Big Turk Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 The Bills D is becoming what we though it could be this season, especially in the last half of the season, which is not all that surprising considering it took a while for the payers to really learn and adjust to the new scheme and know where they were supposed to be all the time. 1st Half of the season D numbers: 381.1 Yards Per Game Total allowed(1 500+ yard game allowed, 2 400+ yard game allowed, 4 300+ yard games allowed) 117.8 Yards Per Game Rushing allowed 263.3 Yards Per Game Passing allowed(4 300+ yard passers allowed, 1 200+ yard passer allowed) Opposing QB's: 338/177, 52.3 Completion %, 2279 yards, 6.74 Y/A, 20 TDs, 12 INTs, 78.7 QB Rating 3rd Down Stats: 50/129(38.7%) Opponents First Downs: 21.4 2nd Half of the season D numbers(thru 7 games): 271.8 Yards Per Game Total allowed(1 400+ yard game allowed, 2 300+ yard game allowed(Pittsburgh had exactly 300 yards) 122 Yards Per Game Rushing allowed 149.9 Yards Per Game Passing allowed(0 300+ yard passers allowed, 1 200+ yard passer allowed, 2 under 100 yard passers allowed--amazing) Opposing QB's: 229/119 51.9 Completion %, 1264 Yards, 5.52 Y/A, 7 TDs, 10 INTs, 60.3 QB Rating 3rd Down Stats: 37/103(35.9%) Opponents First Downs: 16.1 Nothing short of staggering difference...110 yards less over the 2nd half of the season versus the first half of the season, with the majority of the difference coming against the pass. Much has to do with the return of Gilmore and Byrd, but still that is a huge difference. It appears this team is intentionally sacrificing some rushing yards to prevent passing yards, which is smart considering most big strike plays are pass plays. They also have slightly improved 3rd down percentage while vastly improving opponent 1st down's per game by allowing over 5 fewer... Opposing QB rating is just ridiculous in the 2nd half of the season...teams are completing barely over half their passes, for an embarrassing 5.5 Y/A with a 60 QB rating...that has got to be 1 in the NFL over that time span, those are like best pass D in the NFL type numbers...also seem to be cutting down the big pass plays, with teams averaging over 1.2 yards per attempt fewer from the first half to second half... This defense is going to be just scary next year to play against after having a full off season and training camp to get even better and more comfortable...this has the makings of a top 3 defense next year and potentially #1...unlimited potential on this side of the ball...
Dibs Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 The Bills D is becoming what we though it could be this season, especially in the last half of the season, which is not all that surprising considering it took a while for the payers to really learn and adjust to the new scheme and know where they were supposed to be all the time. 1st Half of the season D numbers: 381.1 Yards Per Game Total allowed(1 500+ yard game allowed, 2 400+ yard game allowed, 4 300+ yard games allowed) 117.8 Yards Per Game Rushing allowed 263.3 Yards Per Game Passing allowed(4 300+ yard passers allowed, 1 200+ yard passer allowed) Opposing QB's: 338/177, 52.3 Completion %, 2279 yards, 6.74 Y/A, 20 TDs, 12 INTs, 78.7 QB Rating 3rd Down Stats: 50/129(38.7%) Opponents First Downs: 21.4 2nd Half of the season D numbers(thru 7 games): 271.8 Yards Per Game Total allowed(1 400+ yard game allowed, 2 300+ yard game allowed(Pittsburgh had exactly 300 yards) 122 Yards Per Game Rushing allowed 149.9 Yards Per Game Passing allowed(0 300+ yard passers allowed, 1 200+ yard passer allowed, 2 under 100 yard passers allowed--amazing) Opposing QB's: 229/119 51.9 Completion %, 1264 Yards, 5.52 Y/A, 7 TDs, 10 INTs, 60.3 QB Rating 3rd Down Stats: 37/103(35.9%) Opponents First Downs: 16.1 Nothing short of staggering difference...110 yards less over the 2nd half of the season versus the first half of the season, with the majority of the difference coming against the pass. Much has to do with the return of Gilmore and Byrd, but still that is a huge difference. It appears this team is intentionally sacrificing some rushing yards to prevent passing yards, which is smart considering most big strike plays are pass plays. They also have slightly improved 3rd down percentage while vastly improving opponent 1st down's per game by allowing over 5 fewer... Opposing QB rating is just ridiculous in the 2nd half of the season...teams are completing barely over half their passes, for an embarrassing 5.5 Y/A with a 60 QB rating...that has got to be 1 in the NFL over that time span, those are like best pass D in the NFL type numbers...also seem to be cutting down the big pass plays, with teams averaging over 1.2 yards per attempt fewer from the first half to second half... This defense is going to be just scary next year to play against after having a full off season and training camp to get even better and more comfortable...this has the makings of a top 3 defense next year and potentially #1...unlimited potential on this side of the ball... You beat me to it.....I was going to be doing a breakdown on this too. Great Job!
