How good is the Bills new starting defense?

[Process]

Miller-Phillips-Oliver-Rousseau

Williams-Bernard

Jackson-Johnson-Poyer-Hyde-Benford

 

With Floyd AJE Ford as additional depth that will get a lot of playing time

 

That still looks pretty good to me? 

 

CB depth is a concern, we have none. Also WLB, but that's probably the least important position on D.

 

With McDermott as DC, is this still a top 5 unit? 10? 15?

 

And with a top X defense, is our offense good/consistent enough to still win a Superbowl?

 

Last week sucked, but we still have a top 2 QB, top 5 WR, and solid pass blocking o line. If they can go into the playoffs playing their best ball, unlike last year, Bills are still a Superbowl favorite, IMO. 

[Billl]

If Von is back close to what he was before, the front 4 is very good.  The LBs are okay, and the secondary is bad.  It’s serviceable overall, but the offense is going to have to be consistently elite if this team is going anywhere.

[Einstein]

I wouldn’t assume Williams is the starter. I think it will be a split role.

 

The real problem is the secondary. It’s in shambles.

Not just due to injury. But also age.

[starrymessenger]

Before London and with McD at the helm I could see it top 5. Not sure where we are now but it's not the same place. 

[Brianmoorman4jesus]

If you tell me Williams is actually going to start I’ll be happy. 

[Low Positive]

We haven't actually seem them play yet, so I don't know. I would have to think that McDermott is adjusting the scheme to take some of the coverage load off of the OLB, but we don't know how he'll do that.

[transplantbillsfan]

Yes... still a top 5-10 unit. 

[Gugny]

Not a playoff defense by any stretch. 

[Franco_92]

Hopefully still at least average. It can't be worse than the 2020 defense and that's the furthest we've gone. That unit had a horrible line, ok LB corps and good secondary 

[Royale with Cheese]

2 minutes ago, Gugny said:

Not a playoff defense by any stretch. 

You are wrong here Gugs.

[BuffaloBillyG]

Talent wise before losing White, Milano and Jones this was a top 5 unit. And it translated to the field. After losing that much talent this probably drops them to top 10-12 on paper. We we see how it translates to actual play.

 

In my eyes everything that a defense does is set off the pass rush...and ours is still near the top of the league. Even losing a bit of pass rush juice Jones brought. If we can still apply pressure it masks the lack of speed in the back half. It helps the boundary CBs have to cover for less time. It makes life easier for everyone.

 

Talent wise we may be down, but let's see what McDermott can do and will do scheme wise to make up for it. Thankfully, we have the Giants and Patriots back to back and it will give them the ability to try some things out and see where they stand.

[frostbitmic]

It's not as good as it was before the London trip.

 

The loss of Jones at DT will likely hurt the least as DT was solid with depth, though he's the soul of this defense.

Losing Tre' hurts bad ... There's some decent depth here but Tre' was just rounding back to form and is still the best CB on the team.

Losing Milano, the Heart of this defense will hurt real bad. Bernard has looked real good as a first year starter, second year player, Williams and everyone else is very raw, except Klein who was getting old a few seasons ago.

 

There isn't anybody that can step into these three positions and not lose a beat or two on this roster. I expect the defense to regress, after playing the Giants that is. Over a quarter of our starting defense are already done for the year.

[Process]

5 minutes ago, Gugny said:

Not a playoff defense by any stretch. 

Paired with the Patriots offense? Sure not a playoff defense. 

 

With our offense, if clicking at the end of the year, still plenty good enough. IMO. 

[Gugny]

3 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

You are wrong here Gugs.

I hope so!!

[julian]

23 minutes ago, Billl said:

If Von is back close to what he was before, the front 4 is very good.  The LBs are okay, and the secondary is bad.  It’s serviceable overall, but the offense is going to have to be consistently elite if this team is going anywhere.

I believe McDermott and his scheme will apply enough lipstick to the secondary to get by, if the Dline continues to get the pressure we’ve seen up to this point this defense should finish top 10, more than good enough to accomplish all their goals.

[BillsUberAlles]

Good enough to stay in the top 12 in the NFL which means plenty good enough to win the SB. Better than KC's D the last two times they won.

 

Make no mistake, if we don't, it will not be due to the defense not being good enough.

 

 

[Billsfan1972]

I hope we find out vs. Cincy.  If they don't look competent against their next three opponents, there is huge concern.

[finn]

45 minutes ago, Einstein said:

The real problem is the secondary. It’s in shambles.

Not just due to injury. But also age.

What do you think of Rapp replacing Poyer? Poyer seems to have lost a step, even more than Hyde, whose play also has seemed pedestrian (to my inexpert eye). 

 

I haven't given up on Elam yet. I'm guessing that confidence is the key problem now. McD. seems to prefer system CBs who are in the right place and tackle well, whereas Elam's strengths are his size, speed and length, which allow him to jam and then stick to the WR. Riding the bench because he's not good at what he's not good at might have led him to believe he's not good at anything. 

 

In other words, to tap into Elam's strengths, McD. might have to change his expectations, and maybe even his defense. He might not have a choice at this point.

 

I'm talking about this starting lineup: Benford, Elam, Rapp, Hyde, Johnson. Jackson, Poyer, and Hamlin backing up. The key is Elam. 

[BillsUberAlles]

40 minutes ago, Gugny said:

Not a playoff defense by any stretch. 

 

Wrong...it's still better than KC's defense that won 2 super bowls by a lot.

56 minutes ago, Einstein said:

I wouldn’t assume Williams is the starter. I think it will be a split role.

 

The real problem is the secondary. It’s in shambles.

Not just due to injury. But also age.

 

The secondary is in better shape than it was last year early in the year.

[akcash]

Thanks for making this thread I was literally thinking this exact thing last night. Its arguable that we are still the same level if Benford and Dane can keep playing at a high level. Obviously a drop off at linebacker but I'm curious to see what Dorian has after a few games under his belt. He could settle in nicely.