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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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Nov 7, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Buffalo Bills safety Robert Blanton (26) during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Bills 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Buffalo Bills safety Robert Blanton (26) during a NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Bills 31-25. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

Robert Blanton Defensive Grade Through Nine Games:

D +. . Safety. Buffalo Bills. ROBERT BLANTON

When the Buffalo Bills signed safety Robert Blanton it was as an insurance policy in case Aaron Williams was not healthy enough to continue his football career. Williams beat the odds and was able to play this year but he was injured on a dirty hit from Jarvis Landry against Miami and his career is again in doubt. Blanton became the Bills number two safety after Williams went down and overall on the season he has been the Bills most disappointing player except for Stephon Gilmore.

That is why we gave Blanton a “D+” as his grade. He’s played well below what an average safety should in this league and in the notes I take each week he has only been mentioned once. That was when on a 1st and 20 play against the Patriots he was called for a holding penalty thus giving them an automatic first down. Plays like that can’t be made against a team as good as New England especially in that down and distance.

Blanton has been slightly better against the run than the pass this season but he has been disappointing in both aspects for Buffalo. He has 26 tackles with 8 assists but has no pass deflections or interceptions for the team. Pro Football Focus ranks him as the 76th best safety in the league which is another way of saying he is not a starting caliber safety.

Safety was one of the Bills thinnest positions coming into the year and probably was the reason why they originally carried six players at the position on the roster. They are now down to just four safeties and it wouldn’t be shocking to see Jonathan Meeks steal time away from Blanton as the season goes on. Expect this to be the primary area the Bills look to upgrade in the offseason in both free agency and in the draft.

On the next slide, we’ll grade Corey Graham who is the Bills best remaining safety who is healthy.

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