NOW is Bobby Babich's seat hot?

[Mister Defense]

Well, after three more games, after I posted an OP asking if Babich was on the hot seat, just before the Jets game, I am definitely moving very quickly now to thinking this dreadful defensive performance we have seen to start the year is now very likely the result of some awful coaching. I want to see where Bills’ fans on here stand now, three weeks later.

 

While I am not 100% convinced that Babich is the fundamental problem as I was completely convinced with dorsey, after almost 1/4 of the season now is in the books the needle is definitely moving rapidly in that direction. 90% maybe? It has been almost a shocking defensive collapse to begin the year.

 

 Do people think that this defense looks better than last year's and is improving weekly?:

 

--Do they think it is showing clear progress early in the season, with their weaknesses being fixed, smoothed out? And their strengths becoming more pronounced?

 

--Are there clear signs that most of the very weak aspects of the defense last year are better now--and getting better as this young season progresses?  For example, their overall 3rd down efficiency, their run defense, their tackling, the pass rush, the play calling?

 

--Is Babich making solid half time adjustments that improve things overall at the start of the 2nd half?

 

--And most importantly, do players look prepared, disciplined, confident and ready--and are they playing to their potential as individuals and as units?

 

 

To me the, and almost across the board, the answers are no. And too often, a resounding, hell no.  

 

In fact, the defense looks more consistently bad this year than last year, making teams like the dolphins and saints look unstoppable for the majority of those games. The dolphins and saints. At HOME  With tens of thousands of loud rabid fans making their life easier.

 

A friend said, well it's because Oliver has not been in there, and Milano, and the suspended guys too.  But that seems really off--the Bills in the past, and the other good teams, readily overcome those types of player losses.  Maybe they show some more gaps in their defense, but they almost never collapse.  And the startling consistency of the weaknesses of this year and last year throw cold water on that, to me. 

 

Watching the last two games, against teams that are not world beaters, and both AT HOME,  both opposing offenses seemed to get better and better against this defense as the games progressed, not worse.  It often seemed like the Bills had no answers, with gaping holes in the secondary, gaping holes against the run, big spacial voids all over the field, all game long, horrible tackling, players looking out of position consistently---and that lost, confused look we too often saw on the faces of offensive players as dorsey 'progressed' in his tenure--and especially in his last year: "What is going on out here? We have no asnwers," sums up those looks.

 

Yes, the Bills are 4-0, but this is not in any way a championship defense--they cannot rely on big splash plays to win games, at the end of games, on defense all year. And not on the road, and not against the top teams. Not consistently. That will not work. All of the team’s hopes for this season, and ours, will be dashed IF this type of defense is allowed to continue. 

 

To me, right now, this really looks like a very very poorly coached defense in almost all respects.  And if I see this, and if I am right, then McDermott knows it, but in a much more specific, detailed manner just how poorly Babich is leading this defense. And ditto for Brandon Beane--does Beane think with the players he provided that the defense should have these kinds of fundamental flaws in so many areas--again?  I would bet the answer is NO. This is why I am convinced that Babich's seat is extremely hot, burning.

 

Why did they look so different against the Jets, prepared, disciplined, tackling well, in position.... I think after awful weeks for the defense, like we saw against the Ravens, or in important games, like the Denver playoff game, McDermott has basically taken over for his young DC.

 

The Bills don't need a great defense to be champions this year, and maybe not even a very good one--just a good one. 

 

But, so far, this defense looks fundamentally flawed.  Awful even, and a great deal of the time.

 

I think Babich's seat is extraordinarily hot now.  A few more games, one?, like we have just seen and McDermott should take over. Our great offense was on a death march under dorsey. Before the season I said he would be gone by Halloween. That season they quiuckly were falling out of the playoff race, and almost there as the season regressed. Don Orlovsky said our offense, with Josh Allen leading it, had become ‘the easiest offense in the NFL to defend’.  But McDermott stepped in, and made the kind of dramatic change most thought he would not make.  Then, in one week, one, the offense looked like world beaters—again--and were that way for the rest of the season.  I think the same thing may very well be needed very soon with Babich. And  it could have the same effects.  They won’t be a great defense, not there yet, with the young players and changes, but I am convinced the defense will show the same kind of improvement that we saw when Brady took over the offense.

 

Even if you are not on board that Babich is the main problem, isn’t it hard  for you to imagine this defense not playing dramatically better with any high quaity defensive coordinator like Schwartz, Spagnuolo—or a McDermott coaching them? To me the answer here is hell yes.

 

 

[Augie]

We have a LOT of younger guys playing, and we are missing some of our best players on defense. 

 

Like judging a draft too soon, I’d like to see how this defense finishes the year before getting too excited. 

[Low Positive]

This would be a valid discussion if the team were losing. Teams don't fire coaches after wins that were not good enough. I'm sorry that the Bills aren't 4-0 enough for you, but if you want coaching changes, you will have to hope for losses in the next two games.

[notpolian]

This is the worst defense in the McBeane era.  I wouldn't be totally shocked to see a coaching change in-season if we start losing games.  But I'd still be mostly shocked.

[BillsFan130]

Ive been saying it since mid last year that Babich doesn't have it.

