Ideas at Safety?

[SectionC3]

10 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

So to me this is a coaching problem. Our small MLB looks like he is trying to penetrate into the backfield instead of maintaining a gap, and immediately gets taken out of the play by a guy that probably weighs 200 more pounds than him. You've got Benford strafing right and towards the line as if he needs to play edge contain but Dorian Williams already has the edge. The job of the coaches is to instruct the players on how to execute against this play call. That didn't happen. Henry was gifted an easy wide open gap.

 

I really don't want to hear about personnel issues on the defense this year. I don't see that as a reasonable excuse for the massacre we watched last night. Over the last two offseasons we spent the vast majority of our resources on that side of the ball. The coaches need to make it work with this group.

I agree.  It looks like a poor angle by Rapp (I assume this is the TD; didn't watch your clip but watched the clip of that play a few times.)  Part of it, however, is "get off a block" up front.  And part of it too is either design or execution up front with respect to gap assignment.  By the time Rapp gets a bead on Henry, nobody has touched Henry, Henry has a ton of speed, and Rapp is in a pretty tough spot.  Yes, the angle looks awful.  But, in fairness, somebody has to get a body part on Henry before he's into Rapp's level.  

[aristocrat]

Justin Simmons would be a great idea but it would also mean giving up on bishop. That’s a tough decision 

[Einstein's Dog]

1 hour ago, aristocrat said:

Justin Simmons would be a great idea but it would also mean giving up on bishop. That’s a tough decision 

Simmons on a one year deal doesn't mean you're giving up on anyone.  To me it just means your bolstering your weakest position for the 2025 SB possibilities.

 

Getting A Cooper did not mean they gave up on Coleman.

[Ayjent]

16 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

So to me this is a coaching problem. Our small MLB looks like he is trying to penetrate into the backfield instead of maintaining a gap, and immediately gets taken out of the play by a guy that probably weighs 200 more pounds than him. You've got Benford strafing right and towards the line as if he needs to play edge contain but Dorian Williams already has the edge. The job of the coaches is to instruct the players on how to execute against this play call. That didn't happen. Henry was gifted an easy wide open gap.

 

I really don't want to hear about personnel issues on the defense this year. I don't see that as a reasonable excuse for the massacre we watched last night. Over the last two offseasons we spent the vast majority of our resources on that side of the ball. The coaches need to make it work with this group.

This is exactly right.  Bernard goes full speed into the C peeling off instead of breaking down where the hole opened up.  He may have been engaged by the C regardless, but it may have given the rest of the D some time to react.  I'm not even sure where he was going at that angle like a bat out of hell.  And honestly that was the only chance the Bills had at creating any disruption to Henry's momentum.  This team is supposed to be built to get sideline to sideline in exchange for being a little lighter.  They simply aren't fast enough (mentally or physically) at Safety to shore up any failures that happen in front of them and it is antithetical to their philosophy which is why it is baffling that they let last year's most glaring problem remain this year's most glaring problem.  If you don't have people who cause enough disruption in coverage to let the DL get home or have the speed and ability to make tackles in the run game in the secondary you are just spinning your wheels no matter how much you invest in the DL.  It isn't like the Ravens got creative and changed up their run game, they just did what they did last year but better because they had Flowers which the secondary had to respect.

Edited September 9 by Ayjent

[abranovi]

Peppers signed by the Steelers

[BuffaloRebound]

I think McDermott has to figure out a way to get Dorian on the field more. Taron has to be on the field too so not sure if Taron can play some kind of nickel/safety hybrid or milano plays less but the Linebacker and Safety mix needs to change.  Rapp, Bishop, Milano… at least 1 of them needs to play less.  

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

I think they will get better as the season goes on.  The entire defense struggled with run fits, so its hard to blame any one position group.  I thought rapp played worse than bishop tbh, and bernard and milano were pretty much invisible.  

[Success]

On 9/9/2025 at 7:27 AM, aristocrat said:

Justin Simmons would be a great idea but it would also mean giving up on bishop. That’s a tough decision 

 

The way I see it, Bishop is probably the most promising S on the roster right now.  He had a decent enough game and is likely to improve throughout this season.

 

Rapp just looked slow, and he's likely to NOT improve this season.  He might even get slower.  He's fine as a backup, but he'll be a weak link as a starter.

 

We need a SS. 

[Brand J]

11 minutes ago, Success said:

We need a SS. 

That’s what Bishop is best suited for. We need a rangy centerfield FS actually. That’s why many are pining for Jordan Hancock and his 4.42 wheels. I know he may not play at that speed if he gets caught thinking too much, but with experience it’ll come. He’s probably faster than Rapp while thinking too much 😅

[LarryMadman]

Rapp keeping the seat warm if they see Hancock as starter material at some point this year in Rapps place?  

[MikePJ76]

Here is an idea.

 

Had Brandon Beane not burned the Bills third round pick for A pedestrian Amari Cooper because he panicked when shakir was hurt the Bills could have simply drafted Xavier Watts.

 

Apparently Watts had a very good game against Tampa sunday.

 

Xavier Watts, Falcons rookies have impressive debut

 

Safety Xavier Watts was solid in coverage throughout the game, nearly intercepting two different passes and making some tough solo tackles. Watts finished the game with six solo tackles and two passes defended. Billy Bowman Jr. was flying all around the ball and held his own in coverage as well. While the Falcons did not start James Pearce Jr. or Jalon Walker, both rookies got plenty of playing time. Walker had three tackles and Pearce finished with one QB hit.

[nosejob]

Marcus Williams?

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

2 hours ago, Success said:

 

The way I see it, Bishop is probably the most promising S on the roster right now.  He had a decent enough game and is likely to improve throughout this season.

 

Rapp just looked slow, and he's likely to NOT improve this season.  He might even get slower.  He's fine as a backup, but he'll be a weak link as a starter.

 

We need a SS. 

 

He looked slower than Poyer, and his aggressiveness was again borderline reckless.  

[Captain Hindsight]

1 hour ago, MikePJ76 said:

Here is an idea.

 

Had Brandon Beane not burned the Bills third round pick for A pedestrian Amari Cooper because he panicked when shakir was hurt the Bills could have simply drafted Xavier Watts.

 

Apparently Watts had a very good game against Tampa sunday.

 

Xavier Watts, Falcons rookies have impressive debut

 

Safety Xavier Watts was solid in coverage throughout the game, nearly intercepting two different passes and making some tough solo tackles. Watts finished the game with six solo tackles and two passes defended. Billy Bowman Jr. was flying all around the ball and held his own in coverage as well. While the Falcons did not start James Pearce Jr. or Jalon Walker, both rookies got plenty of playing time. Walker had three tackles and Pearce finished with one QB hit.

Hindsight is my job

[Albany,n.y.]

Are there any safeties on the last year of a contract with a bad team that may be willing to trade them around the trade deadline?  

[transplantbillsfan]

On 9/8/2025 at 3:23 AM, Warriorspikes51 said:

What are your thoughts on Safety going into Week 2?

 

Should we keep Bishop on the field and let him grow thru it?   

 

Damar?
 

Hancock? 

 

Poyer?    

Sign Peppers / Simmons?  

 

In Joe Marino's All-22 for this week he actually said Bishop wasn't the concern, it was Rapp.  Sounded like he was fine with Bishop.  That tackle against Henry wouldn't happen for any Safety.