NOW is Bobby Babich's seat hot?

[HappyDays]

1 hour ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Almost worse, no? We're actually blitzing a ton but folks cant even tell because they arent getting home or even past the LOS a lot of times. Whether it's the blitzes Babich is calling, the play design, or players not executing, there are big issues that the DC needs to address asap.

 

My least favorite Babich tendency is a blitz combined with soft coverage on the back end. Talk about giving the QB an easy answer. What is even the point of blitzing if you're going to make it easy for them to get the ball out quick? Babich frequently talks about how the pass rush and the coverage have to be married together. Take a look in the mirror man, that's your responsibility.

[quincy]

Just looking at the young players on the team (non-rookies), the D is lagging behind. 

 

Cook is delivering big time at present, Shakir is steady and clutch as expected. Keon and Kincaid are taking steps forward and their production has increased. Torrence has had his best start to a season this year. Only Ray Davis has been a non-factor so far with minimal touches. 

 

On D posters are asking whether Rousseau is still on the roster, Benford's performance versus last year seems to have slipped, Bernard just looks small and unremarkable the one interception aside. Dorian Williams has not yet stepped up fully when his number has been called. Solomon has had opportunities to flash but has not. Epenesa is decent but not the hoped for "game changer". At least Cole Bishop is trending in the right direction and in the one game he has played, Ed Oliver was immense. Let's see what Hoecht and Ogunjobi can offer us when their suspensions are over.  

 

In my view we need to see the homegrown extended defensive players on their second contracts to really step up and deliver for us, right here right now and for the playoffs as well.  

  

[Einstein's Dog]

1 hour ago, Mister Defense said:

 

I am hypothesizing.  After defensive performances like we have seen against the Ravens, and in vital games like the Denver playoff game, and even the KC championship game, where the Bills' secondary was simply too undermanned, missing two of their best starters, It seems clear that McDermott has stepped in and been MUCH more hands on in preparation and game plan leading up to the game.

 

As the defenses, then, and not miraculously, I don't think, look like very very different defenses. I think we may see the same kinds of improvements this week.

 

And all the while, McDermott is seeing the same thing--hypothesizing here again--and likely getting more information each time where the fundamental problem is.

 

Hypothesizing?  Looks to me like you're pre-excusing an improvement - attributing an anticipated improvement to McD to allow you to keep your negative bias alive no matter the result with New England.

 

And Fundamental problem?  How about personnel?  Wouldn't it be possible that improvement against New England might come with Ed and Milano back?  

[5ths the charm]

Our run defense ranks at the basement of the league.  If we could figure out how to shut down more runs, we would be much more effective.  Although that may expose our DB's as they would have to throw more then.

[T master]

Given the early injuries I think right now no but when he gets the suspended guys back and those that have been injured back & then if the D is still performing like they are I would say yes the seat would definitely be getting warm .

[nuklz2594]

Give me a name you want to replace him with? Do we promote Al Holcomb?

[Mister Defense]

1 hour ago, Robert Paulson said:

It seems like every other play the back 7 is pointing and screaming and running around like they are shocked at seeing 12 personnel  with a man in motion for the first time. 

 

 

Yes! 

 

This.

 

And it seems like that for many things the offenses are doing, even the supposedly so so offenses or bad ones.

 

Hard to imagine we  just have a slew of not so bright players, or undedicated players, who just are not internalizing and applying the high level teachings of the coaches during the week and their high level game planning.

 

Rather, it seems clear that the teachers here, the coaches, are really dropping the ball.  And in so many aspects of the defense.

 

What you point to in your post is why this defense reminds me so much of dorsey's train wreck of an offense, which became the 'easiest offense in the NFL to defend'.  Just like that, because of many different examples of what you refer to here, they have become one of the easiest defenses to move the ball against.  And are, so far in 2025, looking worse than last year. And not getting better as this season progresses.

 

All kinds of clear signs.  And yeah, they may be erroneous signals, but I I am doubting that.  Too many flashing red lights to ignore and too consistent.

