[Incomplete Title]

[JGMcD2]

35 minutes ago, FireChans said:

It is 3 games.

 

Gun to your head, are Beane and McD really pleased behind closed doors about Rousseau’s performance these 3 games?

It’s probably them recognizing it is a mix of him doing what we’ve asked in terms of anchoring against the run (which has been a point of emphasis) and the way opponents have game-planned, which hasn’t really allowed pass rushers to make a major impact.

 

Through the first two weeks, the Ravens and Jets combined to average just 20.5 pass attempts per game. That’s not many opportunities in today’s NFL for a pass rusher to stand out. On top of that, he was off the field by the time Tyrod Taylor came in and threw 11 passes in the fourth quarter of a blowout (I don’t have the snap counts in front of me, but I do know his half-sack came against Fields). Is it really so horrible he managed a PD and a half-sack on about 11 pass plays with Fields in the game?

 

Even so, he registered a pass deflection in each of those weeks plus that half-sack against the Jets. Against the Dolphins, the offense was built around throws behind the line of scrimmage, which largely neutralized the rush. The defense only lost contain on Tua a couple of times, and I’m not sure that was directly on Rousseau. I did notice one scramble where Bosa lost contain, which has been a theme for him each week. 

 

Overall, Rousseau has been fine. There are plenty of highly paid EDGE with similar or even worse production through two weeks (yes, I know he’s now through 3 weeks). For example, T.J. Watt has faced teams averaging about 28 pass attempts per game, yet has no sacks or pass deflections to show for it

Edited September 19 by JGMcD2

[CNYfan]

I have some of the same complaints about the Offense but the biggest sore thumb for me - as long as we are complaining - were the timeouts taken by Coach Sean during Miami's last drive of the first half.  

I felt he was aiding the Miami Offense and if the Bills did get the ball back there was going to be very little time left. 

I felt that was bad coach decision making.  

[uticaclub]

1 hour ago, Royale with Cheese said:

Remember how the 2024 Ravens defense started the season and how they ended the season?

Shutting down our offense in the 2nd half of the playoff game? 

[Einstein's Dog]

30 minutes ago, NoSaint said:

almost always most teams are down someone…. And it’s become hard to say we are down Milano as a starter at this point 

And it should be hard to say that the personnel you saw on D last night will be the same that you see at the end of the year - it should improve dramatically with:

 

Ed Oliver - excellent player addition

M Milano - yes, he is still a starter

the PED boys - Hoecht/Ogunjobi

Hairston - first round draft pick

 

Safety - still think Beane is working on someone -within a budget.  Either by trade with a loser team (ala A Coop method) or just buy J Simmons at a discount.

 

That's 4-6 additional players from what you saw last night.  Do you think most teams are doing that?

 

 

[uticaclub]

Just now, JGMcD2 said:

It’s probably a mix of him doing what we’ve asked and the way opponents have game-planned, which hasn’t really allowed pass rushers to make a major impact.

 

Through the first two weeks, the Ravens and Jets combined to average just 20.5 pass attempts per game. That’s not many opportunities in today’s NFL for a pass rusher to stand out. On top of that, he was off the field by the time Tyrod Taylor came in and threw 11 passes in the fourth quarter of a blowout (I don’t have the snap counts in front of me, but I do know his half-sack came against Fields). Is it really so horrible he managed a PD and a half-sack on about 11 pass plays with Fields in the game?

 

Even so, he registered a pass deflection in each of those weeks plus that half-sack against the Jets. Against the Dolphins, the offense was built around throws behind the line of scrimmage, which largely neutralized the rush. The defense only lost contain on Tua a couple of times, and I’m not sure that was directly on Rousseau. I did notice one scramble where Bosa lost contain, which has been a theme for him each week. 

 

Overall, Rousseau has been fine. There are plenty of highly paid EDGE with similar or even worse production through two weeks (yes, I know he’s now through 3 weeks). For example, T.J. Watt has faced teams averaging about 28 pass attempts per game, yet has no sacks or pass deflections to show for it

The Jets entire gameplan was to run away from Watt. No one is strategizing for Rousseau.

