Matt Milano - rusty or washed?

[Big Turk]

Nobody recovers fumbles like Milano.

[stlbills13]

Thought he looked better although I'm pretty sure 11 of us could have gone out there and looked good against the Jets offense yesterday. I'd give him a few series against NE just for the reps but he needs to be healthy for the playoffs. I don't want AJ Klein covering Kelce at Arrowhead

[Sierra Foothills]

On 12/8/2024 at 6:34 PM, ProcessImproverMan said:

Definitely looks off. 

 

I think we are going to need to draft a linebacker this upcoming draft 

 

Particularly with all of the picks the Bills have, they'll draft at least one.

 

On 12/11/2024 at 12:33 PM, Ray Stonada said:

Would it kill us the play some 4-3? Is Taron that untouchable?

 

I'm surprised there wasn't the usual avalanche of responses to this post. I agree.

 

I understand Taron is an important and valued part of the team and that he has a contract commensurate with his value.

 

That said, he isn't getting any bigger and he's not getting any younger. It seems to me that the Bills should be segueing into reducing his snap counts a bit.

 

Taron is a total team player and as long as he's getting paid, I can't imagine him making an issue of playing time when it might actually extend his career.

 

On 12/15/2024 at 5:20 PM, Bills!Win! said:

Didn’t even know he was married. The guy is so quiet and elusive off the field. Nobody really knows anything about him 

 

Yes he's married but please refrain from any talk about his personal life. You do not talk about Matt Milano.

 

On 12/15/2024 at 6:13 PM, HOUSE said:

I am not giving up on Matt Milano, it's been a slow return but he will be back, trust me

 

I must be losing my sense of humor... I don't get it....

 

On 12/16/2024 at 6:26 AM, Bills!Win! said:

Mosf of us now believe in McDermott. Let’s trust him on this one 

 

You forgot to use the word "process."

 

[Virgil]

If nothing else, Milano has the full support of his teammates.  You can see how they all flock to him any time he does anything of merit.  That man is loved. 

[klos63]

1 hour ago, gonzo1105 said:

He still looked like he was lumbering out there despite the play he made yesterday. Williams should be playing but McDermott has a loyalty to Milano first 

Let’s be frank, if Rodgers put in literally any effort on that play he would have recovered it 

Williams isn't that good.  He's a solid backup.

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, gonzo1105 said:

He still looked like he was lumbering out there despite the play he made yesterday. Williams should be playing but McDermott has a loyalty to Milano first 

 

It isn't loyalty, at least not in the usual sense. McDermott has a bias in favor of players who know and execute their assignments repeatedly, over players who may have better physical skills but who miss assignments.  Milano executes, and I'm guessing that Williams doesn't.  I like a lot of what I've seen of Williams, especially his closing speed and his tackling, but I'm guessing that he misses his assignments in the passing game too often to make McDermott play him over Milano.  I would guess that Williams doesn't take the right drops, doesn't react quickly enough, etc. Milano, when he's healthy, is never out of position. 

[SoonerBillsFan]

21 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

It isn't loyalty, at least not in the usual sense. McDermott has a bias in favor of players who know and execute their assignments repeatedly, over players who may have better physical skills but who miss assignments.  Milano executes, and I'm guessing that Williams doesn't.  I like a lot of what I've seen of Williams, especially his closing speed and his tackling, but I'm guessing that he misses his assignments in the passing game too often to make McDermott play him over Milano.  I would guess that Williams doesn't take the right drops, doesn't react quickly enough, etc. Milano, when he's healthy, is never out of position. 

In position is fine, but he is too slow.  I saw a handful of times he was too slow, out ran to the edge, the would be sack on Rogers would have e been a sack for pre Injuries Milano. 

 

Sorry,but in place or not, he is physically washed and we need a replacement this offseason.

[QCity]

2 hours ago, gonzo1105 said:

 

Let’s be frank, if Rodgers put in literally any effort on that play he would have recovered it 

 

Rodgers definitely made a business decision on that fumble recovery.

[Warriorspikes51]

He looked quite fast on the blitz hit of Rodgers

[JMM]

Definitely a step slow. The question is, is it still rust? I'd play him the whole game on Sunday,  this needs to be decided quickly and unemotionally before the first playoff game

[Danger Mouse]

he missed an easy-ish tackle yesterday. that worried me - and it's not the first time this season. his tackling technique used to be perfect and there's no reason for him to have lost that. especially not in a D that, rapp aside, seems to have no tackling technique at all. 

