Bobby Babich Going Forward

[GASabresIUFan]

I know people are concerned about the defense and if we go into the playoffs without Douglas, Hamlin and Rapp, there is every reason to be concerned.  

 

However, I believe all will be back in the lineup come playoff time.  When this defense is healthy it's a solid squad.  Remember they have held 5 opponents this season to 10 points.

 

I also like the Babich and McD have been more flexible in how they play defense this season.  We have seen more blitzes and more big packages with 3 LBs than in recent years.  This, IMHO, is a huge positive change.  Some of the willingness to change up the defense has been to cover for injuries, but it has yielded positive results and is hopefully a positive sign to come that McD will be more open minded on defense come the playoffs.

 

Ultimately health of Milano or Williams, plus the DBs & S is vital to playoff success.  

 

I know this isn't a popular opinion on this thread, but so be it.

 

I know we want to 1 seed, but no way KC losses both of it's final games.  I expect them to beat Pitt on Christmas and if that happens, I hope Houston finds a way to beat the Ravens. This would clinch the 2nd seed and give the injured players 3 weeks of rest and therapy to get them ready when really needed for the playoffs.  I also think, with our strong running game, we can beat the NYJ and NE with Trubisky at QB.   

Edited 12 hours ago by GASabresIUFan

[Big Turk]

First year coordinator, he is still learning.  Expecting him to be as good as someone who has done it for many years is asking a lot.

[GunnerBill]

5 hours ago, Simon said:

 

He was a terror tonight; he embarrassed the RT all night long.

That was the very best I have seen him moving since the injury.

 

 

Yea he did have a good game last night. Agree he moved better than in a fair old while.

[Straight Hucklebuck]

7 hours ago, BillsFan130 said:

The bills defence made some big plays when they needed to today, but...

 

Bobby Babich is a big problem in my opinion.

 

It's not all his fault as the pass rush is still bad. But It almost seems like he is guessing a lot of times and the opposing OC usually is a step ahead.

 

I know it's a bit bold but if I am McDermott, I've seen enough and I'm taking the play calls from him the rest of the year.

 

What do you guys think?

Might be an unpopular opinion so feel free to roast away if you want, but I definitely feel strongly about this

Maybe I missed something, but this defense plays in Nickel a lot, kind of gives up scoring drives early in games, hadn’t really had a consistent pass rush, is kind of predicated on not allowing over the top shots, never been overly stout against the run.

 

Under McDermott, is he going to play a different system? We’ve drafted players that fit one system for 8-years now. 
 

It doesn’t hurt to hire the services of defensive consultants, picking the brains of outside defensive coordinators and gather ideas on how generate better consistency. 

 

[BobbyC81]

8 hours ago, BillsFan130 said:

The bills defence made some big plays when they needed to today, but...

 

Bobby Babich is a big problem in my opinion.

 

It's not all his fault as the pass rush is still bad. But It almost seems like he is guessing a lot of times and the opposing OC usually is a step ahead.

 

I know it's a bit bold but if I am McDermott, I've seen enough and I'm taking the play calls from him the rest of the year.

 

What do you guys think?

Might be an unpopular opinion so feel free to roast away if you want, but I definitely feel strongly about this

I don’t understand why he can’t make ingame adjustments and has to wait until halftime. 
 

I also don’t know how teams even make adjustments at halftime.  NFL games have 12 minute halftimes.  It likely takes a couple minutes to get off the field and into the locker room and the same back out to the field.  What can they honestly accomplish in about 8 minutes?

 

If some of the defenders had to relieve themselves, that’s another couple minutes.

[GunnerBill]

51 minutes ago, BobbyC81 said:

I don’t understand why he can’t make ingame adjustments and has to wait until halftime.

 

He has made in game adjustments a TON this year. In my view he adjusts a bit too much and a bit too quickly. I think he has a bit of a trigger finger and lacks patience. Which is an essential quality of a good DC. 

[JP51]

10 hours ago, BillsFan130 said:

That's fair. But time is ticking and can't wait for a rookie DC to figure it out too much longer.

 

If Babich can't figure it out very soon, I think it's time for McDermott to take it over 

I hate to say I agree but I totally agree... it was heartening to hear the talk of McD coaching the coaches... but this has been a theme with Babich... in the end, I am not sure he gets it... I think Jones fall off a cliff has hurt Oliver to the point of them both being ineffective.. then you run into a very small LB core... I am not pretending I know what to do to fix it... but geez.. we need better than this... 

[MikePJ76]

10 hours ago, DCofNC said:

Example, today.  Without turnovers, the Pats likely win.  That’s not good vs one of the worst teams in the league.

Takeaways, defenses get takeaways.  
 

the bills forced those takeaways.  
 

takeaways are how most teams win games.  The teams that are good at getting them usually are among the better teams in the league.

[DCofNC]

1 minute ago, MikePJ76 said:

Takeaways, defenses get takeaways.  
 

the bills forced those takeaways.  
 

takeaways are how most teams win games.  The teams that are good at getting them usually are among the better teams in the league.

Yes, but when that’s your only way to stop teams it can not be relied on.  It’s like betting on the pullout method, might work most of the time, but when it doesn’t it’s gonna cost you big.

