So....what's up with the D?

[JohnNord]

4 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

It’s a valid concern, it’s very rare that the Bills D coaches have a plan B as a fall back, this goes back at least to the Leslie Frazier era, and it leaves the team vulnerable to better teams coaches that know how to exploit this weakness, 

 

GO BILLS!!!

Yeah that’s not at all true.  
 

The Bills defense has typically performed much better in the second halves of most football games this season.  Do second half adjustments count as a “plan b?”

[BillsFanForever19]

1 hour ago, Simon said:

 

Dorian Williams and Damar Hamlin are both problem spots and Miami spent the majority of their day attacking those two.

I hope that both of them are backups by New Years.

 

This was definitely true today. But there were other issues. Christian Benford is our best Cornerback. Not having him out there was tough.

 

Especially against a team that has Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle with a 100% Tua. Miami's record sucks in large part because of Tua being out. But when they're flowing, they're a high powered offense. And they were playing like their season was on the line because, well, it pretty much was.

 

I also feel like the Defense really focuses on making you beat us with your Running Backs. Doubly so today with the type of pass catchers they have and us down our best Corner. It seems like we're always dropping everyone into zones and let the RB's run free on Screens and Runs and hope someone just happens to be in the area.

[NickelCity]

17 minutes ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

That might be true for players who tore their biceps in-season.
 

Milano had surgery on his torn bicep about 3 weeks before the season started. Plus, we have the 18 week schedule now. Add in postseason games and it seems likely Milano comes back. 
 

I’m hoping he can play the final three regular season games. With his first game back being Dec 22 home against the Pats.

 

Wasn't their a dolphins player today literally playing with a torn bicep? 

[Simon]

4 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

This was definitely true today. But there were other issues. Christian Benford is our best Cornerback. Not having him out there was tough.

 

Especially against a team that has Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle with a 100% Tua. Miami's record sucks in large part because of Tua being out. But when they're flowing, they're a high powered offense. And they were playing like their season was on the line because, well, it pretty much was.

 

I also feel like the Defense really focuses on making you beat us with your Running Backs. Doubly so today with the type of pass catchers they have and us down our best Corner. It seems like we're always dropping everyone into zones and let the RB's run free on Screens and Runs and hope someone just happens to be in the area.

 

I also think all the misdirection is hard on guys like them who are limited athletically; one false step and you're out of the play in a split second with zero chance to recover.

[DrDawkinstein]

4 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Yeah that’s not at all true.  
 

The Bills defense has typically performed much better in the second halves of most football games this season.  Do second half adjustments count as a “plan b?”

 

Yeah they adjusted well in the Seahawks and Titans games. That's why it was more surprising today when it never came.

 

I might guess it has to do with Hill and Waddle, and any adjustment might open them up. Which I can buy, considering that is Miami's entire team at this point.

Edited Monday at 03:21 AM by DrDawkinstein

[PromoTheRobot]

2 hours ago, Success said:

For starters, I am NOT a defensive mind, at all.  But from my viewpoint, it seems like we never press - our CB's and safeties generally drop back and give a ton of cushion, trying to prevent the "big play," but often giving up chunks of yards in the process and long, time-consuming drives.

 

I guess that's often called "bend, don't break."  Which can work. But today was rough.

 

Are we lacking personnel?  I feel like we have good LB's and a decent enough line, and I like our CB's.  Safety is a weak point, but overall, it seems like we're not playing up to our talent level or potential.  This is about as bad a defense as I've seen since Allen got here.

 

 

For one thing, we played a good team. 

[Solomon Grundy]

27 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

DaQuan was on the field and was blocked past Tua. Oliver never dropped.  He couldn’t get off his block - though he might have been held

 

 

I'd love to see Jeffrey Simmons next to Daquan Jones. Don't expect it...but a man can dream 

[Simon]

6 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Yeah they adjusted well in the Seahawks and Titans games. That's why it was more surprising today when it never came.

 

I might guess it has to do with Hill and Waddle, and any adjustment might open them up. Which I can buy, considering that is Miami's entire team at this point.

 

The need to protect Elam probably handcuffed them a little bit in that regard.

[JohnNord]

9 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Yeah they adjusted well in the Seahawks and Titans games. That's why it was more surprising today when it never came.

 

I might guess it has to do with Hill and Waddle, and any adjustment might open them up. Which I can buy, considering that is Miami's entire team at this point.

The one time they changed it up and sent a blitz resulted a 27-yard pass to Hill versus Elam in one-on-one coverage.  
 

I think trying to keep Hill/Waddle in front of them, along with subpar play at IDL, LB, and S was the issue today.  There seemed to be multiple times when players were in position, they just couldn’t make a stop or they shot themselves in the foot with penalties 

 

 

3 minutes ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I'd love to see Jeffrey Simmons next to Daquan Jones. Don't expect it...but a man can dream 

Ha ha same.   I don’t think TEN will trade him.  But I also wouldn’t mind his teammate Sebastian Joseph Day who also would be a solid and cheap addition.  

Edited Monday at 03:30 AM by JohnNord

[Don Otreply]

7 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Yeah that’s not at all true.  
 

The Bills defense has typically performed much better in the second halves of most football games this season.  Do second half adjustments count as a “plan b?”

their adjustments only appear to work against lower quality teams, and not so much in the post season, this defensive historically has been run on successfully, such as in todays game, and  has played soft zone to the detriment of post season success, overall they put up good regular season numbers, but come the postseason, not so much,  is what it is, do understand, I think McDermott has done a lot of good for this team, but he does have a blind spot when it comes to these issues, 

 

GO BILLS!!!

