Buffalo Bills' Switch to 4-3 a Golden Opportunity That Must Be Cashed In

The Buffalo Bills couldn't have picked a better time to switch to the 4-3.

This is in part because, as new defensive coordinator Dave Wannstedt told BuffaloBills.com, "You start from scratch." Fortunately for Wannstedt, though, that's not entirely true. In fact, he has two very solid building blocks with which to get his start in defensive tackles Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams.

Although Williams missed much of 2011 with a foot injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve, Dareus was a force as a rookie with 5.5 sacks and 43 tackles. And that was in a base 3-4 alignment, where his primary job was, quite literally, taking up as much space as possible.

Not anymore. Switching to the 4-3 alignment allows Wannstedt to get the most out of his two best defensive players; both are considered much better penetrating defensive tackles than gap-plugging, blocker-sponging 3-4 types.

Unfortunately for the Bills, it's going to take more than just those two to get the herd moving the right direction.

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"For us to take a jump," Wannstadt said to BuffaloBills.com, "in the defense that we're going to run, our front four needs to make a difference. They need to make an impact. ...Our defensive line as a group, they need to be a major factor, [against the] run and pass, week after week for this defense to work."

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As for who will be playing alongside them and whether or not he had begun penciling anybody in, Wannstedt said, "You don't know what's going to happen until you line up for that first practice at mini-camp."

Linebacker Shawne Merriman might be able to transition to 4-3 defensive end, but he has played much of his career as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Regardless, the team will need to find more pieces to fit their new scheme, and it starts with fixing a pass rush that generated just 29 sacks in 2011.

It's clear he has faith in his guys; One thing he's banking on, though, is adding a few players this offseason.

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"I feel that because of some of the young players that played last year that these guys we’re going to coach and take a step forward so that’s very encouraging,” he said to BuffaloBills.com. “Then adding a few guys to the mix in free agency and the draft you’re optimistic that that’s going to give you a chance to take a step forward. We’ve just got to do a good job as coaches and players and get everybody on same page and get this thing cranked up and get it going."

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What the Bills need to be careful of, though, is a repeat of the Aaron Maybin incident. He had his first career sack, and five more after that, for the Jets in 2011—proof of his talent, and proof that his time with the Bills was just another case of a square peg being shoved into a round hole, something that seems to be a common theme among draft busts.

In that respect, the Bills made their jobs a lot easier by changing schemes. With most colleges running the 4-3, it should be much easier to scout fits for their new scheme. And in this year's draft, there should be no shortage of fits. 

USC defensive end Nick Perry and South Carolina defensive end Melvin Ingram are just the top prospects. This year's draft isn't particularly deep at defensive end, and with that position clearly being the Bills' biggest need, it would be somewhat surprising if they didn't target one with the 10th overall pick.

The Bills get a fresh set of downs by switching to the 4-3 front, and maybe with a jump on the ball, they'll have an easier time rushing the passer.

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