Crowell's future
If Takeo Spikes comes back to full health as he expects, the Bills will have to decide what to do with Angelo Crowell, who made a good impression filling in for Spikes at weak-side linebacker last season. In the Bills' old defensive system, the 6-foot-1, 230-pound Crowell was too small to play the strong side. Jeff Posey has played the "Sam" 'backer spot, positioned closer to the line than the weak-side 'backer and taking on a blocker on running plays. In the Tampa Bay defense the Bills are adopting, however, size on the strong side is not as key.
Chicago coach Lovie Smith, who mentored Bills defensive chief Perry Fewell, said a 6-1, 230-pounder with speed fits fine in the Tampa scheme.
"That's perfect," Smith said. "He could play all three positions, matter of fact. Look at Tampa, Shelton Quarles is 220-something. You're looking for the same type of guy, 6-1, 230, somewhere in there, with speed and agility."
link
Full Version: Angelo Crowell
Crowell as the Bills' starting WLB in their Cover-2 = 
Crowell as the Bills' starting SLB =
Crowell as the Bills' starting SLB =
no surprise here...he's bigger than Gold, who played SLB in Tampa in 2004
QUOTE (Aaron Rudnicki @ Apr 3 2006, 01:20 PM)
no surprise here...he's bigger than Gold, who played SLB in Tampa in 2004
Yep... I think I remember reading something you posted awhile back projecting this.
Per The Blogger
LB Crowell Starting At Strong-Side
Chris Brown, BuffaloBills.com - [Full Article]
Angelo Crowell started today at strong-side linebacker for the Buffalo Bills. "That's what we have penciled in right now," said head coach #### Jauron. "What I like to tell them - and it's certainly not original - that it is penciled in and you can change it. The players change it. They'll make the decisions for us as we move along."
LB Crowell Starting At Strong-Side
Chris Brown, BuffaloBills.com - [Full Article]
Angelo Crowell started today at strong-side linebacker for the Buffalo Bills. "That's what we have penciled in right now," said head coach #### Jauron. "What I like to tell them - and it's certainly not original - that it is penciled in and you can change it. The players change it. They'll make the decisions for us as we move along."
QUOTE
Opportunity knocking for Crowell
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New defense suits versatile linebacker
By MARK GAUGHAN
News Sports Reporter
7/30/2006
PITTSFORD - Angelo Crowell is faster than Jeff Posey.
The Buffalo Bills' new defense puts a high priority on speed.
So ever since Bills coach #### Jauron announced in January that he was going to run a Tampa-style 4-3 defense, conventional wisdom indicated that Crowell would move ahead of Posey as the starter at strong-side linebacker.
Score one for conventional wisdom. The Bills put Crowell in the starting spot to open training camp.
"The scheme we run is clearly a little bit different," Bills coach #### Jauron said Saturday. "Speed is really important. Size is not as important to us. . . . We think Angelo is kind of poised to make a leap. He's athletic, he's fast, he's got range. We're not handing anybody the job. We are penciling him in."
"I'm definitely not taking it for granted," Crowell said. "I want to solidify myself as a starter. I don't want to be penciled in, I want to be there with a black marker."
Crowell's career took a big step forward last year when he started 12 games at weak-side backer after Takeo Spikes tore his Achilles tendon. Crowell, a third-round pick in 2003, finished fourth on the team in total tackles and had a team-high seven tackles for losses. He showed he could blitz a bit by making three sacks. He showed he was capable of dropping into coverage by making two interceptions.
The Bills rewarded him with a three-year contract extension in late December that was worth about $6.5 million.
Presuming Spikes makes a full recovery and Crowell keeps his new job, the Bills should have their most mobile linebacking corps in years with those two joining middle backer London Fletcher.
"He can move, he's got good hands, he's got good burst - he's almost got DB skills," said defensive coordinator Perry Fewell of Crowell. "He made good progress in the offseason. He has the ability to play the weak side as well as the strong-side position, which gives us flexibility."
In last year's 4-3 defense, the strong-side 'backer lined up close to the line of scrimmage, over the tight end. Posey, at 6-foot-4 and 249 pounds, is more suited to taking on a blocker at the line. This year the strong-side backer, like the weak-side, is off the line. Both outside 'backers are supposed to pursue to the ball as fast as possible. Crowell is 6-1 and 235.
