McDermott’s Defense against #1 Offense? Discuss

[folz]

Just a few defensive stats I wanted to point out (but didn't want to start an entire new thread, so I thought that I would throw them in here):

 

As of Week 15:

-Bills are currently 5th in sacks with 45 (only 1 behind the Colts and Chiefs at 46, 3 behind Miami, and 5 behind Baltimore). They are 3rd in QB knock-downs.

 

-Bills are currently tied for 2nd in turnovers with 24, just 1 turnover behind current league-leaders San Fran and Jax (25 turnovers each).

 

-Bills are 11th in yards allowed, but 4th in points allowed (behind only KC, San Fran, and Baltimore). And after the Chargers and Pats games, I would expect that they'll at least move up into the top ten in yards allowed.

 

Not too bad considering the injuries to Tre, Milano, DaQuan (our best defender at each level of the defense)...and the fact that the offense was anemic for what a good 6-game stretch. And yet, the Bills are still statistically like a top 5 defense.

 

Shout out to the defensive line, they have been playing in the opposing team's backfield quite a bit:

Floyd 10.5 sacks, 8 tackles for loss

Oliver 6.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss

A.J. 6.5 sacks, 6 tackles for loss

Groot 5 sacks, 12 tackles for a loss

Phillips/Jones/Joseph (combined), 6 sacks, 6 tackles for a loss

 

Saint Bernard

Terrell Bernard (13 games): 117 tackles (good for 12th best in the league) with 3.5 sacks, 6 tackles for a loss, 3 INTs, and 3 fumble recoveries.

 

For comparison...and to beat a dead horse:

Tremaine Edmunds w/Bears (13 games, on 78% of team's defensive snaps): 92 tackles, 0 sacks, 3 tackles for a loss, 4 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery.

 

Tyrel Dodson (13 games, on 47% of teams defensive snaps): 63 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6 tackles for a loss, 0 INTs, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery

 

Tremaine w/Bills 2022 (17 games): 102 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 6 tackles for a loss, 0 forced or recovered fumbles

 

Bernard has 15.5 impact plays (sack/loss/turnover) this season in 14 games 

Edmunds has 17 impact plays over the last two seasons (30 games)

 

 

Cheers to Beane for the pickups of Rasul Douglas and Linval Joseph. Honestly, may have saved the season (that and the firing of Dorsey, of course)..

 

Despite anyone's overall stance on McDermott as head coach, you have to give him some props for keeping this defense playing at a pretty high-level despite everything. The fact that the offense went into its slump at the same time that we lost Tre, Matt, and DaQuan made for a very difficult stretch of games. Hopefully that is all in the rearview mirror now with Brady at OC, our new defenders acclimated, and possibly some guys coming back.

 

I mean, I know these are probably big IFs, but if Milano, DaQuan, and Von are all in full football shape/back to playing at a high level by the playoffs (provided we make it in, which I believe we will)...watch out NFL.

[Scott7975]

I have to give McD his flowers this week.  He came in with a hell of a plan and had his players executing.  That was damn good coaching this week.  I still need to see a post season run out of him for me to change my mind on him.  I always said he is a good coach, but he keeps failing at the end of close games.  That needs to change.

[longtimebillsfan]

On 12/17/2023 at 4:11 PM, Lionel Hutz said:

It’s a good win but this really isn’t unexpected for a McDermott team. When the offense is cooking his defense looks like the best in the league. It’s when the pressure is on that his defense folds. 
 

Also, the fact that we have this much talent and are still needing help to make the playoffs and are in this situation is on McDermott.

If the Bills win the Super Bowl you will still be spewing this crap.

 

The Bills has a bad run.  IT happens.

 

Get over it.

Edited December 23, 2023 by longtimebillsfan

[longtimebillsfan]

On 12/18/2023 at 9:41 AM, Livinginthepast said:

The frustrating thing about McD in his entire time here is that he is so inconsistent in these big games. He has gotten so many big games right . Yesterday the team look prepared and they executed almost flawlessly. Then other games where they look woefully unprepared in all areas (like Cincy playoff game etc).  Yesterday might have been in McD's top 3 as coach.

Please point out a coach in this league that wins every big game.

 

This is an unrealistic standard to set for any coach to live up to.

 

McD is one of the most successful head coaches in Bills history. 

 

Being a sports fan means dealing with disappointments.  

 

You have to ride the wave.

 

It makes the successes that much sweeter.

[Livinginthepast]

10 minutes ago, longtimebillsfan said:

Please point out a coach in this league that wins every big game.

 

This is an unrealistic standard to set for any coach to live up to.

 

McD is one of the most successful head coaches in Bills history. 

 

Being a sports fan means dealing with disappointments.  

 

You have to ride the wave.

 

It makes the successes that much sweeter.

You completely missed the point. It wasnt about winning or losing big games, it was about being properly prepared to the best of your ability for them. That's the inconsistency. Sometimes the prep is superb and other times it looks like the team hadn't watched film of who they were playing at all. 