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 03:15 PM by Mister Defense

[JP51]

10 hours ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

Do you think our front would appear more aggressive if it were more talented?  In other words, is this a Beane failing or a McD failing?

Or do you think Babich should call more blitzes, with the risks that involves?  And considering we're giving up the fewest passing yards in the league, how much do we really need to worry about having an aggressive front four?  

It seems to me our main defensive problem is that we can't stop the run.  And, for that, I blame both McD and Beane.

 

McD likes to run nickel or dime something like 70 or 80% of the time.  He's making a tactical decision to defend the pass first and makes defending the run a secondary priority.  On top of that, missed assignments and tackles have been problems.  

 

Beane hasn't been getting us a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball.  It doesn't help that our two of our three best players - Milano and Oliver - are hurt.  But even with them we have exactly zero All-Pro quality defenders.  McD's scheme would work better if he had better players.  

Ok I love these points... so I think our number 1 problem is we are last in the league at stopping the run... 2 is we are poor at getting to the QB....   and for that I also blame Beane and McD... .

 

Missed assignments and tackles, poor pursuit Babich needs to be involve in the blame here... 100% 

 

I like your call on the nickle dime....  this is getting to part of the crux of my concern ....  we have very small lbs who are blocked too easily and rarely shed them in pursuit, this is a McDermott staple, likely imo to beat KC... back off on the rush, be able to spy Mahomes and contain him... make them drive down the field and hope to hold them to a field goal... is this Babiches fault no... is the execution Babiches fault partially its partially on the personnel...  From my perspective, I worry less about getting beat with the big play, more about using the speed of the LBs and guys like Oliver etc.. to shoot gaps and blow up plays... SO yes, better conceived blitzes and run blitzes...  less ultimately bend dont break...  reasoning, you have Josh, he is gonna score, you can afford to take more chances here... this means a new overall philosophy with respect to risk tolerance... I do not believe it is Babich to drive that change I think he is executing McD's philosophy...  a solution is to get a defensive mind in here to reimagine what this defense looks like and to take advantage of the skill sets they have... 

 

Bottom line,  the under performance of this defense to your point starts at Beane with the talent level, moves to McD with the over all philosophy, and ends at Babich in terms of the execution and lack of development of existing players...  

 

I say all this and it sound like I am saying everything is wrong... etc...  I am not... I am looking SB and saying we are pretty much in the same defensive space that we have been in... that has not worked out well for us... we need to manage improvement .... how or what might that look like. 

[Low Positive]

2 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

 

 

Yes! 

 

This.

 

And it seems like that for many things the offenses are doing, even the supposedly so so offenses or bad ones.

 

Hard to imagine we just have just have a slew of not so bright players, undedicated players, who just are not internalizing the high level teachings of the coaches during the week and high level game planning.

 

Rather it seems clear that the teachers here, the coaches, are really dropping the ball.  And in so many aspects of the defense.

 

What you point to in your post is why this defense reminds me so much of dorsey's train wreck of an offense, which became the 'easiest offense in the NFL to defend'.  Just like that, because of many different examples of what you refer to here, they have become one of the easiest defenses to move the ball against.  And are, so far in 2025, it's worse than last year. And not getting better as this season progresses.

 

All kinds of clear red lights, and yes, they may be erroneous signals, but I I am doubting that.  Too consistent.

 

 

I spent the better part of yesterday looking at the all-22. They are doing a bunch of things that I didn't see last year. They are bringing 7 guys to the line and having 3 drop into coverage. On one play, Bosa dropped into coverage. They are also playing with 9 guys in the box more often than they did, where Taron Johnson plays more like a 3rd LB than a CB. And there are most certainly a lot of other things that I don't see. The upshot of it is that they are trying some new things and the guys don't seem comfortable out there. And that does fall on coaching. But the Bills are not unique in this. Last year, the Eagles and Ravens had some new players and scheme elements on defense and it took half a season for them to come together. The 2024 Ravens had a pass defense as bad as our run defense for the early part of the season, but then they made a few minor adjustments and it tightened up.

 

But if what you want is not improvement but your pound of flesh, hope for losses in these next two going into the bye. That'll get Babich fired. 

