Taron Johnson/Cam Lewis

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

1 hour ago, BullBuchanan said:

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

 

They said the same thing about hyde, and he returned THAT season.  It's certainly possible, but he is SO far from a medical professional that i don't think reading his facial expressions should be considered gospel.

[BullBuchanan]

3 minutes ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

They said the same thing about hyde, and he returned THAT season.  It's certainly possible, but he is SO far from a medical professional that i don't think reading his facial expressions should be considered gospel.

And how did that end up for Hyde?

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

Just now, BullBuchanan said:

And how did that end up for Hyde?

 

He started 14 games a year later fwiw

[BullBuchanan]

1 minute ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

He started 14 games a year later fwiw

And was a shell of his former self, was constantly plagued by head and neck injuries and retired due to those reasons just a year later. I'd bet a significant amount of money his doctor told him to retire and he tried to tough it out for a chance at a chip.

 

[BuffaloBill]

Hate to say it but time has diminished  TJ to a partial player. He always played bigger than his size and those hits have taken their toll.

[gonzo1105]

2 hours ago, stlbills13 said:

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)

I already looked it up if we post June 1st him we will save 7.6 million but I think they keep him one more year because there is no replacement for him. I will be harping big time to replace the 2nd level of the defense next year. 

[Rousseauisnoschmo]

2 hours ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

 

TJ seems to be playing a bit slower this year, and i wonder if quad/groin injuries are a big part of that.  

He's also had pretty physical roll for his position in that defense. Age plus wear and tear catch up with all these guys.

[billykay]

2 hours 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.

H. pushed off

2 hours 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.

H. pushed off

[Steve Billieve]

32 minutes ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

They said the same thing about hyde, and he returned THAT season.  It's certainly possible, but he is SO far from a medical professional that i don't think reading his facial expressions should be considered gospel.

 

It was reported that the injury was getting worse not better, it's completely different.

[JoshAllin]

Lewis might be the worst 3rd down and long yard defender in the league. No way he should be on the field in the playoffs. And something definitely happend to Taron

[HamptonBillsfan]

3 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 shouldn’t be here since2 years ago. Taron is just having a tough time with coverage and penalties this year. He might have some nagging injury but our depth is nowhere and he’s still the best option. I think he’ll have better games ahead.

[Chuck Schick]

3 minutes ago, HamptonBillsfan said:

Cam shouldn’t be here since2 years ago. Taron is just having a tough time with coverage and penalties this year. He might have some nagging injury but our depth is nowhere and he’s still the best option. I think he’ll have better games ahead.

I’m fine with Cam on the roster as a special teams and depth guy, but I totally agree with his limitations. Maybe a blessing in disguise that Ingram got claimed as I would put him in the same category- and probably worse. 

[MJS]

Taron Johnson isn't the player he used to be. The Bills need to replace him next year, or play 3 linebackers more and put him on the field a lot less.

 

Lewis is a depth player and always has been. He is great for what he is. He can fill in at a lot of spots, but he is never going to be a starting caliber player, and that's fine. He is valuable as a depth player, and he usually plays quite well when he plays. But yeah, he'll give up some plays as well, because he isn't a starting caliber player.

[RyanC883]

3 hours 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.  

 

would have liked to see some help with Hairston on Higgins (Bishop coming over).  Hariston seemed isolated, and that's a size mismatch.  

[NewEra]

49 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

I already looked it up if we post June 1st him we will save 7.6 million but I think they keep him one more year because there is no replacement for him. I will be harping big time to replace the 2nd level of the defense next year. 

I agree that Taron will be retained.  Regarding the secondary as a whole, We are set at 3 of the 5 starting spots (Benford, Hairston, Bishop.  I’d give Hancock 50% chance to fill 1 of those spots (at either nickel or S).  We’ll see how he progresses but he has the physical traits and seems like a bright kid. The Strong injury really hurts as he looked like a solid backup with potential to be a decent starter.  
 

The LB situation is pretty crazy.  Shaq and Milano both FA’s.  Bernard and  Dorian under contract and will be back 💯 unless Dorian is somehow traded.  Shaq is our best LB atm imo and Milano has been playing better and has been a core player.  
 

How can we move on from Shaq after how he’s played?  He wants to play for McD and considering his age, I doubt he’ll be getting a big pay day.  He should be back if he stays healthy the remainder of the year.  I could see us moving on from Milano and should probably draft a lb in the first 4 rounds.

 

I think the plan will be to draft a LB, slot, S and CB to develop.  Hancock (and possibly Savage if he fits well) could compete for a starting position.  Bernard, Shaq (or Milano) and Dorian + draft pick.  
 

