THE ROCKPILE REVIEW – At the One-Quarter Mark

[Scott7975]

On 9/29/2025 at 4:29 PM, FireChans said:

Yeah, my guess is the Bills don’t remain next to worst in the league in rushing defense for the whole season the further we get out from that Derrick Henry game, just like they don’t remain first in passing defense the whole season the further we get out of the QB murderer’s row of Tua, Rattler and Fields.

 

 I mean maybe. We only have like ~3 good QBs left on our schedule.

[JP51]

13 hours ago, JerseyBills said:

Since Week 1 , I haven't stressed for a second 

Well gimmie some of what you got.. I stress every game... lol... just me... 

[Thurman#1]

Great stuff, Shaw.

 

It really is different from the old days when teams had more time to get ready for the early weeks of the season. It really does seem that these days the team has to come to understand it's identity during those first 4 - 7 weeks or so. And that you just don't know what you're getting before then, even if you think you do.

 

[ganesh]

On 10/2/2025 at 10:29 AM, Scott7975 said:

 

 I mean maybe. We only have like ~3 good QBs left on our schedule.

Mayfield,  Mahomes,  Hurts, Rodgers, Stroud

 

And may be Drake Maye.

 

[Shaw66]

19 hours ago, Thurman#1 said:

It really does seem that these days the team has to come to understand it's identity during those first 4 - 7 weeks or so. And that you just don't know what you're getting before then, even if you think you do.

 

Yes.  I think in December, when we ask ourselves who the really good teams and why, those teams we'll be talking don't exist yet.  If the Bills are one of those teams, the December Bills will be a lot tougher than the version we saw last month.  It'll be playing tough, hard-nosed defense, even though they will have suffered some injuries.  We haven't seen that defense yet, for sure. And we haven't seen the full variety and power of the offense. It's all coming, I hope. 

[ganesh]

1 hour ago, Shaw66 said:

Yes.  I think in December, when we ask ourselves who the really good teams and why, those teams we'll be talking don't exist yet.  If the Bills are one of those teams, the December Bills will be a lot tougher than the version we saw last month.  It'll be playing tough, hard-nosed defense, even though they will have suffered some injuries.  We haven't seen that defense yet, for sure. And we haven't seen the full variety and power of the offense. It's all coming, I hope. 

Completely Agree...

We are missing (from game 1 1), Hairston, Hoecht, Ogunjobie

We are missing (from game 2)  Oliver, Milano 

 

Five of your 11 starters are missing and some of your other starters have average play (Groot, Epenesa, Sanders, Rapp, WIlliams) and yet we are 4-0.    This team should get tougher once these players return or join the team.  They will be improvements over the current players.  

 

BTW, with these players missing, the others are getting their opportunity and some experience of NFL.  That should stand them in good steed as the game slows downs for them,... I see even more valuable contributions from Walker, Strong and Hancock down the stretch.  

 

People will say that you are a few plays away from being 1-3... But that is the nature of the NFL.   No one gave stylish points for the Chiefs last season on their way to the #1 seed and on to AFCC.  As Parcells would say  "You are what you are with your record".    

[Thurman#1]

On 9/30/2025 at 5:06 AM, FireChans said:

The Bills are 12th in yards per drive and 22nd in points per drive on defense. They are 31st in rushing yards allowed.

 

They aren’t good and are definitely one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL, and the worst rushing defense Buffalo has had since 2017. 
 

Cool talk about lacking perspective lol

 

 

Nah, they're not "definitely one of the worst rushing defenses in the NFL." That's an opinion. Not an unreasonable one, but it's arguable. It would be just as easy to say something less provocative but more nuanced and reasonable. Something recognizing that running QBs have been killing us, but that when you throw out QB runs we are more middling than awful. And that the teams we have faced include three of the top 11 running teams in the league. 

 

Also worth pointing out that the Bills have generally started most years under McDermott looking poor against the run and have gotten better as the year went by and guys stopped making so many gap fill mistakes.

 

Not to mention that 12th in yards per drive is good and that 22nd in points per drive is below average but not awful, and that yards are a better indication of how the defense is doing, while points per drive is significantly more about the whole team, as with points, field position is hugely important.

 

Better being bad at defending the run than the pass, particularly with our offense putting opponent offenses under so much pressure.

 

And again, this is all without Hairston, without Milano, without Oliver, without Hoecht and Ogunjobi, and with rookies spending a lot of time playing early in the year, when they're most likely to be a bit overwhelmed.

Edited Saturday at 05:38 PM by Thurman#1

[FireChans]

13 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

Something recognizing that running QBs have been killing us, but that when you throw out QB runs we are more middling than awful

Citation needed, with all the NFL defenses also adjusted without QB rushing.

 

 

13 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

Also worth pointing out that the Bills have generally started most years under McDermott looking poor against the run and have gotten better as the year went by

Citation needed.