A Defensive Jumble: Put Them Where They Belong
This past offseason, the new coaching staff decided to switch the defense from 4-3 to 3-4. That part is fine. With the Bills defense finishing 30th in the NFL in rushing yards per game allowed, a change in the front seven wasn’t too bad of an idea. A switch to the 3-4 allows an extra linebacker to help plug the gaps up front. However, it’s only successful if the three men up front can create some consistent ruckus in the backfield, which is something that has lacked in the Bills’ first two games this season.
What makes the least sense about the transition is the fact that they didn’t go out and sign or draft players who could naturally fit in to the 3-4 scheme. Instead, they chose to take some of the players they already have and “transition” them to be able to play new positions that they aren’t used to. Three players, in particular, that have been part of this transition are Marcus Stroud, Chris Kelsay and Aaron Maybin. All three are great athletes and, at times, show signs of what kind of force they can be, just not often enough.
#99 Marcus Stroud
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Marcus Stroud DE (Former DT)
Marcus Stroud is a beast. Listed at 6’6” 310lbs, Marcus Stroud is a bear of a man, which is what made him a great defensive tackle. In his first two seasons in Buffalo, he made 101 tackles (67 solo, 34 assisted). He has the size and power to plug up the interior line. This is why it’s such a mystery why they had him to switch to defensive end. He doesn’t have the speed, especially in a 3-4, to turn the corner on or the agility to spin around a tackle. Not to mention, he’s 32 years old.
Current nose tackle Kyle Williams is listed four pounds lighter and five inches shorter. The last two seasons, Williams has been a great sidekick to Stroud, racking up 121 tackles (78 solo, 43 assisted). So far in two games this season he’s compiled 6 solo tackles, which isn’t bad. However, the Bills have yet to get consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Williams doesn’t quite have the same intimidation factor as Stroud does.
Rookie nose tackle Torell Troup has gotten a taste of game time too. He got an assist against the Dolphins and a solo tackle against the Packers. At 22, Troup has plenty of time to learn and grow.
Stroud should be the starting nose tackle in the Bills 3-4 defense, especially on running downs. Williams and Troup could still be rotated in, but the job should belong to Stroud.
2010 Stats
Week 2 vs. Green Bay
1Q
Tackle – 1-8 B.Jackson right tackle for 3 yards
2Q
No statistics
3Q
Tackle – 1-10 A.Rodgers right end for 1 yard
4Q
Assist – 1-10 J.Kuhn left tackle for no gain
Week 1 vs. Miami
1Q
No Statistics
2Q
Assist – 2-7 R.Brown right tackle for 10 yards
Pressure – 2-10 C.Henne pass incomplete, pressure on QB: M.Stroud
Assist – 1-10 R.Williams up the middle for 3 yards
Tackle – R.Williams up the middle for 4 yards
Assist – R.Williams right tackle for 2 yards
3Q
Assist – R.Brown up the middle for 3 yards
Tackle – R.Williams right tackle for 3 yards
4Q
Tackle – R.Williams up the middle for 8 yards
#90 Chris Kelsay
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#90 Chris Kelsay OLB (Former DE)
Chris Kelsay is in his eighth season in the league. After spending the first seven years with the only team he’s ever played for, he switched from a defensive end to an outside linebacker. Going into the 2010 season, Kelsay notched 318 tackles (208 solo, 105 assisted) and 22 sacks. Those numbers, over the course of eight seasons, may not seem too impressive, but Kelsay split playing time all eight seasons with Ryan Denney (who was not resigned this past offseason) while Aaron Schobel had the other end locked down.
Now, after an eight-year career spent rushing the passer out of a three-point stance, Kelsay lines up across from tight ends. Now, when he reads run or pass, instead of rushing in, he must either attack the ball carrier or drop back into coverage. Now, I’m not so sure how often he had to cover a tight end or running back in college, but I cannot recall him doing much in his tenure in Buffalo up to this season. At 30 years old, I’m not sure the coaches should be focusing on Kelsay learning a new position. Leave him at defensive end. Let him go after quarterbacks. Don’t worry about him trying to cover a player like Jermichael Finley because it’s not going to go well. He doesn’t have the experience and this level of play is not the place for him to learn. Not when he can contribute elsewhere.
2010 Stats
Week 2 vs. Green Bay
1Q
Assist – 3-1 A.Rodgers pass to Q. Johnson for 11 yards, pushed OB
Tackle – 1-10 A.Rodgers pass to D. Driver for 7 yards, pushed OB
Tackle – 1-8 B.Jackson up the middle for 2 yards
Tackle – 3-2 A.Rodgers pass to J. Finley for 32 yards
2Q
Tackle – 2-12 B.Jackson left end for 2 yards
Tackle – 2-6 J.Kuhn right end for 4 yards
Tackle – 1-10 B.Jackson right tackle for 3 yards
3Q
Tackle – 1-10 A.Rodgers pass to J. Nelson for 11 yards
Pressure – 3-7 A.Rodgers pass for to D. Driver 7 yards and TD
4Q
No statistics
Week 1 vs. Miami
1Q
Tackle – 1-10 L.Polite up the middle to for 3 yards
Assist – 2-7 R.Brown up the middle for 3 yards
Tackle – 1-10 D.Bess left end for no gain
2Q
Tackle – 2-7 R.Brown right tackle for 10 yards
Tackle – 3-2 C.Henne up the middle for 3 yards
3Q
Assist – 2-5 R.Williams right guard for 2 yards
4Q
Assist – 2-2 R.Williams left guard for 5 yards
#58 Aaron Maybin
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#58 Aaron Maybin OLB (Former DE)
Aaron Maybin is in the same boat as Kelsay. In two seasons at Penn State as a defensive end, Maybin made 61 tackles (38 solo, 23 assisted) and 16 sacks. Isn’t that why they drafted him 11th overall in 2009? So that he can terrorize opposing quarterbacks. Then why is he also learning how to cover passes? With Schobel, Kelsay and Denney, he didn’t get a chance to get in there and grow last season. After watching him in preseason and his brief appearances in the first two games, he has a mean streak to him that is very enticing, almost like they saw something in him at some point.
Coach Gailey has said that while they work on his pass coverage skills, he will likely only see game time in passing situations, which is fine because that’s what he does best. Maybin has great speed and can fly around the corner. Instead of making him learn new tricks, let him do what he does best. Put him in opposite Kelsay and let ‘em go.
2010 Stats
Week 2 vs. Green Bay
1Q
No statistics
2Q
Tackle – 1-10 B.Jackson left tackle for 4 yards
3Q
No statistics
4Q
No statistics
Week 1 vs. Miami
1Q
Coverage – 3-10 C.Henne pass incomplete deep right, receiver overthrown
2Q
No statistics
3Q
Penalty – 4-7 Neutral Zone Infraction
Assist – C.Henne pass to R.Brown for 4 yards
4Q
No statistics
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Help!
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The Bills currently rank 21st in total defense (321 yards per game), 17th in passing (209.5 yds/g), and 16th in rushing (111.5 yds/g). Worst of all, they are 22nd in points allowed (49), which, along with an anemic offense, has led to an 0-2 start. It’s understandable, with the injuries sustained at the linebacker position why they would see an opportunity to have these men switch positions. But, to get the max out of your players, you have to put them in the best scenario to succeed. Just ask Matt Cassel or Albert Haynesworth.
Remember Him?
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Come back tomorrow and take a trip down memory lane for my weekly segment "Remember Him?" when I'll highlight this longtime Bill of the 90s.
Happy Tuesday!
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