The Bills are (literally) changing how defense is played.

This week’s film breakdown analyzes the Buffalo Bills defense and the way they are changing the game. Last year we saw NFL defenses blitz less and less as 2 high coverages became more prevalent, well now? The Bills literally didn’t blitz the Rams once. This isn’t a one-off either, I don’t think the Bills had some wild, insane game plan, I think they’re blazing a path where Quarterbacks get blitzed less than ever. How can defenses be successful without sending any blitzes at all? This week’s episode uses the all-22 coaches film to analyze the Buffalo Bills new defense.
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Music:
🔷 Intro: Cyril Nikitin "Epic Movie Trailer Main"
🔷 Outro: OneTone Beats "Deception"
Thanks for watching “The Bills are (literally) changing how defense is played.”

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

What are the best defenses in the NFL? Gimme the Bills, 49ers, Bucs, Rams, and Packers

[@miles1739]

49ers 😈😈😈😈😈

[@EliteDarkLordman]

What happened with the Packers last week? Why was it so easy for the vikings to get lbs/mismatches on justin jefferson? Would love a vid on it

[@lydiavalentino]

I really like the Saints defense on paper, but I was concerned about the pass rush in Week 1

[@oswaldomayberry9260]

Cowboys

[@bigtshotmusic]

Bills

[@ThiccEagle]

The Bills' d line is strong and deep. If you can get consistent pressure only rushing 4, that's a good recipe for a deep playoff run

[@slimischillin7753]

The bills have already gone “deep” in the playoffs and they keep hitting their heads on the arrowhead wall

[@JohnBeBaked]

The Bills front 7 is now as good or better than the Steelers but on top of that the Bills have an ELITE offense unlike the Steelers. As a Steeler fan I know this is the year Bills are winning it they’ve come up short too many times

[@myco9253]

It's more the other way around. A lot of times dropping more guys and getting good a good coverage going allows the pass rush to get home. Sacks and pressures are almost always generated when coverage is good, not when the pass rush does it's job well.

[@PureMagma]

Von Miller was grabbing O-line players and using them to create the momentum to fly past them like his hands were grappling hooks... I'm confident that it wasn't personal towards his former teammates. 😅

[@JohnBeBaked]

@@myco9253 yep exactly right bro a lot of them were coverage sacks from Stafford having no where to go

[@frigginjerk]

I've been a Bills fan since the 4 Super Bowls, but I never really had a great handle on the "X's and O's" stuff. Videos like this make it a lot easier to understand, and it's really interesting to see how the schemes work. Thanks for enlightening me.

[@mambi74]

This is what the Hoodie used when NE beat the Rams in the SB - when they had that super-high powered offense. There's a great video of that on YT. (I'm not a fan of any of those teams - just like the tactics videos)

[@DeathBlowTTV]

Film content is so good for fans who want to learn more about the game. So many Bills fans are frustrated with Tremaine Edmonds and when you look at the film like this, he's incredible. This video is an Edmonds love letter in disguise and I am HERE FOR IT. =D

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Love to hear that!

[@Phil-ui4tm]

The current Bills look like their arch nemesis of the 90’s. The Cowboys. That is they’re loaded

[@SRMoore1178]

Somehow my Dolphins beat those Bills. Never saw that coming. Team's don't like making excuses for losses so I'll make it for them. The Bills wilted away in the Miami heat because of the stadium design. The visitor's sideline has no shade. I hope it becomes another vintage early '90s Marino vs Kelly rivalry again. Even though I kind of hated those Bills back then, I always rooted for them in all four Super Bowls. And I will when they reach it again. Great video. I knew football was complicated but not like this. It's literally a chess match.

[@Tandrona]

Anyone notice that the Steelers defense scored more points in fantasy than the Steelers did in real life?

[@dkoda840]

I started tampa over the steelers week one... trust me I noticed

[@imrealtrustme3116]

@@dkoda840 oof I’m sorry bud that’s a rough one

[@theslickrips5904]

@@dkoda840 why in gods name do you have two defenses?!!

