Kyle Williams and Dwan Edwards Among Best in AFC

[BillsWin]

I looked on nfl.com for position rankings for defensive linemen and was shocked to see that Edwards and Williams rank first and second respectively in the AFC. (Tackles)

Edwards leads the AFC in tackles among defensive linemen in the AFC with 53. Kyle Williams is second with 47. 34 of those are solo tackles.

Edwards' sack total is just one. But in comparison with Ngata in Baltimore (5 sacks), Edwards has more tackles and the same amount of pass defends (3) and interceptions (1).

Williams' numbers vs. other nose tackles

Williams: 47 tackles 34 solo 13 assists 3 sacks 1 pass def

Rubin (CLE): 46 tackles 32 solo 14 assists 1 sack 3 pass def

Pouha (NYJ): 33 tackles 22 solo 11 assists 1 sack

Gregg (BAL): 32 tackles 17 solo 15 assists 0 sacks

Those are the "top" NT in the AFC.

Stroud is tied for 18th in the AFC amongst all AFC defensive lineman in tackles. He has 2 sacks. 3 less than the elite Ngata.


Just something to think about. I think linebacker is why our defense ranks so low. There is virtually no pass rush coming from our "pass rush specialists".

[BertSquirtgum]

bills

[better days]

I think Williams will make the Pro bowl.

[ServoBillieves]

Not sutprised at all. Kyle Williams has playef his ass off and 98 always seems to be around the ball

[Philagape]

Not another tackles thread ....

[kelly2reed4six]

Just something to think about. I think linebacker is why our defense ranks so low. There is virtually no pass rush coming from our "pass rush specialists".


I agree 100%....our LB's are the biggest weakness on this team imo.

[Mahdi]

Kyle Williams pretty much destroyed the Lions OL yesterday. That was an impressive performance. I have been pretty critical of KW as a NT, although I maintain that if we are going to be a good defense against the run our DEs and LBs have to be better. He is not going to hold up against double teams and make our LBs look good.

The guy can sure as heck get into the backfield though and the Bills D had a good performance as a unit against the run.

[dasaybz]

Who is this Stroud you speak of?

[EDS]

Williams and Stroud were high on those lists last year too. They don't seem to mean much because the defense has been so horrible against the run that you have to question how good the d-line is.

[Mahdi]

Who is this Stroud you speak of?
Stroud has been playing well all year. The problem with our run D is the LBs.

[dasaybz]

Stroud has been playing well all year. The problem with our run D is the LBs.

Playing well?

He's been invisible, I don't know what you've been watching.

[Mahdi]

Playing well?

He's been invisible, I don't know what you've been watching.
DEs in 3-4 schemes are not flashy positions. Stroud also gets a lot of attention. He is playing well.

[dasaybz]

He is absolutely not playing well and he is not an impact player at all. I rarely hear his name on Sundays, and it is just as rare to see him doing anything that helps this team win games.

[EDS]

DEs in 3-4 schemes are not flashy positions. Stroud also gets a lot of attention. He is playing well.

Tell that to Bruce Smith.

[Mr. Pink]

DEs in 3-4 schemes are not flashy positions. Stroud also gets a lot of attention. He is playing well.


If he was playing well, the LBers would have a chance to make plays because Stroud would be eating up blockers freeing them up to roam the field.

The LBs don't make plays when we run the 3-4 because the DL doesn't eat up blockers.

[YardRat]

Even the most fervent detractors have to admit that Williams is working out better than expected up to this point, regardless of whether we're running a 43 or 34.

[Joe Fo Sho]

Tell that to Bruce Smith.

Didn't Bruce play in a 4-3? Not trying to be a dick, it's just what I remember. Him and Hansen on the outside, neither of which seem to be a typical 3-4 end.

[EDS]

Didn't Bruce play in a 4-3? Not trying to be a dick, it's just what I remember. Him and Hansen on the outside, neither of which seem to be a typical 3-4 end.

The Bills played a 3-4 during the super bowl years, with Jeff Wright starting at NT between Bruce and Hanson/Seals.

[Mahdi]

Tell that to Bruce Smith.
Bruce Smith was a one of a kind player.

Tell that to Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel, Ty Warren etc. These are 3-4 DEs whose names you rarely hear but are key to their defenses.

[Mahdi]

If he was playing well, the LBers would have a chance to make plays because Stroud would be eating up blockers freeing them up to roam the field.

The LBs don't make plays when we run the 3-4 because the DL doesn't eat up blockers.
No, the LBs don't make plays because they are not high level players and lack experience in playing the 3-4.

They are still learning to attack their gaps and be responsible, although they are improving (Poz), not sure if they will ever really get that good anyway. We lack a force at ILB and our troubles at OLB are evident.

[feldspar]

Only one AFC team has had more defensive plays than the Bills. That plays into the stats the thread was about.

[Mahdi]

Only one AFC team has had more defensive plays than the Bills. That plays into the stats the thread was about.
True and a good point, but that doesn't change the fact that KW has been in the backfield a ton lately. And as you say, they have been on the field a lot so that also requires endurance.

[Mr. Pink]

No, the LBs don't make plays because they are not high level players and lack experience in playing the 3-4.

They are still learning to attack their gaps and be responsible, although they are improving (Poz), not sure if they will ever really get that good anyway. We lack a force at ILB and our troubles at OLB are evident.


Dwan Edwards should NEVER be making tackles 7 yards downfield if he's doing his job. Period.

[feldspar]

Dwan Edwards should NEVER be making tackles 7 yards downfield if he's doing his job. Period.

That's WAY oversimplifying it. Everyone should do their best to hustle to the ball at all times. If Edwards makes a tackle 7 yards downfield, good for him. That's not to imply that it's his fault that the ball got 7 yards downfield. If a RB breaks through the line on the other side opposite Edwards, what should Dwan do, give up on the play?

[Mahdi]

Dwan Edwards should NEVER be making tackles 7 yards downfield if he's doing his job. Period.
If the DE hold up his man like he is supposed to and the LB doesn't fill his gap properly, then Edwards is going to have to turn and chase down the RB, as he should.

[Pinkerton Security]

Dwan Edwards should NEVER be making tackles 7 yards downfield if he's doing his job. Period.

Not true at all...if he's doing his job but NO ONE ELSE DOES, then what's he supposed to do, not chase the play down?

[JCBills]

Dwan Edwards should NEVER be making tackles 7 yards downfield if he's doing his job. Period.

Backside pursuit would be doing his job.

[Mr. Pink]

Dwan Edwards should be engaged on blockers to free up the LBs to make plays LONGER than it takes for a RB to go 7 yards downfield.

[feldspar]

Dwan Edwards should be engaged on blockers to free up the LBs to make plays LONGER than it takes for a RB to go 7 yards downfield.

How long does it take to run 7 yards? Why do you have so much of a problem with Edwards making tackles? The LBs haven't exactly been doing a bang-up job, and we don't play the 3-4 all the time, either. Anyway, the Bills have the worst ranked run defense in the NFL. I wouldn't blame the guy making tackles for that.

[hughjackman]

Lol well put. That should end this debate.
Backside pursuit would be doing his job.

[Mike]

Even the most fervent detractors have to admit that Williams is working out better than expected up to this point, regardless of whether we're running a 43 or 34.

Cream rises to the top even on bad teams (see Steve Johnson, Calvin Johnson, etc...) I am starting to worry about Spiller, Action Jackson seems to be better, which means we misused another 1st round pick...