What Happened to Terrel Bernard?

[Beck Water]

3 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

He has a girl now, getting layed all the time, has no stamina in his legs anymore… she has sapped his strength, 

 

He's had the same girl since HS

[paulmm3]

I've never thought especially highly of Terrel Bernard's play.

[WideNine]

On 12/26/2024 at 6:11 AM, BucketList said:

Tim Settle, Poona Ford and Leonard Floyd played significant time on the defensive line last season. All are starters for other teams this season. 

 

Of all those Floyd was the most consistent performer and had a lot of splash plays rushing the passer. The team has felt that loss.

 

Poona rode the pine a lot and not sure what got him into McD's dog house (being late, practice effort...who knows), but we have seen that happen with other players who just don't get the reps.

 

He is doing well with the Chargers and I really thought he would make a solid rotation with Jones.

 

Settle, I was not a fan of his play on the line as he was too easily washed out with blocks and struggled to shed blocks.

 

 

[Don Otreply]

1 hour ago, Beck Water said:

 

He's had the same girl since HS

Maybe she stopped sapping his energy…, and now he’s frustrated 🤣

Edited December 27, 2024 by Don Otreply

[Alphadawg7]

On 12/25/2024 at 11:15 PM, ghostwriter said:

Buffalo has a relatively light defensive line and when you factor that in with undersized LBs as well, you’re asking for trouble.

This is a big part of the problem.  When you are undersized as much as we are in places in our front 7 it’s going to cause problems and inconsistencies.  You want to win in this league you better win in the trenches first.  
 

We are consistently winning in the trenches on offense but not on defense.  Which is why I sincerely hope we invest 2 picks into beef on the defensive side in the draft, grabbing at least one between our 6 picks in the first 4 rounds, if not both if the right guys are there.  

 

I think WR and DL should be the priority heading into the draft.  Obviously FA or Trades could change that, but as of now those should be our top 2 priorities IMO.  

[Mat68]

He is asked to do more in coverage. With the changes at safety I feel more is on his shoulders.  He has also been dinged up quite a bit this season.  Still there is a massive drop off without him.  I like the yin and yang of him paired with Williams.  Milano and him play almost too similar in style and pursuit.  Williams plays with his hair on fire.  Yes, it can get him out of position but it imo it is no different than Milano or Benard getting engulfed by a lineman.  

[Big Turk]

1 hour ago, paulmm3 said:

I've never thought especially highly of Terrel Bernard's play.

 

Guess you didn't bother watching last year when he was near All-Pro caliber.

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, Beck Water said:

 

The reason Phillips has decent penetration into the opponents backfield (but leaves the Bills vulnerable to the run) is that he gets upfield "too soon", he doesn't maintain his gap integrity to stop the run.  That's been the "double edged sword" of BigJ9797 as a 3TDT all along.

 

Having Phillips in the backfield while the OL is free to block the LBs at the 2nd level in a run play does not help the LBs

 

 

100% this.

[EmotionallyUnstable]

3 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

This is a big part of the problem.  When you are undersized as much as we are in places in our front 7 it’s going to cause problems and inconsistencies.  You want to win in this league you better win in the trenches first.  
 

We are consistently winning in the trenches on offense but not on defense.  Which is why I sincerely hope we invest 2 picks into beef on the defensive side in the draft, grabbing at least one between our 6 picks in the first 4 rounds, if not both if the right guys are there.  

 

I think WR and DL should be the priority heading into the draft.  Obviously FA or Trades could change that, but as of now those should be our top 2 priorities IMO.  

I am 100% with you but I am expecting a more agressive approach taking two DL within their first 3 picks.

[Coach Tuesday]

33 minutes ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

I am 100% with you but I am expecting a more agressive approach taking two DL within their first 3 picks.

Have to think corner is in the mix too (sorry).

[Alphadawg7]

1 hour ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

I am 100% with you but I am expecting a more agressive approach taking two DL within their first 3 picks.

 

Depending on how the board falls, this would not surprise me, especially if one is an edge and the other interior.  I would be all for it, but only if the board falls right, don't want to reach for a 2nd guy or anything like that.  If we came away with 2 DL guys and a WR in our first 3 picks in the first 2 rounds I wouldn't be mad at it.  Especially since offensively all we really need heading into the offseason is probably another WR.  Shore up our trenches on the defense should be a top priority.

 

I also wouldn't hate signing in FA or making a trade for a proven stud on the DL if one is available.  I haven't checked to see what the FA market looks like next year, so no idea if there is a good option maybe there.  But there is always a potential trade target if someone like say Garret comes available or something.  

[GunnerBill]

4 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Which is why I sincerely hope we invest 2 picks into beef on the defensive side in the draft, grabbing at least one between our 6 picks in the first 4 rounds, if not both if the right guys are there.  

 

Probably only 5 now in the first 4. Two 2nds and one in every other round and then two 5th round comps (Gabe's was originally projected a 4th but the lack of playing time - injury - means the projections have been adjusted and most expect us only to get a 5th for him now).

