Sean McDermott takes over calling plays for Buffalo Bills defense from

Leslie Frazier against Chargers The Buffalo Bills defense had the doors blown off in Week 1 against the Baltimore Ravens and more of the same was happening to them in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers. So Sean McDermott did something he hasn’t done in his 19 games as Bills head coach; he started calling plays.McDermott took over defensive play-calling in the second half Jim Kelly Jerseys Stitched , overruling defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and providing a spark to a Bills defense that was able to lock it down over the final two quarters even without Vontae Davis and down to just two cornerbacks.“I just thought we needed a spark and that’s my background,” McDermott said after the game. “Coach Frazier does a really good job as well as the defensive staff. I just felt like we needed a spark.”Buffalo had allowed nine consecutive red zone touchdowns this season (ten if you count the 20-yard score from Sunday on the edge of the red zone) until McDermott’s defense forced a field goal in the second half. After surrendering 28 points to Los Angeles and 47 points to the Ravens, Frazier’s defense had allowed 75 points in only six quarters. Buffalo’s 78 points allowed after two games is tied with the Detroit Lions for worst in the NFL. “Defensively, we didn’t play well enough, obviously, in the first half against a good offensive unit, spotting them 28 points,” McDermott said.The Bills defense gave up 17 first downs to Phillip Rivers and the Chargers in the second half on the heels of 26 first downs a week ago to the Ravens. But McDermott Youth O. J. Simpson Jerseys , whose defense only gave up four first downs the rest of the way, doesn’t know yet if it’s going to be a permanent move.“It’s something we’re going to evaluate,” McDermott said. “We’re going to evaluate that as well as a few other things, too.” We examine the parallels between Japanese sword techniques and NFL edge rushers" NotesExploring NFL edge rushing through the lens of Japanese swordsmanshipNew,27commentsWe examine the parallels between Japanese sword techniques and NFL edge rushersEDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Exploring NFL edge rushing through the lens of Japanese swordsmanshipTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailA sentiment I’ve seen a few times over the years is that part of the beauty of football is that it’s a bunch of different contests jammed together into one amalgamated sport. A footrace in the middle of a game of catch is happening right next to a wrestling match/demolition derby. And the whole dang thing is slapped on top of a game of chess. In our seemingly infinite appetite for more football, what if we were to dive into one of these “other” contests to broaden our understanding of the game we love? More specifically, what can we learn about modern NFL edge rushing from the decidedly “un-modern” Japanese art of Iaijutsu?<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="cjAfD2">Iaijutsu in the days of edge rushingFor those of you who didn’t jump over to the linked page, Iaijutsu is a Japanese sword philosophy. Very briefly O. J. Simpson Jerseys Stitched , it is a set of techniques based on obtaining a swift and total victory over a single opponent. How swift is swift? Iaijutsu sword techniques are intended to either strike or set up a strike directly from unsheathing the sword. One move to ensure victory in other words. Quarterbacks seeking to get the ball out in 2-3 seconds leave little time for wasted movement from the edge. As a result, the philosophy and techniques used by defensive ends to achieve victory have significant overlap with Iaijutsu. Let’s take a look at clips of both edge rushers and an Iaijutsu practitioner to compare the two. The full Iaijutsu video can be found here. This particular video was selected because of the slower pace, allowing us to better focus. <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="aO5iQk">Anticipation and positionThere’s quite a few lessons to be had from such a short clip. The raised sword telegraphs the direction of attack. This information allows a strategy to be devised before anyone even starts moving. The Iaijutsu master shows how important it can be to move first. This baits the predicted attack as it doesn’t allow the opponent to change stance. Aggression locks in the opponent’s move in other words. Note that while moving to the right the sword is drawn and brought to a stance close to the body. The stance provides a position of strength where a lunge attack can be used while the opponent is defenseless. If the opponent is quick, they can attempt to react but with a weaker movement to the side thanks to the outstretched stance. From first movement to the end the entire “fight” is over in 1.5 seconds. Do edge rushers do anything similar? Let’s revisit some Jerry Hughes clips with this new concept in mind. Play 1Jerry Hughes understands physics just like our Iaijutsu master. A lineman moving forward has a hard time stopping that momentum. Hughes baits a similar “attack” as our sword clip and uses a sidestep to avoid the contact and open up his own options. The lineman loses just as quickly as our apprentice swordsman. Play 2Here we have a couple angles that show just how closely Hughes matches the Iaijutsu technique. Like above, he anticipates the forward momentum and cuts to the opponent’s left side. Here Hughes finishes the move. The left-hand jabs mirror the lunge attack our sword-master would have used to follow up his sidestep. Having moved to his opponent’s side, Hughes has placed his opponent off balance and turned to expose the chest and shoulder area where a shove will be effective. Our left tackle tries to defend, but the body positioning Hughes created ensures he’s not able to push back effectively. Moving fast while creating optionsIn this case, despite a lot of similarities Youth Thurman Thomas Jerseys , our sword-master is using some new techniques. The apprentice’s position is more passive, geared primarily for defense with only one effective attack (a lunge). Our master elects to wait for the student to commit to the attack by reading the entirety of the body. The feet reveal a shift in balance and a well-timed counter is the result. At two points we see the Iajutsu master create opportunities to protect himself. As the sword first elevates it naturally comes into a position to deflect. As the move finishes, the sword is in position to swing upwards with force. If the opponent is still vulnerable it’s an attack. If the opponent has started to recover, the blade can be directed to swipe away the recovery and quickly move to attack position again. Play 1Like the Iajutsu clip, Hughes is against an opponent presenting limited ability to respond. Hughes finds the vulnerable spot and knocks the left tackle over. He’s not done yet, though. While trying to bring down Akeem Hunt, Hughes’s left hand comes up fast but Hunt is countering with a spin. Hughes keeps fighting through a quick punch by Hunt and brings the ball carrier down. Play 2Jerry Hughes elects to strike first, which dictates the amount of space in the contest. As Hughes circles around Thurman Thomas Jerseys Stitched , he’s once again using his ability to get around an opponent to push from a better position of strength. <hr class="p-entry-hr" id="3KV2sY">As mentioned at the outset, Jerry Hughes—whether deliberate or coincidental—utilizes the philosophy and techniques imperative to understanding and ultimately mastering the art of Iaijutsu. In other words, he’s a master of his craft and a handful for those scheming to defend him and the unfortunate ones tasked with carrying out those schemes.