Nope. It’s more likely with the signing of Taylor Rapp that we may see an increase in DIME coverage, and more single LB defenses. Your opinion that you just expressed....
”Something tells me Taylor Rapp wasn't brought in to ride the bench and my money says he's an insurance policy against a hybrid S/LB who gets drafted. I don't think Bernard is the guy they were looking for.” is opposite of the “getting back to 3rd LB” premise that I have objected to.
We will see soon enough.
The point is that the idea of “....the 4-2-5 gets phased out and we get back to playing a 3rd LB.” is extremely unlikely with the Bills not being able to field 2 LB’s (much less 3) that are better than fielding five or six DB’s.
The loss of Edmunds makes the nickel (and probably more dimes) even more critical to success, spearheaded by the safety position which they have been doing for years, and every action by Beane (so far) is pointing in that direction.
The Bills strength on defense are the DB’s. NOT LB anymore. With the undeniable and unstoppable movement away from 3 or 4 LB’s on the field and the common sense prediction is to de-emphasize the importance of ILB (which is happening all around the NFL) and concentrate on bolstering the secondary...whch is exactly what the Bills are doing.
Mace (04-09-2023)
We actually relied on our safeties and DBs more because of our scheme last year. Hamlin and Poyer accounted gor 154 tackles while both missed 6 games in total while Edmunds and Milano accounted for 200 exactly while missing a couple games as well.
All in all it was about a 60-40 split. To say we'll rely more on our DBs in the run game seems just dumb and it also completely goes against your reasoning for Edmunds being good. Edmunds responsibility was supposedly that he could play the sidelines and cover deep which is why out DBs played more downhill. With Edmunds gone, it seems like it would make more sense for them to play more traditional pass coverage since we dont have Edmunds roaming the center of the field, would it not? If Edmunds was that valuable to our pass coverage, wouldnt it be more productive for our DBs to play more traditional since we dont have Edmunds roaming?
You cant have it both ways
Not here to be right, just here to have interesting discussions about my impulsive opinions
So, basically you agree with me.
While misrepresenting what I wrote...actually, you conjuring up what I did NOT write and attributing it to me when you say "To say we'll rely more on our DBs in the run game....”. Where did I say that???
And where do you get the silly idea that "it (a premise that I did not put forward) also completely goes against your reasoning for Edmunds being good"
All I was commenting about was refuting the idea that "I think the 4-2-5 gets phased out and we get back to playing a 3rd LB.”.
I have no ida what you mean by "You cant have it both ways”. What in the world are you talking about????
The post you quoted is simply pointing out, with extreme accuracy, that the NFL and the Bills in particular have embraced a nickel defense, and will not “go back to playing a 3rd LB”
You want to know why our discussion sometimes devolve into crap??? THIS is why. Misrepresenting what I say and assuming what I think (when you don’t have the first clue) is trolling of the worst kind. Plain dishonest. Don’t do that!!!
notacon (04-22-2023)
Week 1: at New York Jets at 8:15 p.m., Monday, September 11 (MNF)
Week 2: vs. Las Vegas Raiders at 1 p.m., Sunday, September 17
Week 3: at Washington Commanders at 1 p.m., Sunday, September 24
Week 4: vs. Miami Dolphins Sunday at 1 p.m., October 1
Week 5: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at 9:30 a.m., Sunday, October 8 (London game)
Week 6: vs. New York Giants at 8:20 p.m., Sunday, October 15 (SNF)
Week 7: at New England Patriots at 1 p.m., Sunday, October 22
Week 8: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 8:15 p.m., Thursday, October 26 (TNF)
Week 9: at Cincinnati Bengals at 8:20 p.m., Sunday, November 5 (SNF)
Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos at 8:15 p.m., Monday, November 13 (MNF)
Week 11: vs. New York Jets at 4:25 p.m., Sunday, November 19
Week 12: at Philadelphia Eagles at 4:25 p.m., Sunday, November 26
Week 13: BYE WEEK
Week 14: at Kansas City Chiefs at 4:25 p.m., Sunday, December 10
Week 15: vs. Dallas Cowboys at 4:25 p.m., Sunday, December 17
Week 16: at Los Angeles Chargers at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, December 23 (Streaming exclusively on Peacock Network)
Week 17: vs. New England Patriots at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, December 31
Week 18: at Miami Dolphins, TBD