Anderson's Play Will Determine Success of Bills Defense

[YardRat]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1189019-mark-andersons-play-will-determine-success-of-bills-defense



Not many people knew who Mark Anderson (http://bleacherreport.com/mark-anderson) was when he signed a four-year, $27.5 million contract a few weeks later. It turns out, though, that Anderson may play the biggest part in the success of the defensive line for the Buffalo Bills (http://bleacherreport.com/buffalo-bills).


Teams have seen the success of Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus. Lining them up together using a 4-3 defensive scheme will only hurt opposing offenses more. And Mario Williams will continue his superb pass-rushing ability with the help of Dareus and Kyle Williams.


With most of the focus on the above mentioned players, Anderson will need to flourish to provide the Bills with a solid pass rush. If Anderson can mimic the 10 sacks he finished the 2011 season with, the Bills defensive line could be very powerful, because they would be getting a solid pass rush from everyone on the line.

[casdhf]

Having enough guys to keep everyone fresh is going to be important too. We have Kelsay, Anderson, Williams, Carrington, Merriman all to rotate. I think the depth is going to be key.

[Don't Panic]

I try not to get too overly excited, but this D line has the potential to be the best in the league. I dont know how opponents will gameplan their blocking schemes to stop them. If we bring an extra pass rusher (which I assume we will the majority of the time), teams are going to be stuck leaving a RB or TE at home to block, because the front 4 will easily occupy the 5 O linemen play in, play out.

[YardRat]

Many are bestowing high praise on the group and their expectations for the upcoming season...based mostly on rushing the passer.

More importantly, they are going to need to stop the run.

[Meathead]

If we bring an extra pass rusher (which I assume we will the majority of the time),
actually pornstachio says right out that the key to his defense is getting pressure with four. knowing that, you can see why the bills opened ralphs wallet wide to pay for the best two available free agent pass rushers

[Skooby]

actually pornstachio says right out that the key to his defense is getting pressure with four. knowing that, you can see why the bills opened ralphs wallet wide to pay for the best two available free agent pass rushers

It's amazing this was the case, I'm still in shock.

[Yasgur's Farm]

Many are bestowing high praise on the group and their expectations for the upcoming season...based mostly on rushing the passer.

More importantly, they are going to need to stop the run.3 of the 4 (exclude Anderson) are actualy quite capable of run D... Mario is pretty good at it.

[gr8slayer]

Having enough guys to keep everyone fresh is going to be important too. We have Kelsay, Anderson, Williams, Carrington, Merriman all to rotate. I think the depth is going to be key.
Especially given the track record of injuries every single year with this team.

[MDFINFAN]

actually pornstachio says right out that the key to his defense is getting pressure with four. knowing that, you can see why the bills opened ralphs wallet wide to pay for the best two available free agent pass rushers

And that's the maddening thing about Wanny, he doesn't like to blitz, so if your 4 doesn't get pressure, then your secondary better be good. 5 on 4 is doable for most good OL's.. even with the talent your DL has.

[ParanoidAndroid]

Wanny never quite had this much talent on a D-line before. Almost....but not quite.

[acehole]

Having enough guys to keep everyone fresh is going to be important too. We have Kelsay, Anderson, Williams, Carrington, Merriman all to rotate. I think the depth is going to be key.


Don't. Forget ossi....stay tuned.

[Yasgur's Farm]

Don't. Forget ossi....stay tuned.Don't mess with my head! That would be boner material!

[MDFINFAN]

Wanny never quite had this much talent on a D-line before. Almost....but not quite.

Yes he did, in Miami, when he was the HC..JT was your DWilliams..with T Tim Bowens, DE Adewale Ogunleye, and T Jermaine Haley. that was a solid DL that kept everyone off Zach Thomas...He also had that kind of line when he was winning those super bowls in dallas.

