This D is a good to very good D

[TDRupp]

I don't care what anybody else says, this D is pretty good probably even very good. Are they getting turnovers? No. But the problem is that the opposing team knows the best way to beat us is play is close to the vest, take some shots, grind the ball b/c our D is on the field for almost twice as long and they are wearing down.

 

Horrible O and very good D turns the D into only a mediocre D.

 

Hopefullly they can turn it arounf these next two weeks to give us some hope.

[stuckincincy]

I don't care what anybody else says, this D is pretty good probably even very good.  Are they getting turnovers?  No.  But the problem is that the opposing team knows the best way to beat us is play is close to the vest, take some shots, grind the ball b/c our D is on the field for almost twice as long and they are wearing down. 

 

Horrible O and very good D turns the D into only a mediocre D. 

 

Hopefullly they can turn it arounf these next two weeks to give us some hope.

462774[/snapback]

 

I hope so, too. Being on the field a lot certainly doesn't help.

[Yard Monkey]

I don't care what anybody else says, this D is pretty good probably even very good.  Are they getting turnovers?  No.  But the problem is that the opposing team knows the best way to beat us is play is close to the vest, take some shots, grind the ball b/c our D is on the field for almost twice as long and they are wearing down. 

 

Horrible O and very good D turns the D into only a mediocre D. 

 

Hopefullly they can turn it arounf these next two weeks to give us some hope.

462774[/snapback]

I generally agree, but am concerned about the number of third down conversions they give up. Even early in the game when they are still fresh.

[MDH]

I don't care what anybody else says, this D is pretty good probably even very good.  Are they getting turnovers?  No.  But the problem is that the opposing team knows the best way to beat us is play is close to the vest, take some shots, grind the ball b/c our D is on the field for almost twice as long and they are wearing down. 

 

Horrible O and very good D turns the D into only a mediocre D. 

 

Hopefullly they can turn it arounf these next two weeks to give us some hope.

462774[/snapback]

 

 

If you don't care what anybody else says why come to a message board for a discussion?

 

 

I'll agree that playing D with a lead is easier than playing without one, but a good D gets off the field on third downs, pressures the QB and causes turnovers, with or without a lead. The fact that the O isn't helping things out much doesn't absolve this D from getting it done. We were supposed to lean on this "historic" D this year. Yet somehow, now, when the D isn't holding up you want to come here and convince us that it's the O's fault? Yeah, right.

[Gavin in Va Beach]

This D is Capital S o f t. Sure if they're in rythmn against an inferior opponant then they look all-world, but every single time they are called upon to make a play they come up small.

 

I don't know whether to be or

 

There may be a reason Gray hasn't been hired away yet. The talent of the individual players may have been masking Gray's deficiencies. The D is starting to regress under him, he's peaked.

[CentralVaBills]

If you don't care what anybody else says why come to a message board for a discussion?

I'll agree that playing D with a lead is easier than playing without one, but a good D gets off the field on third downs, pressures the QB and causes turnovers, with or without a lead.  The fact that the O isn't helping things out much doesn't absolve this D from getting it done.  We were supposed to lean on this "historic" D this year.  Yet somehow, now, when the D isn't holding up you want to come here and convince us that it's the O's fault?  Yeah, right.

462849[/snapback]

I also, moreso agree with you than the previous poster, but I'll go one step further. This defense was never as good as advertised. Great defense? Never. Opportunistic? Very.

 

This defense and it's gaudy stats last year were a product of their schedule. They totally shut down god awful offenses to run up impressive numbers. Doesn't mean they weren't a good defense, but simply mis-leading.

 

A great defense doesn't choke away leads like they did last year against the Jets and Jags, while totally pretty much sucking twice vs. NE and the last game vs Pitt. Only the Kool-Aid drinkers didn't realize that while this is a very capable defense, it was never a "great one".

[PromoTheRobot]

I don't care what anybody else says, this D is pretty good probably even very good.  Are they getting turnovers?  No.  But the problem is that the opposing team knows the best way to beat us is play is close to the vest, take some shots, grind the ball b/c our D is on the field for almost twice as long and they are wearing down. 