[@LetMeEatDem]

@@dkoda840 you have two defenses on your roster??

[@FungiRy91]

Yeah because fantasy is completely different you merkin

[@miguelduarte8120]

I believe the most important element in this defense is having a DLine that creates constant pressure

[@azanocegrog748]

100% that game wouldve looked a lot different with say only a sack or 2 and 10 pressures. Probably 28-31 final or something like that. Not necessarily a bills win either.

[@yaahlabanyamyan144]

@@azanocegrog748 the Rams would have still took that L. The Rams have no real offensive threats outside of Cooper Kupp. Allen Robinson ain't it lmao

[@dylandimaggio8106]

Rams O-Line played pretty poorly as well

[@dakotastyles]

Yeaaah that’s been the 49ers D line since 2019

[@daytonium]

every single clip the rams offensive line is just melting under these guys haha

[@chawkfan94]

I feel like some of those concepts were open enough to work, but in almost all of your clips Stafford was already under severe pressure. Being able to get home with just 4 makes calling a defense a lot easier.

[@fenixchief7]

Pressure has always been the key to stopping good QBs. You can have the best coverage in the world but give the QB long enough and they will find someone. Getting there even quicker means your coverage can be that much worse and getting that with 4 rushers is a fucking boon to any defense.

[@grinningchicken]

You are right it’s not really ground breaking to rush 4 disguise the coverage and play a team W/0 a real deep threat by bumping the guys off the line.

[@chawkfan94]

@@grinningchicken I love Alex but it almost seems click baity in nature. Why not just highlight how awesome of a job the coaching staff and GM has done to draft Ed Oliver, Gregory Rousseau, Shaq Lawson, and add Von Miller & Jordan Phillips.

[@Skank_and_Gutterboy]

As a defensive player, Lawrence Taylor was good enough to actually change how the game was played in response to what he was doing. These guys, not so much.

[@nicolimon8494]

Just wanted to say I invented this defense in madden. Rushed 4, always got pressure and sacks

[@allentheskywalker]

Jeez, these deep dives are needed because I would've never known how complex the Bills defense is

[@Puffindefenceforce]

Oh man if you think this is complex you should learn about mid aughts Belichick defenses, he'd come up with completely absurd looks and schemes

[@deadgolfer6345]

It's an interesting vid - but I think the success is more simple than it seems. The front 4 are getting to the quarterback. Fast. Anyone can do the other stuff, but it won't work as well if the quarterback has all day.

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

This defense will be even more elite when Tre White is healthy again

[@quinnjackson9252]

YESSS!!! Not only do they have the best coached defense, but they get back ANOTHER superstar defender. Poyer, Hyde, Miller, White, and so many other high profile names, ughh I can't wait! Especially with so many high powered offenses, having the best defense is a huge advantage.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

If they can put him one on one and push these c2/c4 looks to the passing strength, man....

[@paulgaither]

I always prefer 2 high pre-snap, even if you are going to roll to one high. Two high can turn into so much more post-snap than one high and a box safety. With two high, you can play Tampa 2, Cover 5 (man under), cover 3 sky by rotating but not rolling in one direction or the other, cover 3 cloud by rolling the weak safety into the flat to stop the weak run and take away weak dump off plays and hunt the screen, cover 3 cloud by rolling the Strong side safety into Curl Seam Flat, cover 4, and cover 6.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Exactly, so hard for a post safety or somebody to be pre rotated and run back at the snap. I loved what the Bills did, mostly simple stuff, and then on a key 3rd down at times they go with something crazy

[@dereklasker5350]

This is the key for them finally beating the chiefs. Put pressure on Mahomes without blitzing, and have enough guys in coverage to take away options

[@vanadyan1674]

That, and have the road to the Super Bowl run through Orchard Park.

[@JediTiga]

They've already done that for the past two years.

