It's the defensive line, stupid!

[frostbitmic]

The Eagles jambed the Chiefs receivers at the line causing Mahomes to hold it longer, the Bills tend to let them run free in the zone until they catch the ball.

[Pete]

1 minute ago, frostbitmic said:

The Eagles jambed the Chiefs receivers at the line causing Mahomes to hold it longer, the Bills tend to let them run free in the zone until they catch the ball.

When Bills CBs played off and allowed clean releases killed us against KC.  Bills D often plays a soft zone, allowing easy completions over the middle.  I get that they are preventing big plays, but they give up way too many soft completions.  Be aggressive!

[Charles Romes]

With everyone copying the Eagles, all the defensive linemen will have been overvalued and over drafted by the time pick 30 rolls around.
 

This is the year to rush to podium for the shiny new weapon at 30 and plug up the holes on D the best you can with street FAs. 

[The Firebaugh Kid]

20 hours ago, JohnNord said:

Exactly.  That’s why I find it surprising that some Bills fans expected them to shut down Kansas City.  The defense struggled all season why they couldn’t get turnovers and this is largely due to a lack of of a pass rush and poor play in the secondary.
 

 Fortunately I do think the new coaching hires indicate that the defense will be multiple 

Sure but Elam was drafted around the same spot as Mitchell 2 years earlier and the Bills elected to bypass DeJean for a questionable pick in Keon Coleman.  You can’t miss on these picks the way Buffalo has 

Agree, and I was very anti-Coleman. Hasn't changed much. Cool yellow coat, funny kid, doesn't offer much other than red zone ability. 

[The Jokeman]

17 minutes ago, The Firebaugh Kid said:

Agree, and I was very anti-Coleman. Hasn't changed much. Cool yellow coat, funny kid, doesn't offer much other than red zone ability. 

and ironically he has the most YPC over all other rookie WRs taken in 2021-2024.

[Chicken Boo]

Every Superbowl with a dominant defensive performance brings about this clarity.

 

When has it ever NOT been the defensive line?

 

Much easier said than done, even if you exhaust your resources.  Josh Sweat was a 4th round pick.  

[TheBeaneBandit]

48 minutes ago, Charles Romes said:

With everyone copying the Eagles, all the defensive linemen will have been overvalued and over drafted by the time pick 30 rolls around.
 

This is the year to rush to podium for the shiny new weapon at 30 and plug up the holes on D the best you can with street FAs. 

It could play out that way. Gonna have to have nice free agency to allow the draft to come to us. I'd still try and get WR set in free agency because it's a weak draft there but super deep at DE and DT.

[JoshAllin]

1 hour ago, frostbitmic said:

The Eagles jambed the Chiefs receivers at the line causing Mahomes to hold it longer, the Bills tend to let them run free in the zone until they catch the ball.

Even so, Mahomes still found time and ran for 2 TD's vs the bills. The front 4 couldn't touch him like the eagles, was night and day

[Charles Romes]

11 minutes ago, JoshAllin said:

Even so, Mahomes still found time and ran for 2 TD's vs the bills. The front 4 couldn't touch him like the eagles, was night and day

Because he got rid of it in 1.6 seconds v the Bills who were giving 10 yards of cushion and free releases to set up picks. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

3 hours ago, frostbitmic said:

The Eagles jambed the Chiefs receivers at the line causing Mahomes to hold it longer, the Bills tend to let them run free in the zone until they catch the ball.

It’s actually not the case. They ran soft zone. I actually didn’t watch the Superbowl. But doing research many that have broken it down have the Eagles in soft zone 95% of the game. They just did it very well. 

 

The Bills on the other hand played cover 1 press man vs KC over 40% of the game! 
 

