eball Posted May 17, 2016 Author Posted May 17, 2016 Lol, the Raider game. And the Chargers game. And the 2nd half of the first Pats*** game. And the 2nd half of the KC game. And the 2nd Miami game. The 2014 defense was very good at times, mediocre at others, and elite on only a couple of occasions. They rarely stepped up when it counted most.
metzelaars_lives Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 (edited) The Bills can also lay claim to a very good pass defense, as the team ranked 12th in Total QBR allowed (50.4), ninth in Total QBR on vertical passes (66.3) and ninth in yards allowed per attempt (6.8). WTH?? I thought Rex destroyed our defense and is on his way out? These are the worst kind of posts. Yes, the pass defense was pretty good last year. Yes, they still GREATLY underachieved as a unit overall. The two concepts are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it just goes to show how bad the front seven was when our pass defense actually exceeded all expectations and we still sucked. You could easily construct an argument that Rex "destroyed" our defense, absolutely. Look at the pass rush numbers. Would be just as easy for someone to cite them and make some snide "wait but I thought Rex was the best coach ever..." comment. Edited May 17, 2016 by metzelaars_lives
Andrew Son Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 These are the worst kind of posts. Yes, the pass defense was pretty good last year. Yes, they still GREATLY underachieved as a unit overall. The two concepts are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it just goes to show how bad the front seven was when our pass defense actually exceeded all expectations and we still sucked. You could easily construct an argument that Rex "destroyed" our defense, absolutely. Look at the pass rush numbers. Would be just as easy for someone to cite them and make some snide "wait but I thought Rex was the best coach ever..." comment. Nah, just balances out the other side
BuffaloMatt Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 After last year's over enthusiasm being underestimated works for me. This way we can out perform the projected low expectations. Merely, fattening the frog for the snake.
ricojes Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 Not everyone at ESPN is pessimistic about the Bills... Pretty much the same as TBD, the optimists are few a far between...
Nihilarian Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 These are the worst kind of posts. Yes, the pass defense was pretty good last year. Yes, they still GREATLY underachieved as a unit overall. The two concepts are not mutually exclusive. In fact, it just goes to show how bad the front seven was when our pass defense actually exceeded all expectations and we still sucked. You could easily construct an argument that Rex "destroyed" our defense, absolutely. Look at the pass rush numbers. Would be just as easy for someone to cite them and make some snide "wait but I thought Rex was the best coach ever..." comment. I agree. Now just imagine how good that 2015 Bills secondary and total defense could have been with the fierce pass rush of that front seven the Bills had in 2014.
What a Tuel Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 "When it counted most" is extremely subjective. The Chargers game was an average defensive performance. The Patriots game was their worst of the year. Specifically the 2nd half. 2nd Miami game? The offense was god awful in that game. Time consuming drives to start the game that resulted in field goals and the 2nd half they were pitiful. The defense performance was still good. You can blame McKelvin on special teams for that KC game and the offense unable to punch it in the endzone when given 3 more chances after the Chiefs took the lead. Again a very good defensive performance. Bottom line being the 2014 defense was A LOT better then the 2015 defense so I'm not sure why people feel the need to bash to show their support of Rex. Philip Rivers had his way with us and our defense that game. The stats may not show it, but they let up on us in the second half. I think the point is that while there is legitimate criticism of Rex Ryan's defense last year, there is a lot of criticism to be had for the 2014 defense. You can point to several games in 2015 that the defense performed great. It's not popular but it is the truth despite the sack totals.
eball Posted May 17, 2016 Author Posted May 17, 2016 Philip Rivers had his way with us and our defense that game. The stats may not show it, but they let up on us in the second half. I think the point is that while there is legitimate criticism of Rex Ryan's defense last year, there is a lot of criticism to be had for the 2014 defense. You can point to several games in 2015 that the defense performed great. It's not popular but it is the truth despite the sack totals. Thanks Tuel...yes, this is the point. I'm tired of hearing about the championship defense Rex ruined last season. It's a perfect example of repeating something so often that suddenly others believe it is fact.
26CornerBlitz Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 There is not "a lot" of criticism to be had for the 2014 defense. You can certainly nitpick as you and certain posters have. Lol They carried the team to a winning record. They were top 5 in just about every defensive category and by the end of the season they were clicking on all cylinders. Nobody said they were the 85 bears, but to transform that defense into what we saw in 2015 is disappointing. A phony 9-7 record. Great!
26CornerBlitz Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 @JohnMurphyShow Are the #Bills a sleeper team for @SuperBowl LI? KC Joyner of http://ESPN.com says they are. He joins us tonight 830pm @KCJoynerTFS
Nihilarian Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 There is not "a lot" of criticism to be had for the 2014 defense. You can certainly nitpick as you and certain posters have. Lol They carried the team to a winning record. They were top 5 in just about every defensive category and by the end of the season they were clicking on all cylinders. Nobody said they were the 85 bears, but to transform that defense into what we saw in 2015 is disappointing and Rex is mostly responsible. I agree and to me, it's inconceivable to even criticize the 2014 defense in comparison with the 2015 defense. The 2015 defense actually had a better CB in Darby and yet were 31st against the pass after week two because of the defensive scheme that Ryan Employed. "Ryan's quote: "We play defense based on our personnel, not just the scheme. I don't try to put a square peg in a round hole. I think I've been around enough to adjust based on the players that I have, the talents of the players that I have, and it'll be no different this year." "The reality: Ryan has tried to fit a square peg in a round hole. After Jim Schwartz ran his "wide nine" scheme last season and allowed the Bills' defensive line to focus on pass-rushing, leading to an NFL-high 54 sacks, the story has been dramatically different this season." http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/22828/playoff-promise-among-rex-ryan-statements-that-will-likely-prove-false Yea, this is why the 2016 team needs to retool the defense to fit Ryan's lame 3-4 two gap scheme. Because Ryan couldn't figure out how to get sacks out of the best pass rushing D-line in the league. Dropping Dareus and Kyle Williams into pass coverage was simply absurd and in particular against the Chiefs as two of Dareus dropbacks went for TD's. I have a difficult time figuring out why so many fans still want to defend the debacle of the 2015 defense. Want some more pessimism? http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/62752/472/broken-bills "First-round pick Shaq Lawson will undergo right shoulder surgery on Tuesday. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the operation will require a 5-6 month recovery period. The injury occurred at minicamp when Lawson tried to perform a swim move on a tackling dummy."
