MLB

[harmonkillebrew]

Anyone have any idea WTF we're doing??

 

Options:

- Edmunds was such a bad fit that we decided we didn't need to replace him?

- We're going to play more base 3 LB, with no real "MLB"

- we're moving to a 3-4 and Daquan Jones will play NT

- We will sign a FA MLB (who's left... Myles Jack?)

- Klein will be a stop-gap at MLB until Dorian Williams can learn the defense and gain 15 lbs

- others?

 

 

I'm having a hard time understanding our small LB drafting strategy. 

 

 

[CaptnCoke11]

Either roll with with what they have or sign a guy like Cunningham or Dieon Jones for a season.  Not the end of the world 

Edited April 29, 2023 by CaptnCoke11

[BuffaloBillyG]

They have literally said they believe the replacement was in house all off season. Don't understand why this is such a shocking turn of events for some.

[78thealltimegreat]

We are clearly emphasizing speed over size at the position. The one thing I will say is based on the way they are structured it appears they are going to be a little more aggressive and gamble a little more instead of sitting in the cover 2 shell. 
The offense the Bills have the can afford to do it to try to gain an extra possession or two 

Edited April 29, 2023 by 78thealltimegreat

[oldmanfan]

Just now, BuffaloBillyG said:

They have literally said they believe the replacement was in house all off season. Don't understand why this is such a shocking turn of events for some.

Exactly.  How much clearer does Beane have to be?  I do think we may see 3 LBs on the field more.

[Warriorspikes51]

Just start Milano and Klein. You could do way worse.

[BuffaloBillyG]

5 minutes ago, oldmanfan said:

Exactly.  How much clearer does Beane have to be?  I do think we may see 3 LBs on the field more.

That I can agree with. I think we now have the flexibility to be more down and distance and matchup friendly. 

 

But pretty sure a 4-3 could use a MLB...unlike what the OP says😂😂

[Buffarukus]

i said this as well. our team is in a division with pretty good run attacks and these small fast lbs dont seem like good stick your face in the line stack and shed players. maybe its to dare them to keep the ball out of rogers, hill hands. the jets played us close with their #1 rb injured. NE has always had a good running attack and won a game strictly running. miami played us close every game and had career days against our D and we seem to be all about pass support with smaller fast guys.

 

i think the gameplan in the AFC will be run the ball down the bills throats to eat up clock and hope josh reverts to his old gunslinger all or nothing old self that can force mistakes and turnovers. 

klein is better run stuffer so we will see but the future looks to be pass specific D. especially if we are sticking to our nickle base roots. hopefully our new TE and line negate josh's reliance to put it all on his shoulders  

[oldmanfan]

7 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

That I can agree with. I think we now have the flexibility to be more down and distance and matchup friendly. 

 

But pretty sure a 4-3 could use a MLB...unlike what the OP says😂😂

That will be Dodson and/or Klein 

[harmonkillebrew]

1 minute ago, Buffarukus said:

i said this as well. our team is in a division with pretty good run attacks and these small fast lbs dont seem like good stick your face in the line stack and shed players. maybe its to dare them to keep the ball out of rogers, hill hands. the jets played us close with their #1 rb injured. NE has always had a good running attack and won a game strictly running. miami played us close every game and had career days against our D and we seem to be all about pass support with smaller fast guys.

 

i think the gameplan in the AFC will be run the ball down the bills throats to eat up clock and hope josh reverts to his old gunslinger all or nothing old self that can force mistakes and turnovers. 

klein is better run stuffer so we will see but the future looks to be pass specific D. especially if we are sticking to our nickle base roots. hopefully our new TE and line negate josh's reliance to put it all on his shoulders  

This is my concern. There were times that I felt our base nickel was exploited by run-first teams.  That will be NE and NYJ, but even Cincy showed they could dominate us in the trenches.  Now we're subbing out Edmunds for .... Dorian? Klein? Spector??  We are going to get gashed week in and week out.  UNLESS, we alter schemes slightly and play more 3 LBs and/or more blocker-eating DT/DE play (which means less Oliver and more 1-tech DTs and 5-tech DEs, which we don't really have the personnel for).

 

The strategy isn't clear to me. 

[Orlando Tim]

I think our biggest signing before the year starts will be another DaQuan Jones type player who can eat up blocks and then we use our LBs just to fly around. If we do that teams will have to run to the outsides mainly and our team speed will hopefully negate any offensive advantage

[DrDawkinstein]

16 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Just start Milano and Klein. You could do way worse.