[@dereklasker5350]

@@JediTiga they didn’t have Von Miller before to make it successful

[@JediTiga]

@@dereklasker5350 I just watched Mahomes somehow pull out a win against a better defense and better pass rush in Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa though.

[@weatherwolf335]

@@JediTiga outside of those two who do the chargers have, with the bills it's about putting fresh bodies in instead of repeatedly putting in the same d-Linemen drive after drive, so from drive to drive you aren't having the same exact people in you're having fresher d-Linemen with similar levels of talent going against the same offensive line that is already getting tired while the players that need rest are getting rest

[@andrewschuschu3499]

Reminds me a lot of the Broncos D a few years ago. The front end and the back end were able to create time for one another. Talib, Harris, Ward, Stewart, and Roby made so much possible. Their front end with Ware and Miller was amazing, and that obscured how amazing the back end was too.

[@jrad410]

Bills gotta beat the chiefs when it matters. That’s all I’m looking at for them now. We know they’ll be good this year.

[@mryeetproductions]

True

[@anujsingh333]

Yep...and the main priority this year is securing the 1 seed, getting a little tired of heading down to the great atmosphere in Arrowhead haha

[@SuperMurray2009]

Both of their defense looking good as hell right now

[@natfreakinggeo]

Have to blow them out so coaching can't blow it.

[@PeteStanner4567]

No one cares. People want to see relevant teams with generational QB's like Justin Herbert, not over-hyped teams.

[@ralphp.3954]

I think we may be on the verge (1-2 seasons away) of the game coming full circle back to workhorse backs pounding smaller, faster defenses.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

You're spot on Ralph, I can't wait. Bigger OLs too

[@vanadyan1674]

Absolutely love the in depth stuff my man. Don't shy away from it, it's one of the things that sets you apart.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Good to know Vanadyan, thanks brother!

[@NitNgrit]

As a bills fan my entire life and watching the Kelly era I’m so happy to see buffalo back on their game ❤

[@nickl.922]

Nothing new here. Pretty textbook cover 2 just with linebacker play and overall execution that was perfection. Good on the Bills, they are clearly very well coached and dangerous. Id like to see how they adjust to a more dominant running team this week against the titans. I almost expect them to ditch that scheme entirely this week against the Titans. Cant wait to see it

[@arizona_anime_fan]

against teams like the titans they play a much more traditional tampa 2 with a traditional 4-3 front, or a variation on Bill belichecks "heavy" safety nickel, depending on the situation (3 linemen, 3 linebackers, 3 safeties). overall I think they're a very good run defense with 3 true linebackers on the field, they just don't like running out 3 real linebackers.

[@stevepklein]

Thanks for this video. I learned a lot in just a little time. Nice work!

[@monophthalmos9633]

Wouldn't suprise me if this leads to other teams going for more D-line depths to enable more rotation.

[@fenixchief7]

It's already been going that way for awhile, just maybe not this extent. Teams would have linemen or linebackers that are better pass rushers check in for clear passing downs and run stoppers in short yardage situations. Depth is tricky. You can't have it everywhere because of the salary cap. The Bills have 4 guys on rookie contracts on their line, 2 of them starters, and Von Miller whos one of the best to ever do it, getting paid like it too. Gonna be hard to keep investing money there.

[@adamdrach3894]

Are ya really this dumb? The giants did this to win their two chips….other teams have done this as well throughout the years. Shit the bucs did it the year they won. I don’t understand how people are surprised by this at all

[@jayden268]

Its been like that

[@jadenrogers9918]

Yea SF been doing it for years

[@adamdrach3894]

@@jadenrogers9918 Ty. It’s like people forget how many defenses actually do this

[@seanguitarman5594]

!Quality stuff my man, truly insightfull analyses, every video. Much appreciation for your time and effort!

