Let’s talk D

[Simon]

1 minute ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Then you can’t have milano, bernard, and taron out there on running downs.  They’re way too small to take on O Linemen who get to the 2nd level.  Gonna have to sacrifice some pass defense if the run defense remains this bad.  

 

And who exactly are you going to replace them with that can take on an unfettered Guard in their face?

The problem is up front and no other amount of tweaking can fix that, imo.

[Walking Tall]

They absolutely need to trash the nickel base and get Shaq Thompson out there as soon as humanly possible with Williams and Bernard. Milano is being absolutely abused. He is the weakest link on our defense and it absolutely sucks to see that with how good he was before the injuries.

Edited 2 hours ago by Walking Tall

[D. L. Hot-Flamethrower]

Just now, Walking Tall said:

They absolutely need to trash the nickel base and get Shaq Thompson out there as soon as h7manly possible with Williams and Bernard. Milano is being absolutely abused. He is the weakest link on our defense and it absolutely sucks to see that with how good he was before the injuries.

Reminds me of the Rapp situation because things have gone much better with Rapp out. They would with Milano out as well.

[Walking Tall]

Just now, D. L. Hot-Flamethrower said:

Reminds me of the Rapp situation because things have gone much better with Rapp out. They would with Milano out as well.

I believe they would as well. He is slow as hell.

[kkim0904]

16 minutes ago, 5ths the charm said:

How many sacks did we have today?

How many we had against KC?

[BuffaloRebound]

4 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

And who exactly are you going to replace them with that can take on an unfettered Guard in their face?

The problem is up front and no other amount of tweaking can fix that, imo.

Have to try something different.  We aren’t a serious contender giving up 5.5 yards per rush.  The Eagles might rush for 300 yards against us.  

[gobills404]

24 minutes ago, 5ths the charm said:

How many sacks did we have today?

Is the season 1 game long?

23 minutes ago, TFBillsfan said:

Frankly, I give zero weight to pressure percentage!

That’s fine NFL teams care about it. Gonna ignore the sack percentage?

Edited 2 hours ago by gobills404

[muppy]

26 minutes ago, 5ths the charm said:

How many sacks did we have today?

Quote

The Bills recorded a single sack against Baker Mayfield in their Week 11 game on November 16, 2025. DaQuan Jones was credited with the sack, which resulted in a forced fumble that was recovered by the Bills

 

17 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

And who exactly are you going to replace them with that can take on an unfettered Guard in their face?

The problem is up front and no other amount of tweaking can fix that, imo.

is there a chance we can get Oliver back this season or is he done for the year do you know? Thanks. 

[SCBills]

19 minutes ago, Maine-iac said:

I think it was one.  Jones got one late in the game.  Bosa almost got there a couple times and Groot almost got there.  Part of the problem is what ever combination they're using at DT is getting moved out so bad that Baker was stepping up and escaping pretty easily.  I think they kept using Solomon up the middle on longer yardage pass plays and it was failing.

Maybe that random Wal-Mart Hoecht guy we signed can do something because Solomon gives us nothing besides ST’s and the most absurd delay of game penalty before half. 

[Maine-iac]

6 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Maybe that random Wal-Mart Hoecht guy we signed can do something because Solomon gives us nothing besides ST’s and the most absurd delay of game penalty before half. 

Minus the fact that he's on IR I'd love to see Hoecht out there in that role.  Didn't look it up but post suspension I think he made it two games before tearing something.

Edited 1 hour ago by Maine-iac

[Shortchaz]

Milano needs to play joker or not at all. The 4-2 base stinks. The philosophy of this defense stinks. McDermott has no idea what he’s doing defensively, he’s simply praying. The players have to be perfect or it doesn’t work…for like 6 years now. This dude is out if his depth and standing on josh Allen’s shoulders. We’ve plateaued as an organization and need a new leader. 

[Gunsgoodtime]

48 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

Look at the washed up bums they are trotting out there: White, Poyer, Johnson, Philips 

I'm no Phillips hater, but I laugh every year when he is brought back, it feels like its been happening for 10 years 🤣

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

28 minutes ago, Simon said:

 

And who exactly are you going to replace them with that can take on an unfettered Guard in their face?

The problem is up front and no other amount of tweaking can fix that, imo.

