Run defense a key off-season priority in Buffalo

We need better LB’s, DE’s that aren’t fooled by every little misdirection, and better play out of Stroud. Needless to say, there’s a ton of work to be done, as always.

but I don’t see them winning last night’s game even with a markedly improved run defense. Luckily, it’s one facet to fix on that unit, and I suppose it’s better to first attack the problems with the most observable remedies.

Mitchell is not guaranteed to return to full health or effective starter status when he returns. LB’s have to be smart to play the “Mike” besides, quick strong and tough. I don’t think you can just plug a rookie in there unless he really has done it again and again for many years in college (Laurinitis is the only one that comes to mind here). Free Agent LB’s have to be brought in. You can’t expect free agent guys like Buggs and Palmer to be effective in these positions.

I give Poz a ton of credit because he really plays hard out there and pushes to max. his abilities out there. We can’t expect a guy like Draft and Scott to be playmakers… both are out of position.

Does anybody pay enough attention to know what percentage of snaps Stroud plays? Assuming that it’s a high number, I think his play could really improve if he’s rotated in and out a little more, especially in taking him off the field on pass downs where I think DTs are more prone to tire out than people think.

I also think that the safety play has been a huge problem in the run defense. Byrd is a centerfielder who will improve, George Wilson is a gamer, but he’s primarily a special teamer for a reason, Whitner is solid and can rack up the tackles, but he’s not exactly a playmaker in the run game and Scott, who made a lot of tackles in the backfield last year is playing out of position. I think a return of health, some Byrd development and a return to more fitting roles from the safeties will cut down on some of the big gainers. If you think about it, the Bills have been playing a former CB and WR at the same time quite a bit during this awful stretch of run D.

George Wilson knows how to tackle and has a real nose for the ball… amazing that a former WR is one of our best playmakers on this defense. Why our LB’s, CB’s, DE’s, CB’s can’t get off blocks and diagnois plays like he does is a head scratcher to me.

Kyle Williams is our second best player at diagnoising plays and blowing them up. Hard for him to do it every down when he is trying to get gap control for the LB’s and many times doubled teamed.

Schobel pretty good at diagnosing too, but has lost a few steps…

If we don’t have LB’s that can do this… ugh… or UGLY!

if you please, Mr. Future Bills GM Guy.

Ahhh don’t capitalize Guy. It makes me think John Guy will get the gig. LOL

the Bills only had 1 penalty in this game, which was a refreshing change. I think its good that the problem areas in this game are consistent with the problems that we already knew about. The run defense was awful, but we already knew that was a problem. We already knew that Buffalo does not have a starting quality QB on the roster (maybe Brohm but not now). We already knew the line was in tatters. otherwise, lynch and Jackson both had some nice looking runs when the line didn’t totally collapse on them. Evans and TO each made some nice grabs. I thought at least half of Revis’s pass break ups could have easily been called for pass interference.

Odd thing I saw and heard last night, and yes its stirring the pot, but who cares:

There was one play where clemens i think got outside the pocket and ran down the sidelines. On that play, Maybin showed crazy speed. He either needs to be a rush linebacker in a 3-4 or put on some weight and strength in the 4-3. Where he is now, all “first year acclimations” aside, he’s not doing anyone any good. I’m not bringing up a patience argument; i still think he has the potential to be good. But at 250 pounds (and if he weight 250 pounds, ill eat my shorts) and with all the speed he has, he’s not being utilized the right way.

I am really looking forward to seeing Ron’s line review because this was the first Bills game I got to watch and was the first time I got to see the O-line. And from what I saw beyond the obvious is I hope to god they move Wood to C next year (I hear he is going to fully recover).
Also I know a lot of people aren’t big on McIntyre (and I wasn’t at the beginning of the season), but the first TD from Jackson last game, and the TD from Lynch this game were both caused by nice seal off blocks from him. I think he has gotten a lot better this year and would not mind seeing him next year.

the OL is a much bigger priority this offseason. In spite of ranking last against therun, Buffalo is still competitive and plays games close. But as we saw on the final drive, the OL broke down on those 2 plays and gave the Bills no chance to win it.

IMO Kyle Williams gets a little too much love. He’s a solid starter, but he is by no means a run stuffer. He wins some and he loses some… but I think he’d be best as that depth guy rotated in when or if the Bills find a more consistent starter.

has a great motor. Stroud needs less snaps. They need a couple young DT’s in that rotation. We don’t have to get a 1st round DT, but we do have to build up our lines. I think OT is #1 priority unless a QB appears to be the answer when our pick comes up in round #1. I agree with Poz not being a MLB. He is a physical beast, and has great leadership, but he just doesn’t have the speed or the ability to shed blocks that we need. We need a more athletic MLB and move Poz outside.

Our secondary is solid for years to come. Maybin has shown me flashes, and I think will eventually, given a distinct role, can be that rusher we hope he will. Whether or not he could turn into a 3-4 rusher, only time will tell. Buffalo’s, problems are clearly what they lack in sheer size. Our players are so small on defense, and our OL is just a mess. Can Butler really play RT? Is Wood really a RG? It seems to me Levitre would be better off at RT, Wood at Center, Butler at RG, and then make a decision on Bell and LG. I love Hang but you plug in Wood, and I think you have a C there for 10 years. Just some rambling thoughts…

The massive incompetence displayed by the Bills on both offense and defense last night has left me in stunned silence. The lack of talent that was on the field last night was so severe that I doudlt Vince Lombardi could compete with them. The only incompetent missing from the Bills front office is Al Davis.

he’s not proven himself capable of slipping blocks consistently

I think by consistently you mean at all but Amen and Hallelujah! Glad we got confirmation on this from the head honcho. I’d been saying that so often that, to quote a fantastic Ben Stiller movie, I felt like I was taking crazy pills.

Theres an argument to be made that a MLB is only as good as his DT’s (Urlacher’s productivity going wayyyy down when he lost Ted Washington, before the Tommie Harris era), but the problem with using this in Poz’s defense is that his DT’s are probably the two best football players on the defense. The kid just isn’t a good MLB. He can’t blitz, and he’s a block magnet in the run game.

Boy he absolutely drilled the QB on that fumble. Seems like open space is the place for him, if there is one.