Key losses on D-line add up
Undoubtedly the Bills have some things going wrong on defense. If we’re doing the eye test via the simplest manner, we’re drawn to one area: the defensive line.
In the secondary and at linebacker, things, again… on paper, are mostly the same. Have injuries come about? Of course. Especially at linebacker. But even when starters get out on the field for the Bills defense, things just look… off.
A conclusion we might have to draw is that Buffalo didn’t see the cookie crumble in a good way in terms of their defensive line this offseason.
The Star Lotulelei situation is not in Sean McDermott or Brandon Beane‘s hands. The coach and general manager, rightfully so, respected Lotulelei’s decision to opt out of the 2020 season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds clearly has been impacted by this the most.
The idea was always simple, but seems to be playing a big problem this season. Lotulelei took up blockers so other guys, like Edmunds, could do work behind him or around him in terms of rushing the passer. Without Lotulelei, the Bills have ran a few guys out there such as Harrison Phillips and Vernon Butler to make due. It hasn’t worked.
Where the Bills did have a say was with defensive linemen was Jordan Phillips and edge defender Shaq Lawson. Phillips had his best season of his career with the Bills in 2019, but signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Cardinals which Buffalo did not match. Signing a three-year, $30 million contract himself as well, Lawson moved onto the Dolphins this offseason. Another deal the Bills did not match, even, again, after the player’s best season.
During McDermott’s tenure with the team, he’s always played a huge rotation along the defensive line. Because of that, guys there wouldn’t put up huge numbers. They’re not really doing so very much with their new teams either, but Phillips and Lawson did something with the Bills that the team is currently missing on their defense this season. Run defense always goes unnoticed because it’s the dirty work, but we’re certainly seeing a lack of it this season. Even against the pass, Buffalo’s being worked over the middle of the field week in and week out. Edmunds looks lost there, as does slot cornerback Taron Johnson. Both players could be having a down year, but it ironically comes after these losses.
Edmunds (shoulder) and Matt Milano (pectoral) are currently playing injured… but the fall off should not be what we’re seeing. Still, the Bills are 6-2 and there’s time for them to fully turn the corner on this side of the ball. They looked better the past two weeks, so let’s see where we go from here.
Fourth-and-1 and I don't know if anybody on the Browns wins with their block (and watch Star Lotulelei in the middle) pic.twitter.com/QtFIoUl60a
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) June 27, 2020