Bills Hire Ryan Nielsen Senior Defensive Assistant.

[GunnerBill]

24 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

More important than any specific scheme is that McDermott and Babich and Beane need to figure out exactly what kind of defense they want to run and plan accordingly this offseason. By the end of this past season they were reeling and seemingly just calling the defense at random, likely because they had no confidence they could do any particular thing well. Compare that to the offense where at times it may have felt like a slog, but at least it had an identity and a package of plays they knew they could call successfully, and it came into every game with an intent. I couldn't tell you what the defense's intent was against KC. I guess pray and hold on for dear life.

 

Agree totally with this. Every word of it. If the argument previously has been too predictable on D this year it was too much randomness. They never had a "go to."

 

Go back to that Ravens game week 4. Come out in their nickel base, Henry breaks a big one and they suddenly go to a 3 linebacker set despite being down to the bare bones at the postion and even worse when they hadn't played it at all the previous 3 weeks. It felt completely panicked and throw stuff at a wall. I felt like they did that a LOT on defense in 2024.

[SoonerBillsFan]

Just now, GunnerBill said:

 

Agree totally with this. Every word of it. If the argument previously has been too predictable on D this year it was too much randomness. They never had a "go to."

 

Go back to that Ravens game week 4. Come out in their nickel base, Henry breaks a big one and they suddenly go to a 3 linebacker set despite being down to the bare bones at the postion and even worse when they hadn't played it at all the previous 3 weeks. It felt completely panicked and throw stuff at a wall. I felt like they did that a LOT on defense in 2024.

The lack of talent is showing. 

[GunnerBill]

Just now, SoonerBillsFan said:

The lack of talent is showing. 

 

Yea agree with that too. This D doesn't have peak Jordan, Micah, Tre and Milano anymore. Those are big losses.

[GoBills808]

3 hours ago, NewEra said:

Do you have Mahomes’ stats vs one zone and vs our man from the afccg?  Pretty sure he was much better vs our zone than our man.  
 

we were also without Benford bs KC.  
 

My narrative isn’t that we play a too soft of a zone.  My narrative is that we need to mix is more man and be more multiple to keep offenses guessing.  
 

I’m looking forward to what Nelson can bring to the table and I’m happy that McD added him to the staff.  I like what he brings to the table.

At least on the Chiefs second to last drive the loss of Benford wasn't even really felt tbh

 

They targeted Milano and Johnson specifically. Chiefs offensive design was able to put our two best defenders in bad leverage underneath and exploit

 

Milano late on closing Hunt...goes for 10 plus facemask

Johnson can't keep up on the drag...goes for 25

Milano caught in the wash on a crosser...another 10

 

 

 

 

[gonzo1105]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

It wouldn't me either. But if they do, they need to spend a lot of resources on the secondary. 

 

I honestly think we're drafting 3 DB's (2 CB's/1 Safety) and we will probably bring in a vet CB as well and most likely a vet safety if Hamlin doesn't return. I mean thats about as much as one team could do in one offseason.

[Big Blitz]

 

[3rdand12]

7 hours ago, Bookie Man said:

maybe we can actually try and run a stunt?

a wut ?

[3rdand12]

6 hours ago, NewEra said:

Do you have Mahomes’ stats vs one zone and vs our man from the afccg?  Pretty sure he was much better vs our zone than our man.  
 

we were also without Benford bs KC.  
 

My narrative isn’t that we play a too soft of a zone.  My narrative is that we need to mix is more man and be more multiple to keep offenses guessing.  
 

I’m looking forward to what Nelson can bring to the table and I’m happy that McD added him to the staff.  I like what he brings to the table.

Lots of tweaks to be had with a new set of eyes.

 And mixing it up back there is good ! If you have the coaching and the players.

I think this mindset could and should affect Bills Draft and FA.

Pressure in the middle for run and pass , and steady on the edges sets the tone for the secondary.

