Linebackers are Key to Success for 2013 Buffalo Bills

In 2012, the Buffalo Bills were let down big time by their linebackers and that was one main causes of demise and will be called upon to do more this year. With a new scheme this year implemented by new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine Jr. more stress will be placed on the linebackers as it is the case in a 3-4 base hybrid defense. This year the Bills reinforced their linebackers after the release of veteran linebacker Nick Barnett in seemingly every way possible.

One of the main lynchpins for the new look linebacker corps is second year linebacker Nigel Bradham who came into his own late last season for the Bills. Also by all accounts this off-season, Bradham has took a leadership role for the inside linebackers for the team. He is known for hitting defenders hard, clean and often. Bradham should be be a force of havoc under coach Pettine’s new defensive system for the Bills in 2013.

Another Bills linebacker who has been from the last regime, is who can bring the lumber is Arthur Moats. Moats has a tireless motor that can bring the boom to any opposing team’s quarterback as he did his rookie season when he took out Brett Favre and subsequently ended Favre’s consecutive games streak. If Moats can continue to show versatility in different positions he can play and his sheer skill set, he will go far this season with the Bills.

Another player they brought in last year whom had nothing less than a disappointing season with the Bills is Mark Anderson, granted he had knee surgery mid-season versus the San Francisco 49ers. Also with the knee surgery, Anderson had a major set back and never played another down the reason of the year for the Bills.In five games, he only had nine tackles and one sack, which is awful considering the  expectations he had coming in 2012, after having a 10 sack season for the New England Patriots. Bills fans can only hope he rebounds and has a completely different 2013 and helps punish opposing team’s offenses.

In April, with their second of their second round picks that was acquired via a trade with St. Louis Rams, the Bills drafted Kiko Alonso, a linebacker who played for the University of Oregon Ducks. From all accounts Alonso is a big (6′ 4″ 242 lbs.) physical linebacker who loves contact seemingly no matter what. There seems to be some questions about his past as he had two alcohol related arrests, however it seems that is behind him.  As of now, he is projected to play and start day one next to Bradham and has had comparisons of Karlos Dansby coming out of college.

After the NFL Draft, the Bills cashed in when they landed undrafted free agent Keith Pough. He had anywhere between a third round and a fifth round draft grade and while Pough might not be a day one starter for the Bills, but he could develop into a defensive terror for them as he did for Howard University for the last four years. Pough also amassed a FCS Record when he had 72 tackles for loss over the four years and also since he was former wide receiver in high school, he can hold his own in coverage as well. Finally, Pough’s intensity has been compared to sure fire hall of fame linebacker Ray Lewis and that is extremely high praise for a rookie who has yet to play even a pre-season game.

While the Bills didn’t make a splash like they did last season in free agency, they did make a few smart quiet under the radar signings, and Manny Lawson was one of them. Lawson is a physical freak standing 6′ 6″ and weighing in at 245 lbs. and is a force of nature off the block as the rush linebacker. What makes this signing interesting as well for the Bills is that him and Mario Williams were college teammates for the North Carolina State Wolfpack where they were the defensive ends that met early and often at the quarterback. If Lawson and Williams can rekindle this teammate fire, this could be a down right scary tandem from opposite sides once again.

The Bills defense is so dependent on linebacker play meaning where if they struggle out of the gates, this team could be bad shape and not recover and head for a 14th straight season without the playoffs. However, if this linebacker corps brings it with a relentless pass rush, excellent coverage on backs and tight ends, they could be the main reason why they end up in the playoffs in fact the Bills could win the AFC East.