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Last year was a forgettable one for Buffalo when it came to defending the run. They finished 31st in the league in yards allowed on the ground. No other team in the NFL gave up more first downs rushing (146) than the Bills. They tied for a league worst 22 rushing touchdowns allowed. In a word it was ugly.
Sure there were some key factors that contributed to the struggles like the season-ending injuries to Takeo Spikes and Ron Edwards in the first half of the season. And defensive tackle Sam Adams played uninspired football after his run-in with the coaching staff in the season's second half.
An offense that struggled to maintain possession for long stretches and score points consistently only added to the defense's demise against the rush.
This season things are dramatically different. There's a new head coach, defensive staff, some new players and a new defensive system. But will it mean better run defense this season for the Bills?
Odds are the answer to that question is yes.
Last year's defense had the linemen focused on holding their gap to allow the linebackers to fill the remaining holes and make a majority of the tackles. The strong safety was also charged with playing a role in the run front.
While Buffalo's defenders were effective with that approach in 2004, it didn't seem to take full advantage of the talents of defensive ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay who are at their best as penetrators or in pursuit.
The Bills new defensive system should fit the talents of Schobel and Kelsay better.
"This staff is all about getting to the football," said Kelsay. "We each have our own gaps, but it's not a grinding kind of defense up front. We're more of a penetrating defense to get to the football. Obviously the lighter you are the quicker you're going to be and the faster you'll get to the ball."
That's why Kelsay dropped to his lowest weight since he's been in the NFL (265) in an effort to perform in the high-paced pursuing style. Schobel already at 262 pounds is a fit as well. And with both starters possessing high motors it should play right into what defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is going to demand from them.
"We're going to give them the opportunity to be as productive as they would like to be," said Fewell. "We're not going to hold them back. We're going to turn them loose."
While the end positions are somewhat stable with returning starters, the interior is in the midst of a transition. Larry Tripplett is the free agent acquisition the defense is counting on to shore things up inside.
"The position that Tripplett will play is a penetrating position," said defensive line coach Bill Kollar. "It's a one gap deal and he's got good quickness, so we hope to see him in the backfield quite a bit."
Tripplett believes he'll be able to hit the ground running with Buffalo's defensive system almost identical to the one he played in with the Colts.
"It's very exciting for me because all the calls are the same," said Tripplett. "There's different little technique things, but it's really exciting."
As excited as he is the anchor position that could have the greatest impact on how effective Buffalo is against the run this season is the nose tackle position right next to Tripplett.
"The nose is probably the guy who doesn't penetrate as much because he gets double teamed a lot," said Fewell. "He has to hold up on the double team and if he can and not give up ground than that's a plus because now the under tackle can get up the field and go. It helps all our guys including the ends."
Right now that guy is Tim Anderson with rookies John McCargo and Kyle Williams also expected to see some time at that spot in the rotation. Even though they have 12 NFL starts combined Tripplett isn't concerned about playing with young vets and rookies.
"I played as a rookie and started my first game as a rookie," said Tripplett. "If you have the talent and the ability to play and the coaches trust you, they're going to put you out there."
And while some might think that young players filling significant roles in a brand new defensive system will lead to breakdowns all season long, Tripplett refutes that concern.
"This system is perfect for an athlete coming out of college," said Tripplett. "It's not real complicated. It allows you to go out and make plays. For a rookie coming in if he can just get down the basic stuff he'll be just fine in this system."
Obviously run defense involves more than just the defensive linemen. The linebackers also figure prominently. If Takeo Spikes can make a successful return from injury the run defense automatically gets an upgrade. Spikes was the team's second leading tackler in 2004 when he was voted to the Pro Bowl. And in the Bills new scheme he'll be filling a key positional role.
"The weakside linebacker is an important position in this defense," said Tripplett. "You think of Derrick Brooks in Tampa. That position is going to see a lot of plays. We had Cato June in Indy and he made the Pro Bowl last year. You see our linebackers here and we've got some outstanding ones."
