Terrel Bernard

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

17 minutes ago, MiracleAtRich1393 said:

Makes me so sad thinking about him not playing against the Chiefs in the playoffs last year.

 

It was the difference between a win & loss. Just like Kelce went off in the SB after Greenlaw had the most fluke achilles injury in history. How do the Chiefs get so lucky year after year???

Even if it was no Bernard and we were down to someone other than aj klein I think we win pretty easily.  Benford missed the game too we seem to always be out our best corner against them in the playoffs it is bizarre 

[SoMAn]

Since I haven’t  bothered to watching any Bears games, is anyone here able to give an honest assessment of Edmunds effectiveness with that team?

FWiW, I thought he was a bust when all the apologists were excusing his age and whatnot. My perception was that he had poor instincts and wasn’t very tenacious.

He was, however, really good at being the third man in on tackles. 🙄

[Prospector]

9 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

I wonder how many more are willing to admit they were wrong. He was not a popular guy around here after his first year. That’s why it’s so ridiculous to label guys after 1 year, I’m glad he got his shot and is proving a lot of people on here wrong

I personally loved the pick, but I figured he was going to be more of a Hassan Reddick blitzing LB. But he has been prenominal in space and coverage also. 

[TheBeaneBandit]

49 minutes ago, Prospector said:

This dude is playing fantastic. I figured he needed his own thread. What difference to have a smart playmaking LB out there, and not 6'5" freak of nature who is only 18 years old and who loves to injure his own teammates more than opposing players. I can't wait for Milano and Bernard to man the middle together... And I am also happy it's not Edmunds out there.

 

That's all I got 

To quote the younger generation.....savage😆😂🤣

[BuffaloBill]

57 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

He wins with his brain more than his body. Thank you Dave Aranda for giving your buddy Sean McDermott the inside scoop on this player. I'll be shocked if he isn't a long term fixture of this defense.

 

Let’s hope he stays healthy for the balance of the season. Plus Milano will be worked back in.  I am a huge Dorian Williams fan but Milano is a better overall player.  

[Sojourner]

Just now, BuffaloBill said:

 

Let’s hope he stays healthy for the balance of the season. Plus Milano will be worked back in.  I am a huge Dorian Williams fan but Milano is a better overall player.  

Thought about that many a times when reading the Milano thread. Williams has played well and I hope he sees the field but this team plays nickel pretty much exclusively and there’s only room for 2 linebackers in that personnel. 
 

Milano, when 100% is head and shoulders above Williams. 

[Coach Tuesday]

45 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

Probably the best splash-play off-ball LB in the NFL.    The splash stats he accumulates are extraordinary.

I think Warner gets that title no?

[gordong]

let's just keep getting better and everything we want is in front of us.  getting the 6 guys back that are currently out is going to help big time down the stretch. on both sides of the ball. 

 

Edited November 18 by gordong

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

5 minutes ago, Sojourner said:

Thought about that many a times when reading the Milano thread. Williams has played well and I hope he sees the field but this team plays nickel pretty much exclusively and there’s only room for 2 linebackers in that personnel. 
 

Milano, when 100% is head and shoulders above Williams. 

I wonder if we’d roll with three linebackers against teams like the ravens when Milano returns.  We seemed to try it a bit against them that first meeting but morrow was pretty much useless 

[FireChans]

4 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

I think Warner gets that title no?

Warner since 2023:

 

8 FF, 6 INT, 3.5 sacks, 0 FR, 9 TFL in 27 games

 

Bernard since 2023: 

 

0 FF, 5 INT, 7.5 sacks, 4 FR, 14 TFL in 24 games

[machine gun kelly]

1 hour ago, Billz4ever said:

Our defense just isn't the same when he's not out there.

wait for two weeks from now when we may see a Milano sighting.  It couldn’t happen at a better time.  We’ll need everyone for Detroit.  They are a wrecking crew.

[Sojourner]

6 minutes ago, Coach Tuesday said:

I think Warner gets that title no?

Yeah, might be right. 
 

I do think there’s a few guys who are right there with him:

Roquan Smith

Terrel Bernard

Zack Baun

EJ Speed & Zaire Franklin

[Big Turk]

Bernard and Milano are going to be so much fun to watch and will allow us to match up in certain situations with Williams as the 3rd LB if they are facing run heavy teams like Baltimore and need some extra pop in there 

[GASabresIUFan]

I hate to be a party pooper, but how much have Bernard and Milano ever really played together?  Bernard started 1 game in 2022 for Milano.  Then they started 5 games together to start 2023, but the Bernard was a raw new starter.  The Bernard of today evolved without Milano by his side.  In fact, Milano has missed 25 consecutive regular season and  playoff games.  During those 25 games, Bernard became the QB of the defense. 

