It’s time to have an uncomfortable conversation about Taron

[WNYFAN1]

I'll say this, I absolutely would NOT want to be Taron Johnson in 10 years. I fear that guy is going to have serious long-term health challenges from his time playing football.

[The Jokeman]

22 hours ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

How about looking at the overall defensive approach starting with Sean’s personnel decisions, having Tre as your starting corner with every other new secondary addition either out for the season or coming back around week 10. Then there’s the coaching where primary targets(Diggs,London) are wide open time after time and on one on one tackling opportunities Bishop can’t make a play. This is an indictment of our system and Taron is not being put in a position to succeed. Let’s hope Beane can be proactive enough to bring in a difference maker in time to salvage home field in the playoffs.

and yet Taron exceeded with this defense in the past, what has changed? The system? the players around him? his skill set? The reason Tre got the starting position was his man competition got hurt in the preseason. Next man up was Tre who clearly not what he was when he was in his prime but as bad as he's been he's not the only problem with this. Other problems include Daquan Jones regressing, Milano getting hurt again. Bernard getting hurt doesn't help. Suspensions on veterans that were added to improve the defense etc. etc. etc. As we've seen in the past injuries are big reason this team has yet to take that next step. It's not like we haven't tried to improve depth as we can rattle off tons of guys signed that are now on other teams or out of the league as weren't good enough. All we can do is try and try again. . 

[Mat68]

13 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

Little all over the place here, as you want them to run more 4-3 Over (which I agree with, with Hoecht as the SAM), but also Hancock should play the Nickel and Johnson should switch to safety? So Johnson would move to full-time safety (big increase in snap count) in an alignment (4-3 Over) that would actually ask MORE of its safeties in coverage, given you're effectively replacing an NCB with a big OLB. And Hancock wouldn't see the field as much as Johnson does now, depending on game script and matchups. It's a bit of a mashup of different ideas, which includes switching a strict lifelong NCB to full-time S. Hmm

 

 

Alot at once.  I think a base defense with Hoecht, Benard, Thompson, Johnson, Bishop helps the run defense on early downs.  Overall, Johnsons strengths and at times alignments are that of a box safety.  Imo Mcdemott’s strength at defense was with two high safeties.  My biggest question would be Johnson deep Third.  Playing quarters and 2 safety mitigates those concerns.  Also offer the flexibility to play single high with Johnson on the slot.  Secondary needs juice.  Sitting Rapp and keeping Poyer out of rotation is only avoided imo by moving Johnson. Johnson is the OG of the room make him the table setter at safety.   

[Scott7975]

I don't know if he is washed but he certainly is not playing well this season. Nobody on defense is really playing well this season.

[nedboy7]

I think this year will be great for people who claimed that if you aint winning the SuperBowl then its no different than the drought years.  Well enjoy the season!  

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

This is a sad reality. TJ was the most consistent player other than Reid Ferguson. He will always be remembered for the  Lamar pick 6, the best defensive play of the past 2 decades. Josh Allen gets most the credit, but McDermott had those 2020-21 defensive units playing great football. 

[HamptonBillsfan]

4 hours ago, The Jokeman said:

and yet Taron exceeded with this defense in the past, what has changed? The system? the players around him? his skill set? The reason Tre got the starting position was his man competition got hurt in the preseason. Next man up was Tre who clearly not what he was when he was in his prime but as bad as he's been he's not the only problem with this. Other problems include Daquan Jones regressing, Milano getting hurt again. Bernard getting hurt doesn't help. Suspensions on veterans that were added to improve the defense etc. etc. etc. As we've seen in the past injuries are big reason this team has yet to take that next step. It's not like we haven't tried to improve depth as we can rattle off tons of guys signed that are now on other teams or out of the league as weren't good enough. All we can do is try and try again. . 

Gives me the impression, since draft classes and FAs are not translating to any impact players and poor depth due to reliance on brittle players ( Hairston, Milano, Strong, Bernard etc) our personnel department needs to be better or replaced. Why does Beane and  Sean get a pass for 3 years of bad drafting and no FA improvement in the secondary or LB position. It’s a bottom line industry, our defense doesn’t pass the eye test. Schemes are bad and personnel needs improvement.

[bmur66]

Defense kinda looks like my liquor cabinet at certain times.

[Buffalo ill]

On 10/21/2025 at 6:51 AM, Gigs said:

Still, if Josh retires without a ***** Lombardi we should burn down that stadium.

I think he will retire sooner than later.  His B list celebrity wife has him focused on acting in commercials.

[Kirby Jackson]

7 minutes ago, Buffalo ill said:

I think he will retire sooner than later.  His B list celebrity wife has him focused on acting in commercials.

 

[Buffalo ill]

34 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

 

Correlation doesn't necessarily mean causation, but he was playing better before he got pimped out to the advertisement industry.

[Goin Breakdown]

I never check this thread in fear it was going to be about his junk. 

[Carmel Corn]

Can he play safety (assuming they find his replacement as CB)?

[ganesh]

On 10/21/2025 at 7:21 PM, Gigs said:

What did we do as a fanbase to deserve a defensive rebuild during the peak of the greatest QB to wear the uniform? 

 

If Hairston does not hit immediately then we are cooked, and looking at age 32 for Josh before we make another push. By then, who knows how much athletic juice he will have in the tank, but I feel Josh is really another Elway and not a Big Ben. 

 

Still, if Josh retires without a ***** Lombardi we should burn down that stadium. That would be worse than Marino imho. Marino has no excuse when he should've had 2 SBs by '86. We havent even sniffed a SB jock yet. If Im Pegula I give them the ultimatum that Josh starts a SB before he turns 30 or they're out. 

I think Josh will give it here for 2 more seasons and if he does not win the SB, he is getting himself out of Buffalo to another contender (possibly in the West Coast) where he will get a chance to win the SB...sort of like Stafford. 

[Buffalo Ballin]

? Thought it was known that our entire defense is over the hill.

[BobbyC81]

On 10/20/2025 at 10:44 AM, BuffaloBillies said:

Need to play more base 4-3 anyway, since teams are running all over us.

Unfortunately it’s compounded by the fact that most of our LBs are small and light, better suited for a 3-4.

 

Maybe the worst part of not being able to stop the run is that the opponents go on long time-eating drives.   The Bills then have less possessions so each one becomes more important to do something with.

[Pete]

Cover 1 did a deep dive on secondary, and Tarons tape is solid.  Tales of Tarons demise are greatly exaggerated 

Rapp, White, and Bernard are the big problems on D 2025

[EssexBill]

5 hours ago, ganesh said:

I think Josh will give it here for 2 more seasons and if he does not win the SB, he is getting himself out of Buffalo to another contender (possibly in the West Coast) where he will get a chance to win the SB...sort of like Stafford. 

I’ve said similar and got lots of downvotes for it 😂

 

I think we might get 3-4 years which takes him until he’s what, 33? If no Lombardi is forthcoming by then due to usual reasons (Defence, no top tier weapons for him, McD still there coaching scared etc…) then I wouldn’t begrudge him moving on to a west coast team in search of a SB, the rams would fit him perfectly if McVay is still there