 We have all talked about reloading Defense lately

Schematically and with the players that will best fit.

 

and Myles😍 Garrett

[HappyDays]

Every hire they've made is leading in the same philosophical direction. And I've floated Jonathan Jones as a possibility for the vet CB that will hopefully be competing with a rookie for the job. This move makes that more likely.

[Warriorspikes51]

19 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

Every hire they've made is leading in the same philosophical direction. And I've floated Jonathan Jones as a possibility for the vet CB that will hopefully be competing with a rookie for the job. This move makes that more likely.

 

this seems like a quality hire.  Pats corners always seem to be good.

 

major emphasis on defense already is a good sign

[Chaos]

There are restaurants with beautiful decors, attentive staffs who provide excellent service, and bad food.  Changing the servers and staff doesn't solve the food problem. That needs a change in the chef. 

[Momma Pecoraro]

Brandons all right, Seans all right, their scheme's just a little bit weird.

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

Let me tell you  D-line play is going to be scrutinized as hell this offseason

 

[Bangarang]

1 hour ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

Let me tell you  D-line play is going to be scrutinized as hell this offseason

 

 

I think bringing back Jordan Phillips again was a pretty obvious sign that the DL needs some serious help. 

[Warriorspikes51]

1 hour ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

Let me tell you  D-line play is going to be scrutinized as hell this offseason

 

Even Sal C is already very vocal about this which IMO means there is a strongly increased chance of something happening

 

 

[JPL7]

https://atozsports.com/nfl/buffalo-bills-news/buffalo-bills-latest-hirings-shifting-man-coverage-sean-mcdermott-ryan-nielsen/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIZqQNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHdnU5V-NiiLtPXs0auRKhgpoYVW0C5Py_P2JcNy-Vdv_RAOViH9cFMmvrg_aem_L3APpjDPmY2RepR25Q0lnA

 

“The Bills have brought on two coaches in the last week to be assistants on the defensive side of the ball — Ryan Nielsen, who has previously served as a defensive coordinator and defensive line coach in stops with the Saints, Jaguars, and Falcons, and former Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino. 

One thing is very fascinating about bringing in these two hires. Both of them bring a ton of experience and expertise in running man coverage. Buffalo could be breaking from their zone-heavy tendency heading into a new season. Nielsen, in particular, ran man coverage last year in Jacksonville at the second-highest percentage in the NFL.”

 

YYEEEEEESSSSS!!

[Don Otreply]

On 2/8/2025 at 6:54 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

Guys... we tried to play man coverage vs the Chiefs. We got torn apart. The Bills played more man coverage in its final two games of 2024 (Baltimore and KC) than in any two consecutive games of the McDemott era. This narrative that the problem is zone coverage has to stop. It is utter, utter, hogwash.

 

Agree on Hamlin. Unfortunately Bishop does not play that position. He is a Rapp alternative. We still need a free safety.

Agree that “ zone” per se isn’t the problem, it’s giving up what I call, free release, off the line for easy yards that frustrates me, I think that upsetting pass play timing by “getting in the receivers face” at the line could go a long way to helping, jmo, you are better versed in tactics than I am, am I missing the boat on my thoughts here? 

[boater]

On 2/9/2025 at 10:05 PM, Chaos said:

There are restaurants with beautiful decors, attentive staffs who provide excellent service, and bad food.  Changing the servers and staff doesn't solve the food problem. That needs a change in the chef. 

Are you alluding to Babich or McDermott, being the Chef that needs to be changed?

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Don Otreply said:

Agree that “ zone” per se isn’t the problem, it’s giving up what I call, free release, off the line for easy yards that frustrates me, I think that upsetting pass play timing by “getting in the receivers face” at the line could go a long way to helping, jmo, you are better versed in tactics than I am, am I missing the boat on my thoughts here? 

 

No, but it is also not that the Bills never do it. I think they need better corners than Douglas and Elam to make any coverage plan work tbh.