[FireChans]

6 minutes ago, JGMcD2 said:

Overall, Rousseau has been fine. There are plenty of highly paid EDGE with similar or even worse production through two weeks (yes, I know he’s now through 3 weeks). For example, T.J. Watt has faced teams averaging about 28 pass attempts per game, yet has no sacks or pass deflections to show for it

That’s not entirely accurate.

 

TJ Watt has 2 QB hits, 2 TFLs and a pass defensed in one less game. 
 

If you think Beane and co are hunky dory about Greg’s performance thus far because of the circumstances surrounding it, so be it. I don’t agree but that’s what it’s all about!

[billsfan89]

The defense is currently missing 5 possibly key components. The PED Twins are still suspended. Hairston the teams first round pick at corner is on IR. And Ed and Milano were out on more week to week injuries. I'm not gonna say this team is "depleted' on defense. But there's some reinforcements coming. Every team is going to have guys missing but 5 key players (I would classify each of the 5 players missing as either higher end role players or starters) is not insignificant either. 

 

Overall I understand the concerns with the defense but I am just not there yet. Funky Thursday Divisional games are just not something I will put too much stock into. 

[Rousseauisnoschmo]

2 hours ago, Bills!Win! said:

It’s almost like we were down 2 starters 

Plus a key free agent currently on suspension.

[Royale with Cheese]

10 minutes ago, uticaclub said:

Shutting down our offense in the 2nd half of the playoff game? 

 

You know I didn't mean it literal.

The Ravens defense in the first half of 2024 was a trainwreck.  By the second half, they I believe lead the league in defensive scoring in the last 7-8 games.  

[gonzo1105]

Well first there is never a such thing as nice win….but. Winning is winning no matter how you do it. If the Bills won this game 3-0 tonight there would be 12 threads about how the offense isn’t championship caliber. I mean there is one already about our passing offense struggling when we have put up 41, 30, and 31 and let’s be frank the 30 against the Jets could have been much more. 
 

Do the Bills have defensive flaws? Yes I don’t think anyone is going to deny that. One of the things I appreciated about the difference between NFL and College football 20-30 years ago was the NFL had a semblance of defense while college games were 50-24. 
 

Unfortunately the NFL has made it so easy for offenses to score in 2025. The ball used to get placed at the 20 and now it’s coming out to the 35. 
 

Combine that with all of the rule changes where basically if you touch a QB in the wrong spot or your even remotely tugging a jersey by a Defensive back it’s a 15 yard penalty or a spot foul and you can see why defenses are struggling to stop teams from scoring. 
 

Take into the fact that more and more youth players are playing offense and participating in year round 7 on 7 and a lot of the best athletes now also play offense while defense gets the scrapes. 
 

Lastly, the boom of the kicker has made scoring much easier. 30 years ago 50 yard FGs at best was 50/50 and now kickers are hitting FG 55+ like it’s nothing so a team essentially just needs to get 25 yards to put up 3 points. 
 

We gave up 21 points to a good offensive football team. We were missing our top DT, top LB, first round pick CB, Michael Hoecht, and Larry Ogunjobi. 

[strive_for_five_guy]

6 minutes ago, Rousseauisnoschmo said:

Plus a key free agent currently on suspension.

And Hairston is going to overtake Tre as the starter, I believe.  Love Tre, but he def looked slow last night versus the Dolphins.  Max’s speed is going to turn some heads.

[dcinmuncie]

17-10 loss

25-24 loss

38-30 loss

34-3 loss

34-31 win

49-21 loss

37-31 loss

52-28 loss

23-21 loss

34-20 loss

17-9 win

37-22 loss

40-32 loss

20-13 loss

16-0 win

41-25 loss

 

 

what is this? these are our games vs New England Patriots 2009-2016

 

you know what i see? a few blowouts yes. but i see a lot of close, 'winnable' losses

 

my point is, the last dominant team in the division didn't always look pretty. hell, they often made mistakes, but always found a way to win.

 

much like this bills team is doing now. 

Edited September 19 by dcinmuncie

[Simon]

2 hours ago, FireChans said:

Greg Rousseau is currently our highest paid defender and our EDGE cornerstone for the foreseeable future and I’m not sure I’ve seen him yet this year.

