The Bills Defense is Last in Rushing Yards / Attempt

[ndirish1978]

We need a better 1T and a FS. I'm bummed that Bishop got injured and missed the whole offseason, I was hoping he could get up to speed and start as a rookie, doesn't look like he can. 

[Drew21PA]

On 10/15/2024 at 2:01 PM, SoonerBillsFan said:

So a guy who hasn't played a game in about 15 months is going to help us?  Ok...

I’m with you but a huge fan of milano

 

idk how he is going to recover the time missed - stinks becuase I love the dude 

[Allen2Moulds]

50 minutes ago, ndirish1978 said:

We need a better 1T and a FS. I'm bummed that Bishop got injured and missed the whole offseason, I was hoping he could get up to speed and start as a rookie, doesn't look like he can. 

Totally agree with this.  During McDermott's tenure, we seem to almost always have a bad stretch of bad run D.  We always hear that it's about tap integrity, and guys properly filling. If I'm the Bills, I keep a run stopping specialist on the roster, like teams do with pass rush specialists.  This would help us against the Ravens of the world.

[Cash]

51 minutes ago, ndirish1978 said:

We need a better 1T and a FS. I'm bummed that Bishop got injured and missed the whole offseason, I was hoping he could get up to speed and start as a rookie, doesn't look like he can. 

 

I haven't given up (yet?) on Bishop being a plus player this season.  Keep in mind that he wasn't able to practice for the vast majority of training camp and all of preseason.  So from a rookie development perspective, he's something like 6 weeks behind.  There are a lot of rookies that need like 4-6 weeks of the regular to start acclimating to the pro game and contributing positively on a regular basis.  There's a very realistic scenario where Bishop gets better every week until he's ready to be a plus (or at least not-minus) starter.  If he hasn't gotten in the lineup by around the bye week, I'll start losing hope for Bishop contributing this year, but not until then.

[JerseyBills]

On 10/15/2024 at 12:54 PM, Hsker4life said:

Well, being without our two best LBers most of the season hasn’t helped. Oliver missing a few games isn’t ideal either. 
 

It’s definitely a concern, but with some fortune with health, it’ll improve significantly.

Exactly,  also was without Taron for basically the whole year, Von missed 2 games, on the flip side, they're elite in pass defense 

[Motorin']

1 hour ago, ndirish1978 said:

We need a better 1T and a FS. I'm bummed that Bishop got injured and missed the whole offseason, I was hoping he could get up to speed and start as a rookie, doesn't look like he can. 

 

I want Bishop on the field, but I also don't see how Edwards isn't a better option than Hamlin. 

 

I think this goes back again to "guys McDermott trusts" bring more important to the HC than player talent. 

 

And it's not necessarily about trusting guys to make plays. But trusting guys to cover the blades of grass McDermott's system calls for. 

Edited October 17 by Motorin'

[Ballhawk]

On 10/15/2024 at 2:05 PM, SoonerBillsFan said:

KC Blitzes your doors off, And Wins super bowls.  

KC has Chris Jones who consistently disrupts the QB.

BB was praying Von would be that for us, and we're all hoping his four week vacation rejuvenates him so that he's close to that level for the stretch

run 

[Charles Romes]

I’m fine with this.  We let up an 87 yarder and  a 50 yarder which skews the stats. Let them think they can run. When teams do try to run, we seem to have a high percentage of stuffs leading to 3rd and long. 

[SoCal Deek]

Somebody wake up Ed Oliver and let him know the season started. 

[Ethan in Cleveland]

I don't have much worry about run D.

Taron and Bernard are back. They are huge upgrades for the run defense. 

[RoyBatty is alive]

Statistical fluke with a very small sample size.  Six games  in, one with Derrick Henry gone wild , two running QBs, l

Lamar and Kyler,  lets wait at least mid of season before we panic.

