Chan Gailey’s first, and already his boldest, move as new head coach of the Buffalo Bills has been to install a 3-4 defense, led by defensive coordinator George Edwards. While no one’s sure exactly what that 3-4 system will look like, it’ll be a fairly dramatic change for a Bills team that has run the 4-3 as its base defense since Gregg Williams’ arrival as head coach in 2001.
While the majority of that overhaul will take place in the defensive front seven, perhaps Gailey’s smartest coaching hire came in the retention of defensive backs coach George Catavolos. Hired by Dick Jauron in 2006, Catavolos has decades of experience coaching in the secondary, and having spent four years in Buffalo already, he’ll be keenly aware of exactly what type of talent the team possesses in the defensive backfield.
Bills Roster Review: Safety – continue reading…
As we continue to wait for news to break regarding the Buffalo Bills’ search for a new head coach, we thought it’d be prudent to break away from the repetitive coverage and start talking about the shell of a football team that’s on the verge of getting re-molded.
One of the key sticking points that’s often bandied about when talking about top coaching candidates’ unwillingness to come to Buffalo is their overall lack of talent. This is a valid concern, even if it’s hyperbolized in Buffalo to an extent. Let’s face it – Seattle isn’t exactly brimming with untapped potential, either. While it’s true that Buffalo does lack young, potentially elite talent in key positions, namely quarterback, there are young players on this team with the ability to turn into star players at their respective positions.
Six young Buffalo Bills with significant upside – continue reading…
Congratulations to Buffalo Bills rookie safety Jairus Byrd, who was elected to the Pro Bowl.
Despite not beginning the season as the starter and being forced to miss a game (and another coming Sunday) with a groin injury, Byrd is tied for the NFL lead with nine interceptions, a honor he shares with Asante Samuel and Darren Sharper. Beginning in week five against Cleveland Byrd intercepted at least one pass in five games and had eight during that span.
Bills’ rookie Byrd voted to Pro Bowl – continue reading…
One of the few bright spots on a dismal 2009 Buffalo Bills team, rookie safety Jairus Byrd has been placed on Injured Reserve, reports BuffaloBills.com. His stellar rookie campaign is now at an end. Veteran linebacker and special teams ace Josh Stamer was signed to to fill Byrd’s spot on the active roster.
A second-round pick out of Oregon this past April, Byrd made a position switch from corner to safety despite not participating in mini-camps and dealing with a nagging groin injury. To say he exceeded all expectations is an understatement; Byrd hits IR as the NFL’s current interceptions leader, with nine on the season.
Byrd had been seeing limited playing time in recent weeks, as the groin injury he suffered prior to training camp never really went away. George Wilson and Donte Whitner will remain Buffalo’s starting safeties for the remainder of the season – if they, themselves, can stay healthy, that is.
The Buffalo Bills needed a playmaker. Well, to be fair, they needed more than one playmaker back in late April during the NFL Draft, but for a franchise in the midst of a decade’s worth of bad luck, one playmaker is what they got. Buffalo got said playmaker with pick No. 42 overall, when, much to the chagrin of its fan base, the team selected Oregon DB Jairus Byrd.
All these months later, Byrd – who intercepted his ninth pass of the season in the Bills’ 16-10 road victory in Kansas City – re-established himself as the NFL’s interception leader. His nine picks set a Bills franchise record for most interceptions by rookie in a season. Much more importantly, his presence has helped spark a stagnant playmaking Bills defensive unit, transforming it from one of the league’s worst units into the NFL’s best play-making secondary.
Byrd making case for Defensive ROY honors – continue reading…
No player is more popular in Buffalo right now than Buffalo Bills rookie free safety Jairus Byrd. A second-round pick out of Oregon in this past April’s NFL Draft, Byrd – a college cornerback making the switch to free safety in Perry Fewell’s Cover 2 defense – has been a revelation for a Bills defense that picked him simply because they had a desperate need for a playmaker defensively. Byrd has started in four of his first seven career games – all in the past four weeks – and he’s recorded a whopping five interceptions in a three-game period, including two each in Buffalo’s last two games (both wins).
Byrd’s interceptions in and of themselves have been impressive, but they’ve been especially critical for a Bills team that struggles with giving up big yardage defensively, as well as scoring points offensively. In the past two weeks alone – again, games in which Byrd has intercepted four passes – his big plays led directly to 21 points on the board for the Bills. They’ve only scored 36 points in wins over the Jets and the Panthers. Not only are Byrd’s picks big plays, but they’re clearly helping the Bills win close games.
Bills’ Byrd continues scorching start to NFL career – continue reading…
There’s still a pulse in Buffalo. The Bills turned a pair of rookie Jairus Byrd interceptions into 14 points and played excellent overall defense in defeating the Carolina Panthers, 20-9. They improve to 3-4 on the season.
Byrd continued his superb rookie season in the first quarter, picking off an overthrown Jake Delhomme pass and returning it to the Panthers seven. Two plays later Marshawn Lynch scored an easy touchdown on a seven-yard run to give Buffalo the 7-0 lead. It was the Bills first rushing touchdown in 213 attempts, going all the way back to last season.
After a punt by Jason Baker pinned the Bills inside the five, followed by a false start by Demetrius Bell backing them another two yards, Fred Jackson was tackled in the end zone by Hollis Thomas for a Carolina safety.
Opportunistic Bills Pounce on Panthers, 20-9 – continue reading…
