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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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Sep 15, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Leger Douzable (91) reacts during the first half against the New York Jets at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 15, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Leger Douzable (91) reacts during the first half against the New York Jets at New Era Field. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

Leger Douzable Defensive Grade Through Nine Games:

C +. . Defensive End. Buffalo Bills. LEGER DOUZABLE

Leger Douzable was one of the hardest players to come up with a grade for. He falls somewhere between a “C++” and a “B–“. Since we aren’t giving out double pluses or minuses, we had to settle on a “C+”.

Rex Ryan was familiar with Douzable when the Bills signed him this offseason. He played under Rex when they were both with the Jets. Douzable has stepped up his game this year and that’s why we are giving him a “C+” because he is playing above average for certain.

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He’s earned the second-most snaps on the Bills defensive line this year and we use the word “earned” deliberately. Coming into the season, Corbin Bryant was the favorite to get the second most snaps once Marcell Dareus’ suspension was announced. Third round draft pick Adolphus Washington would have also been considered a favorite to earn more time than Douzable because the team has more invested in his future.

Douzable didn’t let any of that bother him. He competed his way onto the roster and has played 280 snaps this year compared to Bryant’s 233 and Washington’s 196. He’s getting playing time because he has shown that he can be an effective pass rusher. His run stopping ability hasn’t been as good but overall he is doing better than most expected.

At 30 years old, he’s likely reached his peak in the league but as we have seen with Lorenzo Alexander anything is possible. So far this season Douzable has 10 tackles, 10 assists, 1.5 sacks and one run stuff for negative one yards. In the remaining seven games of the season, you can expect him to replicate similar stats.

On the next slide, we’ll grade the Bills star pass rusher Jerry Hughes on his performance so far this season.

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