[Robert Paulson]

On 10/15/2024 at 7:08 PM, GunnerBill said:

Three main factors for me:

 

1. The injuries to the second level. Missing Bernard, Johnson and Milano is definitely a significant factor. I know two of them were back last night but as they get back into the groove that should help.

 

2. We are playing less split safety and more two high because we are worried about leaving ANY of our safeties isolated in center field. The days when if you started to get gashed you immediately put Hyde or, normally, Poyer into the box and went single high are gone. They don't trust these guys in single high, takes one more man away in run defense.

 

3. Daquan Jones is really struggling. When the wall comes from big guys it comes quick. Looks like it hit him like a truck this offseason. Oliver missing the last two doesn't help either. But they NEED a 1T upgrade next year. I was always against the Jones extension at his age. 

Backup/Development 1T has been an issue for a while now. We love to draft 3Ts and try to move then to 1T. It rarely works.

[dave mcbride]

10 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

They need him to be that now. Safety is a major weakness on this team and their second round pick isn't looking capable of helping. That is a worry. I agree he can get there, not giving up on the kid at all, but the Bills needed that pick to hit quickly. 

The best safety in the league right now is Kyle Hamilton. Indeed, he’s one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He had 4 starts in his rookie season (2022) and was the 14th overall pick.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

I largely agree that the run defense is hurting by design, as they’ve chosen to build themselves to be better suited to handle the pass.

 

That said, often times guys just aren’t getting off of blocks. I also think that 1T seems to be a large issue. 
 

Excited to see T’Vondre Sweat for the Titans this weekend, as he was the kind of big bodied player I would have liked to see in a Bills uniform (yes I realize this wasn’t practical). 
 

Overall, McDermott preaches gap fits and playing to your role. That only matter if you have guys that can hold their ground, get off a block or beat the man across from them.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 18 by EmotionallyUnstable

[NewEra]

21 hours ago, HappyDays said:

It isn't just the run defense. We're giving up way too many explosive plays in general. From Joe Buscaglia's recap of the Jets game:

 

 

Explosive play differential has a significant correlation with win percentage. The poor efficiency of our run defense is a symptom of this larger problem.

 

Honestly though I expected the defense to disappoint this year. Beane should have anticipated this as well and should have thrown as many resources at the offense as possible to compensate. Hopefully adding Amari Cooper helps us become an offense that can win shootouts, because the current defensive personnel is not going to shut down the Ravens for example if we face them in the playoffs. We will need to match TDs with TDs when we face championship contenders and that's just how it will have to be.

I think you’ll be surprised how much Bernard and Taron mean to our team vs the Ravens.  They make plays.  Cam Lewis and Spector, not so much.  
 

Stay healthy, execute a potentially solid game plan and make plays.  We might not shut them down so to speak, but we can hold them to a lower score than us.  

[Dr.Sack]

 

We’ve played some good rush offenses

#1 Ravens 205.3 / 271 +65.7

#7 Cardinals 145.2 / 124 -21.2

#14 Texans 118.8 / 94 -24.8

#18 Dolphins 116.8 / 139 +22.2

#19 Jaguars 116.5 / 92 -24.5

#30 Jets 87.2 / 121 +33.8

 

So Bills defense is +50.9 net rush yards vs opponent average, and the Bills are 2-1 in games where they allow teams to rush over their season average. No doubt the game plan vs Ravens will be much different if they get another crack at them in January. 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 18 by Dr.Sack
Math

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, dave mcbride said:

The best safety in the league right now is Kyle Hamilton. Indeed, he’s one of the best defensive players in the NFL. He had 4 starts in his rookie season (2022) and was the 14th overall pick.

 

Yep. That's true. But the Ravens didn't need him to be great as a rookie. The Bills left themselves so thin at the spot that they kinda do need Bishop to get up to speed fast. 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

Still pretty skewed from playing the ravens missing most of our run stuffers…it may be an issue but we’ll know better in a few weeks. 

