Inside The Bills

Handful of Bills on PFF all-AFC East team

There are a handful of Bills players that were selected for the ProFootballFocus all AFC East team.

Their choices were the ones most would expect. Here’s who appeared on their squad and what PFF wrote about them.

Running Back: C.J. Spiller (BUF)
It wasn’t his fault he received only 207 carries. However, he can take full responsibility for making the most of those carries, ending the year with a league leading 94.6 Elusive Rating after forcing 66 missed tackles from his 250 touches of the ball.

Wide Receivers: Wes Welker (NE), Brian Hartline (MIA) and Stevie Johnson (BUF)
We wanted to put a fullback in here, but there really wasn’t one in this division that either played enough, or played well enough. That made life a lot easier for us, going with Hartline and Johnson, with Welker working from the slot. All three ranked in our Top 30 for receiving grades by wide outs, and each of them put in a 1,000 yard season.

Guards: Andy Levitre (BUF) and Brandon Moore (NYJ)
There was a legitimate case for both Richie Incognito and Logan Mankins here. As good as Levitre was in pass protection (and he was very good), he really failed to consistently get much movement in the run game. In the end though, his competition just didn’t do enough to oust him. At right guard, Moore finished the season playing as well as any lineman, ending the year our third ranked right guard.

Defensive Tackle: Kyle Williams (BUF) and Muhammed Wilkerson (NYJ)
A controversial decision here with Vince Wilfork missing out. While he was dominant at times, there weren’t many games Williams or Wilkerson didn’t have their way with interior linemen. The more complete player of the two is the Bill, whose relentless play results in plenty of pressure (45 quarterback disruptions, ranking third among all defensive tackles). Wilkerson plays as a defensive end for the Jets in their 3-4 alignment, but the way he can get off interior blocks is something to behold. He had 46 defensive stops in the run game, second among all defensive linemen.

Safeties: Jairus Byrd (BUF) and Reshad Jones (MIA)
Byrd is going to be paid a lot of money, and very soon. There aren’t many ballhawking safeties like the Bill, who has the kind of range that should scare quarterbacks for years to come. He had our highest coverage grade of all safeties and was ranked second overall this year. That’s one spot above Jones, who missed too many tackles in the second half of the year, but became a real playmaker for Miami.

Returner: Leodis McKelvin (BUF)
It could very easily have been Marcus Thigpen, with the two men one and two in our returner rankings.

Fan Friday 1-4

It’s been a heck of a week here at One Bills Drive, with more big news to come once the Bills find their new head coach. Stay tuned to Buffalobills.com all offseason for updates. Also keep sending your questions to AskChris@bills.nfl.net and on Twitter @ChrisBrownBills.

1 – Chris,
What do you think of the idea of drafting two of the best QBs available in this year’s draft?  Last year the Redskins did and I think it’s working for them, don’t you?  What do we have to lose?  It’s quite evident we’re lacking in even (1) good QB on this team, right? As long as we have the right people making the calls on the draft, this could work. If we land one good QB, the best man would win out in training camp and then we have out second stringer in place.

Thanks,
LRT

CB: I thought it interesting that GM Buddy Nix this week reiterated how they intend to draft a quarterback and then added in that they might acquire another in free agency. Last year I think the opportunity to draft two quarterbacks was more realistic. The pool was much deeper. This year the pool of talent at QB is much thinner by all indications. So I think making use of two draft picks on quarterbacks might not provide the desired results this time around.
2 - Hi Chris,

I appreciate all the work you and your colleagues do to bring us inside Bills videos, statistics, and interviews that provide some insight into OBD.

What’s my hope as Joe Ticket Buyer for next season?  We’re going to have the AFC North and NFC South on the schedule, which are both very difficult divisions. What will be different? Can you give me any hope as a 29-year old that hasn’t seen his team in the playoffs since he was a sophomore in high school?

Finally, would you agree that finding a young quarterback to groom (or play) has to be priority #1 in the offseason?  Sure, more linebackers and a wide receiver would be nice, but without a quarterback that can make all of the throws in the NFL accurately and often, aren’t we still just spinning our wheels?

Thanks again, and please keep up the great work.
Sincerely,
Jeff Locke

CB: First, thanks for the compliments. Our staff appreciates it. With a new head coach coming in with a new staff and undoubtedly new ideas for the roster I think it’s safe to say a lot will be different for the 2013 Bills. No question those divisions on Buffalo’s slate won’t be easy, but let’s see what unfolds this offseason as far as the Bills are concerned before we make our assessments.

