What % of the plays will we play 3 LBs on Sunday?

[GoBills808]

i dispute that Hamlin doesn't hit

 

he was getting stuck in on runs vs Broncos

[HappyDays]

I just watched Joe Marino's all-22 video review of the Broncos game and he pointed out a few plays where we used 3 DL (Von, Oliver, Rousseau), 2 LBs, and 6 DBs. Those plays were all successful too. I believe we used that wrinkle to some success against the Chiefs as well. So that personnel grouping appears to be our secret weapon that we will deploy in high leverage situations. I doubt we are going to see a traditional 3 LB set more than a few times if at all.

[HappyDays]

46 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

i dispute that Hamlin doesn't hit

 

he was getting stuck in on runs vs Broncos

 

Yeah and he's done a good job filling from depth this year.

 

I think Hamlin in general gets way too much hate on this board. People act like he's a critical liability out there. His limitations are obvious but his fundamentals and understanding of where he's supposed to be have been good enough. For a position that has become majorly devalued "good enough" is, well, good enough.

[gonzo1105]

I expect them to mix in some 3 LBs and give some 4-4 type looks with Johnson down in the box especially if Flowers isn’t playing 

[djp14150]

3 actual LBs?  Not von or arouseau backing off covering the flat.

 

I don’t know which LB is the fastes where they use thrn as a spy.

[Motorin']

6 hours ago, Beck Water said:

 

I'm so confused.

 

You want us to play 3 LB - where normally we would take the nickel CB, Taron Johnson, off the field

But instead, you want to take Damar Hamlin off the field at safety and replace him with who?  Taron Johnson, who would be playing out of position?

 

Why is this a good thing?

 

Taron Johnson plays SAM Linebacker against 2 wr sets (and less). 

 

The Bills will play nickel against 3wrs.

 

Against heavy sets they can play w/ Bernard, Milano, Williams and Johnson on the field without TJ being out of position. 

 

Show a 5 man line with one of the LB's in the A gap or on the edge. 

 

It's a one safety look with Rapp deep.. 

 

It makes sense to me if it's particularly cold and snowy, where Lamar has had accuracy issues in the past. 

[Orlando Buffalo]

13 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Yeah and he's done a good job filling from depth this year.

 

I think Hamlin in general gets way too much hate on this board. People act like he's a critical liability out there. His limitations are obvious but his fundamentals and understanding of where he's supposed to be have been good enough. For a position that has become majorly devalued "good enough" is, well, good enough.

I do think that Hamlin is out worst true starter, but that is more telling on the rest of the starters quality than his lack of ability. He has been good enough to keep Cole Bishop off the field and I think he is fine also.

[HappyDays]

4 hours ago, Tulsabillsfanz said:

Whatever defensive scheme we can come up with to limit Henry, short of turning Lamar loose, would be the winning game plan.  
 

What that scheme is?….. I have no idea!  

 

5 DL on run downs would be one possible solution, although I don't know who you take off the field. Probably Taron? Would it be too crazy to take Bernard off and bring Rapp into the box? Whoever comes off, you could have your normal starting 4 DL plus Johnson or Phillips. Or you could make the 5th DL Smoot and line Rousseau up inside. In either scenario it's much harder for the entire OL and all ancillary blockers to win their 1v1 matchups like they did a bunch of times against us in the first game.

[Magox]

I think it will be a decent bit I also believe we will see more defensive packages with Cole Bishop as well:

 

The Steelers game they had TJ Watt crashing down on Henry and Lamar saw it and took it himself and got lots of yards in those first two drives.    Von and Rousseau should play contain to take out the possibility of Lamar pulling it down and attack Henry up the middle with some run blitzes.  

