The Buffalo Bills completed their 2011 NFL Draft by taking seven of the nine picks on defense.
Thank you Buddy Nix.
The majority of draft analysts and experts have touted the Bills selections as one of the tops in the league.
It makes sense. The Bills filled holes with good players that represented good value.
Instead of giving you my opinion on the Bills nine draft picks, I’ll lay out how I think Buffalo will utilize their new players and the best case scenario for each guy. (Yes, I’m a Bills optimist)
Marcell Dareus
This is kind of obvious. Dareus is an automatic starter on the defensive line and he’ll instantly benefit Kyle Willliams, which is kind of scary. End, tackle, it doesn’t matter. He’ll be on the field a lot and he adds to the rotation of Williams, Torell Troup, Spencer Johnson, Dwan Edwards that formulates quite the defensive front.
The run defense is better already.
Best Case Scenario
Dareus eats up multiple defenders and Williams builds on his Pro Bowl season of a year ago. When Williams gets doubled, Dareus is in the opponents backfield at least once every possession. He finishes the year with between 3-7 sacks and opponents hesistate to run down the Bills throat all game.
Aaron Williams
Williams is a tough one to figure out completely. Is he Terrence McGee injury insurance? Or will McGee be a cap casuality? Will Drayton Florence be a Bill in 2011? IDK. No one does.
So, there’s a chance he’ll be a starter, but he might enter the game in nickel and dime situations, which is fine by me. In today’s aerial NFL, you can never have too many corners. And Reggie Corner is average at best.
Best Case Scenario
He starts the year as a situational defensive back but slowly works his way into the starting spot opposite Leodis McKelvin. The improved defensive front allows the secondary to be more aggressive and he nets 3-5 interceptions while limiting opponents No. 2 wideouts with some regularity.
Kelvin Sheppard
Love the Sheppard pick. Don’t care that Mike Mayock had him graded a round later. He’s a legit 3-4 inside linebacking prospect and although he isn’t Patrick Willis he’s rangy and can get to the football.He’s alongside Paul Posluszny kickoff weekend, whenver that’ll be.
Best Case Scenario
He brings a meanness to the Bills linebacking corp that’s been missing since the Takeo Spikes/London Fletcher days. His presence helps Paul Posluszny find his Penn State form. He actually makes tackles at or behind the line of scrimmage. (I’m looking at you, Paul) At the end of a solid rookie season Sheppard and Poz are considered an up-and-coming linebacking duo in the AFC.
De’Norris Searcy
Awesome name.
He’ll fit in as the new-and-improved Reggie Corner, and could spell any injured Bills safeties.
Best Case Scenario
He does an admirable job with team’s slot and 3rd down receivers and flashes some potential with two interceptions as Donte Whitner’s replacement (check out some of Whitner’s most recent tweets) and just like that the Bills find a cheaper more hungery and impactful safety.
Chris Hairston
Finally a tackle prospect that can play next season. He’s not an Ed Wang develop-and-hopefully-start-in-2013 guy. I think the Bills will give him all the opportunities they can do have him jump into the role as the starting right tackle. No more Jamon Meredith experiments.
Best Case Scenario
He helps C.J. Spiller channel his Clemson days. He starts the whole season and isn’t overwhelmed an overmatched on nearly every play like some of the Bills right tackles have been in the last two season.
He and Demetrius Bell become the Bills bookend tackles for the time being so we can stop worrying about protecting Buffalo’s quarterback.
Johnny White
No doubting this was an interesting pick, but a has sleeper written all over it. White runs hard, usually falling forward and has the ability to brush tacklers off. He’s not Chris Johnson, but is quick enough to bust some 20 to 30 yard scampers.
Best Case Scenario
He and C.J. Spiller form a fantastic third down running back duo and White spells Jackson to keep him fresh throughout the season, possibly filling in if one of the two runners ahead of him gets dinged up. Runs hard. Get’s some big first downs.
He finishes the year with around 300-500 yards and scores 4-6 touchdowns.
Chris White
Don’t know much about this prospect, but I’m down for more inside linebacking depth. He’s not the greatest athlete on the team but he’s a blue collar guy who’ll most likely sit behind Sheppard or Posluszny.
Best Case Scenario
He doesn’t see the field much in his rookie year (Poz and Sheppard stay healthy) and contributes on special teams.
In his few special appearances, he stands his ground against some big-name running backs and is in on some 3rd and short gang tackles.
Justin Rodgers
Coming from a D1-AA (sorry, still calling it that) Rodgers is a somewhat of an unknown, but he’s got all the tools to be a sound defensive back in the NFL. He’s big, is quick and has above average ball skills.
I could be crazy, but I see a lot of potential here.
Best Case Scenario
He competes with Reggie Corner for the nickel corner spot and is in with the dime package. He breaks up some big pass against teams that will spread it out against the Bills and intercepts a pass or two.
Michael Jasper
Holy smokes, this guy is a total monster. 6’4” 380 pounds? Played at 420 last season at Bethel. He’s not fat blob though, check out his workout video and tell me what you think. Looks to be an insane athlete with out-of-this-world bulk. Nose tackle for sure.
Best Case Scenario
I’m going to go out on a limb here. He gets some garbage time in a few blowout games (Bills killing their opponent of course) and is basically unblockable. He’s not sacking quarterbacks on every down, but because teams need to double team him, Dareus has a field day when he’s in the game. He spells Kyle Williams, which leads to even more ferocity out of him. He becomes the Bills Vince Wilfork. He scores a touchdown when he’s called in to play fullback.
He eats Danny Woodhead.
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