No Schobel, yes problems for Bills’ pass rush

By Anthony Bialy  |   Tuesday, January 27, 2009  |  Comments( 52 )

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Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel put up low numbers in a low number of 2008 games, but he still proved his value during the contests he missed. The proof is in the stats: The team’s sack totals plummeted when he left, and Buffalo must improve its end pool regardless of whether Schobel returns at full strength next season.

The Bills sucked at sacking in 2008, and that’s unfortunately the nicest way to say it. Schobel’s season-ending injury coincided with the Bills’ season-ending inability to get to the passer, despite the fact that the prime end didn’t himself exactly stop many passing plays prematurely during his limited action. Even though Schobel only had one sack over his five games, the team accumulated 10 sacks in that time; meanwhile, the Bills piled up a paltry 14 in the last 11 contests, which coincidentally were the ones in which he didn’t play.

Finishing with only 24 sacks tied them for 28th with the Washington Redskins; the two beat only the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs, a sad assortment of misfit teams. On the other hand, Buffalo ended in the middle at 16th when it came to opponents’ passer rating, as the quarterbacks it faced combined for an 83.2; imagine how good this defense could have been if it had combined the good corner and safety play it got with even a passable pass rush.

The Bills were shallow when it came to depth. Schobel’s didn’t-really-replace-him replacements in Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay are a two-headed monster with no fangs, as their six combined sacks last season might be a decent total for either one of them but not both.

The issue for the Bills is whether these troubles are going to be resolved with personnel additions or better play from the personnel they already have. Do they need to draft a rushing end, or are they content with hoping that Schobel, returning from a season-wrecking injury with a 32nd birthday looming before 2009’s Week 1, can get it done on his own while distracting defenses enough to make the other end better?

Regardless, the TCU man’s presence makes the pass rush better even if he’s not playing up to his typical par. Of course, until cyborgs are invented and then allowed to play sports, every footballer will be replaced eventually, and Buffalo's wisest bet is to put “pass-rushing end” second from the top on the legal pad where it's recording 2009’s draft needs, right behind a tight end who can catch.

If Schobel struggles after his injury, the new guy with the 90s number can take his place. And, if Schobel returns to full speed, Mr. Rookie End can open his career warming his feet on the less stressful left side before moving to the premier slot upon Schobel’s retirement in a few years.

The other option is to do nothing, which is unfortunately the route players involuntarily chose last season. First-year man Chris Ellis didn’t make much of a splash, barely getting his name mentioned until it was followed with the phrase “was placed on injured reserve"; it looks as if he’s inhabiting a James Hardy-type world where it’s going to take him a while to bloom, if at all, and this team can’t afford to wait.

Picking up a free agent end sounds attractive, specifically now that Carolina Panther Julius Peppers has announced he doesn’t want to be a Carolina Panther anymore. But he’s looking to play within a 3-4 defense and will command an astounding fortune; the fact the Bills offer neither the alignment nor money he desires means that fans have to settle for hoping the team will draft a DE early and wisely.

Inaction by management this offseason will lead to continued inertia on the field. They have to prepare for the future, whether it’s replacing Schobel now or around 2012; either way, picking up an end will if nothing else serve the noble goal of outmoding the Denney/Kelsay slow-rushing combo this year.
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CommentsComments: 52  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
flda-dennis		10:04 AM
01/27/2009
Did you know--- That today is the 18th anniversary of "WIDE RIGHT" Im afraid there is no instant cure for the pass rush...
No.2
Alan		11:08 AM
01/27/2009
I think part of the pass rush problem has to do w/ the players, but also the play calling. we could have been more aggressive...
No.3
Kegman		11:18 AM
01/27/2009
It will be a miracle if Schobel returns at 100%, plus he is 32, and he's not that big. He's another foot injury waiting to...
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