A.J. Klein: "This Defense Will Be More Aggressive" | One Bills Live | Buffalo Bills

[PrimeTime101]

How they are going about things this year is different. The Verbiage with the press is stronger. Pay attention to this interview from 31:50 on.

[Punching Bag]

20 minutes ago, PrimeTime101 said:

This is what I have been trying to say, but some people lol 

 

Imagine the alternate universe where another team jumped ahead and took Edmunds.

He is not essential to our defense but he was essential to THAT defense.

 

[Pete]

11 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I'm really looking forward to seeing this defense ran by McD. A healthy Hyde and Poyer. White bouncing back a bit. The return of Von. Year 2 of the young CBs. And new look ways to get pressure on the QB...this defense has potential to be really solid.

And Poony!

[PBF81]

5 hours ago, Limeaid said:

Bills defense are going to need to find a new base for their defense and it will be a different scheme than we used last 5 years.  

 

Arguably the most intriguing aspect of the team heading into the season.  

 

Seems like a very precarious situation to me. 

 

 

[Matt_In_NH]

10 hours ago, JohnBonhamRocks said:

From 12 yard to 8 yard cushions? Gasp!

 

 

Slow down, you skipped right over 11, 10 and 9 yard cushions skippy!

[eball]

11 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Let's assume it is more aggressive which I doubt. 

Why the wait? Why would the HC allow the DC to run a less passive scheme than what the HC wants?

 

When McD got the HC job he knew he had to learn the whole job.  He did what any smart coach would do — he brought in a veteran, competent DC so he could focus on all of the other aspects of becoming a HC.  That has been a six year process and I think even his detractors would acknowledge growth by McD in those areas.  There is no doubt he “backed off” calling the defense in order to be more of an overall manager of the team.

 

And let’s face it — the Bills’ regular season defenses have been excellent under Frazier.  The issue has been the playoffs.

 

I believe McD when he says he is “rejuvenated” by the thought of calling the defense.  I absolutely expect him to put his stamp on it and do what he believes is necessary to stifle the high-powered offenses of the AFC.

 

It’s a curious thing to me — those who want to always assume the worst. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[GreggTX]

More aggressive means more big plays in both directions. You just hope that the lion's share of them help the D. 

As far as AJ Klein as starter is concerned, I think his physical limitations make that an undesirable outcome. Bernard has much better speed and has added bulk. Williams' is one of the fastest LB's if not the fastest in the NFL. Seriously, he has WR/CB speed. I'm hoping one or both of these 2 younger players emerges as a great matchup LB with AJ as his mentor. That would be ideal.

 

[Mr. WEO]

First it's Hines, Now AJ.  The scrubs are telling us how the O and D gotta work!

[ProcessTruster]

The top QBs will mainly tear through whatever D the Bills toss out there.   And whatever D anyone else tosses out there.   So yeah, the D will look "solid" and "tough" against the bottom 20 teams who have crappy QB play.   But when the chips are down, the offense will need to score 30+ regardless of what the D looks like.  Its a passing league now and against the top QBs, defense really doesn't matter nearly as much as how many points can you put up while your D tries to get maybe a couple stops each half.   This is what the NFL has become at the highest levels.   When you cannot touch the WRs or the QB, the quality of your defense loses a lot of its relevance IMHO.  

[Since1981]

13 minutes ago, ProcessTruster said:

But when the chips are down, the offense will need to score 30+ regardless of what the D looks like.  Its a passing league now and against the top QBs, defense really doesn't matter

TOTALLY agree. Defense in 2023 is about slowing 2 series on top 10 QB. Slowing is not the same as stopping in 90’s. Paired to Explosive O is the key in 2023 to D. “Solid run game, great D” is no longer a thing in NFL. 

[BritBill]

2 minutes ago, Since1981 said:

TOTALLY agree. Defense in 2023 is about slowing 2 series on top 10 QB. Slowing is not the same as stopping in 90’s. Paired to Explosive O is the key in 2023 to D. “Solid run game, great D” is no longer a thing in NFL. 

 

Absolutely. And the defence winning the 2 or 3 "big moments" in a game. 

[HappyDays]

28 minutes ago, ProcessTruster said:

But when the chips are down, the offense will need to score 30+ regardless of what the D looks like.  Its a passing league now and against the top QBs, defense really doesn't matter nearly as much

 

The final score of the AFCCG was 23-20. It is actually possible to slow down top offenses - the Bengals have done it multiple times in two consecutive playoff years. Their DC has proven to be one of the best in the league and changes his scheme for the opponent. Will McDermtt finally be willing to do that? We'll see.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

2 hours ago, eball said:

 

When McD got the HC job he knew he had to learn the whole job.  He did what any smart coach would do — he brought in a veteran, competent DC so he could focus on all of the other aspects of becoming a HC.  That has been a six year process and I think even his detractors would acknowledge growth by McD in those areas.  There is no doubt he “backed off” calling the defense in order to be more of an overall manager of the team.

