When all else failed, Bills’ defense failed less

By Anthony Bialy  |   Monday, January 12, 2009  |  Comments( 97 )

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Winning nearly half their games doesn’t count, but the Buffalo Bills did manage to do some positive things during an ultimately rotten 2008 season. And fans don’t even have to limit recollections to the season’s rosily shiny first quarter, as the team performed well throughout the campaign in some aspects. Maybe “a handful” is more accurate than “some,” and maybe said hand would have to be abnormally girlish, but backers can nonetheless feel pride about the biggest general yearlong trend and a smaller accompanying one: The defense held together, sort of, thanks in large part to new guys being some of the team’s best guys.

The stretch where this squad fell from league beast to relegation candidate was virtually wholly the offense’s fault, excepting the two notable running backs in Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. The defense allowing a slightly excessive 4.3 yards per rush over 2008 was a rate affected by circumstances, namely those on the other side of the ball for the Bills forgetting to show up on time or at all. The defenders also gave up 204.4 yards per game by air, finishing 13th in pass defense; with this team this year, mediocrity was a virtue.

The newest players made the biggest impact, as the defensive additions helped. For this unit to have even approached said competence this past season, they needed free agent linebacker Kawika Mitchell to play like a wolf with a grudge as trade acquisition Marcus Stroud concurrently worked on bursting the pocket from the bottom. Both came pretty close to cashing in those hopes, as neither let the fact that they were in their first seasons with this team slow them.

Mitchell was particularly good when he could display his aggression, as shown by his career-high four sacks, and was decent when he displayed a little less aggression, evidenced by his two interceptions and three passes defended.

Mostly strong with a few big plays is a classification that can be applied to Stroud’s season, too, as he was fairly good at pass pursuing for a team that was fairly bad at it. Aside from picking up 2.5 sacks, the Georgia product was solid, if not spectacular, at run stopping; overall, he was a formidable offensive defenseman. Credited with a good-for-a-DT 45 tackles this season, he was proficient at making his way to rushers in an anecdotal sense; he looked elusive on the field rather than just seeming elusive by the stats.

As with his fellow newcomer Mitchell, Stroud was an intended defensive upgrade who actually upgraded; they were two of the biggest reasons why this group held its own as it simultaneously propped up counterparts that didn’t frequently bother to return the favor. With a consistent scoring threat from its alleged friends on offense, this defense could actually be classified as good next season.

Feel better? Nope? Well, while waiting until next season, there’s the hope that the offense could be tweaked in a way that would provoke success for the entire franchise.

Specifically, the defense’s biggest asset next season must be the offensive coordinator. Relying heavily on Lynch and Jackson could overpower foes while eating the clock, which would in turn allow a mediocre 2008 defense to play with more confidence and for less time in 2009. Whether it’s Turk Schonert or Schonert’s replacement, he has to know that his side of the ball is only one of two that’s relying on the offense turning to a power running game.
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