Terrel Bernard Defensive Player of the Week!

[Simon]

I'm going to get kicked in the jimmy for this sacrilege, but you know who Bernard sort of reminds me of?

Zach Thomas.

Never takes a false step, flies to the ball, always in the middle of the action, Energizer motor, etc.

[ganesh]

29 minutes ago, Kelly to Allen said:

The bills are a top 5 run defense according to dvoa right? I can't remember 

 

Benford is playing like a top 5 CB. Chiefs wrs couldn't get open much. 

The Bills are really around 15th against the Run, 18th against the Pass.

9 minutes ago, Simon said:

I'm going to get kicked in the jimmy for this sacrilege, but you know who Bernard sort of reminds me of?

Zach Thomas.

Never takes a false step, flies to the ball, always in the middle of the action, etc.

That would be awesome...Zach Thomas is a HOF

[HappyDays]

57 minutes ago, CA OC Bills Fan said:

Bernard he said is very tricky because he isn't good against the run and I don't agree with this either.

 

I've followed Derrik for a while, even before he was a writer for The Athletic. He was the first draft analyst I saw who gave high marks to Keon Coleman as a prospect, this convinced me to look into him more and he ultimately grew to be my #1 draft target for the Bills.

 

With Bernard I think it is just stylistic preference. Derrik values LBs that can shed blocks and play through contact. That isn't Bernard's game at all. My response of course would be that McDermott's defense doesn't need him to do that. McDermott puts his LBs in a good position to create plays, and Bernard has done that way better than Edmunds ever did for example. He also QBs the defense which is incredibly important given the complexity of our scheme. As a playmaker and an extension of McDermott's brain, I think Bernard is critical to our defensive success and I expect us to eventually sign him to a long-term deal. I think Derrik's concerns are valid, and luckily that should help us lock him up for what will look like a hometown discount just like we did with Milano. Not every defensive scheme could make use of Bernard's skill set. For our defense however he's a perfect fit IMO.

[JP51]

On 11/20/2024 at 12:06 PM, Logic said:

I'd love to dig up the draft night thread about Terrel Bernard and see how absolutely wrong so many people were.

I'm not immune to it. I nearly cried when they drafted Josh Allen. I'm just saying...the discrepancy of opinion between draft night and now would make for some humorous reading.

I have been 100% correct on all of my draft opinons... speak for yourself... ahem.. LOL... (sarcasm off)  ... its so true I love the hype of the draft threads as if we really know... and as for drafting Bernard I was like... are they gonna make him a safety LOL 

24 minutes ago, Simon said:

I'm going to get kicked in the jimmy for this sacrilege, but you know who Bernard sort of reminds me of?

Zach Thomas.

Never takes a false step, flies to the ball, always in the middle of the action, Energizer motor, etc.

Except Bernard has a neck LOL

[BigAl2526]

Interesting how the thread has evolved to revisiting draft reactions.  I don't recall what I might have posted specifically about Bernard.  I tend not to make snap judgments.  My strongest negative reaction is usually along the lines of "I was hoping they might have picked _______ instead or I was hoping they would pick a ______ instead of a linebacker.  

If I were to guess my reaction to the drafting of Bernard, I probably worried about his lack of size.  Still, I have always accepted that I don't know what the Bills know about prospective players.  

 

[C.Biscuit97]

9 hours ago, Kelly to Allen said:

The most ridiculous part of watching Bernard be awesome and make big play after big play is remembering just how inept and ridiculous the Edmunds truthers were. Aj Klein at the end of his prime was literally better than Edmunds in 20 and 21 and cover 1 would make excuses over and over lol. It was embarrassing. Constant rhetoric about taking up space because of his arm length 😭 

 

Edmunds was drafted with Allen in the first Rd and for the big moments. 

 

Ppl constantly bring up McDermott and the 13 seconds game but Edmunds didn't make one single play all game and was completely invisible. Not a tfl, not a sack, not a big hit, not a tipped pass, literally nothing. 