[DrDawkinstein]

14 minutes ago, nuklz2594 said:

Give me a name you want to replace him with? Do we promote Al Holcomb?

 

Firing just the DC and leaving McD in place will almost guarantee an internal promotion and running the same crappy scheme. So to answer your 2nd question first, yes its likely we promote Al Holcomb.

 

To your first question... It absolutely shouldnt be Al Holcomb. It should be an outsider who can run their defense on their own, much like McD lets the OCs do their thing without a ton of influence. Need to find the next Spags/Fangio/Lebeau type of guy who had a crack at HC, but now just wants to punish Offenses until he retires.

 

 

[Low Positive]

2 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

 

 

Lol! MY negative biases!!!!!!!!!!~

 

Go and read this guy's posts, activity...

 

He is going to soon publish his first book, The Irrational Biases and Ravings of a Disgruntled Bills fans and Hater

 

 

You're confusing @Einstein and @Einstein's Dog

[Mister Defense]

9 minutes ago, Low Positive said:

I spent the better part of yesterday looking at the all-22. They are doing a bunch of things that I didn't see last year. They are bringing 7 guys to the line and having 3 drop into coverage. On one play, Bosa dropped into coverage. They are also playing with 9 guys in the box more often than they did, where Taron Johnson plays more like a 3rd LB than a CB. And there are most certainly a lot of other things that I don't see. The upshot of it is that they are trying some new things and the guys don't seem comfortable out there. And that does fall on coaching. But the Bills are not unique in this. Last year, the Eagles and Ravens had some new players and scheme elements on defense and it took half a season for them to come together. The 2024 Ravens had a pass defense as bad as our run defense for the early part of the season, but then they made a few minor adjustments and it tightened up.

But if what you want is not improvement but your pound of flesh, hope for losses in these next two going into the bye. That'll get Babich fired. 

 

Well, that is what I was hoping for, to see the same turn around the Eagles had last year on defense, going from one of the worst in the league, to the best and NFL champions.

 

Yeah, it took them a bit to get their footings, hit their stride, but they never looked like this and the fundamental problems we see.

 

I am not basher, like you and yours, and have never been.  Kind of like what I have found my whole life, such as when the biggest liars always call everyone else liars etcetera.    You seem to have freezers full of pounds of flesh that you have tried to extinguish over the years. What can I have against Babich? The only thing is that he seems to be undermining our defense, running it into the ground which may break the team.

 

Edited Wednesday at 03:33 PM by Mister Defense

[JP51]

3 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Firing just the DC and leaving McD in place will almost guarantee an internal promotion and running the same crappy scheme. So to answer your 2nd question first, yes its likely we promote Al Holcomb.

 

To your first question... It absolutely shouldnt be Al Holcomb. It should be an outsider who can run their defense on their own, much like McD lets the OCs do their thing without a ton of influence. Need to find the next Spags/Fangio/Lebeau type of guy who had a crack at HC, but now just wants to punish Offenses until he retires.

 

 

Yes to all of this...  someone needs to reimagine this defense looking at the players we have...  I do not want McDs philosophy any more... attacking defense.. punishing... you get beat... so what you got Josh... our slow retreat defense that relies on turnovers and hopes to hold teams to FGs... fine in the regular season... has not got it done in the playoffs...  if we run this back to the playoffs in the same lane I would suggest we probably get the same result we have gotten for 5 or 6 years. 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, HappyDays said:

 

My least favorite Babich tendency is a blitz combined with soft coverage on the back end. Talk about giving the QB an easy answer. What is even the point of blitzing if you're going to make it easy for them to get the ball out quick? Babich frequently talks about how the pass rush and the coverage have to be married together. Take a look in the mirror man, that's your responsibility.

 

And he is particularly fond of the double overload blitz with off coverage behind. Which means not only is there a big window for a receiver to get into and be available to his Quarterback but if they can connect they basically have one man to beat on that side of the field. He seems to run that blitz at least once per game. I'm sure it will get home someday. McDermott should just order him to take it out of the playbook. 