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Sean

[@telecaster2123]

Man I was shocked. I've said this before but I absolutly love these great defensive game plans. They might not be as exciting as their offensive counter parts but I find them to be more interesting. Awesome video

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks TLC! Yeah, I think cause offense is (in ways) easier than defense, seeing a truly great defense game plan that shuts down everything on offense is doing is simply fascinating. I'm right there with you

[@famousamos]

If I ever want to be a football coach someday, I will thank your videos because they are one of my technical ingredients. Lol

[@blablablablabittybla561]

Good vid. LET’S GO BUFFALO!!!

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Blablabla!

[@HugeMcFister]

Absolutely fantastic channel, perfect production, great script, good ideas and concepts. A true football fans place for information and entertainment. I’ve been watching you for awhile but I didn’t even know I wasn’t subscribed because you come up in my recommended so much 😂

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Wow Marshall, I'm gonna save a comment like this, thank you!

[@mfgary5094]

I really enjoyed the in depth analysis, you know your stuff! Keep up the great work!

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thank you MFGary!

[@divinedemigod777]

This defensive development is so important to the offensive centric league, i love my bills, but i hope that other teams copy this so its not a scorigami every game

[@KWillo]

Offense sells tickets unfortunately.No matter how stout your defense is, people aren't lining up to see it like the days of Ray Lewis or even the legion of boom.The Browns had one of the best defenses last year but almost nobody cared.

[@icanspeak851]

Once again, I appreciate the fact that you break down your videos to the simplest forms. I look forward to more from you, especially on the #Chiefs.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thank you! Glad you like it

[@bthorn5035]

Beautiful breakdown. Thanks!

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Bthron

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

I wanted a Bills-Chargers playoff match up, but the Bolts would throw 4 yard passes and punt on 4th and inches while the Bills would put up 45 points in 3 quarters.

[@blakeharris58]

I don’t think you watch the Chargers.

[@triger8021]

@@blakeharris58 No, I don't think you did. I know last year they went for it a ton. Against the chiefs they punted on 4th and inches in the middle of the field. I was shocked considering last year they were 100% going for it on 4th and short pretty much anywhere on the field.

[@jarlwhiterun7478]

@@blakeharris58 you must have either a low iq, poor memory, or you don't watch NFL football.

[@ninh05]

Hahaha pathetic

[@SuperMurray2009]

Isn't this more evident that Stafford for some reason didn't take more chances with any recievers not named Cooper Kupp? There were a decent amount of times Wide receivers were open. Not by a wide margin but it's Matt Stafford. He usually gambles on those plays because he usually knows he can make the throw. And Robinson was more than enough open to move the chains on crucial downs.

[@utewbd]

His elbow is toast. He doesn't trust himself on as many throws as before.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

The windows were supperrr tight, just a great defensive performance. Stafford could have played better, but this was just Bills dominance tbh

[@gatienlaurol5793]

Love this video, Alex! Pretty interesting that 2 high looks are coming back since Tampa made it popular in late 90s/early 2000s.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Gatien! And the lack of blitzing against elite QB!

[@drucartier2164]

The Bills changed defense..?! I swore The Saints did this last year. This looks like the game plan The Saints used against Brady last year

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

I don't think I emphasized this enough, but the video is about how the Bills didn't blitz a single time

[@MrKyledane]

Really enjoy this kind of x's and o's breakdown. Reminds of me of Ron Jaworski's work 20 plus years ago. Don't dumb it down, this is your thing.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Kyle! Good advice man, thank you. Always worried I'm going too far deep, but you're right

[@chrisharper835]

Great analysis and film job..... If your 4 up front get to the quarterback it changes everything. Look back at the New York Giants teams that won the super bowl with similar packages. Stafford missed the crossing route several times that were open... he also held the ball to long after missing initial patterns. The 3 receiver in the stubby package should be looking for the over linebacker/under safety play instead of running at the safety.... A lot of room over the middle agains these packages if you react quick. And you are so correct agains the run game, the linebackers/safeties commit so quickly and don't wait deep like so many teams do wrongly. Great stuff here my friend.