I agree quarterback is a big issue for this team. As I mentioned in the above response it is a position that the personnel department plans to address this offseason.
3 - Hey Chris,
After Urbik re-signed, do think that helps the chances of Levitre re-signing?  He has been our most durable lineman and I would view him to be our top priority?  Also what do think the chances are that the franchise tag is put on Byrd? I believe the tag amount on safeties is just above kicker and punter?  Also, since D Jones and Nelson were undrafted can’t the bills give them 1st or 2nd rd tender offers as opposed to the low qualifying tender offers? (2nd making the most sense)  Also what do think about a trade to the Jets? Brad Smith for Tebow and a draft pick?

Bryan
Grosse Ile, MI

CB: I don’t believe that one re-signing necessarily impacts another. The re-signing of Urbik is certainly good news for the Bills. Re-signing Levitre figures to be a bit more complicated. Levitre has been the most durable lineman on the roster having never missed a game in four years and is a heck of an interior lineman. I believe negotiations once they begin will take some time. Levitre has stated an interest in returning.

As for Byrd I get the sense in my conversations with him that he wants to test the free agent market. I worry that the Bills may have to make use of the franchise tag to keep him. The projected tag amount for safeties in 2013 is $6.4M.

Yes, you’re right with both Jones and Nelson undrafted there is not compensation due the Bills should they be tendered at the low level by Buffalo and another club signs them to an offer sheet and the Bills choose not to match. It’s likely that one, possibly both will be tendered at a middle tender, which would offer compensation to the Bills in the form of a second-round pick. I’d expect the new head coach would have a good deal of input on that.

Finally, no on your trade suggestion.
4 - Chris,

Thanks for your time and great work covering the Bills.  Question is about the defense in light of the coaching change and it not being a setback.  I agree, only if they stay in the 4-3.  If it were a switch to the 3-4 then an overhaul of personal will be a setback.  I don’t want to hear Mario as a OLB.  He likes putting his hand down, rushing the blocker.  So head coach that does whatever with our offense weapons and defense that stays a 4-3 and we can still compete for the playoffs next year.  Do you agree?   Switch to the 3-4 a setback?  

Bills fan in Raleigh,
Jason

CB: I think it’s safe to say that moving to a 3-4 defensively would be a major challenge moving forward if the defense is to improve on their substandard rankings this past year. The new defensive scheme can’t be a major change schematically. If it is a whole new learning curve will ensue and that will keep the players vets and young players alike from playing fast. I’d imagine the coach search committee is making it clear the 4-3 is something they’d prefer to keep intact.
5 – Chris,
I’m not interested in recycling a recently-fired head coach as Bills’ head man, but I am interested in putting pieces in place that can help the franchise.  Many fired head coaches return to action as a coordinator (Del Rio in Denver, for example).  Guys that don’t have a job right now are prime candidates for those jobs. 
 
I like the idea of getting a young, innovative head coach (Doug Marrone, Mike McCoy, etc.) but surround him with experienced coordinators.  My selections would be Ken Whisenhunt as OC and Lovie Smith – he says he wants to come to Buffalo! – as my DC.  Above all, we need a guy at the top who can evaluate and develop a young QB.  (The knock on Whisenhunt is that he failed to develop Kolb, Skelton, Lindley (?) in AZ.)
 
What do you think about that? 
 
Interesting comment on WGR yesterday about looking at Special Teams coaches (Harbaugh, Levy) as Head Coaches because they use the entire roster in putting teams together, thus they have a knack for working with – and getting the most out of – the entire roster. 
 
Intriguing thought, but I think it still comes down to getting the guy with the “right stuff”.  Can he manage the game day decisions, delegate the game plan development to his coordinators, motivate the team to play, get the most out of his talent?  Then sign him up!
 
Your thoughts?
Thanks for your time.  Let’s hope the Bills get it right this time.
Ron

CB: The Bills have made it clear that they’re not discriminating and exploring all options. I think the candidate pool which reportedly varies from Doug Marrone to Lovie Smith reflects that. As for your proposed HC, OC, DC combination that trio would cost upwards of $15M a year just for those three. Don’t know that it’s realistic.

That being said I do agree with your coaching point on developing a young QB knowing Buddy Nix intends to draft a signal caller. I also agree with a head coach being a head coach on Sundays and delegating all play calling to the coordinators. I’m a big fan of that approach. We’ll see what happens.
 