[Mikie2times]

On 10/15/2024 at 10:20 AM, GoBills808 said:

not a new development fwiw, we were poor last season in rush ypa

 

some people would argue that's not necessarily a bad thing tho...it can be a sign of a defensive leak but it can also mean you are incentivizing the opponent to run at a frequency that is -ev for them...my belief is there's a sweet spot in terms of rush ypa that the most effective defenses curate

 

EDIT just to add to this thought- there's an incongruity in that we've implemented a supposed 'modern offense' designed to succeed against lighter fronts and base nickel yet still run the same defense designed to prevent the pass and allow opponents a measure of success on the ground

I had the same observation the other day about our “modern offense”. I actually think it’s more of a lack of adapting on defense. Teams bullying us is not new. Running games becoming more prominent is not new. Adding no assets to help the run defense is just a miss. Like WR was a miss. I agree a judge for teams to run more because your pass defense is so fortified is a good thing,  but not where you risk losing control of the game. 

Edited October 18 by Mikie2times

[DrPJax]

On 10/15/2024 at 1:55 PM, MikePJ76 said:

I know I am wrong but it has seemed this year that they come out and play teams in two deep straight up in the first quarter.  Its as if they are seeing what the other team is going to do and they are daring them to throw the ball down the field while conceding some rushing yards.

 

then as the game goes on they change and start attacking and clog those running lanes.

 

As johnson gets healthier and we get oliver back hopefully soon I bet they will do a better job earlier in the game stopping the run.   

 

it caused the defense to get overwhelmed by the ravens rushing attack though and may again versus teams like kansas city, san francisco and detroit.

Belicheck pointed out on the manning cast we lack team speed on d and it’s been an issue and attacked by teams for years now.  He pointed out that the td run by Henry should have never happened and no one, even with angles on him could catch him , that’s lack of speed esp on first d play of the game.   I suggest watching him on the manningcast of the jests game. He broke down several of the bills issues eloquently and imo, is a much better analyst than whiny , cryotochordic Tom Brady who is terrible in terms of adding valuable insight. 
 

He also noted we are poor tacklers and need fundamentals stressed. He pointed out the Mcd d goes as the d line plays , not really from the safeties as we all see repeated so often ( don’t shoot me I’m just the messenger ). This d line is not performing well , period. Then the scheme still has cbs mostly off WRs and safeties playing very deep.  It’s a recipe for becoming the 32 nd team ranking against the run.  The coaching has not adapted or learned.  BB called the possibility of either sideline or Hail Mary beforcut happened and explained how hw coached those situations.  Was a great watch really; guy has a fantastic football mind and don’t forget , his defensive game plan against the bills in SB25 is in the HOF.   He has credibility.    I’m not sure Oliver returning is enough alone to fix this.  Milano was known for tfl ‘s and was a sure tackler while Williams is adequate , he does tend to miss tackles I believe more than Milano would.  
 

     Again , watch the first half of the manning cast jets game ; it’s a fine  example how a great d coordinator thinks , esp about our flaws.  We gave up a large amount of explosive plays and many are long runs with no penetration and slow , hesitant safety play from Hamlin.  The d line is not free from its share of blame and I don’t know how you fix that midseason and keep using this scheme that is just inviting the run until it’s stopped , yet unfortunately that tends to happen later in games , or not at all as in Baltimore. Cooper is addressing one huge team issue, putting  on or having a replacement kicker is now being addressed.  Can Beane do anything to help the d line , can our d coordinator be creative enough to switch schemes or adjust earlier in games is yet to be seen.  As Belicheck also stated , if you can’t stop the run , you’re not going anywhere in the playoffs.  Beane added coop to fix his earlier misjudgment about the wr corp , can he address the lack of talent along the d line , and can Mcd please quit learning and actually make critical corrections that don’t end up “ rushing two  “ , as his late game gaffs are legendary?   Teams are gaining explosive plays more and more as they know his weaknesses by now.  I would love to see them go after Bb as a defensive consultant , a postion that is surely worth more that the investment in parry to help with rare challenges.