Buffalo
Bills

Bills Team Report

Updated: February 07, 2012 10:23 EST

INDIANAPOLIS -- As the team's rookie first-rounder in 2011, Buffalo defensive lineman Marcell Dareus played both end and tackle, and was effective at both positions. With the Bills switching to a "base" 4-3 in 2012, anticipated after the elevation of Dave Wannstedt to coordinator and then confirmed by head coach Chan Gailey last week, there's still some uncertainty about where the former Alabama star, the third pick in last year's draft, will line up.

Most scouts felt the 33-pound Dareus was a perfect "five technique" fit at end in a 3-4 last season, but he had plenty of success when he played at the "three technique" tackle spot, too.

"We're not sure yet (about where Dareus will play)," Wannstedt said. "No matter where we put him, he'll make a difference for us."

Dareus had 5.5 sacks as a rookie, and Buffalo officials are confident he will build on that.

"We're not sure he'll be a double-digit (sack) guy," one Buffalo executive said this week, "but he'll be in (other) people's backfield."

Dareus could fit well at the strong side end slot in a 4-3, where teams have begun to expect sacks, as well as defenders who anchor nicely against the run. The best bet, though, is that he'll pair up with Kyle Williams at tackle, if the latter returns healthy again after a foot injury cost him significant time in 2011.

--Running back Fred Jackson has one year left on a four-year, $7.5 million contract. He's due to earn $1.83 million in base salary and another $425,000 in bonuses in 2012, but he has easily outplayed that deal, putting him in line for a renegotiation. Will it happen? General manager Buddy Nix reassured Jackson and the media it will occur, but there is no urgency.

"Fred and I have talked. We want to extend Fred. I'd like for Fred to finish his career as a Bill," Nix said. "He's meant a lot to us. I've got great respect for him. I tell him that. We're going to try to get something done. Does it matter if we do it now or if we do it next week or a month from now? As long as we get it done before the season starts, it's all the same, really, seems to me. But we do want Fred back, and we do intend to try to work out a deal with him."

--David Lee was named the Bills' new QB coach on Friday. He brings 37 years of coaching experience to Buffalo, including seven years at the NFL level, and most recently served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Mississippi in 2011.

"He is very well-respected as a technician and a teacher of quarterbacks," Bills head coach Chan Gailey said. "He brings a wealth of experience -- having done a lot of different types of offenses, as well as the traditional pro-style offense."

In Miami as the Dolphins' QB coach from 2008-10, Lee helped guide Chad Pennington (2008) and Chad Henne (2010) to 3,000-yard passing seasons. Current Bills backup QB Tyler Thigpen played under Lee in 2010.

Lee's focus in 2012 will be on turning franchise quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick into a more consistent passer.

--The Bills have targeted finding a quality pass rusher (end or linebacker) with the 10th overall pick in the April draft. The free agent market is lean. As far as taking another shot with former Chargers All-Pro outside linebacker Shawne Merriman, the team is up for it depending on how his rehab from Achilles and shoulder surgery continues, Nix said. Merriman went on injured reserve six games into 2011. He's due a $1 million roster bonus in March, so it's no small decision.

"Right now he's in the process of rehabbing and getting healthy," Nix said. "He'll have a physical this spring, he'll have another one this summer. If he gets healthy and passes the physical, he's still ours. We'll take it from there. We'll see what happens."

--Nix on quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick's second-half swoon: "I've got no reservations about Ryan. He had some bad games. The thing we know for sure is that we've seen him do it. We've seen him have good games. He's what we thought he would be. I think when we started losing players and losing weapons for him, he compensated by trying to carry the load some and playing with different receivers each week. Sounds like excuses, but they're reasons."

--Veteran linebacker Andra Davis, 33, an unrestricted free agent, hopes to continue his NFL career. He's played 11 seasons for Cleveland, Denver and Buffalo, the past two for the Bills.

"Regardless of whatever happens with me, I've been so fortunate. I've been so blessed," Davis said. "As a kid coming from a small town in Florida to be able to play in this league for 10 years, I have no complaints. This game is so good to me. Like I said, I'm just so grateful. I just thank God for these past 10 years."

