The Ugly The Bad The Good... The Bills Defense v Ravens Thoughts

[corta765]

I am reversing the normal phrase because it is more fitting for the analysis of our defense after Sunday. With that said it has been over a day and I am trying to be rational with these thoughts and there were a few positives I found (specific to the D line) rather then just saying they were awful Sunday which is easy to say.

 

Ugly

• The run defense. Henry was not just breaking tackles he wasn't even being touched at times on some of the runs. For a team which has had some dog days against the run this was an all time classic display of bad even if Henry is a HOF RB that has very few equals.
• The defense the until 9:18 left in the game. 40 points and just two forced punts. It basically was last years regular season game again except our offense came to play this time
• Whatever Terrell Bernard was doing all night. I have generally liked his play since he has become a starter but this was an all time WTF was that performance. Whether it is not trusting the coverage over top or overplaying plays where he was badly out of position it was ugly as sin.
• The safeties. The good news is Baltimore probably is the most complete offense they will play all season so as weak as this spot is right now your not going to face what you saw every week... but holy yikes. Rapp is as fast as a sloth and Bishops body I believe is still implanted in the turf right now. I understand Bishop is young and will take his lumps, but it is very frustrating that a spot every one said needs improvement was ignored and put on display so badly in front of the world.
• Bobby Babich. Sooo in 3 games vs Baltimore they have averaged 34 ppg against our D, the Chiefs 27 ppg, etc.. you get where this is going. Last year was year one and I get learning the ropes etc.. but year 2 even with the injuries/suspensions this defense was invested in tenfold and that is the best you can do? Long season and I have said on here all off season it is going to take half the season for this defense to come together, but by seasons end they better be a far stiffer unit across the board or his time will be numbered.

 

Bad

• Taron Johnson and Benford had a relatively poor performance all evening, but not nearly as bad as their counterparts. Given the high level or play they bring you would have liked to have seen more impact plays from both
• Blitzing Bishop from Niagara Falls. Apparently the Ravens caught this early and intentionally hiked before Bishop could actually be in his spot, but regardless while the idea to blitz wasn't bad the execution was hilariously bad.
• Overall energy of the defense from the 2nd quarter until 9:18. They looked like they needed someone to step up and do something to get it going and no one was there. The one question that has been asked since all the old vets left is who will be the guys to step up when its tough sledding. I loved Oliver's play, Groot & Milano had a few nice moments, but this defense will not always get that turnover which turns a bad day around or the game may already be lost at that point. Some of the newer younger guys you'd like to see someone step up or one of the more established guys like Milano to help make a stop. One game, long season, but just something since last year I have been watching

 

Good

• The defense from 9:18 in the 4th on. Two three and outs plus a forced fumble to alter the game. For as awful as they were they made some strong plays late that kept it alive
• Ed Oliver. I can only hope he goes a full season playing like this because he was a terror and did alter the game enough to make it a game again.
• The overall defensive line got some pressure and you can see the potential with Bosa mixed in that they can become a force. That is really encouraging and I thought Bosa as the game went on found himself. There isn't much after a 40 pt performance you hang your hat on but the defensive line legitimately has me excited for what they could do over the year
• Dorian Strong in his first start was fine. That is a compliment given the state of the rest of the secondary and back end, but for a rookie day one I thought he did a good job.

 

One final thought:

The defense was bad for the vast majority of the game and the secondary feels like a massive question mark at this point given the safeties especially. The trend still exists that this defense gets exposed against great offenses until they finally show otherwise. With that said Baltimore is the best offense they will play all season and their fans are asking and saying everything we are. The defense will benefit from playing some lower teams which will allow some time to figure solutions and play out which will help. Until they play KC they do not face a QB of Lamar's caliber and after that it isn't until Burrow where you face another guy and offense that can do that so the defense and coaching staff has time to figure out a lot of answers. With that said if you are pessimistic on the defense moving forward I can't blame you as they keep living up to being a unit the comes up small when the competition is the best. Thankfully we got a whole season coming so hopefully they can change that.

[Commish]

In his All-22 review, Joe Marino put most of the blame on Milano, Bernard and Rapp. Said Bishop was okay.

[GoBills808]

25 minutes ago, Commish said:

In his All-22 review, Joe Marino put most of the blame on Milano, Bernard and Rapp. Said Bishop was okay.

Milano played like he aged 10yrs this offseason 

[Marv Levy]

If I'm Bean, I'm calling up other teams right now and do a "Hockey Trade". Give me a starting vet S or CB and I'll give you a starting player that you need. Hell, I'll even throw in a fourth rounder. I don't know, but this secondary looked like a college team out there. Salary Cap $, yeah yeah, I get it, but I would be looking to upgrade this Swiss cheese secondary D as soon as possible. 

[paulmm3]

Bernard and Milano both lost every battle with every blocker they saw. I'm pretty sure I saw Bernard's feet come off the ground as he was lifted up and moved by his blocker more than once.

[Maine-iac]

Watched this video once and trying to catch everything.  Not sure if this guys is a Raven's fan or what but it's a good break down of their line mauling us.

 

 

[TH3]

I get it…but the Ravens D gave up more yards, more TOP, more plays, more first downs and more points

54 minutes ago, Maine-iac said:

Watched this video once and trying to catch everything.  Not sure if this guys is a Raven's fan or what but it's a good break down of their line mauling us.