Edited 4 hours ago by DCofNC

[BillsFan130]

2 minutes ago, MikePJ76 said:

Takeaways, defenses get takeaways.  
 

the bills forced those takeaways.  
 

takeaways are how most teams win games.  The teams that are good at getting them usually are among the better teams in the league.

It's great when it works, but can you rely on that 4 games in a row in the playoffs against good teams?

 

We saw how bad this defence looks against the rams and lions when they don't get turnovers. (Only the 1 in 2 games combined)

[MikePJ76]

1 minute ago, DCofNC said:

Yes, but when that’s your only way to stop teams it can not be relied on.  It’s like betting on the pullout method, might work most of the time, but when it doesn’t it’s gonna cost you big.

It’s not there only way to stop teams.  Their record and history says they are pretty good at it and consistent.

Just now, BillsFan130 said:

It's great when it works, but can you rely on that 4 games in a row in the playoffs against good teams?

 

We saw how bad this defence looks against the rams and lions when they don't get turnovers. (Only the 1 in 2 games combined)

The defense essentially won the Detroit game in the first half.  They gave up 14 points over essentially three quarters on the road to the leagues best offense with backups all over the defense.  
 

Those late points were not indicative of how well they played on defense last week.

[DCofNC]

1 minute ago, MikePJ76 said:

It’s not there only way to stop teams.  Their record and history says they are pretty good at it and consistent.

Recent history says otherwise.  They got rolled by the Rams, let up over 40 vs the Lions and struggled to squeak past a 3-11 team w a rookie QB.  We’re it not for one bad decision by their rookie and a bobbled ball, this game could easily be the most embarrassing loss of the year.

[SoCal Deek]

4 hours ago, BobbyC81 said:

I don’t understand why he can’t make ingame adjustments and has to wait until halftime. 
 

I also don’t know how teams even make adjustments at halftime.  NFL games have 12 minute halftimes.  It likely takes a couple minutes to get off the field and into the locker room and the same back out to the field.  What can they honestly accomplish in about 8 minutes?

 

If some of the defenders had to relieve themselves, that’s another couple minutes.

And when you factor in the lack of restrooms at Highmark Stadium I’m guessing a bunch of the team just has to hold it until after the game. 😉

[MikePJ76]

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Yea he did have a good game last night. Agree he moved better than in a fair old while.

A good game?  He didn’t make a single play.  He almost made a couple of plays and seemed to lack awareness repeatedly.

 

he is not paid the way he has been to almost make plays.  All the talk about the defense and miller always gets a pass.  He makes no plays.  I can’t wait until he is gone.

[GunnerBill]

4 minutes ago, MikePJ76 said:

A good game?  He didn’t make a single play.  He almost made a couple of plays and seemed to lack awareness repeatedly.

 

he is not paid the way he has been to almost make plays.  All the talk about the defense and miller always gets a pass.  He makes no plays.  I can’t wait until he is gone.

 

I'm as big of a Von critic as you will find. But he did have a couple of nice pressures on important downs last night. I still want him gone asap and say 4 sacks at this point and one since week 3 is just a mark of who he is.

[MikePJ76]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

I'm as big of a Von critic as you will find. But he did have a couple of nice pressures on important downs last night. I still want him gone asap and say 4 sacks at this point and one since week 3 is just a mark of who he is.

He had a handful of pressures and did not finish.  He makes zero plays.  They were stuck with him this year because of the structure of the contract.  I bet they can not wait to get rid of him.  
 

an average defensive end next year will be an upgrade.

[PayDaBill$]

This defense scares me, we made a horrid NE offense look like Brady was back at times. I’m afraid our D isn’t going to cut it vs playoff teams. 
 

On offense the weather was def a factor with temps hovering around zero degrees.  That makes for tough sledding on offense. 

Edited 3 hours ago by PayDaBill$

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

The concern I have with this D is it seems to lack an identity anymore. That may be due to just having a lack of any playmakers. But it seems like they are now throwing the kitchen sink in there and just desperately trying a bunch of random things. 

[NewEra]

4 hours ago, BobbyC81 said:

I don’t understand why he can’t make ingame adjustments and has to wait until halftime. 
 

I also don’t know how teams even make adjustments at halftime.  NFL games have 12 minute halftimes.  It likely takes a couple minutes to get off the field and into the locker room and the same back out to the field.  What can they honestly accomplish in about 8 minutes?

 

If some of the defenders had to relieve themselves, that’s another couple minutes.

No offense, but you don’t understand because you don’t understand.  He makes in game adjustments, not just at halftime 

25 minutes ago, DCofNC said:

Recent history says otherwise.  They got rolled by the Rams, let up over 40 vs the Lions and struggled to squeak past a 3-11 team w a rookie QB.  We’re it not for one bad decision by their rookie and a bobbled ball, this game could easily be the most embarrassing loss of the year.

Partly because our mvp QB and O that had scored 30+ in 8 straight game could only muster 17 against a 3-11 team with one very good player on defense 

 

yes , the d is a problem, but the offense was also a problem yesterday

[NewEra]

10 hours ago, DCofNC said:

Example, today.  Without turnovers, the Pats likely win.  That’s not good vs one of the worst teams in the league.

Again-  without turnovers we only score 14 points.  That’s not good vs one of the worst teams in the league.  
 

the coaches didn’t have them ready today.  The boys failed to make plays they normally do on O and they looked cold.  After playing in LA and a dome, they got back to reality and didn’t seem to enjoy it