Soft? It's DT

[upstater1]

We've been failing since 2019. Honestly.. not a shot a bill.

We've had to do a total defensive overhaul.

We got rid of older, and many of them slower players, for younger and faster.

McCourty, McCourty, Gilmore, Chung, Van Noy, Hightower, Jamie Collins, JC Jackson, Elandon Roberts... they are all gone. As late as 2021 and the "cant force the Bills to punt" defense, we were still playing with old slow guys.

Prior to this year, we would say we've seen a good overhaul with a bunch of new players in Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Barmore, Keion White, Judon, Anfernee, Bentley and even Tavai. That's an overhaul. Heck also Mapu.

This year it's all going poorly.

 

[Real fan 02]

We've had to do a total defensive overhaul.

We got rid of older, and many of them slower players, for younger and faster.

McCourty, McCourty, Gilmore, Chung, Van Noy, Hightower, Jamie Collins, JC Jackson, Elandon Roberts... they are all gone. As late as 2021 and the "cant force the Bills to punt" defense, we were still playing with old slow guys.

Prior to this year, we would say we've seen a good overhaul with a bunch of new players in Gonzalez, Marcus Jones, Barmore, Keion White, Judon, Anfernee, Bentley and even Tavai. That's an overhaul. Heck also Mapu.

This year it's all going poorly.

Agreed there. Not having Barmore, peppers is a huge loss.. and they haven't been able to replace them in any way shape or form.

 

[JohnJH]

Two things can be true at once. The personnel can be garbage and the coaching can be garbage.

I'm not knocking those that said anything to the contrary, but, when I looked at this defensive roster last season (and especially this season), I didn't see (outside of Barmore), a Richard Seymour, Ty Warren, Vince Wilfork, Willie McGinest, Teddy Bruschi, Ted Johnson, Dont'a Hightower, Rodney Harrison, Patrick Chung, Devin McCourty, Mike Vrabel, etc. caliber of player, let alone players. What I saw were Role/Situational/Depth Players that would have been on the defensive rosters when our defenses were good or better. Judon would have been a piece that Bill would have normally added when we already had the overall defense, but wanted an extra jolt to the line-up. He was in his late 20's when he was brought aboard and although was a stud player for his first couple of seasons, he wasn't the young infusion of talent that this team needed at the time of what was essentially a rebuild. As for the lack of talent on offense, that's been well documented by everyone on here and rightly so. We have a lot of holes to fill in all three phases of the roster and if the right personnel decisions are made, it can be done. I'm just doubtful that the current people running this team and making those decisions are capable of getting it done. I've seen all of the intinerations of this team going back to Plunkett and I've seen what's worked, and what hasn't worked. In short, unless the script is flipped, I've seen this movie before, and it never ended well.

 

[mgteich]

DEFENSIVE LINE

OUT - Barmore, Guy
IN - Ekuale, Johnson/Roy

Yes, the problem is indeed personnel.
==============
LINEBACKER
OUT-Judon, Wilson
IN - McMllan, Takitaki

Yes, the problem is personnel.
===================

 

[upstater1]

Agreed there. Not having Barmore, peppers is a huge loss.. and they haven't been able to replace them in any way shape or form.

Peppers was playing when we gave up 190+ yards to the Jets. Last year we were missing Gonzalez and Marcus Jones. And yet we made do with Alex Austin. Heck, even Jon Jones missed 5 games.

Just trying to put the onus on the coaching here knowing that Barmore is a loss. But it's not so clear cut to say "injuries" when we had big injuries last year as well.

 

[upstater1]

DEFENSIVE LINE

OUT - Barmore, Guy
IN - Ekuale, Johnson/Roy

Yes, the problem is indeed personnel.
==============
LINEBACKER
OUT-Judon, Wilson
IN - McMllan, Takitaki

Yes, the problem is personnel.
===================

Judon played the first 3 games last year then got injured.

Now you have to account for the players were injured last year.

 

[Real fan 02]

Peppers was playing when we gave up 190+ yards to the Jets. Last year we were missing Gonzalez and Marcus Jones. And yet we made do with Alex Austin. Heck, even Jon Jones missed 5 games.

Just trying to put the onus on the coaching here knowing that Barmore is a loss. But it's not so clear cut to say "injuries" when we had big injuries last year as well.

