eball Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Sorry for another Bills' D thread, but I want this specific question out there for discussion among some of the brighter minds on this board. I read a lot, follow a bunch of folks on Twitter, and there seems to be a building consensus that the scheme Rex is trying to employ is not the best fit for the Bills' personnel -- specifically, the D line and LBs. Using Dareus as a space-hogging NT, for example. Putting Kyle at rush end. His scheme works, but only with the right personnel. This week the move to put Hughes at LDE was actually a good one, but what do others think? I'm not a coach and don't claim to be -- I don't study film -- but it seems to me the talent is there to be a special D but all they've been thus far is perfectly average. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xsoldier54 Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Far from an expert, but all we have to go by is results. Thus far it looks like he has taken what was once a dominating defense and broken it. This D gives up way too many big plays and has had a hard time stopping anyone including Jacksonville. Not at all what I had expected and certainly not as good as last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjjr Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 (edited) Besides the big plays, Hughes has looked lost in this scheme. Going back to when Pettine was here, he was a pass rush specialist and that's probably what he should be on this team with Rex's scheme. He lost edge a few times yesterday for some big plays. Mario doesn't look explosive off the edge in this defense and they even had him rushing inside yesterday. Not sure if he's lost a step or he can't find a role he's comfortable with here. No doubt that asking Dareus to be two gap run stuffer isn't fully utilizing his $100 million contract. The Dolphins let Suh loose it looks like and Rex should do the same for Dareus. The linebackers have not looked as good this year. All in all, it looks like the Bills have tied up significant money in the D-Line and Rex's scheme doesn't cut them loose to be playmakers and show they deserve that money. This scheme allows guys like Darby and Gilmore to shine. This defense looked lost until Hughes had that sack fumble yesterday. Not good... Edited November 9, 2015 by sjjr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLFan Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 There may be some truth to this - I am not a coach nor am I any expert on schemes - but at some point the players have to held accountable. Maybe they are not as good as they think they are. These guys need to shut up about scheme and play better, particularly Dareus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1B4IDie Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 (edited) Sorry for another Bills' D thread, but I want this specific question out there for discussion among some of the brighter minds on this board. I read a lot, follow a bunch of folks on Twitter, and there seems to be a building consensus that the scheme Rex is trying to employ is not the best fit for the Bills' personnel -- specifically, the D line and LBs. Using Dareus as a space-hogging NT, for example. Putting Kyle at rush end. His scheme works, but only with the right personnel. This week the move to put Hughes at LDE was actually a good one, but what do others think? I'm not a coach and don't claim to be -- I don't study film -- but it seems to me the talent is there to be a special D but all they've been thus far is perfectly average. The answer is yes. Firing Schwartz was the first sign. If Rex really were a defensive mastermind he could have spent this year and let Schwartz continue with his league leading dominant defense and Rex could take that year and learn Schwartz' system and spend time with Roman. Rex thinks he knows everything and is jamming a system that doesn't allow our penetrating D-Line to penetrate. It is the main reason I'm not bought in with Rex. Love to have a beer or 10 with him but don't really think he has that continuing learning attitude that other great coaches seem to have. Edited November 9, 2015 by 1B4IDie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Bills Blue Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Everything was misdirection and screens today. That's on he players to read react and tackle. Obviously they did a poor job of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1B4IDie Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Everything was misdirection and screens today. That's on he players to read react and tackle. Obviously they did a poor job of it. The Pats showed the league how do beat this D and everyone has been successful with the quick passes and screens against this D Rex needs to make adjustments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 (edited) There may be some truth to this - I am not a coach nor am I any expert on schemes - but at some point the players have to held accountable. Maybe they are not as good as they think they are. These guys need to shut up about scheme and play better, particularly Dareus.i have been saying this for weeks. No one is absolved of blame. But the coaching staff has taken all of the accountability so far. Perhaps I missed it but it's so disappointing that the players can't publically own their need to improve as well. Edited November 9, 2015 by YoloinOhio Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatdrinks Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 The answer is yes. Firing Schwartz was the first sign. If Rex really were a defensive mastermind he could have spent this year and let Schwartz continue with his league leading dominant defense and Rex could take that year and learn Schwartz' system and spend time with Roman. Rex thinks he knows everything and is jamming a system that doesn't allow are penetrating D-Line to penetrate. It is the main reason I'm not bought in with Rex. Love to have a beer or 10 with him but don't really think he has that continuing learning attitude that other great coaches seem to have. Except that Schwartz was offered to stay on staff and he declined. The guy didn't want to come back, so another D coordinator had to be brought in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CountDorkula Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Yes. Marcell Dareus. The $100MM DT you paid to occupy blocks and not rush the passer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 I am certainly not an expert but the slip in performance with essentially the same personnel speaks for itself. At the same time, the Bills have faced some teams with excellent QB's and offensive firepower. The league wants ball movement and scoring. Look at the ticky tacky PI calls. I guess they are being consistently called but the job of DB in this league has been made significantly harder as a result of the rules and enforcement. