How would you fix the defense?

[psubills62]

Just wondering what your solution to fixing the defense is.

Is George Edwards the main problem? Would this defense be that much better with a new coordinator? Are the CB's the main problem? Lack of pass rush? Inconsistent run defense? Do we need to guard the edge better against runs?

I'll be honest, I like a lot of our defensive players (especially front 7). But in the end someone has to be responsible for our poor defensive showings. As much as people have castigated our poor pass defense (justifiably), we're last in the league in allowing 5.5 YPC. In this case I don't see it being as poor as last year because we're not consistently allowing 6 YPC...they can bottle up the run, but still give up too many big plays (like Vick).

So what's the problem and how would you fix it? What positions need to be replaced in the offseason?

[better days]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

I would fix the defense by drafting more defensive players next year. This defense is better than last year, & next year with new additions it will be better still IMO.

[DraftBoy]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

Id hire a DC who knows how to actually run a 34 to start.

Id immediately dump half our CB's as well.

[psubills62]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

Id hire a DC who knows how to actually run a 34 to start.

Id immediately dump half our CB's as well.

Think we need to improve our LB play also? I'd like our OLB's to do a better job on the edge, personally. However, that could be partially youth and partially...Kelsay.

Agree with you on those two points also, by the way.

[DraftBoy]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

Think we need to improve our LB play also? I'd like our OLB's to do a better job on the edge, personally. However, that could be partially youth and partially...Kelsay.

Agree with you on those two points also, by the way.

I think you need to bring some more youth in at OLB and just hope that with new coaching development occurs faster. Id also immediately move Batten to ILB.

[EDS]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

I think the Bills need to get better at LB, pretty much across the board. Need a ILB who can really step-up against the run. Maybe Sheppard will be that guy but he has a long way to go.

Realistically, if the Bills offense was not scoring points there is a strong likelihood that teams would run more often against the Bills and further expose the soft run D. So scoring early and often can have a positive effect on the run D!

[Extremebillsfan247]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

Our defense is ok, they just need to find ways to put it all together for 4 quarters. The majority of the yards gained against them come on big plays, mostly from screens that catch them on blitzes to the QB. This still can be a really good defense.

If there were one thing I would add to the defense, it would probably be an attempt to solidify the depth. It's a long year, and starters need a breather once in awhile. Sometimes they can be out for a game or 2 due to minor injury. Depth is vital to the success of a defense in today's NFL. JMO

[Night Train]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

I'd start 17 guys but the NFL has some rule BS...

[justasportsfan]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

Id hire a DC who knows how to actually run a 34 to start.
.

we should have blitzed Dalton like we did Vick. He would have been a sitting duck back there. Instead we gave him time to burn our cb's.

[psubills62]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

Our defense is ok, they just need to find ways to put it all together for 4 quarters. The majority of the yards gained against them come on big plays, mostly from screens that catch them on blitzes to the QB. This still can be a really good defense.

If there were one thing I would add to the defense, it would probably be an attempt to solidify the depth. It's a long year, and starters need a breather once in awhile. Sometimes they can be out for a game or 2 due to minor injury. Depth is vital to the success of a defense in today's NFL. JMO

We do need a full 60 minute gameplan. We've been able to do well for 30 minutes or so, but then we just break down.

Kind of reminds me of Penn State's most recent game against Iowa. Tom Bradley, the defensive coordinator, mentioned that they only started blitzing Iowa's offense in the second half so they wouldn't be able to adjust to it during halftime. It would be nice for the Bills to draw things up like that and change things slightly at halftime in anticipation of the other team's adjustments.

[psubills62]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

I think you need to bring some more youth in at OLB and just hope that with new coaching development occurs faster. Id also immediately move Batten to ILB.

Honestly, I was a big fan of the Bob Sanders hiring when it happened, but from what I know, he's only ever worked with 4-3 defensive linemen. I haven't been impressed with his coaching of our OLB's yet, to be honest. Might need to look at a guy with more 3-4 experience there too.

[DraftBoy]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

we should have blitzed Dalton like we did Vick. He would have been a sitting duck back there. Instead we gave him time to burn our cb's.

We should blitz every QB that way, our DB's are not good enough to cover a guy for 4+ seconds.

[psubills62]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

I think the Bills need to get better at LB, pretty much across the board. Need a ILB who can really step-up against the run. Maybe Sheppard will be that guy but he has a long way to go.

Realistically, if the Bills offense was not scoring points there is a strong likelihood that teams would run more often against the Bills and further expose the soft run D. So scoring early and often can have a positive effect on the run D!

The bolded is true...but at the same time, it's true for other teams, like the Patriots. If the offense can cover the defense consistently (hasn't proved it can yet, IMO), then that can still make for a good team.

[bf1]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

Replace Merriman with someone good.

[mysticsoto]

Re: How would you fix the defense?

we should have blitzed Dalton like we did Vick. He would have been a sitting duck back there. Instead we gave him time to burn our cb's.

We shouldn't have to blitz. And b'cse of this, I have to blame Edwards. I can't believe that between Dareus, Kyle and Merriman, we can't get more pressure on the QB. I think Edwards has modified their plan to "contain 1st" and then charge in if there's no run. That allows a few extra seconds to the QB. And if we were #1 in run def, then I would say it's a good plan. But we aren't and our CBs aren't good enough to cover for long periods of time.