Does he think he still has something left?

"Yes, definitely," he said. "Looking around the league, seeing guys like (Takeo) Spikes, (Brian) Urlacher, Ray (Lewis), those guys are still playing at a high level. I know I can continue to play as well."

--Defensive tackle Torell Troup is hoping that surgery to repair a back disk problem and a small spinal fracture will allow him to finally reach his potential. Injuries have frustrated the 2010 second-round pick out of Central Florida. If he can get healthy, he'll help Buffalo's 28th-ranked run defense alongside Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus. "The doctor said it went really well," Troup said of his surgery. "I've had the disk problem since college, and the other little freak thing (the fracture) happened to my back this year. It happened the last preseason game." Troup tried to play through his pain until going on injured reserve in early December.

--Andre Reed, the Bills' career leader in receptions, has made the list of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's the sixth consecutive year Reed has gotten this far; the past two years he made the cut to 10. This year's vote takes place Feb. 4 in Indianapolis, the day before the Super Bowl. Reed is one of three receivers on the list, joined by Cris Carter and Tim Brown. Reed, who played for the Bills from 1985 to 1999, ranked third in NFL history in catches and fourth in receiving yards at the time of his retirement.

--A parade of former Bills coaches made the NFL playoffs. They included Gregg Williams, New Orleans defensive coordinator; Wade Phillips, Houston defensive coordinator; Dick LeBeau, Pittsburgh defensive coordinator; and Kevin Gilbride and Perry Fewell, offensive and defensive coordinators for the New York Giants.

--The Bills' lease at Ralph Wilson Stadium with Erie County, N.Y., runs out after the 2012 NFL season. As part of agreeing to return to the nearly 40-year-old stadium, the team is asking for $100 million in upgrades from taxpayers, setting the stage for a delicate negotiation in the down economic climate. As a counter measure, public officials may ask the Bills to sign a 20-year lease term with buyout clauses that would make it very difficult for any new owner of the club to move the team. Current owner and team founder Ralph Wilson is 93.

--Nix on the firing of Colts president Bill Polian, the architect of Buffalo's four Super Bowl teams of the early 1990s: "Shocked, like everybody else, I guess. I've always kind of looked up to Bill and the things he's done. I followed him here. I've heard all of the stories about him and all of those things. Shocked, but we're all just temporary anyway."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We can always talk about ifs and buts, but like they say, 'If ifs and buts was candy and nuts, every day would be Christmas.' We are what we are. We can't speak in hypotheticals. We just didn't get the job done." -- Captain George Wilson, on the Bills missing the playoffs for a 12th consecutive year.

Coach Chan Gailey was in the market for two assistant coaches after losing quarterbacks coach George Cortez and wide receivers coach Stan Hixon. Now, he needs only one.

Cortez, 60, was hired as head coach/director of football operations for the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats, returning to his roots. Cortez has been a part of four Grey Cup champions. He did a good job for Gailey, helping groom Ryan Fitzpatrick into an NFL starter the past two seasons.

Hixon, meanwhile, will join Penn State's staff under new head coach Bill O'Brien. The two worked together at Georgia Tech from 1995-99. Hixon was behind the development of Bills WR Stevie Johnson, a former seventh-round pick who has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Rookie free agents David Nelson, Donald Jones and Naaman Roosevelt also developed under his watch.

David Lee was named Cortez's successor on Friday, bringing 37 years of coaching experience to Buffalo, including seven years at the NFL level.

On the defensive side of the ball, new coordinator Dave Wannstedt is tinkering with the staff he inherited from George Edwards, hiring William Inge as assistant defensive line coach.

Inge, who spent the past two seasons as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach at the University at Buffalo, took part in the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship program last summer with the Bills.

"We are excited to have William join our staff," Gailey said. "We were impressed with his abilities during last year's training camp and feel he will make an excellent addition to our defensive staff."

Inge was a four-year letter-winner at Iowa and graduated in 1996.

