Stroud is a bargain compared to Schobel and Kelsay. He is slated to make $5 million this season, and $16.5 million over the next three years. The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Stroud is four inches taller and 20 lb. heavier than his predecessor, Tripplett. If he returns to the space-eating, 60-tackle, six-sack man-beast he was for five of seven seasons with the Jaguars, Stroud is a steal.
“I’ve been hurt the past two years and a lot of people have been asking me questions about this ankle,” said Stroud after joining Buffalo. “So I just want to go out and get ready to show everybody I still know how to play ball and do it at a high level. A change of scenery just makes it that much sweeter. Now I’m in a new uniform in a new city. It definitely motivates me that much more to do better.”
Next to Stroud, Johnson and McCargo may split duties at the “three technique,” the tackle who mans up on the opposing guard's outside shoulder.
The Bills will probably give Johnson every chance to win the job – his contract includes $6 million guaranteed. In four seasons with Minnesota, Johnson rarely saw the field as the Vikings’ third defensive tackle behind Pro Bowl twin towers, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. He had 22 tackles and three sacks last season, occasionally playing defensive end.
How defensive coordinator Perry Fewell utilizes the defensive tackles may dictate the defense. Stroud should demand plenty of attention, which would free up others and keep blockers off of middle linebacker Paul Posluszny. If Stroud’s ankle injury resurfaces, though, Buffalo may be in trouble. On deck for ’08 are LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Steven Jackson, Jamal Lewis and Denver’s zone-blocking scheme, among others.
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