Is Mark Anderson a legitimate starter?

[Blacksheep71]

I've been looking at Anderson's record in the NFL and the 7 seasons he's played accumulating 35.5sacks in total and I was amazed he's only ever been a starter in one season - 2007.

He's played in 93games but only started 21games in total.

In the two seasons when he's registered double digit sacks - 12 in 2006 and 10 in 2011 he's only started 2 games out of a total of 32games.

Do we therefore risk starting Anderson where his performance has been average or employ him exclusively as a specialist pass rusher and draft a starter to play the majority of downs opposite Mario?

[gonzo1105]

We are going to give him a shot to start. Were paying him like a starter and were not gonna take a DE at 10. I could see us taking one in the 3rd and beyond

[BillsLunaticEZE]

I think he is but I would love to grab Ingram at 10. Ingram give us tremendous depth and is a player you can utilize all over the field. Defensive end will be his main position but you can put him at DT and even inside linebacker in pure passing downs.

[Jan Reimers]

I don't think it really matters. We are deep at DE with Kelsay, Carrington and Edwards to go with Williams and Anderson. If Anderson proves better suited to be a pass rush specialist, we seem to be covered.

[stuckincincy]

I don't think it really matters. We are deep at DE with Kelsay, Carrington and Edwards to go with Williams and Anderson. If Anderson proves better suited to be a pass rush specialist, we seem to be covered.

I think you are right. After the Wms - Anderson acquisitions, I can't see BUF selecting a DE other than in the 6th or 7th - BPA territory.

[Buffalogic]

Keep the dline deep and the whole defense looks good. I have no problem with a DE at 10 just not a DT or LB please.

[Night Train]

DE is now the LAST position I'd want the Bills to use a pick on.

LT,CB & OL.

[DraftBoy]

He's a rotational guy best used on passing downs.

[Buffalogic]

DE is now the LAST position I'd want the Bills to use a pick on.

LT,CB & OL.wr?

[DraftBoy]

I don't think it really matters. We are deep at DE with Kelsay, Carrington and Edwards to go with Williams and Anderson. If Anderson proves better suited to be a pass rush specialist, we seem to be covered.

Deep in terms of bodies yes, but deep in terms of talented players...not so sure.

[stuckincincy]

Deep in terms of bodies yes, but deep in terms of talented players...not so sure.

Can't have everything.

[Pinkerton Security]

He's a rotational guy best used on passing downs.

We have guys we can put in for rushing downs...Carrington, Kelsay, etc. I would rather not use #10 on a DE now, which I think was the point of the thread.

[DraftBoy]

Can't have everything.

Doesn't mean you settle.

[DraftBoy]

We have guys we can put in for rushing downs...Carrington, Kelsay, etc. I would rather not use #10 on a DE now, which I think was the point of the thread.

I would use the 10 pick on Coples and that's my point. He's the perfect fit for this team.

Ill explain why tomorrow but his ability and versatility would be perfect.

[YardRat]

I wouldn't be surprised if he isn't a 'starter'.

[jimbohastle51]

of course he is, he doesn't have to play every snap. merriman will spell him and mario.

[gr8slayer]

I would use the 10 pick on Coples and that's my point. He's the perfect fit for this team.

Ill explain why tomorrow but his ability and versatility would be perfect.
Something we can both agree on, you can NEVER have too much quality DL depth.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Merriman is the wildcard

[djjimkelly]

Merriman is the wildcard


id love to see merrimen reborn

[thenry20]

I've been looking at Anderson's record in the NFL and the 7 seasons he's played accumulating 35.5sacks in total and I was amazed he's only ever been a starter in one season - 2007.

He's played in 93games but only started 21games in total.

In the two seasons when he's registered double digit sacks - 12 in 2006 and 10 in 2011 he's only started 2 games out of a total of 32games.

Do we therefore risk starting Anderson where his performance has been average or employ him exclusively as a specialist pass rusher and draft a starter to play the majority of downs opposite Mario?

Then we stupidly overpaid for a bench warmer. He HAS to start and produce! Otherwise, it's just another Dockery signing.

[Blacksheep71]

Then we stupidly overpaid for a bench warmer. He HAS to start and produce! Otherwise, it's just another Dockery signing.

