Bell, Searcy earn praise
Tags: Da'Norris Searcy, Demetrius Bell, George Wilson, Jairus Byrd
The stat crunchers and film reviewers at Pro Football Focus took a closer look at who was “trending” up this season in the AFC East this past season and Buffalo has two players singled out for some praise.
In their AFC East write up in the category of most improved was OT Demetrius Bell. Granted he missed eight games with a broken collarbone, but by their evaluation standards he improved most from 2010 (when he was essentially playing on one leg) to 2011. Here’s what they wrote.
Demetrius Bell: From (2010) -13.0 to +6.8
When Bell first started for the Bills in 2009 he looked out of his depth. He wasn’t quite so bad in 2010, but he looked far from competent at the left tackle spot. He did just doing enough to make you think that he warranted another try if nothing else. Still, his performance in his 401 snaps this year was something of a surprise, with Bell giving up just a sack, hit, and pressure on his 252 pass blocks. It would have been nice to see more of him, but what we did see suggests the Bills may have been right to show patience.
In the category of deserving of more snaps was former fourth-round pick Da’Norris Searcy. Here’s what they wrote.
Da’Norris Searcy: +2.7 on 231 snaps
It may be tough for Searcy to find more playing time with the combo of Jairus Byrd and George Wilson having been such a good one this season. The Bills’ fourth-round pick in 2011 showed he had something, most notably with a standout display against Miami in Week 11. A flash in the pan, or something more, only more playing time will tell.
George Wilson is an unquestioned leader on defense, played very well in 2011 and was the quarterback of the secondary, but Searcy will provide a strong push for playing time. It will likely be one of the more intriguing training camp position battles this summer.
Byrd 2nd team PFF All-Pro
Tags: Jairus Byrd
Jairus Byrd very quietly had a very productive 2011 season. The film reviewers and stat crunchers at Pro Football Focus however, took notice. Byrd was awarded 2nd Team All-Pro honors by PFF at the free safety position and by their count he was an eyelash from being 1st team.
Free Safety: Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers
Second Team: Jairus Byrd, Buffalo Bills
So close between the first and second team players that tossing a coin was thrown about as a way of splitting them. In the end Weddle’s superior interception count worked in his favor, with the two comparable in almost every way. The development of Byrd has been phenomenal. Overrated rookie, to underrated star safety. He should be proud of his transformation.
Byrd, Levitre make PFF Pro Bowl
The Bills did not have any players selected to represent the AFC in this year’s Pro Bowl, but two players on Buffalo’s roster were recognized by the film reviewers and stat junkies at Pro Football Focus on their Pro Bowl roster.
Here’s what they wrote about Levitre and Byrd respectively.
Guards
LG – Andy Levitre (BUF), RG – Marshal Yanda (BAL), and Brian Waters (NE)
Don’t you just love a guy that gets a new contract and then ups his play? That’s exactly what Marshal Yanda did and none of us could be happier because we’ve been championing his cause now for four years. Levitre was playing brilliantly before he was called on to start at left tackle and then center. He held his own at those positions and that in itself deserves consideration. Waters was let go by KC when they determined his run-blocking no longer matched his superior pass pro skills but there’s nothing like a trip north east to sort that out. He’s still not the best run blocker around, but he’s good enough and he makes Tom Brady’s life in the pocket a much easier proposition.
Safeties
FS – Eric Weddle (SD), SS – Troy Polamalu (PIT), and Jarius Byrd (BUF)
Weddle was unanimous as he made those who questioned his contract eat their words. Polamalu is a frustrating player, because you have no idea what he’ll do; randomly take off to undercut something leaving his guy open for a big gain one play, then make a one handed diving interception the next. We’ve all seen the best, and worst, of him this year – many of us in the same game. In the end though he was a better choice than anyone else.
Byrd’s a little bit like Ngata in that, now all the hype is dying down, he’s turning into a better player than he was when he was making tons of interceptions on badly overthrown passes and little else.
Fred Jackson was also mentioned in their Pro Bowl listings, saying that he would’ve been the starter at halfback were it not for his season-ending leg injury.
Almost forgot winning feeling
Tags: Jairus Byrd
A seven-game losing streak will sap a lot out of an NFL team; their confidence, their mental toughness and the feeling of winning. Bills FS Jairus Byrd, who had a big interception return for a touchdown in Buffalo’s win Saturday admitted that the team almost forgot what it felt like to win prior to last weekend’s victory.
“Yeah definitely, it was good,” he said of the win. ”You kind of forget the feeling because it’s been so long. It was just good, just for us moving forward, to build that confidence, to know that we can still do this. We can still play like that if everyone plays up to their capabilities.”
Byrd, Wilson probable
The Bills safety tandem is expected to be back in action Sunday at San Diego. George Wilson has missed the last three games, but that streak is going to come to an end this weekend.
Wilson practiced all week and is listed as probable. Free safety Jairus Byrd is also probable after missing Wednesday’s practice with a shin injury. Byrd was leg whipped in last week’s game.
Bills safeties look good for Sun.
Buffalo’s starting safety tandem of George Wilson and Jairus Byrd are looking good for Sunday’s game in San Diego with both of them practicing fully on Thursday.
“I think we’ve got a good chance to have them,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “George practiced fully today and Jairus was full practice.”
If Wilson starts on Sunday it’ll be his first action since the Dallas game in Week 10. Byrd just missed Wednesday’s practice after getting leg whipped with a cleat in last Sunday’s game.
Byrd back
Tags: Jairus Byrd
Jairus Byrd was back at practice Thursday.
