Shaq Thompson

[mjt328]

11 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

I do think we need to tap the breaks a little.

 

Bernard is a good player, and a real good pass defender LB who also has had success as a blitzer. His contract is crazy team friendly, he's pretty cheap this year and next year IIRC, and the cheap years is where he gets the bulk of his guaranteed money. 
 

I'd make the argument he should be next year's WLB, MLB should still be up in the air. I'm not so sure Thompson, who has missed a significant amount of time this year as well and will be 32, is the answer. 

Most of us are worried about this season more than the future, and Thompson is the better option at MLB.

 

I agree that next year we should look at moving Bernard outside to replace Milano.  Probably his best fit all along.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

42 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

You all do know Bernard played through an ankle right? Perhaps even a high ankle sprain? 
 

Do the last 2 years just not count?

I hope you are right. But my main concern with Bernard is he just seems lost in zone coverage suddenly. That doesn’t seem to be due to inability to move.  Just no feel. 

 

[BillsFanForever19]

1 hour ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I hope you are right. But my main concern with Bernard is he just seems lost in zone coverage suddenly. That doesn’t seem to be due to inability to move.  Just no feel. 

 

That's not a thing that's happened suddenly. He was terrible at it last year too. 

 

Said it a million times and I'll say it a million times more, it made zero sense to me that they'd rush to do an early extension on him. I saw a stark drop off between 2023 and 2024. 

 

Of the big 5 we had to re-sign, he was easily the 5th most important to me. I wouldn't have signed all 5 and I wouldn't have re-signed him (Benford, Shakir, Cook were the guys I said i'd have re-signed). 

 

The absolute most I'd have done is revisited the idea of signing him after seeing how he was in 2025. And he's been worse this year (when he's on the field). I don't know what happened in 2023, but that was clearly a mirage.

 

I couldn't wrap my head around rushing to get his extension done and it's downright enraging to me now.

[JP51]

8 hours ago, BillMafia716ix said:

Shaq Thompson is better than Bernard. It’s not even close really

Like obvious not close 

[Spiderweb]

12 hours ago, akcash said:

Shaq Thompson  needs to stay at middle linebacker indefinitely. Our defense overall and especially against the run is just better.

Like most here, I love Thompson's play, but starter? Talented yes, injury prone - yes....

[Paup 1995MVP]

12 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

True, milano is fading— but he also looks a lot better than Bernard has in recent weeks. I would run a starting 3 LBs of Dorian, Shaq, and Milano. 

Yes agreed.  I would play those 3 over Bernard.  Other than the late pick against Miami in week 3, I don’t know if Bernard has made a play all season.  I have always said he is just too small to play NFL LB.  Another 10-12 pounds would do him wonders.  And he should learn from Shaq Thompson, who has been a revelation for us.  

[Warriorspikes51]

Thompson should be starting the rest of the season on likely running downs.  Put Bernard in on 3rd and long fine 

 

Shaq has been a physical stud and leader with seemingly high level awareness to diagnose plays 
 

 

[DJB]

 

[Royale with Cheese]

I think it's probably one of those hush hush discussions happening inside OBD.  Bernard is a team captain.  

McDermott was asked about his sitting in the Panthers game and McDermott said it wasn't for performance which he was telling the truth - but I also feel he didn't have a look of confidence when he said it.

 

It's night and day difference.  Bernard is out of control in zone.  He looks like he's reacting to every move, like spasm coverage I would call it.

Remember Stand by Me when the fat kid was on watch with the gun?

[HoofHearted]

4 hours ago, DJB said:

 

Bills run defense against zone vs gap scheme concepts is what you really want to look at. We've struggled to stop gap schemes all season. The Steelers ran exactly two gap scheme concepts all game and both hit. The first was pin and pull (Thompson over ran it which has been the common theme of all our backers this year) and the second was Dart if I remember correctly. When gaps aren't changing it's not difficult for us to stop the run, it's when they start moving that we've struggled with.

 

The whole Bernard/Thompson debate is interesting. Bernard has clearly been playing hurt - he doesn't look as explosive as he has. That being said he is still the best backer we have with eye discipline and attack steps off initial reads. Where the two seem to differ is in their block destruction. Bernard is more of a bender using his athleticism to avoid being engaged by offensive linemen where Thompson is more traditional shock and shed.

 

Our defensive line was the reason we stopped the run today. Those dudes were getting after it and have improved tremendously from the start of the season.