Coming this Fall - The 2025 defense

[DrDawkinstein]

Just now, Mark Vader said:

Yet the defense somehow found a way to step up on 3rd and sometimes 4th and inches, on multiple occasions.

 

Our defense was strange.

 

When we know what is coming, we have players/talent that can make plays. The problem is when coaching and scheme are involved it becomes a total crap shoot. Too many players saying "we never saw that on tape" or "we werent ready for that" after the game.

[BillsVet]

3 hours ago, FireChans said:

We’ve never had the horses on the DL.

 

The last SB caliber DL in Buffalo was in 2014.

 

If the GM and HC never had the DL with the investment they've made there since 2017-18...then they're the problem, not the talent.  

 

They've emphasized DL almost every off-season since 2018...stands to reason they'd have figured it out by now.  Few teams have alignment in HC and GM on resourcing this group.    

 

They don't get it right this season or they never will...from roster philosophy to scheme to coaching and everything before you get to who the players are.  

[JohnNord]

4 hours ago, Chandler#81 said:

I’m concerned with our busted druggies. Not alllwed back til after the Bye, how are we gonna treat this? I consider Ogunjobi a washout, having only signed a 1 year deal. Hoeght, on the other hand, is a very good player and inked to a 3 year deal. But with all the other additions to the Dline whom we need to step right in and perform, where will we be at that time? Our rookie Dline players have HUGE potential at both DE & DT. If Bosa & Groot come through -meaning contributing significantly to wins through the 1st 6 weeks, who gets dumped then and why? I can’t/wont hope for an injury that would open a role, but if TJ Sanders, Solomon, Epenesa, Dwayne Carter & Landon Jackson show out early -and many of us hope/expect this, who goes to open spots.

Granted, a ‘wonderful problem’ we’ve never concerned about in the past, but this year is definitely different!

D-line is probably the most interesting position group.  Now that Hoecht and Ogunjobi are out, it makes it easier to predict.  By after Week 6, it could get very interesting if all are healthy.  Not just in terms of a roster spot but also who dresses in Sunday.  

 

If Solomon shows out do they trade AJ Epinesa?  Does Buffalo try to “redshirt” Walker?  Could DaQuan Jones get released?  

[SoonerBillsFan]

2 hours ago, HOUSE said:

Hopefully we will enjoy the 4th quarter more this year

I am so tired of last minute shoot outs.

 

And get off the damn field on 3rd downs.

[SCBills]

I’m pretty bullish on the defense this year.

 

They didn’t lose anyone of note, aside from Von and Rasul, who were playing at an adequate/average level. 
 

They added:

 

Joey Bosa, Landon Jackson, TJ Sanders, Max Hairston & (essentially) Cole Bishop, as guys factoring heavy into the defense for ‘25, along with Hoecht & Ogbujobi come Week 7. 
 

They also brought in coaches who are far more aggressive than we saw last year, along with a Kromer type hire on the DL in Ryan Nielsen.  A guy with quite a bit of accreditation for DL play and developing stud D-Linemen. 
 

If this can’t be a Top 10 Defense that shows up in the Playoffs, then I’m not sure McDermott is ever capable of giving us a Defense that performs at a high level when it matters.  

[machine gun kelly]

As far as the defense, since Hecht and Ogunjobi are out for 6 weeks then the bye, we need Bosa for 7 games in the regular season.  I say this to play it as safe as possible.  If they play in other games, it needs to be significantly limited.  Maybe obvious pass plays only.  For the whole game, I propose to think about the following for playing the whole game.

 

Baltimore
Chiefs

Bucs

Texans

Steelers 

Bengals

Eagles

 

These are must have games for Bosa.  The others as stated would be only maybe 3rd down passing plays, so we significantly limited access to be injured.  Of course we’ll need him for all of the playoffs.  The good news is our toughest opponents minute the Ravens are after the bye, and as a result can load manage Bosa.  Maybe with a full year, he can instill confidence in fans and the team he may be completely healed.

 

[Gregg]

3 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

As far as the defense, since Hecht and Ogunjobi are out for 6 weeks then the bye, we need Bosa for 7 games in the regular season.  I say this to play it as safe as possible.  If they play in other games, it needs to be significantly limited.  Maybe obvious pass plays only.  For the whole game, I propose to think about the following for playing the whole game.

 

Baltimore
Chiefs

Bucs

Texans

Steelers 

Bengals

Eagles

 

These are must have games for Bosa.  The others as stated would be only maybe 3rd down passing plays, so we significantly limited access to be injured.  Of course we’ll need him for all of the playoffs.  The good news is our toughest opponents minute the Ravens are after the bye, and as a result can load manage Bosa.  Maybe with a full year, he can instill confidence in fans and the team he may be completely healed.