[better days]

Yes he did, in Miami, when he was the HC..JT was your DWilliams..with T Tim Bowens, DE Adewale Ogunleye, and T Jermaine Haley. that was a solid DL that kept everyone off Zach Thomas...He also had that kind of line when he was winning those super bowls in dallas.

Wanny had a very good defense in Miami & Dallas. If this Bills defense plays as well & I am sure they will, I will be very happy.

[Goobylal]

Yes he did, in Miami, when he was the HC..JT was your DWilliams..with T Tim Bowens, DE Adewale Ogunleye, and T Jermaine Haley. that was a solid DL that kept everyone off Zach Thomas...He also had that kind of line when he was winning those super bowls in dallas.
The closest he came to this DL was 2002. But Bowens was past in decline, Haley was on his way out, and Ogunleye was in his first season as a starter.

And I hope Wanny bucks his wont of not blitzing much. You have a DL like that, you send a blitzer up the middle and there's almost nothing an offense can do to stop it.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

Wanny never quite had this much talent on a D-line before. Almost....but not quite.

ummm no. the 92-93 dallas dline was the best i ever saw, EVER!

they had 7 pro bowlers!

haley, jeffcoat, tolbert.

maryland, casillas, jones, lett.

i think our dline has that potential. but its not actual...

[Raptor]

im not even sure Anderson beats out Merriman to start

[Oaf]

Kelsay might be better pushing the pocket than his instincts against the run. Scary, I know. But Mario is 300lbs and plays solid against it. From what I remember, Merriman can stand his ground as well.

[Goobylal]

im not even sure Anderson beats out Merriman to start
They didn't pay Anderson all that money not to start. He'll be the starter unless he shows he can't handle it.

[Skooby]

They didn't pay Anderson all that money not to start. He'll be the starter unless he shows he can't handle it.

This is the case, no way he sits.

[Raptor]

They didn't pay Anderson all that money not to start. He'll be the starter unless he shows he can't handle it.


Merriman makes more per year, and is much more stout against the run.

Question is can he stay healthy

[YardRat]

3 of the 4 (exclude Anderson) are actualy quite capable of run D... Mario is pretty good at it.

We'll see how it translates on the field this season. I have high hopes myself...

[YardRat]

They didn't pay Anderson all that money not to start. He'll be the starter unless he shows he can't handle it.

They paid him to rush the passer...period end of story. I would be surprised if he got the starting nod at RDE in all honesty.

[Goobylal]

We'll see how it translates on the field this season. I have high hopes myself...
Only $3M of his $4M salary this year is guaranteed, he is an UFA at the end of the year currently, and Anderson has $8M in guarantees.

[Goobylal]

They paid him to rush the passer...period end of story. I would be surprised if he got the starting nod at RDE in all honesty.
Nix or Gailey said he'd be the starter.

[jamze132]

I would suspect that Anderson will be starting at DE while Merriman is given every opportunity to start at OLB.

[Goobylal]

I would suspect that Anderson will be starting at DE while Merriman is given every opportunity to start at OLB.
He's not a 4-3 OLB. He's a 3-4 OLB, which is more akin to a 4-3 DE. He'll rotate with Anderson, to reduce wear and tear on both.

[Meathead]

It's amazing this was the case, I'm still in shock.
pretty surprising but really not shocking. ralph has demonstrated time and time again that hes frugal but not cheap. when the case can be made to go get somebody he usually does it. but you have to have the right situation, a team that is on the cusp and ready to compete for a title or else youre just wasting money. i agree with that whole general philosophy, especially for a team that i want to keep in bflo and cant be irresponsible with its lowest-tix-prices and cheap-boxes disadvantage

i really thought theyd be big players in facy, tho admittedly didnt think theyd go after mario. but the time was right, they had the dough, and chuddy has ralphs confidence. bada boom bada bing

[Meathead]

