Let’s talk D

[Beck Water]

55 minutes ago, BuffaloRebound said:

Even in his prime, Milano wasnt a great tackler.  He was a heat seeking missile with elite play diagnosis, but never swallowed up Running Backs.   Now he’s older and has a pec injury.  Between him and Bernard, it’s like watching 2 dudes with T Rex arms and zero ability to get offs blocks.    Complete jailbreak ever time the Running Back gets past the line of scrimmage.  

 

Wait a minute.  Let's go back and look at something you said
Zero ability to get off blocks

 

Kind of the DL's job to keep the LB's clean, isn't it? 

When I look at the Bills depth chart, Rousseau/Deone Walker/DaQuan Jones/Joey Bosa were not the 4 names we expected to see as first string starting the season

Epenesa/Ogunjobi/Jordan Phillips/Landon Jackson not who I expected as 2nd string.

OK, continue.

[BananaB]

The biggest question with the D is how long before some guys lose playing time to poor play? Most people believe we got some guys just playing bad football and guys below them looking like they can help the team.  When is it gonna happen? System will not change, playing calling is not gonna get much better, we know that.  Giving different guys more opportunities is the only thing that might boost the D. 

Edited 5 hours ago by BananaB

[FireChans]

5 hours ago, Beck Water said:

 

Wait a minute.  Let's go back and look at something you said
Zero ability to get off blocks

 

Kind of the DL's job to keep the LB's clean, isn't it? 

When I look at the Bills depth chart, Rousseau/Deone Walker/DaQuan Jones/Joey Bosa were not the 4 names we expected to see as first string starting the season

Epenesa/Ogunjobi/Jordan Phillips/Landon Jackson not who I expected as 2nd string.

OK, continue.

lol who would have expected the guy we gave a $20M AAV extension, our two biggest FA acquisitions over the offseason, and our draft picks to all actually have to contribute???

[BillsMontreal]

After all those years, it's the same movie on defense.

 

This defensive scheme is a pure product of our HC and it is nothing more than what we saw year after year.

At this point, they should put all the money on offense. No matter which players will be on the field on defense, it will be about the same result. 

We saw it in a game in playoff against the Chiefs (when Bass missed in FG).  WIth all the injuries, the defense played the same game.

It's clearly a scheme problem.

 

They will make a play here and there and will need superman as a QB on offense, no matter how much money you put there.

 

Edited 5 hours ago by BillsMontreal

[CSBill]

8 hours ago, Simon said:

 

Tre started and played the first few series then Hairston played a bunch after that.

The good thing is, they didn't throw the ball at him. Put him out there 100% of the time.

[Kelly to Allen]

23 minutes ago, BananaB said:

The biggest question with the D is how long before some guys lose playing time to poor play? Most people believe we got some guys just playing bad football and guys below them looking like they can help the team.  When is it gonna happen? System will not change, playing calling is not gonna get much better, we know that.  Giving different guys more opportunities is the only thing that might boost the D. 

 

It's because some of these guys are not 100% 

 

Don't get me wrong, there's scheme issues everyone has talked about for years. 

 

But they're just now starting to get a little healthier. 

 

Bosa is probably a few weeks away with the wrist 

 

Bernard and Milano 

 

Benford has been dealing with the mild groin strain since the end of camp. He just now is seemingly getting healthier. Taron Johnson same issue

 

TJ Sanders just got back. Fox just signed to replace hoecht...

 

Crossing my fingers we beat the Texans, idc about the score. And get out healthy. Then it's 10 days rest.... That should be enough momentum to go on a run

Edited 5 hours ago by Kelly to Allen

[Psautcsk]

Morgan Fox. Thar's all I got.

[Charles Romes]

The most concerning thing to me big picture is the D seems to be aging fast, even where they are not that old. Bernard can’t run anymore and injured every week. Benford looks old. Oliver’s body breaking down. Hoecht can’t last two games. Rapp. Johnson. For splash plays can only look to Bishop, Hairston and Walker.  Seems you will need draft classes of 12-15 players just to replenish the D. 

[Mr. WEO]

9 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

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.

 

 

Big Baller Beane's best effort....

 

[DrDawkinstein]

Top Performing Defenses right now:

 

Rams - Offensive HC

Philly - Offensive HC

Denver - Offensive HC

KC - Offensive HC

Browns - Offensive HC

Packers - Offensive HC

 

Only good defense I left off that list with a D HC is Seattle.

We are missing out.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

I see 3 major problems

 

1) DTs cannot anchor in the run game, kiss of death for 220lb LBers. 

2) Bernard is clearly playing on a bum wheel.

3) Milano regression 

[quincy]

We, seemingly by design, want undersized penetrating DT's and mobile coverage linebackers.

 

The opposing offense then looks to keep running the ball because we are undersized and therefore have difficulty stoppin the run.

 

Then those two undersized groups are always the ones that are the most injured and also the area where we have no adequate level backups. 

 

Our DT rotation is just plain pitfiul - rookies, PS, PED and last legs DQ. At the next level, 8 and 58 just don't pass the eye test.