Well his deal isn't as bad as first report - its is $19.5m over 4 years with $8m guaranteed. So less than $5m a year for a guy who can double digit in sacks as a situational pass rusher.

If we draft Coples who has played DT as well as DE then on passing downs we can move Coples inside and have a great collection of pass rushers blitzing the QB.

We were able to roll over almost $21m from 2011 to 2012 under the new CBA so we've still got a lot of space, to sign and extend other guys. Really we've had no pass rush and with Merriman never played with his hand on his ground, 3 DEs need to be a minimum I think.

We are $105m at the moment in contracts and with the rollover we've got something like $140m to potentially spend

[Extremebillsfan247]

The Bills plan on making him a 3 down DE. Beyond him, there is plenty of depth. There is no way they are taking a DE at 10. They aren't taking a LB at 10 either. I'm pretty certain by now they are going with a LT, and if they don't, it will be because they like Floyd better if he drops to them. Of course, the way things are shaping up, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bills do something uncharacteristic and attempt to trade up for Kalil. New rumors are rampant that the Vikings are not sold on Kalil, and may pass on him. JMO

[jamze132]

We have guys we can put in for rushing downs...Carrington, Kelsay, etc. I would rather not use #10 on a DE now, which I think was the point of the thread.
How many sacks have those two racked up? lol

Anderson is MUCH better suited than both of those guys combined for 3rd down.

[Mahdi]

I would use the 10 pick on Coples and that's my point. He's the perfect fit for this team.

Ill explain why tomorrow but his ability and versatility would be perfect.
I'd take Fletcher Cox over Coples.

[Blacksheep71]

The Bills plan on making him a 3 down DE. Beyond him, there is plenty of depth. There is no way they are taking a DE at 10. They aren't taking a LB at 10 either. I'm pretty certain by now they are going with a LT, and if they don't, it will be because they like Floyd better if he drops to them. Of course, the way things are shaping up, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Bills do something uncharacteristic and attempt to trade up for Kalil. New rumors are rampant that the Vikings are not sold on Kalil, and may pass on him. JMO

Except

1. none of our depth has experience or success in the 4-3 defense - we now have 3-4 defenders out of position

2. the OL gave up the fewest sacks (23) last year than any other team despite facing 9 of the top16 pass rushing teams

3. Hairston did admirably well as a starter giving up 4 sacks and 3 penalties whilst playing 13 games, starting 7. As 2 sacks came in the last game after he'd been in an out of the lineup with the crazy decision to keep on going back to Bell

The best teams have platoons of quality pass rushers and Nix knows this.

[DraftBoy]

I'd take Fletcher Cox over Coples.

Putting Fletcher Cox outside is a mistake, he's not used to it and you're asking him to do something that is far from what he's best at.

Ill never understand the fascination with switching players positions.

Cox is effective because his speed is good v. slower interior OL, kicking him outside v. OT's who are more accustomed and adaptable to his speed will yield less results.

Can he do it? Sure, but should he? No.

[jamze132]

Putting Fletcher Cox outside is a mistake, he's not used to it and you're asking him to do something that is far from what he's best at.

Ill never understand the fascination with switching players positions.

Cox is effective because his speed is good v. slower interior OL, kicking him outside v. OT's who are more accustomed and adaptable to his speed will yield less results.

Can he do it? Sure, but should he? No.
There are a LOT of knocks on Coples, especially at #10.

[CleveSteve]

Why not just have Anderson do what he's done best his entire career? Which is come in and rush the passer on 3rd down? Wouldn't it make more sense to have some combination of Williams in there with Kelsay/Carrington on 1st down and on 3rd and short?

[Pinkerton Security]

How many sacks have those two racked up? lol

Anderson is MUCH better suited than both of those guys combined for 3rd down.

not sure if you thought I meant pass-rushing downs, which is probably how it sounded...i meant Kelsay and Carrington will be in there during obvious running downs, with Anderson in to get after the QB in passing situations.

[Pinkerton Security]

Why not just have Anderson do what he's done best his entire career? Which is come in and rush the passer on 3rd down? Wouldn't it make more sense to have some combination of Williams in there with Kelsay/Carrington on 1st down and on 3rd and short?

i think thats exactly what will happen, with Anderson maybe getting more snaps than he has before but still mostly being used in passing situations. If we use Anderson correctly, I see our rotation as being very solid, because we have guys now who can excel in different areas.