Byrd, McKelvin, Spiller make All-Pro PFF team

The film reviewers and analytic stat crunchers at Pro Football Focus have put out their 2012 All-Pro team and three Bills make an appearance.

Jairus Byrd earned 1st team free safety honors, while Leodis McKelvin earned a second team nod as a return man and C.J. Spiller earned a second team naming at RB. Here’s what was written about all three Bills players.

Free Safety: Jairus Byrd (BUF)
There isn’t a better deep safety in football than Byrd who picked up five interceptions and only allowed 16 catches all year into his coverage. Byrd has rare range and ability and it’s always on display.

Returner: Second team – Leodis McKelvin (BUF)
While he was just picked over Marcus Thigpen here, before missing time, McKelvin had a very real shot at first team honors.

Running back: Second Team - C.J. Spiller (BUF)
In the end Spiller received the nod over Marshawn Lynch and Alfred Morris with the only negative being in how poorly he was used.

Jairus to see punt return duty again?

For the first time in his Bills career, Jairus Byrd fielded a pair of punt returns in the loss to Miami last Sunday. Head coach Chan Gailey explained to Buffalobills.com why Byrd was added to the punt return mix and if it will continue.

“If you look at Jairus we trust him a great deal to catch the football and it looks like it’s going to be inside the 20 or the 10 we’ll put Jairus back there because he’s a great catcher of the ball,” said Gailey. ”He’s a sure-handed guy. Justin (Rogers) is a sure-handed guy, but if we’re looking to get a return, make something happen with the ball, he’s got more explosiveness and can make more things happen in a true return situation.”

Both of Byrd’s punt returns were fair catches. Rogers has just three returns on the season for 14 yards.

Byrd, Levitre, Kyle update

Jairus Byrd, Andy Levitre and Kyle Williams all got back on the practice field, but no one was full go.

“Most everybody that was out yesterday did something today,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “Most of them were limited today and didn’t take every rep, but they practiced.”

Byrd (ankle), Levitre (knee) and Kyle Williams (ankle) were all limited joining Mark Anderson (knee), Nick Barnett (knee) and a handful of others. Here’s the full injury update.

DID NOT PRACTICE
WR Ruvell Martin – not injury related
S Da’Norris Searcy – groin

LIMITED IN PRACTICE
S Jairus Byrd - ankle
G Andy Levitre – knee
DT Kyle Williams – ankle
DE Mark Anderson – knee
LB Nick Barnett – knee
FB Dorin Dickerson – ankle
WR Marcus Easley – hamstring
CB Justin Rogers – foot
LB Chris White – hamstring
C Eric Wood – knee

Byrd not practicing

There were a handful of Bills not practicing during the media viewing portion of practice, and there was one surprise on Wednesday.

Jairus Byrd was among the non-participants Wednesday. Here’s the rest of the list.

S Da’Norris Searcy
S Jairus Byrd
G Andy Levitre
WR Ruvell Martin
DT Kyle Williams

Head coach Chan Gailey said Martin would miss practice today and tomorrow for personal reasons. He was excused.

Pro Football Focus picks 4 Bills for Pro Bowl

The film reviewers and football metric evaluators at Pro Football Focus have chosen their NFL Pro Bowl roster and four Bills appear on their roster.

PFF chose FS Jairus Byrd, DT Kyle Williams, RB C.J Spiller and KR Leodis McKelvin.

Here’s what they wrote about the Bills defensive players and Spiller, who not surprisingly also leads their category for elusive rating with a grade of 99.9.

Players and coaches cast their Pro Bowl ballots later this week.

Bills safeties rate near top

ProFootballFocus, which watches game tape of every team and logs statistics and unique football metrics for every player has Bills safeties Jairus Byrd and George Wilson near the top of the league in performance at the safety position.

Byrd currently ranks second in the league in overall player rating trailing only San Diego’s Eric Weddle. George Wilson places a very respectable eighth on the list, making Buffalo the only team with a pair of safeties in the top 10.

The two also ranks ninth (Wilson) and 10th (Byrd) in performance in coverage league-wide at the safety position.

Ratings
# Name               Team Snaps Overall
1  Eric Weddle  SD         859        22.0
2  Jairus Byrd BUF       848        21.3
3  Reshad Jones MIA  925        20.3
4  Kerry Rhodes ARZ  829         15.0
5  T.J. Ward CLV           959         14.7
6  Reggie Nelson CIN  776         11.4
6  Quintin Mikell SL     839         11.4
8  George Wilson BUF 744         9.8 
9  Ryan Clark    PIT       711          9.6
10  Ronde Barber TB   915          9.2

Bunch of defenders back

Four of Buffalo’s defenders were back on the practice field Thursday.

