Taron Johnson/Cam Lewis

[Ralonzo]

12 minutes ago, BearNorth said:

Hairston got abused a couple of times by Tee Higgins, that sideline reception in the end-zone was a a catch only a few can make.

 

Higgins pushed off pretty much every rep, because he wasn't getting called for it. Arm extension, the whole deal.

[stlbills13]

The good news is we restructured Taron's contract for our trade deadline acquisition (I know I know there are other reasons but this is more fun to say)

[transient]

13 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

That catch I don't put on Hairston. Higgins clearly tossed him out of the play. 

 

But over the course of the day, he had some learning moments. He looked exactly like I would expect a rookie CB to look against Burrow and Higgins. 

He was at least in the same frame with Higgins… that, in and of itself, is a huge improvement over the last few Bills-Bengals games. 

[DanM]

Start Hairston and let Tre White play nickel. 

[SCBills]

Not worried about Hairston getting big boyed by Higgins. 
 

He wasn’t drafted to defend Higgins.  Bengals are just absurd and have two elite WR1’s. 
 

A lot of people here love McDuffie.. he gets rocked by big WR’s.  Nico Collins did the same thing to him on an under thrown ball where he was smoked.  

[The Jokeman]

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

Not worried about Hairston getting big boyed by Higgins. 
 

He wasn’t drafted to defend Higgins.  Bengals are just absurd and have two elite WR1’s. 
 

A lot of people here love McDuffie.. he gets rocked by big WR’s.  Nico Collins did the same thing to him on an under thrown ball where he was smoked.  

McDuffie is at his best playing slot/nickel CB and KC been misusing him on the outside since their free agent signee Kristian Fulton been MIA all season. 

[finn]

18 minutes ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

ok - but you're taking a quote from a mid-season press conference and stretching its meaning.  Essentially it didn't respond to the treatment like they hoped.  Does that mean career ending?  Sure.  Does it possibly mean offseason surgery?  Who knows.  

It says something about how narrow the margins are that not having Strong, a sixth-round pick, on the roster could have had a major impact on the team's playoff chances, given how well he was playing and how much Taron's play has diminished. That was a nice draft by Beane, netting Hairston, Sanders, Walker, Hawes, Strong, Hancock, and Lundt. 

[transient]

10 minutes ago, DanM said:

Start Hairston and let Tre White play nickel. 

If Tre plays nickel, who’s going to do the tackling in run support for him? Tre would make about as good of a nickel as he would a safety. 

[NewEra]

21 minutes ago, Ralonzo said:

 

Higgins pushed off pretty much every rep, because he wasn't getting called for it. Arm extension, the whole deal.

He’s really good at it. Pushing off is a skill.  The push off on the TD on the sideline, he used Hairston momentum and gave him a little push.  The push gave him the room he needed and made it so Hairston had no chance….but I don’t think he extended his arm as much as I had originally thought.  It was thee perfect push off imo.  Create the separation, but don’t over do it.  
 

This is the skill Keon needs to master (and all pass catchers should spend time crafting)

[khlax3]

Taron saves 8 million with a post 6/1 cut next year. He should be it unless they feel like he can transition to the starting saftey next to Bishop. 

[BullBuchanan]

1 hour ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

... source?

McDermott's visibly pained expression and statement, "it's not good", weren't enough? " Dude is done.

[Cray51]

6 minutes ago, khlax3 said:

Taron saves 8 million with a post 6/1 cut next year. He should be it unless they feel like he can transition to the starting saftey next to Bishop. 

I think that cut is a must if they want to really move the roster around and improve.  $8M can get you a solid safety or slot corner, both of which are needs.

[Jauronimo]

2 hours ago, Coach Tuesday said:

Lewis had a bad game but he was trying.  Taron is either injured or making business decisions.  I suspect the former.

I think hes just washed.

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 hour ago, streetkings01 said:

Strong ain’t coming back 

It sucks for him, and Us.  I wish him nothing but the best

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

1 hour ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

He's likely getting the fire-hose treatment as we speak.  I don't think he's taking TJ's job, but I wouldn't be shocked to see him in the rotation with lewis in dime looks.  

... source?

I’ve gotta try to find the mcd quote but he cast some doubt on strong returning but it was nothing definitive.  Part of that quote was ‘not moving in the direction we’d like it to’ then he said he wouldn’t elaborate out of respect for Dorian 

[Xwnyer]

2 hours ago, SCBills said:

Do we have any options to fix this?

 

Can Darnell Savage play nickel?

 

Anything outside the box we can do?

 

Or do we just have to hope they stop being an absolute explicit weakness on this Defense. 
 

Linebackers looking much better.   Maybe we get back Bernard healthy and actually use him off ball. 
 

Bishop and Benford are absolute studs. 
 

Hairston shows promise and White/Poyer have stabilized and are solid.  
 

DL, not great, but IF we can get back Bosa and Oliver come postseason… even at 80%, there’s hope this group elevates some when it matters.  
 

Taron Johnson and Cam Lewis are being targeted and abused every game out there.  Without a doubt, the biggest weakness this Defense has.  

Cam Lewis is terrible and always seems out oft of position.  Taron in the past was very good but suspect he is dealing with an injury issue or just has gotten old and slow himself.   He did make one great play yesterday getting the ball high in the air.

[wppete]

Got to give Darnell Savage a look now because Johnson and Lewis are really bad. Cant win with them in the playoffs. 

[st pete gogolak]

1 hour ago, khlax3 said:

Taron saves 8 million with a post 6/1 cut next year. He should be it unless they feel like he can transition to the starting saftey next to Bishop. 

I agree. Is there any reason Taron would not be a good FS?

[947]

What about Poyer at Nickel? He still has very good tackling ability & Hanock is better as a coverage Safety.

[Brand J]

1 hour ago, Ralonzo said:

 

Higgins pushed off pretty much every rep, because he wasn't getting called for it. Arm extension, the whole deal.

That’s one way to get separation! Wish we had a big body receiver who physically overmatched his assignments.