 

Horrible O and very good D turns the D into only a mediocre D. 

 

Hopefullly they can turn it arounf these next two weeks to give us some hope.

462774[/snapback]

I would have agreed with you whole-heartedly after the Tampa game. The Offense definitely left the D out to dry in that game. But the last two games, especially the Saints game, has revealed our D is overrated, undisciplines, and a bunch of candy-asses.

 

They folded like a newspaper on 3rd down. The only 3rd downs they won were where the Saints misfilred themselves. If they did hold, a veteran player (Clements) would commit a needless penalty and give the ball right back.

 

This defense is terrible, just like the offense.

 

PTR

[Taro T]

I don't care what anybody else says, this D is pretty good probably even very good.  Are they getting turnovers?  No.  But the problem is that the opposing team knows the best way to beat us is play is close to the vest, take some shots, grind the ball b/c our D is on the field for almost twice as long and they are wearing down. 

 

Horrible O and very good D turns the D into only a mediocre D. 

 

Hopefullly they can turn it arounf these next two weeks to give us some hope.

462774[/snapback]

The Bills have given up 47.1% on 3rd down. That is 28th in the league and barely out of last place (worst is 50%). The Bills offense has major problems at this point in time and all the 3 and outs in the Tampa heat & humidity and other games definitely did not help the D, but the D isn't helping itself.

 

They have to get off the field when they put themselves in a position to do it. Currently they are not. Especially if the other team is playing it close to the vest, I'd expect their 3rd down percentages to be much better if they were a very good defense.

 

They still have 12 more games and the next two are very winnable. Unfortunately, until the D steps it up on 3rd down and the O finds its bearings, the Bills will have great difficulty winning any games.

 

Dave.

[Ramius]

I also, moreso agree with you than the previous poster, but I'll go one step further.  This defense was never as good as advertised.  Great defense?  Never.  Opportunistic?  Very. 

 

This defense and it's gaudy stats last year were a product of their schedule.  They totally shut down god awful offenses to run up impressive numbers.  Doesn't mean they weren't a good defense, but simply mis-leading. 

 

A great defense doesn't choke away leads like they did last year against the Jets and Jags, while totally pretty much sucking twice vs. NE and the last game vs Pitt.  Only the Kool-Aid drinkers didn't realize that while this is a very capable defense, it was never a "great one".

462858[/snapback]

 

Our defense has the great ability to fail to show when needed most...the jags and jets games last season especially...when the going gets tough, our defense folds...ie yesterday...watching mcallister run 70 yards up the field in the 4th quarter when they we knew they were running...

[Guest BackInDaDay]

"As far as Ds sitting on the short routes, that's what I'm talking about when I say that our opponents know how our coaches are trying to bring JP along. They have to take inventory of what we can do offensively and marry that to what might work against the Saints. They know what to expect from Haslett. He's going to manage our rushes and take away JP's easy reads, but that type of 'sit back' D only works if your O is getting first downs. Otherwise you may give up too many yards and lose a field-position game. That said, Gray has to shore up our D, and our STs need to start making plays. If they these two units play better against NO, JP can go back to 'manage the game' mode. Then the running game, and all it brings with it, should be enough."

 

Sep. 28th

http://www.stadiumwall.com/index.php?showtopic=31654&st=20#

 

My point then is the same now.

Our D has to make stops on the opponent's end of the field.

Then, with the help of our STs, our O will get to see a D that's not geared up as described above.

[Hirly5]

Good defenses can get off the field on third down plays. It seems everytime they need to make a stop they just don't do it. Third and long has killed them all year. It happened to them last year also.

 

Where are the turnovers? The Saints came into the game with a bunch of turnovers in their previous two games. Aaron Brooks loves to give the ball away.

 

Where is a pass rush? I remember numerous times in the game yesterday where Brooks had all the time in the world. He was sitting back in the pocket and someone is bound to come open. The D was good against the run until that last drive but they were getting killed in the passing game. They need to generate a decent pass rush.

