Posluszny quietly emerging on young Bills D
by Brian Galliford on Sep 22, 2008 1:51 PM EDT
in Buffalo Bills Opinion
Email
Print
Paul Posluszny isn't exactly the outgoing type. If you're going to Poz - the Buffalo Bills' second-year starting middle linebacker - for a good sound clip, prepare to be disappointed. He's just not that type of guy. Unlike vocal middle linebackers - the epitome of this group being the Ravens' Ray Lewis - Posluszny is content to give the "rah rah" response, so to speak. He's all about the company line and giving credit to his teammates.
That's OK by Bills fans.
Already one of Buffalo's most popular players, Posluszny's blue-collar work ethic is beginning to pay off. Fans loved Poz coming into the NFL because of his reputation and because of his no-nonsense work ethic; just six starts into his NFL career, Buffalo's middle linebacker is already starting to make his presence felt on a revamped defensive unit.
Middle Quarterback Linebacker
What Posluszny brings to this defense goes far beyond his team-leading 18 tackles through three games or his fumble recovery. Stats don't carry as much meaning in the type of defense Buffalo plays, because - just as we've seen offensively - Buffalo's defenders remarkably share a lot of the statistical workload, so to speak. Predominant zone defenses do that for you.
It's Posluszny who is responsible for getting his teammates lined up, however. This job fell to him by default as he's the middle linebacker - he's strategically placed to be able to communicate with his teammates pre-snap - but Posluszny does an excellent job of it. Buffalo's defense has been noticeably out of place only twice this season. The first play was a dropped touchdown pass by Nate Burleson in the season opener (Terrence McGee fell on the play), and the other came in the win over Oakland, when Johnnie Lee Higgins split the safeties for an 84-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. Posluszny himself was the man out of position on that play, which he readily admitted after the game. Otherwise, Buffalo's defense has been in position to make plays.
Pass D credit to Poz
One of the two big reasons for the Bills' fast 3-0 start to the 2008 season (the biggest being Trent Edwards) has been Buffalo's ability to shut down opponents' rushing attacks. Imported defensive tackle Marcus Stroud - easily the Bills' most dominant player with 12 tackles, a team-leading 2 sacks and countless drawn double-teams - gets most of the credit, and it's deserved. It's true that Posluszny - who has been effective in stuffing the run, as have been the rest of his teammates - are playing well thanks mostly to Stroud's efforts.
Poz is known for his run-stuffing, but his true value this season has been defending the pass. In Buffalo's zone scheme, Posluszny is chiefly responsible for clogging throwing lanes down the center of the field. Higgins' touchdown in the Raiders win shows how important Posluszny's role is - he missed deflecting that JaMarcus Russell throw by inches. It's the one time he's been out of position this season; he's registered one or more tipped throws downfield in each of this season's three games, and it's not going to be long before he secures one for his first career interception.
He's made his ascent to valuable defensive performer quietly, but that's in Posluszny's nature. Despite his value, he remains rather unheralded. This fan favorite is making very few mental errors, however, as the "quarterback" of Buffalo's resurgent defense - and he deserves a ton of credit for their early-season success. Like Buffalo's real quarterback, Posluszny shows maturity beyond his years, and it's a huge reason that the Bills' defense is now one of the better units in the league.
23 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
You know...
I hate to make the comparison but looking at the way Poz commands the field and how good his vision is and how intense he plays, he is very strongly reminding me of another player. No, not Shane Conlan, the guy who he is often compared to. Another well known one.
Poz looks like the second coming of Mike Singletary.
Now I know that is exceptionally premature, particularly considering how young he is, but the man simply commands that defense and does it in the same manner that Singletary commanded the Bears’ defense during their glory days in the 80s. I wasn’t sure but after the last two games I am now.
When all is said and done, I think that the ’07 draft for the Bills is going to be considered their best ever.
"I could have conquered Europe, all of it, but I had women in my life." - King Henry II of England
Getting him in the second round
should land the entire front office in jail (because it was a steal! ZING!)
John Madden told me 90% of the game was half-mental...
by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Sep 22, 2008 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions
Poz could turn out to be the best Bills MLB ever.
Poz is certainly on his way to Bills greatness. Having Stoud has allowed Poz to show that he is a tackling machine. The weakness in Poz game today is pass coverage. I’m sure he is going to work hard at improving that area of his game.
Actually, I tried to point out that he’s been strong in pass coverage in the article. That’s pretty much what it was all about, in fact.
by Brian Galliford on Sep 22, 2008 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
easy big fella
I like Poz, a lot, I loved him @ PSU, and I was very happy to see him drafted by my Bills.
The guy has played in 6 games.
Could he turn out to be the best ever? Sure. but he has a long way to go before we can put him that high. Spiderman, Conlan, Biscut, Mike Stratton, Jim Hasslet, heck even Sam Cowart has to rank higher then him right now.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
Fletcher too
Miss you Kotch......Love you Trent
by norcaliangelsfan on Sep 22, 2008 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
But after 6 games
he has shown what he is capable of. Instead of running around lost he commands a defense full of veterans.