Veteran middle linebacker London Fletcher who has been productive in each of his four seasons in Buffalo has experience playing in a defensive system very similar to Buffalo's new scheme. Fletcher played in a cover-two system while in St. Louis.
After doing a lot of the dirty work in the previous system incumbent strong side linebacker Jeff Posey is encouraged by what could be in store for the second line of defense.
"This scheme is going to offer a lot of opportunities to make some nice hits from the linebacker position," said Posey. "There will be chances for us to make some big plays."
The strong safety is the last remaining position that carries a lot of weight in Buffalo's new defensive scheme.
With top pick Donte Whitner the likely candidate to fill that role there may be a bit of a learning curve with respect to the details of the system, but his football smarts should carry him.
"We had Bob Sanders play that role for us in Indy," said Tripplett. "If you have a guy that can run around and tackle like him it makes everybody that much better."
There's no doubt the Bills have a lot of holes to fill defensively, and with a new scheme to learn there could be some bumps in the road in the early going. But with a system that's designed to let athletes be athletes the Bills run defense figures to improve.
"We know the importance of having our players knowing exactly what to do," said Fewell. "We talk about mental errors and cutting down on them in the football game so our players don't have to think a whole lot and can play fast."
"They want everybody to get to the football as fast as you can," said Kelsay. "They want everybody on the defense with the mentality that they can make every play. Holding your gap and being in the right spot just isn't good enough in this scheme. You have to be able get off blocks and penetrate and get to the football and make plays."
So if the young players can master enough of the details in the scheme, they can get on the field quickly and take advantage of their athleticism. That's good incentive for some of Buffalo's top young talent. And with veteran players believing it fits their strengths it's hard to believe that Buffalo's run defense won't take a good step up from the lowly place it sat at the end of last season.
"Last year was a rough year, but two years ago this defense was number two," said Tripplett. "I'm excited. I'm not even thinking we'll be good on defense, I'm expecting it."
Last year was a forgettable one for Buffalo when it came to defending the run. They finished 31st in the league in yards allowed on the ground. No other team in the NFL gave up more first downs rushing (146) than the Bills. They tied for a league worst 22 rushing touchdowns allowed. In a word it was ugly.
Sure there were some key factors that contributed to the struggles like the season-ending injuries to Takeo Spikes and Ron Edwards in the first half of the season. And defensive tackle Sam Adams played uninspired football after his run-in with the coaching staff in the season's second half.
An offense that struggled to maintain possession for long stretches and score points consistently only added to the defense's demise against the rush.
This season things are dramatically different. There's a new head coach, defensive staff, some new players and a new defensive system. But will it mean better run defense this season for the Bills?
Odds are the answer to that question is yes.
Last year's defense had the linemen focused on holding their gap to allow the linebackers to fill the remaining holes and make a majority of the tackles. The strong safety was also charged with playing a role in the run front.
While Buffalo's defenders were effective with that approach in 2004, it didn't seem to take full advantage of the talents of defensive ends Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay who are at their best as penetrators or in pursuit.
The Bills new defensive system should fit the talents of Schobel and Kelsay better.
"This staff is all about getting to the football," said Kelsay. "We each have our own gaps, but it's not a grinding kind of defense up front. We're more of a penetrating defense to get to the football. Obviously the lighter you are the quicker you're going to be and the faster you'll get to the ball."
That's why Kelsay dropped to his lowest weight since he's been in the NFL (265) in an effort to perform in the high-paced pursuing style. Schobel already at 262 pounds is a fit as well. And with both starters possessing high motors it should play right into what defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is going to demand from them.
"We're going to give them the opportunity to be as productive as they would like to be," said Fewell. "We're not going to hold them back. We're going to turn them loose."
While the end positions are somewhat stable with returning starters, the interior is in the midst of a transition. Larry Tripplett is the free agent acquisition the defense is counting on to shore things up inside.