 

I wish McDermott never gave up the play calling duties. Not that 2023 play calling was perfect for him, but the bills defence really turned it around the back half of that year 

[Ray Finkel]

Whoever the DC is McDermott has his hands involved.  Too conservative of a D to get to the promised land.

[Mister Defense]

3 minutes ago, Augie said:

We have a LOT of younger guys playing, and we are missing some of our best players on defense. 

 

Like judging a draft too soon, I’d like to see how this defense finishes the year before getting too excited. 

 

if they had waited to the end of they year with Dorsey, almost no way all of a sudden a lost looking regressing offense got on track to make the Bills a contender again--and it looked like they were  about to miss the playoffs.

 

Just losing hope after the last two weeks,  and things look so bad in so many areas--to me, a clear sign of very bad coaching, when so many areas fall apart.

[Jukester]

It should be warming up for sure based on the product we’ve seen so far. But @Low Positive is absolutely right. Nobody is being fired on an undefeated team. We also will see if the D can bounce back when players return from injury and suspensions.

Edited Tuesday at 04:19 PM by Jukester

[DJB]

Every year it’s always the new D coordinators fault. 
 

Interesting . 

[skibum]

Say what you will about the stretches of lackluster play, strategy, or the weak links here and there, but know this: The Bills D has made huge stops at critical times all season so far, especially late in games. Forget about sacks and PBUs, FINISHING has been their biggest problem in the past, and they appear to be much better at it now. 

Edited Tuesday at 04:22 PM by skibum

[Mister Defense]

Just now, Ray Finkel said:

Whoever the DC is McDermott has his hands involved.  Too conservative of a D to get to the promised land.

 

But the Bills' defenses under McD previously were one of the best in the league in many of the most important areas, the same areas they are now awful in--going on two years in a row.  Yes, new players, but the consistency in the various aspects of awful defense seem to point to a more fundamental problem. 

 

We will see, but if I am right, and it is Babich, I am confident McD takes over soon, even if in a non-public way, but he seems more open than that.

 

[dcinmuncie]

1 minute ago, DJB said:

Every year it’s always the new D coordinators fault. 
 

Interesting . 

exactly

 

there's one  constant in all this...

[Mister Defense]

Just now, DJB said:

Every year it’s always the new D coordinators fault. 
 

Interesting . 

 

?

 

Can you name all those new D coordinators for us, the ones that have taken over 'every year' ? And how each of them did?

 

I am old, so I am not sure who all you are referring to here.

Edited Tuesday at 04:24 PM by Mister Defense

[Mikie2times]

2020 Just give it time we will figure it out.

2021  McD knows what he's doing, we will fix this.

2022 We can't help if Von got hurt

2023 How can we be good in the playoffs with half the defense hurt

2024 We just don't have the horses, let witch Beane sort this out

2025 We will really turn this around once we get healthy and more experience

 

I know it's logical to think our young guys will get better and our guys who are suspended will help. But do I have any expectation of avoiding a full on postseason breakdown that can only be saved by Josh Allen? Absolutely f'n not. Shame on you if you do at this point.

Edited Tuesday at 04:25 PM by Mikie2times

[Ralonzo]

9 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

I'm sorry that the Bills aren't 4-0 enough for you

 

[MJS]

What if I told you that the defense actually played pretty decently against the Saints?

 

- Under 300 yards of offense allowed

- Only 109 passing yards, 3.5 yards per pass

- Allowed 5 conversions on 15 attempts on 3rd and 4th down (33%)

- 1 Interception, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble

 

Yeah, the rushing yards allowed were not great, but the overall production and defense was not bad.

 

[BananaB]

Babich is just McDs puppet. 

[JP51]

I think Babich seat is not hot... I think it should be hot... lots of talk about defensive improvement... yet watching this Defense is like watching a gut wrenching slow death most of the times... he doesnt have it... like Dorsey didnt have it... bring in a defensive mind... question about mid year does it help... I dont know thats a heavy lift, it did when we booted Dorsey...  but if this continues they need to rethink who is co-ordinator.

4 minutes ago, Mikie2times said:

2020 Just give it time we will figure it out.

2021  McD knows what he's doing, we will fix this.

2022 We can't help if Von got hurt

2023 How can we be good in the playoffs with half the defense hurt

2024 We just don't have the horses, let witch Beane sort this out

2025 We will really turn this around once we get healthy and more experience

 

I know it's logical to think our young guys will get better and our guys who are suspended will help. But do I have any expectation of avoiding a full on postseason breakdown that can only be saved by Josh Allen? Absolutely f'n not. Shame on you if you do at this point.

This^^^^

[jethro_tull]

League rank of 31st , 25th and 30th against run yards, rushing touchdowns and yards per rush attempt are glaring issues that we are winning despite of.  

If the team could improve on those issues we would be a dynasty.  

Equally troubling is that these issues are nothing new......

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

6 minutes ago, MJS said:

What if I told you that the defense actually played pretty decently against the Saints?

 

- Under 300 yards of offense allowed

- Only 109 passing yards, 3.5 yards per pass

- Allowed 5 conversions on 15 attempts on 3rd and 4th down (33%)

- 1 Interception, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble

 

Yeah, the rushing yards allowed were not great, but the overall production and defense was not bad.

 

 

Also going on 120 minutes plus of not allowing a single play greater than 20 yards.