[VW82]

Probably zero

[Solomon Grundy]

7 hours ago, NewEra said:

How many snaps do you think we’ll play with Milano-Bernard-Dorian? I’m thinking we play around 25-30% but I hope it’s more.  I think it’ll be the key to winning or losing

 

I’d much rather have Dorian Williams out then than Hamlin. Our LB unit can be a strength.  We have 3 guys that can run and hit.  Hamlin does neither.  Let’s stack the box on 1st and 2nd and spy him on 3rd.  Let Lamar beat us in the air. If they score (and they probably will either way) and least it will be quick which also give us more opportunities.  
 

I just don’t want to see a slow death of constant Henry and Jackson runs getting 5-15 yards every play.  I think that’ll happen if Hamlin plays 💯 like he did yesterday.  I think Bishop would be a better option if we go with 2 safeties. 
 

really hope to see Benford-Taron-Rapp-Douglas-Dorian-Bernard-Milano

 

What percent do you think we need to play in order to win?

 

Do you think we will win if we play 💯 nickel-dime?

I'd prefer to see them play a base 4-3 with Bernard/Williams/Milano. The key, IMO, to winning the game this week is to stop the run game and limit targets to TEs. Likely and Andrews are Lamar's favorite targets. Douglas and Benford can hold their own against Ravens WRs. Bernard and Milano can run with the TEs

[DJB]

7 hours ago, NewEra said:

How many snaps do you think we’ll play with Milano-Bernard-Dorian? I’m thinking we play around 25-30% but I hope it’s more.  I think it’ll be the key to winning or losing

 

I’d much rather have Dorian Williams out then than Hamlin. Our LB unit can be a strength.  We have 3 guys that can run and hit.  Hamlin does neither.  Let’s stack the box on 1st and 2nd and spy him on 3rd.  Let Lamar beat us in the air. If they score (and they probably will either way) and least it will be quick which also give us more opportunities.  
 

I just don’t want to see a slow death of constant Henry and Jackson runs getting 5-15 yards every play.  I think that’ll happen if Hamlin plays 💯 like he did yesterday.  I think Bishop would be a better option if we go with 2 safeties. 
 

really hope to see Benford-Taron-Rapp-Douglas-Dorian-Bernard-Milano

 

What percent do you think we need to play in order to win?

 

Do you think we will win if we play 💯 nickel-dime?

100% agree. Been asking for 3LB and take out Hamlin since the first Ravens game

 

We have to stop Henry and Lamar from running. I’m more worried about them than I am Lamar’s arm or their pass catchers 

[ghostwriter]

This is not a good matchup for us. Baltimore has a very physical team. Our only hope is that Josh Allen and co can control the clock and dominate the TOP. Keep Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry off of the field and when they are on the field, force them into a hurry up offense where they’re prone to mistakes.

[Jimmy Harris 69]

McDermott has rebuilt this team to be a big run first offense. That will be one of the huge keys to the game for the Bills. Eating up yards and clock on offense keeps those goons off the field and out of the end zone. The Steelers loaded the box in the second half when they stopped the Ravens on the ground. The Bills must stop the king and thereby force Lamar to beat them. If they can do that and get a lead, Baltimore takes Henry out of the game themselves. 

[PrimeTime101]

9 hours ago, NewEra said:

How many snaps do you think we’ll play with Milano-Bernard-Dorian? I’m thinking we play around 25-30% but I hope it’s more.  I think it’ll be the key to winning or losing

 

I’d much rather have Dorian Williams out then than Hamlin. Our LB unit can be a strength.  We have 3 guys that can run and hit.  Hamlin does neither.  Let’s stack the box on 1st and 2nd and spy him on 3rd.  Let Lamar beat us in the air. If they score (and they probably will either way) and least it will be quick which also give us more opportunities.  
 

I just don’t want to see a slow death of constant Henry and Jackson runs getting 5-15 yards every play.  I think that’ll happen if Hamlin plays 💯 like he did yesterday.  I think Bishop would be a better option if we go with 2 safeties. 
 

really hope to see Benford-Taron-Rapp-Douglas-Dorian-Bernard-Milano

 

What percent do you think we need to play in order to win?

