2009 Buffalo Bills Defense Preview

(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

As we approach training camp this weekend, please stop me if you haven’t heard this saying before: “Defense wins championships.”

But since I’m sure you have, the burning question on my mind as we head into training camp is can a team like the Bills win a championship, or even get to the playoffs with an average defense?

I say yes.

But only if you have an offense capable of scoring and shouldering the load, and that is what the 2009 Bills are likely banking on. Because recent history has shown us that you don’t have a top five NFL defense to make the playoffs or even win a championship assuming your offense is competent. Sure it doesn’t hurt having an aggressive defense like the Steelers that blitzes like crazy and creates turnovers every other drive, but take a look at the other team that played in the Super Bowl last year.

The Cardinals defense was abysmal for a vast majority of the 2008 season including multiple games in which they yielded 30+ points.

But then something happened after they backed their way into the playoffs and they played well when it mattered in the postseason and even came within two minutes from winning it all. On the flip side, the Steelers No. 1 overall defense got them to the super bowl, but ironically blew a two-score lead late in the game and their sporadic offense had to bail them out for a world title.

The 2006 Colts are another perfect example of this. Their defense, especially their 32nd ranked run defense, was hideous in 2006 especially in the second half of the season when they went 4-4 after an 8-0 start. But when the playoffs came, they magically went from worst to first and led the Colts to a championship.

The important factor with this example is that the Colts utilized the same exact defense as Buffalo: The cover two aka Tampa two aka "Bend but don’t break.”

So with that said, I do believe the 2009 Buffalo Bills version of the Cover Two (i.e. the ‘Corpse Two’ as I like to call it in reference to the lifeless stiff that runs it) can do enough in 2009 to help the bills get back to the playoffs and possibly beyond assuming the offense holds up their end of the bargain. So for this piece I’ve decided to look at the projected 2009 Bills defensive depth chart.

I will use a 1–10 grading scale in evaluating each position:

1-3: Terrible, 3rd string at best

4: Below Average

5: Average

6-7: Above Average

8-9: Pro Bowl Caliber

10: Elite (Top 5 at position)

Also if I have a back up graded higher than a starter, it doesn't necessarily mean he's better than the starter, but a very good backup with potential and could start for the Bills or another team.

Defensive Tackle

Projected Depth Chart: Marcus Stroud (starter), Kyle Williams (starter), John McCargo, Spencer Johnson

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?