 

 

Yup. 22 is good but he was running though giant holes

[seannc]

1 hour ago, GoBills808 said:

Milano played like he aged 10yrs this offseason 

That's concerning. Weren't the reports of Milano out of training camp really positive? 

[BearNorth]

Damar Hamlin - as maligned as he has been on this board, would have been an improvement over either of our safeties, a two year starter and he did not see the field for a single defensive snap.

 

Cam Lewis - played nine snaps on D and graded out higher than any other defensive secondary player not named Taron Johnson

He's a vet and knows McD's defense.

 

TJ Sanders should not see the field if last night was any indication, Jordan Phillips would be an upgrade. [Yeah I said that]

[Old Coot]

Ravens were able to block out D line AND get to the 2d level and block our LBs on Henry's long runs.

 

We'll see a steady diet of run plays this season until we prove we can do better against the run.

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

How do you gameplan against the Ravens and they run for well over 200 yards? I just don't even know how that happens, what was the game plan exactly? There should have been 8 in the box pretty much the whole time yet I consistently saw Taron Johnson on the field, what in the world is he going to do against Henry accept get tossed aside like he wasn't even there? McDermott is very average as a defensive coach imo and I really hope if we have another letdown by him in the playoffs that he lets baich go and hires a real DC who is known for putting out top tier defenses. 

[Jimmy Harris 69]

Our cream puff safety play is so tiresome. The lack of upgrades through FA or the draft is a failure on Beane and McD’s part. Hancock can play safety reportedly but we haven’t heard anything about his being given any opportunity. The money we have tied up for jags like Jones (trash last year) & Samuel (still useless) should been re-allocated for new safety talent. I never liked the resigning of Tre White ($3M). They over paid him and Hamlin ($2M). Those dollars are wasted. Keeping the status quo was a terrible planning. Make a bold move Bills. Pry away Kyle Dugger or poach Israel Mukuamu (no idea about the kid) from the Panthers PS. Get your pro scouts off their asses. 

[Buffalo Ballin]

7 minutes ago, Jimmy Harris 69 said:

Our cream puff safety play is so tiresome. The lack of upgrades through FA or the draft is a failure on Beane and McD’s part. Hancock can play safety reportedly but we haven’t heard anything about his being given any opportunity. The money we have tied up for jags like Jones (trash last year) & Samuel (still useless) should been re-allocated for new safety talent. I never liked the resigning of Tre White ($3M). They over paid him and Hamlin ($2M). Those dollars are wasted. Keeping the status quo was a terrible planning. Make a bold move Bills. Pry away Kyle Dugger or poach Israel Mukuamu (no idea about the kid) from the Panthers PS. Get your pro scouts off their asses. 

I was 100% against Tre White rejoining us. Stop signing retreads. WTF? Move on.

[Florida Bills Fanatic]

5 hours ago, Commish said:

In his All-22 review, Joe Marino put most of the blame on Milano, Bernard and Rapp. Said Bishop was okay.

I also looked at the All-22 and would agree with this assessment.  I would also add that Jones got blown off the ball consistently.  In the fourth quarter, the line backers finally started attacking the gaps created by double teams at the point of attack.  

[Joe Ferguson forever]

Watching the game again. They have no answer for 
Henry.  They didn't when he was with Tennessee.  Watched him gallup in those games in Nashville.  Our LB's and safeties aren't up to him.  In fairness, not many are.  Given that, I wouldn't be too upset by their performance here..  With an average RB, things would have been different.  By the time we meet them again, we'll have important pieces back.

Edited September 10 by Joe Ferguson forever

[QCity]

That angle Rapp took on Henry's last TD run was absolutely comical. All of a sudden the LBs look as bad as the safeties.

 

If that's what the D looks like when healthy it's going to be a train wreck when the injuries hit.

[Success]

I'm still a bit mystified by why we weren't in on Peppers.  I get sticking with Bishop, but Rapp now looks like he is more backup quality.  It's scary to think about that kind of lack of speed out there, even at the SS position.  

 

I'm sure we'll look like world beaters against some of the middlin' teams that are coming up, but that will be a mirage.  Come playoff time, I'm deeply concerned about this D not being able to get stops. Josh can do this kind of thing & overcome that - but to ask that out of 3 or 4 games in a row would be too much & unrealistic.

 

Edited September 10 by Success

[Bob in STL]

Rapp is back-up quality and Bishop is still a work in progress. This is a very far cry from Hyde and Poyer, even from old Hyde and Poyer. 
 

Bean needs to pick up the phone.  

[HappyDays]

3 hours ago, BearNorth said:

TJ Sanders should not see the field if last night was any indication, Jordan Phillips would be an upgrade

 

Last night was definitely not an indication of that. It's his first ever pro game, against the absolutely last offense you'd ask to welcome you to the NFL as a DT.

 

In general I think fans are way too quick to want to make sweeping personnel changes based on this game. If it still looks the same in a few weeks yeah you look to make some changes. Personally though I think the defensive coaching staff needs to do a better job getting the guys they have prepared for the opponent. Ravens offense looked like a well oiled machine while our defense looked like day one install of training camp. The number of mental mistakes and missed responsibilities goes above and beyond the players IMO. We flat out were not ready on that side of the ball.

[VW82]

I'm guessing we'll improve on defense as the season goes along.