[@topleftfromtime]

NO WAYYY. Favorite content creator making a video on my favorite team!? It feels like my birthday 😭. Appreciate you Alex 💪

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Appreciate YOU bro, love chopping it up every week

[@andrewcohen549]

This is a great educational video. Fantastic work.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Andrew!

[@eel1378]

Thank you for explaining these concepts in a way a layperson like me can understand. Very interesting

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Glad you like it!

[@reitzik]

This video was very helpful for someone who is new to nfl and wants to know more about the game. Thanks

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Glad youl ike it Seb!

[@omalley5196]

How did this channel just quietly become the best NFL channel on all of KZbin???

[@ragetv8114]

Great breakdown! Learned a lot

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thank you Rage

[@toniovndercover3681]

Rlly loved this vid and imma huge bills fan 🔥honestly didn't know of this channle until one of my favorite content creators just reacted to it hope to see more soon for sure

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thank you!! Glad you like it!

[@termigasts5227]

Man you are really REALLY good at breaking this down

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Termigast!

[@edulak]

Wow this is such a great knowledgeable easy to understand video with graphics.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Edik!

[@dougr8646]

Great coverage and disguise... revolutionary. What no one though of that

[@toomanylies7716]

Great video! This and the Aaron Rodgers one did a great job of explaining how difficult defenses are making reading coverages. I love the set up for the eventual offensive adjustment to this as this is a push/pull league. I know the Chiefs already have but it'll be interesting to see how a teams like the Dolphins or Jets will do against this, or if the Bills will do something different all together.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thank you!

[@Dgenz24]

Great video! Subbed

[@GuRReN1495]

If this is the case that teams mostly only rush 4 then wouldn't it be good for guys like lamar jackson to shred defense with their legs

[@Texpantego]

Bills D-line is dominating Rams O-line. No blitzing but still Stafford has little time.

[@yaahlabanyamyan144]

Rams gotta hit that weight room

[@timblaufuss9861]

I wanna point out that this style was used by the titans last year to beat both of these teams! Shane Bowen has been using disguised looks that function off of the 4 main rushers and Byard and hooker to trick elite offenses with the looks. I’d recommend looking at the titans defense from last season, you’ll see this trend really starting off there.

[@ryryy1980]

Titans can also run the ball. The style of defense the Bills play leave then susceptible to the run...

[@t4d0W]

@@ryryy1980 Very specific run teams can challenge the Bills. Other teams can't just run at them without great talent in the trenches and a RB whose not gonna make the LB/secondary work.

[@ryryy1980]

@@t4d0W You're saying exactly what I'm saying just more detailed

[@yaahlabanyamyan144]

This style was originally perfected by the 2007 Giants against New England. They advertised how to stop potent offenses with just 4 rushers. Literally the BLUEPRINT

[@bizzarechipmonk]

Amazing video, thankful that the The Algorithm surfaced this up for me. I’m gonna have to watch again to fully understand but that’s because I don’t know jack about X’s and O’s. Super approachable content, thanks for putting the time in to make this!

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thank you! If you have any questions, hit my DMs on Twitter

[@DMinKC]

Great video!!

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks David!

[@tomd1434]

The Giants did this back in 2007 and 2011. Their ability to get pressure with just four enabled them to drop 7 which was key because their secondary was nothing special. Dropping seven also creates all sorts of double teams, bracketing te’s, ect.

[@paulb2995]

Von BILLer brings greatness to that front 7.

[@ronintsukebin9163]

I would have loved if Van Miller will still with us to both comment on Von Miller during the game and then interview him afterwards.

[@Cruz474]

Von 🅱️iller

[@caffeineTX]

Great analysis!

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Grant!

[@cdouglas6]

Fun to see a defensive focused video

[@ChiliKid]

I feel like 10 years ago all I ever read was how the Tampa 2 was dead because QBs could just shred 2 high coverage with multiple verticals concepts, especially attacking the space between the safeties. I wonder if that area is going to be exposed yet again down the line against the new wave of cover 2.