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Not scheme, IMO. It's execution. How do you let Lamar Miller burn you for like a 100 yards on screens is beyond me. In the past, it seemed like our dline and lbs read those plays better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snafu Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Yes. Marcell Dareus. The $100MM DT you paid to occupy blocks and not rush the passer. We shall see if Rex is stubborn on Thursday night. Fitz should be pressured up the middle, and Mangold is hurting. Maybe Dareus will be used differently then. You also need to note that with Kyle out there is probably more need for Dareus to take on a more traditional NT role. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjmac Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 I'm definitely not an expert, but the Pegulas knew what they were getting when they hired Rex. So I'll ask another question based on the original poster's question-do we lewt go of anybody this offseason? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bananathumb Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Not sure if this fits here, but I was disgusted with the linebacker play of Brown and Bradham yesterday. I once considered them up and coming stars, but they were putrid, constantly missing tackles in the open field and getting boxed out by fat linemen. What happened to B&B? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealityCheck Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 How good was Schwartz's defense when they weren't playing the NFC North? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert James Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 I am certainly not an expert but the slip in performance with essentially the same personnel speaks for itself. At the same time, the Bills have faced some teams with excellent QB's and offensive firepower. The league wants ball movement and scoring. Look at the ticky tacky PI calls. I guess they are being consistently called but the job of DB in this league has been made significantly harder as a result of the rules and enforcement. . Agreed. Largely the same personnel excelled under Pettine. Then they had to change systems under Schwartz and got even better that same year. This year, with a stronger secondary, they have regressed significantly to the middle of the pack in points and yards per game. And of course, sacks have plummeted. It is true that the league is making it hard on DBs, but every team faces that, and comparatively we have regressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1B4IDie Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 The answer is yes. Firing Schwartz was the first sign. If Rex really were a defensive mastermind he could have spent this year and let Schwartz continue with his league leading dominant defense and Rex could take that year and learn Schwartz' system and spend time with Roman. Rex thinks he knows everything and is jamming a system that doesn't allow are penetrating D-Line to penetrate. It is the main reason I'm not bought in with Rex. Love to have a beer or 10 with him but don't really think he has that continuing learning attitude that other great coaches seem to have. Except that Schwartz was offered to stay on staff and he declined. The guy didn't want to come back, so another D coordinator had to be brought in. We don't know the story. Rex said he will keep Schwartz. Rex met with Schwartz. Schwartz decided to part ways. If in the meeting Rex told Schwartz that the team will be using Rex system and Rex assistant coaches then Schwartz had no reason stay. If Rex said you are D-Co you pick the scheme, Lets negotiate assistant coaches and Schwartz left than that iso on Schwartz We don't know but given how Rex seems to be is go with Rex dictating the system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill from NYC Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 Not sure if this fits here, but I was disgusted with the linebacker play of Brown and Bradham yesterday. I once considered them up and coming stars, but they were putrid, constantly missing tackles in the open field and getting boxed out by fat linemen. What happened to B&B? I'm no expert either but imo Bradham is good on blitzes. Brown is a thumper in the middle. He's very strong and tough to run on. Coverage would seem to be his weakness but Rex loves coverage so much he has the entire squad doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted November 9, 2015 Share Posted November 9, 2015 It's nothing short of bewildering, eball. Over 100 sacks in 2 straight seasons and a very noticable improvement vs the run with last years' Wide-9 suggests the best use of the specific talents and skills of our D-players. Rex is absolutely pushing the scheme his family is noted for and it is in sharp contrast to above mentioned skills of our players. No designed inside pressure allows for the short, quick passes that eat us up as well as mis-direction plays in the backfield. On our TV screens, we can clearly see the reverses developing, but there's no Bill in the backfield to disrupt them and the wing the play is going to has been vacated by receivers pulling DB's away from it. This is how Kyle W & Marcell earned their salary's. The screens are killing us as well and Chan and Fitz Live by these plays. Sadly, I'm convinced Thurman brings nothing to the table sans a puppet of Rex. Case in point: when Roman talks, you can here the intellect in his strategy and the chess pieces moving in his mind. Thurman says nothing of importance -or even on point and I dont think he's a great poker player.. Im so relieved Tyrod, Sammy, Karlos and the right side of the OL returned yesterday. We needed everyone of those 31 pts they scored because Miami drove the length of the field on us all day long. At least Gay made them start way back. It's sad that we've been figued out defensively by every opponent, regardless of their specific schemes. Worse, I see no end in site. We don't have the round pegs for the round holes Rex is forcing on our square defense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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