Buffalo Bills' Defensive Line Depth Further Depleted

by Brian Galliford on Oct 20, 2011 9:45 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

With star defensive tackle Kyle Williams set to miss another game or two and second-year nose guard Torell Troup ailing, the Buffalo Bills suddenly have a major depth issue along their defensive line.

Buffalo entered the regular season with seven defensive linemen on the roster, but they were playing one of them - Alex Carrington - at outside linebacker, rather than his typical defensive end position. Carrington has since reverted to end, but he was replaced at outside linebacker by veteran Spencer Johnson. As such, the Bills have only listed six players as defensive linemen for most of the season.

Buffalo's base defense uses three defensive linemen, and their nickel sub-packages typically use two of them, with outside linebackers becoming the pass-rushing defensive ends in those looks. Marcell Dareus - who is having a solid rookie season, and is one of just four players to record a sack this year - and Dwan Edwards get a lot of playing time. Beyond them are Carrington and Kellen Heard. All four of these players have had their moments, but let's face it - they're not a healthy Williams.

Bills GM Buddy Nix built this defense from the line backwards - but injuries and ineffectiveness at other positions (like outside linebacker) have depleted the potential effect of that plan. Buffalo has been getting good play from these players, but haven't made many improvements defensively as a result.

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Pat Williams?

Let him end his career as a Bill? He still had a decent year last year didn’t he?

by fanick82 on Oct 20, 2011 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

Say" $25M under cap"

The bye week is going to help, but DL is going to wear down with these guys out. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kyle Williams and/or Troup end up on IR. Both of their conditions are chronic and debilitating.

Nix has built a strange team. Deep at WR, plus loaded to the max with kickoff returners. But way too thin on both lines. No depth at RB either, Bills offense is in a world of hurt if Jackson goes down.

by Rick A on Oct 20, 2011 10:07 AM EDT reply actions

I couldn’t disagree more. If Wiliams has a bone spur, it can be dealt with rather effectively. He won’t practice much, but he should be able to play. I don’t know the extent of Troup’s back problems, but if they aren’t degenerative, or he’d be put on IR already.

Complaining about O-line depth is ridiculous. We’re onto our third-string LT at the end of hte game lats week, and he still kept Osi and JPP from causing massive problems (though Reinhart did get bulled backwards, which caused Fitz to underthrow the second INT).

You don’t know anything about the depth at the RB position, anyway. White hasn’t even gotten a shot yet, and Spiller is having a stellar year when he actually lines up as a RB. He’s averaging high for a reason. But, yes, losing an MVP candidate would suck.

by paull on Oct 20, 2011 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

It appears that the simple treatments for Williams… NSAID’s, steroids, padding… aren’t working. The next steps are extended rest or surgery. The problem with playing with a condition like bone spurs is that it opens the door to compensation injuries. To get strength and avoid pain, you tend to use unnatural motions. The spurs themselves can also cause additional soft tissue damage.

by Rick A on Oct 20, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

D-line doesn’t lack depth, its just banged up. If both your NTs are hurt, and two OLBs are hurt, your front is going to start to look thin — even if you are the Steelers.

O-line I would have argued lacked depth in preseason, but already feling a bit better about it going forward given Hairston’s performance. Rinehart is a asolid interior reserve lineman, I would say the only unproven depth is really Young. not ideal, but again, two tackles going down is going to be a problem whomever you are. I actualy feel pretty good about these units.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Oct 20, 2011 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm so tired of this "argument". The Pats were 18M under the cap and that includes their 20M a year QB, so cap space means next to nothing when determining what a team has invested in players.

"I got no problem with 7-9 coming off of 4-12 as long as I don't buy a couch there, you got to keep moving" - Mike Schoop

by lonestar_ak on Oct 20, 2011 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Lets break out Jasper!

by Western New Yorker on Oct 20, 2011 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

Michael Jasper is playing offensive line. [Wonders how many more times he is going to have to say this.]

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Oct 20, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

[Wonders how many more times he is going to have to say this.]

I’ll quote Carl Sagan: “Billions and Billions!”

"Teams that don't deserve to win.... Usually don’t. Today is no exception." -- Mr Huge Pecs
"Nick Barnett is everywhere. He is behind you right now." -- Munchausen

by ChuckBuffInFlo on Oct 20, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

I love me some Carl Sagan reference.

"Go check on the ribs!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Oct 20, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, I mean

if we’re short at nose, we can at least look at practicing him there.

Go Buffalo Bills, Utah Jazz, and Arkansas Razorbacks

OUR KING DOME IS HOLLY GROUND YOU CAN ENTER BUT YOU WILL LEAVE WITH OUT A SOUL - Abayarde, Buffalo Rumblings

by Dyl on Oct 20, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions

Yes, we can. Because he’s on the practice squad. :)

Also, I don’t know if anyone else is with me, but I’m not even thinking about this defense in terms of specific positions anymore. There are defensive linemen, pass rushers, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties. The Bills don’t run a true 3-4 enough for it to even matter.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Oct 20, 2011 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah. You’d think I’d remember that at the rate we discuss it here. :)

Go Buffalo Bills, Utah Jazz, and Arkansas Razorbacks

OUR KING DOME IS HOLLY GROUND YOU CAN ENTER BUT YOU WILL LEAVE WITH OUT A SOUL - Abayarde, Buffalo Rumblings

by Dyl on Oct 20, 2011 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Lots and lots

"Being a Bills Fan is a Tough Job for Tough People…" – Luther6

by Montel on Oct 20, 2011 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Nooooooooooo

It seems like the Bills have been snake bitten with the injury bug for way too many years.