[@moegani6269]

That No look pass from Stafford WAS the right read just let himself get shook. Passes to Kupp are obvious, the Bills running no blitz but still being down his throat was magic can’t believe how well they played

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Yeah he was reading it out well, just kept getting flustered. Those DL flashing in his face right away makes it so hard

[@christopappageorge827]

Brilliant breakdown.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thank you!

[@gregdicostanzo6423]

i remember a video like this being made last year about the dolphins defense changing the game, should be a good matchup tomorrow 👀

[@studiouswadoo5027]

When I watch football I’m so used to the offense disguising their play that I never noticed the defense did it as well. Good breakdown I learned a lot

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thank you!

[@benchan7471]

Excellent video

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Ben!

[@Dr.Sortospino]

Wait I thought i was here for the nerdy stuffs!!! Give me the detailed nerdy stuffs 😍

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

😂😂 bro we could be going sooo much deeper. Don't want to lose the non sickos like us though 😂

[@michaelbread5906]

Born and raised in SoCal, but ever since I saw the Bill's last season, I've been a fan.

[@Gungho73]

Leslie Frazier as a DC is perhaps a tad underrated in the league. How many teams woud've crumbled losing a high caliber CB? Frazier just put his 11 in the best place to succeed, scheming them as you've seen here to avoid giving away coverages. Frazier is the rare type to put his players in this place consistently, with opportunities for role players to make significant contributions. I will be surprised if he does not receive a head coaching gig after this year, and don't hold his time in the chair at Minnesota against him. I felt that was a team with no direction and it ended up being such. He still had one of the lesser remembered turnarounds in NFL history from 3-13 to 10-6 with a roster dragged to the postseason by Adrian Peterson. Players seem to love him. Maybe 2nd times the charm?

[@nastradumbass]

Literally how I been playing Madden since 05

[@xerohiryu4491]

A deep defensive line and when u add the best fearmomger in von Miller it creates chaos

[@anthonyhilton4168]

Good analysis

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thank you!

[@Rick081808]

Great video good info. Thanks 🙏 GoBills

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Rick!

[@Beginningtopeak]

Having 7 guys on the back end who know exactly what their responsibilities are is so valuable. Darius butler did a breakdown of some defenses that blew their assignments and this video was the exact opposite

[@cavaleermountaineer3839]

It helps a lot when the Rams OL gets bullied and they still can't run block. This is a natural and great strategic evolution by the defense in a pass happy, "spread" offense era. Let's see if offenses respond by becoming more smash mouth. Should be interesting.

[@victorunger]

This is why Pete Carrol is the way he is. Even if you play to stop the run you’ll get 2-3 yards, but if you get pass happy, and change the team, the defense will adjust too, and they can stop a pass with much less effort and consistency. His own defense was that premise. Stop the pass, make them grind out yards when they don’t want to.

[@hccarder]

Very nice.

[@ChaoteLab]

Your vids are exactly what I always hoped the NFL Network would be.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Jason! Honestly I feel the same, so I just decided to start making it myself since there wasn't any

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks my dude!

[@t4d0W]

Def made it easier on the Bills with the Rams and their porous interior protection along with their suspect left edge protection. But even then Stafford had to stare down the consistent coverage play all night and pick his spots. If his receivers weren't on the same page it was gonna be difficult regardless. The Von Miller effect will be key as rotating the front 4 to keep them fresh and healthy throughout the season will be pivotal. In the playoffs though your best talents have to show up and Miller is the best on the edge that the Bills have this season. That also give reason for Ed Oliver or someone to step up their interior pass rush play to All-NFL level. Otherwise the Bills secondary has been playing this kind of consistent coverage play well for the last 2-3 seasons.

[@barringtonmorris90]

The bills defense has been great for 4 straight seasons! Very underrated defense. Dynasty defense.

[@sittopee]

Alex your videos are stellar mate - thanks for your effort and analysis. Any chance you could do a series of ‘NFL for foreigners’ or something, explaining the basics of strategy, position responsibilities etc? Just to help those of us who didn’t grow up with the game to better understand it and your analysis?