Yes he did, in Miami, when he was the HC..JT was your DWilliams..with T Tim Bowens, DE Adewale Ogunleye, and T Jermaine Haley. that was a solid DL that kept everyone off Zach Thomas...
yeah that was a real good dl. id say they were even better than what we have now but depending on how anderson, kelsay, merriman, and the scrubs play it could easily surpass them this season


ummm no. the 92-93 dallas dline was the best i ever saw, EVER!

as much as i despise saying it that was just flat out the best team ever. they had sucked for many years before that so they had a lot of high picks stocked in the roster. they also got all those picks in the hershel walker 'great train robbery' that they stole from a stupid stupid vikings team

that team had high picks and probowlers everywhere. i honestly think that was easily the best nfl team ever. figures they showed up exactly when the kelly bills dynasty was trying to get over the hump. THANK GOD for free agency and the cap coming along to rip that team to shreds b/c they would have won six or seven sbs. they were hemorrhaging stud players for years after being us. serves em right

[Meathead]

They didn't pay Anderson all that money not to start. He'll be the starter unless he shows he can't handle it.

This is the case, no way he sits.
way

anderson has never started all downs in his nfl life, he wont be doing that here

why would you want him to? youve got a good all around player in kelsay who can play the early run downs much better than anderson. this idea that kelsay isnt a decent to good run defender is ridikilis. you can reduce the wear and tear that way and keep anderson fresher for pass rush situations

i think theylll mix anderson in on some early downs, since after all this is a passing league now, but with kelsay being pretty good at both the run and applying pressure theres really no reason to push anderson into a role hes never done before

[Ed]

I don't think it really matters who's considered the starter. I expect Anderson and Merriman to both see a pretty equal amount of opportunities.

[Goobylal]

way

anderson has never started all downs in his nfl life, he wont be doing that here

why would you want him to? youve got a good all around player in kelsay who can play the early run downs much better than anderson. this idea that kelsay isnt a decent to good run defender is ridikilis. you can reduce the wear and tear that way and keep anderson fresher for pass rush situations

i think theylll mix anderson in on some early downs, since after all this is a passing league now, but with kelsay being pretty good at both the run and applying pressure theres really no reason to push anderson into a role hes never done before
Nix and Gailey said they see Anderson as a 3-down player. Unless they plan on having his rotate series with Merriman...

[Ed]

Nix and Gailey said they see Anderson as a 3-down player. Unless they plan on having his rotate series with Merriman...
I think what they mean is that they don't see him as just a pass rush specialist, but a guy that can play in any situation. That doesn't mean he'll be in on every play though. I think we'll still see plenty of rotating along the whole line to keep guys fresh.

[Meathead]

eggzakly

i heard them say that too and thats what they meant, that he will rotate with other guys, primarily it will be kelsay with merriman being designated rush specialist - at least as long as he doesnt injure himself making peace signs with his fingers and kissing plays up to god

[jimbohastle51]

Anderson's contract is actually even more reasonable than first reported.

3/21/2012: Signed a four-year, $19.5 million contract. The deal contains $8 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus and all of Anderson's first-year salary. Another $8 million is available through incentives. Anderson is eligible for annual $100,000 workout bonuses throughout the contract's life. 2012: $1.9 million, 2013: $2.5 million, 2014: $4 million, 2015: $5 million, 2016: Free Agent

That is per Rotoworld.com but you can find it else where on the net as well.

[NOT THE DUDE...]

anderson and merriman will probably rotate 60-40 with anderson getting 60%

[jamze132]

He's not a 4-3 OLB. He's a 3-4 OLB, which is more akin to a 4-3 DE. He'll rotate with Anderson, to reduce wear and tear on both.
I understand but I bet Merriman is given the opportunity to try out OLB. If he can be productive, it opens up a lot more for this defense.

[ghz in pittsburgh]

First time in Merriman's career he's not pencilled in as a starter. Knowing his peronality, I'd not be surprised that he's chomping up the bits a little. If he's healthy, I'd not be surprised that he beats out Anderson in camp.

Of course, his biggest opponent is his own health, or whatever parts on his leg ...