 

 

I would substitute the Bucs and Eagles games and insert our divisional rivals. Yes, our division sucks but the Bills still have to win those games as they are the most important games on the schedule. No loss is a good loss but if the Bills lose some games, then the NFC games are the ones to lose since they aren't a divisional or conference opponent.

[machine gun kelly]

1 minute ago, Gregg said:

 

I would substitute the Bucs and Eagles games and insert our divisional rivals. Yes, our division sucks but the Bills still have to win those games as they are the most important games on the schedule. No loss is a good loss but if the Bills lose some games, then the NFC games are the ones to lose since they aren't a divisional or conference opponent.

Gregg, I’m making a bold assertion we’ll sweep this division even without him.  Remember the next most important is strength of opponents.  I’m guessing the Bucs will win their division for a 5th year, and the SB champs is a no brainer.  I do sincerely respect youre opinion.  I mean that, but I’ve thought about your point.  Ijust don’t see the Bills ever losing to the dumpster fires if the Fish, and the Jests.  Maybe I can see the Cheats as Maye is good and they bought a lot of players.  So if any compromise, I’d add the Cheats.  I’m not saying Bosa doesn’t play at all against the above two teams, but limit them to only obvious passing downs.  My guess is the two teams will be playing from behind.

[Gregg]

4 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

Gregg, I’m making a bold assertion we’ll sweep this division even without him.  Remember the next most important is strength of opponents.  I’m guessing the Bucs will win their division for a 5th year, and the SB champs is a no brainer.  I do sincerely respect youre opinion.  I mean that, but I’ve thought about your point.  Ijust don’t see the Bills ever losing to the dumpster fires if the Fish, and the Jests.  Maybe I can see the Cheats as Maye is good and they bought a lot of players.  So if any compromise, I’d add the Cheats.  I’m not saying Bosa doesn’t play at all against the above two teams, but limit them to only obvious passing downs.  My guess is the two teams will be playing from behind.

 

I could definitely see a loss to the Jets. The Bills are 1-2 in the last three trips to MetLife including two losses to Zach Wilson. They got lucky to win there last year. The Jets missed 2 FG's and an extra point in the Bills 23-20 win. I really hope the Bills win the opener against the Ravens. I would hate for the Bills to have to go to MetLife 0-1. The Jets seem to give the Bills a tough game in NJ.

Edited July 8 by Gregg

[El Guapo]

11 hours ago, dorquemada said:

 

Again, our D looks good in the regular season for the most part but can't make the big play against KC when it counts.  This should not be a controversial take.  Josh Allen can't play D too.

As Josh stands up from the bench and says, “Oh yeah?  Hold my beer!”

[Chandler#81]

18 hours ago, fergie's ire said:

Agreed.  Just look at who we had in the backfield against KC.  I do, however, also think that philosophy was part of the problem.  The coaching changes are promising and suggest a more aggressive defense.  Although McDermott is seen as conservative, he does have a remarkable willing to change that we have mostly seen play out on offense so far (e.g. installing Brady).  However, he seems to learn and be willing to change and I think the learning moment was last year in a 2 game sequence.  We were scoring at least 30 points every game but against the Rams, the Rams were aggressive early and stole a couple of possessions and the Bills never caught up.  The next week, we played Detroit and we saw a Bills defense start aggressively and do the same thing to Detroit.  With an offense that regularly scores 30, a defense can risk giving up a big play or two...but also make some big plays.  So, I think he is seeing that they can risk attacking and give up on the bend, don't break defense.  Won't know for sure until we see it...but there are very hopeful signs.

That’s how we played Defense in the SB era. We played Defense with reckless abandon. Only when Washington and Dallas stuffed our Offense did we succumb.

[Chandler#81]

 

[ProcessTruster]

21 hours ago, pi2000 said:

They added a gimpy Bosa, 2 suspended players, and a bunch of rookies.

 

I'm expecting the defense to perform similar to last season, maybe even take a step back against the pass with the loss of Douglas and addition of White/Hairston. 

 

Run defense and 3rd down will continue to be an issue until these rookies mature.

agreed.  not convinced the defense will be that much different from last year.   Lots of takeaways and big plays, but not dominating down after down.  Is what it is when you are drafting 30th and no one else is letting their top D lineman get away.  

[Ga boy]

On 7/8/2025 at 8:11 AM, FireChans said:

Last years defense wasn’t close to statistically dominant. 

Improving on last year’s D should be easy really.  Bishop and Milano will be better.  Rush will be better.  I can’t wait to see it.

[JP51]

On 7/8/2025 at 8:11 AM, FireChans said:

Last years defense wasn’t close to statistically dominant. 

The only stat they were dominant in was Turnovers... other than that they were really bad... they should all buy JA a car... lol