Greg Cosell Commentary On Bills DE Bruce Smith

by Brian Galliford on May 23, 2011 1:00 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills Opinion

Greg Cosell of NFL Films was conversing with his nearly 7,400 Twitter followers this morning about whether or not a true two-gap, 3-4 defensive end would ever be considered for the Hall of Fame. The point of the discussion was to highlight the outstanding play of true five-technique ends like Aaron Smith and Richard Seymour.

Naturally, the NFL's all-time leading sack artist and a 3-4 defensive end - Buffalo Bills Hall of Fame end Bruce Smith - was brought into the discussion. Cosell pointed out that Smith wasn't a classic 3-4 end.

"Like Ware, 3-4 DE in name only. Did not do much 2-gaping. Aligned wider + rushed QB. Outstanding getting low + skimming corner," Cosell tweeted.

Cosell compares the role Smith played to that of Dallas' DeMarcus Ware - a pass-rushing specialist that wasn't counted on to play the five-technique as classic 3-4 ends like Smith and Seymour have. All of this underscores a previous point made by Bills rookie Marcell Dareus, a two-gap defender: don't compare him to Smith.

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I always thought that from the mid-to-late part of his career that Bruce was underrated against the run.

What’s interesting about the Bills is that their 3-4 was undersized at NT as well with Jeff Wright. Which I guess asks the question – how did they get away with that?

by Pistol on May 23, 2011 1:20 PM EDT reply actions

They didn’t. They were basically playing a 4-3, which was Cosell’s point.

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by Brian Galliford on May 23, 2011 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions

If that’s the case that would make Bennett the other DE in the defense and I don’t seem to recall him playing a DE-like position.

Paup on the other hand I can clearly see that.

by Pistol on May 23, 2011 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Brian is correct

Buffalo played a hybrid 3-4 to accomodate Smith.

Cornelius Bennett almost never dropped into coverage from his LOLB position. He was essentially the left end. Wright plays a classic NT, and Art Shell/Leon Seals/Phil Hansen played a true five technique.

The defense had two inside linebackers and Talley at ROLB, but who often lined up inside of Smith, making him essentially a weak outside linebacker in the hybrid 4-3.

To sum up all this confusion:

Smith and Benning played RE and LE respectively. Wright was a NT, and Hansen was a 5T DE, creating the 4 man line.

Talley played weakside linebacker.

A cast of many played the 2 inside linebackers.

Starting the official Buffalo "Draft a Quarterback in the First Round in 2012" campaign.

by Der Jaeger on May 23, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

You mean Art Still, right?

by sarasotabillsfan on May 23, 2011 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

if you know what someone means… then let it go, none of us are really proofreading on here, and I think, that I am guilty of pointing out mistakes in the past, am trying not to call everyone out on every little typo… but of course, yes, he did mean Art Still

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by killascript on May 23, 2011 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions

I appreciate it when someone corrects a typo

Especially in cases like this. I couldn’t remember Art Shell playing for us, and I don’t recall Art Still at all. It gives everyone a chance to learn more about our beloved team!

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by teq on May 24, 2011 6:13 AM EDT up reply actions

true

but if someone doesn’t know, and then asks “Did Art Shell play for the Bills… and in the 80s?” it is different than someone pointing out the mistakes of someone who is just typing off the cuff in most cases… I just know that I would pounce on people in the past, and after being pounced on for a small error, I realized how much i dont like it.. thats all….

Art Still, no. 72? big tall DE opposite Bruce, played through the 80s

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by killascript on May 24, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

As far as I can remember(1990’s SB), Blo were known as 1 of a few (very few) running 3-4D….was the presence of Bennett the difference ? just didn’t understand it yesterday as I don’t today :)

by Bufbills on May 23, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions

Does any team really play a pure 3-4?

Am I imagining this or does it appear that there is always an OLB playing right up on the line in most teams’ 3-4 sets, so whether he has his hand down or not seems like splitting hairs. I could be wrong but Bruce would play a 3 technique once in awhile, but never remember him playing a 2 or a 4. In Jeff Wright’s defense, I’m not sure how many NTs were 320-340 20 years ago. Bruce had so many moves, it was awesome to watch him put on a clinic week in and week out. As fast as he was, I think his uppercut hook might have been his best

by AlwaysaBillinPhilly on May 23, 2011 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

With Dick Jauron now in Cleveland, KC and NE are probably the closest examples to the true 3-4 left in football.