[BillsFan130]

19 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Yeah that’s not at all true.  
 

The Bills defense has typically performed much better in the second halves of most football games this season.  Do second half adjustments count as a “plan b?”

Making adjustments against bad offences like Tennessee or Houston without Nico Collins/ Mixon is different than against good offences like Miami and Baltimore though

 

If you're just gonna sit back and play cover 2 all game long which they have, they'll continue to get thrashed against good QBs

[JohnNord]

5 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

their adjustments only appear to work against lower quality teams, and not so much in the post season, this defensive historically has been run on successfully, such as in todays game, and  has played soft zone to the detriment of post season success, overall they put up good regular season numbers, but come the postseason, not so much,  is what it is, do understand, I think McDermott has done a lot of good for this team, but he does have a blind spot when it comes to these issues, 

 

GO BILLS!!!

lower-quality teams like Houston?   Also shouldn’t that mean that their adjustments should have worked against 2-6 Miami?
 

 

I just feel that the “adjustments” discussion is a tired narrative.  They have tried different things in the second half this season and it’s worked.  

[JohnNord]

11 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

Making adjustments against bad offences like Tennessee or Houston without Nico Collins/ Mixon is different than against good offences like Miami and Baltimore though

 

If you're just gonna sit back and play cover 2 all game long which they have, they'll continue to get thrashed against good QBs

Baltimore was just a ***** show.  I didn’t have a problem with the Bills coaching today as much as I did with the players.  
 

here’s an example I used.  Everything was taken by the coverage call.  Tua gets a first down because of poor interior DL play.   Game is probably over if there was a better rep by Oliver/Jones
 

 

You can find many other examples where players were in position to make plays and they couldn’t get Achane down.  A lot of times this fell on Dorian Williams.

 

It’s not all “adjustments” like some here want to believe.  Players have to execute and many times this season they just haven’t.  

Edited Monday at 03:45 AM by JohnNord

[gobills404]

1 hour ago, Shortchaz said:

The bills haven’t had an elite defense in a long time. 

lol this might be the single worst take I’ve ever seen on this board 🫵😂

literally the fewest points allowed from 2021-23

Edited Monday at 03:49 AM by gobills404

[BillsFan130]

7 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Baltimore was just a ***** show.  I didn’t have a problem with the Bills coaching today as much as I did with the players.  
 

here’s an example I used.  Everything was taken by the coverage call.  Tua gets a first down because of poor interior DL play.   Game is probably over if there was a better rep by Oliver/Jones
 

 

You can find many other examples where players were in position to make plays and they couldn’t get Achane down.  A lot of times this fell on Dorian Williams.

 

It’s not all “adjustments” like some here want to believe.  Players have to execute and many times this season they just haven’t.  

I'm not denying the execution was crap and plays weren't there to be made as you can say that about every single game 

 

But when you sit back in 2 deep safety all game, what do you think is gonna happen? Miami is gonna run it down their throats and control the game 

Which is what happened and Taron Johnson even said they were basically conceding the run

Edited Monday at 03:51 AM by BillsFan130

[US Egg]

1 hour ago, Shortchaz said:

The bills haven’t had an elite defense in a long time. 

Love a good sense of humor.

[JohnNord]

9 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

I'm not denying the execution was crap and plays weren't there to be made as you can say that about every single game 

 

But when you sit back in 2 deep safety all game, what do you think is gonna happen? Miami is gonna run it down their throats.

Which is what happened and Taron Johnson even said they were basically conceding the run

Of course, but if the gap integrity was better they wouldn’t have as much success.  I think a lot of that has to do, again, with poor execution.  
 

I didn’t have a problem with their game plan today only because a long pass to Waddle or Hill could break the game open - especially when you consider the limitations of Elam, Williams, and Damar.  

[LABILLBACKER]

2 hours ago, Simon said:

 

Dorian Williams and Damar Hamlin are both problem spots and Miami spent the majority of their day attacking those two.

I hope that both of them are backups by New Years.

These are 2 decent backups but they have no business starting. Also super concerned about our front 4, especially against the run.  We need Benford & Milano back soon.

[BillsFan130]

3 minutes ago, JohnNord said:

Of course, but if the gap integrity was better they wouldn’t have as much success.  I think a lot of that has to do, again, with poor execution.  
 

I didn’t have a problem with their game plan today only because a long pass to Waddle or Hill could break the game open - especially when you consider the limitations of Elam, Williams, and Damar.  

I mean, we are both right.

 

The gap integrity was bad and to your point the bills d line sucked.

 

But to my point, when you're in nickel with 6-7 man boxes all game and Miami loves to play 21 personnel with Ingold, you're automatically at a major disadvantage when it comes to stopping the run

[Big Blitz]

 

Think it’s worth pointing out here that no one has stopped Derek Henry - except the Chiefs in week 1.  Where Henry is just getting warmed up.  No one is stopping Henry you just have to slow them down.  
 

I just don’t think we prioritize stopping the run enough and today that actually was a problem.  We needed the O to be awesome and then a 61 yard FG.  

 

Today should be a red flag day regarding our weakness on defense. 
 

Potentially seeing in the playoffs the Chargers, Ravens, Steelers, Chiefs, or Texans - those teams strengths are the run game.  
 

The difference between them and Miami - they all have elite defenses that can slow us down or stop us.  
 

Miami’s defense was missing everyone of significance today.