[respk]

The D is bad, just plain bad. It's reputation has been built on good games against mediocre or poor opponents. Other teams have figured out how to attack it and it is plain to see that they can't hold up.

 

Some say that the D's problem is the poor play of the O. It is very simple. The D has to come up with 3 and outs. If they do that, they get off the field and get a rest. This D has not had to work with a short field. The O isn't turning the ball over at our own 20. Teams are getting the ball in their own end of the field and taking it the length of the field. In that situation the D controls its own fate. If the O was giving the ball to the other team in our end of the field then the O is too blame for some of the bad play by the D, but that is not happening.

 

In this case so far this season, the D is almost completely responsible for its own poor play.

[gantrules]

Our defense has the great ability to fail to show when needed most...the jags and jets games last season especially...when the going gets tough, our defense folds...ie yesterday...watching mcallister run 70 yards up the field in the 4th quarter when they we knew they were running...

462892[/snapback]

 

you forgot the Pittsburgh game where they gave up the 10 minute drive to seal our fate.

 

But, as many would tell you, that was Bledsoe's fault...

[Kipers Hair]

I don't care what anybody else says, this D is pretty good probably even very good.  Are they getting turnovers?  No.  But the problem is that the opposing team knows the best way to beat us is play is close to the vest, take some shots, grind the ball b/c our D is on the field for almost twice as long and they are wearing down. 

 

Horrible O and very good D turns the D into only a mediocre D. 

 

Hopefullly they can turn it arounf these next two weeks to give us some hope.

462774[/snapback]

 

That would be fine...but we are not a mediocre D...We're pathetic.

[LabattBlue]

I've said it before...just because the D has a bunch of name players on it(Spikes, Fletcher, Milloy, Vincent, Clements, Adams, Schobel, etc...) doesn't mean they are great. This is a slightly below average to slightly above average unit, depending on who they are playing(they like to beat up on the sisters of the poor), that has to rely on blitzing WAY TOO MUCH. Without a pass rush the Bills defense is doomed and without blitzing, there is a rarely a pass rush.

[ganesh]

I don't care what anybody else says, this D is pretty good probably even very good.  Are they getting turnovers?  No.  But the problem is that the opposing team knows the best way to beat us is play is close to the vest, take some shots, grind the ball b/c our D is on the field for almost twice as long and they are wearing down. 

 

 

462774[/snapback]

 

That is not true.....Most of the games, until the game was on the line, the ToP

has been almost identical.......The problem is our D cannot get off the field

on 3rd and longs.....either through stupid penalties or just cannot rush the

passer and forcing him to make a mistake.

[BB2004]

I don't care what anybody else says, this D is pretty good probably even very good.  Are they getting turnovers?  No.  But the problem is that the opposing team knows the best way to beat us is play is close to the vest, take some shots, grind the ball b/c our D is on the field for almost twice as long and they are wearing down. 

 

Horrible O and very good D turns the D into only a mediocre D. 

 

Hopefullly they can turn it arounf these next two weeks to give us some hope.

462774[/snapback]

 

I'd say we have a good D, but very good...... not really. You're right, as long as team's find a way to keep their offensive on the field against our defense, were going to be in constant pressure situation.

[Typical TBD Guy]

462774[/snapback]

 

If you only count the LB's and DB's, then yes this is a good to very good D. But a defense is only as good as its weakest link, and unfortunately the Bills' D is weakest at the worst possible place - the line.

 

The good news, IMO, is that we are only 2 players away from being absolutely dominant - a consistent starter at DT and a pass-rushing specialist either at DE or at the Sammy LB spot. Oh yeah, and a healthy Spikes. And a DC who is willing to adjust the gameplan.

[cåblelady]

This D is Capital S o f t. Sure if they're in rythmn against an inferior opponant then they look all-world, but every single time they are called upon to make a play they come up small.

 

462856[/snapback]

 

Right on, Gavin.