in sacks (16.5) ... adequate length and tackling strength with room to add bulk ... wants to be a strength coach after his playing days and invests in his conditioning ... disciplined by nature and was a senior captain (head coach Dave Aranda: “When I think of the heart, soul, and character of our team, I think of him.”) ... productive with a pair of 100-tackle seasons on his résumé.

WEAKNESSES: Lacks ideal size by NFL standards ... adequate vision, but his anticipation is lacking ... tends to see the ball through a straw and must do a better job locating impending blockers ... doesn’t have explosive hands when attacking blocks ... overaggressive downhill and can get sucked up too far or out-leveraged on the edge ... reactive in coverage and can be caught flat-footed in man-to-man ... battled through several injuries in college: suffered a season-ending fractured shoulder

[209]

and torn labrum that required surgery (November 2020); broke his right hand that required surgery (November 2019), but didn’t miss any time; missed one game as a senior because of a knee scope (September 2021); redshirted in 2017 after breaking his foot ... didn’t play on kickoff coverage in college.

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Baylor, Bernard was the weakside linebacker in head coach Dave Aranda’s 3-3-5 base scheme and played mostly to the field side. He consistently filled up the stat sheet with 8.4 tackles per game over the past three seasons, and both of his head coaches in Waco (Rhule and Aranda) were eager to praise his leadership and integrity. Bernard is always involved in plays because of his play speed and inside-out range, showing the ability to unlock and accelerate in any direction. He tends to be too reactive at times and doesn’t have the play strength or heavy hands to quickly dispose of blockers at the point of attack. Overall, Bernard is undersized and doesn’t have the anticipation of a playmaker, but he has disciplined eyes and athletic range to cover space, projecting as a fourth linebacker and potential down-the-road NFL starter.

GRADE: 4th Round

 

As a few other posters here have astutely pointed out, the Bills play a Base 4-2-5. Numerous people are harping on Bernard being undersized however if he comes in the game for Taron Johnson and the Bills mix in more 4-3 looks, the defense becomes BIGGER.

Just a shame Beane is letting the coach make the team his good ole boy club.  So many wasted picks this draft.  Elam had better be a hit or this will go down as the worst draft ever under Beane.   
 

As for the D getting bigger with him in instead of Johnson, it sounds good, BUT you get slower and lose coverage ability, so unless the team you are playing goes to 2 WR, when is he getting on the field?  He’s not taking the job of either of the LBs and he’s not a safety, so he’s not going on the field as an extra guy in pass coverage that can defend the run.  He’s a tweener, he’ll likely suffer the same fate most of them do, be a ST player or cut.

[MrEpsYtown]

They chose Bernard over guys like Leo Chenal and Brandon Smith. So obviously they liked him better. That is the way the draft goes. 

[Sierra Foothills]

44 minutes ago, DCofNC said:

As for the D getting bigger with him in instead of Johnson, it sounds good, BUT you get slower and lose coverage ability, so unless the team you are playing goes to 2 WR, when is he getting on the field?  He’s not taking the job of either of the LBs and he’s not a safety, so he’s not going on the field as an extra guy in pass coverage that can defend the run.  He’s a tweener, he’ll likely suffer the same fate most of them do, be a ST player or cut.

 

Again, Bernard allowed ZERO touchdowns in 983 career coverage snaps.

 

He also had 16 sacks and is considered an excellent blitzer.

 

If the Bills go to more 4-3 sets they'll be better versus the run and it's unlikely he'll be a liability versus the pass.

 

As for playing time besides playing in 4-3 sets he'll also backup both Edmunds who has missed 4 games in 4 seasons and Milano who has missed 11 games in 5 seasons.

 

He'll be on the field plenty.

[Shaw66]

8 hours ago, MrEpsYtown said:

Joe Marino said something interesting in his recap, that Bernard could allow them to play more 4-3 sets as opposed to always being in that 4-2-5 front. Having Bernard and Milano as outside backers gives you enough coverage ability that you can get away with more base sets and have a stronger run defense. I thought it was a good point. Bernard could enter into a bit of a job share with Taron Johnson. 

