mysticsoto
07-29-2008, 07:30 AM
Bills' defense adjusts for Stroud
The Buffalo Bills have tweaked their defensive scheme this year to try to take full advantage of their top new weapon, Marcus Stroud.
The last two seasons, the Bills’ two defensive tackles played distinct positions. Starter Larry Tripplett, who’s now in Seattle, played opposite the outside shoulder of the guard, usually on the left side of the defensive line. The Bills called that the three-technique position. Starter Kyle Williams played opposite the outside shoulder of the center, on the right side of the defense in what the Bills called the nose tackle position.
This year the Bills’ defensive tackles are going to be interchangeable. Whether it’s Stroud, Williams, John McCargo or Spencer Johnson, each could play the left side or the right side. Still, the left defensive tackle often will be in the “three technique” spot. The right defensive tackle most often will not play over the center; he will play opposite the inside shoulder of the guard.
Why? The main reason is those are the two alignments in which Stroud was used in Jacksonville the last seven seasons.
“We want to get as much production out of him as we can,” said Bills defensive line coach Bill Kollar. “Our parts are interchangeable, so we said, ‘Hey, let’s play him where he feels the most comfortable.’ ”
Stroud excels against the run. If the Bills plugged him into last year’s defense, he would have had to play on the nose, usually at the right defensive tackle spot.
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/402331.html
The Buffalo Bills have tweaked their defensive scheme this year to try to take full advantage of their top new weapon, Marcus Stroud.
The last two seasons, the Bills’ two defensive tackles played distinct positions. Starter Larry Tripplett, who’s now in Seattle, played opposite the outside shoulder of the guard, usually on the left side of the defensive line. The Bills called that the three-technique position. Starter Kyle Williams played opposite the outside shoulder of the center, on the right side of the defense in what the Bills called the nose tackle position.
This year the Bills’ defensive tackles are going to be interchangeable. Whether it’s Stroud, Williams, John McCargo or Spencer Johnson, each could play the left side or the right side. Still, the left defensive tackle often will be in the “three technique” spot. The right defensive tackle most often will not play over the center; he will play opposite the inside shoulder of the guard.
Why? The main reason is those are the two alignments in which Stroud was used in Jacksonville the last seven seasons.
“We want to get as much production out of him as we can,” said Bills defensive line coach Bill Kollar. “Our parts are interchangeable, so we said, ‘Hey, let’s play him where he feels the most comfortable.’ ”
Stroud excels against the run. If the Bills plugged him into last year’s defense, he would have had to play on the nose, usually at the right defensive tackle spot.
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/billsnfl/story/402331.html