What are your expectations for the defense this coming season?

[GASabresIUFan]

The Bills are so young on defense.  Projected starters Sanders, Hairston and Walker are all second year players, Williams (assuming he beats out Orr (r)) will be a 1st year full time starter in his 4th season.  Bishop is in his 3rd season.  Now add how much of the key depth are projected to be rookies in Orr, Pride, Parker, Kilgore, and Igbinosun. Other depth is raw in Hancock (2nd year), Andressen (3rd) and Carter (3rd, but lost 1 year plus to injuries).  
 

There are good to excellent vets like Groot, Chubb, Benford, Oliver and Bernard (if he can adjust to the new system and stay healthy), but there are also new vets with big question marks like Stone, Alford and Gardner-Johnson (already injured). 
 

Put this all together and what do you got….. ?  Honestly I have no idea.  
 

My heart tells me that if they stay healthy they will improve steadily throughout the season as the kids get used to the speed of the NFL and all the players get used to playing in the new scheme with a new defensive coaching staff.  My head tells me that there are going to be huge bumps in the road and Josh and the offense will have to win some shootouts to keep us in contention.  

Edited August 12 by GASabresIUFan

[Shortchaz]

A realistic aggressive style. Stout against the run but willing to give up long yardage in the passing game. Something that maybe surprises people in the playoffs. Obvious learning curve issues that are overcome by a powerful offense first half of the year. Boom or bust graduating to formidable by end of regular season. 

[Psautcsk]

I expect them to make Drake Maye ineffective.

[Don Otreply]

I’m thinking that we will see a defense that comes together much sooner than many think, 

 

I would like to see a smart defense with a slashing edge about them , I want to see savages storming the field, , 😁👍🍸🚬

Edited August 12 by Don Otreply

[Captain_Quint]

[C.Biscuit97]

If you’re going to be young on one side of the ball, it’s way better on defense. Be aggressive and attack. For a franchise who has had Bruce, Paup, Mario, Kyle Williams, Schobel (he would be a monster for us), etc to struggle to get a double digit sack guy is so disappointing. Pressure up front completely changes a defense. Hopefully new schemes will change that. Lord knows they certainly invested enough in the d line. 

[SCBills]

Impact Youth: 

 

Walker, Sanders, Jackson, Durant, Parker, Williams, KEO, Hairston, IGB, Hancock, Bishop, Kilgore

 

Impact FA:

 

Chubb, CJGJ, Alford

 

Impact Back from Injury:

 

Oliver, Hoecht, Bernard

 

If those lists of players added to Rousseau and Benford, along with our new DC Leonhard, don’t get you excited for the potential of this Defense, I don’t know what will. 
 

The realistic pie in the sky dream is that this Defense becomes the Seattle Seahawks of last year.  No really dominant Top 20 type players, but a ton of really good players who fit into the scheme like a glove.  I don’t see a Surtain or Garrett here, but I see a ton of potential, waves of players and combinations etc
 

We all know the question marks.. Health, inexperience, lack of a true run stuffing NT.. but the potential for a truly impactful Defense is there. 
 

I think we were held back by McDermott and his scheme against top QB’s, but I also think Brady/Leonhard may have lucked into a ton of players off injury and into their 2nd, 3rd years finally ready to contribute. 

[gonzo1105]

I expect them to be a lot like the Chiefs. Not by scheme but with constant pressure packages especially in crunch time to force another team to make a play. Well give up more big plays but we’ll also create more turnover and advantageous down and distances 

[Wizard]

1st 8-9 Games

I expect Leonard to identify his key players, identify who does not fit his scheme long-term, and teach/implement his key philosophies.

 

Games 10-17

I would hope this would lead to more pressure by the defensive line, more aggressive play calling, less prevent defense that leads to 3rd and long plays being converted.

 

Playoffs

I would like to see our defense keep an opposing offense in the playoffs at 24 or less points in every/any playoff game whether win or lose.

 

Season's End/Offseason

Free Agency/Resign/Draft, 2-3 guys that make our run defense a top 10-12 unit if our passing game is similarly strong to previous years.

 

 

 

Edited August 12 by Wizard

[BeyondTheProcess]

Should be fun to watch, unlike prior years. 

 

Unpredictable.   

 

Big plays on both sides of the ball.  Probably pretty maddening for most on this board, just for new reasons. 

Edited August 12 by BeyondTheProcess

[Gregg]

Probably a work in progress this year as I expect growing pains early in the season. As the year progresses, they should (hopefully) get better. Most importantly can they play well in the playoffs. If they can then the Bills offense which is already good combined with a strong defense could very lead to...

 

 

 

[Your Brown Eye]

Edited August 12 by Your Brown Eye

[NewEra]

[T.E.]

The first five games are very tough. I expect some growing pains for the first month or so, at least. Not a ton of established talent on the roster past the defensive line, so that might be an issue as well.

[Juice_32]

If we can get to the point, where 3rd and 14 doesn't seem like a

foregone conclusion for the opponent to make...I'll take it.

Edited August 12 by Juice_32

[The Firebaugh Kid]

To be a menace that occasionally makes mistakes and allows big plays. 
Overall better.

[Rich Stadium Original]

Last years statistics showed the Bills defense to be pretty weak in two areas: The run and big chunk plays on 3rd and long.

 

I think schematically you will see a big improvement, which should help those third down numbers. I would bet we've seen an end to the soft 10 yard cushion on 3rd and 7.

 

The run defense is still a big question mark. Presenting more players at the line means less double teams, but I still wish the Bills had obtained that big 1 technique that controlls the center of the line.

 

Overall, should be a very competitive defense but not dominating..but with the folks they have on offense, it doesn't have to be.

[GunnerBill]

I'd be surprised if we were a top 10 defense. Somewhere around middle of the pack I suspect. 

[Admiral Sean]

I have none right now other than I’d like to see them get to, and bring down, the QB more than in the past.

[bmur66]

More sacks and less 3rd and long conversions. Hopefully.