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.
