What Happened to Terrel Bernard?

[Solomon Grundy]

7 hours ago, Beast said:

Our defensive line has exposed Bernard. 
 

1-they can’t get to the QB and have made the whole back 7 look worse.

 

2- they can’t keep o-lineman from the second level, and when you have small linebackers, that’s a problem.

 

So, the issue is with the front 4.

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.

[Bills Fan in MD]

Pec injuries are no joke when it comes to an NFL defensive player.  I'm not disputing that he's dropped off a bit, and I wouldn't overlook the fact that a number of guys on the DL have also underperformed, but I honestly wouldn't be that surprised if that injury lingered even after he came back.

[Dr.Sack]

10 hours ago, BobbyC81 said:

The Bills built their defense to defend the pass as that was the direction of the league.  Most teams now play 2 safeties back, which has impacted passing games.  So, most teams are running the ball more.  
 

Of course, players like D. Henry have been around throughout.  We will likely see 2 2,000 yard rushers this season.  
 

It may be time to acquire a larger MLB.  Of course, there have been many long runs this season, which could be attributed to defensive scheme, offensive scheme, blocking, etc.  I don’t know if a more robust MLB would have any affect on those runs, except for maybe fending off a block and plugging a hole. The long runs by Henry, Barkley and Taylor have been quick hitting.  Bang and they’re gone

One way to counter larger offensive personnel is playing larger defensive personnel. Milano in the mix at 4-3 LB, or even playing a 46 Defense or 50 front now is the time to strategize. 

[streetkings01]

For a 12-3 team there sure a lot of posts on how below average our players are!

[Buffalo ill]

23 minutes ago, streetkings01 said:

For a 12-3 team there sure a lot of posts on how below average our players are!

From reading this forum I am under the impression that the Bengals, ravens, and Chiefs have already eliminated the Bills from the playoffs.  

[major]

1 hour ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

I feel like most posters here are below average

I know I am 😂

[BillsFanForever19]

23 hours ago, streetkings01 said:

For a 12-3 team there sure a lot of posts on how below average our players are!

 

23 hours ago, Buffalo ill said:

From reading this forum I am under the impression that the Bengals, ravens, and Chiefs have already eliminated the Bills from the playoffs.  

 

The Defense gave up 44 against the Rams and 42 against the Lions. Then continued to look just as bad in the first half against one of the worst teams in the league in a game where we needed to push for a first down to end it with a 3 point win.

 

It's Week 17 and we're heading into the Playoffs against the best teams in the league with the most powerful Offenses. Including one in the Ravens that whipped us on both sides of the ball. 

 

The goal is no longer to be happy with a good record, a Division win, and getting a Playoff win or two. The goal is a Super Bowl win or at the very least an AFC Championship. And the Defense we've put out on the field for the past month isn't going to get that done.

 

If you're not at least a little concerned with the play of players like Bernard, Oliver, Jones, Milano, and Douglas - you're simply being a homer.

Edited 1 hour ago by BillsFanForever19

[BobbyC81]

12 hours ago, Kelly to Allen said:

Dorian Williams is for the run defense against the ravens. Bernard/ Milano for Kelce in the playoffs. 

 

Bernard was absolutely sensational vs Kelce in the regular season 

Yeah, Milano did such a great job vs Kelce in the last seconds of regulation in the playoff game following the 2021 season.

[GunnerBill]

3 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

If you're not at least a little concerned with the play of players like Bernard, Oliver, Jones, Milano, and Douglas - you're simply being a homer.

 

To be fair Oliver has been excellent the past two games. I'm hoping he is rounding into form after a below par year. The others on your list remain of some level of concern. 

[BillsFanForever19]

7 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

To be fair Oliver has been excellent the past two games. I'm hoping he is rounding into form after a below par year. The others on your list remain of some level of concern. 

 

I know he was excellent against the Lions. Didn't notice him as much against New England. I share the same sentiment in hoping he plays like he did against Detroit throughout the Postseason. 

Edited 17 hours ago by BillsFanForever19

[GunnerBill]

22 minutes ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

I know he was excellent against the Lions. Didn't notice him as much against New England. I share the same sentiment in hoping he plays like he did against Detroit throughout the Postseason. 

 

I didn't on the TV broadcast either, but on the all22 he was dominant inside against the NE run game. Took on two blockers and forced the back to bounce multiple times. 

[BananaB]

8 hours ago, streetkings01 said:

For a 12-3 team there sure a lot of posts on how below average our players are!

A 12-3 record doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement and doesn’t mean everyone is playing good football consistently. 

[streetkings01]

1 hour ago, BananaB said:

A 12-3 record doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement and doesn’t mean everyone is playing good football consistently. 

Never said that, but I think this message board tends to be overly critical of players not named Josh Allen! 

[Generic_Bills_Fan]

On 12/26/2024 at 2:49 AM, ganesh said:

Not buying this...The line is the same as last year.  He seemed to perform better last year than this year. Definitely has taken a step back after the 1st quarter of the season.

PFF is horrendous at evaluating linebackers I feel like lol Dodson graded out as the best LB in the league last year 

 

Bernard may have taken a small step back but it’s not as bad as the pff ratings are trying to make it look imo 

 

the line isn’t really the same as last year, Daquan isn’t the same player this year 

Edited 15 hours ago by Generic_Bills_Fan

[T master]

On 12/26/2024 at 1:15 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.

 

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 .

[BananaB]

2 hours ago, streetkings01 said:

Never said that, but I think this message board tends to be overly critical of players not named Josh Allen! 

I think they fall in love with just about every average player possible. The later the round drafted, the harder they fall. I’m not talking about Bernard, I actually think he’s pretty good. 

[Beck Water]

On 12/26/2024 at 1:15 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.

 

But didn't you just do the math and determine that Buffalo's DL is actually larger and heavier on average than KC's DL, with one large "outlier" in both cases?

2 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 .

 

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

 

Edited 11 hours ago by Beck Water

[TheyCallMeAndy]

**** PFF, here are stats that matter

 

- 64% completion percentage allowed, very good for a LB who are typically 70-80% range.

 

- 9.9 YPC, also very good.

 

- 6.7% missed tackle percentage, with 1 arm. Also very good. 
 

Bernard is awesome. 

[Beck Water]

3 hours ago, Generic_Bills_Fan said:

PFF is horrendous at evaluating linebackers I feel like lol Dodson graded out as the best LB in the league last year 

 

Bernard may have taken a small step back but it’s not as bad as the pff ratings are trying to make it look imo 

 

the line isn’t really the same as last year, Daquan isn’t the same player this year 

 

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.

[Don Otreply]

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