"The position that Tripplett will play is a penetrating position," said defensive line coach Bill Kollar. "It's a one gap deal and he's got good quickness, so we hope to see him in the backfield quite a bit."
Tripplett believes he'll be able to hit the ground running with Buffalo's defensive system almost identical to the one he played in with the Colts.
"It's very exciting for me because all the calls are the same," said Tripplett. "There's different little technique things, but it's really exciting."
As excited as he is the anchor position that could have the greatest impact on how effective Buffalo is against the run this season is the nose tackle position right next to Tripplett.
"The nose is probably the guy who doesn't penetrate as much because he gets double teamed a lot," said Fewell. "He has to hold up on the double team and if he can and not give up ground than that's a plus because now the under tackle can get up the field and go. It helps all our guys including the ends."
Right now that guy is Tim Anderson with rookies John McCargo and Kyle Williams also expected to see some time at that spot in the rotation. Even though they have 12 NFL starts combined Tripplett isn't concerned about playing with young vets and rookies.
"I played as a rookie and started my first game as a rookie," said Tripplett. "If you have the talent and the ability to play and the coaches trust you, they're going to put you out there."
And while some might think that young players filling significant roles in a brand new defensive system will lead to breakdowns all season long, Tripplett refutes that concern.
"This system is perfect for an athlete coming out of college," said Tripplett. "It's not real complicated. It allows you to go out and make plays. For a rookie coming in if he can just get down the basic stuff he'll be just fine in this system."
Obviously run defense involves more than just the defensive linemen. The linebackers also figure prominently. If Takeo Spikes can make a successful return from injury the run defense automatically gets an upgrade. Spikes was the team's second leading tackler in 2004 when he was voted to the Pro Bowl. And in the Bills new scheme he'll be filling a key positional role.
"The weakside linebacker is an important position in this defense," said Tripplett. "You think of Derrick Brooks in Tampa. That position is going to see a lot of plays. We had Cato June in Indy and he made the Pro Bowl last year. You see our linebackers here and we've got some outstanding ones."
Veteran middle linebacker London Fletcher who has been productive in each of his four seasons in Buffalo has experience playing in a defensive system very similar to Buffalo's new scheme. Fletcher played in a cover-two system while in St. Louis.
After doing a lot of the dirty work in the previous system incumbent strong side linebacker Jeff Posey is encouraged by what could be in store for the second line of defense.
"This scheme is going to offer a lot of opportunities to make some nice hits from the linebacker position," said Posey. "There will be chances for us to make some big plays."
The strong safety is the last remaining position that carries a lot of weight in Buffalo's new defensive scheme.
With top pick Donte Whitner the likely candidate to fill that role there may be a bit of a learning curve with respect to the details of the system, but his football smarts should carry him.
"We had Bob Sanders play that role for us in Indy," said Tripplett. "If you have a guy that can run around and tackle like him it makes everybody that much better."
There's no doubt the Bills have a lot of holes to fill defensively, and with a new scheme to learn there could be some bumps in the road in the early going. But with a system that's designed to let athletes be athletes the Bills run defense figures to improve.
"We know the importance of having our players knowing exactly what to do," said Fewell. "We talk about mental errors and cutting down on them in the football game so our players don't have to think a whole lot and can play fast."
"They want everybody to get to the football as fast as you can," said Kelsay. "They want everybody on the defense with the mentality that they can make every play. Holding your gap and being in the right spot just isn't good enough in this scheme. You have to be able get off blocks and penetrate and get to the football and make plays."
So if the young players can master enough of the details in the scheme, they can get on the field quickly and take advantage of their athleticism. That's good incentive for some of Buffalo's top young talent. And with veteran players believing it fits their strengths it's hard to believe that Buffalo's run defense won't take a good step up from the lowly place it sat at the end of last season.
"Last year was a rough year, but two years ago this defense was number two," said Tripplett. "I'm excited. I'm not even thinking we'll be good on defense, I'm expecting it."