[Eastport bills]

Milano looked much better yesterday against the Jets. I think the rust is coming off and he’ll be a factor come playoff time. To me, the defense has been humiliated by the LA and Detroit games and Sean has challenged them not to be the reason we get beat. If they can keep teams to long 10 to 12 play drives ending in FGs or turnovers , throwing in a few 3 and outs or 6 and outs we will win playoff games. 

[uticaclub]

3 hours ago, stlbills13 said:

Thought he looked better although I'm pretty sure 11 of us could have gone out there and looked good against the Jets offense yesterday. I'd give him a few series against NE just for the reps but he needs to be healthy for the playoffs. I don't want AJ Klein covering Kelce at Arrowhead

Milano didn’t do much better in the :13 second game

[BearNorth]

Our Linebackers as a group have very poor coverage grades, every linebacker on the roster except for Buffalo Joe has a coverage grade in the 30's or 40's.  Is that scheme? I thought we played undersized LB's because they had better coverage skills than the thumper type linebackers. 

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

In position is fine, but he is too slow.  I saw a handful of times he was too slow, out ran to the edge, the would be sack on Rogers would have e been a sack for pre Injuries Milano. 

 

Sorry,but in place or not, he is physically washed and we need a replacement this offseason.

I hear you, and I see what you see, but there are a couple of things about that.  First, I think he's working his way back.  I don't think he's fully recovered.  

 

But whether he's fully recovered or not, there's a more important point from McDermott's perspective.  Every player's job is to execute his assignment to the best of his ability every time.  The assignment is determined by the player's abilities.  Your job is to get to your spot to the best of your ability.  If your abilities are limited, then your spot is a little different, and the rest of the defense adjusts because your spot is different.  What's important is that you get to your different spot every time, and your teammates will cover for you.  

 

Williams clearly can get to more spots than Milano, based on my observations.  However, Milano gets to his spot every time, because he makes his reads and he knows his assignments. It's more important to McDermott that Milano does it every time than that Williams will do it better sometimes. 

 

That's why Klein was the choice last year. He was physically limited, but he executed to the best of his ability. 

 

So, if you're correct and Milano has lost a step, he'll be replaced next season. But he can't be replaced this season, because there is no one who can execute the assignments as well as he can. 

 

That's why Williams goes to the bench as soon as Milano is physically able to play. And that's why Elam sees such limited playing time, despite the talent we seen when he's on the field.

 

You can disagree with that approach if you want, but it's how McDermott sees it, and he's the coach. 

[FLFan]

1 hour ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

In position is fine, but he is too slow.  I saw a handful of times he was too slow, out ran to the edge, the would be sack on Rogers would have e been a sack for pre Injuries Milano. 

 

Sorry,but in place or not, he is physically washed and we need a replacement this offseason.

That is certainly the way it looks to me right now.  That is not to say that he can’t or won’t get back - he has had a long layoff - but right now he is definitely a step slow.  This will be a very tough decision for the Bills next year.  Right now, I am not expecting him to start in the playoffs.  

[BillsFan130]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLtXl6fIYBA- Cover 1 breakdown of Milano. Clips from the rams, lions and jets games.

 

Breaks down Milano vs Dorian- Showed clips of Milano doing a good job in zone for the most part capping routes, and showed Dorian struggling in zone coverage

 

 

Edited December 30, 2024 by BillsFan130

[Aesop]

From someone who tore a muscle (clavicular head- connects the pec to the shoulder, right near the arm pit) and played college ball, so much of it is mental. Milano will be fine, he just has to get over the mental part of playing an aggressive sport and allowing himself to play free. It took me almost an entire year to get back on the bench press and as far as ball, I never regained that confidence in shedding blocks and tackling. I also wasnt getting paid millions of dollars so the risk outweighed the reward. I believe Milano will get back into form, it just takes time.

[3rdand12]

4 hours ago, JMM said:

Definitely a step slow. The question is, is it still rust? I'd play him the whole game on Sunday,  this needs to be decided quickly and unemotionally before the first playoff game

Yea But if it's a lingering injury ? I might rather rest him this week.

Coaches evaluate this constantly.

I suspect injury." Washed " is sure a harsh term from some

 

[bmur66]

I particularly liked to see Milano blitzing the QB