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by Brian Galliford on May 23, 2011 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, and Pittsburgh – who run a two-gap system but incorporate their own zone blitz flair.

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by Brian Galliford on May 23, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks Brian

Seems like the Bills Bermuda Triangle days looked like a pure 3-4 but that was a LONG time ago and Freddie was a BEAST!

by AlwaysaBillinPhilly on May 23, 2011 2:30 PM EDT reply actions

aligned wider and rushed QB?

schobel? was he talking about schobel??? Cuz I don’t remember anyone ever abusing Bruce with a run game….Bruce, definately had run responsibilities inside the tackle and made countless TFLs or no gains at him or away.
Smith is my main reason for hating schobel so much, schobel would pass rush all the time VS. running plays, taking himself out of the play….I really cannot remember Bruce doing that even ONCE! I swear!
Anyone who sez bruce was a pass-rusher is talking out of his ass. Anyone who watched Brruce over his career, I mean really watched, knows bruce is one of the top 3 or 4 defenders ever. since 1980, there’s bruce, reggie and that’s it. Bills’ fans may not know the joy of winning a superbowl, but, to watch Bruce week after week was seeing freakishly high potential realized, was seeing the best ever……was seeing grace and greatness…..the nfl could make a two-hour highlite show of him and not show the same play twice, although you would have to, because his play was so miraculous, you wouldn’t believe your eyes the first time or be able to follow him fast enough…….%^*()(&^%$ cosell!
.BBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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by podunkowego on May 23, 2011 2:42 PM EDT reply actions

Anyone who sez bruce was a pass-rusher is talking out of his ass.

… what?

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by Brian Galliford on May 23, 2011 2:45 PM EDT up reply actions

I think he meant “anyone who says Bruce was merely a pass rusher”, but yes, it sounded weird.

"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.

by stetzwebs on May 23, 2011 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

really?

what.

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on May 23, 2011 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, really. I don’t see how saying the NFL’s all-time sack leader “was a pass-rusher” is “talking out of his ass.”

Editor-in-Chief, BUFFALO RUMBLINGS®
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by Brian Galliford on May 23, 2011 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions

schobel would pass rush all the time VS. running plays, taking himself out of the play….I really cannot remember Bruce doing that even ONCE! I swear!

I remember him doing that on more than one occasion – that’s for sure. If I recall, he got ripped by local media for a while for it too.

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by J2 on May 23, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Yep J2

Bruce would rush immiedately upfield sometimes and get gashed right inside the tackle. Still agree that all -time DE’s Bruce was second only to Reggie. That was a man playing against boys every week. Once he decided that it was Reggie time, that was it…

by AlwaysaBillinPhilly on May 23, 2011 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions

no....no......no......

you mean schobel….right?

Cuz Bruce’s ability to read run from pass was so absolute, it seemed telepathic in nature……

BBBBBBBBBBBRRRRRRRRRRUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCEEEEEEEE

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on May 23, 2011 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

J2 is correct.

you mean schobel….right?

It was much more pronounced with Schobel.

But after a few years teams felt the best way to neutralize Bruce was to run at him and that became the strategy for most Bills opponents to deal with Bruce.

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by The Buffalo Kid on May 24, 2011 7:37 AM EDT up reply actions

I mean immediately...

by AlwaysaBillinPhilly on May 23, 2011 2:57 PM EDT reply actions

I believe it is this sites custom....

to not grade for typos or spelling errors……I hope it is anyways….eh….

Or do you mean really, really fast?

PodunkO - The great post ender!

by podunkowego on May 23, 2011 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Marcell Dareus is the second coming of Bruce Smith

Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Also, Cam Newton is the next Steve Smith.
Von Miller is Champ Bailey reincarnated.
And I’ll be damned if AJ Green isn’t a spitting image of Anthony Munoz.

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by Undee on May 23, 2011 5:18 PM EDT reply actions