A lot of people here are saying the same thing.  Bills want some better run stopping, and a third linebacker is naturally better in that regard than a fifth DB.  Teams have been running more generally, and on the Bills particularly.   So getting Bernard on the field in place of Johnson makes sense.  It makes the Bills more versatile and disguises the defense a bit more.  Instead of having to rely on Hyde or Poyer as seventh run stopper behind the line and two linebackers, Bernard can be the seventh some of the time, and Hyde or Poyer can take the slot guy.  

 

With his size, Bernard certainly isn't a thumper, but he's likely to be as sure a tackler as Johnson.  

 

Bernard probably offers more opportunities as a blitzer than Johnson.  

 

As I've said, I'm not sure what the plan is for the guy, but Beane wasn't taking him in the third round to be a spot player and special teamer.  They have a plan for him. 

Edited May 2, 2022 by Shaw66

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, DCofNC said:

Step one, have a LB who can actually set the edge, Edmunds gets tossed like a rag doll.

I think you and have McDermott have a different vision.  McDermott's vision is to put as many fast, attacking players on the field as possible.  That's who Poyer and Hyde are.  That's who Edmunds and Milano are.   That's who Rousseau is.   He's not worried that his guys aren't monsters - he wants guys who can cover space and attack all over the field. 

 

McDermott wants a team full of McDermotts - undersized over-achievers.  

 

I remember what Mike Tomlin said about being a receiver on a team that had McDermott at defensive back.  He hated practicing against McDermott, because he was just so damned tenacious, all the time.  I think that's what McDermott sees in Bernard.  

 

Bernard may be McDermott's defensive coordinator in ten years.  

[DCofNC]

28 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

I think you and have McDermott have a different vision.  McDermott's vision is to put as many fast, attacking players on the field as possible.  That's who Poyer and Hyde are.  That's who Edmunds and Milano are.   That's who Rousseau is.   He's not worried that his guys aren't monsters - he wants guys who can cover space and attack all over the field. 

 

McDermott wants a team full of McDermotts - undersized over-achievers.  

 

I remember what Mike Tomlin said about being a receiver on a team that had McDermott at defensive back.  He hated practicing against McDermott, because he was just so damned tenacious, all the time.  I think that's what McDermott sees in Bernard.  

 

Bernard may be McDermott's defensive coordinator in ten years.  

I agree with what you are saying, I was simply responding to the fact we don’t see the same D scheme from Carolina where the MLB would set an edge and the others would run to the ball because Edmunds gets trucked every time he takes on a lineman.   I agree, I don’t think that’s the D that’s been built here and I don’t think this D will be the right one for the future as the wave turns towards running again, but for now, it serves to slow down the pass.

[Shaw66]

3 minutes ago, DCofNC said:

I agree with what you are saying, I was simply responding to the fact we don’t see the same D scheme from Carolina where the MLB would set an edge and the others would run to the ball because Edmunds gets trucked every time he takes on a lineman.   I agree, I don’t think that’s the D that’s been built here and I don’t think this D will be the right one for the future as the wave turns towards running again, but for now, it serves to slow down the pass.

Thanks.  Good explanation.   I agree about the Keuchle-Edmunds comparison; there is no comparison.  Keuchle was a classic middle linebacker against the run (not a Butkus, but a guy who could plug the line between the tackles, as well as being a solid asset in pass defense.  Edmunds is better in the passing game, but not the force in the middle.  

 

The question is how much the wave will turn toward running.   I don't think it will turn too much.   Baseball, basketball, and football are big businesses trying to create a successful product to put on TV.   Baseball is struggling because the game has evolved in a way that makes the product worse on TV, and they're tinkering with the game to try to solve that problem.  Basketball has figured out that three point shots and letting little guys fly around the court is a good TV product.   And the NFL clearly understands that the elegance of the passing game sells better than Alan Ameche plowing up the middle.  The NFL wants more games like 13 seconds, with explosive plays, so I can't see them letting the running game become dominant again.   I think we see that in the run on receivers in the draft.  All those little fast guys are receivers, not running backs.  You'd need a lot of rule changes to make it better for offenses to deploy all those guys as running backs. 