 

We are forever going to be drafting 215lb linebackers & 285lb defensive tackles, the numbers on the field will be different but the results will be the same. 

 

I'd be interested to try a 3-4 alignment with Rousseau Walker and Bosa with Fox Thompson Williams and Solomon behind, it may not work but status quo will not either, especially in the postseason.   

[Royale with Cheese]

9 hours ago, Simon said:

 

It looks to me like they've had him spending more time chasing TEs and he's not getting as many chances to attack the LOS.

If they're protecting him they need to stop, because he's already protecting himself.

Its either they want to go dime or they have to because Milano just doesn’t have the speed anymore to run nickel in passing situations.

[All_Pro_Bills]

I'm resigned to the reality the answer to the Bills defensive woes is not on the roster. And all the tinkering and additions Beane and McDermott have made since day one of their regime hasn't resulting in any significant improvements in the defense. Without turnovers its bottom third in the league. Clearly after 8 seasons they have failed.

 

Getting a few players healthy is going to help but it's going to be marginal improvement. Protecting this defense by playing McDermott's slow-ball run focused offense isn't going to work against the better teams in the league. And in practice playing slow and draining clock is not how to utilize the league MVP. What we saw yesterday, an up tempo attacking offense is the blueprint going forward. Put up as many points as possible and put the stress on the opponents offense to keep up and play a game they either can't or don't want to play. This provides the best situation for the opponent to make mistakes and errors our defense should be able to capitalize on.

 

I wasn't completely sold on the idea the Bills need to go balls-to-the-wall on offense to score 30 to 40 a game to win but with this defense it looks like there's no other way.

[LarryMadman]

9 hours ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 
Is Milano just rusty or maybe just doesn’t have confidence because of his injuries?

He looks very slow.  Very noticeable.

 

He started coming on last year after a few games.

injuries have taken a toll, he is a smaller body playing a large body position. That broken knee last year was a bad injury and was definitely going to be an issue on why he wasnt going to be as good this year. Everybody said it was just a broken leg, nope it was way worse than just a broken knee. 

[stlbills13]

For as much as I'm not worried about Daniel Jones in the playoffs, Jonathan Taylor might run for 350 yards against us. Especially if it's in Indy. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

1 minute ago, All_Pro_Bills said:

I'm resigned to the reality the answer to the Bills defensive woes is not on the roster. And all the tinkering and additions Beane and McDermott have made since day one of their regime hasn't resulting in any significant improvements in the defense. Without turnovers its bottom third in the league. Clearly after 8 seasons they have failed.

 

Getting a few players healthy is going to help but it's going to be marginal improvement. Protecting this defense by playing McDermott's slow-ball run focused offense isn't going to work against the better teams in the league. And in practice playing slow and draining clock is not how to utilize the league MVP. What we saw yesterday, an up tempo attacking offense is the blueprint going forward. Put up as many points as possible and put the stress on the opponents offense to keep up and play a game they either can't or don't want to play. This provides the best situation for the opponent to make mistakes and errors our defense should be able to capitalize on.

 

I wasn't completely sold on the idea the Bills need to go balls-to-the-wall on offense to score 30 to 40 a game to win but with this defense it looks like there's no other way.

Milano getting swapped out for Shaq Thompson is gonna make a pretty big difference imo.  LB seems like the big problem area and I hate to say it but Milano might be a bottom 5 LB in the league right now and Shaq Thompson is one of the better ones

 

Somehow going from Shaq Thompson to Matt Milano turned into a Christian benford to kaiir Elam level dropoff 😂

if playoffs started today and we had everyone available that’s not out for the season I really think Milano and taron might get benched for cam lewis/shaq Thompson 

[DrDawkinstein]

7 minutes ago, stlbills13 said:

For as much as I'm not worried about Daniel Jones in the playoffs, Jonathan Taylor might run for 350 yards against us. Especially if it's in Indy. 

 

If they had the guts, it would be another zero-pass game and they'd run us out of the building.

[Royale with Cheese]

15 minutes ago, LarryMadman said:

injuries have taken a toll, he is a smaller body playing a large body position. That broken knee last year was a bad injury and was definitely going to be an issue on why he wasnt going to be as good this year. Everybody said it was just a broken leg, nope it was way worse than just a broken knee. 

 

He broke his leg in 2023.  It was a fibula fracture.

Last year was his biceps.

This year was pectoral.

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

23 minutes ago, stlbills13 said:

For as much as I'm not worried about Daniel Jones in the playoffs, Jonathan Taylor might run for 350 yards against us. Especially if it's in Indy. 

The hypothetical indy game is definitely a Shaq Thompson Dorian Williams play a lot of base defense and see if Daniel jones can beat you type game. I think the hypothetical Baltimore game is even scarier than that because you don’t really have that option lol

the Shaq Thompson injury has been huge cuz we’re kind of stuck in the nickel  which is a bigger shame than usual since taron hasn’t even been good 

Edited 2 hours ago by Generic_Bills_Fan