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The Buffalo Bills are tough team to figure out. In some ways, they look like they are ready to make a major move, but there are still some question marks.
The Jets open the season at home against Buffalo. Now that teams are mostly done with their off-season personnel work, it’s a good time to look at their rosters, and get a strong feel for what they are all about.
So who are the Buffalo Bills?
They came out of the free agency gates fast with the signing of the prized player on the open market, defensive end Mario Williams.
He should be outstanding in Dave Wannstedt’s 4-3 scheme. He was not a good fit for Wade Phillips’ 3-4 front in Houston last year, before getting hurt.
Shortly thereafter, the Bills signed Mark Anderson to play the other end spot, opposite Williams.
This should be quite a duo. Anderson knows how to get to the quarterback. As a rookie he had 12 sacks for the Chicago Bears, and last year, he had 10 sacks with New England.
And all the attention Williams will get on the other side, Anderson won’t be chipped or doubled that much, and should have a big year.
The Jets’ current tackles have struggled with both of these players, so they better bring their A-Game on the opening Sunday.
And what is going to make these two talented ends extra dangerous are the two talented players the Bills have inside – tackles Marcel Dareus (third pick overall last year) and the underrated Kyle Williams.
We all know defensive lines rotate a lot to give the big guys a blow, and the Bills have good depth up front, especially at end.
And the guys who will come in to give Williams and Anderson a rest aren’t too shabby – Chris Kelsay, Shawne Merriman and Spencer Johnson.
This game is going to be quite a challenge for Dave “Guge” DeGuglielmo and his charges on the Jets’ offensive line.
This is going to be a tough bounce back game for Wayne Hunter, who is looking to show last year was an aberration, and he’s a better player than he showed.
The Bills’ front four should be outstanding, but if you can do a solid job on them, the back seven is okay, but not a juggernaut, and there are spots that can be exploited.
The Bills picked Kelvin Sheppard in the 2011 draft to play as a 3-4 inside linebacker. He was certainly built for it at 6-2. 250. The questions about Sheppard, coming out of LSU, were regarding his ability to play in space, and in coverage. Now in the 4-3, he will have to cover more ground. Can he do it?
I had a chance to interview Wannstedt on Sirius recently, and asked him about Sheppard in a 4-3, and he said Kelvin is now under 240, and should be able to do it.
But this Bills’ defense is all about the defensive line. If this group is as good as the Bills think they will be, the rest of the defense should be fine. When you wreck havoc up front, it tends to lift the play of the back seven.
July 3, 2012
(We will have Part II of our look at the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday by 9:30 pm.)