SCBills

Oliver and Jackson are starters. Phillips technically isn’t a starter. That’s how I’m reading it.

Bills losing Hyde, in conjunction with their starting corner and two top end defensive tackles not playing, brought the line down from Bills -6 to Bills -4.5. That’s it. I know Vegas isn’t the end all, be all, but that should give people an idea of how the betting world feels about us losing a Safety (as well as a corner and two DL) against the most explosive WR duo in the NFL.

Touche’

Hyde and Poyer don’t have elite athletic traits. They are smart, dedicated players that fit our scheme. No reason Jaquan Johnson can’t do the same.

Why is he always so annoying? I find highly improbable that Mark Gaughan reported on the significance of the injury mid-week, but the Bills were caught off guard. The guy replacing him has been in the system for years. Not sure why “this would hit Bills harder than most”.

Hart is suspended. Needed an extra OL. Also, in terms of backing up Morse, Van Roten wasn’t exactly confidence inspiring with his snaps.

Poyer/Johnson Hamlin/Lewis Pretty sure that’s the answer.

Hyde was good, not elite until he came here. Poyer was kind of a JAG until he came here. Neither of them really have elite traits. Respect to the players they’ve become here, but this staff seems to be next level at secondary coaching/scheming.

I really don’t want to agree, but I might agree. Paying great Safeties is a luxury, and one we may not be able to afford any longer. With how well this staff does at coaching up and scheming the secondary, it seems like an obvious place to cost cut.

Agreed. He may have moved into the Top 5 now. The reason I wouldn’t include Hyde (or Poyer) is because our next Safety is Jaquan Johnson.. a guy everyone raves about as just needing a chance. Now that the next guy is Hamlin… it’s a bit less ideal.

Agreed on last season, but I don’t care about having a #1 ranked statistical defense that can’t stop power run teams or sack elite QB’s. Very different defense this year. Hyde & Poyer on the back end was an embarrassment of riches once Tre comes back. I don’t think they are the heart of “this” defense though. This defense runs through the DL.

Id probably have to say the Top 5 important guys on Defense are: Von Rousseau Jones Edmunds White Some of it is positional… we’re seeing what a dominant DL does. Pass Rushers >>> Safety and I think Daquan Jones is sneaky important. He is a monster at commanding double teams and stuffing the run game. The way Edmunds is playing, he’s an elite LB who’s making splash plays. That’s equally as valuable to a top tier Safety, but Jaquan Johnson is a much higher level replacement player than Dodson or Bernard. Tre White, top tier CB when he comes back >>> Safety.

Great point, and people forget that Hyde & Poyer didn’t become elite Safeties until they came to Buffalo. That’s not to downplay how good they are, but McDermott and co. seem to be elite at identifying, scheming and coaching up the secondary.

We shall find out. That being said… we’re a very different defense now, compared to years past. Years past, our heart was the secondary… now, if the first two games are any indication … it’s the front line domination with our DL and LB’s. In terms of where we could lose a guy and still have a guy ready to step in… it’s at Safety with Jaquan Johnson.

The other guys have ankle sprains and hamstring pulls… calm down.

Stop logging on then!

The wording of that makes it sound like the ‘23 season … but it’s definitely vague phrasing. He didn’t say “next season”.. but that also doesn’t sound as clever as #23 in ‘23 ha.

I think we all saw this coming despite our hopes for the best. He’s going to be missed, but this is a great opportunity to get a look at the potential future Safety in Jaquan Johnson. Time to win it all for Micah and then look forward to when he’s ready to go for next season in defense of our Super Bowl Title!

So what Miami team do we feel like we’re going to see tomorrow? First 7 quarters of the season Miami or 4th quarter Baltimore Miami? Something in between? Either way, I think we win … but I think a lot of people are underestimating the Bills and overestimating the Dolphins.

Dolphins fans on Twitter seem to be celebrating the fact we have so many guys hurt on defense. I understand pointing it out, but to make jokes about it and clown the guys filling in for them is begging for an attitude adjustment. Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t see a Von Miller led, McDermott/Frazier coached defense getting yolked up. Elam, Benford and Johnson are all good players.. with a week to prepare as starters, I feel confident that they’ll step up. This coaching staff knows how to get the most out of the secondary. Anytime the defense has struggled under McD, it’s been due to DL issues, whether lack of pass rush or inability to stop the run. Even without Oliver and Phillips, this DL still has waves of talent to throw at the Dolphins.

Von’s comments on Rousseau becoming the best pass rusher in the NFL within a year or two are pretty eye opening. I know he wants to hype up his teammates, but he doesn’t strike me as someone to just say things he doesn’t mean.

Was wondering if we may see an aggressive gameplan given all the injuries and the fact that harassing Tua will be the name of the game. Elam played press man primarily at Florida. It’s why he’s taken some time to learn the zone aspects we play. If we’re looking at forcing Tua off quick reads, I wonder if allowing Elam to do some of that against Hill/Waddle (with help over the top) wouldn’t be an interesting wrinkle to throw out there preventing free releases and forcing Tua to hold the ball a beat longer / not allow rhythm throws.

Bills will likely go with an 8-9 man rotation like they always do. If Settle is a go, you have Jones, Settle and Bryant likely at DT, with Von, Rousseau, Epenesa, Boogie and Shaq at DE. Only question is whether they also call up Brewer again, given Miami isn’t the power run threat that the Titans are.

Did I misread the graph or did someone post a graphic here that shows Rousseau is actually being double teamed more than Von?

A lot of it is sentimental. We all love the guy, and would just feel for him on a personal level. He’s a great player, and losing him would hurt, but we have a guy behind him in Jaquan Johnson, who has been ready to start for a while now. What this may do is drive up the FA cost of Johnson this off-season if the plan was to re-sign him on a team friendly deal and give him his shot. That being said, like Hyde and Poyer, I think Johnson balls out in our system… somewhat due to the system.