Let’s talk D

[TFBillsfan]

After this game, the Bills may be dead last in run D. 🤮🤮🤮🤮 Outside of Hoecht and Oliver, the rest of the D is for the most part healthy. 
 

After ten games in, what needs to change? Is the run game D issues the DL or LB? The secondary looks somewhat better but that soft zone on 3rd and long has to change. It’s embarrassing watching the Bills D consistently giving up easy 3rd and long conversions.

 

Pass rush is lackluster and there is no one that is even remotely consistent enough. Far too often the pass rush is neutralized. We are not a very good blitzing team either. 
 

Would love to hear other’s thoughts on how this D improves down the stretch?  There is no calvary coming so unless we plan on winning every game in a shootout something has to change!

Edited 1 hour ago by TFBillsfan

[RyanC883]

I mean this is a great question.  Not really sure how the D improves.  Really poor personnel acquisition on the DL/LBs by Bean.   Perhaps some disguised/delayed blitzes with different guys coming from different spots.  Bishop has been in great position this season, so that frees up the ability to blitz more.  

[Donuts and Doritos]

The in game adjustment was run a 3-4 D & have Dorian Williams running in to clean up the run per Joe Marino, which worked a little better. Don't know if it's a long term fix this season, but not sure it can be worse.

[SCBills]

When healthy, I think we need to get to a place where our Back 7 is Shaq Thompson, Dorian Williams, Taron Johnson or Cam Lewis, Hairston, Benford, Bishop and Hancock. 
 

Poyer gave up TWO touchdowns today with poor angles.  
 

Bernard playing hurt is a mess. Sit him and rest him up. 

[Process]

Thompson > Milano

Lewis > Johnson

Hancock > Poyer

Hairston > White

 

Not saying all of these moves should happen, but they are conversations worth having. 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

When healthy, I think we need to get to a place where our Back 7 is Shaq Thompson, Dorian Williams, Taron Johnson or Cam Lewis, Hairston, Benford, Bishop and Hancock. 
 

Poyer gave up TWO touchdowns today with poor angles.  
 

Bernard playing hurt is a mess. Sit him and rest him up. 

I actually didn’t think poyer was terrible (think that second TD was on Milano). But he wasn’t good either.
 

Did Hancock even play? 

[BananaB]

2 minutes ago, SCBills said:

When healthy, I think we need to get to a place where our Back 7 is Shaq Thompson, Dorian Williams, Taron Johnson or Cam Lewis, Hairston, Benford, Bishop and Hancock. 
 

Poyer gave up TWO touchdowns today with poor angles.  
 

Bernard playing hurt is a mess. Sit him and rest him up. 

2 TDs last week with poor angles by Poyer.  Not sure it’s angles or just being to slow to make the play. Some people were happy about his 15 tackles but that don’t impress me when a team is getting run over for 4 quarters and can’t get off the field. 

[BlazinBill]

For all the draft picks invested - they really just haven’t played up the way they need- is it talent scouting? Is it just schemes? I don’t know but I feel like it’s like it’s the worst year of defense since McDermott got here.

i think the scheme makes players think to much

Look how long it took to get Bishop playing at the level he’s playing- he is playing lights out now but damn it took a minute for someone coached by the guy that is said to be a safety whisperer 

The undersized LB play and the aging of Taron on top of the demise of Poyer and Hyde has been harder then they planned

Not really seeing any savior coming this year- maybe get some younger blood more snaps - that’s really all I can see

 

[stevestojan]

Let’s not. 

[Livinginthepast]

To me its like the Bills run a defense that is inappropriate to the current personnel they have. The zone is consistently too far off receivers because the Bills dbs are just not instinctive and too old and slow in White and Poyer. McD seems to be still imagining that we have 2020 Poyer, Hyde and White. Our pass rush is non existent because of injuries but it never seems to disguise what they are doing so the blitzes are just neutralized time and again.  The tackling continues to a severe problem. I really cannot explain that one. 

 

All in all they really need some sort of reset. Very hard to do mid season.

[Da webster guy]

10 minutes ago, SCBills said:

When healthy, I think we need to get to a place where our Back 7 is Shaq Thompson, Dorian Williams, Taron Johnson or Cam Lewis, Hairston, Benford, Bishop and Hancock. 
 

Poyer gave up TWO touchdowns today with poor angles.  
 

Bernard playing hurt is a mess. Sit him and rest him up. 