The problem is the MLB. That’s why against the panthers when a full body LB was on the field we absolutely dominated them. We played defense well 1x this year….the week Thompson played. It’s not a coincidence 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour 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. 

 

The touchdown to the back wasn't on Poyer. Could he have taken a better angle? Maybe but that just his old legs not getting him there. That was a failure on the second level (I think Milano but will have to watch back). 

 

The second level is by far the biggest issue. We don't have a linebacker worth a damn and Lewis needs to be in for Taron. On actual form this season he has been by far the superior player. 

Just now, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

The problem is the MLB. That’s why against the panthers when a full body LB was on the field we absolutely dominated them. We played defense well 1x this year….the week Thompson played. It’s not a coincidence 

 

We played defense well vs the Chiefs too, but I take the point. I actually think Hoecht was a huge difference maker for them. He was disrupting QBs from the inside and making them move off their spot. And without that (from either he or Oliver) they are having all day to sit in and throw. 

 

I am up for Shaq over Bernard though. It can't get much worse at linebacker. 

[Gunsgoodtime]

16 minutes ago, muppy said:

 

is there a chance we can get Oliver back this season or is he done for the year do you know? Thanks. 

They said its possible that he is back for the playoffs.  I would be concerned about his effectiveness if he does return

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

———50    96   92     97

         58         45        42

47                                          31

           24               37

 

stop putting other guys in so often. Just leave the guys that can run and hit on the field. In a very obvious 4WR situation put 39 in the slot

7 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

The touchdown to the back wasn't on Poyer. Could he have taken a better angle? Maybe but that just his old legs not getting him there. That was a failure on the second level (I think Milano but will have to watch back). 

 

The second level is by far the biggest issue. We don't have a linebacker worth a damn and Lewis needs to be in for Taron. On actual form this season he has been by far the superior player. 

 

We played defense well vs the Chiefs too, but I take the point. I actually think Hoecht was a huge difference maker for them. He was disrupting QBs from the inside and making them move off their spot. And without that (from either he or Oliver) they are having all day to sit in and throw. 

 

I am up for Shaq over Bernard though. It can't get much worse at linebacker. 

Fine. That’s acceptable. Yes 55 made a huge difference. I picture a word in which Milano plays that role with a little less size but a little more ability. But I need 45 and 42 on the field. I’ll live with whatever that looks like. I’m guessing what it looks like is a lot closer to an NFL defense then wherever this ***** is currently 

[NickelCity]

1 hour ago, stevestojan said:

Let’s not. 

 

I was gonna go with, "no politics on tsw"

[BillMafia716ix]

Bernard is constantly out of position when teams run up the middle. He’s terrible at shedding blocks and holding his ground. Milano is just washed up. 

[GunnerBill]

6 minutes ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

 

Fine. That’s acceptable. Yes 55 made a huge difference. I picture a word in which Milano plays that role with a little less size but a little more ability. But I need 45 and 42 on the field. I’ll live with whatever that looks like. I’m guessing what it looks like is a lot closer to an NFL defense then wherever this ***** is currently 

 

They tried everyone but Milano in that role today - Solomon, Bernard, Williams.... I don't think they have an answer. Hoecht's skill set is pretty unique. Milano is running in sand, he is one of the first guys they need to get off the field IMO. The guy who I think might be worth a go is more Rousseau standing up in the A gap in pure pass sets with Bosa and Epenesa outside. 

 

There are just too many problems to fix. Hancock and Poyer are already in a job share and while I understand the desire to see Hancock out there more he has to play better than he has so far to earn that. There is a case for Shaq, Dorian and Cam to become the starting second level. All the 'starters' are struggling but as @Simon rightly says the interior Dline has to do better at keeping them clean and there is no help coming at that spot. They have what they have at this point. That said the Bills are near the top of the league in rushes stopped for no gain or loss. The bigger problem is once a runner evades the Dline the next Bill to touch the ball could well be the kicker kicking off. 

 

Oh and if PED man 1 (Hoecht) was a great addition - for all of two games - PED man 2 (Ogunjobi) is freaking hopeless. Leverage. Pad level. Anchor. One out of 3 would be nice. He is playing with zero.

 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

50 minutes ago, Walking Tall said:

I believe they would as well. He is slow as hell.

doesn’t it seem like Milano looks heavier too? 
 

it’s amazing to think there was a time where Milano was the absolutely most critical player on this D. Unfortunately, he is a shell of his former self.