 

I think where that trend is going is toward more Deebos.  I think that's clearly what McBeane were thinking in this draft.  Cook is a Deebo-type - not so powerful, but a guy who truly can play both running back and receiver and hurt you at either position.  And I think they see Bernard as a Deebo-defender, a guy they can put on the field who can play both run defense and pass defense - if the Bills are playing the Niners and Bernard is on the field, McDermott's defense will be able to adjust and matchup okay, wherever Deebo lines up.   That's who Poyer, Hyde and White are, that's who Milano is, that's who Johnson is, but all of those guys are more one than the other.  Bernard and Cook are more like true two-position players. 

[Sierra Foothills]

36 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

Thanks.  Good explanation.   I agree about the Keuchle-Edmunds comparison; there is no comparison.  Keuchle was a classic middle linebacker against the run (not a Butkus, but a guy who could plug the line between the tackles, as well as being a solid asset in pass defense.  Edmunds is better in the passing game, but not the force in the middle.  

 

The question is how much the wave will turn toward running.   I don't think it will turn too much.   Baseball, basketball, and football are big businesses trying to create a successful product to put on TV. 

I think where that trend is going is toward more Deebos.  I think that's clearly what McBeane were thinking in this draft.  Cook is a Deebo-type - not so powerful, but a guy who truly can play both running back and receiver and hurt you at either position.  And I think they see Bernard as a Deebo-defender, a guy they can put on the field who can play both run defense and pass defense - if the Bills are playing the Niners and Bernard is on the field, McDermott's defense will be able to adjust and matchup okay, wherever Deebo lines up.   That's who Poyer, Hyde and White are, that's who Milano is, that's who Johnson is, but all of those guys are more one than the other.  Bernard and Cook are more like true two-position players. 

 

Agree that the pendulum will not swing back towards the running game.

 

Agree that there has been a Deebo effect in the league. While watching video of Kahlil Shakir I was immediately reminded of Deebo Samuel and also Robert Woods.

 

Shakir has that slightly hunched over shifty running style reminiscent of Woods (who typically ran the ball 20-25 times per season for the Rams) and Shakir is very much a collision runner.

 

For those who are bellyaching that we didn't get Josh any more weapons both he and Cook are excellent "run after the catch" players. Both are excellent open-field runners.

[Shaw66]

3 minutes ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

For those who are bellyaching that we didn't get Josh any more weapons both he and Cook are excellent "run after the catch" players. Both are excellent open-field runners.

Cook should be a major weapon.  Basic offense is Diggs, Davis, Crowder (or Shakir), Knox, and Singletary.   That's a great collection of weapons, and Josh had no trouble finding them last season.  That doesn't even include McKenzie.  Now, throw Cook into the mix, lining up in the backfield, taking the handoff one play and motioning wide on the next, catching bubble screens, running jet sweeps.  The versatility he will bring to the offense is exactly the weapon Josh needed.  

[MasterStrategist]

3 hours ago, MrEpsYtown said:

Joe Marino said something interesting in his recap, that Bernard could allow them to play more 4-3 sets as opposed to always being in that 4-2-5 front. Having Bernard and Milano as outside backers gives you enough coverage ability that you can get away with more base sets and have a stronger run defense. I thought it was a good point. Bernard could enter into a bit of a job share with Taron Johnson. 

Agree, good call out!

 

We have almost exclusively run 4-2-5, a base nickle package, the past few years....that people sometimes forget that McD ran an athletic 4-3 defense in Carolina before joining us. Just need the right blend of LBs, which we might have now.  

[Paul Costa]

2 hours ago, MrEpsYtown said:

They chose Bernard over guys like Leo Chenal and Brandon Smith. So obviously they liked him better. That is the way the draft goes. 

They took Bernard’s coverage ability over the other 2 being better vs run. NFL is a passing league these days

[MrEpsYtown]

9 minutes ago, Paul Costa said:

They took Bernard’s coverage ability over the other 2 being better vs run. NFL is a passing league these days

 

I agree. I was responding to people who are saying "why didn't they take so and so." The simple answer is that they liked Bernard better and passed on those other guys. 