Leodis McKelvin, Marcell Dareus, Jairus Byrd, Spencer Johnson and Kyle Williams were all back in action.

We’ll have an update on their level of participation post-practice.

Byrd talks with Polamalu, Reed

As the saying goes knowledge is king. Jairus Byrd was given a wealth of football knowledge having a father that played cornerback in the NFL and went to a pair of Pro Bowls as well as an adopted “uncle” in eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback Aeneas Williams. But Byrd is always seeking more knowledge about the game, which is why he routinely texts some of the best safeties in the game.

Byrd has struck up a dialogue with the likes of Pittsburgh All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu and Baltimore perennial Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed.

“I text them and ask them questions,” Byrd told Buffalobills.com. “Sometimes it’s about a common opponent that we’re both facing. It could be about a certain look, a quarterback tendency, anything.”

Byrd, who is the subject of our Bills Focus feature this week, appreciates the feedback from the two veteran safeties.

“They’re both good guys that want to give back to the game and I benefit from that,” said Byrd. “Troy is just so humble that he doesn’t provide a whole lot in the way of details and what he sees. Ed is great. He texts me right back, or he’ll call and break it all down for me. It’s great to have that kind of dialogue with them.”

The Bills free safety, who is currently second in Pro Bowl fan voting behind Reed in the AFC, doesn’t want to miss anything and believes by talking to two safeties that have seen it all he’s less likely to do so.

“I think you want to know what other guys see,” he said. ”Maybe you might be missing something. Maybe they see something else. You’re studying for an opponent and maybe they saw something that you might not have seen. So I definitely talk to different guys.”

How Byrd is approaching free agency

Bills FS Jairus Byrd is entering a free agent year after the season concludes. He’s expressed an interest in re-signing with the Bills, and in a one-on-one conversation with Buffalobills.com this week, he explained what he considers important in deciding his NFL future. It’s part of our Bills Focus feature on the talented free safety.

Obviously money is a primary factor for all free agents, but it’s clear that winning is important to Byrd as well.

“You’ve just got to look at where the team is headed, what’s going on with the situation,” Byrd told Buffalobills.com. ”You’ve got to take in a lot of things. That’s something that when the time comes I have to do.”

Byrd also talks about the possibility of his second Pro Bowl nod as well as getting a feel for opposing quarterbacks and where they’re most likely headed with the football in this week’s edition of Bills Focus.

Pro Bowl voting update

A handful of Bills are still among the top five at their respective positions in fan Pro Bowl voting. Here’s where they rank.

Jairus Byrd is 2nd among AFC Free Safeties

Kyle Williams is 3rd among AFC Defensive Tackles

C.J. Spiller is 4th among AFC Running Backs and newewst to crack the top five at his position.

Leodis McKelvin is 4th among AFC Kick Returners     

Voting for the Pro Bowl only goes until Dec. 17th, so cast your ballots now.

Several defenders missing

The defense is missing a few players in practice today.

While Mark Anderson is back practicing there are several sidelined or absent.

Here’s the rundown.

Marcell Dareus
Spencer Johnson
Kyle Williams
Jairus Byrd
Nick Barnett
Leodis McKelvin

The only offensive player not participating is Eric Wood.

NFL.com Pro Bowl ballots

Here’s a rundown of the Pro Bowl ballots of some of NFL.com’s journalists, with a few Bills getting respectable support.

At running back C.J. Spiller appeared on five of the six ballots.

Andy Levitre appeared on two of the six ballots for guard.

Mario Williams was on three of the six ballots for defensive end.

Kyle Williams was on two of the six ballots for defensive tackle.

Jairus Byrd appeared on two of the six ballots for free safety.

Leodis McKelvin got one of the six votes for kick returner.

Remember you can vote for what Bills you believe are deserving of Pro Bowl recognition by casting your own ballot.

Bills run ‘D’ peaking?

Buffalo’s run defense has been much improved since the bye week and on Sunday they did something a Buffalo defense has not done in nine seasons.

