Below is our second preview of the upcoming Buffalo Bills season. This time we answer some defensive questions, and give analysis on how we think the unit will shake out. A reminder that the Bills first preseason game is this Sunday, August 11, at 1:30pm in Indianapolis, Indiana against Andrew Luck and the Colts.
On a national scale the Bills defense is their perceived strength. On a local level fans are skeptical of a group that ranked in the bottom third in yards allowed in the run game, generated almost zero pass rush, and was schematically as vanilla as those tasty wafers. There are some new faces on defense meant to address the run defense issues such as Alan Branch and Manny Lawson. The big change for the Bills on defense is their new coordinator Mike Pettine. By reputation he brings an attacking style of 3-4 defense to the Bills. Early in spring practices and training camp, he has been true to this credo bringing blitz packages and presenting different looks than a base 3-4. Bills fans have been down this road before over the last 13 years. The Bills passed on Rob Gronkowski in the 2010 NFL draft to select NT Torell Troup. Gronkowski went the next pick to New England. In almost every draft of the 2000's the Bills drafted based on personnel specifically to fit a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme, one that would be scrapped with a coaching change and thus setting the franchise back even further in offensive and overall talent. Marcell Dareus was drafted as a defensive tackle #3 overall out of Alabama. In his first year with the Bills they used him at defensive end next to Kyle Williams on the nose. Last year the Bills moved Dareus back inside with the signing of Mario Williams and Mark Anderson.
In their base 3-4 defense this year the Bills will rely on Kyle Williams and training camp phenom Alex Carrington to man the defensive end spots, while Dareus sets the middle with Alan Branch rotating in at end and tackle in run situations. Carrington, 6'5" and 300 pounds, is a former 3rd round pick by the Bills in 2010. He is entering his 4th year in the league and up to this point has had little fanfare. It's not uncommon for later players who are not drafted in the first or second round to take a little longer to develop or 'get it,' heck even some first rounders need more time for things to click on the NFL field. Word around camp is that Carrington looks stout in holding his gaps, which is what the Bills are asking their linemen to do to allow the linebackers to flow to the ball carrier. If he is able to hold the point and allow for the aforementioned players to rotate in and out to stay healthy, (Williams), the defense could surprise opponents. Health concerns aside, I suppose I should lump mental health in this as well with Mario Williams' ex-fiancé making accusations against him, and Marcell Dareus's brother being killed early last season being back to full health status, this is on paper the strongest group on the Bills roster.
The Linebackers are where the concerns start to sprout up. Counting on a rookie mlb-Kiko Alonso to be a 3 down LB and make the defensive calls is asking a lot, but asking Nigel Bradham to be a three down LB is where things really start to get uncomfortable with fans. The Bills say they like Bradham in coverage, but he isn't big enough to play outside to set the edge. That job falls to free agent acquisition Manny Lawson, who was let go by the Cincinnati Bengals who replaced him with a 35 year old James Harrison, and former Bill Aaron Maybin. The 'rush end' position belongs to Mario Williams, who would rather have his hand on the turf as a defensive end if given his preference, but has played outside in Houston.
Pettine has stated that he will use some hybrid looks when the offense is in an obvious passing situation. The most likely look is a 3-3-5 defense where Pettine will have to rely on weaker defensive backs to match up with slot recievers, as well as double tight end sets. Let's not forget Rob Gronkowski has embarrassed the Bills DB's down the field ever since he came into the league. Jairus Byrd is the most talented of the unit, with Stephon Gilmore developing into a solid starting corner. The other two starters and nickel back are to put this kindly, not as developed. Bryan Scott has been tasked with covering the other team's tight ends when they go downfield; this hasn't exactly worked out in the Bills favor, he's been moved to linebacker. The strong safety position is DaNorris Searcy's to lose-gulp. If he does lose he's likely to be cut and either rookie Duke Williams takes over or repositioned corner Aaron Williams plays-double gulp. Leodis McKelvin has been a solid return man in his career but a suspect corner not excelling in either zone or man coverage, he's our #2 this year and he's already missed some days of training camp with an injury. Our slot corner spot is up for grabs between mostly unproven players Justin Rogers, Ron Brooks, and Crezdon Butler. Butler has been burned on multiple occasions on multiple days of training camp by speedy receivers, and may have played himself onto the roster buble. It's a passing league folks, if you don't have 3 corners who can play you're in trouble. The Bills are hoping that the scheme Pettine employs covers up some of their holes, fans are too. Overall there is talent on this side of the ball, but coaches are tasked with making the right calls on playing time for some guys who have JAG status-Just A Guy, and those who can be or develop into difference makers on the field. Once again fans are asked to trust a new coordinator and his system. Bills fans have been down this road before.