CSBill Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 The Bills D is becoming what we though it could be this season, especially in the last half of the season, which is not all that surprising considering it took a while for the payers to really learn and adjust to the new scheme and know where they were supposed to be all the time. 1st Half of the season D numbers: 381.1 Yards Per Game Total allowed(1 500+ yard game allowed, 2 400+ yard game allowed, 4 300+ yard games allowed) 117.8 Yards Per Game Rushing allowed 263.3 Yards Per Game Passing allowed(4 300+ yard passers allowed, 1 200+ yard passer allowed) Opposing QB's: 338/177, 52.3 Completion %, 2279 yards, 6.74 Y/A, 20 TDs, 12 INTs, 78.7 QB Rating 3rd Down Stats: 50/129(38.7%) Opponents First Downs: 21.4 2nd Half of the season D numbers(thru 7 games): 271.8 Yards Per Game Total allowed(1 400+ yard game allowed, 2 300+ yard game allowed(Pittsburgh had exactly 300 yards) 122 Yards Per Game Rushing allowed 149.9 Yards Per Game Passing allowed(0 300+ yard passers allowed, 1 200+ yard passer allowed, 2 under 100 yard passers allowed--amazing) Opposing QB's: 229/119 51.9 Completion %, 1264 Yards, 5.52 Y/A, 7 TDs, 10 INTs, 60.3 QB Rating 3rd Down Stats: 37/103(35.9%) Opponents First Downs: 16.1 Nothing short of staggering difference...110 yards less over the 2nd half of the season versus the first half of the season, with the majority of the difference coming against the pass. Much has to do with the return of Gilmore and Byrd, but still that is a huge difference. It appears this team is intentionally sacrificing some rushing yards to prevent passing yards, which is smart considering most big strike plays are pass plays. They also have slightly improved 3rd down percentage while vastly improving opponent 1st down's per game by allowing over 5 fewer... Opposing QB rating is just ridiculous in the 2nd half of the season...teams are completing barely over half their passes, for an embarrassing 5.5 Y/A with a 60 QB rating...that has got to be 1 in the NFL over that time span, those are like best pass D in the NFL type numbers...also seem to be cutting down the big pass plays, with teams averaging over 1.2 yards per attempt fewer from the first half to second half... This defense is going to be just scary next year to play against after having a full off season and training camp to get even better and more comfortable...this has the makings of a top 3 defense next year and potentially #1...unlimited potential on this side of the ball... And as the stats show, the one glaring weakness still remains, Run Defense! This needs to be addressed with better LBs in the off-season. If it can be fixed, watch out league!
The Big Cat Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 I heard Gilmore sucked though. Also, I noticed you omitted PPG. That's the final element separating them from an elite defense, IMO (w/o having looked at the numbers) And as the stats show, the one glaring weakness still remains, Run Defense! This needs to be addressed with better LBs in the off-season. If it can be fixed, watch out league! It's not nearly as bad as fans would have you believe.
Last Guy on the Bench Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 This post was a great Christmas present. Very encouraging.
Big Turk Posted December 25, 2013 Author Posted December 25, 2013 (edited) I heard Gilmore sucked though. Also, I noticed you omitted PPG. That's the final element separating them from an elite defense, IMO (w/o having looked at the numbers) It's not nearly as bad as fans would have you believe. 26.6 points per game over the first 8 20.1 points per game over the last 7 Would be even better over the last 7 if taking out KC's 2 defensive TD's that the D had nothing to do with...would be at 18.1 PPG Edited December 25, 2013 by matter2003
3rdand12 Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 Great post Matter ! Very encouraging breakdown
BuffaloBillsMagic1 Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 Pettiness n marrone. R a good combo
The Big Cat Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 26.6 points per game over the first 8 20.1 points per game over the last 7 Would be even better over the last 7 if taking out KC's 2 defensive TD's that the D had nothing to do with...would be at 18.1 PPG And that's all well and good, but also helped tremendously by Sunday's goose egg. Even counting the KC game, it's still only one of three where we held the opposition to less than 20.
oman128 Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 It seems every season the Bills start slow, and fans always think next year is our year....
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 Not to be a naysayer, but what were the record of our opponents in the 1st half of season vs 2nd half of season? That probably explains, in (large?) part, why we are so improved.
John from Riverside Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 Its pretty obvious that the defense has improved........what we need to now is bring the offense closer to the level of the defense And to fix run defense? SCORE MORE......when playing from behind teams abandon the run
Big Turk Posted December 25, 2013 Author Posted December 25, 2013 Its pretty obvious that the defense has improved........what we need to now is bring the offense closer to the level of the defense And to fix run defense? SCORE MORE......when playing from behind teams abandon the run teams are running more because they are afraid to pass, IMO
The Big Cat Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 Not to be a naysayer, but what were the record of our opponents in the 1st half of season vs 2nd half of season? That probably explains, in (large?) part, why we are so improved. First 8 opponents are 69-51 through 15 games (.575) Last 7: 45-60 (.428)
BADOLBILZ Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 To the eye, they improved some when their secondary got healthy but have otherwise been playing good football all season. And that makes sense, they have been remarkably healthy all season. They aren't perfect and this is a style of defense we reallly have never seen in Buffalo so I get that some people are fixated on the big plays..........but when you combine the turnovers and QB pressure with the yardage allowed they are certainly a modern, championship level defense.
section122 Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 First 8 opponents are 69-51 through 15 games (.575) Last 7: 45-60 (.428) This to me explains the improvement. Obviously stats are going to look better against weaker opponents. That said the defense is doing what it is supposed at this point. They are beating up on weaker opponents. At the end of the year all teams will have played good and bad opponents. Our schedule just had a weird breakdown of tough at the start and weak at the end. It is certainly encouraging that they have moved into the top 10. One more lb and I think they can move into the top 5. That is the one weakness in the unit and teams can still exploit it. A strong showing Sunday would go a long way towards proving their improvement throughout the year.
littlelouie Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 Yep, JR in Pittsburgh, you bring up a very valid point. I have to agree with you the teams they played in the 2nd half were bottom dwellers that a high school team could beat. That does put a damper on their perceived improvement.
SRQ_BillsFan Posted December 25, 2013 Posted December 25, 2013 First 8 opponents are 69-51 through 15 games (.575) Last 7: 45-60 (.428) +1 this has a lot to do with it. But still impressive either way.
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