Buffalo Bills Sign OLB Antonio Coleman, Per Report

by MattRichWarren on Oct 26, 2011 7:42 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

The Buffalo Bills created an open roster spot yesterday when they placed veteran pass rusher Shawne Merriman on Injured Reserve. According to the Newark Star-Ledger, they filled that spot by re-signing Antonio Coleman, a second-year pass rusher released by the Bills in September.

Coleman spent the first portion of the 2011 season on the New York Giants' practice squad. If this news becomes official, Buffalo must keep him on the active roster for three weeks - though that obviously shouldn't be a problem.

Coleman had a strong pre-season with eight tackles and a sack, but got caught up in the numbers game at linebacker. He should be able to step in and immediately contribute. He originally signed with the Bills a year ago as an undrafted free agent out of Auburn, accumulating five tackles in limited playing time during eight games.

Coleman joins a pass-rushing group that includes veteran Chris Kelsay and second-year pros Danny Batten and Arthur Moats. Spencer Johnson and Alex Carrington have both seen time at the position, too, but mostly as run-stoppers.

Tweet Comment 38 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Makes sense

Knows our system and is an edge rusher
Big enough to seal the edge too

by freddyjj on Oct 26, 2011 7:26 AM EDT reply actions

Like it

I like the move. He was good in the preseason. And let the kids play Coleman, Moats and Batten. Right now outside linebacker is maybe are number one need so lets see what we got for next year. And maybe just maybe the three could give us some kind of rush on the outside.

by mjflair on Oct 26, 2011 7:36 AM EDT reply actions

Good move..

The Coleman signing gives the Bills a player that eliminates the need of having to learn a new system. Coleman was decent with the Bills and will pick up where he left off.

"Football is NOT a contact sport - it is a collision sport.
Dancing IS a contact sport."

Duffy Daugherty / Michigan State

by Goose22 on Oct 26, 2011 7:53 AM EDT reply actions

I liked this kid in preseason

Was scratching my head when he got cut. He didn’t seem like the weakest link out there.

Circle the Wagons T-Shirts

Blue collar t-shirts, for blue collar fans.

by CircleTheWagonsTees on Oct 26, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions

Good signing and thanks Matt for not sleeping at all!

by DynamicHero22 on Oct 26, 2011 7:56 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs

I got 8 hours last night: 10-6.

Tweet
Buffalo Rumblings

by MattRichWarren on Oct 26, 2011 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

I'd prefer him

over batten. Played very well in pre season and maybe we can go after the Eddins guy too, since he’s not injured anymore.

by Fernando brazil on Oct 26, 2011 8:25 AM EDT reply actions

Don't think we CAN sign Eddins...

If I remember right, he was placed on injured reserve and then reached a settlement with the Bills. For that reason, the Bills can’t sign him, but any other team can. Anyone? Am I wrong on this?

"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 26, 2011 8:40 AM EDT up reply actions

That is correct.

Tweet
Buffalo Rumblings

by MattRichWarren on Oct 26, 2011 8:50 AM EDT up reply actions

thanks

i never understand that rule very well

by Fernando brazil on Oct 26, 2011 8:56 AM EDT up reply actions

They could sign him after this season is over I think.

Give a monkey a typewriter and infinite time, and he’ll eventually release Maybin. -- stetzwebs
No one circles the waiver wire like the Buffalo Bills!

by thefourwinds on Oct 26, 2011 9:06 PM EDT up reply actions

Does Coleman start?

Or at least come in first during passing situation.

Fitz = M(C)²
"Lets Go Buff! a! lo!"

by bflo on Oct 26, 2011 9:09 AM EDT reply actions

Very likely not. The team has a pecking order, and Coleman will be at the bottom of it.

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
@BrianGalliford

by Brian Galliford on Oct 26, 2011 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

So, Moats or Batten?

Fitz = M(C)²
"Lets Go Buff! a! lo!"

by bflo on Oct 26, 2011 9:22 AM EDT up reply actions

Moats then batten I guess.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Oct 26, 2011 9:24 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

So we got kelsay on one side and batten moats and coleman on the other side.