[nuklz2594]

20 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Firing just the DC and leaving McD in place will almost guarantee an internal promotion and running the same crappy scheme. So to answer your 2nd question first, yes its likely we promote Al Holcomb.

 

To your first question... It absolutely shouldnt be Al Holcomb. It should be an outsider who can run their defense on their own, much like McD lets the OCs do their thing without a ton of influence. Need to find the next Spags/Fangio/Lebeau type of guy who had a crack at HC, but now just wants to punish Offenses until he retires.

 

 

Who ya got?

[GunnerBill]

23 minutes ago, JP51 said:

Ok I love these points... so I think our number 1 problem is we are last in the league at stopping the run... 2 is we are poor at getting to the QB....   and for that I also blame Beane and McD... .

 

Missed assignments and tackles, poor pursuit Babich needs to be involve in the blame here... 100% 

 

 

This is all fair but to add that the confusion pre-snap and the 3rd down struggled are largely on Babich. Because they have not been issues prior to him being the DC. It is completely fair to put poor run defense and inconsistent pass rush on McDermott and to a lesser extent Beane, because those have been repeated problems across multiple DCs over many years and they haven't solved them either with scheme or player acquisition. It's also fair, of course, to say McDermott hired Babich and so is accountable for that. What it is not fair to say though is firing Babich would just be scapegoating. There are problems on this defense of his making. Wanting them to keep him to "punish" the HC for hiring him in the first place is an odd way of some fans (not saying you) thinking. 

[DrDawkinstein]

7 minutes ago, nuklz2594 said:

Who ya got?

 

Not my job to say, and it's the weakest cop out response to coaching change discussions if that's where you are going.

 

Just like NO ONE here was mentioning Sean McDermott's name in January 2017.

 

Depends on what HCs get fired and who is available. But it definitely shouldnt be an internal hire.

[Einstein's Dog]

3 minutes ago, Mister Defense said:

 

 

Lol! MY negative biases!!!!!!!!!!~

 

Go and read this guy's posts, activity...

 

He is going to soon publish his first book, The Irrational Biases and Ravings of a Disgruntled Bills fans and Hater

 

Who, me?  I think as Low Positive is pointing out that you have me confused with another poster.

 

You seem to be anti-Babich.   It's extremely unusual for anyone to claim someone is on the hot seat when the team is undefeated.  

 

After last season the FO determined the Defense players needed to be upgraded (not the coaching, they kept Babich).  They went out and got Bosa, the PED boys, spent the first round pick Hairston., identified Hamlin should be nowhere near starting (although they didn't address it yet)

 

In the New Orleans game most of the upgrades were unavailable (PED boys, Hairston) and on top of that two of the best players from last year were out (Ed + Milano).

 

And now, prior to the New England game you are trying to pre-claim it's McD stepping in that could produce change.  C'mon, I hope you can see how someone would think you might be biased.

[GunnerBill]

7 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Not my job to say, and it's the weakest cop out response to coaching change discussions if that's where you are going.

 

Just like NO ONE here was mentioning Sean McDermott's name in January 2017.

 

Depends on what HCs get fired and who is available. But it definitely shouldnt be an internal hire.

 

There was one person......

39 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Need to find the next Spags/Fangio/Lebeau type of guy who had a crack at HC, but now just wants to punish Offenses until he retires.

 

 

We had one of those. He is now Assistant Head Coach in Seattle. 

[JP51]

18 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

This is all fair but to add that the confusion pre-snap and the 3rd down struggled are largely on Babich. Because they have not been issues prior to him being the DC. It is completely fair to put poor run defense and inconsistent pass rush on McDermott and to a lesser extent Beane, because those have been repeated problems across multiple DCs over many years and they haven't solved them either with scheme or player acquisition. It's also fair, of course, to say McDermott hired Babich and so is accountable for that. What it is not fair to say though is firing Babich would just be scapegoating. There are problems on this defense of his making. Wanting them to keep him to "punish" the HC for hiring him in the first place is an odd way of some fans (not saying you) thinking. 

Oh I would agree that the mis execution pre snap, tacking missed assignments is Babich