Bobby Babich to call Bills' Defense

[NewEra]

8 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

I do got to respectfully ask- How do you think babich has been incredible?

 

The bills before the chiefs game were the 18th ranked scoring defence, which is wild to me for a Sean McDermott defence. I get they have had injuries, but under almost every year the bills have had major injuries on defence . (Last year being worse)

 

The turnovers the defence gets are A plus, but I'm genuinely curious how fans and media think babich has been awesome.

 

Is it context because it's his first year on the job? Is it because the turnovers?

 

In saying that, I do think he had by far his best game against the chiefs last week as it was impressive 

Our 2nd half defense has been stellar.  
 

The ravens game was a poor showing (while also playing with Bernard and Taron).  Babich tried to replace them and play his same game plan.  Cam and Spector couldn’t play the part that games and Babich failed miserably.  
 

other than that- I think our D has been solid.  Not fantastic (other than the 2nd halves).  We clearly need to have Bernard and Taron out there if we want to be a good defense.  
 

I’m be eager to see how he plays the Niners and Lions.  Two excellent run teams with potent passing attacks.  
 

first time play caller- I’ve been very impressed, but he needs his horses
 

 

[BillsFan130]

2 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Our 2nd half defense has been stellar.  
 

The ravens game was a poor showing (while also playing with Bernard and Taron).  Babich tried to replace them and play his same game plan.  Cam and Spector couldn’t play the part that games and Babich failed miserably.  
 

other than that- I think our D has been solid.  Not fantastic (other than the 2nd halves).  We clearly need to have Bernard and Taron out there if we want to be a good defense.  
 

I’m be eager to see how he plays the Niners and Lions.  Two excellent run teams with potent passing attacks.  
 

first time play caller- I’ve been very impressed, but he needs his horses
 

 

Ya you're definitely right about the 2nd half defence. That and the turnovers have been great.

 

My one beef with him is I think he gets too passive at times. I think by far they play the most cover 2 and have the lowest blitz rate. (Admittedly I don't like a bend but don't break defence)

 

Last week was a lot more cover 1/man which I loved. Forced 2 turnovers and I think, 3, three and outs? Hope to see more of that aggression going forward 

[Mr. WEO]

12 hours ago, NewEra said:

Yes- and the guy that I quoted was the leader of the dog pack.  Only exists here to be combative.  
 

I won’t apologize for taking a receipt on a stupid hot take.  Do you think McDermott hired Babich as DC because he felt like we were in for a bad season and babich would serve as the scapegoat 

 

He didn't "hire Babich as DC".  He was already on the coaching staff. He promoted him to DC..  My take is he did it so if they tanked, he could fire another coordinator. 

 

you're not very good at this...

[NewEra]

8 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

He didn't "hire Babich as DC".  He was already on the coaching staff. He promoted him to DC..  My take is he did it so if they tanked, he could fire another coordinator. 

 

you're not very good at this...

Hired as DC/promoted to DC- same difference.  It doesn’t change the fact that you think he was PROMOTED to DC to be his scapegoat because of some smell…. Not because he thinks he’s a promising young defensive mind.    
 

you’re saying the reason an NFL head coach hired his defensive coordinator is to be his sacrificial lamb in case things went bad.  That’s insane to me and yes, I think it’s a terrible take.  I’m not the only one. 

Edited November 25 by NewEra

[WeckMonster]

10 hours ago, BillsFan130 said:

Ya you're definitely right about the 2nd half defence. That and the turnovers have been great.

 

My one beef with him is I think he gets too passive at times. I think by far they play the most cover 2 and have the lowest blitz rate. (Admittedly I don't like a bend but don't break defence)

 

Last week was a lot more cover 1/man which I loved. Forced 2 turnovers and I think, 3, three and outs? Hope to see more of that aggression going forward 

This drives me INSANE.  The safeties are literally so far back that WRs catch 25 yard passes 5 yards in front of our safeties.  And this is with our CBs giving a cushion.  I just don't understand the need to be THAT conservative.  It's like playing 9 on 11 most plays.

[GunnerBill]

10 hours ago, BillsFan130 said:

Ya you're definitely right about the 2nd half defence. That and the turnovers have been great.

 

My one beef with him is I think he gets too passive at times. I think by far they play the most cover 2 and have the lowest blitz rate. (Admittedly I don't like a bend but don't break defence)

 

Last week was a lot more cover 1/man which I loved. Forced 2 turnovers and I think, 3, three and outs? Hope to see more of that aggression going forward 

 

The Bills most played coverage is cover 3 at 28%. They have played cover 2 zone 19% (which is 7th highest in the NFL seeing as you are interested). They have played 16% cover 4 and 14% cover 1 man. They are actually one of the more flexible coverage teams, and that helps their disguise on the back end. They have the 3rd lowest blitz percentage at 18.1% and despite that they are middle of the pack (16th) in percentage of opposing QB drop backs that result in pressure. 

