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Part 1 - http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2012...dave-wannstedt
Part 2 - http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2012...-matter-part-2
The defensive alignment that the Buffalo Bills choose for 2012 continues as a point of debate amongst fans, sparked by the firing of George Edwards as defensive coordinator and subsequent promotion of Dave Wannstedt to the same position. Buffalo's hybrid defensive alignment over the past two seasons, where they ran both three- and four-man fronts, is the kindling for the debate. Wannstedt's experience running the 4-3, past statements by GM Buddy Nix that Buffalo will draft for a 3-4 alignment, and Nix's recent comments about Buffalo's use of both fronts add more fuel to the fire. The arrival of the off-season - where each prospect is debated by the merits of scheme fit - really gets the blaze going.
Here's the thing about the debate, though: it doesn't matter. That's a pretty bold statement. The implications of Buffalo's hybrid defense, along with observations of their use of three- and four-man fronts, indicate that stating a desired alignment doesn't really affect what the Bills are going to do. (Or, for that matter, have been doing.) After watching the Bills this season, they played variations of the Bullough-Fairbanks 3-4, over and under fronts, with the Jack and Sam linebackers acting as an elephant at times. When the Bills went 4-3, they played a 46 variation. When the two fronts are overlaid, we'll see that there's not much difference.
Part 2 - http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2012...-matter-part-2
The defensive alignment that the Buffalo Bills choose for 2012 continues as a point of debate amongst fans, sparked by the firing of George Edwards as defensive coordinator and subsequent promotion of Dave Wannstedt to the same position. Buffalo's hybrid defensive alignment over the past two seasons, where they ran both three- and four-man fronts, is the kindling for the debate. Wannstedt's experience running the 4-3, past statements by GM Buddy Nix that Buffalo will draft for a 3-4 alignment, and Nix's recent comments about Buffalo's use of both fronts add more fuel to the fire. The arrival of the off-season - where each prospect is debated by the merits of scheme fit - really gets the blaze going.
Here's the thing about the debate, though: it doesn't matter. That's a pretty bold statement. The implications of Buffalo's hybrid defense, along with observations of their use of three- and four-man fronts, indicate that stating a desired alignment doesn't really affect what the Bills are going to do. (Or, for that matter, have been doing.) After watching the Bills this season, they played variations of the Bullough-Fairbanks 3-4, over and under fronts, with the Jack and Sam linebackers acting as an elephant at times. When the Bills went 4-3, they played a 46 variation. When the two fronts are overlaid, we'll see that there's not much difference.
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