NickelCity Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 After last year's over enthusiasm being underestimated works for me. This way we can out perform the projected low expectations. Merely, fattening the frog for the snake. I credit the bills for shaping me into a defense pessimist during game day. Oddly enough I'll let the offseason woo me, but I can't recall going into a game where I actually thought we would win. Brutal.
Mark Vader Posted May 17, 2016 Posted May 17, 2016 How the heck they ever won eight games is beyond me. What's even more amazing, is that they had a real chance of winning 11 games last year.
White Linen Posted May 18, 2016 Posted May 18, 2016 I'll continue to beat the dead horse. It is a shame what has happened to the defense. Although for whatever reason some argue the defense was overrated and small in big spots. With that said, I expect Rex to be motivated this year to show everyone he still knows defense and wouldn't shock me to see the defense improve. I hope this is the case. I think I speak for most that your hope is definitely felt.
Dopey Posted May 18, 2016 Posted May 18, 2016 The Bills can also lay claim to a very good pass defense, as the team ranked 12th in Total QBR allowed (50.4), ninth in Total QBR on vertical passes (66.3) and ninth in yards allowed per attempt (6.8). WTH?? I thought Rex destroyed our defense and is on his way out? Come on Fergy, throw those numbers out. You saw this team play last year like I did. That d sucked.
26CornerBlitz Posted May 18, 2016 Posted May 18, 2016 KC Joyner: The Bills...A Super Bowl Sleeper? (12:17) ESPN Sr. NFL Insider KC Joyner called in to The John Murphy Show to discuss his recent article on the site where he picks his two Super Bowl Sleepers and why his analytic approach has the Bills hosting the Lombardi Trophy in 2016.
Formerly Allan in MD Posted May 18, 2016 Posted May 18, 2016 Good points. On paper, the Bills have some of the best player talent in the league and should have been playoff bound last year! Last year wasn't just about injuries or bad luck like it used to be with head coaches like Jauron and Gailey. This team swept the Jets and Dolphins and has enough talent to give the Patriots a serious run. And yet they didn't! If only the team was motivated and prepared enough to beat teams with good QB's out of the AFC East. That first game against the Patriots in week two the defense looked like it was in a "prevent defense" most of the game and with no pressure on Brady he set a Bills franchise worst 466 passing yards allowed ever! That bad defensive scheme with such a total lack of QB pressure wouldn't be the only thing to define the 2015 Buffalo Bills. It was all the penalties on both sides of the ball. It was the noticeable lack of defensive team preparation against non-AFC East opponents. It was defensive play calls coming in late and the late player substitutions. The defensive players not looking ready when the ball was snapped. If this new head coach hire was his first year as an NFL head coach then some of those things can be forgiven. But this hire with an experienced NFL Head coach who was supposed to be a defensive guru who wouldn't try and put square pegs into round holes... then went ahead and did just that with the defensive line. That 2015 front seven was not built to run zone blitzes or two-gap run stopping and yet we saw quite a bit of those all last year. Yes, the 2016 Buffalo Bills have the player talent to reach the playoffs! Sadly though it looks like they don't have the defensive coaching talent to even come close and wasn't that the biggest reason as to why this current coach was hired? Like a fool I bought into Rex Ryan's promises last offseason to see the Bills in the playoffs and have the number one defense in the league. Not this year! Rex is the "mouth that roared." Frequently, as apparently is the case with Rex, roaring is a cover for an inability to figure out how to soar. I hope he's on a very short and tight leash as he deserves to be, as you suggest. Talent is one thing; knowing how to effectively utilize it is quite another and Ryan has shown no ability thus far to figuring that out.
John from Riverside Posted May 18, 2016 Posted May 18, 2016 Rex is the "mouth that roared." Frequently, as apparently is the case with Rex, roaring is a cover for an inability to figure out how to soar. I hope he's on a very short and tight leash as he deserves to be, as you suggest. Talent is one thing; knowing how to effectively utilize it is quite another and Ryan has shown no ability thus far to figuring that out. LOL
hondo in seattle Posted May 18, 2016 Posted May 18, 2016 KC Joyner: "a pioneer in the analytical football revolution." Dr Z liked him - a good sign in my book. Just listened to the interview. Interesting stuff. KC loves our running attack. "I think they can definitely make the playoffs." I don't always agree with his logic but I really want him to be right.
Buffalo_Stampede Posted May 18, 2016 Posted May 18, 2016 It's the best Bills team since the late 90s. Health, consistency, and discipline will be the keys.
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