[PatsFanNH]

Let’s look how it’s been the last 3 games:

 

Philly: D played well for 3 qrtrs gave up 17 points in the 4th which included an unbelievable 59 yard FG. Collapse hurt the team Grade? C — wasn’t for the unbelievable FG it’s a win but you can’t collapse like this in the 4th qrtr.

 

KC — played a great game, held on and won it for the Bills partially because Toney lined up Offside. This game was won because of the D. Grade - B they played very well and for once luck was on their side.

 

Dallas — absolutely destroyed the Boys O. They had a great game plan and the Cowboys never adapted the O and well the game was over by halftime. Grade — A+ — couldn’t have played any better and they never had to adapt the game plan since Dallas never adapted their O. 

As you can see the D improved every week, also 2 out of the 3 weeks the Bills O scored 30+ points.   The Bills can beat anyone in the AFC this year, but the margin for error is small.

[longtimebillsfan]

14 minutes ago, Livinginthepast said:

You completely missed the point. It wasnt about winning or losing big games, it was about being properly prepared to the best of your ability for them. That's the inconsistency. Sometimes the prep is superb and other times it looks like the team hadn't watched film of who they were playing at all. 

So, if the Bills had won some of the heart breaking losses this year, it wouldn't have mattered since it appeared that the coach didn't prepare the team properly?

 

Most of our losses could easily have been a win if a missed field goal had been made or a penalty had not been called, etc.

 

With the difference between win or loss in most of these games has been so small, I am not sure how you can point to a lack of preperation.

 

It also takes a game or two for teams to adjust to injuries to key players.  The Bills have had more than their fair share this year.

 

 

 

[FireChans]

49 minutes ago, Livinginthepast said:

You completely missed the point. It wasnt about winning or losing big games, it was about being properly prepared to the best of your ability for them. That's the inconsistency. Sometimes the prep is superb and other times it looks like the team hadn't watched film of who they were playing at all. 

The Eagles have gotten their doors blown off by double digits to two of their rivals, and then lost to the Seahawks backup QB.

 

Have they been consistent? Are they being properly prepared?

 

 

[BringBackFergy]

1 hour ago, longtimebillsfan said:

So, if the Bills had won some of the heart breaking losses this year, it wouldn't have mattered since it appeared that the coach didn't prepare the team properly?

 

Most of our losses could easily have been a win if a missed field goal had been made or a penalty had not been called, etc.

 

With the difference between win or loss in most of these games has been so small, I am not sure how you can point to a lack of preperation.

 

It also takes a game or two for teams to adjust to injuries to key players.  The Bills have had more than their fair share this year.

 

 

 

Perfect summary

[PatsFanNH]

43 minutes ago, FireChans said:

The Eagles have gotten their doors blown off by double digits to two of their rivals, and then lost to the Seahawks backup QB.

 

Have they been consistent? Are they being properly prepared?

 

 

Eagles are not as good as they were last year. They been wildly inconsistent since week 1.  Unlike the Bills they got lucky and won a lot of games they could have and probably should have lost. 

[FireChans]

4 minutes ago, PatsFanNH said:

Eagles are not as good as they were last year. They been wildly inconsistent since week 1.  Unlike the Bills they got lucky and won a lot of games they could have and probably should have lost. 

That’s the point.

[Livinginthepast]

1 hour ago, FireChans said:

The Eagles have gotten their doors blown off by double digits to two of their rivals, and then lost to the Seahawks backup QB.

 

Have they been consistent? Are they being properly prepared?

 

 

My post was about my observations on McD's preparation for Bills games over the last few years. I'm not sure why you are mentioning the Eagles they are completely irrelevant to the discussion and their losses that you mentioned may have nothing to do with being prepared or not.

[BringBackFergy]

1 minute ago, Livinginthepast said:

My post was about my observations on McD's preparation for Bills games over the last few years. I'm not sure why you are mentioning the Eagles they are completely irrelevant to the discussion and their losses that you mentioned may have nothing to do with being prepared or not.

Think about what you just said...and apply it to McD and the Bills.

[Livinginthepast]

1 hour ago, longtimebillsfan said:

So, if the Bills had won some of the heart breaking losses this year, it wouldn't have mattered since it appeared that the coach didn't prepare the team properly?

 

Most of our losses could easily have been a win if a missed field goal had been made or a penalty had not been called, etc.

 

With the difference between win or loss in most of these games has been so small, I am not sure how you can point to a lack of preperation.

 

It also takes a game or two for teams to adjust to injuries to key players.  The Bills have had more than their fair share this year.

 

 

 

My post wasnt about ALL of the Bills losses this year or even the "heartbreaking" ones just some select ones. For the record I thought the Bills were well prepared for the Eagles game which they lost.  

[FireChans]

1 hour ago, Livinginthepast said:

My post was about my observations on McD's preparation for Bills games over the last few years. I'm not sure why you are mentioning the Eagles they are completely irrelevant to the discussion and their losses that you mentioned may have nothing to do with being prepared or not.