[LABILLBACKER]

4 hours ago, Alphadawg7 said:

This is a big part of the problem.  When you are undersized as much as we are in places in our front 7 it’s going to cause problems and inconsistencies.  You want to win in this league you better win in the trenches first.  
 

We are consistently winning in the trenches on offense but not on defense.  Which is why I sincerely hope we invest 2 picks into beef on the defensive side in the draft, grabbing at least one between our 6 picks in the first 4 rounds, if not both if the right guys are there.  

 

I think WR and DL should be the priority heading into the draft.  Obviously FA or Trades could change that, but as of now those should be our top 2 priorities IMO.  

"Hey Sean, if you ever want your adorable zone scheme to work, how bout you find game wreckers on the front 4"....then you can draft as skinny LBS as you want. Without a healthy Milano next to him, Bernard will struggle. When Matt was flying around looking unstoppable,  Bernard looked like a pro bowler. Now our entire front 7 is down.

[BADOLBILZ]

6 hours ago, Beck Water said:

 

A sensible post.

 

Why Bernard hasn't looked as good this season:

1) the line, especially DaQuon.  Ya know how Edmunds finally looked like a decent player in 2022 before leaving for the Bears?  Direct relationship to the departure of Star "No longer Shining" Lotulelei and replacing him with Daquan "Damn! So that's what good 1T play looks like" Jones.  Only Daquan has not been the same player this year after returning from his torn pec last season.  If the DL isn't keeping the LB clean, the LB look worse

2) Who is playing next to him?  Dodson was a physically limited LB who knew what he was supposed to do and whose liabilities in the pass game were overcome by bringing Poyer in and playing a form of dime on passing downs.  Williams may be a good tackler, but he's still learning to read the offense and decide what he ought to do.  It makes a difference.  Milano knows what he's supposed to do but he's still scraping the rust off.

3) torn pec for Bernard, takes a while to come back from and frankly I think he rushed it, but I think 1) and 2) are more important.

 

Who is in front of you and who you're playing next to makes a huge difference to the OL and to the front 7.

 

 

Daquan Jones only played like 15% of the Bills defensive snaps in 2023.

 

Bernard was out there 93% and had a really good season.

 

 

 

[billrooter]

On 12/26/2024 at 9:11 AM, BucketList said:

Tim Settle, Poona Ford and Leonard Floyd played significant time on the defensive line last season. All are starters for other teams this season. 

 

Poona was basically inactive the whole year wasn't he? Tim Settle IMO was ***** in our defensive system, strange to see him having what seems like a good year In Houston. I seen him play a game this year and I think they said he had like six sacks and my immediate thought was were we misusing him or is our defensive scheme just ass, don't worry their are other reasons I have these thoughts.

 

 

[billrooter]

On 12/26/2024 at 3:21 PM, Solomon Grundy said:

I feel like if McDermott played more press coverage, the Dline could get to the QB. The Rams, Detroit and Patriots looked to play with a timing offense. When QBs hit their back foot on drops the ball was out of their hands.

I been wishing since McDermott arrived he played a more aggressive defense, that isn't happening. If our defense was aggressive and we got beat in the playoffs I would find it easier to accept. We sit back on our heels and play zone and let the offense dictate everything and just pick our zone apart. Disclaimer though I'm not so sure we have the players to play aggressively, but it would be nice to see for Once against an elite QB.

[Solomon Grundy]

10 hours ago, T master said:

 

Since brining back Phillips i have noticed he has had pretty decent penetration into the opponents back field which is why he's probably still playing, I hope he can step it up even more during the play offs and become a force it would be a welcome sight plus it might help the LBers too .

Probably playing himself back into football shape 

[billsfan_34]

On 12/26/2024 at 2:15 AM, ghostwriter said:

Buffalo has a relatively light defensive line and when you factor that in with undersized LBs as well, you’re asking for trouble.

Exactly 

[Alphadawg7]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Probably only 5 now in the first 4. Two 2nds and one in every other round and then two 5th round comps (Gabe's was originally projected a 4th but the lack of playing time - injury - means the projections have been adjusted and most expect us only to get a 5th for him now).

Yeah, that’s a good point about Gabe, I was counting him as netting us a 3rd pick in the 4th round before the season began.  So yeah you are right, probably 5 now taking that into consideration.

 

I still wouldn’t hate 2 picks within those 5 going towards the DL, but I bet and hope at least one does.  

[Johnnieo64]

We need a big, strong LB as well as some bigger DL men. A guy like Danny Stuntsman from Oklahoma would be perfect for us. I’m not saying that Bernard, Williams and Milano are not good players, but we need to supplement them with a bigger, stronger LB at the point of attack as these other guys are continually hurt because of their smallish size. He would also almost immediately become the leader of the D and make everyone around him better. I watched all of his games. He is really good. Just my opinion. Go Bills!! 😀