I don't like Rex doing this to our D line

[ghz in pittsburgh]

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http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2015/10/01/bills-defensive-line-working-ot-season/73145910/

We have depth. Please don't tire starters out. Remember how many sacks we got last year in the 4th quarter by our D line?

[Joe Fo Sho]

To fully understand the situation you really need to know the total number of plays per game for each player, not the percentage of plays. I don't know this for sure, but it seems like our offense is on the field a lot more this year than last, giving our defensive starters more rest without substitutions. The article may have mentioned this, admittedly I didn't read it.

[OpIv37]

I agree. Number of snaps is more important than percentage.

[Joe Fo Sho]

I agree. Number of snaps is more important than percentage.

In a perfect world, the total number of snaps would be low and the percentage of plays by our top players would be 100%. That's never the case though.

[justasportsfan]

I've always said Rex should say away from anything offense, but he;s earned the right to make the call defensively.

I'm okay with the snaps going up for everyone since they are new under Rexy. Once they know Rexy's tendencies like the back of their hand, time to get the depth some time.

[YardRat]

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/snapcounts

Player--2015 wk1-wk2-wk3-(total)/ 2014 wk1-wk2-wk3-(total)

Hughes--75-79-61-(215)/50-51-31-(132)
Mario--72-91-72-(255)/49-56-54-(159)
Kyle--65-77-51-(193)/54-58-57-(169)
Dareus--0-68-49-(117)/63-39-57-(159)

[BillsImpossible]

Playing time goes up for the defense when the quarterback can hit the long ball on a consistent basis and score points quickly.

I'm okay with 5 plays and a TD.

Get your ass back on the field, D!

[Mace]

I'm guessing that's why they're paying them money, to play. It's a little early in the season to be cruising, resting your starters.

Well what if one gets hurt ? You don't pay people to ride the pines until a particular moment or three, when you open the china cabinet and use them so they might get hurt anyway from not playing. Let's face it, injuries are not managed, they just happen, and wanting your best players out there is just wanting your best players out there. It's their job. I mean were talking after 3 games here. It's not close to the same as week 15, playoff spot clinched, and playing your starters to the final in a 59-3 rout to gain some stats.

[Jimkelly12203]

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http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/sports/football/nfl/bills/2015/10/01/bills-defensive-line-working-ot-season/73145910/

We have depth. Please don't tire starters out. Remember how many sacks we got last year in the 4th quarter by our D line?

You're ignoring a big factor here. That being, how much are they really playing? I know NE was a tough game for the D, but in the first half of the INDY and MIAMI games, we pretty much forced 3 and outs or 5 and outs the whole time. Certainly in Miami it was no more than a 5 and out. Most of the drives were 3 and out punts or TOs...

So like.... Do we need to rotate these guys if they're getting the opponent off the field in five plays? Really????

[Strongman]

Dareus was suspended for the first game so, unless I'm reading the graph wrong, it's a given he's going to have less snaps.

[swiper]

http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/snapcounts

Player--2015 wk1-wk2-wk3-(total)/ 2014 wk1-wk2-wk3-(total)

Hughes--75-79-61-(215)/50-51-31-(132)
Mario--72-91-72-(255)/49-56-54-(159)
Kyle--65-77-51-(193)/54-58-57-(169)
Dareus--0-68-49-(117)/63-39-57-(159)


Let your best players play the most. No more babying rich athletes. Go play football.

But the coaches have to be wary of the Pat Williams/Sam Adams effect: (fat) player goes hard one play, then takes one play off.

Good rotational players for the d-line is an important ingredient to a winning team. And the Bills have some good ones, IMO. So, as a fan, you kind of have to trust the coaches know when to switch up the players.

Again, I'm not (yet) a fan of Rex Ryan the head coach, but I have faith he can manage the d-line play. So let it be.

[swiper]

And, as other posters have pointed out, a healthy running game keeps these guys off the field. That's how a good OC (Greg Roman) helps out your defense.