We are now the worst defense in the league

[Sherlock Holmes]

1 hour ago, Brianmoorman4jesus said:

It’s mind blowing to me to hear all the people say last night was a heroic performance by this defense considering….We got absolutely embarrassed on every 3rd or 4th down. The Bengals stopped themselves a few times by playing with their food. Guys ran wide open through the Swiss cheese zone. We never tackle, can’t cover, NEVER EVER make a big stop to give it back to our offense. Anytime ever, that McD has a shot to get a stop and get it back….NEVER do we make a stop. Zero exceptions. This defense sucks. And it puts so much pressure on the offense to be perfect.

Opposing offenses don't even have to make contested catches, the nearest DB is like 5 yards away at all times allowing 20+ yard catches before YAC every play. Runs are automatic 5+ yards too before we even try to tackle.

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

19 minutes ago, Jauronimo said:

How many games started with back to back 5+ minute TD drives this season?

 

I think the answer is one. I don't want to click through all those boxscores again though. 

 

Our defense had one of the worst (maybe THE worst) 1st Q of any game played across the NFL this season, and we have people in here blaming the offense. 

 

You can say that the DEF is doing as well as can be expected after the injuries, but that doesn't change the fact that the DEF has been awful. 

[dave mcbride]

1 hour ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

The offense has the ability to improve now. The defense doesn’t. The defense will get worse, look at the schedule.

I don't know about that. I think Douglas and Joseph are genuine upgrades, so I expect them to improve a bit. They have a real one-technique who can play and a CB who is good in zone and actually makes interceptions. They were missing both.

[Nuncha]

1 hour ago, Rubes said:

Definitely not good. At the same time, I’m eager to see how that changes once the new guys acclimate and start playing more. Maybe we’ll even see Miller start getting back to form before it’s too late.

 

Holding the Bengals to 3 points in the second half last night could be a sign of things to come.

 

Miller time was lost last Thanksgiving.  Stick a fork in him.

[LABILLBACKER]

2 minutes ago, Sherlock Holmes said:

Opposing offenses don't even have to make contested catches, the nearest DB is like 5 yards away at all times allowing 20+ yard catches before YAC every play. Runs are automatic 5+ yards too before we even try to tackle.

Again last night our dbs were 7+ yards off the wr.  He'll never change.

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

2 minutes ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

I think the answer is one. I don't want to click through all those boxscores again though. 

 

Our defense had one of the worst (maybe THE worst) 1st Q of any game played across the NFL this season, and we have people in here blaming the offense. 

 

You can say that the DEF is doing as well as can be expected after the injuries, but that doesn't change the fact that the DEF has been awful. 

 

No team has scored 30 points on the bills this season.  Buffalo is 5-1 if they hold the opponent to 20 or less (included the jets here), and 0-3 if the opponent scores 21 or more. 

 

The Bills have been held under 21 points 4 times this year.  To act like there isn't an issue with the offense is not accurate.  

[Billever76]

1 hour ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

McDermott is coaching the defense scared right now. It’s going to be a bend and sometimes break defense the rest of the season.

Offense better get going or we’re looking at a top 10 pick. 
 

I’ve always said you are what you’re record is but they deserve to be 4-5 right now with the hard part of the schedule coming up.

 

Lol McDermott entire scheme is based on being scared.

Scared of the big play so you are content to watch EVERY last good offense control the time of possession and pace of the game....it's like a cat playing with a mouse when it comes to good qbs and good offenses...they may let you feel you have a shot until it gets time and then down the hatch and the mouse (McDermott defense) is swallowed whole lol

[Buffalo_Stampede]

7 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

I don't know about that. I think Douglas and Joseph are genuine upgrades, so I expect them to improve a bit. They have a real one-technique who can play and a CB who is good in zone and actually makes interceptions. They were missing both.

They aren’t going from the worst defense in the league to good because of Douglas and Joseph.

 

The problem is they have Eagles, Chiefs, Cowboys, Chargers, and Dolphins left.

