Everyone knows how heavily the Bills have drafted for defense in this recent draft, but has anyone yet taken the time to consider how this investment in defense will impact the Bills' defense, not just this coming season, but next season, after these rookies have had a chance to develop for a season?
The Bills have come out of this draft with at least five players who should be starters in 2007 and perhaps more who may be back-ups. As a result, if they avoid injuries, the Bills will be fielding a young defense with a lot of speed. Here's what it could very easily look like:
Defensive Line:
LDE: Kelsay (Neill*)
3-gap DT:Tripplett (McCargo)
1-gap DT: Williams (Anderson)
LDE: Schobel (Denney?)
Linebacking Corps:
MLB: Fletcher (Spikes or **)
WLB: Spikes (Ellison# or Crowell or **)
SLB: Crowell (Ellison# or **)
Additional Backups: Stamer (Hagan or Ellison $)
Secondary:
LCB: McGee
RCB: Youboty (Clements?)
SS: Whitner
FS: Simpson
Nickel: Greer (or ## )
Dime: Bethea (King or ##)
Backup SS: Bowen
Backup FS: Lee
* Neill is a high motor, undersized pass rusher who needs to put on weight and strength, a year on the PS should accomplish that if he doesn't make the team this year over Denny
# Ellison is a speedy OLB who is good in coverage, but needs to add weight and strength, if he does not make the active squad as a STer, a year on the PS should allow him time to bulk up and learn the defense
** If the Bills can draft Ahmed Brooks in the 3rd Round or later of the supplemental draft, he is a very fast LB who would be a perfect fit in a Cover 2 defense and could take over at any of the three LB positions. If the Bills could get Brooks that low in the supplemental draft, he would be better than any LB they could get in the regular draft that low and they would still have their top 2 picks in next year's draft to use to address their needs on offense at that point.
## If the Bills cannot sign Clements to a long-term extension, they could trade him before the trade deadline for a draft choice that they could use to draft another young CB in next year's draft who can be broken in at the nickel or dime spots.
$ Depending on whether the Bills could get Brooks and how Ellison develops, the Bills would have to choose which backup linebackers to keep from Stamer, Hagan and Ezekiel. I picked Stamer because of his ability on STs, with the assumption that Ellison would make the team. One of the other two could also make the team if the Bills do not draft Brooks in the supplemental draft.
This unit would be very young--Fletcher, Spikes and Schobel (perhaps Denney) would be the only guys close to or over 30--and, yet, have enough experience for the team to make a sustained championship run from that point on. If the players who have just been added are at least average players or above at their positions, this would be a defense that could still grow together and improve as a unit to sustain such a run. Any weak spots could be reinforced with one or two choice free agent signings.
What do you think?
The Bills have come out of this draft with at least five players who should be starters in 2007 and perhaps more who may be back-ups. As a result, if they avoid injuries, the Bills will be fielding a young defense with a lot of speed. Here's what it could very easily look like:
Defensive Line:
LDE: Kelsay (Neill*)
3-gap DT:Tripplett (McCargo)
1-gap DT: Williams (Anderson)
LDE: Schobel (Denney?)
Linebacking Corps:
MLB: Fletcher (Spikes or **)
WLB: Spikes (Ellison# or Crowell or **)
SLB: Crowell (Ellison# or **)
Additional Backups: Stamer (Hagan or Ellison $)
Secondary:
LCB: McGee
RCB: Youboty (Clements?)
SS: Whitner
FS: Simpson
Nickel: Greer (or ## )
Dime: Bethea (King or ##)
Backup SS: Bowen
Backup FS: Lee
* Neill is a high motor, undersized pass rusher who needs to put on weight and strength, a year on the PS should accomplish that if he doesn't make the team this year over Denny
# Ellison is a speedy OLB who is good in coverage, but needs to add weight and strength, if he does not make the active squad as a STer, a year on the PS should allow him time to bulk up and learn the defense
** If the Bills can draft Ahmed Brooks in the 3rd Round or later of the supplemental draft, he is a very fast LB who would be a perfect fit in a Cover 2 defense and could take over at any of the three LB positions. If the Bills could get Brooks that low in the supplemental draft, he would be better than any LB they could get in the regular draft that low and they would still have their top 2 picks in next year's draft to use to address their needs on offense at that point.
## If the Bills cannot sign Clements to a long-term extension, they could trade him before the trade deadline for a draft choice that they could use to draft another young CB in next year's draft who can be broken in at the nickel or dime spots.
$ Depending on whether the Bills could get Brooks and how Ellison develops, the Bills would have to choose which backup linebackers to keep from Stamer, Hagan and Ezekiel. I picked Stamer because of his ability on STs, with the assumption that Ellison would make the team. One of the other two could also make the team if the Bills do not draft Brooks in the supplemental draft.
This unit would be very young--Fletcher, Spikes and Schobel (perhaps Denney) would be the only guys close to or over 30--and, yet, have enough experience for the team to make a sustained championship run from that point on. If the players who have just been added are at least average players or above at their positions, this would be a defense that could still grow together and improve as a unit to sustain such a run. Any weak spots could be reinforced with one or two choice free agent signings.
What do you think?
Comment