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks brother! Where are you from? I've considered it, but it's a little bit outside of what I do on the channel generally. If you want to dm me on twitter @Alexrollinsnfl I can share some resources with you, and some other YT channels that do that kind of thing better than I would have anyway

[@sittopee]

@@AlexRollinsNFL thanks for responding - I’m in Australia. I don’t have twitter sorry. The way you explain concepts and your analysis, as well as using graphics, is a massive help, which is why I was wondering if you could do a dumbed-down video for people like me, but I completely get that you’re more into the deeper analysis (and I’ll absolutely keep watching!). If you or anyone knows of any good resources I’d really appreciate it. Keep at it mate!

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

@@sittopee Thanks brother! shoot me an email [e-mail]

[@biloxiallegany9724]

great breakdown. the only wrinkle i look to see for this type of defense is against a very mobile QB like mahomes who can do damage in open space. For that, defense has to make another change and even then it still leaves one on one and it is a 50 50 on what happens.

[@kishanprajapati7702]

ALEX THE GOAT

[@kylerae9196]

And my fantasy opponents laughed at me taking Bills Defense early... joke's on them!

[@fanboy50]

I think it's also important to note that developing this strategy plays into the fact that there's just an increasing number of quarterbacks for whom blitzing is just not a very effective counter; there's too many of them out there that are too good at making defenses pay for blitzing that the benefit of the extra rusher isn't worth leaving the void in coverage that starting-caliber quarterbacks increasingly can take advantage of. Pulling from a Ravens example (because I watch them the most) I wasn't all that surprised that last year the Ravens finally managed to beat the Chiefs with arguably the least blitz-heavy defensive strategy we had ever gone after the Mahomes Chiefs with, because in past meetings it always seemed like Martindale's blitz-heavy strategies would result in big chunk plays for the Chiefs that would be too much for the offense to keep pace with, but playing without Marcus Peters arguably forced Martindale to call a more disciplined, restrained defense, and it succeeded in mostly keeping a lid on the Chiefs' offense.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Great points, yes! QBs are becoming more and more advanced (plus the fact that technology has developed to where it's at today) that blitzing Mahomes, Rodgers, Brady, Stafford is pointless

[@MrBlack-wt5er]

This breakdown was awesome! I like the defensive disguise but to pull this off you got to have a speed team on defense!

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Mr. Black

[@kcluu9390]

I've been saying that cover 2 and Tampa 2 defensive schemes will be making a come back since everyone was using cover 1

[@t4d0W]

Its more 2 high/versatile 3 safety looks than 'Tampa' shells. In the Belichick/Graham/MacDonald (under Harbaugh) defenses as solid examples, the safeties rotate out for the linebackers in late passing downs and provide more versatility for coverage or stopping short pass gains. The safeties aren't splitting the field anymore than being an additional role defender given the situation to cover for positional weaknesses.

[@victorunger]

Bruh they’re doing a cover version of the legion of boom and now it’s revolutionary. KZbinrs have short term memory.

[@Playboipete]

Subscribed

[@halilsrealfootballtalk]

Great breakdown, as always! Could you please tell where you get these sequences of player close-ups, slow-motions, etc. of? Would love to add some like these into my next video!

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Halil! They're all on KZbin, mostly from the NFL's channel

[@halilsrealfootballtalk]

@@AlexRollinsNFL Okay cool! So basically from highlight videos and stuff like that or are you looking at something specific?

[@Scoots1994]

This looks like late 80s defense.

[@VinceLyle2161]

Be careful. Last year Brett Kollman was singing the praises of Carolina's run defense, saying it had a chance to shatter the record. Week 4 they gave up 245 yards on the ground to the Cowboys and proceeded to go 2-12 the rest of the year. Hope this video holds up.