[The Jokeman]

I scratched my head on this pick. He feels like just a guy type pick which not sure you want from a 3rd rounder. Call him a career depth guy. Meh.

[NewEra]

2 hours ago, DCofNC said:

I agree with what you are saying, I was simply responding to the fact we don’t see the same D scheme from Carolina where the MLB would set an edge and the others would run to the ball because Edmunds gets trucked every time he takes on a lineman.   I agree, I don’t think that’s the D that’s been built here and I don’t think this D will be the right one for the future as the wave turns towards running again, but for now, it serves to slow down the pass.

Exaggerate much?  No he does not.  He just doesn’t ever disengage from the block.  He doesn’t get always trucked, there’s definitely times where he holds his ground.  

[HamptonBillsfan]

4 hours ago, DCofNC said:

Step one, have a LB who can actually set the edge, Edmunds gets tossed like a rag doll.

You actually think this kid at 215,soaking wet,  will set an edge better than 245 lb Edmunds. Kiper said on the coverage that once someone gets inside his pads, he's toast. He's got good instincts and a good motor, but he's got to get into the weight room.

[Last Guy on the Bench]

What's this stuff about McDermott's good old boys, or small overachievers? Strange narrative. Is it just based on McD's personality and his own story? Because the Bills have been CONSISTENTLY drafting high RAS guys - explosive athletes with good positional size. Where are they small or overachievers?

 

They are drafting giants on OL. DL guys are good sized - Groot makes McD look like a chipmunk. Edmunds is huge for that position. Josh is huge. Their starting corners have decent size. There are a few smallish players, like Milano, who can really ball anyway. And the receivers aren't that big right now. But overall, they have clearly been prioritizing guys with superior athletic traits (including size) who also happen to be very self-motivated football junkies. They've also been trying to get faster, and this draft class will help that.

 

The Bills are not a team of plucky underdogs.

Edited May 2, 2022 by Last Guy on the Bench

[4merper4mer]

I mean Happy Birthday and all but does anyone think he sticks when we just drafted a linebacker from Baylor?  Mike Singletary is from Baylor.  Done deal.

[FilthyBeast]

This is the only pick I truly hated this year for reasons likely beat to death already including another potential Creed Humphrey situation by not taking the obvious guy who was off the board right after our pick.

 

Also hate the Dick Jauron type fascination with smallish tweener type of players like this whose only real contribution may be on ST. When is this team going to learn that these type of guys are the reason physical teams like the Titans, Colts, etc continue to have our way with us? Also what is different with this guy that says he's going to be able to hold up in pass defense against the leagues elite QB's like Mahomes that continue to beat the Bills when it matters.

 

Obviously if this guy ends up being a legit NFL starter down the road so be it but on the surface it leaves a lot to be desired.

[Putin]

10 minutes ago, FilthyBeast said:

This is the only pick I truly hated this year for reasons likely beat to death already including another potential Creed Humphrey situation by not taking the obvious guy who was off the board right after our pick.

 

Also hate the Dick Jauron type fascination with smallish tweener type of players like this whose only real contribution may be on ST. When is this team going to learn that these type of guys are the reason physical teams like the Titans, Colts, etc continue to have our way with us? Also what is different with this guy that says he's going to be able to hold up in pass defense against the leagues elite QB's like Mahomes that continue to beat the Bills when it matters.

 

Obviously if this guy ends up being a legit NFL starter down the road so be it but on the surface it leaves a lot to be desired.

I was screaming for Dylan Parham to be the pick and the Raiders taking  him with the next pick really pissed me of even more 

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-rookie-terrel-bernard-already-164522585.html
 

Terrel Bernard models Matt Milano
 

After being selected by the Bills, he discussed his game and admitted that Milano is a player he models himself after and has studied in the past.

 

[Paul Costa]

I see a pretty big role for Bernard. I think he
can be the third LB in base. V/I think he can
replace Edmonds in dime situations playing
LB with Milano with 4DL & 5 DB's. V And
he will be on the field most of the time on
4th down. V I actually like the pick. He's
also that Buffalo * Nickel many have
wanted to match up with TE's. Too many
thought he was a Edmonds replacement.
He's far from that. He will be in Kelce's hip
pocket next year.