"You tell 'em I'M coming... and HELL'S coming with me, you hear?... "

Wyatt Earp

by Goose22 on Oct 20, 2011 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

It’s this little thing called tackle football.

"Go check on the ribs!"

by TheAfghanTwilight on Oct 20, 2011 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe our guys can wear flags…

"You tell 'em I'M coming... and HELL'S coming with me, you hear?... "

Wyatt Earp

by Goose22 on Oct 20, 2011 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Pick up?

Who’s put there dwindling in FA?

Brian if we needed to bring someone in, who would it be in your opinion?

by RiddickBillsFan on Oct 20, 2011 10:31 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Typo

Out* not put

by RiddickBillsFan on Oct 20, 2011 10:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Spencer and Alex

It’s simple, Spencer and Alex shouldn’t sniff OLBer. We were putting these guys in over Moats. In fact, Carrington or Spence should be starting at LDE, with Dareus at NT. That gives you Heard as the back up NT with one rotational end.

by eze on Oct 20, 2011 10:42 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I also like them at DE not OLB

DE is deep & strong. 99 is the real deal & Edwards is strong against the run. I’d kick one of these 4 inside to cover for injuries. 92 really needs more PT.

This allows 52 to start @ OLB, hopefully opposite 56, which we really would benefit from.

"Alright Men, lets go out there, bust um in the chops & get somebody bloody. Keep working hard till you get it right. Take the W in battle & make the Bills Nation Proud." coach Karma420

by Blood, sweat & Win on Oct 20, 2011 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Dwan Edwards entered the NFL as a DT. Could do in a pinch.

When the job is finished no one remembers how long it took, just how well it was performed.

by Buffalo for Eternity on Oct 20, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions

yes

I thought he would be the best choice.

"Alright Men, lets go out there, bust um in the chops & get somebody bloody. Keep working hard till you get it right. Take the W in battle & make the Bills Nation Proud." coach Karma420

by Blood, sweat & Win on Oct 22, 2011 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions

Ding! Ding! Ding!

We have a winner! Exactly what I’ve been thinking: move Dareus inside to NT (he’s the only other big DT we have who could be as explosive and disruptive penetrating the middle as Williams), replace him at LDE with Johnson and think really hard about replacing Edwards at RDE with Carrington. Let Moats start at JLB (at least while Merriman is still playing hurt) and let Batten get plenty of reps at SLB, too. Heard can rotate in at NT to spell Dareus. And with Sheppard getting more reps, too, you have younger, faster guys in the lineup. The key is everything else is predicated on getting maximum disruption from the NT and with Williams out, it’s time to slide Dareus inside and see how much damage he can cause from there. Nice job, Eze.

by wpod on Oct 22, 2011 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions

I think the Bills will keep Dareus at DE simply because thats what we drafted him for. Heard would be better as a backup to NT assuming that Troup is healthy enough to start after the bye. Meanwhile, with Merriman and Kelsay returning at OLB, Johnson can sub in at DE instead. What’s Troup’s status?

Also, off-topic, when is Aaron Williams set to return?

by DynamicHero22 on Oct 20, 2011 10:46 AM EDT reply actions

This is the first i’ve heard that Williams’ health issue is bone spurrs. Sometimes plantar fasciitis, an inflamation of the fascia (a band of soft connective tissue running the length of the bottom of your foot) is misslabeled as bone spurs. Do we know for certain Williams is dealing with the real thing? If that is the case, I would guess surgery is inevitable. Fortunately, the surgery is pretty straightforward, but I don’t know how long it takes to recuperate. I suspect the team is going to end up needing a solution for most of the remainder of the season.

Brian pointed out that Michael Jasper has been switched to offensive lineman (guard). He could easily be switched back. The real question is, how effective would he be? The answer is almost certainly, not very. I also don’t think there are going to be any street free agents out there who are going to be helpful. If Troup is going to be hampered with his back issues going forward, I think maybe the best solution is to move Dareus to the nose when Buffalo lines up in a 3-4 and start Carrington at DE. Spencer Johnson would need to forget about lineing up at LB for now and sub in for Carington and Edwards as needed.

by TigerJ on Oct 20, 2011 1:36 PM EDT reply actions

I would like to see

Dareus move to NT in Williams’s absence and Edwards and Carrington on end.

by Billsdownunder on Oct 20, 2011 5:16 PM EDT reply actions

The fan favored choices

1. Bring back Pat Williams

2. Switch Jasper back to d-line and activate him.

How about this:

1 & 2!

"Being a Bills Fan is a Tough Job for Tough People…" – Luther6

by Montel on Oct 20, 2011 6:51 PM EDT reply actions

Who's right?

It appears someone on here is right, either we are going to find the solution on the team or a street free agent, or we are all wrong and we are going to fail to make the playoffs again and maybe even fall back into obscurity. Wow I really hope Nix & Gailey Are Right & Know What They Are Doing because this very well could be that moment that we always foundly remember or we just add up with the rest of our franchise blunders. Buffalo Bills Front Office – Head Coach & Coaching Staff, And Players – is this it for You / Us, and if so Which will it be! I for one can hardly wait to see. GO BILLS! Keep the faith fans!

by atsnigduh2u on Oct 22, 2011 2:39 AM EDT reply actions