[McBean]

1 hour ago, HappyDays said:

This isn't a hot take. It's supported by analytics:

 

I understand the injuries. But we have a defensive head coach and we are literally the worst defense in the league since the Jaguars game.

 

And I get why fans are focusing on the offense, but none of that matters to our Super Bowl aspirations if the defense doesn't get back to at least the top half of the league.

Fire FRAZIER!

 

Right McClap lovers?

11 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Again last night our dbs were 7+ yards off the wr.  He'll never change.

And to think poor Leslie Frazier got the blame…

 

just like Dorsey will get the blame…

 

just like Brandon Beane will eventually get the blame..

 

This McClap guy is going to be our Marvin Lewis. Mark it down.

[Scott7975]

17 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Because his play calling and personnel usage has absolutely been an issue. He has put his defense in bad spots at the end of games against the Jaguars, Pats, and Bengals. Poor blitz timing has led to backbreaking conversions on multiple 3rd downs.

 

I mean you really think the only reason that our defense is the worst in the league is injuries? No way we have the worst defensive roster in the league, I refuse to believe that even with the injuries. So that leaves coaching as a major issue.

 

Playcalling - everyone around here wanted Frazier out because he wasn't aggressive and on 3rd down he would only rush 3-4.  Now we blitz people and people are all up in arms about that.  Can't have it both ways.  The problem with the Blitz is the other team sees it coming and and our guys don't get home, not that he actually calls it.  Although, I do think he is a bit blitz heavy.

 

Yes, those injuries matter. Milano is our best linebacker and was all over the field making plays.  Next to him is a guy that is playing well but its still his first year of experience and as well as he is playing, isn't an all pro like Milano.  That loss matters.  Our pressure up the middle on the line took a hit and now we have a fat phillips and another guy that basically stand at the line doing not much.  That loss matters.  Our best corner, despite what people say about him, was back into his all pro like form when he went down.  We have one guy that was drafted in the first round and gets torched so he can't even get on the gameday roster, another guy that is ok but no world beater, and another guy that was probably our best player on the field last night but has had some bad games this year.  Poyer who has been an all pro player for us looks old and slow and isn't making the same impact and thats not because of coaching.  The guys that helped create turnovers, hold star receivers in check, and gave good push in the middle of the line are mostly out for the season.  That makes a difference.

 

DVOA doesn't make us the worst defense in the league either.  Holding the Bengals to 24 points while the offense did nothing the entire game outside of 3 drives, one of which ended in a turnover and also turned the ball over the first play of the second drive against a superbowl contender with a top 5 qb in their house is a good game.

 

The only thing I put on defense is allowing that game winning drive against the Pats.  Outside of that they have played good enough. You should be worried about this ass offense Dorsey puts out every week instead.  They aren't going to win many games if they can't score.

Edited November 6, 2023 by Scott7975

[dma0034]

It's because the defense has been the same for the laat 3/4 years. They are frontrunners that can't stop the run. The defense relies on the Offense too much. If the Bills get out to a 14-3 lead then the defense can just focus on getting to the QB. When that can't be their main factor and teams can run the Defense becomes completely exposed.

 

I actually think McDermott is slowing down the Offense to make the Defense look better.

[Rubes]

13 minutes ago, Nuncha said:

Miller time was lost last Thanksgiving.  Stick a fork in him.

 

I think you expect too much from a guy who is still less than a year out from an ACL. People complained all last year about White and his performance. Didn't hear too much of that this year.

 

[BananaB]

9 minutes ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

No team has scored 30 points on the bills this season.  Buffalo is 5-1 if they hold the opponent to 20 or less (included the jets here), and 0-3 if the opponent scores 21 or more. 

 

The Bills have been held under 21 points 4 times this year.  To act like there isn't an issue with the offense is not accurate.  