[@t4d0W]

To be fair Brett was trying to hype up Carolina after stopping some cupcake run offenses. The Cowboys run offense were the first major test and they flunked. Vikings with Dalvin Cook came to town and went on a rampage. Rhule and Phil Snow also were very insistent on playing light boxes vs these proficient run offenses. With the case of the Bills their D-line/Edge rotation strategy was very sound last season along with coverage play. They only got taken for a ride vs specific teams that are harder to bully at the trenches who had physical runners.

[@VinceLyle2161]

@@t4d0W What you say is true. But my point is that nobody knows anything after one week. One injury, maybe two, could turn an awesome Bills team into an average Bills team. And it's not like the two high safety shell is the silver bullet, even with the disguises of man and rolls to single high safeties, and the lack of blitzing. OCs all over the NFL are working on how to beat it now. Innovations in the NFL have a short shelf life. It's great that the Bills are good when they have this opportunity to play innovative defense. But that will not last forever.

[@ArchibaldEdits]

Good vid.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks!

[@davelewandowski]

Can't you counter the cover 2 with heavy run packages since the box isn't stacked? Also last year almost every team the Bills played went with cover 2.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Yes! I think there are some other concepts the Rams could be using that would help them, but it's not really their style

[@brandonoflight8274]

This has been the goal a lot of defenses. If you can pressure with the front 4, more guys can play coverage. It's how McDermott operated when he was the D-coordinator for my beloved, yet struggling Panthers. Blitzes were very rare, but the D-line had the talent to affect the pass and break up running lanes on their own

[@manulh56]

A blitz is sending a 2nd or 3rd level defender to rush the qb, it is not rushing more than 4 guys, because you can have a zone blitz, where a LB rush and a DL drops in coverage

[@liamengram6326]

No, a blitz is literally defined as sending 5 or more pass rushers.

[@twostepz4982]

Well, it would take a few years. But, QB mobile players would bring RPO concepts that will make NFL defenses be honest, at a risk of injuring the QB and shorter lifespan. But, this 2 deep shell defense is quite amazing.

[@11yoyomama]

Do you have any resource recommendations for learning more about route concepts and what defense they are used against (eg domino vs 1-high)

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Send me a DM on Twitter @alexrollinsnfl

[@chriscam4165]

Funny enough this would probably work against the Bills offense

[@mikemcintosh9933]

Front four pressuring and sacking like that is scary.

[@bigfellaang1859]

Hey Alex it seems like everyone is going back to the 2 high safety look to stop all the down field explosive plays. In ur last video about mahomes you talked about 2000 thru 2010 Andy Reid destroying 2 high safety looks. Would u do a video showing how Andy would beat the 2 high look? Thanks in advance if u do.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Thanks Ang! I would love to, but all 22 is limited to only the last few years. I'd be doing some fire ass videos on NFL greats and sick offenses, but I just don't have the footage

[@bigfellaang1859]

@@AlexRollinsNFL damn I bet that video would have been fire. Maybe if we are lucky we will see coach Reid do some of the things this yr with mahomes that he did with McNabb during that stretch. Clearly I'm a Andy Reid fan lol

[@Phil-ui4tm]

70’s Steelers were first to consistently use cover 2. 49ers in 80’s, Cowboys in 90’s Tampa Bay and Indy in 2000’s all used variations of this scheme. I think Jim Harbaugh also used it for 2010’s 49ers who were a super bowl team.

[@Akkbar21]

It’s this simple: Put Von on defense, have good defense.

[@AlexRollinsNFL]

Brandon Beane that u

[@maxhypolite5388]

Facts

[@Akkbar21]

@@maxhypolite5388 you know it. Von the Don! 58 will always be a God in Denver. Hope he tears up the league, except when Denver plays Buff ;)

[@stephenbianchi7141]

Everything that happens in a football game is a trickle down from what happens at the line.

[@MCA_Lives]

The true key is 8 defensive linemen in The rotation! Keeps the 4 man front fresh* every. Single. Play.

[@Mike_LaFontaine75]

Looks like the Dolphin defense showed the Bills how defense is played.

[@Mspisascam]

4:38 Yeah man. My brain hurts now