Fixing The Bills' Pass Rush Without Breaking The Bank

If we were tapping on the door to the Super Bowl, then sure. But we are not.

Let’s resign our own, build through the draft, and make a couple good FA signings that are smart and fill holes at a fair price.

Rather have a Super Bowl team in two years and a consistent playoff team for many years than doing what the Jets did.

only like 1 pick in this mock, and that is Osweiler. The bills are not going to draft two interior lineman, we need an OT.

I’m not sure why you’re still giving Buffalo a 6th round pick for losing Poz. It’s just not going to work out that way. Either the Bills gave Kirk Morrison more than the vet minimum and they’ll get no picks, or they’ll get a 7th for losing two UFAs and signing two UFAs. At least, that’s how the last four years of comp pick rewards have gone with nobody ever getting anything other than a 7th without a net loss of FAs.

I’m interested in the idea of going after Anthony Spencer. As a general rule, 2nd and 3rd tier FAs almost always end up being overpaid in hindsight, but Spencer still is probably worth that risk considering the importance of the pass rush and Buffalo’s current pathetic group of pass rushers.

I’m intrigued by Melvin Ingram, although I’m not sure he has the versatility that you’re talking about. At least in that you listed him as a DE/OLB. I just can’t imagine him playing LB in a 4-3. In college he was versatile because he played DE and shifted inside to DT sometimes. They dropped him into coverage some, but he struggled at it, IMO and you can’t really ask him to do anything other than handle the flat and even then RBs might be able to take advantage of him. In a 4-3, I think he’s a right-side DE only, unless you’re occasionally sliding him inside to DT on obvious pass downs. Which is an awesome strategy, but one that loses it’s luster some when you’re two best players on the whole roster already play there and when that move leaves somebody like Chris Kelsay on the field instead.

I’m not sure Shea McClellin is a 4-3 LB fit either, even though I love the guy. You’d need to run a specific defense to play him there. You’re strongside backer needs to be able to at least occasionally cover a TE. It’s not like Buffalo can switch up responsibilities and leave the TE to the MLB or anything either considering that Sheppard vs. a TE is a mismatch in the opposing team’s favor as well.

Spencer isn’t the kind of guy that’s going to draw much blocking attention, or divert it from others. Sure, he’ll be cheaper than Mario Williams. For that matter, so will Cliff Avril. But Spencer doesn’t do anything to change offenses. The center and guards with still block Kyle Williams and Dareus; the LT will still block the RE; the RT will still block Spencer; the offense will be OK.

Now substitute Mario Williams for Spencer. Unless the LT is special, he’s going to need some help to block Williams. The LT’s not going to get it from the guards or center, who are busy enough with the Bills’ DT’s. The RT still blocks Kelsay or whoever is playing LE. But the offense now has a problem in that its LT is potentially overmatched.

The offense compensates with blocking help from a back or TE. To make this extra blocking happen, the offense either takes a potential receiver out of the passing game (TE or RB) or reduces that receiver to a chip-then-dump-off receiver.

From a defensive perspective, the back seven now has to cover 4 receivers, or 4 plus a late developing check down. That leaves open coverage possibilities, and blitz possibilities. The defense has the advantage.

This type of problem for the offense is exactly why Minnesota had such a dominant defense. Mario Williams-Kyle Williams-Marcell Dareus would give Buffalo the same type of front, but with more shelf live, because they’re younger than Minnesota’s Allen-Williams-William trio when it was formed.

One last benefit: Buffalo can rotate LE’s to see who’s best. Whether that’s Kelsay playing solid, Carrington developing into a good starter, or someone drafted developing, one thing is certain: they get the RT one-on-one every play. Ask Ray Edwards how that works.

Unless I am wrong, hasn’t Mario Williams now been injured for the last 2 years now? I don’t see anyone talking about his risk potential. If we spend a gadzillion dollars getting him and he ends up in IR in year 1, where are we ahead?