There is an issue on O, it’s that they keep using money and draft picks to build this ***** defense while bringing in scrubs on O hoping Allen can even everything out. Our biggest problem last year was WRs core and Beane went out and got us two guys who haven’t combined for 100 catches. Another problem was the line, we got a guy who couldn’t hold a job in Dallas at numerous positions and a rookie. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

9 minutes ago, Bleeding Bills Blue said:

 

No team has scored 30 points on the bills this season.  Buffalo is 5-1 if they hold the opponent to 20 or less (included the jets here), and 0-3 if the opponent scores 21 or more. 

 

The Bills have been held under 21 points 4 times this year.  To act like there isn't an issue with the offense is not accurate.  

 

I don't think anyone is claiming the offense has been perfect and without blame. Just pointing out the DEF has been complete garbage

[Carmel Corn]

20 minutes ago, Rigotz said:

Prior to this year, Sean McDermott has done the following in the first 3 rounds of the draft:

 

2022:

Round 1: Defense

Round 2: Offense - James Cook

Round 3: Defense

 

2021:

Round 1: Defense

Round 2: Defense

Round 3: Offense - Spencer Brown

 

2020: 

Round 2: Defense

Round 3: Offense - Zack Moss

 

2019: 

Round 1: Defense

Round 2: Offense - Cody Ford

Round 3: Offense - Devin Singletary

Round 3: Offense - Dawson Knox

 

Big free agent dollars:

DaQuan Jones

Von Miller

 

Expensive defensive re-signings:

Jordan Poyer

Micah Hyde 

Taron Johnson

Ed Oliver

 

People might want to give McDermott a pass on injuries? Ok ... well the Bills spent a TON of draft capital on defense and a TON of free agent dollars on defense as well. For such a defensive genius, you'd think we wouldn't be ranked bottom in the league.

IMHO - this is the root of our current problems (besides coaching).  Our drafting has been HORRIBLE in terms of impact players on D.  Bad scouting?  Bad GM?  Bad McD judgment?  I don't know who is the driver behind all these  bad picks, but we have had to depend on FA signings to help cover our poor drafting.

[HappyDays]

1 hour ago, BillsFanSD said:

The offense is a bigger issue right now because the only way we can possibly win games against teams like Cinci is to win a track meet.  We absolutely need the offense to be great, because the defense is what it is (bad).

 

Correct. And there has not nearly as much investment on the offensive side of the ball so it's not realistic to expect them to carry the team in shootouts. The offense could certainly be much better but trying to put up 30 points a game deep into January with no running game and Gabe Davis as the #2 WR, that's an impossible ask.

[newcam2012]

18 minutes ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

I think the answer is one. I don't want to click through all those boxscores again though. 

 

Our defense had one of the worst (maybe THE worst) 1st Q of any game played across the NFL this season, and we have people in here blaming the offense. 

 

You can say that the DEF is doing as well as can be expected after the injuries, but that doesn't change the fact that the DEF has been awful. 

Who is the defensive coordinator on the team? 

 

After the game, the media asked McD about why the offense quickly abandoned the quick pace offense. He responded "I don't know." Let that sink in.

 

 

 

[BananaB]

10 minutes ago, McBean said:

Fire FRAZIER!

 

Right McClap lovers?

And to think poor Leslie Frazier got the blame…

 

just like Dorsey will get the blame…

 

just like Brandon Beane will eventually get the blame..

 

This McClap guy is going to be our Marvin Lewis. Mark it down.

I was all for fire Frazier because I figured with McD taking over the D there would be no more excuses. He either gets it done or doesn’t. 

[Capco]

According to the first five pages, there seems to be an even number of folks blaming the offense or the defense.  

Based on that, I think I'm gonna blame both lol.  

[Nuncha]

14 minutes ago, Rubes said:

 

I think you expect too much from a guy who is still less than a year out from an ACL. People complained all last year about White and his performance. Didn't hear too much of that this year.

 

Von Miller is nearly 35 years old and coming off a torn ACL.  White is 28.  Huge difference.  Miller is toast.

Edited November 6, 2023 by Nuncha