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, FilthyBeast said:

 

 

Also hate the Dick Jauron type fascination with smallish tweener type of players like this whose only real contribution may be on ST. When is this team going to learn that these type of guys are the reason physical teams like the Titans, Colts, etc continue to have our way with us? Also what is different with this guy that says he's going to be able to hold up in pass defense against the leagues elite QB's like Mahomes that continue to beat the Bills when it matters.

 

 

Well, I'm surprised you haven't gotten used to it.  It isn't Dick Jauron's fascination with the tweeners; it's McDermotts.   The Bills did nothing much in 2020 to muscle up against the best running games, and they didn't again in 2021.   Unless and until power running games become the dominant offense in the NFL, McDermott is going to go small and quick.  It's obvious that's his preference.   

 

I get the logic.   Small and quick has a chance against the power game, but big never has a chance against quick.  

 

One thing that has surprised me is how good the Bills are in goal line situations.  Teams bulk up and bring in extra tackles and all that, and McDermott's little guys make a lot of stops.  

 

Comments in this thread have convinced me that McDermott wants to play with Bernard as the third linebacker on the field.  I always wanted Klein in on running situations, to ge his muscle to work.  Turns out, McDermott wanted to get rid of Klein and put more speed on the field.  

[Sierra Foothills]

 

2 hours ago, FilthyBeast said:

Also hate the Dick Jauron type fascination with smallish tweener type of players like this whose only real contribution may be on ST. When is this team going to learn that these type of guys are the reason physical teams like the Titans, Colts, etc continue to have our way with us? Also what is different with this guy that says he's going to be able to hold up in pass defense against the leagues elite QB's like Mahomes that continue to beat the Bills when it matters.

 

If you haven't already you should read what Last Guy... says below:

 

7 hours ago, Last Guy on the Bench said:

What's this stuff about McDermott's good old boys, or small overachievers? Strange narrative. Is it just based on McD's personality and his own story? Because the Bills have been CONSISTENTLY drafting high RAS guys - explosive athletes with good positional size. Where are they small or overachievers?

 

They are drafting giants on OL. DL guys are good sized - Groot makes McD look like a chipmunk. Edmunds is huge for that position. Josh is huge. Their starting corners have decent size. There are a few smallish players, like Milano, who can really ball anyway. And the receivers aren't that big right now. But overall, they have clearly been prioritizing guys with superior athletic traits (including size) who also happen to be very self-motivated football junkies. They've also been trying to get faster, and this draft class will help that.

 

The Bills are not a team of plucky underdogs.

 

What's more, look at the Bills free agent acquisitions... DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle, Jordan Phillips... Rodger Saffold and Dave Quessenberry on the offensive side. Say what you want about these players but they have one thing in common.

 

It's pretty obvious the Bills are trying to increase their physicality on the lines.

 

Beane has said from the moment he arrived that football is won and lost at the line of scrimmage.

 

The Bills have size at the positions where size is important.

 

And they're trying to get faster at the positions where speed is more important than size.

Edited May 3, 2022 by Sierra Foothills

[Cash]

49 minutes ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

 

If you haven't already you should read what Last Guy... says below:

 

 

What's more, look at the Bills free agent acquisitions... DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle, Jordan Phillips... Rodger Saffold and Dave Quessenberry on the offensive side. Say what you want about these players but they have one thing in common.

 

It's pretty obvious the Bills are trying to increase their physicality on the lines.

 

Beane has said from the moment he arrived that football is won and lost at the line of scrimmage.

 

The Bills have size at the positions where size is important.

 

And they're trying to get faster at the positions where speed is more important than size.

Totally agree with this. I’ve never been afraid of undersized LBs - Mike Singletary, Sam Mills, Zach Thomas, London Fletcher, etc. I think the key is having the right DL to keep the OL off of the linebackers. (And I think that’s key regardless of the size of the LB.) Hopefully the Bills have that DL now. I thought they did last year, but once Star went out they really took a step back, and he wasn’t the same after he came back. 