"This is a chance to shine some light on the city, They say it’s too cold. I’m going to bring some warmth to it." Marcell Dareus

by matthew62 on Oct 26, 2011 9:12 AM EDT reply actions

Spencer Johnson and Alex Carrington have both seen time at the position, too, but purely in a run-stopping capacity.

I wish this was the case, but both have been at OLB on passing downs.

Check out buddynixon.com for more of my work.

by cjf4 on Oct 26, 2011 9:38 AM EDT reply actions

You wish this was the case because you’ve seen Carrington getting burned in coverage?

He almost always plays from this position as a down lineman – stopping the run or rushing the passer. Why are people so against that? It might be exploitable, but so far it hasnt been and meanwhile any guy on the field is essentially a match-up problem in the right play-call. This is really not even a blip on our defensive concerns. It jusut means we have more flexibility in some sub-packages. It keeps getting derided and I really feel like its baseless.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Oct 26, 2011 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

You wish this was the case because you’ve seen Carrington getting burned in coverage?

More because neither one are really fast enough to be edge rushers. Maybe Carrington, but certainly not Johnson. And the coverage thing hasn’t been a huge issue I don’t think, not nearly as big as it should have been.

I’m not calling out the packages really, it’s more about personnel. We simply aren’t getting a wide pass rush like we need and it’s showing up on the stat sheet.

Check out buddynixon.com for more of my work.

by cjf4 on Oct 26, 2011 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions

I’m starting to think we are really so focused on the run that we just aren’t willing to expose ourselves the way you need to to get a pass-rush. Overloads and wide pass-rushes lead to open gaps. When we get teams to third and long, we may need to gamble a bit more if we want to actually want the pressure to come from the outside consistently. Then again, in a number of games we’ve successfully harried QBs (not sacked, but disrupted) by simply focusing on pushing the pocket and containing.

With Williams out this strategy seems more suspect (Giants game as a primary example). We may need to roll the dice a bit to get a pass-rush - not ideal, but better than letting QBs consistently convert third and long. Given the results from the early games, I’d rather get turnovers than sacks, so I’m okay with that strategy. But in the Giants game Eli really had time and he is someone you can force into a bad throw -- but we didnt.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Oct 26, 2011 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

whoops. pay no attention to the strikethrough, inadvertent

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Oct 26, 2011 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions

We have been getting....

Killed with little screens too many times this year ( remember the raiders game? Iye-yi-yi!)
You can see our pass rusher hesitate all the time, looking for screens or staying with the blocking back. (Barnett in particular). That hesitation is costing us big time. I think we are keeping a safety deep to protect against a big play, so if we get caught by a screen, they get at least 20yds.
We just don’t look right blitzing. If you watch the Eagles, you can see how it is supposed to be done…..with overloads, delays and blocking (and holding) D-linemen and finally all-out blitzing. We need to get better at blitzing, no doubt about it, and we can, so I am excited about watching the D evolve as the season wares on.
I am noy against seeing Carrington in coverage once, twice a game. That means we are zone-blitzing and I am all for that, but we have to do it better and faster. Carrington is at least a very big obstacle to throw around and maybe he tips a pass up or gets an interception himself.

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Oct 26, 2011 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions

Carrington is at least a very big obstacle to throw around and maybe he tips a pass up or gets an interception himself.

One of Vick’s interceptions was a Carrington tipped pass.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Oct 26, 2011 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions

All right!

There you go.

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Oct 26, 2011 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions

He seems to have a knack for that. Carrington was the first Bill in seemingly forever to block a kick.

by paxon on Oct 27, 2011 5:54 AM EDT up reply actions

Just because they were in on passing downs, doesn’t mean they weren’t in there to stop the run. They have the ability to tackle a RB as well as rush the passer. I haven’t seen either of those guys cover a running back or receiver, for example. Maybe they have. Brian would know.