UNIT-BY-UNIT ANALYSIS

QUARTERBACK: Starter -- Ryan Fitzpatrick. Backups -- Tyler Thigpen, Brad Smith.

Fitzpatrick wasn't the same quarterback in November and December that he was in September and October. The likeable veteran stormed into 2011 with 14 TD passes, just seven interceptions and a 97.8 rating to lead his team to a 5-2 record. He parlayed that showing into a $59 million contract extension. But by season's end, his team had lost eight of nine games, and he led the NFL in interceptions. During Buffalo's season-killing, seven-game losing streak, Fitzpatrick's best passer rating was 51.9, which tells the story. While hurt by injuries to his receiving corps, Fitzpatrick was alone to blame for many of his misfires and woeful inaccuracy on deep balls. His coaches have put personal improvement squarely on his shoulders moving forward, but his first full-season as a starter should benefit him. Thigpen completed three of eight passes for 25 yards with one interception. Smith saw action at wide receiver, compiling 23 receptions for 240 yards and a touchdown, plus 20 rushes for 87 yards and a touchdown.

RUNNING BACKS: Starter -- RB C.J. Spiller, FB Corey McIntyre. Backups -- Tashard Choice, Johnny White. Injured reserve -- Fred Jackson, Bruce Hall.

Jackson was on pace to lead the NFL in yards from scrimmage for a second time in his career until his season ended Nov. 20 with a cracked fibula. He'll return 100 percent in 2012 and is in line for a contract extension. The silver lining in Jackson's injury is that it opened the door for Spiller to shine. The team's top draft pick in 2010 wound up with 561 yards (5.2 average) on 107 carries. Together, Jackson and Spiller rushed for nearly 1,500 yards and 10 TDs, presenting the coaching staff with a pleasant dilemma next season: who will be the team's No. 1 back? How will they get both players their touches?

TIGHT ENDS: Starter -- Scott Chandler. Backups -- Fendi Onobun, Kevin Brock. Injured reserve -- Lee Smith, Mike Caussin.

This has been a forgotten position for nearly a decade in Buffalo, but free agent Chandler was a pleasant surprise with 38 catches for 389 yards and six touchdowns. While a force early in the red zone, Chandler caught just two TD passes over the final 11 games as he battled injuries. There is a lot of room for development, and Chandler will be pushed by Smith and Brock next year.

WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters -- Stevie Johnson, Brad Smith. Backups -- David Nelson, Ruvell Martin, Derek Hagan, Naaman Roosevelt, Kamar Aiken. Injured reserve -- Donald Jones, Roscoe Parrish, Marcus Easley.

With 76 catches for 1,004 yards and seven TDs, Johnson became the first Bills receiver in history with consecutive 1,000-yard seasons -- great timing as he heads into free agency. The Bills have begun negotiations to bring him back, but there are issues to address, namely his immature behavior during TD celebrations that twice drew penalties that hurt the team. He was also prone to some big drops and hasn't developed into a true deep-ball threat. Smith (23 catches) was pressed into emergency service when injuries took down Jones and Parrish, but he's not a true starter. Nelson, a former rookie free agent, took advantage of his increased workload to produce a career-best 61 passes and five touchdowns, but he's not a big-time player, and he disappeared during the team's second-half swoon. The Bills like their depth here and hope former draft pick Easley, who has battled medical issues for two years, can be a factor next season.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: LT Demetrius Bell, LG Andy Levitre, C Kraig Urbik, RG Chad Rinehart, RT Erik Pears. Backups -- LT Chris Hairston, C Colin Brown, RG Michael Jasper, RT Sam Young. Injured reserve -- C Eric Wood.

