Bills’ McCargo should be even better in ‘08

By Connor Byrne  |   Tuesday, June 03, 2008  |  Comments( 20 )

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What a difference a year made for the Buffalo Bills' John McCargo.

In June of 2007, Bills fans were simply hoping the 307-pound nose tackle would be healthy enough to stay on the field during his sophomore NFL campaign. As a rookie two years ago, the '06 first-round pick from North Carolina State appeared in just five games for the Bills, missing the final 11 because of a broken left foot. Coincidentally, he broke the same foot in college, which led many to think he'd spent more time in the pros on injured reserve than the field. In addition, a vast amount of Buffalo loyalists were skeptical of McCargo's ability. When former Bills general manager Marv Levy drafted McCargo 26th overall, the pick was viewed as a reach. McCargo's critics said he was a product of superb teammates, namely fellow '06 draftees Mario Williams (a defensive end who went No. 1 overall to Houston) and Manny Lawson (a 49ers linebacker who was the 22nd pick).

Even though McCargo battled harsh obstacles in the first year-plus of his NFL career, he went a long way toward silencing his doubters last season. As a member of a defense that was injury-plagued, young and mostly porous, McCargo was a bright spot. He more than tripled his on-field time during Year 2 as a Bill, playing in 16 games and amassing 45 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The Drakes Branch, Va., native got better as the season progressed, and he even co-led Buffalo's 'D' with a solid 6.5 stuffs behind the line of scrimmage.

The best thing for the 24-year-old McCargo going into the new season is that he'll no longer have a liability playing adjacent to him. He'll now be joined by fellow DT Marcus Stroud, a 310-pounder who has emerged as one of the league's foremost defenders since entering it in 2001.

During his seven-year career, Stroud has three times been an All-Pro, which is an honor reserved solely for the game's best. The only catch is that Stroud, an ex-Jaguar whom the Bills acquired in March for third- and fifth-round draft picks, hasn't been at his peak lately: In 2006, he missed time because of an ankle injury; last season, he sat out nine games as a result of a violation of the league's substance-abuse policy and a re-injury of the same ankle. Stroud's wonky ankle may sound scary, but fans should take solace in knowing the Bills' medical staff is a world-class team (as it demonstrated when it saved almost paralyzed tight end Kevin Everett's life last season). Moreover, Stroud had to pass a physical before joining the Bills, and their doctors gave him a clean bill of health. If healthy, the presence of Stroud -- even if the 30-year-old isn't the same player he used to be -- will definitely improve McCargo in some way, shape or form. Of course, whether Stroud has a huge impact on his fellow tackle remains to be seen, but it's absolutely safe to say the former University of Georgia standout is an upgrade from all other DTs the Bills had last year.

In the end, given that he progressed quite a bit as a second-year pro and that Buffalo now has a proven commodity next to him, don't be surprised if 2008 is kind to both McCargo and Buffalo's defense. That would be welcome news for a stop unit that ended last season 25th versus the run.

*E-mail: cbyrne@realfootball365.com
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CommentsComments: 20  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Grant W.		01:35 PM
06/03/2008
It will be great to see what McCargo does with Stroud beside him, it would not be surprising at all for him to be the main threat...
No.2
01:40 PM
06/03/2008
I can't believe it's 12:30 PM EST and no one has posted here yet. Connor, did you sublease this column space and your byline to...
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No.3
8and8Forever		02:00 PM
06/03/2008
IF Stroud has a couple good, active, healthy years left, 'Cargo will be the beneficiary, no doubt. 'Cargo looked bigger and...
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