Bills’ rookie DT’s could make big impact

By Connor Byrne  |   Thursday, May 04, 2006  |  Comments( 4 )

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At last weekend's NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills made a point to upgrade one of the weakest areas on their team, the defensive tackle position. They traded up into the first round in order to select former NC State standout John McCargo with the 26th overall pick, then they grabbed former LSU stalwart Kyle Williams in the fifth round. McCargo is expected to start next season, while Williams will be a rotational player at the commencement of his pro career.

After the Bills traded the 42nd and 73rd overall picks to the Chicago Bears for the No. 26 pick, many expected they'd take former USC bookend offensive tackle Winston Justice, but they chose McCargo instead. Many question McCargo's ability because he played on a defensive line that included No. 1 overall pick Mario Williams and No. 22 pick Manny Lawson; however, rest assured that McCargo is a terrific prospect. At 302 pounds, he's exactly the type of player who can make an impact in the Bills' new "Tampa 2" defensive scheme, which requires smaller, penetrating linemen. McCargo is the type who can bust through multiple offensive linemen and make big plays behind the line of scrimmage, which is exactly what the Bills need. He'll start opposite newcomer Larry Tripplett next season at tackle.

A variety of experts have questioned the Bills moving into round one for McCargo, but the fact is that the New York Giants were prepared to take him with the 32nd overall pick. Their GM, Ernie Accorsi, made it evident they needed a defensive tackle, but Bills GM Marv Levy jumped in front of him with a somewhat inexpensive trade. Thus, anyone calling this pick a reach by the Bills is sorely mistaken. It may have seemed like a reach initially, but now that the facts have come out, it's clear that Levy made the right move. Levy had his sights set on McCargo, and he got him. There's certainly nothing wrong with that.

As mentioned earlier, Kyle Williams from LSU was the Bills' second and final tackle selection of the draft. Out of the 255 players selected in the draft, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who works harder than Williams. He doesn't necessarily have the talent of many other DT's, but he matches their God-given ability with his tremendous work-ethic. His "Rudy" mentality will be a welcome addition to a Bills locker room that is already packed to the gills with hard workers.

The 299-pound Williams will also be a great fit for the Bills' new "one-gap" defensive line scheme, which accompanies the "Tampa 2." Williams will likely be a rotator next year along with fellow backup Tim Anderson, but his impact should be felt down the line. Draft guru Mel Kiper, Jr. compared Williams favorably to Baltimore Ravens tackle Kelly Gregg, and that seems spot on. If Williams turns out as solidly as Gregg has, then the Bills got themselves great value in the fifth round.

One major factor that needn't be ignored when it comes to the Bills' young tackles is who their position coach will be. When players come into the NFL, it's extremely important they have a knowledgeable, experienced coach who can vastly improve their skill level. In this case, McCargo and Williams have one of the league's finest defensive line coaches, Bill Kollar. Although Kollar--formerly the Rams' DL coach--has earned a reputation by some as a "screamer," he knows what it takes to motivate young players, and he gets the job done. His style didn't work in St. Louis with former first round bust Damione Lewis, but it did with Ryan Pickett, who recently cashed in on a hefty free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers.

With the draft now in the books, the fact that the Buffalo Bills have upgraded the defensive tackle position this offseason has certainly manifested itself. McCargo and Williams could be terrific players for the Bills down the line, and it certainly won't hurt that they'll have Tripplett, a high-character veteran, alongside them as they develop. If you're looking for the Bills' run defense to be ranked 29th again next season, then be prepared to look foolish. It could easily move into the league's top 15, or if things go well, the top 10.

--Connor Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com.
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