[Richard Noggin]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

Well, I'm surprised you haven't gotten used to it.  It isn't Dick Jauron's fascination with the tweeners; it's McDermotts.   The Bills did nothing much in 2020 to muscle up against the best running games, and they didn't again in 2021.   Unless and until power running games become the dominant offense in the NFL, McDermott is going to go small and quick.  It's obvious that's his preference.   

 

I get the logic.   Small and quick has a chance against the power game, but big never has a chance against quick.  

 

One thing that has surprised me is how good the Bills are in goal line situations.  Teams bulk up and bring in extra tackles and all that, and McDermott's little guys make a lot of stops.  

 

Comments in this thread have convinced me that McDermott wants to play with Bernard as the third linebacker on the field.  I always wanted Klein in on running situations, to ge his muscle to work.  Turns out, McDermott wanted to get rid of Klein and put more speed on the field.  

 

I often return to McDermott personally pulling aside Milano at some point later in the MNF Patriots wind game, where you could see McD gesturing and reminding Milano to attack the gaps vertically rather than flow horizontally (we don't have audio)...and then on the next series Milano had two big stops behind the line of scrimmage. 

 

For McD, it's not about stifling a running game with leverage and mass. It's about attacking it with speed and decisiveness. At least/especially from the 2nd level. While McD's concepts don't always seem aggressive in terms of blitzing and coverage, he does want his guys to trust their reads and ATTACK. That way, with the right players, a defense can cover its own ass on the backend AND swarm to the ball underneath. 

[MasterStrategist]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

Well, I'm surprised you haven't gotten used to it.  It isn't Dick Jauron's fascination with the tweeners; it's McDermotts.   The Bills did nothing much in 2020 to muscle up against the best running games, and they didn't again in 2021.   Unless and until power running games become the dominant offense in the NFL, McDermott is going to go small and quick.  It's obvious that's his preference.   

 

I get the logic.   Small and quick has a chance against the power game, but big never has a chance against quick.  

 

One thing that has surprised me is how good the Bills are in goal line situations.  Teams bulk up and bring in extra tackles and all that, and McDermott's little guys make a lot of stops.  

 

Comments in this thread have convinced me that McDermott wants to play with Bernard as the third linebacker on the field.  I always wanted Klein in on running situations, to ge his muscle to work.  Turns out, McDermott wanted to get rid of Klein and put more speed on the field.  

Yeah I don't think the coaches had alot of confidence in Kleins coverage/zone fit in our defense.  He was very instinctive, but if he took 1 falsestep, he didn't possess the speed/quickness to recover.  Hence his use in blitzing, which he did well.  We got lucky several times his man dropped the ball out of the backfield, ie: Patriots playoff game.

 

Enter Bernard, who has been talked up a superb leader, great instincts, strong blitz ability for the position (which alot of this is instincts/timing), and coverage skills.  Gives McD alot more options to take Taron off the field against 12 personnel (which NE will run alot of) and replaces Klein at a reasonable cost.  Win/Win

[Shaw66]

2 minutes ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

I often return to McDermott personally pulling aside Milano at some point later in the MNF Patriots wind game, where you could see McD gesturing and reminding Milano to attack the gaps vertically rather than flow horizontally (we don't have audio)...and then on the next series Milano had two big stops behind the line of scrimmage. 

 

For McD, it's not about stifling a running game with leverage and mass. It's about attacking it with speed and decisiveness. At least/especially from the 2nd level. While McD's concepts don't always seem aggressive in terms of blitzing and coverage, he does want his guys to trust their reads and ATTACK. That way, with the right players, a defense can cover its own ass on the backend AND swarm to the ball underneath. 

Thanks.  That's a really great observation.  That's a perfect example.  Speed and decisiveness.   Disguise, speed and decisiveness.  And mental processing.  Hyde, Poyer, White, Johnson, Milano, Edmunds all read and react and make plays.  And now they're adding Elam, who clearly has the speed and decisiveness, and there's evidence he has the smarts to learn the nuances and become part of a team of guys in the defensive backfield.  

 

And Bernard, who might become the leader of it all.  

