Posey to DE is an interesting option for the Bills

By Connor Byrne  |   Thursday, May 11, 2006  |  Comments( 10 )

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Buffalo Bills strong side linebacker Jeff Posey has drawn a lot of criticism since joining the team as a free agent prior to the 2003 season. He was brought over from the Houston Texans, where he had eight sacks in 2002, to be a pass-rushing linebacker for the Bills. However, in four seasons with the Bills he has compiled just 9.5 sacks. Why? Because his specialty in rushing the opposing quarterback lies in the 3-4 defensive alignment. In Buffalo, the 30-year-old has been and still is stuck in a much different scheme, the 4-3.

Surprisingly, Posey is yet to be released by the Bills, but this still is a possibility. At the same time there's a chance that Posey will remain the team's starting linebacker on the left side, since backup Angelo Crowell is often viewed as too small to play the position. If the Bills' defensive coordinator, Perry Fewell, does like Crowell better than Posey as a starter then Buffalo will find themselves not knowing where to put Posey.

Although he's only 241 pounds, the left defensive end position could be a good place for Posey to transition. Currently, the Bills' strikingly unspectacular duo at that particular spot includes Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay, two ex-second-rounders who have failed to live up to their draft status. Because of that, it might be worthwhile for Fewell, and head coach Dick Jauron, to at least give Posey a crack at the position. If he fails, then cut the cord on the experiment and simply move on.

Since most defensive ends are at least 260 pounds, many may be viewing this idea as a joke. However, given the fact that the Bills' new "Tampa 2" defensive scheme does require smaller, quicker linemen, it may be a novel idea. One of the notable "Tampa 2" defenses in the league belongs to the eternally tremendous Indianapolis Colts. Much like the Bills, they possess small, fast linemen with the know-how and quickness to stymie opposing offenses.

Guess how much one of the Colts' main defensive ends weighs? 250? 260? Nope. 235. Of course, I'm speaking of one of the NFL's most underrated sack artists, Robert Mathis. The 25-year-old has silently accumulated a whopping 22 sacks over the last two seasons, including 10.5 in 2004 and 11.5 in 2005. Mathis was viewed as an upstart as an end, but he's done more than enough to prove his critics wrong.

Since Posey outweighs the successful Mathis by six pounds, there's no reason why he can't experience the same type of on-field triumphs. Posey is a solid leader and an asset to the Bills' locker room, making it prudent for the defensive coaching staff to keep him involved on the field. Rushing the passer is his strength, and it's something the Buffalo Bills' defense is weak at, so he'd certainly fill a need area.

He may be unheralded, but Posey seems like the man for the job at the left end position in Buffalo. Give it a try, Fewell and Jauron. You'll thank me when the results come in.

--Connor J. Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com
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CommentsComments: 10  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Neil		06:57 AM
05/11/2006
An interesting suggestion that might work. However, do not be surprised if Kelsay, whose game in college was based largely on his...
No.2
jon		11:52 AM
05/11/2006
Interesting but I think the Bills should just spend the extra money and trade for someone who is proven at the position. The...
No.3
RIchard		12:07 PM
05/11/2006
Posey has played as a situational pass-rushing DE a lot over the past three years. He's not good at it. There's a big...
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