Is Jim Leonhard actually our prized offseason acquisition

[JP51]

Welp, training camp is underway, we are getting our first peek at new rookie players, players returning from injury that limited their contributions last years, Free Agents etc... Is Jim Leonhard actually going to be the one that has the biggest overall impact on this team... more aggressive defense, using personnel better situationally, great teacher, more fun to watch defense instead of the slow death by 1000 passes and runs drives.... or will he struggle because we need personnel change, system continuity, rookie DC needs to learn etc...  I am holding out hope that he will be the guy we talk about at the end of the year that has had the biggest impact...  Who do you feel will be the person acquired in the offseason that we will look back on and say yeah, this guy was the one. 

Edited August 3 by JP51

[Einstein]

Great question, but I don't think we will know until at least October. 

Kinda stating an obvious here, but Leonhard could be a stud, or an absolute dud. Just because he was a great coordinator in college doesnt mean it will translate to running the full show in the NFL. Though I do look forward to some more aggressiveness in general.

[zow2]

I think it's DJ.  But it will be super interesting to see the Bills D play an aggressive style.  I'm used to them getting gashed by the run, or be terrible preventing 3rd and long conversions. 

[JP51]

Just now, Einstein said:

Great question, but I don't think we will know until at least October. 

Kinda stating an obvious here, but Leonhard could be a stud, or an absolute dud. Just because he was a great coordinator in college doesnt mean it will translate to running the full show in the NFL. Though I do look forward to some more aggressiveness in general.

Indeed I dont think you know to probably the end of the year cause if it is Jim L I need to see the playoffs for sure

[MJS]

It needs to be DJ Moore...

[GunnerBill]

I the Leonhard might prove a great hire. I just feel like the pay off more likely comes in 2027 than 2026. If he can put this defense in the top 10 this year he has done a terrific job and the secondary on paper gives him a chance to do that.

 

I think year 2 in the scheme, better idea of what the guys we have can and can't do and then another offseason of personnel tweaking and the defense could be a real weapon in 2027. 

[Don Otreply]

It is my hope that he uses available personnel more effectively / taking advantage of those individual players traits and truly putting them in a position to have a higher level of success, I also hope that if his initial game plan isn’t working, he is very quick to make adjustments, ( like within the quarter) having a functioning plan B would be nice, as well limiting the opponents free release of the LOS, 

 

I think these things will be the SOP for JL 🤞🤞🤞🤞

[Kirby Jackson]

Just now, MJS said:

It needs to be DJ Moore...

I don’t even believe that any other answer is an option. The Bills went through 2 straight years with zero starting-caliber boundary receivers (outside of a handful of games from Cooper and Cooks) to a borderline number 1. Moore is a former 1st rounder, who has had a good bit of success, with terrible QBs, and is still in his 20’s. What he can unlock, and produce, for the offense is the biggest addition.

 

With that being said, I’m really happy with the Leonhard hire. I believe in a lot of the same things that he does. At Wisconsin, his defenses were always really good despite often lacking the talent of their opponents. I think that we see this defense improve some and be more fun (ie less predictable). I don’t expect them to collapse in the playoffs either. Play going forward!!

[JP51]

15 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I don’t even believe that any other answer is an option. The Bills went through 2 straight years with zero starting-caliber boundary receivers (outside of a handful of games from Cooper and Cooks) to a borderline number 1. Moore is a former 1st rounder, who has had a good bit of success, with terrible QBs, and is still in his 20’s. What he can unlock, and produce, for the offense is the biggest addition.

 

With that being said, I’m really happy with the Leonhard hire. I believe in a lot of the same things that he does. At Wisconsin, his defenses were always really good despite often lacking the talent of their opponents. I think that we see this defense improve some and be more fun (ie less predictable). I don’t expect them to collapse in the playoffs either. Play going forward!!

In the end DJ clearly needs to be the individual we see up our status on offense...  that said, if we go into the playoffs and our D propels us to the big game and is not our fatal flaw, if it is able to take pressure off of Josh, get us the ball back by putting the punter on the field so 17 has more time that would be an epic accomplishment, year 1 seems kinda tough, but we will see. 

Edited August 3 by JP51

[BuffaloBillyG]

I think it will prove to be DJ Moore. 

 

Not only does he provide a level of talent that we have missed in the pass game, he will free others up as well. For starters, whomever ends up WR2 be it Coleman, Palmer or Bell (probably a year early for that) will likely face opposing teams #2 CB instead of their top guy. It's a trickle down effect. 

 

I do think Chubb will be close. Not only do I think he could potentially add double digit sacks himself, but again, that trickle down effect means Groot and Oliver should see less double teams and be able to rip it. 

[NewEra]

I think Leonhard will have the biggest impact on the season and will inevitably be one of the best HCs in the NFL.  
 

I dread the day that we lose him.  If I had to pick between Brady and Leonhard, I’d choose Leonhard.  But we know that’s not how this will work

[Nihilarian]

My first impression of Jim Leonhard is that he was a really good hire, and exactly what the team needed if the GM can't seem to acquire an elite pass rusher like a Myles Garrett. Not that Brandon Beane didn't try, as he did pay a ton for Von Miller.

 

Due to cap restrictions and draft capital, I can understand why the team didn't go after Garrett, Parsons, or Crosby. This change leads me to think that perhaps Beane had a hand in the change of the head coach and the hiring of Joe Brady. Heck, he might have even had some input into the hiring of Leonhard.

