Bills New Schemes, Character Determine Who Fits

[admarc]

BuffaloBills.com (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=3728)

A college prospect could look very tantalizing to a team scout. He might have all the measurables, plays well on tape and has plenty of upside. But the most important question a Bills scout has to ask is, 'Does he fit the Buffalo Bills?'

It's a question that requires different criteria to provide a complete answer. Bills Assistant GM Tom Modrak explains that now is the time for the coaching staff to have its greatest input with respect to the draft.

"We really rely on the coaches and they do a great job of helping us identify the traits that they want," said Modrak. "That's what is happening right now as much as anything. We try to paint a picture of what those traits are and see how he fits."

The most important part of that question 'Does he fit?' concerns the offensive and defensive schemes being utilized in Buffalo. If it's a defensive tackle for example, can he push the pocket, penetrate and have strong pursuit to the ball? That's what will be needed up front in defensive coordinator Perry Fewell's scheme.

With the new coaching staff bringing in new schemes this winter some might think it means more work for scouts who will now be forced to reassess what player skill sets are a fit for the new systems being run by the Bills. Fortunately reports aren't written specific to only the current scheme being played in Buffalo.

"Our reports will often read that a guy is better for a cover-two defense," said Bills scout Shawn Heinlen. "You might write that his grade might not be high for us, but it will be for a team that runs a 3-4 defense."

With the Bills now instituting a version of the cover-two defense, scouts were able to refer back to their reports and see who they deemed a fit for that kind of defensive scheme without doing a ton of extra work. However, the final grades on those defensive players that are being formulated now, might be altered from what they were in the fall when the Bills were playing in a different defensive system.

"Now those guys that are fits for a cover-two defense will be given a higher grade by our coaches because that's what we're looking for now," said Heinlen.

[coastal]

Did any of us have any clue what kind of systems we were running under Donahoe in order to steer our drafts?

[GvilleBill]

BuffaloBills.com (http://buffalobills.com/news/news.jsp?news_id=3728)




"Now those guys that are fits for a cover-two defense will be given a higher grade by our coaches because that's what we're looking for now," said Heinlen.
Bunk, anyone?

[GvilleBill]

Good article,btw

[admarc]

check out the video interview of the Bills scouts talking about Bunk and Huff on buffalobills.com. They basically say Bunk is a perfect 3 technique and is better suited there in the pro's than nose. Tripplet was signed to play 3. Ngata is the better fit at nose, where the Bills have a greater need.

[GvilleBill]

Bunk had quite the presence in the backfield. I believe he might have even stopped a few running plays back there. His penetration would force double teams.

[D-Rocafella]

check out the video interview of the Bills scouts talking about Bunk and Huff on buffalobills.com. They basically say Bunk is a perfect 3 technique and is better suited there in the pro's than nose. Tripplet was signed to play 3. Ngata is the better fit at nose, where the Bills have a greater need.

Don't get caught up in where the player plays. If we draft Bunkley it's because he is the best player for our system and he and Tripplet are our best two pass rushing DT's.

I have said this before somewhere else but it bears repeating. In our defense we won't be stopping the run by clogging up the middle and attacking the edges. In this defense you put your 7 best athletes on the field and stop the run by all players having non stop persuit to the ball. Look at the Bears, they don't have a nose tackle and all four of there down linemen are athletes whom you would not consider run stoppers. But as a unit they stop the run by attacking the ball and pursuing the play. So when you watch a Bears game from last year you see multiple Bear defenders in on the tackle. That is what theoretically our defense should be and Bunkley is a guy who has that speed and athleticism, along with the strength and technique to always be around the ball and make the plays.

[admarc]

Don't get caught up in where the player plays. If we draft Bunkley it's because he is the best player for our system and he and Tripplet are our best two pass rushing DT's.

I have said this before somewhere else but it bears repeating. In our defense we won't be stopping the run by clogging up the middle and attacking the edges. In this defense you put your 7 best athletes on the field and stop the run by all players having non stop pursuit to the ball. Look at the Bears, they don't have a nose tackle and all four of there down linemen are athletes whom you would not consider run stoppers. But as a unit they stop the run by attacking the ball and pursuing the play. So when you watch a Bears game from last year you see multiple Bear defenders in on the tackle. That is what theoretically our defense should be and Bunkley is a guy who has that speed and athleticism, along with the strength and technique to always be around the ball and make the plays.

There are 5 offensive lineman plus a TE or FB blocking 4 defensive lineman. Someone will face a double team and need to hold the point of attack in order to free up the other lineman to penetrate. You can't line both tackles up on the outside shoulder of the guards and leave the middle wide open. Someone has to man the zero, or at least the 1. In a best case scenario, that person taking up two blockers is strong enough to push the pocket back.

