Rex Ryan's scheme is being questioned by Bills once again
It hasn't been the best month of October for the Buffalo Bills as they've been forced to deal with several key injuries and have dropped two of the last three. The offense is struggling without Tyrod Taylor, LeSean McCoy, and Sammy Watkins all on the field at the same time, while the defense was lit up by the Cincinnati Bengals.
After Sunday's game, defensive end Mario Williams questioned the way Rex Ryan has been using him as he's recorded just two sacks this season. Now, fellow defensive lineman Marcell Dareus is joining him in questioning their head coach.
"Hey, like [Williams] said, they pay us a lot of money. And we want to use our talents the best way we know how," Dareus told Yahoo Sports, via ESPN. "If we're going to be dropping we don't want to get questions about not getting sacks. That's just how it is."
Dareus isn't just questioning the way he's being used on defense, but he's wondering why he and his running mates are being told to drop into coverage when they're some of the best pass rushers in the league.
"We want to make some plays. We don't want fans looking at us crazy," Dareus said. "We like making plays. We like getting sacks, just being out there exerting a lot of energy and having fun.
"But when we're dropping, when I'm not out there on third down or just I'm dropping or Kyle [Williams] is dropping or Mario is dropping or Jerry [Hughes] is dropping ... It's not been a lot of times where there have been all four of us, full tilt, ears pined back and we're going after it. We haven't had a lot of that this year."
In five games, the Bills have recorded just five sacks as a team. In 2014, they had 54 in 16 games. It's the same players on the defensive line, but it's a new coach giving them their responsibilities. Needless to say, Dareus hopes things change, but it's somewhat out of his control.
"Hopefully Rex is going to implement it," Dareus said. "There's nothing we can do."
While there have been two defenders questioning Ryan's scheme, a Bills legend is also voicing the same concerns. Even Jim Kelly echoed Ryan's use of Williams in pass rushing situations, particularly with his decision to drop him in coverage.
"Dropping Mario Williams into coverage a lot? Didn't we pay him a lot of money to hit the quarterback?" Kelly said. "And if I'm the opposing quarterback and I see him dropping into coverage, oh, that's a big plus. I'd definitely have a smile on my face."