 

So glad he's gone 

 

The Edmunds truthers were worse than the losmanites 

What the hell is this Edmunds truthers thing? Couple thoughts. 

 

- why do the best fans need to crap on a guy who is no longer here?

 

- Bernard and Edmunds both would think fans are dumb for using them against each other. 
 

- true or false, the Bills had a top 5 defense basically every year TE was here. Should a MLB of a consistent top 5 defense get credit?

 

I know we are in one of the dumbest generations in human history. But you can think Edmunds was a solid player (I thought he would have been a better OLB); celebrate TB and how good he has been; and not feel the need to put down a guy who did nothing wrong expect get paid a lot of money. 
 

putting down your ex while you claim you have a better partner now is weirdo behavior. 

[HappyDays]

1 hour ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

What the hell is this Edmunds truthers thing? Couple thoughts. 

 

- why do the best fans need to crap on a guy who is no longer here?

 

- Bernard and Edmunds both would think fans are dumb for using them against each other. 
 

- true or false, the Bills had a top 5 defense basically every year TE was here. Should a MLB of a consistent top 5 defense get credit?

 

I know we are in one of the dumbest generations in human history. But you can think Edmunds was a solid player (I thought he would have been a better OLB); celebrate TB and how good he has been; and not feel the need to put down a guy who did nothing wrong expect get paid a lot of money. 
 

putting down your ex while you claim you have a better partner now is weirdo behavior. 

 

Well, Edmunds is a good counterexample because now we've seen the sorts of big play opportunities that exist for the MLB in this defense if they are up to the task. The INT that Bernard had to end the Chiefs game, Edmunds never did anything like that in his time here. Same with the sack Bernard had on Mahomes while spying him. Those sorts of plays were there to be had when Edmunds was our MLB but they weren't being made. So it isn't just crapping on Edmunds, it's pointing out that Bernard by comparison is a big step up at the position. And I recognize Edmunds did his 1/11 while he was here but Bernard is going above and beyond, so fans are going to comment on it.

 

Edited Thursday at 07:55 PM by HappyDays

[Sierra Foothills]

7 hours ago, Danger Mouse said:

I presume this has already been posted. 

 

But isn't that great to see? Like a veteran. Drafting character is a real skill. 

 

It definitely looks like they had a trick play up their sleeve but chose not to run it... based maybe on Rapp's reaction?

 

[Utah John]

On 11/20/2024 at 11:07 AM, C.Biscuit97 said:

And there it is! Let’s celebrate a Bills player and crap on a former one whose crime was getting a bigger contract! 

Edmunds' crime was always being in position to watch the opponent make a play, but never preventing it.  If he had turned into the player the Bills hoped he'd be as a first round pick, he'd still be here.  

[GreggTX]

Good for TB. He and Christian Benford are 2 of the most underrated players in the league. On offense, Shakir is also undervalued. A Lombardi Trophy might help in that regard.

[GreggTX]

On 11/20/2024 at 11:06 AM, Logic said:

I'd love to dig up the draft night thread about Terrel Bernard and see how absolutely wrong so many people were.

I'm not immune to it. I nearly cried when they drafted Josh Allen. I'm just saying...the discrepancy of opinion between draft night and now would make for some humorous reading.

 

But we do love being wrong when a young player blows away our expectations. The name Spencer comes to mind as well.

[Rock-A-Bye Beasley]

On 11/21/2024 at 5:31 AM, Matt_In_NH said:

What a terrible take.  Unless it’s sarcasm in which case good job

Obviously exaggerating, but one of my personal least favorite Bills of all time. 

[Matt_In_NH]

19 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

It definitely looks like they had a trick play up their sleeve but chose not to run it... based maybe on Rapp's reaction?

 

100%.  The other players stayed put.  Mahomes was “ in motion”.