 

I do have a concern how Bernard and Milano will work together as Milano shakes off nearly 2 seasons worth of rust.  This is not a shot at either player, but we don't know how good Milano will be when he returns and Williams has done a very good job in his place.  Just watch the video above to see how much Williams has improved in coverage.  

 

This post is not to say the Bernard/Milano can't work or won't work, but don't be surprised if it's not "great" immediately.  

 

Edited November 18 by GASabresIUFan

[boater]

I'm so old.........How old are you?

 

I remember Terrel Bernard as a depth player, on a good day. There was no way he could replace Tremaine Edmunds. It is nice to be wrong, very wrong.

[technobot]

One of my favourite Bills and (for me) second only to Allen as a case study of what happens when everything goes right for the Bills. Just a masterclass from scouting through drafting, development, and ascension to the leader of the defense. My money is on him as their best playmaker after Allen.

 

He's delivered all of the splash I wanted/expected out of Edmunds and done it in a year and a half. I'm worried about his durability, otherwise he's everything I could ask for in an elite modern LB. He's smart, tough, quick, and has God-tier football GPS. Yes, the scheme is set to funnel him these opportunities but that's the point and he's actually converting. Some players are simply playmakers and like our quarterback, TB makes game changing highlights on the regular.

 

As an aside, it seems we haven't really seen our best defenders (Bernard, Milano, Rousseau, Oliver, Benford, Johnson) play together for meaningful stretches. Much of that is Milano and the departed Tre White, but without making excuses it seems we've had a 1.5-2 year stretch where the defense was only ever 80% of what it really was. Maybe we can finally see what this unit is really capable of. Maybe I'm still drunk.

[Saxum]

1 hour ago, HappyDays said:

He wins with his brain more than his body. Thank you Dave Aranda for giving your buddy Sean McDermott the inside scoop on this player. I'll be shocked if he isn't a long term fixture of this defense.

 

Has Dave Aranda been invited by Coach McD to attend a game on sideline yet?  Would be a nice thing to do.

 

That video by Dan Orlovsky was good enough to add him to my search bot.

[Danger Mouse]

Im his biggest fan and loved the pick (in the draft). But I think he’s too often a soft tackler. He needs Milano I think. It’s probably his size more than his technique. Milano doesn’t miss the ones he misses 

 

but what a leader he is. He’s smart as a whip 

Edited November 18 by Danger Mouse

[Ethan in Cleveland]

I loved the Edmunds pick even if they gave up picks to get him. He should have been an All-Pro for years.  

I think almost everyone would agree Bernard in the 3rd round was a shock. His first game as a rookie was awful. 

Bernard is everything Edmunds was not. He's instinctual and makes plays.

Edmunds almost never missed any time.  Bernard has been injured two years in a row. A Bernard and Milano combo would be great if they get the pre-London Milano version. If he is a shell of himself then keep playing Williams. 

[GASabresIUFan]

35 minutes ago, technobot said:

without making excuses it seems we've had a 1.5-2 year stretch where the defense was only ever 80% of what it really was. Maybe we can finally see what this unit is really capable of.

That's absolutely true.

 

Last season Milano played the first 5 and then missed the next 14.  This season he has missed all 11.  His replacements have been primarily Dorian William and Tyrel Dodson.  Last season Bernard missed the 2nd playoff games and this season he missed games 3, 4, and 8.

 

Last season White played the first 4 games and missed the next 15. Last season, Douglas joined the Bills in week 9, then missed the 1st playoff game but hasn't missed a game this season (knock on wood). Last season Benford missed games 5, 10 and the 2nd playoff game.  This season he missed game 9.   Dane Jackson and Elam started as the Bills coped until Douglas was acquired.

 

Rapp took over for Hyde or Poyer last season whenever they were injured and became the started this season.

 

This season even Taron Johnson missed games, forcing Cam Lewis into the lineup.  

 

You can add D. Jones' serious injury last year, Von Miller's injury recovery and suspension, Safeties Bishop's and Edwards' injuries this pre-season plus Poyer and Hyde's injuries last season to the list and I don't think the Bills have played with their intended starting 11 on defense for 2 straight years.

 

On paper the Bills defense was supposed to look like this

Groot, Oliver, D Jones, Miller/Epenesa

Bernard, Milano

Benford, Johnson, Douglas

Bishop/Edwards Rapp

 

Benford, Rapp, Oliver, Bernard, T Johnson, and Milano have all missed games, plus depth guys Smoot, Spector, Carter are currently on IR.  Edwards was cut and Bishop, after recovering from his injury, can't push Hamlin from the lineup.

 

 

 

Edited November 18 by GASabresIUFan