Tweet
Buffalo Rumblings

by MattRichWarren on Oct 26, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

Somebody....

Was complaining that Carrington was in coverage after our last game, and above I believe. I have seen us zone blitz a bit this year and assumed he was talking about a zone blitz.
Just dropping back into coverage a bit, looking for screens or short passes over the middle.
I just wanted to say that you are going to have that now and then when trying to apply pressure.

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Oct 26, 2011 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Just because they were in on passing downs, doesn’t mean they weren’t in there to stop the run.

I neither said nor implied that. My implication is that to say a defensive end/ outside linebacker is purely for run stopping is absurd and misleading considering on just about any NFL play they are going to be responsible for both. Especially on 2nd and 3rd & longs.

Check out buddynixon.com for more of my work.

by cjf4 on Oct 26, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions

I get you now. They are in there to rush the passer while providing a little beef to help stop the run. That’s why they’ve been working at OLB. It sure isn’t to drop into coverage on a regular basis. The reason they are in over a guy like Moats is to add some muscle and size. So take that for what you want. They are sacrificing speed for size which apparently isn’t about stopping the run to you.

Tweet
Buffalo Rumblings

by MattRichWarren on Oct 26, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

They are sacrificing speed for size which apparently isn’t about stopping the run to you.

I’d wish you’d stop giving me the straw man treatment. What I took issue with, for the 3rd time, is the “purely run support” part of your statement. Just because their strengths lie in that area doesn’t mean they completely have no role in the other.

And listen, I’m not picking apart your columns for syntax flaws arbitrarily, I raised the issue because it points directly at a huge issue with the defense at the moment: In some passing situations, we have relatively slow 300+ lb players as the perimeter pass rushers, who didn’t generate anything in terms of pressure in those roles. Moats and Batten might be better at it, but you are going to need more than 2 players rotating to get through the game. So without knowing exactly Edwards or whoever’s reasoning was, I think it’s a reasonable belief that they were on the field because of necessity.

And I think that’s a huge depth issue, and I’m not sure how much resigning a practice squad player we cut in camp already resolves the situation. I’m hopeful, but not optimistic.

Check out buddynixon.com for more of my work.

by cjf4 on Oct 26, 2011 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions

I liked Coleman (at least as depth), was sorry he got cut. Hopefully he can continue to build on his pre-season here.

I have low expectations. But high hopes.

by greysquirrel on Oct 26, 2011 9:52 AM EDT reply actions

We're are lucky.....

He was practicing in the league and yet still available. It is a good sign that he was on the Gents as well. If there is any any team that knows how to flesh out pass fishers, it’s the G-men.
Maybe perry Fewell taught him something while he was there.
Pass rushers are a very precious commodity in the NFL, to get a guy that everybody here had on their final 53 guesstimit in august, this late in the season, that has been actively practicing and learning all along is really fortunate for us. He knows our (apparently complicated) system as well, beautiful.
We are lucky. He will help.

Go Bills!

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on Oct 26, 2011 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

Logical

plug him right in. Should also be a bit hungry after the yoyo experience.

"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 26, 2011 10:33 AM EDT reply actions

anyone agree with me that

with troup and Williams hurt Dareus should move to NT and have Edwards and Carrington at ends, with spencer johnson rotating in. I like Carrington starting at DE a lot more than heard starting at NT.

Fitzmagic

by tomcs on Oct 26, 2011 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

yes

by Billsdownunder on Oct 26, 2011 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

like it

moats>coleman=batten

by lalime40 on Oct 26, 2011 7:07 PM EDT reply actions

sign mathis

by lalime40 on Oct 26, 2011 7:08 PM EDT reply actions

As others said, I like that they brought in a young player who showed potential and knows the system. Now they’ll be playing, outside of Kelsay, all youngsters at OLB. That will help them get a good idea of what they have at the position, a position that they will need to address big time this offseason.

by paxon on Oct 27, 2011 5:50 AM EDT reply actions