Rex has no excuses anymore. When the Bills hired Rex, it seemed like a match made in heaven. The Bills had a top 5 defense; Rex’s defenses had always been in the top 5 prior to Buffalo, what could go wrong? Well as it turns out everything could go wrong. Rex couldn’t decide on a 4/3 or 3/4, didn’t get along with the team’s highest paid superstar, and the D just got shredded week after week after week.
After this offseason, it has to go back to where it has always been for Rex. First of all, he brought in his twin brother Rob to help him coach the D. Whereas Rex has always had good to great D’s, Rob has always had average to hot garbage D’s. However, since Buffalo is willing to do whatever is necessary to see the Bills win, we are OK with hiring a D coach who got dumped from his last job for having a historically bad D.
An even bigger reason is the 2016 Bills draft. On paper, this is one of the best defensive drafts the Bills have ever had. Most everyone gave the Bills one of the top grades. It all starts with the first two picks. In my draft preview, we talked about needing an edge rusher who could play the role that Mario wouldn’t last year. Shaq Lawson was ACC DPOY. He can rush the edge, and it seems he can drop into coverage and cover the flat as needed. Based on almost all mocks, Lawson was expected to be gone by the time #19 came around. Snagging him here was a fantastic pick that almost every Bills fan and pundit applauded. He is exactly what the Bills needed to allow Rex to play a more 3/4 look that he desires.
If this wasn’t enough, Buffalo traded up to get Reggie Ragland in round 2. The reigning SEC DPOY is a tackling machine. All he does is tackle everybody and anything. While there are some concerns about his athleticism in true passing situations, he was a first rounder in just about any mock you could find. This pick seems even better, when, if you take Whaley at his word, they were prepared to take him at 19 had Lawson not been there. Daryl Talley called him the best LB since Biscuit, which is high praise.
This seemingly would be enough, but even their round 3 pick, Adolphus Washington was a HR by most accounts. He again, was picked a round later than expected. He’s an athletic DT, that in passing situations should form a nice rush up the middle with Hughes and Dareus having some flexibility on where they line up. When you take these three guys, and add an incredible secondary with Gilmore and Darby, on paper, the once formidable D seems promising again. Obviously Rex needs these rookies to come in and contribute immediately, but the top 2 picks should absolutely be able to play from Day 1. Washington should be able to be used situationally from Day 1 as well. Getting everyone else back healthy, and a top 5 secondary, Rex has to deliver this year.
This doesn’t even take into account the Bills getting good value with their O picks as well. Cardale Jones made complete sense in round 4 as a developmental QB, who a year ago would’ve gone in round 1, Williams is a really good RB, and if you watched any games when Shady and Karlos were hurt, you know we needed another. Finally, getting s peedy WR in Listenbee who can at least make the cover the entire field should help Sammy, Clay, Shady, and Tyrod. More than ever, you get the sense the fans are done being patient. 1999 was a very, very long time ago. Rex and Whaley have to know that they may not get another year together if it all goes south. There are no more excuses. Rex has the coaches he wants, and now he has the guys he wants to essentially run his system. Hopefully that is enough to take his D back to a top 5 ranking in 2016, and end the playoff drought.
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