What do you guys wanna see?

This is my first post so I'm still figuring out what works and what doesn't for readers...

4-3 or 3-4. I know this has been covered in previous posts, but it's something that continues to be in the back of my head as I've been doing draft research and looking at everyones Mock drafts. Every time I look at a mock I try to figure out what this person envisioned defensively. It has basically gotten to a point where I would like some clarity. Even though I think it is an advantage that Buffalo can rotate fronts, I still think it is important to have a resemblance of an identity on defense. We have personnel up front that is versatile, partially because we've played both defenses in the past few years, but in my opinion I think our best bet is to go to a 4-3.

Here are a few reasons...

1. Dave Wannstedt is clearly more comfortable running a 4-3 defense. I think it is to the teams advantage to play to our coach's strengths first a foremost. Especially in our scenario where we are not a team that has only played one D for years (ie the Steelers). Wade Phillips was at his best as a 3-4 coach and transition the Texans to resemble that because that is what he was at his best doing. Clearly we didn't have a lot of success running 3-4 so I feel no commitment towards it.

2. Our two best defensive players are better built and I think will excell more in a 4-3 scheme. The thought of having Williams and Dareus in the middle makes me excited. Those two players are tremendous athletes and I think would make the entire defense around them better. I personally think having those guys in the 3-4 puts them out of position and doesn't take advantage of their skill set. Playing the 3-4 nose is not a position I think we should have our top 5 pick playing. Kris Jenkins has said multiple time that that position is the worst one in football, and his shortened career is a perfect example of what can happen. Not only that but putting WIlliams or Dareus at an end puts them too far out of plays at times. Clearly Troup is not going to be a top-tier NT like we had hoped. He already has injuries w/o playing full time and he has not shown the strength that is require to be one of the better ones at this position.

3. With Williams and Dareus you have two players who can penetrate and hold themselves at the point of attack. The other DL seem to have been forced to play out of position more than playing in a natural spot in the 3-4. Spencer Johnson and Carrington come to mind.

4. This draft seems to have a stronger core of guys who can play 4-3 and would arguably be better served at that position. Coples, Mercilus, Ingram, and maybe Branch are all guys we could take in the 1st round or two and are clearly big enough and more comfortable keeping their hand in the ground.

5. I really can't think of any player, in the Bills front 7 that either can't play in the 4-3 and if they can't they are expendable. Kelsey can. Carrington can be a DT/DE. Johnson DT. There has been talk of Edwards being cut for cap reasons and because I don't think he is really that good. He is an average player in my eyes and not somebody hold us back from switching by any means. LBs can be slotted because we don't really have one guy who is undersized or somebody who can't move. In my eyes I would love to add a MLB or SLB. Putting Sheppard at WLB and Barnett at SLB. Both those guys could play middle as well. All that leaves is a DE which is something that can be addressed in the draft and free agency.

Basically my thought process is to play to your teams strengths, starting at the top. Wannstedt is a 4-3 guy. Williams and Dareus are at their best as 4-3 DTs. That right there should be all the Bills need.

Those two players are going to help the pass rush by pushing the pocket and drawing interior attention. That will create a trickle down effect. All of a sudden the pass rush becomes better, the LBs don't have as many blockers around them, and the secondary has to cover for a shorter time. Once we start to get some certainty on scheme I think it will help us fans mock better (most important obviously) and help the organization plan better for the draft.