[Mahdi]

Putting Fletcher Cox outside is a mistake, he's not used to it and you're asking him to do something that is far from what he's best at.

Ill never understand the fascination with switching players positions.

Cox is effective because his speed is good v. slower interior OL, kicking him outside v. OT's who are more accustomed and adaptable to his speed will yield less results.

Can he do it? Sure, but should he? No.
No not outside. I would get him to play DT. Yeah we have KW and Dareus but nothing wrong with having a 3 headed monster at DT. Keeps everyone fresh and flying.

[mikemac2001]

With Williams Dareus and Williams anyone can start at DE. even if he spilits time with moats/kelsey/merriman/carrington at end im ok with that

[dannyek71]

Carrington = Bust. Kelsey should be camp fodder. He is worthless.

[Ed]

not sure if you thought I meant pass-rushing downs, which is probably how it sounded...i meant Kelsay and Carrington will be in there during obvious running downs, with Anderson in to get after the QB in passing situations.
What's an obvious running down?

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Carrington = Bust. Kelsey should be camp fodder. He is worthless.

dude, wtf are you smoking. carrington is not a bust.

[Extremebillsfan247]

Except

1. none of our depth has experience or success in the 4-3 defense - we now have 3-4 defenders out of position

2. the OL gave up the fewest sacks (23) last year than any other team despite facing 9 of the top16 pass rushing teams

3. Hairston did admirably well as a starter giving up 4 sacks and 3 penalties whilst playing 13 games, starting 7. As 2 sacks came in the last game after he'd been in an out of the lineup with the crazy decision to keep on going back to Bell

The best teams have platoons of quality pass rushers and Nix knows this.
The Bills have too much money already invested in the position to draft another at 10 who would ultimately be a depth player on this team. You don't waste the 10th overall pick on depth players.

[Goobylal]

The Bills view MA as a starter. And this will easily be the best DL he's played on since his rookie season. With Mario, Kyle, and Marcel absorbing most of the blockers, Anderson will be left one-on-one more often than not. I can see teams running at him, but he'll be having Barnett backing him up. Actually if I'm Wanny, I'm sending a blitzer up the middle on most downs.

[BertSquirtgum]

I think he is but I would love to grab Ingram at 10. Ingram give us tremendous depth and is a player you can utilize all over the field. Defensive end will be his main position but you can put him at DT and even inside linebacker in pure passing downs.
Why would the Bills want a projected 3-4 linebacker when they just switched back to the 4-3? Doesn't make sense.

[BertSquirtgum]

Then we stupidly overpaid for a bench warmer. He HAS to start and produce! Otherwise, it's just another Dockery signing.

4.7 million a year is not over paying.

[thenry20]

Well his deal isn't as bad as first report - its is $19.5m over 4 years with $8m guaranteed. So less than $5m a year for a guy who can double digit in sacks as a situational pass rusher.

If we draft Coples who has played DT as well as DE then on passing downs we can move Coples inside and have a great collection of pass rushers blitzing the QB.

We were able to roll over almost $21m from 2011 to 2012 under the new CBA so we've still got a lot of space, to sign and extend other guys. Really we've had no pass rush and with Merriman never played with his hand on his ground, 3 DEs need to be a minimum I think.

We are $105m at the moment in contracts and with the rollover we've got something like $140m to potentially spend

I'm not saying the Bills won't draft another DE; heck even in round 1 but I don't believe Anderson will be relegated to mop up duty, etc. I'm sure Wanny will use a rotation for both ends but this guy'll be starting from the word go.

[feldspar]

I don't think it's the idea for Mark Anderson to play every down. He'll be more of a situational pass rusher or something. We have Kelsay, Carrington and Merriman too. We don't need DEs anymore.

Ask me, the best player available will be DeCastro when the Bills pick, and you gotta go with him. I don't care if we already have Urbik. There isn't really a stand-out player at his position that is projected to be still on the board when the Bills pick...except DeCastro, who is the best Guard prospect in a decade. The Bills interior o-line could be excellent.

It would be a mistake to draft for position and have an OK player when there is an excellent player on the board.