 

At the end of the day (or camp to be precise), if nothing else works out, I'm fine with this.

[harmonkillebrew]

any remaining UFA MLB? 

 

Zach Cunningham.....?

[TheBeaneBandit]

1 minute ago, Orlando Tim said:

I think our biggest signing before the year starts will be another DaQuan Jones type player who can eat up blocks and then we use our LBs just to fly around. If we do that teams will have to run to the outsides mainly and our team speed will hopefully negate any offensive advantage

Yeah I think they keep their eyes peeled for a bigger DT or veteran MLB to shake loose in the next month or two.

[Buffarukus]

6 minutes ago, harmonkillebrew said:

This is my concern. There were times that I felt our base nickel was exploited by run-first teams.  That will be NE and NYJ, but even Cincy showed they could dominate us in the trenches.  Now we're subbing out Edmunds for .... Dorian? Klein? Spector??  We are going to get gashed week in and week out.  UNLESS, we alter schemes slightly and play more 3 LBs and/or more blocker-eating DT/DE play (which means less Oliver and more 1-tech DTs and 5-tech DEs, which we don't really have the personnel for).

 

The strategy isn't clear to me. 

 

3 minutes ago, Orlando Tim said:

I think our biggest signing before the year starts will be another DaQuan Jones type player who can eat up blocks and then we use our LBs just to fly around. If we do that teams will have to run to the outsides mainly and our team speed will hopefully negate any offensive advantage

 

 

this could be what they are thinking. i say Edmunds worse trait was going down hill so maybe we are not going to see a huge drop off besides the numerous tipped passes he had. he wasnt very good at blitzing either. covering alot of grass in zone and his sideline to sideline speed, along with size was what we got. both our rookie lbs can play that role but like noteed. the AFC has a really good run attack and running up the gut, getting a lineman to the second level will be a good SAFE recipe to move the chains if we are rolling with these guys as starters. 

[jaybills]

34 minutes ago, harmonkillebrew said:

Anyone have any idea WTF we're doing??

 

Options:

- Edmunds was such a bad fit that we decided we didn't need to replace him?

- We're going to play more base 3 LB, with no real "MLB"

- we're moving to a 3-4 and Daquan Jones will play NT

- We will sign a FA MLB (who's left... Myles Jack?)

- Klein will be a stop-gap at MLB until Dorian Williams can learn the defense and gain 15 lbs

- others?

 

 

I'm having a hard time understanding our small LB drafting strategy. 

 

 

Edmunds was not that great. All he did was cover range side to side. Couldn't shed a block to save his life, never sacked anyone, and I don't remember him making game changing plays too often. #Replaceable. 

[MPL]

Defense doesn't win championships, it just loses playoff games. 

[zevo]

who cares....just outscore the opponent.

1 minute ago, MPL said:

Defense doesn't win championships, it just loses playoff games. 

couldnt agree more

[Shaw66]

38 minutes ago, harmonkillebrew said:

Anyone have any idea WTF we're doing??

 

Options:

- Edmunds was such a bad fit that we decided we didn't need to replace him?

- We're going to play more base 3 LB, with no real "MLB"

- we're moving to a 3-4 and Daquan Jones will play NT

- We will sign a FA MLB (who's left... Myles Jack?)

- Klein will be a stop-gap at MLB until Dorian Williams can learn the defense and gain 15 lbs

- others?

 

 

I'm having a hard time understanding our small LB drafting strategy. 

 

 

Anybody's guess.  I'm sure McDermott understands what he wants to do and what he thinks will work. Whether he's right is also anybody's guess.   I'm intrigued by the possibility that sometimes Milano will be the mike with Williams paired with him.   Maybe situationally they will go 4-3 with Klein in the middle with Milano and Williams.   And we've had a tendency to ignore Bernard, because he was such a non-factor last season, but I doubt that McBeane missed so badly on him that he won't be useful.   He may be see situational time at MLB, too.   McDermott knows where he's going with this, and all we can do is wait to see if he's a genius or a fool.  

[peterpan]

As a casual fan I noticed no drop in defensive production when Klien played.  I’m cool with Klein as the starter.

[BillsFanForever19]

Pretty clear to me that they want to see if their 3rd Round investment in Bernard will pay dividends in Year 2. They probably want to give him every opportunity to win the job. 

 

In the event he shows poorly in Training Camp and the Pre-Season - they have AJ Klein as an insurance policy. 

