If you said we would have the top defense 3 years ago-

[Dozerdog]

3 Seasons ago we brought in Wishy Washy Williams based on his claim of building the #1 defense in the league.


Had you been told he would accomplish the feat in 3 seasons- would you have been happy?


Ironic that in his worst year- he is on the verge of delivering the top defense in the league.


Bills have sights on goal of being NFL's top defense


The Buffalo Bills are 5-7 and the playoffs are little more than a pipe dream, but Coach Gregg Williams has dangled a noteworthy goal in front of his team.

''Our defense is chasing that mythical No. 1 defense,'' Williams said. ''I've been a part of that before with Tennessee, and we're close, we'd like to see that happen.''

None of Buffalo's final four opponents have an offense ranked in the top 10. The Titans were 11th heading into last night's game, the Jets 18th, the Patriots 16th, the Dolphins 26th.

''We're so close to being the type of defense we want to be, being the No. 1 defense,'' Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes said. ''Being dominant ... That's what we're fighting for, to be the No. 1 defense by the end of the season.''

They have some work to do. The Bills are currently ranked third, allowing 271.6 yards per game.

[stuckincincy]

Disagree. Defense is purported to win games. Cause turn-overs. And U can always look good in the def. rankings when your off. messes up and gives the def. a short field to defend.

They are not bad, but this is a 5 and 7 team. That gave up 30 pts to the Jets and 30+ to the Chiefs.

They have no depth whatsoever. Maybe Stamer, Wire, McGee but that's it IMO.

Typical GW speil...or spew.

[Historian]

So it took us three years to go from the third rated defense in the league to the third rated defense in the league?

[The_Philster]

Originally posted by Billsology
So it took us three years to go from the third rated defense in the league to the third rated defense in the league?

You thought of that too, huh?

[HenryRules]

I wouldn't put us as a top-10 defense right now.

We're about 10-15, but they'll have to play better when the game is on the line to be a top-10 defense.

[caveboy]

Loaded question Doze, but first:

"Defense is purported to win games."

Agree too. This is a very solid, GOOD, not great, defense. We are now rarely giving up big plays constantly like we used to, (like Mary Collins TD pass Sunday). But...having said that, to be great, this defense needs to score at will. The same opening day performance vs. NE that we saw. Not only stopping drives and forcing 3-and-outs, but going the extra mile and both causing turnovers, then converting them into points on the same play. (Fumble recovery, INT for TDs, etc.)

We do that on a regular basis, then were #1 and can be considered great. That, and stop freakin finhead Ricky Williams from running all over us.

Back to the point of the thread - I'd have to say that the RESULT may be close at hand, but how he got there was not the way he said we would. I've rarely seen mulitple blitz schemes with pressure constantly on opposing QBs. Most of the blitzes are disguised and come off the ends, but inconsistantly IMO.

The speed rushes from the outside he talked about with multiple substitution packages have been non-existant, (granted, that could be traced to lack of personnel, but not all of is due to that).

I also think the great D we are approaching has been offset by the lackluster offensive performance we are seeing, not to mention the lack of discipline he said he'd instill. Jennings seems to be getting disciplined, NOT.

I also give Gray as much credit for the D. If we are going to tear KG a new one because the O is tanking, but GW escapes criticism, why should GW then get all the credit for the D, you know? The co-ordinators need to both be responsible for the good and bad. So I'm lumping GW in with KG for the offensive offence. GW could override him anytime IMO.

[Turf]

If Lebeau wasn't here, we'd be even worse. Meaning GW has repeatedly failed at every aspect of hiring a coaching staff.

[Scott]

This D may not give up alot of yards or points but they do not seem to be able to get a stop or create a turnover when they really need one (ie: the Indy game).

[Historian]

Originally posted by Scott
This D may not give up alot of yards or points but they do not seem to be able to get a stop or create a turnover when they really need one (ie: the Indy game).

This is a classic Buffalo defense. Bend, but don't break, with very few turnovers, but also very few big plays made against it. It reminds me of Wade's '95 defense, and Zeman's '83 defense. It makes a good case for trying to keep Winfield.

I'm still waiting for the 4-6 defense that Gregg promised us on 2/1/01!!!!

[Patrick76777]

You people are WAY too cynical!

What does this team have to do? 5 weeks ago I told all of you that we have the number 3 defense in yardage. You all told me that yardage doesn’t matter, only points. So after last weekend, we’re also number 3 in points, now that doesn’t matter, it’s the Turnovers! Bizarre!

It’s just another example of my theory that we as fans have become way too overly critical of our sports teams.

This defense is playing LIGHTS OUT! Opponents are averaging 11.5 points a game over the last 4 weeks. 11.5 That’s ridiculous. An average of a touchdown and 2 FG’s will win you each of those games. Are offense should be able to do that. Over the course of the whole season are D is giving up an average of 16.1 points per game. Which means on average that our Offense only needs to score 17 points to win a game. This is the NFL, teams are going to score on any defense on occasion! The year Baltimore won the Superbowl, Jacksonville put up 36 points on them.

Hell, besides for the NY and KC game we’re giving up an average of 12.6 points in the other 10 games.


People, it’s OK to admit that the defense is playing well! Very well! I see it as a sign of very good things to come.


Jesus, I was driving home listening to Jerry Sullivan the other day. The guy from the Buffalo news! He’s the most negative guy ever on that Monday radio show and he was loving this defense.

[caveboy]

"Which means on average that our Offense only needs to score 17 points to win a game."

Yeah, but the problem is we ain't putting up the 2-3 TDs a game we need. The Ravens in their SB year held teams to 10 or less I believe. But as average as Dilfer was, he consistantly helped them get the 2 TDs a game they needed.

I think we aren;t that cycnical, it's just that when someone says we have a great D, we differ on what the difference between good and great really is. We're close, but we're not there – yet. Yeah we shut opponents down, but we still let teams back in with the prevent.

Good, but not great – yet.

[Patrick76777]

It's only because we watch it every week. And analyze every single day. Yet we only see the hi-lights and stats of the Miami and Dallas and Denver defense so we all think that they have the fastest and strongest defenses in the NFL! Yet their fans are saying the same thing that we are.


Let’s face it, this defense is good enough to be in the playoffs. And maybe if the offense would have showed up in the Miami, Dallas and Houston game, we’d be in position to be in the playoffs.

[Jan Reimers]

The D has played well, with the exception of complete meltdowns against KC and the Jets, and less than stellar 4th quarter performances against Miami, Philly, and Indy. But that's too many exceptions to consider this a superior defense.

[Jan Reimers]

... But it's a good D that, combined with a decent offense, could have gotten us into the playoffs.

[justasportsfan]

Although the D has improved , the O took a nose dive. Even w/ a no. 1 D (if it happens) I would base our entire performance on where we're at at the end of the season.

Imagine this, a no.1 D and still no playoff appearance. No thanks GW, I'm not buying into what you're trying to sell. I'd rather have a 20th ranked D with a playoff appearance.