I loved the pick a few years ago and I see no reason why not to get excited. It is really hard to stay level headed right now with this team.
by RabidBuffalo on Sep 22, 2008 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions
True Story About Poz
Here’s all you need to know about him. And it’s a true story.
Third game last year at Foxboro—Poz goes down and stays down. Bud Carpenter comes out, looks at the bone sticking out through his arm and says, “Paul—you’ve got a fracture, lie down and relax and we’re gonna get the cart to help you off.”
Poz’s response, “The hell you are Bud. That’s the New England Patriots over there. Look—that’s Tom freaking Brady in that huddle. I am NOT going out of here on a cart.”
They took him off in tears and it wasn’t because of the pain.
My kind of guy.
Geronimo
He is a special player
Poz is a beast of a player believe me. I went to PSU when he was there and I can particularly remember a play in college when a running back dove for a touchdown at the goal line and Poz meets him flying in mid air. The end result will be one of the greatest PSU highlights ever….Poz stuffs the guy in mid air….it was sick. He is also a genuine nice guy too a character player…. I would take the same bus as him after my chemistry class and he never carried himself like he was God like some players do, he is a genuine good person. It was a dream come true when Buffalo drafted him now he’s showing why PSU is linebacker U baby!!
He is my kind of player he doesn’t feel the need to talk…he just shows up when it matters. I know his pass coverage may be the weakest part of his game but he is smart enough to position himself to not become a coverage liability I guarantee it. It is still early in his career but being a stater I have all the confidence in the world that he will become an NFL great.
I know his pass coverage may be the weakest part of his game but he is smart enough to position himself to not become a coverage liability I guarantee it.
Again, one of the main points of this article was to talk about how well Posluszny has done in coverage these past three games. It’s been the strength of his game to date; he’s been excellent there.
by Brian Galliford on Sep 22, 2008 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions
huh?
the strength of his game has been his coverage? He was the one who was too slow to the slant yesterday for the long TD. Sure he knocked away a few against Seattle, but it’s not like he’s become some huge playmaker out there in the passing game.
I’ve been surprised by how well he’s supported the run. He’s really filling that hole well and has made more plays there in his 3 games this year than he did last year, that’s for sure.
~K
Yes, I alluded to the fact that he was out of position on the Higgins TD in the article. I maintain that he’s been strong in coverage, and that score highlights how important his positioning in the pass defense is – again, which I mentioned in the article.
Seriously – go back and watch the tape. Kid’s constantly in the right spot. Good pass defense is much more than “playmaking”, especially when it comes to linebackers.
by Brian Galliford on Sep 22, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions
well having seen Poz grow through college and now in the pro’s I have to say that pass defense WAS his weakness, (not that he was that poor at it) but when you have the intangables (sp?) that he has the only part of his game that suffered in college was keeping up with the speedy WR as they slanted across the middle…that being said I am glad to see that he is making strides in that area and I have never seen a more technically sound player this young…mark my words if he stays healthy he will be great and hopefully in Buf for life
and earlier some one was talking about the play at PSU where Poz stuffed a runner mid air…yeah I was at that game too and it was freakin awesome we called it the Poz Push and you can find it on you tube (it was against minnesota) and another great highlight from that game is when Mrob runs over the safety…I mean just plows him over…one of the best PSU teams in a long time
Lets GO Buffalo
and WE ARE
Arizona will be the real test for Poz and the secondary
Warner has been playing well and he has two top tier WRs who can go long or catch it in traffic underneath. So far the Bills have played two teams without their #1 and #2 receivers (Seahawks, Jags) and one team with an unproven QB (Raiders). Let’s hold off on making too many judgements about the pass defense until we see the Bills face a team like Arizona.
Are you saying the Rams won’t present a big challenge?
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
Offensively, no...
…they shouldn’t present much of a challenge. They’ve been about the worst in the league so far on offense. Defensively they could provide a challenge simply by keeping the pressure on Edwards and stacking the box regularly.
In the words of Art Wander, "wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.."
There shouldn’t be any talk of the Cardinals just yet. Let’s just focus on the Rams, and one game at a time friends….
Ron was talking about the Rams in the comment you replied to… right?
by Brian Galliford on Sep 23, 2008 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions
THE RAMS
have lost by an AVERAGE OF 29 pts PER GAME. That’s right. they average losing by 29 pts per game.
It’s on turf, our WR’s should have a field day, and the defense should blitz the crap out of the rams after they stuff the run in the 1st quarter and have 4+ sacks. I hope they come out firing and put the Rams away early. The coaching staff has to put the pedal down to get these next two games before the bye week. Starting 5-0 is attainable and they need to make sure they do it.
MARVelous
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