 

Looking like a 3 man competition between Bernard, Klein, and Dodson. 

[Einstein]

50 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

They have literally said they believe the replacement was in house all off season. Don't understand why this is such a shocking turn of events for some.

 

You're right.

 

I think it's just shocking to many fans to think that the Bills actually meant that Klein, Bernard and Dodson would be legit defensive starters.

 

Kinda sucks.

[BillzFreak]

If you listen to what Dodson said when he resigned it sure sounded like the Bills were giving him a shot to earn the job. So what we have is what we're rolling with is my guess

[Augie]

48 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

Just start Milano and Klein. You could do way worse.

 

Unless you have to ask Klein to cover someone. Anyone. It’s a passing game, and Klein is a liability there. But he does fine near the line or moving forward. 

 

I’m not panicked. They will use what they have, and keep scouring for better options. The people who hated on Edmunds may miss him clogging up the middle of the passing game this year. 

[Matt_In_NH]

I think they need to go FA.  No way they can use the guys they have as the plan IMO

58 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

They have literally said they believe the replacement was in house all off season. Don't understand why this is such a shocking turn of events for some.

beane literally said they were not collecting draft capital for a qb in 2018.   

[Draconator]

I saw the thread title, and was thinking, "Why did someone start a baseball thread on the main board?" 

[BuffaloBillyG]

1 minute ago, Einstein said:

 

You're right.

 

I think it's just shocking to many fans to think that the Bills actually meant that Klein, Bernard and Dodson would be legit defensive starters.

 

Kinda sucks.

I mean, this has been the off season in a nutshell:

 

Beane: We believe the Edmunds replacement is in house.

 

Fans: Hogwash.

 

Beane: We are hoping to get Ed Oliver extended soon

 

Fans: They will trade Ed Oliver

 

Beane: Spencer Brown, we feel will take some steps forward. Coming from a small school and the back injury cost him. We believe in Brown.

 

Fans: Pfff...GM speak. RT round 1.

 

Beane: We hope to get Gabe Davis extended. Love Davis. Kid works hard and is still improving.

 

Fans: Nah, trade for Hopkins, Mike Evans, Draft one high and then figure out a way to get Cooper Kupp.

 

None of what has happened should be shocking. They gave you guys the spoilers all along.

 

 

 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

I think they need to go FA.  No way they can use the guys they have as the plan IMO

beane literally said they were not collecting draft capital for a qb in 2018.   

And they literally weren't. Collecting draft picks? Sure. But if Allen wasn't there that would have been spent in other ways and the Mason Rudolph era would be about closing right about now. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

They have literally said they believe the replacement was in house all off season. Don't understand why this is such a shocking turn of events for some.

If he was in house alreadt why did they draft an ILB in the 3rd round?

[JerseyBills]

1 hour ago, harmonkillebrew said:

Anyone have any idea WTF we're doing??

 

Options:

- Edmunds was such a bad fit that we decided we didn't need to replace him?

- We're going to play more base 3 LB, with no real "MLB"

- we're moving to a 3-4 and Daquan Jones will play NT

- We will sign a FA MLB (who's left... Myles Jack?)

- Klein will be a stop-gap at MLB until Dorian Williams can learn the defense and gain 15 lbs

- others?

 

 

I'm having a hard time understanding our small LB drafting strategy. 

 

 

Saw one of the Bills beat guys list the top lbs in the NFL, all are similar in size to Williams 

[Matt_In_NH]

5 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I mean, this has been the off season in a nutshell:

 

Beane: We believe the Edmunds replacement is in house.

 

Fans: Hogwash.

 

Beane: We are hoping to get Ed Oliver extended soon

 

Fans: They will trade Ed Oliver

 

Beane: Spencer Brown, we feel will take some steps forward. Coming from a small school and the back injury cost him. We believe in Brown.

 

Fans: Pfff...GM speak. RT round 1.

 

Beane: We hope to get Gabe Davis extended. Love Davis. Kid works hard and is still improving.

 

Fans: Nah, trade for Hopkins, Mike Evans, Draft one high and then figure out a way to get Cooper Kupp.

 

None of what has happened should be shocking. They gave you guys the spoilers all along.

 

 

 

 

 

And they literally weren't. Collecting draft picks? Sure. But if Allen wasn't there that would have been spent in other ways and the Mason Rudolph era would be about closing right about now. 

You are gullible.  

[BillsFan130]

I can’t see the bills playing a lot of 3 MLBs.

