George Edwards Will Install 3-4 Defense In Buffalo

Shortly after the Bills announced their rather shocking hire of George Edwards, just a month after he had accepted the same position at the University of Florida, Edwards announced that he would transition the Bills to a base 3-4 defense in the 2010 season.

For a Bills defense that had more than its fair share of struggles last year, particularly against the run where they finished third to last, this move makes quite a bit of sense. Brian Galliford of SB Nation’s Buffalo Rumblings breaks down both how the 3-4 Over scheme works, and what it means for their current roster:

The beauty of this scheme is that you don’t need the massive, two-gap, blubbery nose tackle in the middle to make it work. The alignment focuses on employing lighter, quicker, one-gap linemen and bigger, faster linebackers behind them to make it work, as illustrated in the photo above the fold. Players would be asked to beat blockers to spots and maintain gaps, rather than overcome multiple blockers via brute strength and bulk.

Buffalo doesn’t have a lineman that can play the traditional two-gap nose tackle role. What they do have are a bunch of guys stout enough and athletic enough to play one gap pretty well. A defensive line of Kyle Williams, Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson could absolutely handle the one-gap responsibilities of this defense as starters, and they can bring in lighter guys to rush the passer on obvious passing downs.

Aaron Schobel, should he decide to return rather than retire, would play an outside linebacker spot (and put his hand on the ground on third downs, in all likelihood), as would 2009 first-round pick Aaron Maybin. Paul Posluszny and Kawika Mitchell would be capable of handling the inside linebacker spots. All can handle one gap as well.

The real beauty of this scheme insofar as it relates to Buffalo’s current personnel, however, is the fact that purely from an alignment standpoint, it’s easy to disguise your looks. Buffalo’s not-so-great pass rush could use a little creativity to it, and as far as pass-rushing schemes go, this is one of the best in the business.