 

Edited February 11 by Buffalo_Stampede

[billsfan89]

11 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

I love the idea of going strong after Crosby. He's almost 2 years younger than Garrett and he'd be a little less expensive.  Yes it's going to cost cap & picks. I don't see any under the radar JJ Watt's floating around the 30's?  Obviously I'd love a speed wr, but my focus is on a plug n' play reliable DE and then draft these DT's.  BB just saw what it takes to make frogman wet his pants.

 

Crosby at age 28 will hopefully give the Bills 3-4 years of high end production adding that impact pass rusher will set the table for the defense in a big way. 

3 hours ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

It’s actually not the case. They ran soft zone. I actually didn’t watch the Superbowl. But doing research many that have broken it down have the Eagles in soft zone 95% of the game. They just did it very well. 

 

The Bills on the other hand played cover 1 press man vs KC over 40% of the game! 
 

 

 

If your defensive line is causing pressure with just your front 4 the coverage you are playing is a lot less relevant. 

[Buffalo_Stampede]

7 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

 

If your defensive line is causing pressure with just your front 4 the coverage you are playing is a lot less relevant. 

I think what we saw was really both working perfectly together. Coverage took away options quickly and the rush got home.

 

Every time I watch back a Bills v Chiefs playoff game there are so many times the Bills could’ve stopped a drive and really took over the game but Mahomes scrambles or breaks contained and makes a play.

 

 

[Doc Brown]

Our secondary was more of a problem this year imo.  Need to upgrade both but I'd emphasize the secondary.

 

[Warriorspikes51]

Just now, Doc Brown said:

Our secondary was more of a problem this year imo.  Need to upgrade both but I'd emphasize the secondary.

 

 

a strong DL can makeup more for a lesser secondary  than a strong secondary can make up for a lesser DL

IMO 

[Doc Brown]

10 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

a strong DL can makeup more for a lesser secondary  than a strong secondary can make up for a lesser DL

IMO 

Let's just have both.

[The Jokeman]

1 minute ago, Doc Brown said:

Let's just have both.

Easier said than done when have and paying for a franchise QB.

[Doc Brown]

15 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

Easier said than done when have and paying for a franchise QB.

Just tell the guys we have to play better.

[Billsatlastin2018]

21 hours ago, Mike R said:

Not only did the Eagles d line dominate and get pressure on Mahomes they played much tighter defense in coverage. Part of the Bills problem is the loose coverage that gives the qb a chance to make quick easy throws to wide open receivers before the d line even gets close to them. The Bills have a problem on defense.

100%! You have to be blind or a OBD Koolaid drinker to not see that.

 

When my wife (casual football and Bills fan) or my Sis ( similar) say…

 

” Where are the defenders?”

 

I tell them that the Bills D is a mediocre POS, when it can’t EITHER…

 

a) Rush the Passer with any consistency or competency;

b) have defenders in the ***** TV picture- especially on 3rd and long.

 

THAT D does NEITHER! It is pitiful and faced in the Playoffs with the highest caliber QBs, simply cannot due the job. 
 

Relying on a League leading takeaway number is NEVER the answer!
That’s a very lucky, fortunate bonus, which can’t continue.

 

Get Garrett in FA and for once Beane- try not to draft a bunch of Elam sub standard, mediocre bums for the back half.

[MiracleAtRich1393]

1 hour ago, Doc Brown said:

Let's just have both.

McD thrives developing day 3 picks and overlooked players on the second & third levels (Milano, Taron Johnson, Benford, Poyer, Hyde, Rapp) and can't develop day 1/2 DLine picks into more than kinda nice players but have underperformed or merely performed up to their lofty draft status (Oliver/Rousseau), JAGs (Epenesa/Phillips), or complete busts (Basham/Carter). Zero difference makers on premium picks on the DL. The only DL difference makers we've had is a massive FA swing Von for 10.5 games pre-injury and DaQuan Jones pre-London injury. Compared with several hits on day 3 / low risk FA's in the secondary.  Spend tons of resources on high end DLine veterans, spend day 3 picks & low risk FA $ on the secondary and I think you end up with both.