 

That would mean you’re playing more into your weakness (LB position) and taking off a good slot corner. (TJ)

[Solomon Grundy]

Here I clicked the link thinking @harmonkillebrewwas mad at the Bills draft and wanted to talk Major League Baseball 😎

[Buffarukus]

55 minutes ago, jaybills said:

Edmunds was not that great. All he did was cover range side to side. Couldn't shed a block to save his life, never sacked anyone, and I don't remember him making game changing plays too often. #Replaceable. 

 

id say in Edmunds defense alot of what he gave noone could notice because it never happened. his monster size and speed meant if he was anywhere close to a reciever the qb was hesitant to take a chance on that target, triple pat the ball and possably why a lineman got the sack dump pass. his height and wingspan also meant he could cover guys behind him if the qb didnt put touch on passes. i agree with everything you said when it comes to his trench play/ physicality but i also give the guy credit for the problems he created to offensive coordinators. gameplaning any intermediate routes in the middle were a problem. if the league recognized only impact plays and stats there would be no reason he was highly sought after and given a rediculous contract he got. our D saw a sharp dropoff when he was out. i hope McDermott has a better plan then putting in the guys we already had during that time. scheme change? a gem in FA after cuts? somthing more then undersized rookie lb commanding the D.

[Beck Water]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

They have literally said they believe the replacement was in house all off season. Don't understand why this is such a shocking turn of events for some.

 

1 hour ago, oldmanfan said:

Exactly.  How much clearer does Beane have to be?  I do think we may see 3 LBs on the field more.

 

I think many of us assumed that was a case of "how do you tell when a GM is prevaricating pre-draft?" Answer: "his lips move"

[BuffaloBillyG]

Just now, Beck Water said:

 

 

I think many of us assumed that was a case of "how do you tell when a GM is prevaricating pre-draft?" Answer: "his lips move"

To a small extent, yes every GM does it. However Beane historically shoots pretty straight. Typically I see when he wants to keep an answer in house he (and McD for that matter) just say something along the lines of "Hey, I respect that question but I'm not going to get into that right now".

 

 

[Beck Water]

34 minutes ago, JerseyBills said:

Saw one of the Bills beat guys list the top lbs in the NFL, all are similar in size to Williams 

 

You could see it right here in the Williams thread.  By me.

They're not "all", but 4 out of 10 are same height or shorter.  Bit heavier, but I do believe the S&C crew can fix that if Williams is willing to put in the work.

 

1 minute ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

To a small extent, yes every GM does it. However Beane historically shoots pretty straight. Typically I see when he wants to keep an answer in house he (and McD for that matter) just say something along the lines of "Hey, I respect that question but I'm not going to get into that right now".

 

Well yeah, but Beane also didn't say "we believe the answer IS in house", he said somewhat more waffling stuff like "the answer MAY BE in house."

Edited April 29, 2023 by Beck Water

[Maine-iac]

41 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Unless you have to ask Klein to cover someone. Anyone. It’s a passing game, and Klein is a liability there. But he does fine near the line or moving forward. 

 

I’m not panicked. They will use what they have, and keep scouring for better options. The people who hated on Edmunds may miss him clogging up the middle of the passing game this year. 

Klein is pretty decent at getting to the QB though.  Just spit balling here but play Milano, Klein, and Rapp as "LBs" and let Klein blitz more and drop into short coverage enough to keep them guessing.  

[Augie]

1 minute ago, Maine-iac said:

Klein is pretty decent at getting to the QB though.  Just spit balling here but play Milano, Klein, and Rapp as "LBs" and let Klein blitz more and drop into short coverage enough to keep them guessing.  

But does that take Taron Johnson off the field? A guy they think enough of to give him a big contract? Teams will scheme to get Klein in coverage, and it won’t be pretty. 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

In my opinion we will see more defensive looks to match what an offense is bringing out.

 

Milano and Bernard will be the starting OLBs, Klein starts inside.

 

Dodson is the primary backup with Williams backing up at OLB while he learns the system (confirmed by Beane).

 

Mata44 is our Special Teams demon with BS54 learning the ropes to be the 5th LB. 

[Buffarukus]

1 hour ago, HOUSE said:

Linebackers are over rated

 

 

when you only keep 2 on the field all the time and they are the top tacklers of the team every year you better make sure you value the position properly. 

 

shawn had a decent one in carolina that had a big part in getting him to a sb and landing him a head coaching job. hopefully he knows they are at least average rated. 😁