In holding the Jaguars to just 50 yards rushing on Sunday, it marked the third straight game they’ve held their opponent to fewer than 90 yards rushing (Miami – 60, Indy – 87, Jax. – 50) . The last time a Bills defense held three straight opponents to less than 90 yards rushing was the 2003 season (see below) as we mentioned in our Saturday story the day before the Jaguars game.

11/30/03 vs. Giants – 13 carries, 24 yards
12/7/03 vs Jets – 26 carries, 88 yards
12/14/03 vs. Tenn - 32 carries, 86 yards

Jairus Byrd, who has the best view of the run defense from his free safety position liked what he saw on Sunday.

“They were getting the ball and were getting hit immediately,” said Byrd of Jacksonville’s backs. ”Guys were running to the ball, pursuing and I’m on the back end just looking at it getting excited. Holes were there and they were getting hit. Anytime you see that especially on the back end you’re loving that because then it leads to being one-dimensional.”

Report: Bills open talks with Byrd

Bills FS Jairus Byrd is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after this season, but Buffalo’s front office is reportedly already making sure he never makes it to the free agent market.

According to ESPN.com, preliminary contract negotiations are already underway between the Bills and Byrd. When asked by Buffalobills.com about contract negotiations, the free safety deferred to his representatives.

“I really just let my agent handle all of that and let him focus on it,” Byrd told Buffalobills.com.

Bills GM Buddy Nix has said all along that Byrd is one of their impending free agents that they want to return to the fold for the long term future.

Byrd leads the team in interceptions, forced fumbles and is tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries. He’s also second on the team in tackles.

Bills Pro Bowl fan voting update

There are a few Bills players that are in the top 5 at their respective position in fan voting for the Pro Bowl. Shockingly, C.J. Spiller is not among them. Here’s the latest update.

At kick returner Leodis McKelvin sits third in the voting behind Cleveland’s Josh Cribbs and Baltimore’s Jacoby Jones for the AFC spot.

Jairus Byrd stands second at free safety behind Baltimore veteran Ed Reed.

Kyle Williams is still third in the DT voting behind Baltimore’s Haloti Ngata and Cincinnati’s Geno Atkins.

2013 Pro Bowl voting will continue online and on web-enabled mobile phones through Dec. 17 by going to Buffalobills.com to fill out a ballot.

The teams will be announced at 7:00 pm (ET) Wednesday, December 26 on NFL Network’s “Total Access”.

The AFC and NFC All-Star squads are based on the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches. Each group’s vote counts one-third toward determining the 43-man rosters that represent the American Football Conference and National Football Conference in the Pro Bowl. NFL players and coaches will cast their votes on December 20-21.

Byrd mystified by no review

At the end of the first half Jairus Byrd appeared to strip the ball from Reggie Wayne’s hands at the Bills four-yard line causing a fumble before the receiver hit the turf. Head referee Ed Hochuli ruled and announced that no fumble had taken place.

Replay clearly showed a fumble on the play and with under two minutes it was up to the replay booth to put the play under review. They never did. It left Byrd stunned.

“I took the ball from him,” said Byrd. “It was a clear fumble. They didn’t call it. I don’t know what’s going on.  And right after that, the spike that gave them one second. There was no time on the clock. All that being said, you cant complain, but those were some questionable calls right there.”

Byrd is referring to Buffalo’s stop of Reggie Wayne on 2^nd-and-goal. Dropped at the one-yard line in the middle of the field the clock was running out and the Colts tried to get to the line to spike it and stop the clock. Time had expired, but the officials ruled that a second had to be put back on the clock.

It led to a fourth down field goal putting Indianapolis up 13-6 at the half.

Tip of cap to Byrd and Kyle

SI.com columnist Peter King in his Monday Morning QB column this week tips his hat to both Jairus Byrd and Kyle Williams.

King obviously watched Buffalo’s Thursday night win over Miami and led off his ’10 Things I Think’ section of MMQB with Byrd and Williams. Here’s what he wrote.

Byrd INT one of better plays of 2012

Fortunately it was on national TV in prime time. Jairus Byrd’s acrobatic interception Thursday night with under two minutes remaining to foil a potential big play for the Dolphins late could prove to be one of the plays of the season.

“That was crazy; that’s baller. He laid out for that thing,” said Mario Williams of Byrd’s full extension to make the pick. ”To bring it in with his fingertips and go through the whole catch after hitting the ground and everything, that was a heck of a play.”

“That was big-time,” said Nick Barnett. ”Byrd has been making plays like that all year. I thought he made some great plays like that in Arizona. He is that type of player.”