 

I'm the opposite to you, I hate heavy blitzing defenses, but I think Babich has done pretty well as a first time coordinator. He hasn't been perfect, he has made some mistakes (going to bigger personnel after the Henry run in Baltimore just to watch them nickel and dime is down the field with Justice Hill for two drives for example) but I think for the most part he has stayed patient, adjusted well and managed to maintain so of the really clever coverage design that has been a staple of McDermott's Bills teams despite a ton of turnover in the secondary.

[BillsFan130]

12 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

The Bills most played coverage is cover 3 at 28%. They have played cover 2 zone 19% (which is 7th highest in the NFL seeing as you are interested). They have played 16% cover 4 and 14% cover 1 man. They are actually one of the more flexible coverage teams, and that helps their disguise on the back end. They have the 3rd lowest blitz percentage at 18.1% and despite that they are middle of the pack (16th) in percentage of opposing QB drop backs that result in pressure. 

 

I'm the opposite to you, I hate heavy blitzing defenses, but I think Babich has done pretty well as a first time coordinator. He hasn't been perfect, he has made some mistakes (going to bigger personnel after the Henry run in Baltimore just to watch them nickel and dime is down the field with Justice Hill for two drives for example) but I think for the most part he has stayed patient, adjusted well and managed to maintain so of the really clever coverage design that has been a staple of McDermott's Bills teams despite a ton of turnover in the secondary.

Are you sure about those stats? I am pretty sure I heard from Joe Marino a few weeks ago that they ran by far the most cover 2- Now they did play a lot more cover 1 against KC by the looks of it, so maybe brought that average down a bit.

 

That's fair, I just don't like a bend but don't break when Josh Allen is your QB. You risk having him on the sidelines for too long.

 

Like a Steve Spags defence I love personally. You get burnt more for sure, but you also get more 3 and outs/punts, which is part of the reason why KC has the some of the highest TOP in the NFL. 

[ColoradoBills]

4 hours ago, NewEra said:

Hired as DC/promoted to DC- same difference.  It doesn’t change the fact that you think he was PROMOTED to DC to be his scapegoat because of some smell…. Not because he thinks he’s a promising young defensive mind.    
 

you’re saying the reason an NFL head coach hired his defensive coordinator is to be his sacrificial lamb in case things went bad.  That’s insane to me and yes, I think it’s a terrible take.  I’m not the only one. 

 

How some fans can think this about McDermott is mind-boggling.

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

14 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

He didn't "hire Babich as DC".  He was already on the coaching staff. He promoted him to DC..  My take is he did it so if they tanked, he could fire another coordinator. 

 

you're not very good at this...

This makes 0 sense to me.  You think he’d give up playcalling duties to a guy he didn’t think was qualified so he could fire the guy if/when he didn’t do a good job? Lol that makes his seat much hotter than if he just did the job himself and got pretty good results 

 

My guess is mcd was so busy with the defense last year that he lost a bit of a handle on the ‘force feeding Diggs to keep him happy’ situation under Dorsey and he stepped back from defensive playcalling to not let something like that happen again. Definitely wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t trust Babich. 
the offense changed dramatically once Dorsey was out, diggs immediately got pissed off, and the team was much more successful.  

Edited November 25 by Generic_Bills_Fan

[GunnerBill]

6 hours ago, BillsFan130 said:

Are you sure about those stats? I am pretty sure I heard from Joe Marino a few weeks ago that they ran by far the most cover 2- Now they did play a lot more cover 1 against KC by the looks of it, so maybe brought that average down a bit.

 

That's fair, I just don't like a bend but don't break when Josh Allen is your QB. You risk having him on the sidelines for too long.

 

Like a Steve Spags defence I love personally. You get burnt more for sure, but you also get more 3 and outs/punts, which is part of the reason why KC has the some of the highest TOP in the NFL. 

 

Yep. I'm certain about them. https://x.com/fball_insights/status/1859007980752212301?t=qKma9VgzOOt6_h5ardeNVA&s=19

 

As for Spags, he is excellent. But you have to be excellent to make that kind of D work. There are very few coordinators who can make it work and even then go back to 2021 and he was under pressure for his job. Chiefs fans wanted rid of him, they finished 27th in total defense and it was then that Brett Veach decided he needed to change tact and move resources onto the defensive side. The 2022 draft they spent 2 firsts, a second, a third and a fourth on defense. They are one of the best defenses in the NFL right now, but they should be. When everyone is healthy there are two starters on that D who were drafted after round 3 - Jaylen Watson at corner (6th round) and Drue Tranquill who was a 4th rounder the Chiefs signed as a free agent from the Chargers. 

 

But as you say it is stylistic preference. I do not like heavy blitzing defenses. Never have, never will. I am conscious of that bias.

Edited November 25 by GunnerBill

[GunnerBill]

2 hours ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

This makes 0 sense to me.  You think he’d give up playcalling duties to a guy he didn’t think was qualified so he could fire the guy if/when he didn’t do a good job? Lol that makes his seat much hotter than if he just did the job himself and got pretty good results 

 

My guess is mcd was so busy with the defense last year that he lost a bit of a handle on the ‘force feeding Diggs to keep him happy’ situation under Dorsey and he stepped back from defensive playcalling to not let something like that happen again. Definitely wouldn’t have done it if he didn’t trust Babich. 
the offense changed dramatically once Dorsey was out, diggs immediately got pissed off, and the team was much more successful.  