 

Do you think we will win if we play 💯 nickel-dime?

First off... Great Topic and Great Poll.  For a year now you and I have kind of gone back and forth on this.  I personally think.. If we had an elite trustworthy S. We would do 4-3 more often.. but we don't..    As for this game..  I am between the 10-30 range on plays.  IF we do.. Our OLB's need to have superb Edge control or Lamar's speed will gash us. 

[Kelly to Allen]

2 hours ago, Jimmy Harris 69 said:

McDermott has rebuilt this team to be a big run first offense. That will be one of the huge keys to the game for the Bills. Eating up yards and clock on offense keeps those goons off the field and out of the end zone. The Steelers loaded the box in the second half when they stopped the Ravens on the ground. The Bills must stop the king and thereby force Lamar to beat them. If they can do that and get a lead, Baltimore takes Henry out of the game themselves. 

 

Buffalo is going to put up points very quickly and build a big lead imo. 

[GunnerBill]

9 hours ago, HappyDays said:

 

Yeah and he's done a good job filling from depth this year.

 

I think Hamlin in general gets way too much hate on this board. People act like he's a critical liability out there. His limitations are obvious but his fundamentals and understanding of where he's supposed to be have been good enough. For a position that has become majorly devalued "good enough" is, well, good enough.

 

I agree with everything in this post except the very last line. I'm still not sure Hamlin is "good enough" in the big picture. He is not a total liability in the way some fans like to depict him, he is normally in the right spot. He has clearly been better out there than their second round pick despite the almost season long desperation to put Bishop on the field over him. But he is the single weakest starting spot on the entire team. The Bills general do not ask their safeties to make 1 on 1 plays but on the occasions that teams have been able to isolate and attack Hamlin they almost always win. I am not asking them to spend another high pick on safety either before you ask that. My view last year was that was the spot to get a mid tier vet FA and I still think that. Hamlin is a FA himself and I don't expect him to be brought back, but if we go into next season with Rapp, Bishop and Hamlin again that is still a personnel fail IMO and a bottom 5 safety room in the league. 

 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

16 hours ago, NewEra said:

How many snaps do you think we’ll play with Milano-Bernard-Dorian? I’m thinking we play around 25-30% but I hope it’s more.  I think it’ll be the key to winning or losing

 

I’d much rather have Dorian Williams out then than Hamlin. Our LB unit can be a strength.  We have 3 guys that can run and hit.  Hamlin does neither.  Let’s stack the box on 1st and 2nd and spy him on 3rd.  Let Lamar beat us in the air. If they score (and they probably will either way) and least it will be quick which also give us more opportunities.  
 

I just don’t want to see a slow death of constant Henry and Jackson runs getting 5-15 yards every play.  I think that’ll happen if Hamlin plays 💯 like he did yesterday.  I think Bishop would be a better option if we go with 2 safeties. 
 

really hope to see Benford-Taron-Rapp-Douglas-Dorian-Bernard-Milano

 

What percent do you think we need to play in order to win?

 

Do you think we will win if we play 💯 nickel-dime?

I’m hoping the Bills can hold out until half so they can make the adjustments they need. If that requires 3 LBs then yes. It’s going to bea slug fest. 

[GunnerBill]

5 minutes ago, ChronicAndKnuckles said:

I’m hoping the Bills can hold out until half so they can make the adjustments they need. If that requires 3 LBs then yes. It’s going to bea slug fest. 

 

Defensive adjustments is another area where you need the offense to help out. You can't easily make defensive adjustments if your O is going 3 or 4 and out. 

[H2o]

I went with 20-40 right now, but I think it hinges on whether Flowers plays or not. If Flowers plays, I think we see more Nickel. They have two really good TE's in Andrews and Likely so it could be less regardless. It just depends on how they choose to play things. The way we played the first time did not work so this may be the adjustment.