After years of upheaval, Buffalo's offensive line has developed into a strong suit. Despite some juggling due to injuries, namely the loss of Wood to ACL surgery, the Bills allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL with 23, and the team's average of 4.9 yards per rushing play was its best since 1975, when a guy named O.J. Simpson was in the backfield. Buffalo's total offensive production improved from 25th to 14th, and the line was the big reason. Wood was playing at a Pro Bowl level when he got hurt. Levitre started at three positions. Pears was a rock at right tackle. Urbik and Rinehart are versatile and tough inside players. Meanwhile, Bell and rookie Hairston split time at left tackle. Bell is a free agent the team will look to re-sign if it feels he's over his injury history.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: DLE Alex Carrington, NT Marcell Dareus, DRE Dwan Edwards. Backups -- DLE Lionel Dotson, NT Kellen Heard, DRE Kyle Moore, Jarron Gilbert. Injured reserve -- NT Kyle Williams, NT Torell Troup.

Losing Pro Bowler Williams to a foot injury after just five games rocked this group, and it never really recovered. No. 1 pick Dareus started at end and then moved inside in the team's 3-4 base look after Williams was injured. Dareus finished with 43 tackles and a team-leading 5.5 sacks. He figures to be a fixture up front for years no matter the scheme. Williams is on schedule for a return in 2012. Other than those two, Buffalo could use upgrades at both end and tackle. Edwards contributed 52 tackles and 2.5 sacks, but meaningful plays were few and far between. The Bills had just 29 sacks and allowed a team-record 5,938 yards, so there is much work to be done in the front seven.

LINEBACKERS: WLB Spencer Johnson, MLB Nick Barnett, MLB Kelvin Sheppard, SLB Chris Kelsay. Backups -- WLB Arthur Moats, MLB Andra Davis, MLB Kirk Morrison, SLB Danny Batten. Injured reserve -- WLB Shawne Merriman, OLB Reggie Torbor, OLB Chris White.

Free agent Barnett was this unit's MVP with 130 tackles, 3.0 sacks and three interceptions, one he returned for a score, while rookie Sheppard earned a starting spot and wound up with 70 tackles. Those two will form a solid 1-2 inside grouping moving ahead. Johnson and Kelsay, converted defensive ends playing outside linebacker when the team was in the 3-4, were terribly out of position. Kelsay had 41 tackles and 5.0 sacks, and Johnson had 47 tackles and 2.0 sacks. If Buffalo switches back to a 4-3, each is likely to return to end and be better off. Merriman, the former San Diego All-Pro, tried to resurrect his career in Buffalo but went on IR with an Achilles problem after six weeks. His future is uncertain, though he is under contract. Davis, a free agent, and Morrison likely won't return.

DEFENSIVE BACKS: LCB Aaron Williams, RCB Drayton Florence, SS George Wilson, FS Jairus Byrd. Backups -- CB Justin Rogers, CB Reggie Corner, CB Leodis McKelvin, SS Da'Norris Searcy, SS Josh Nesbitt, FS Bryan Scott. Injured reserve -- CB Terrence McGee, SS Jon Corto.

The Bills will return four quality players in Florence, Williams, Wilson and Byrd, and depth at this position is good. Florence, while having some rough periods, was the team's best cover corner and wound up with 50 tackles to go with 12 pass breakups and three interceptions. Williams, a rookie, battled injuries, but when McGee was injured and McKelvin struggled, he stepped into the starting lineup and performed well. Wilson had his best year with 106 tackles and team-best four picks, while Byrd contributed 98 tackles and three interceptions. McGee has been one of Buffalo's best players this decade, but his future with the team is in doubt due to recurring injuries. Rogers and Searcy were solid finds from the 2011 draft.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K Brandon Coutu, P Brian Moorman, KR Justin Rogers, PR Leodis McKelvin, LS Garrison Sanborn. Backups -- KR Brad Smith, PR C.J. Spiller. Injured reserve -- K Rian Lindell, K Dave Rayner.

The Bills went through three kickers in 2011, but Lindell (13 of 15 this year), is in no danger of losing his job to free agents Rayner and Coutu. Lindell is the team's second all-time career scorer. Moorman remains one of the NFL's best; his 48.22-yard average was another club record (he holds the top four spots). The Bills had just 37 kickoff returns, but Rogers emerged as their No. 1 return man, replacing Smith and posting a healthy 28.7-yard average on 13 tries. Buffalo ranked No. 1 in kickoff coverage.