Is Groot On The Team?

[SCBills]

Bone bruise, foot, ankle etc etc .. it’s always something with him. 
 

You’re either healthy enough to play or not.. and if you’re playing, and making 20M a year, you should show up on the screen. 
 

Guys play through injuries all the time.  It’s the NFL.  If a guy needs to be 100% to be the player you need him to be, you shouldn’t pay him. 
 

Im not giving up on him, but it’s time for him to make his presence felt beyond the need to rewatch games and chart pressures because he rarely ever gets to the QB. 

[Simon]

3 hours ago, PaattMaann said:

And yes I too want to see him with double digit sacks this season. 

 

That's probably a tough ask when you consider how the Bills have always used him.

They are showing some different tendencies on D this year though so it's not completely out of the question.

 

2 hours ago, Buffalo Boy said:

The Bills’ 16.7% pressure rate in base defense is tied for the second-worst mark in the NFL.’

 

This is likely less reflective of their pass rush and more reflective of their opponents.

They've played two teams that use a lot of read option and spread elements in their run game and one team that probably tries to get the ball out of the QB's hands faster than any team in the league.

You are simply not going to get a lot of pressures when playing against offenses like the three we've played.

[PaattMaann]

9 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

That's probably a tough ask when you consider how the Bills have always used him.

They are showing some different tendencies on D this year though so it's not completely out of the question.

 

 

This is likely less reflective of their pass rush and more reflective of their opponents.

They've played two teams that use a lot of read option and spread elements in their run game and one team that probably tries to get the ball out of the QB's hands faster than any team in the league.

You are simply not be going to get a lot of pressures when playing against offenses like the three we've played.

 

exactly. This is why I am preaching people not to freak out over just 1 / 6th of the season being played. 

[JazzyNBlue]

12 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

That's probably a tough ask when you consider how the Bills have always used him.

They are showing some different tendencies on D this year though so it's not completely out of the question.

 

 

This is likely less reflective of their pass rush and more reflective of their opponents.

They've played two teams that use a lot of read option and spread elements in their run game and one team that probably tries to get the ball out of the QB's hands faster than any team in the league.

You are simply not going to get a lot of pressures when playing against offenses like the three we've played.

Yet the Patriots can get 3 sacks against this same fast read offense and we get zero? I understand that there is more to it than that, but so far regardless, we are struggling at getting pressure, how many 3rd and longs did Miami complete? 3rd and long is usually when your D can get pressure and sacks, we didn’t do well on either the pressure or sacks or stopping the 3rd downs. I really hope that big Ed and Hoect(sp?) gives us a big boost. 

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

5 minutes ago, JazzyNBlue said:

Yet the Patriots can get 3 sacks against this same fast read offense and we get zero? I understand that there is more to it than that, but so far regardless, we are struggling at getting pressure, how many 3rd and longs did Miami complete? 3rd and long is usually when your D can get pressure and sacks, we didn’t do well on either the pressure or sacks or stopping the 3rd downs. I really hope that big Ed and Hoect(sp?) gives us a big boost. 

 

The dolphins offense scored 20 points on 4 scoring drives vs.  NE and 21 points on 3 scoring drives vs. buffalo.  NE allowed more yards, more passing yards, and more more net passing yards.  NE had a better 3rd down defense percentage and more sacks, but buffalo forced 4 punts to 2 for NE.

[Simon]

29 minutes ago, JazzyNBlue said:

Yet the Patriots can get 3 sacks against this same fast read offense and we get zero? I understand that there is more to it than that, but so far regardless, we are struggling at getting pressure, how many 3rd and longs did Miami complete? 3rd and long is usually when your D can get pressure and sacks, we didn’t do well on either the pressure or sacks or stopping the 3rd downs. I really hope that big Ed and Hoect(sp?) gives us a big boost. 

 

From my couch, this has seemed to be more an issue in the Back 7 than up front; both safeties too often being a step late, both corners being more agressive vs the run than in coverage, with Milano out they only have 1 LB that can cover anybody, etc.

I'm not saying the Front 4 have been world-beaters, just that they haven't been nearly as bad as a stat that places them 2nd worst in the league. 

They haven't been "great", but they haven't been bad either.

[bmur66]

What’s up with this guy? I am happy the Bills won and all but it is seriously disappointing that this guy isn’t making a game changing play on occasion. He looks like a monster. Is he not trying to get to the QB because it looks like that is not his job?

[Pete]

Groot stopped the 2 Point Conversion try.  It was a huge play at a critical time of the game.

[JohninMinn.]

He got paid and the hunger vanished like Marcel Darius.

[RichRiderBills]

4 minutes ago, Pete said:

Groot stopped the 2 Point Conversion try.  It was a huge play at a critical time of the game.

 

I admit that was a big play . He had another good play in run support. I was really looking for him and during the game and just couldn't see him. He's hardly on the field either. Right now I'm just so disappointed with him. 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

I'll say this about Groot with the risk of "jumping on the badwagon":

 

The second he gets an unconfirmed injury, he disappears. 

[Brand J]

I think he needs to get stronger in his lower body. He’s never been a quick twitch pass rusher so he’s gotta win with power and length. I don’t see much power out of him, ever. Wouldn’t hate to see him tack on 10 extra pounds of good weight and develop more strength in his lower body.

[LABILLBACKER]

On 9/18/2025 at 8:27 PM, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

I want to see Epenesa in there more often. Groot has been underwhelming so far. Having some fresh legs in there might make a big difference. Also don’t discount Ed Oliver’s absence and the impact on the guys around him. 

Replacing an overpaid scrub with another overpaid scrub.  Brilliant idea?

[vincec]

Moot made a play or two, but he is what he is, an average starting level NFL DE. Pretty good vs the run; below average pass rusher.

[Dafan]

1 minute ago, vincec said:

Moot made a play or two, but he is what he is, an average starting level NFL DE. Pretty good vs the run; below average pass rusher.

Will wait and see how he is with Oliver back before I judge.

[Dr.Sack]

Wouldn’t be a bad idea to give a game to Landon Jackson is Groot is compromised to the point he isn’t doing much on game film. I’m not a coach my assumption is he is healthy enough to play. Has he flashed on the tv broadcast? No. Is he 100% healthy? No. Is he better than Landon Jackson? Yes. 

[Brand J]

#56 Solomon was out there a lot it seems. He’s been disappointing as well. Let Landon Jackson get some run.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

1 hour ago, bmur66 said:

What’s up with this guy? I am happy the Bills won and all but it is seriously disappointing that this guy isn’t making a game changing play on occasion. He looks like a monster. Is he not trying to get to the QB because it looks like that is not his job?

He played his best game of the year today. Made a few plays in the run defense. 

Still nothing in pass rush

[BillsFan130]

I legitimately haven't seen him won many, if any clean pass rush snaps this year.

He made some good plays in the run game including the 2 point conversion stuff.

 

But his pass rush still looks non existent to me

[TFBillsfan]

11 minutes ago, Brand J said:

#56 Solomon was out there a lot it seems. He’s been disappointing as well. Let Landon Jackson get some run.

Solomon, Groot, Sanders and Jones are not  getting it done early in the season. At this point, I really have to question our scheme as our pass rush is just woeful. 

I’m not convinced it’s gonna be any better with the addition of the two suspended DL, and the return of Oliver and Milano.  
 

If our D doesn’t take a significant step up, it’s gonna be a major liability!