What’s it gonna take to improve /prioritize our run defense?

[machine gun kelly]

14 hours ago, Big Turk said:

Another thread?

 

They are NEVER going to prioritize run defense.

 

NEVER.

 

NEVER.

 

Is that enough NEVER'S so we can stop with this?

 

They are willing to give up some runs due to lightning boxes and defending deep passes in a two high shell.

 

As they are allowing an average of 18.7 PPG and scoring almost 30, it tends to work pretty well because most teams cannot keep running the ball when they are behind double digits in the 2nd half.

ThNks Turk for writing what any informed NFL fan would know in 2024.  The Bills have been more effective with light boxes and shutting down explosive plays in the pass, amd most teams have to abort a heavy run attack when they are down by 14.

[Since1981]

A scoring offense supports the defense. Play deep with the safety, and force the opposition to keep pace with #17. This strategy is the foundation of the team’s success. But there’s a one word caveat over the years: Henry.

[Not at the table Karlos]

20 hours ago, SoMAn said:

Ted Washington, Kyle Williams, Sam Adams, or reasonable facsimiles. Wide body run-stuffing athletic DT. 

One of those is not like the others. 

[peterpan]

When talking heads say “take what the defense gives you….”  That means run against the bills.  That’s what we give you.  I’ve been made fun of on here saying the Bills purposely have a poor run D, but that’s really the choice we have made.  And it’s proven to be a good choice.  Try keeping up with Allen and 30+ points a game without passing.  
 

now for obvious running downs, rather than going to a 4-3 I wonder if we would ever go to a 5-2?  Pull out one safety and put in another big body. It would keep the LB/T.Johnson responsibilities more similar 

Edited December 4 by peterpan

[SunDSolar]

It's the scheme

 

McDermott is willing to give up the run plays to not allow the big chunk plays in the pass game.

 

This will continue into the playoffs vs every team except the Ravens.  I think we will see alot more Bernard/Milano/Dorian in there on early downs vs Baltimore 

[Kelly to Allen]

Buffalo is 7th in run defense dvoa and completely destroyed the KC interior oline. Which is considered the best allegedly. 

 

Plus Carter is back fully healthy. 

 

 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

Score points. Best run defense there is.

[mannc]

1 minute ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Score points. Best run defense there is.

That’s exactly what they’re counting on.  It’s been working.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

35 minutes ago, SunDSolar said:

It's the scheme

 

McDermott is willing to give up the run plays to not allow the big chunk plays in the pass game.

 

This will continue into the playoffs vs every team except the Ravens.  I think we will see alot more Bernard/Milano/Dorian in there on early downs vs Baltimore 

They don’t change personnel for anyone. We were missing Taron Johnson and Bernard vs Baltimore. Rapp got hurt early. No Milano. Williams was still growing into the role. Still ran that nickel defense. I wouldn’t worry about what Baltimore did week 4. Allen didn’t play well either. It was just one of those games.

 

[Fan in Chicago]

1 hour ago, Since1981 said:

A scoring offense supports the defense. Play deep with the safety, and force the opposition to keep pace with #17. This strategy is the foundation of the team’s success. But there’s a one word caveat over the years: Henry.

 

6 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

Score points. Best run defense there is.

Agreed with both of you. Our productive offense allows McBabich to run this defense. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

2 minutes ago, Fan in Chicago said:

 

Agreed with both of you. Our productive offense allows McBabich to run this defense. 

And it also helps when you allow the 6th fewest points in the league.
 

We don’t give our defense enough credit. They are probably top 3 in points allowed since Taron Johnson has been a starter. Maybe even number 1. The combination of not allowing TDs and our offense scoring basically makes the opponents run game useless. 
 

 

[Don Otreply]

What will it take you ask, 

 

it will take giving up at least a portion of what the defense has been very good at, 

 

the real question is , what do you want to give up for this?

 

 

[Fan in Chicago]

19 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

And it also helps when you allow the 6th fewest points in the league.
 

We don’t give our defense enough credit. They are probably top 3 in points allowed since Taron Johnson has been a starter. Maybe even number 1. The combination of not allowing TDs and our offense scoring basically makes the opponents run game useless. 
 

 

Going into the playoffs with a healthy defense will be wonderful. And a healed up Kincaid, Coleman.

We do need go to figure out how to stop the Ravens and Texans types of game plans. 

[DaBillsFanSince1973]

 

[LABILLBACKER]

It's the front 4 that are getting beat. None of our DE's are exceptional on run defense.  Oliver & Jones have been somewhat disappointing stopping gaps. Up until he got hurt, CMC was averaging 8 yards a carry. We never run a 4-3 and we rarely run cover 0. And the most frustrating part is we rarely put 8+ in the box. Even on run downs, they're 10 yards back?

[WideNine]

11 hours ago, Bermuda Triangle said:

Who comes off the field for the 3rd LB?

 

I don't think it is that complex if you go single high. I would not take Taron off the field.

 

Most teams have sub packages for early downs where the analytics show run tendencies to get teams into more pass situations. Your LBs have to be solid with their run fits too.

 

Having an extra LB hitting the wrong gap ain't going to help.

 

We will see what the Bills do, but I don't think the front 4 with Oliver are dominant enough to stop the runs. Give me Oliver all day on passing downs.

 

We will see... I just want the Bills to be successful and if there was ever a time to fine tune a package it would be down this stretch with the AFC East locked up.

 

The Bills keep their scheme straight forward so there are less mistakes, but they have shown they can adapt when forced to like when they ran more dime with a safety down low last season with all the LB injuries.

 

 

[Charles Romes]

I think the team has become committed to optimizing more advanced metrics rather than the traditional metrics like YPC. 

[Big Turk]

6 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

It's the front 4 that are getting beat. None of our DE's are exceptional on run defense.  Oliver & Jones have been somewhat disappointing stopping gaps. Up until he got hurt, CMC was averaging 8 yards a carry. We never run a 4-3 and we rarely run cover 0. And the most frustrating part is we rarely put 8+ in the box. Even on run downs, they're 10 yards back?

 

Rousseau is exceptional against the run. Maybe one of the best in the NFL.

 

Trying to learn anything about run defense while playing in snow is pretty silly honestly.

Edited December 4 by Big Turk

[Rochesterfan]

6 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

It's the front 4 that are getting beat. None of our DE's are exceptional on run defense.  Oliver & Jones have been somewhat disappointing stopping gaps. Up until he got hurt, CMC was averaging 8 yards a carry. We never run a 4-3 and we rarely run cover 0. And the most frustrating part is we rarely put 8+ in the box. Even on run downs, they're 10 yards back?

Yet they seem to win at a clip only matched by KC and better than all of the teams that stack the box and put 8 in the box.

 

The truth is - that is what teams want - they want the Bills to go away from their shell coverages and bring more in the box - so they can sneak a deep throw on a run down.  The Bills don’t bite - even when maybe they should because it works.  
 

They give up some early runs while teams are still 2 dimensional, but they are playing the long game - the Bills feel they can force FGs and Turnovers at a high enough rate to win and for 7 years now that is exactly what they have done.

 

It is frustrating sure and counter to everything that we were taught about football from day 1 (Run and stop the run) - the modern NFL is about patience and precision and that is what the Bills defense is so good at.  

 

 

[Freddie's Dead]

Who cares?  The only team that legit beat us with the run was the Ravens.  Our D is designed not to give up the big play.  Make them earn every inch.  Most teams can't sustain long drives against us, so they get a few explosive runs. We keep them out the EZ which is all that matters.