"It allows me to run," Crowell said of the scheme. "My college coach always told me that's one of my strengths - I can run. Being able to play in space and just being able to flow to the ball, that's my type of game."
Crowell's versatility should be an asset, since he can play both outside spots. In coverage, if Fewell wants Fletcher to blitz, Crowell is quick enough to get to the deep middle of the field, which the Cover 2 scheme sometimes requires a linebacker to do.
"That's a big asset," Fewell said. "We're going to flop him both ways (strong and weak side) after the first week and see mentally how he progresses. If he can continue to play fast mentally, I think that will be the key."
Posey, meanwhile, must prove he can fit the new defense.
"When you hear something like that after being a starter for three years, it is something hard to take," Posey said of his demotion. "But this is the NFL, and you never know what to expect. Coach said nothing is in ink. Everything is in pencil. . . . This scheme is different, but it's nothing I can't adapt to."
While Posey could argue he was asked to play a complementary, fill-the-gap role in the old defense, he has not made many big plays. He had four sacks, three tackles for losses and one interception combined the past two years. He had eight sacks in Houston in 2002, and he would like some more chances to rush the passer.
"I have mentioned it to Perry that I am capable of rushing the passer and it's something that I'd like to do," Posey said.
Posey is in the last year of a contract that's due to pay him $1.75 million, which is a lot for a backup. So he will need to have a good camp.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New defense suits versatile linebacker
By MARK GAUGHAN
News Sports Reporter
7/30/2006
PITTSFORD - Angelo Crowell is faster than Jeff Posey.
The Buffalo Bills' new defense puts a high priority on speed.
So ever since Bills coach #### Jauron announced in January that he was going to run a Tampa-style 4-3 defense, conventional wisdom indicated that Crowell would move ahead of Posey as the starter at strong-side linebacker.
Score one for conventional wisdom. The Bills put Crowell in the starting spot to open training camp.
"The scheme we run is clearly a little bit different," Bills coach #### Jauron said Saturday. "Speed is really important. Size is not as important to us. . . . We think Angelo is kind of poised to make a leap. He's athletic, he's fast, he's got range. We're not handing anybody the job. We are penciling him in."
"I'm definitely not taking it for granted," Crowell said. "I want to solidify myself as a starter. I don't want to be penciled in, I want to be there with a black marker."
Crowell's career took a big step forward last year when he started 12 games at weak-side backer after Takeo Spikes tore his Achilles tendon. Crowell, a third-round pick in 2003, finished fourth on the team in total tackles and had a team-high seven tackles for losses. He showed he could blitz a bit by making three sacks. He showed he was capable of dropping into coverage by making two interceptions.
The Bills rewarded him with a three-year contract extension in late December that was worth about $6.5 million.
Presuming Spikes makes a full recovery and Crowell keeps his new job, the Bills should have their most mobile linebacking corps in years with those two joining middle backer London Fletcher.
"He can move, he's got good hands, he's got good burst - he's almost got DB skills," said defensive coordinator Perry Fewell of Crowell. "He made good progress in the offseason. He has the ability to play the weak side as well as the strong-side position, which gives us flexibility."
In last year's 4-3 defense, the strong-side 'backer lined up close to the line of scrimmage, over the tight end. Posey, at 6-foot-4 and 249 pounds, is more suited to taking on a blocker at the line. This year the strong-side backer, like the weak-side, is off the line. Both outside 'backers are supposed to pursue to the ball as fast as possible. Crowell is 6-1 and 235.
"It allows me to run," Crowell said of the scheme. "My college coach always told me that's one of my strengths - I can run. Being able to play in space and just being able to flow to the ball, that's my type of game."
Crowell's versatility should be an asset, since he can play both outside spots. In coverage, if Fewell wants Fletcher to blitz, Crowell is quick enough to get to the deep middle of the field, which the Cover 2 scheme sometimes requires a linebacker to do.
"That's a big asset," Fewell said. "We're going to flop him both ways (strong and weak side) after the first week and see mentally how he progresses. If he can continue to play fast mentally, I think that will be the key."
Posey, meanwhile, must prove he can fit the new defense.
"When you hear something like that after being a starter for three years, it is something hard to take," Posey said of his demotion. "But this is the NFL, and you never know what to expect. Coach said nothing is in ink. Everything is in pencil. . . . This scheme is different, but it's nothing I can't adapt to."