Because this myopic view of treating the Bills like they are the only team in the league that plays bad games and not comparing them to team’s of their caliber or greater is silly. 

[Lionel Hutz]

7 hours ago, longtimebillsfan said:

If the Bills win the Super Bowl yiu will still be spewing this crap.

 

The Bills has a bad run.  IT happens.

 

Get over it.

Bills aren't winning the SB with McDermott in charge.

[Livinginthepast]

2 hours ago, FireChans said:

Because this myopic view of treating the Bills like they are the only team in the league that plays bad games and not comparing them to team’s of their caliber or greater is silly. 

I dont think you even read my original post  properly or understood it. You keep replying about things I never said. Just give it a rest buddy.

[BigDingus]

So 4 out of the last 5 seasons, the Bills had a top 5 defense in either YPG or PPG (or both). 

 

2023: #4 PPG / #11 YPG 

2022: #2 PPG / #6 YPG 

2021:  #1 PPG / #1 YPG 

2020: #16 PPG / #14 YPG 

2019: #2 PPG / #3 YPG 

 

Games against top offenses each season:

 

2023:

* Win vs Dolphins (#1 PPG / #1 YPG) - allowed 20 points & 393 yards (4 sacks, 2 turnovers)

* Loss vs Eagles (#7 PPG / #9 YPG) - allowed 37 points & 378 yards (2 sacks, 2 turnovers)

* Win vs Chiefs (#10 PPG / #8 YPG) - allowed 17 points & 346 yards (1 sack, 2 turnovers)

*Win vs Cowboys (#2 PPG / #6 YPG) - allowed 10 points & 195 yards (3 sacks, 1 turnover)

Average: 21 PPG / 328 YPG / 2.5 sacks / 1.8 turnovers (PPG good enough for 14th overall, YPG good for 16th)

 

2022: 

* Loss vs Dolphins (#11 PPG / #6 YPG) - allowed 21 points & 212 yards (2 sacks, 0 turnovers) 

* Win vs Dolphins - allowed 29 points & 405 yards (2 sacks, 0 turnovers) 

* Win vs Dolphins - allowed 31 points & 231 yards (4 sacks, 2 turnovers) *Tua Out*

* Win vs Chiefs (#1 PPG/ #1 YPG) - allowed 20 points & 387 yards (3 sacks, 2 turnovers)

* Loss vs Vikings (#8 PPG / #7 YPG) - allowed 33 points & 481 yards (4 sacks, 2 turnovers) 

* Win vs Detroit (#5 PPG / #4 PPG) - allowed 25 points & 326 yards (2 sacks, 2 turnovers) 

* Loss vs Bengals (#7 PPG / #8 YPG) - allowed 27 points & 412 yards (1 sack, 0 turnovers) 

Average: 26.6 PPG / 351 YPG  / 2.5 sacks / 1.1 turnover (PPG would've been good enough for 31st overall, YPG good for 22nd)

 

2021:

* Win vs Chiefs (#4 PPG / #3 YPG) - allowed 20 points & 392 yards (2 sacks, 4 turnovers)

* Loss vs Colts (#9 PPG / #16 PPG) - allowed 41 points & 370 yards (0 sacks, 0 turnovers)

* Loss vs Bucs (#2 PPG / #2 YPG) - allowed 33 points & 488 yards (2 sacks, 0 turnovers)

Average: 31.3 PPG / 416 YPG / 1.3 sacks / 1.3 turnovers (PPG would've been good enough for LAST overall, YPG also LAST) 

 

2019: 

* Loss vs Pats (#7 PPG / #15 YPG) - allowed 16 points & 224 yards (0 sacks, 1 turnover) 

* Loss vs Pats - allowed 24 points & 414 yards (0 sacks, 1 turnover)

* Win vs Cowboys (#6 PPG / #1 YPG) - allowed 15 points & 426 yards (4 sacks, 2 turnovers)

* Loss vs Ravens (#1 PPG / #2 YPG) - allowed 24 points & 257 yards (1 sack, 1 turnover)

Average: 19.8 PPG / 330 YPG / 1.3 sacks / 1.3 turnovers (PPG would've been good enough for 10th overall, YPG also 10th)

 

 

Overall, it looks like the 2023 Bills play pretty well against good offenses. Seeing your defense allow more points & yards against better offenses is to be expected, but 2023 is the lowest amount we've allowed since 2019. Granted, offenses all around are averaging less production this year, so we're not ranked quite as well as 2019. 

 

McDermott isn't completely locking down the best offenses, but he's doing better than Frazier for the most part. Defense is also getting more turnovers & sacks in those games, so that's a plus too! 

[Ralonzo]

11 hours ago, FireChans said:

The Eagles have gotten their doors blown off by double digits to two of their rivals, and then lost to the Seahawks backup QB.

 

Have they been consistent? Are they being properly prepared?

 

 

 

How did the Bills manage to lose to those bums? 

[longtimebillsfan]

5 hours ago, Lionel Hutz said:

Bills aren't winning the SB with McDermott in charge.

Glad we got that cleared up.