 

Just to say how much he impressed me. My take is that if Joe Brady falls on his face for some reason, the Buffalo Bills' next Head Coach might just be the new Buffalo DC. Yeah, we will need to see how the new scheme works in Buffalo with these current players. My thoughts are that we will see a top-ten unit that will be so much better at stopping the run. Thus, forcing opponents to throw and right into the strength of the defense. 

 

My largest concern is Aaron Kromer retiring and wondering if his loss will adversly effect the pass protection and run game. 

 

Chubb should have a very good impact this season, as will DJ Moore. Just need to keep everyone healthy for once. 🤞

[Brand J]

I don’t think Leonard’s defense will give up 300 yards to the Penix led Falcons in ONE HALF, so for that reason I voted for him. A great defensive coordinator can make a world a difference far more than any one player who’s not a QB. Is Leonard a great one? We shall see!

[JP51]

15 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

I think it will prove to be DJ Moore. 

 

Not only does he provide a level of talent that we have missed in the pass game, he will free others up as well. For starters, whomever ends up WR2 be it Coleman, Palmer or Bell (probably a year early for that) will likely face opposing teams #2 CB instead of their top guy. It's a trickle down effect. 

 

I do think Chubb will be close. Not only do I think he could potentially add double digit sacks himself, but again, that trickle down effect means Groot and Oliver should see less double teams and be able to rip it. 

So, I vasillated between JL and DJ, I understand this may be a completely different player and situation, but the promise of Samuel, Sherfield, Palmer, Cooper  etc has skewed my expectations... fairly, reasonably or realistically,  IDK, but I am holding back my enthusiasm there... could just be a me thing... 

Edited August 3 by JP51

[Kirby Jackson]

9 minutes ago, Nihilarian said:

 

 

My largest concern is Aaron Kromer retiring and wondering if his loss will adversly effect the pass protection and run game. 

 

I think this is the biggest loss and potentially bigger than any of us have realized at this point. His system just worked. There were guys that were better in his system than they were anywhere else in their careers (think Edwards and McGovern). Maybe it carries over but he was an excellent coach. The Bills have had a top 5ish OL for a few years. I hope, but am not counting on that, to continue. 

[JP51]

Just now, Kirby Jackson said:

I think this is the biggest loss and potentially bigger than any of us have realized at this point. His system just worked. There were guys that were better in his system than they were anywhere else in their careers (think Edwards and McGovern). Maybe it carries over but he was an excellent coach. The Bills have had a top 5ish OL for a few years. I hope, but am not counting on that, to continue. 

I agree, here is my whistle by the graveyard take.... maybe some new blood will be helpful.... along with Dion losing 40lbs... lol but the loss is epic and under the radar on most outsiders analysis for sure 

[Thurman#1]

1 hour ago, zow2 said:

I think it's DJ.  But it will be super interesting to see the Bills D play an aggressive style.  I'm used to them getting gashed by the run, or be terrible preventing 3rd and long conversions. 

 

 

Yeah, my guess is DJ Moore.

[Saratoga Fan]

19 minutes ago, Brand J said:

I don’t think Leonard’s defense will give up 300 yards to the Penix led Falcons in ONE HALF, so for that reason I voted for him. A great defensive coordinator can make a world a difference far more than any one player who’s not a QB. Is Leonard a great one? We shall see!

Agree. The offense averaged around 30 points per game last year with most of the same players back and no DJ Moore. With the shackles taken off Brady, the future looks even brighter.

Defense is the issue. Can't be giving up 30 points in the playoffs.  If Leonhard somehow year one can produce a top 10 defense during the regular season and playoffs, the sky is the limit.

[BuffaloBillyG]

22 minutes ago, JP51 said:

So, I vasillated between JL and DJ, I understand this may be a completely different player and situation, but the promise of Samuel, Sherfield, Palmer, Cooper  etc has skewed my expectations... fairly, reasonably or realistically,  IDK, but I am holding back my enthusiasm there... could just be a me thing... 

I get what your saying. And yeah, we have been burned before. But, all the guys you mentioned except Cooper were never a teams #1 guy. For Cooper, I think there were a few things playing into his lack of numbers. He was past his prime. And he got hurt basically walking off the plane to Buffalo. 

 

With Moore, he's produced many years in many systems with many different QBs AS the #1 guy. Samuel, Sherfield and Palmer were never that guy. To me it feels more like when we brought Diggs in. Moore is closer to that level than Samuel, Sherfield and Palmer combined.

Edited August 3 by BuffaloBillyG

[SCBills]

Given we won’t know until the season starts playing out, I voted Leonhard. 
 

It’s close between he and Moore. 
 

Both for the same reason, imo.  What they do for other players.

 

Moore should slot Shakir better into WR2, Palmer into WR3 and Keon into WR4.. making all their lives easier, while also helping Cook and the running game as in alleviating the heavy boxes they faced last year.  
 

But Leonhard, if he is that guy, not just solves the McDermott issue of coming up small in big moments but has the potential of getting more out of the young guys, out of Rousseau, out of Oliver, empowering CJGJ, Bishop, Hairston, Benford, IGB, Alford etc to be a top tier Secondary and putting our LB’ers in better situations.   He has the ability to raise the ceiling for guys who seemed tapped out in McD’s scheme, while reaching the potential of so many young players on that side of the ball. 
 

 

Edited August 3 by SCBills