Wire’s true test begins this Sunday for Buffalo

By Connor Byrne  |   Sunday, September 02, 2007  |  Comments( 23 )

Buffalo Bills
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For many optimistic Buffalo Bills fans, the upcoming season was supposed to be one for second-year linebacker Keith Ellison to break out. The 2006 sixth-round pick from Oregon State had a strong rookie campaign, adding 65 tackles and an interception in 14 games, and an even better training camp, where he a turnover-forcing machine.

Unfortunately for Ellison, his great camp play didn't necessarily carry over into the Bills' four-game preseason schedule. The 6-foot, 228-pounder struggled a bit in live action, especially during Buffalo's Aug. 24 loss to the Tennessee Titans. News got even worse for Ellison in the Bills' exhibition finale in Detroit last Thursday. The supposed-to-be No. 1 weakside LB sustained a high ankle sprain, and head coach Dick Jauron doesn't seem optimistic that Ellison will be ready to return in the near future. It's an injury that could take anywhere from six to 12 weeks to properly heal.

That means Buffalo will turn to Coy Wire, a former defensive back, to fill Ellison's shoes. Oddly enough, Wire was once a star linebacker as a member of the Stanford Cardinal, for whom he tallied 173 tackles and 11 sacks in his final 22 college games. Wire was originally a third-round pick of the Bills in 2002, but the team believed he was too undersized to play linebacker and stuck him at strong safety.

In his rookie season, the Camp Hill, Pa., native was solid, racking up 96 tackles and three sacks. He got progressively worse, though, and it eventually became rare to see him playing a meaningful snap as a defender. Instead, Wire spent time as the on-field leader of the NFL's best special teams unit for the past few years.

Wire made the transition back to linebacker last season and was officially moved there for good during the offseason, and he gained 20 pounds to successfully make the switch. So far, it appears as if the Bills' coaching staff made the right decision.

The 28-year-old was quite impressive during the preseason, certainly outperforming Ellison, and was among Buffalo's hardest hitters. Evidence of that came when Wire crushed Atlanta Falcons running back Jason Snelling on Aug. 17. On the play Wire delivered a blow to Snelling, knocked the ball out, and Bills defensive tackle John McCargo recovered the fumble.

Game-changing efforts like that make it even fair to say that Wire, behind rookie sensation Paul Posluszny, was the Bills' second-best linebacker during the four August contests.

While few believe Wire will become a big-impact defender, it would definitely aid the Bills if he turns in a strong regular-season performance, at least until Ellison can come back.

A linebacking trio of Wire, Posluszny and Angelo Crowell isn't known to fans around the league, but the Bills are hoping it develops into one of the most explosive, boisterous trios in football. Beginning this Sunday against Denver, the three will have to become the heart and soul of Buffalo's ragtag defense.

*E-mail: cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

Get more on the Buffalo Bills at RealFootball365.com.
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CommentsComments: 23  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
swillster		03:14 AM
09/03/2007
Wire was moved to strong safety not free safety as a rookie. Also he didn't lose his status as a starter do to poor play (he did ...
No.2
ICNiagara		05:17 AM
09/03/2007
Coy Wire is one of the few players who has consistently endured through the new regime and his work ethic has been touted highly ...
No.3
"the Skycap"		05:34 AM
09/03/2007
Conner, let's be real. The only way Wire or an LB will succeed is if the DL can keep the OL off of them. There are a couple of ...
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