 

That's a you problem

[Simon]

Topic titles must reflect the content of the topic (and it must contain more than just a name). This helps to reduce the number of duplicate topics and makes the community much more user friendly.

 

Please edit the title so that it properly reflects the discussion that you started.

 

Thank you.

[Royale with Cheese]

2 minutes ago, dcinmuncie said:

17-10 loss

25-24 loss

38-30 loss

34-3 loss

34-31 win

49-21 loss

37-31 loss

52-28 loss

23-21 loss

34-20 loss

17-9 win

37-22 loss

40-32 loss

20-13 loss

16-0 win

41-25 loss

 

 

what is this? these are our games vs New England Patriots 2009-2016

 

you know what i see? a few blowouts yes. but i see a lot of close, 'winnable' losses

 

my point is, the last dominant team in the division didn't always look pretty. hell, they often made mistakes, but always found a way to win.

 

much like this bills team is doing now. 

 

And that 49-21 loss, we were up 21-0 I believe by the end of the 1st quarter.

[Low Positive]

6 minutes ago, dcinmuncie said:

17-10 loss

25-24 loss

38-30 loss

34-3 loss

34-31 win

49-21 loss

37-31 loss

52-28 loss

23-21 loss

34-20 loss

17-9 win

37-22 loss

40-32 loss

20-13 loss

16-0 win

41-25 loss

 

 

what is this? these are our games vs New England Patriots 2009-2016

 

you know what i see? a few blowouts yes. but i see a lot of close, 'winnable' losses

 

my point is, the last dominant team in the division didn't always look pretty. hell, they often made mistakes, but always found a way to win.

 

much like this bills team is doing now. 

Now you made me go back and look at that 2013 week 1 loss again. Thanks!

[BuffaloBillyG]

33 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

And it should be hard to say that the personnel you saw on D last night will be the same that you see at the end of the year - it should improve dramatically with:

 

Ed Oliver - excellent player addition

M Milano - yes, he is still a starter

the PED boys - Hoecht/Ogunjobi

Hairston - first round draft pick

 

Safety - still think Beane is working on someone -within a budget.  Either by trade with a loser team (ala A Coop method) or just buy J Simmons at a discount.

 

That's 4-6 additional players from what you saw last night.  Do you think most teams are doing that?

 

 

Very good points with the guys we are getting back. 

 

I would say that where I zig when you zag is at the safety position. I think they are dedicated to see what Bishop can provide over the course of the season. And (even though I think he should be in the bench) they will not bench Rapp as they see him as a leader.

 

In fairness, last night we played a team that pressures safeties a bit and for the most part Bishop held up. No deep balls hit and despite being out of position a couple times he looked much better than last year. I think they are willing to give up a little today to have him ready for the playoffs.

[LabattBlue]

3rd down defense is a huge disappointment.  Different year, same problem. 
 

😞

[uticaclub]

40 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

You know I didn't mean it literal.

The Ravens defense in the first half of 2024 was a trainwreck.  By the second half, they I believe lead the league in defensive scoring in the last 7-8 games.  

True, but this defense has always relied on the opposing QB making mistakes. The QBs you play in the playoffs don't make those mistakes. 

[hondo in seattle]

3 hours ago, twoandfourteen said:

This is NOT a championship-calibre defense. 

 

The same issues and concerns are still gaping holes on a defense that “Big Baller” Beane and his "defensive mastermind” head coach have spent many offseasons addressing. 

 

This team has a “Trent Edwards is our QB” philosophy and I don’t know how much longer fans are going to put up with it. Beating the 0-2 Dolphins who were on the verge of mailing in the rest of the season should not be the standard of excellence around here. It needs to be “Super Bowl appearance or GTFO”. 

 

SB or GTFO is an unrealistic standard.

 

Good coaching can slant the odds in your favor.  A GM who builds a good roster can do the same.  But even if you have the best HC and GM in football, there's no guarantee that you'll get a trophy.

Football is partially a game of chance.  Injuries, weird bounces, bad ref calls, and so on can all impact a game at critical moments.  If that game is a playoff game, bad luck can and will end your season.

 

If you have a good team, you work to improve it to better your odds.  You don't blow it up.