 

Pretty awesome vision. 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

 

If you haven't already you should read what Last Guy... says below:

 

 

What's more, look at the Bills free agent acquisitions... DaQuan Jones, Tim Settle, Jordan Phillips... Rodger Saffold and Dave Quessenberry on the offensive side. Say what you want about these players but they have one thing in common.

 

It's pretty obvious the Bills are trying to increase their physicality on the lines.

 

Beane has said from the moment he arrived that football is won and lost at the line of scrimmage.

 

The Bills have size at the positions where size is important.

 

And they're trying to get faster at the positions where speed is more important than size.

Interesting comments from you and others.   The height movement has been obvious.  Weight a bit, too, but i think the emphasis on the lines is still mobility - Spencer Brown isn't your common plodding right tackle.  Bates and Morse, too.  It's quickness, execution, decisiveness.  Both offense and defense. 

[stinky finger]

So many good posts here. I learn so much from so many of you.

 
thanks 

[hemma]

What was Lorenzo’s role in our D a few years ago?

Could it be similar for Bernard?

[TheyCallMeAndy]

6 hours ago, hemma said:

What was Lorenzo’s role in our D a few years ago?

Could it be similar for Bernard?

Not likely, apples to oranges. His importance comes vs heavy sets and scheme disguise. If the opponent lines up with 2 TEs, we now have a LB who should be capable of holding up vs a TE compared to marching Taron Johnson out there and praying they don’t run the ball. 
 

I love Taron and think he’s a BMF, but relying on him to act as the WLB is why we really struggled vs the run at times. 

Bills top 5 LBs are all outstanding athletes 

[starrymessenger]

The more I look into this guy the more I like the pick. They thought very highly of him at Baylor. I’ve seen some interesting comment on him dating from the outset of college season. It was very positive and seemed to me to be well informed. Probably a bit early but not a bad decision at all for the Bills D. Milano is a legit NFL OLB and he was a fifth round pick. Definitely a guy who brings something to the table and who can be coached up. Obviously the Bills think so.

[DCofNC]

On 5/2/2022 at 1:22 PM, HamptonBillsfan said:

You actually think this kid at 215,soaking wet,  will set an edge better than 245 lb Edmunds. Kiper said on the coverage that once someone gets inside his pads, he's toast. He's got good instincts and a good motor, but he's got to get into the weight room.

Nope, it’s about context.  The Bills have nobody in the Lb group that can set an edge, unless you count Miller as an LB.  All too light or high centered.

17 hours ago, Cash said:

Totally agree with this. I’ve never been afraid of undersized LBs - Mike Singletary, Sam Mills, Zach Thomas, London Fletcher, etc. I think the key is having the right DL to keep the OL off of the linebackers. (And I think that’s key regardless of the size of the LB.) Hopefully the Bills have that DL now. I thought they did last year, but once Star went out they really took a step back, and he wasn’t the same after he came back. 

There’s a difference between short and actually undersized.  All those guys were just short, still built like a tree trunk.  The difference in the Bills LBs is they are small.  With the exception of Edmunds who is the classic, looks like Tarzan plays like Jane, they are all short and light and still not very fast, it’s basically a group of guys that weren’t fast enough to play SS.

[DCofNC]

1 hour ago, starrymessenger said:

The more I look into this guy the more I like the pick. They thought very highly of him at Baylor. I’ve seen some interesting comment on him dating from the outset of college season. It was very positive and seemed to me to be well informed. Probably a bit early but not a bad decision at all for the Bills D. Milano is a legit NFL OLB and he was a fifth round pick. Definitely a guy who brings something to the table and who can be coached up. Obviously the Bills think so.

The Bills also thought Cody Ford, Zach Moss, etc were top prospects, let’s not get so up in Beane’s jock strap, we forget he’s missed a LOT on 1st-3rd round picks.   They haven’t added a single starting caliber LB since Beane took over, continue to waste pick after pick on mediocre RBs, under sized “motor” guys and worst of all they are doing it in the first 3 rounds.  The only pick they have nailed has been Allen, it covers up a lot.  Brown looks good so maybe we give them 2 picks in their time they have hit on in the first 3 rounds of any draft.  Before the fan boys get here, yes Oliver is solid, but no where near top 10 pick production in any category.