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Grading the Bills’ Defense Through 9 Games This Season

By Dennis Moody

Aug 20, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills assistant head coach/defense Rob Ryan (left) and head coach Rex Ryan on the field before the game against the New York Giants at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills assistant head coach/defense Rob Ryan (left) and head coach Rex Ryan on the field before the game against the New York Giants at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 30, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) is knocked out of bounds after making a catch for a first down with Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) defending during the first quarter at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) is knocked out of bounds after making a catch for a first down with Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) defending during the first quarter at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /

Stephon Gilmore Defensive Grade Through Nine Games:

STEPHON GILMORE. F. . Cornerback. Buffalo Bills

Stephon Gilmore was one of the top corners in the league last year. Heading into this season he was hoping to cash in on his play and score a mega contract just like Josh Norman got. His plan has not worked out as he is having his worst year since entering the league. We gave him an “F” because he doesn’t seem to have any clue how to play the sport this year.

Maybe he thinks he is playing Futbol and not Football because in that sport you can’t use your hands and that is something he has struggled with this season. Good cover corners are able to jam up receivers at the line and instead this season it seems Gilmore has lost confidence and is playing off them a bit.

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He has been beaten on many big plays and seeing him look around confused after a touchdown catch against him seems to happen on a weekly basis at this point. He still has some moments where he covers well but on the whole, he has been extremely disappointing. There is no way Buffalo or any team for that matter, are going to give him “Josh Norman money” after this year.

The Bills would be smart to let him walk after this season because he is not worth the money that some team will most likely be willing to pay him despite a down year. He is currently ranked the 90th best cornerback by Pro Football Focus which basically makes him the equivalent of one of the worst nickel corners in the league, not a number one lockdown cornerback.

His play is likely to improve over the remainder of the season because there isn’t much further down to go and because he is too talented not to play better. Just a few short months ago the Bills were working towards a long-term deal with Gilmore, but as of now, it seems like this will be his last season with the team.

Part of the reason the Bills can feel comfortable letting him go is because of their other cornerback Ronald Darby who we will grade on the next slide.

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