Ngata has the lower power strength to hold the point of attack against two blockers and may even be strong enough to collapse the pocket head on or disengage and split the blockers. Putting Bunkley at nose is a waste of his ability. He can be a great 3 technique guy. However, if the Bills select him, they essentially have (2) good 3 technique guys and no nose tackle. Drafting Bunkley almost makes the Bills best free agent acquisition, Triplett, a waste. If you still want another 3 technique guy, there are several in this draft available further down, but there really aren't any other blue chip nose tackles after Ngata, unless you like Gabe Watson.

I like Bunkley, I think he is a force inside, but I really don't buy the talk that he is a better system fit then Ngata. He is a better 3 technique prospect, but Ngata is a better zero. I think Ngata can play 3 and Bunk can play zero, but to put each in those roles rather than their more natural positions only diminishes their effectiveness.

[bcw]

"I like Bunkley, I think he is a force inside, but I really don't buy the talk that he is a better system fit then Ngata. He is a better 3 technique prospect, but Ngata is a better zero."

EXACTLY!!!!!! And this is why Ngata is our pick at 8 and not Bunkley.

These two play absolutely different positions and we are looking for a nose tackle, not a 3 technique tackle. Ngata fits that role perfectly.

[Merk]

There are 5 offensive lineman plus a TE or FB blocking 4 defensive lineman. Someone will face a double team and need to hold the point of attack in order to free up the other lineman to penetrate. You can't line both tackles up on the outside shoulder of the guards and leave the middle wide open. Someone has to man the zero, or at least the 1. In a best case scenario, that person taking up two blockers is strong enough to push the pocket back.

Ngata has the lower power strength to hold the point of attack against two blockers and may even be strong enough to collapse the pocket head on or disengage and split the blockers. Putting Bunkley at nose is a waste of his ability. He can be a great 3 technique guy. However, if the Bills select him, they essentially have (2) good 3 technique guys and no nose tackle. Drafting Bunkley almost makes the Bills best free agent acquisition, Triplett, a waste. If you still want another 3 technique guy, there are several in this draft available further down, but there really aren't any other blue chip nose tackles after Ngata, unless you like Gabe Watson.

I like Bunkley, I think he is a force inside, but I really don't buy the talk that he is a better system fit then Ngata. He is a better 3 technique prospect, but Ngata is a better zero. I think Ngata can play 3 and Bunk can play zero, but to put each in those roles rather than their more natural positions only diminishes their effectiveness.



Well put

[sdolan11]

I understand where you guys are going with this . . .run stuffer . . I got it. But here's the deal, why not take a talented pocket pusher in Bunkley, and get someone to "fill space" later in the draft. How much talent does it really take to be a fat strong guy who takes up blockers? If we go DT . . Bunkley has to be the guy.

[twosheds]

Because Ngata can stuff the run and collapse the pocket - if he keeps his head in the game, which is my primary concern with him. But for later rounds these guys might fit:

Babatunde Oshinowo (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2006/oshinowo_babatunde)
Montavious Stanley (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2006/stanley_montavious)

I also like McCargo a lot.

[FknGvna]

"The defining difference in choosing (Shane) Conlan over the other player was character," Levy recalled. "The other player had a slightly higher grade, but he had a lot of character knocks."


Because Ngata can stuff the run and collapse the pocket - if he keeps his head in the game, which is my primary concern with him. But for later rounds these guys might fit:I believe he always keeps his head in the game, you just get tired of fighting double teams you know.

[D-Rocafella]

Just because Bunkley could possibly line up under center or between the center and the gaurd dosen't mean he will always be doubled. And even if he is just because he is not 340 dosen't mean he can't collapse the pocket and hold his own. Bunk is a legit 300 + pounder around 305-310 and better yet he's pure muscle. He is built like a tank and will hold his own and not be easily pushed around. Besides his real asset is his speed and athleticism. Because of this he can get offensive linemen to reach fearing his speed and then beat them with his athleticism.

[GvilleBill]

If they don't double Bunk, he will live in the offensive backfield. He doesn;t have to be 340lbs to command a double team. The rest of the D will benefit from his presence. Stanley, later, is the big body you need. He will also flourish in our DT rotation.

[FknGvna]

Stanley is the big body that would never get any PT. Oh maybe goalline.

[GvilleBill]

Stanley is the big body that would never get any PT. Oh maybe goalline.
He can be gotten late, and he has upside. Many of his early weaknesses could be covered w/ limited PT in our rotation. I'm not really all that high on the clogging DT, but this pick would be to semi-assuage the Ngata lovers. You know who you are...