 

The first half of last season McDermott was not doing either job very well. He seemed to find his stride more second half of the year after the infamous hit piece. I don't know if somehow it refocussed him or something but he defenitely stepped off the stupid blitzing defensively and found a groove with his playcalling. 

 

When he fired Dorsey I also thought he should have given up playcalling. He didn't and it came right but I was adament after the season that he couldn't try and do both jobs again. I was pretty optimistic about it going in, but it did not work. I'm much happier with him back 100% in the Head Coach's chair.

[Mr. WEO]

13 hours ago, NewEra said:

Hired as DC/promoted to DC- same difference.  It doesn’t change the fact that you think he was PROMOTED to DC to be his scapegoat because of some smell…. Not because he thinks he’s a promising young defensive mind.    
 

you’re saying the reason an NFL head coach hired his defensive coordinator is to be his sacrificial lamb in case things went bad.  That’s insane to me and yes, I think it’s a terrible take.  I’m not the only one. 

 

yes. it's his way of doing things.

[Warriorspikes51]

41 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

yes. it's his way of doing things.

 

You are going to of course provide us proof of this claim? 😂

[Mr. WEO]

1 minute ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

You are going to of course provide us proof of this claim? 😂

 

[Mat68]

He has been very good.  Besides the Baltimore game the defense has played well in every game with starters in and out all year.  

[DrDawkinstein]

56 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

On the flip side of your take is not firing coordinators and then complaining that there is no accountability in the organization, which is exactly what everyone was arguing the entire time Frazier was here.

 

I'm a big McD critic, but seems like he's damned if he does and damned if he doesnt when it comes to coordinators.

[Sierra Foothills]

Update:

 

In yesterday's Buffalo News there was a feature on Bobby Babich and the job he's doing.

 

Some excerpts to feed down any hangriness that might develop between now and Sunday:

 

"Here we are, 11 games into the season, and the Bills’ defense is where it usually is. The Bills have allowed the seventh fewest points in the league. They lead the NFL with the fewest explosive pass plays of 20-plus yards allowed, they’re fifth in the league in takeaways, and top 10 in advanced metrics (DVOA) against the run and the pass. Regular-season defensive excellence: It’s a Bills tradition.

 

One sign of the Bills’ in-game defensive adjustments can be seen in scoring. The Bills are third best in the NFL in points allowed in the second half (7.2 a game).

 

To Babich’s credit, the Bills did not play it safe in the victory over Patrick Mahomes & Co. The Bills blitzed Mahomes 11 times, according to Buffalo News charting, and six of them resulted in a failed play by the offense. The first one produced a sack by linebacker Terrel Bernard on a play where he was the spy on the quarterback.

 

There were a few plays where the Chiefs ran a man in motion, and no cornerback followed across the field, making it look like zone coverage. But then the Bills’ corners played man to man.

 

Then, Babich threw a wrinkle late in the game by using linebacker Dorian Williams as a spy. Williams technically was the fourth defensive lineman, and there were six defensive backs. It was a creative way to use Williams’ athleticism.

 

On playing with light boxes:

 

“It’s the philosophical way of how we play defense,” Babich said. “I think over the years, shoot, since we’ve been here, we’ve probably given up the least explosive plays defensively."

 

Don't stuff your faces... chew your food.

 

https://buffalonews.com/sports/professional/nfl/bills/buffalo-bills-defense-bobby-babich-nfl/article_995f93fc-acfb-11ef-a7c4-aff18ac2dae0.html

 

[TBBills Fan]

On 11/24/2024 at 8:06 PM, BillsFan130 said:

Are you sure about those stats? I am pretty sure I heard from Joe Marino a few weeks ago that they ran by far the most cover 2- Now they did play a lot more cover 1 against KC by the looks of it, so maybe brought that average down a bit.

 

That's fair, I just don't like a bend but don't break when Josh Allen is your QB. You risk having him on the sidelines for too long.

 

Like a Steve Spags defence I love personally. You get burnt more for sure, but you also get more 3 and outs/punts, which is part of the reason why KC has the some of the highest TOP in the NFL. 

This past week Marino went over the same stats during the bye week

[GunnerBill]

On 11/25/2024 at 2:26 PM, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

The Bills did not fire Leslie Frazier. I have had it from the horses mouth. He walked away. 

[colin]

the bills always have a solid regular season d.  the test will be in the playoffs, even vs teams we beat (cough, kc, cough) in the regs.  injuries are a bit of a reasonable excuse, but there have been just too many melt downs.  they showed new wrinkles to confuse mahomes in our last win, they need to keep that up and make an impact vs the better teams in the playoffs.

 

if we beat detroit at detroit in the regs, it means we will have beaten the best team in each conference in the regs.  there is a high chance that if we are not eliminated we will have to face them both again.  our d has killed us in ever playoff loss, and some wins too, so basically babich will either be a zero or a hero.  not really fair to him, but that's the nfl.