I hope that our priority resources will be invested into WR, OL and Pass rush.   Unless McD just wants to load up on man coverage specialists and go blitz happy, we need to replace (or resign) Bosa.  We’ll be getting Ed and Hoecht back and they’ll help immensely, but we’re sure to lose another pass rusher to injury again next season. More talent getting after the QB please.  Can never have enough 

[gonzo1105]

20 minutes ago, NewEra said:

I agree that Taron will be retained.  Regarding the secondary as a whole, We are set at 3 of the 5 starting spots (Benford, Hairston, Bishop.  I’d give Hancock 50% chance to fill 1 of those spots (at either nickel or S).  We’ll see how he progresses but he has the physical traits and seems like a bright kid. The Strong injury really hurts as he looked like a solid backup with potential to be a decent starter.  
 

The LB situation is pretty crazy.  Shaq and Milano both FA’s.  Bernard and  Dorian under contract and will be back 💯 unless Dorian is somehow traded.  Shaq is our best LB atm imo and Milano has been playing better and has been a core player.  
 

How can we move on from Shaq after how he’s played?  He wants to play for McD and considering his age, I doubt he’ll be getting a big pay day.  He should be back if he stays healthy the remainder of the year.  I could see us moving on from Milano and should probably draft a lb in the first 4 rounds.

 

I think the plan will be to draft a LB, slot, S and CB to develop.  Hancock (and possibly Savage if he fits well) could compete for a starting position.  Bernard, Shaq (or Milano) and Dorian + draft pick.  
 

I hope that our priority resources will be invested into WR, OL and Pass rush.   Unless McD just wants to load up on man coverage specialists and go blitz happy, we need to replace (or resign) Bosa.  We’ll be getting Ed and Hoecht back and they’ll help immensely, but we’re sure to lose another pass rusher to injury again next season. More talent getting after the QB please.  Can never have enough 

So when I mean 2nd level I mean MLB/WLB/NCB. I actually think our back 4 for the future is set. Benford, Hairston, Bishop, Hancock. The loss of Strong(if he is lost) is big because it would have given the Bills a solid cheap 3rd CB. We have zero depth though in the back but usually you can find backup safeties for cheap. 
 

I could see them bringing back Thompson like you said and he has played well when he’s played but that’s always been the problem with him. He’s always getting injured. I don’t think you can rely on him for 17 games. I think you have to keep Dorian but I think to this point he’s proven to be a good backup and Special teams guy more than a Starter. 
 

Bernard won’t be gone but they should replace him as soon as it’s feasible to do because he’s an average player on a bad contract who is also injury prone. 
 

This is where you run into issues. If your not going to replace Bernard, and your not going to replace Taron Johnson, then the only area to upgrade is Milanos spot and adding a guy in round 3 or 4 won’t make much of a difference. That guy has to be drafted in round 1 or 2. I think that’s why the Bills were highly linked to Carson Schwesinger last year in the lead up to the draft and honestly is looking like a great pick for Cleveland. 
 

Then we need to address DE, DT, WR, IOL. 
 

 

Edited 17 minutes ago by gonzo1105

[Livinginthepast]

Johnson is a shadow of the potential he once was. I think the injuries he has picked up in the last 2 years have slowed him down just enough and I also think hes gun shy about committing himself in tackles (lest he be injured again). Cam Lewis just never had the talent to start and obviously thats not gotten better. It doesnt help that McD' s soft zone constantly exposes these players to easy completions where there is no possibility that they can react fast enough to break up the pass. Combined with an inconsistent and sometimes non existent pass rush and the results are embarrassing. Also these guys are so out of position that they never turn towards the QB in pass coverage as they are too busy getting even close to the receiver. Yesterday they were being worked by Burrow who was taking advantage of the height advantage of his recievers. Lewis is 5ft 9 and Johnson 5ft11 vs Gesicky 6ft 6!! and Higgins 6ft 4. It was just pitch and catch.

[balln]

4 hours ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

agree. I like how Lewis plays for a depth guy. He actually will make some plays. Taron looks lost out there and I worry that he has fallen off a cliff.

Cam is best when he comes off the bench and the opposing team is unprepared for him.

 

when he’s regularly playing - he’s targeted. 
 

I do like him. Sometimes he’s a missle and makes good tackles. And then sometimes he whiffs or gets trucked in open. I don’t think he’s ever been good in coverage 

 

he’s drawing really

tough assignments. The end of half td vs hous in slot.

 

and then chase for conversion in slot.

 

ill blame McD for that. But who else they got? Hancock?