True. I still believe we don't give up alot of those nights pass plays with peppers Here. His leadership and his on field presence is sorely missed. Yeah talent& execution I'd say are the issues. You can coach up a great scheme.. however if the players can't go out and execute them then...

 

[mgteich]

I WILL TRY TO BE MORE BE MORE CLEAR
1) We had a top defense if we Barmore, Bentley and replacement to Guy and Bryant
2) There are always going to be injuries. We need quality players in each unit in addition to the starters.
3) The decided that talent at DT, DE, LB and CB was sooo good that we needed no quality additions. The reality is that we were thin in the front six before the injuries.
4) An overhaul is NOT need on the defensive side of the ball. We need some health, and to add a stud at each level: DT, EDGE, LB and CB.
Our focus in the off-season is clear.

 

[Real fan 02]

I WILL TRY TO BE MORE BE MORE CLEAR
1) We had a top defense if we Barmore, Bentley and replacement to Guy and Bryant
2) There are always going to be injuries. We need quality players in each unit in addition to the starters.
3) The decided that talent at DT, DE, LB and CB was sooo good that we needed no quality additions. The reality is that we were thin in the front six before the injuries.
4) An overhaul is NOT need on the defensive side of the ball. We need some health, and to add a stud at each level: DT, EDGE, LB and CB.
Our focus in the off-season is clear.

Good points. I want to also add the loss of Bryant as a tough run stuffing Player and the versatility of Mac Wilson is sorely missing.

 

[lancerman]

The Pats D wasn't good last year. The last few years they got pantsed by any team that had a decent offense.

 

[Ring 6]

The softness issue is personnel. Last year the Pats D was good. Media claimed it's the same D, but it's not.

Last year 3rd and 3 was a passing down for most opponents as the Pats, who were thin at DT, were lucky enough to have Lawrence Guy, Godchaux and Barmore go wire to wire for 17 games with almost no games inactive/injury. They also played 2 edge guys that are intact and today.

The Pats cut a guy from the Steelers that was supposed to replace Guy. So now they're down to 1 of the 3 DTs and like last year, have little depth. Equale is a good rotational backup guy that played 3rd down primarily, as he's not great on run-d. He's the starter. Add in Bentley on IR and of late Peppers being out and Dugger missing some time, and that adds up to 'SOFT'. It's personnel and not some drama dripping BS the media will spin to you. "Is it the coaching and BB gone". "Is it player buy-in" or some other chaos they can feed the drama treadmill - NO.

It certainly is also scheme.

 

[Grogan14]

This is why most people are blaming both the coaching and the personnel side too.

Kraft, Mayo, and Wolf failed this team from the jump.

It ALL falls on Kraft. He hired Mayo and Wolf.
A new owner would jump start the rebuild

 

[mgcolby]

Mayo checked thier guts thier balls as men yesterday and they deserve it.. even as back ups they should have more pride. If getting checked as a man can't make them play with heart then they shouldn't be in the NFL.

But did they turn their head and cough? Thats the real question!

 

[Spiral]

Unlike the coach, I don't blame the players who were out there on the OL and DL. Some of those guys just aren't NFL players. Not their fault. Mayo looks lost out there at times.

 

[Real fan 02]

Unlike the coach, I don't blame the players who were out there on the OL and DL. Some of those guys just aren't NFL players. Not their fault. Mayo looks lost out there at times.

I just believe he's at a lost.. when you don't have the answers.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

Belichick doesn’t think they’re soft.

 

[Real fan 02]

Belichick doesn’t think they’re soft.

Feels good to hear coach say that. Let's hope the guys on defense are watching and get inspired by it.

 

[archstanton543]

Belichick doesn’t think they’re soft.

If he doesn't he didn't watch the last 2 games. You don't get like 18 consecutive runs called on you in the NFL if you're hard.

 

[signbabybrady]

It ALL falls on Kraft. He hired Mayo and Wolf.
A new owner would jump start the rebuild

What world do you live in?

The team will be handed down to the kids there are no new owners.

 

[signbabybrady]

If he doesn't he didn't watch the last 2 games. You don't get like 18 consecutive runs called on you in the NFL if you're hard.

You completely missed the point. He's saying they weren't soft for him.

Funny thing is Bill mostly stayed quiet this year. Kraft starts talking last week including calling it a firing instead of a mutual thing then Bill decides to start chirping. Coincidence?