 

And let’s face it — the Bills’ regular season defenses have been excellent under Frazier.  The issue has been the playoffs.

 

I believe McD when he says he is “rejuvenated” by the thought of calling the defense.  I absolutely expect him to put his stamp on it and do what he believes is necessary to stifle the high-powered offenses of the AFC.

 

It’s a curious thing to me — those who want to always assume the worst. 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

I don’t assume the worst. I just don't beleive he was that hands off the defense over the last several years. And you know as well as I those regular season defenses the last few years have faced one bottom feeder QB after another allowing them to pad their stats.

It just makes no sense that after losing to the Chiefs in back to back AFC playoff games that now he is going to get more involved and there will be a radical difference.  Add the Houston collapse and it just doesn't jive. 

That said the D won the Ravens and Colts playoff games. Which is interesting.  If anything the Bills run D is what gets gashed from time to time in the regular season and then they play well against running teams in the playoffs only for the vaunted secondary to get picked apart by the Chiefs. But who doesn't get picked apart by the Chiefs. Add the regular season success against the Chiefs and it is all the more frustrating and perplexing. 

All of this is of course magnified by 13 seconds where defensive timeouts were called before each play and still they allowed the Chiefs to get into FG range. 

 

Anyhow, all this talk doesn't matter. 

 

McD owns it and let's see how it plays out. 

 

[Man with No Name]

always great to have a jim leonhard type out on the field. helping 5 others guys can definitely make up for some physical limitations one might have. 

[RoyBatty is alive]

14 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Let's assume it is more aggressive which I doubt. 

Why the wait? Why would the HC allow the DC to run a less passive scheme than what the HC wants?

 

Again, I want McD calling the plays so there is no doubt who is in charge of the defense. If he truly is more aggressive then great. 

 

Keep in mind arguably the greatest play in Bills history was a pick six by Taron Johnson paying zone coverage in the red zone with a four man rush. 

 

i have to agree with all the above.  After the infamous 13 second fiasco, that is when McDermott should have FORCED a radical change, he didnt and squandered possibly a year.  Now he has no fall guy.

[eball]

35 minutes ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

McD owns it and let's see how it plays out. 

 

That's all we can do.

[nucci]

I don't care if they're aggressive or unaggressive. Will they be better?

Edited May 31, 2023 by nucci

[C.Biscuit97]

This defense would have been destroyed if they were more aggressive last year. They were on their 5th string S. White was out and wasn’t the same player. Elam struggled. We have one pass rusher and he got hurt. 
 

this defense will be more aggressive if we are healthy. Frazier was a giant scapegoat.  Injuries and lack of production from high draft picks were the main reasons for the “failings” of our lowly 2nd ranked defense. 

[PrimeTime101]

4 hours ago, GreggTX said:

More aggressive means more big plays in both directions. You just hope that the lion's share of them help the D. 

As far as AJ Klein as starter is concerned, I think his physical limitations make that an undesirable outcome. Bernard has much better speed and has added bulk. Williams' is one of the fastest LB's if not the fastest in the NFL. Seriously, he has WR/CB speed. I'm hoping one or both of these 2 younger players emerges as a great matchup LB with AJ as his mentor. That would be ideal.

 

Wrong.. bolded is so wrong..   Being aggressive is not about more big plays. Being aggressive is about shutting down plays too 1 or 2 yards with more consistency. 

As to the second bolded. That LB position is going to by committee with situational awareness. IF they need a run stop or on first down.. then its likely to see Klien in there but this is going to be a rotation. 

[RoyBatty is alive]

12 hours ago, PrimeTime101 said:

How they are going about things this year is different. The Verbiage with the press is stronger. Pay attention to this interview from 31:50 on.

Babich is very articulate, thoughtful guy, I think he is destined to be a DC in not to many years if not HC eventually.

Edited May 31, 2023 by RoyBatty is alive

[BuffaloMatt]

Glug Glug Glug - (me drinking whatever Kool-Aid is served) Go Bills!

[pigpen65]

Extremely happy to have Edmunds gone. Seeing him 10 yards deep in the secondary on every run up the middle was soul crushing for so many years.

[Shaw66]

2 hours ago, PrimeTime101 said:

Wrong.. bolded is so wrong..   Being aggressive is not about more big plays. Being aggressive is about shutting down plays too 1 or 2 yards with more consistency. 