Hancock was a draft steal.   Dude was amazing in college and seems to have carried over in preseason and ST play.  I hope they keep pushing the kid and continue to get him snaps out there.

[Dafan]

Honestly, if the Bills can get back to scoring 30+ points a game.  I dont care about the run D as much.  What ppl also forget to mention, the Bils pass D is #1 for yards per game and #4 overall.  Yes I hate the huge runs. But if Bills are averaging over 30 points scored...running the ball isn't going to beat them that often.

[BillsFanForever19]

14 minutes ago, TFBillsfan said:

After this game, the Bills may be dead last in run D. 🤮🤮🤮🤮 Outside of Hoecht and Oliver, the rest of the D is for the most part healthy. 
 

After ten games in, what needs to change? Is the run game D issues the DL or LB? The secondary looks somewhat better but that soft zone on 3rd and long has to change. It’s embarrassing watching the Bills D consistently giving up easy 3rd and long conversions.

 

Pass rush is lackluster and there is no one that is even remotely consistent enough. Far too often the pass rush is neutralized. We are not a very good blitzing team either. 
 

Would love to hear other’s thoughts on how this D improves down the stretch?  There is no calvary coming so unless we plan on winning every game in a shootout something has to change!

 

I just don't think it does improve. I really don't. This just is what it is.

 

Undersized LB's who aren't what we thought they were (Bernard) or aren't what they used to be (Milano). DT's that are more suited for getting up field than stout run stuffers. No Oliver. No Hoecht (who's injection really revolutionized our pass rush).

 

And on top of all of that, this is the ole' "bend but don't break" (vomit) Defense. They just don't focus enough on the run. The soft zone is easy to find holes in. That's simply not going to change while McDermott's here.

 

All you can hope for is guys to play with their hair on fire when it matters. But I just don't see much changing. Too many spots where guys just aren't good enough and the scheme is just broken.

[BuffaloBillyG]

The issue is we kept designing a defense and personnel that would beat Kansas City. Lighter guys that can move. 

 

Over time the NFL saw the trend of lighter LBers, not just with the Bills either. The days of a true space eater and run thumping LBers are gone. Which over time has led to more ground game. FBs are starting to make a comeback. Teams playing 2-3 TEs. 

 

We just don't have guys that are adapt at stopping the run.

[Maine-iac]

If we got healthy I feel like this defense might actually be able to play some pass defense and then if we got a negative play here or there and puts teams in longer yardage on 3rd down we might get off the field.  I'm not sure a McDermott/Beane defense is ever going to be great against the run.  The combination of all 3tech DT's and small LB's is ripe for getting moved by any decent running team.  We play defense like the Manning era Colts.  Try to get a lead and force them to throw and make mistakes.

Edited 1 hour ago by Maine-iac

[VW82]

16 minutes ago, Donuts and Doritos said:

The in game adjustment was run a 3-4 D & have Dorian Williams running in to clean up the run per Joe Marino, which worked a little better. Don't know if it's a long term fix this season, but not sure it can be worse.

 

Right with TJ Sanders setting the edge. Crazy. Not sure what McD is supposed to do at this point, especially if Bosa is going to be out or limited with the arm. 

[BananaB]

2 minutes ago, Dafan said:

Honestly, if the Bills can get back to scoring 30+ points a game.  I dont care about the run D as much.  What ppl also forget to mention, the Bils pass D is #1 for yards per game and #4 overall.  Yes I hate the huge runs. But if Bills are averaging over 30 points scored...running the ball isn't going to beat them that often.

When you’re giving up 200 yards a game teams ain’t gonna pass much. Sadly the passing D isn’t there when they force 3rd and long

[BlazinBill]

3 minutes ago, Dafan said:

Honestly, if the Bills can get back to scoring 30+ points a game.  I dont care about the run D as much.  What ppl also forget to mention, the Bils pass D is #1 for yards per game and #4 overall.  Yes I hate the huge runs. But if Bills are averaging over 30 points scored...running the ball isn't going to beat them that often.

Your gonna feel differently in the playoffs- we have seen that movie

Defense absolutely matters in the playoffs 

[colin]

8, 7, 58 are all paid players who just suck.  Our dts aren't healthy either, but our second line d is abysmal.  Williams and Thompson should be in there as much as they can be

[LabattBlue]

BB paid out a lot in extensions for Rousseau, Bernard & Benford and all have underperformed.  
 

I guess it will have to be Josh putting the  team on his back.