I keep hearing about the d-line of Buffalo, but what about their secondary? Do they have the personnel to cover Hartline, Gibson and Landry? Who is their ace to cover Wallace all game? Anyone better than Revis that Mike scorched last week?
With Tannehill throwing much quicker, this awesome d-line of Buff me low may not be the factor it was last year.
The Bills secondary managed to cover Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery well enough to win despite missing starting CB Stephon Gilmore. Cutler/Marshall/Jeffery >>> Tannehill/Wallace/Hartline
et al. Chicago had the NFL's 2nd best offense behind Denver last year, and they're expected to about as good this year. The Bears' issues last season were all on the defensive side.
With a fresh 7th round pick ROOKIE going against Cameron Wake. Yeah, sure okay bud. :clap:
Seantrel Henderson was rated at least a 2nd round talent who fell to the 7th round because he had disciplinary/off-field issues in college. He seems to have gotten his head on straight since he turned pro, however, and has been a very pleasant surprise. He pushed the Bills starting RT, Erik Pears, over to RG.
Kyle Williams was well off his game. This is a guy who was been dominant... the quickest defender off the ball the NFL has seen since Leon Lett. He is mostly a hand fighter now. It was actually a bit sad to see, even as a Dolphins fan. I'm not surprised you're taking the homer view of his game but trust me, I have been singing the man's praises for years. The int, for example, was an absolute gift from Cutler. The fact that you even mention it says everything.
I'm not faulting Schwartz for playing passively. Cutler likes to throw down the field and Marshall and Jeffery are impossible to play much press man against. Cover 4 and cover 6 are the right move against them. They're simply not the right move against us.
Why do you assume that Schwartz is going to use the same schemes against the Dolphins as he did against the Bears? He has an excellent record as a DC, so this isn't his first rodeo. Tannehill to Mike Wallace or Brian Hartline is NOT nearly as potentially dangerous as Cutler to Marshall or Jeffery. Miami is much more like the Bills than either team is like Chicago. Different teams, different game plans.
I think I'm one of the few Bills fans who did NOT bemoan the loss of Mike Pettine. Last year, Pettine's attacking, gambling style worked well for the DL personally (3 of 4 went to the Pro Bowl), NOT so well for the Bills LBs (and the run defense) and the team's win-loss record, so I'm more than willing to give Schwartz the benefit of the doubt.
The Bills have added two LBs to help against the run: Manny Lawson and Brandon Spikes. Unfortunately, they won't have last year's outstanding rookie LB, Kiko Alonso, who is on IR, but they'll get Nigel Bradham, who's taking his place, back from a 1 game suspension. They seem significantly improved against the run.