 

You're correct, but so is the big play pont.  A more aggressive defense should generally yield fewer yards per play.  But ot also will force more mistakes.  The trick is to be more aggressive without giving up more explosive plays. 

[ndirish1978]

18 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Because more aggressive = more mistakes.  

 

It's easier to be aggressive when you have 2 stud safeties who can minimize mistakes. We didn't have that last year, we had an injured Poyer and Hyde was out. Having Rapp around is gonna help. 

[Robert Paulson]

24 minutes ago, pigpen65 said:

Extremely happy to have Edmunds gone. Seeing him 10 yards deep in the secondary on every run up the middle was soul crushing for so many years.

Or engaging the blocker instead of tackling the ball carrier right next to the blocker because his assignment was to engage 

[PrimeTime101]

5 hours ago, RoyBatty is alive said:

Babich is very articulate, thoughtful guy, I think he is destined to be a DC in not to many years if not HC eventually.

i agree

[3rdand12]

17 hours ago, Mr. Wonderful said:

Still having nightmares of Burrow carving up the Bills defense.  Safeties are aging, MLB gone, mediocre D-Line,  and White and Miller huge question marks entering 2023.  With Dabol gone and D in transition, Cinncy and Miami legit threats, feel Super Bowl window has closed.

Dont be so down.
 Every season we have Josh is reason enough to have hope and look forward to the season.

There are more reasons as well.  The Ship is not Lost !

 Enjoy

16 hours ago, Limeaid said:

 

 

 

Bills defense are going to need to find a new base for their defense and it will be a different scheme than we used last 5 years.

This really is it.
The defense HAS to adjust 

 To the players it has. and the LBs especially. This is fine. Part of the game. New season new players new wrinkles after review of the previous season.
Each year is a new season in so many many ways from a Coaching perspective. Build on strengths and correct weakness

 get ahead of the curve

Go Bills

Edited May 31, 2023 by 3rdand12

[C.Biscuit97]

3 hours ago, pigpen65 said:

Extremely happy to have Edmunds gone. Seeing him 10 yards deep in the secondary on every run up the middle was soul crushing for so many years.

I think you are completely wrong and dude took a lot of necessary crap here. Wasn’t a natural MLB but was a very good player for us. 
 

I hope you are right and he isn’t a big loss. But right now, it’s hilarious that you can have a top 3 defense for the last 3 years wish a terrible DC and MLB. 

[Since1981]

I dislike the “aggressive” term without hanging the context “ risk take and aggressive”.   “aggressive” as if the other choice is passive.

 

The “bend don’t break” was a reasonable compliment concept to Josh. However, I would say with D injury, it became too easy to predict. Too much Predictability is bad. 

[Dr.Sack]

The question remains, is McDermott’s defensive genius on par with McDaniel’s or Reid’s offensive genius? The only way I see us winning it all is McDermott calls a helluva postseason.

[Since1981]

5 minutes ago, Dr.Sack said:

par with McDaniel’s or Reid’s

Yeah. Sadly, we are in the Olympics medal round yearly but remains to be seen if our C is good enough to tip it to gold. a real issue. We will have to take the Kool Aid ride 1-2 more yrs for good or bad

[Punching Bag]

23 hours ago, Since1981 said:

Yeah. Sadly, we are in the Olympics medal round yearly but remains to be seen if our C is good enough to tip it to gold. a real issue. We will have to take the Kool Aid ride 1-2 more yrs for good or bad

 

Some prefer to drink it with a cyanide chaser. Some drink recipes for them.

 

 

I just listened to Bobby Bobby Babich's video "We Want Football Players".

He is talking how measurables are less important than instincts and that is exactly how AJ Klien was described by draft analysts.  

He was producing far more than his measurements would indicate.

 

https://www.buffalobills.com/video/bobby-babich-we-want-football-players

[The Wiz]

On 5/30/2023 at 11:51 PM, Big Blitz said:

It always has made sense to be aggressive af during the Allen era.  
 

Give up a big play - who cares.   Gets us the ball back quicker.  Gets our D off the field.  
 

No long drives bc we were good with bending that only may tire us out at the end of games.  
 

You can play like that situationally like when you can’t give up a big play late in games or when we go up 2 scores early in the 4th and don’t want to give up a big play too allow them to get back in it.  
 

 

Aggressive early.  Safe when necessary.  Being aggressive all the time is as dumb as being safe all the time.  

And then conversely, there is the Gregg Williams approach.

 

 

[Big Blitz]

13 hours ago, The Wiz said:

And then conversely, there is the Gregg Williams approach.

 

 

 

Why would you call this defense with that time left and with that score?

 

Every scheme works better when the people calling the plays …… call good plays.   

Edited June 2, 2023 by Big Blitz