The starting free safety missed Wednesday’s practice due to a shin injury. Byrd got leg whipped with a cleat in Sunday’s game and had a lot of swelling.
That’s obviously subsided to the point where he can participate in practice. We’ll find out if he was full go later this afternoon.
McGee having surgery this morning
Bills CB Terrence McGee, who suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday is having surgery this morning.
That according to teammate Jairus Byrd, who was passing along well wishes via his twitter account.
Player appearance Tues.
Tags: Andra Davis, Chris Kelsay, Jairus Byrd, Jim Kelly, Mark Kelso
Bills fans have the opportunity to meet several Bills players and alumni including Jairus Byrd, Chris Kelsay, Andra Davis and Mark Kelso at the 3rd Annual Friends of Children Celebration Tuesday evening from 6-8 pm in the Jim Kelly Club at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Tickets for the event are only $20 each and proceeds will go to Gateway-Longview. Gateway-Longview is a non-profit, child and family service organization that has been providing care, counseling and support to hundreds of at-risk children and families in Western and Central New York since 1890.
For tickets and more information visit www.friendsofchildrencelebration.com.
Meet Bills players next Tues.
Tags: Andra Davis, Chris Kelsay, Friends of Children Celebration, Jairus Byrd, Mark Kelso
Bills fans can have the opportunity to meet several Bills players and alumni including Jairus Byrd, Chris Kelsay, Andra Davis and Mark Kelso at the 3rd Annual Friends of Children Celebration. The Gateway-Longview event will be held next Tuesday, Nov 15 from 6–8 p.m. in the Jim Kelly Club at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Tickets for the event are only $20 each and proceeds will go to Gateway-Longview. Gateway-Longview is a non-profit, child and family service organization that has been providing care, counseling and support to hundreds of at-risk children and families in Western and Central New York since 1890.
For tickets and more information visit www.friendsofchildrencelebration.com.
Williams thankful for vet input
Bills second-round pick Aaron Williams knew he was flying blind coming into training camp with no rookie minicamp, no OTAs and no mandatory minicamp in the spring. That’s why he’s so appreciative of the tutoring time veterans in the secondary have given him.
Williams thanked George Wilson and Jairus Byrd in particular on his twitter account.
Two more Bills arrive
A couple of more defensive players have arrived at One Bills Drive.
Linebacker Andra Davis and FS Jairus Byrd are the two most recent players to set foot at the Bills practice facility.
Dwan, Poz, Byrd all rank
The film geeks and stat crunchers at Pro Football Focus are at it again and three Bills players make an appearance among their top reliable tacklers.
Dwan Edwards ranked an impressive seventh in the league among defensive linemen with one of the lowest missed tackle/per attempt ratios in the league over the past three seasons. He missed just one tackle for every 48 attempts between 2008-2010.
Poz fared even better placing fifth in the league among linebackers, though his ratio wasn’t quite as good as Edwards. His ratio over the past three seasons had him missing a tackle once every 24.64 attempts.
Finally Jairus Byrd, who worked very hard in his second NFL season to improve his angles to make more secure tackles, ranked 11th among NFL defensive backs. His missed tackle to tackle attempt ratio was one miss in every 17 attempts.
Knowing how much the Bills defense was on the field last season, it’s a good showing for some of the members of that starting unit.
Dareus interviewed at home
During this offseason Bills top pick Marcell Dareus has been traveling back and forth between Atlanta and his godfather’s home in Birmingham, but Scout TV caught up with him down in Alabama last week and interviewed him there.
In a three part interview, Dareus talked about his feelings on the rookie symposium, which he attended with the other NFL rookies. He discussed which teammate he’s been working out with this offseason and talked about how much he’s looking forward to playing in Buffalo.
Dareus also mentioned George Wilson and Jairus Byrd as two veterans he’s stayed in touch with this offseason.
Byrd on Kirwan’s list
Tags: Jairus Byrd
Bills safety Jairus Byrd made an appearance on NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan’s list of top safeties in the league.
Ranked at the top of Group ‘D’, Byrd ranked 16th in the league at the safety position, which included both strong and free safeties. Here’s what Kirwan wrote about Byrd.
Jairus Byrd, Bills: Had nine interceptions two years ago as a rookie, but only one in 2010. Byrd doubled his total tackles in 2010 (89) and forced three fumbles.
Bills rooks working in ATL
Tags: Da'Norris Searcy, Jairus Byrd, Kelvin Sheppard, Marcell Dareus, Takeo Spikes
Some of Buffalo’s draft choices are still working out together in Atlanta.
That according to Bills third-round pick Kelvin Sheppard, who said as much on his twitter account as he’s working out with top pick Marcell Dareus and a few others.
KelvinSheppard An can’t forget my boys @TakeoSpikes51, @jairusbyrd, @DSearcy21 an a couple others not in pic out there grindin too!!
Here’s a photo from the workout in which he and Dareus appear. Dareus is dead center and Shep is on the far left.
Whitner, Byrd stand out
In the 2010 season Donte Whitner and Jairus Byrd were among the surest tacklers at the safety position in the NFL.
That according to the stat gurus at Pro Football Focus, who calculated the ratio of missed tackles to attempts for every safety that set foot on the field last season. Whitner finished seventh in the league with just five missed tackles, which gave him a ratio of one miss per 27.2 attempts. Only one full-time starting safety was ahead of him on the list (Denver’s Renaldo Hill).
Jairus Byrd was right behind Whitner at eighth overall. He had just three missed tackles, but factoring that against a lower number of tackle attempts his ratio was slightly lower than Whitner’s at one miss for every 26.67 attempts.