While Posey could argue he was asked to play a complementary, fill-the-gap role in the old defense, he has not made many big plays. He had four sacks, three tackles for losses and one interception combined the past two years. He had eight sacks in Houston in 2002, and he would like some more chances to rush the passer.
"I have mentioned it to Perry that I am capable of rushing the passer and it's something that I'd like to do," Posey said.
Posey is in the last year of a contract that's due to pay him $1.75 million, which is a lot for a backup. So he will need to have a good camp.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060730/1045667.asp
Probably nothing more than Spikes taking a breather, but it's still worth posting.
Bills | Crowell starting at weakside linebacker
Sun, 30 Jul 2006 14:45:54 -0700
Updating previous reports, Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com, reports Buffalo Bills LB Angelo Crowell is starting at weakside linebacker and not at the strong side, as originally reported.
Bills | Crowell starting at weakside linebacker
Sun, 30 Jul 2006 14:45:54 -0700
Updating previous reports, Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com, reports Buffalo Bills LB Angelo Crowell is starting at weakside linebacker and not at the strong side, as originally reported.
KFFL
Bills | Spikes starting at strongside linebacker
Sun, 30 Jul 2006 14:57:18 -0700
Updating previous reports, Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com, reports Buffalo Bills LB Takeo Spikes (Achilles') will be the starting strongside linebacker when healthy and not at the weak side, as originally reported.
Bills | Spikes starting at strongside linebacker
Sun, 30 Jul 2006 14:57:18 -0700
Updating previous reports, Chris Brown, of BuffaloBills.com, reports Buffalo Bills LB Takeo Spikes (Achilles') will be the starting strongside linebacker when healthy and not at the weak side, as originally reported.
QUOTE
Point of clarification: There has been some conflicting answers from Buffalo's linebackers when it comes to who is playing strong side and weak side linebacker. In this defensive scheme the difference isn't all that great, but the strong side backer does still line up on the tight end side. Takeo Spikes who appeared to me to be lining up on the strong side, told me he was still the weak side backer. But Angelo Crowell, whether Spikes is in there or not, has remained on the weak side.
Going by what I see out there I believe that Crowell is going to be left at the weak side linebacker (where he played last season) and Spikes will play on the strong side, provided he can return from his injury. So in actuality he's not taking Jeff Posey's spot. Spikes is taking it. What made it so confusing was the fact that Posey for the most part has been Crowell's backup, but he's playing on the weak side too.
So to review, at least as I see it, Crowell is the starting weak side LB and Spikes (if healthy) will be the starting strong side backer. Posey is Crowell's backup and Mario Haggan is Spikes backup. I will work further to confirm this, but I'm pretty confident I've got it down now.
Going by what I see out there I believe that Crowell is going to be left at the weak side linebacker (where he played last season) and Spikes will play on the strong side, provided he can return from his injury. So in actuality he's not taking Jeff Posey's spot. Spikes is taking it. What made it so confusing was the fact that Posey for the most part has been Crowell's backup, but he's playing on the weak side too.
So to review, at least as I see it, Crowell is the starting weak side LB and Spikes (if healthy) will be the starting strong side backer. Posey is Crowell's backup and Mario Haggan is Spikes backup. I will work further to confirm this, but I'm pretty confident I've got it down now.
http://buffalobills.com/blog/?blogger_id=1
tough to make much sense of this right now, but Crowell's prospects are certainly looking a lot better.
Wow, this is a really big deal. Thanks for the updates, I hope this clears up soon. I own both in a league and am quite curious to see what happens.
QUOTE (Tick @ Jul 30 2006, 07:25 PM)
Wow, this is a really big deal. Thanks for the updates, I hope this clears up soon. I own both in a league and am quite curious to see what happens.
I'd already dumped Crowell to make room for FA/Draft picks but if he's doing what he did last season, I'd gladly take him back
QUOTE (StuntRock @ Jul 31 2006, 10:17 AM)
QUOTE (Tick @ Jul 30 2006, 07:25 PM)
Wow, this is a really big deal. Thanks for the updates, I hope this clears up soon. I own both in a league and am quite curious to see what happens.
I'd already dumped Crowell to make room for FA/Draft picks but if he's doing what he did last season, I'd gladly take him back
I traded a second-rounder for Crowell. Abdul Hodge went in that slot. But Crowell's contract was sweet and I was hoping he had shown enough to earn some PT this year.
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