“It felt like normal,” Dareus told Buffalobills.com. “Getting back out here with the guys, just excited. I’ve been here, really getting after it as a defense. We’re just coming together, and everything’s just looking so good. Just getting out here, we look alright. I really wait until we put it all together and I see what we can do.”

Dareus said while he was away from the practice setting he did work on his own to stay in shape and stay sharp.

1 - Chris,

One guy that seemed to stick out to me while watching the combine is Mark Harrison.  Wondering what your thoughts are on him and where he is projected to go round wise.  Thanks for all you do!

Geoff

CB: Harrison is a great physical talent at 6’3” and 231 pounds. The fact that he runs a 4.37 40 will get him a look from teams, especially after bouncing back from a down junior year. His numbers this past season still weren’t quite as good as his sophomore season when there was a lot more receiving talent around him. Harrison is probably a day 3 pick based on his physical skills alone even though his hands looked more reliable in 2012 than in 2011.

2 – Chris,

It seems the Bills have preached that they’ve made progress over the last few years.   I am having trouble seeing that.  It looks as though the Bills needs are many:
G
QB
2 WR’s
TE
DE
ILB
OLB
2 CB’s
S depth
With all of these needs in mind and only 6 draft picks, do see the Bills being competitive in 2013?   
-Jim

CB: I don’t disagree that there are several holes to still fill. At the same time the quality of the talent on this roster is pretty good (think – D-line, safety, OT). Part of that is due to the people they chose to part ways with (Donald Jones, David Nelson) and older players that either retired or will not be retained for the future. You’re right with six picks Buffalo has to do some plugging in free agency.

I think they’ll do a bit more work in free agency prior to the draft and then post-draft they’ll see where some positional needs still lie and plug in some bargain free agents presumably on one and two-year contracts.

3 – Chris,

With the Bills having only 6 picks in this year’s NFL draft, and players who fit like Tyler Wilson, Ryan Nassib and Manti Teo most likely being available in the late 1st or early 2nd round, do you think that they might trade back in the 1st round with their #8 pick to gain extra draft picks? That would seem to make sense – if Buddy Nix is willing.

LeeD

CB: I think trading down is a realistic possibility only if their top graded quarterback is off the board. Bills GM Buddy Nix would like to have more than six picks. Moving down from eight is the only way to do that, but landing a quarterback of the future likely trumps everything.

4 – Hey Chris,

Just wondering, what’s up with Marcel Dareus? I understand that he plays through pain, both physical and emotional (considering his brother’s death), however I just can’t help but think that he has not lived up to expectations as a number three overall pick. Considering the bevy of talent that was available that year, it really baffles me that he isn’t living up to his draft spot or to his draft class. Your thoughts?

Mike in Buffalo

CB: I think last year was a lost year for Dareus. He lost his brother after the first regular season game in a tragic act of violence. His brother was just 19. Even though Dareus lost his dad when he was 6, his grandmother at age 13, his high school coach at age 18, his mom at age 20 and his best friend from high school at 21, this latest loss may have topped them all. All that loss and just 23-years of age, I’m willing to give him a pass for the 2012 season.

I just don’t think his head was in the game and how could it be? Anyone that has to experience all that is probably wondering what he did to deserve all that hardship. Hopefully he can come back and re-focus under a new staff and be the upbeat guy he has always been despite a very difficult hand that’s been dealt to him concerning his family.

5 – Hi Chris  

Do you worry about Dion Jordan being another Aaron Maybin?  Also it’s great the Bills front office is upfront with fans about needing a quarterback but not at the expense of other teams knowing and using that against us.  How do you see Mike Pettine’s defense set up with our personnel?  Can we run a 3 -4?  We have a lot of D lineman.   

Thanks – Travis

CB: I understand the concern. Seeing him at the NFL Combine, he looks like a swingman for a basketball team. The difference is Jordan has more of a college resume than Maybin, who had one-year of starting experience and came out as a redshirt sophomore. Jordan’s body is more mature, though he is coming of a torn labrum in his shoulder. I also think the one thing Jordan has that Maybin did not was instinct. Maybin was a hard worker, but did not seem to have the football acumen to anticipate and diagnose plays. The word on Jordan is that he does, which is why he’s seen as a top 10 pick.

1 - @ChrisBrownBills would Bills take a flyer on Kolb?

Cparkin2009 12:33pm via Twitter for Android

CB: I’d be surprised if Kolb is on Buffalo’s radar. The Bills have been hard at work this week with a full court press on the quarterback prospects in this year’s draft. Landry Jones, Geno Smith and Tyler Wilson all had pro days this week. Though I wouldn’t rule out the Bills kicking the tires on a veteran free agent, it seems to me that the draft is where their focus lies with respect to quarterback right now.

 2 – Hi Chris,

Thanks for keeping us updated all off-season. If the scenario of Geno Smith falling to the Browns at #6 happens, do you think this would finally be the year the Bills trade up to land the best QB prospect? Andy Reid can probably work with Alex Smith and with the Eagles re-signing Vick it looks like they may not draft a QB but the Cardinals will most likely be looking to draft a QB right before us.    

Thanks,
John

CB: I agree that the Cardinals could still draft a QB despite signing veteran free agent Drew Stanton and jettisoning Kevin Kolb. But Arizona needs help in a lot of places after cutting some high-priced vets. Cleveland has addressed some of their most pressing defensive needs early in free agency, so I don’t think ruling them out for adding a quarterback can be assumed. I realize they drafted Brandon Weeden last year, but they have a new coaching staff and new ownership.

Reporters I’ve talked to in Philadelphia also won’t rule out Chip Kelly drafting a QB, though I don’t believe it’ll happen in round one with the fourth overall pick.

As for trading up, Buddy Nix traditionally does not like to move up and down the board. Now he moved up two places last year to grab T.J. Graham in round three, but it’s a whole different ball game in the top 10 and knowing the Bills only have six picks this year, it’s hard for me to see Nix giving up picks to make a move up higher in the top 10.

3 – Chris,
With Mike Pettine being the defensive coordinator now I assume the Bills are going back to a 3-4.  I was wondering what that means for the defensive line?  Will we see Dareus or Williams move to the end again?

CB: Personally I think Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams are both versatile enough to play end or DT in Pettine’s system. But I’ll let coach Pettine handle this one since he was recently asked about his defense in an appearance on Bills flagship station WGR Sportsradio 550 this week.

“We’re not going to be true 3-4 or 4-3 as far as how we’re doing it,” said Pettine. “We’re going to be multiple in our fronts that we run. It’s a work in progress. We’re going to highlight in our playbook what we do well. So again it’s going to be more roster based.

“We have our base concepts that we’re going to run and those have been put in from a playbook standpoint, but we’re still trying to rebuild it. As a new staff we took what we built over four years in New York and then add the experience of the other coaches on the staff. We’ve basically hit the reset button on everything. I didn’t want to come in and say, ‘This is what we’re running.’ Over time you accumulate a lot of tweaks and adjustments. We wanted to go back to the baseline and say, ‘Here is the way we’re going to teach it and then understand that these are all the variations of it.’”

4 – Chris,

What are the odds that the Bills pass on a quarterback in the early rounds this year? And pick one next year in the early rounds? Are there any prospects in next year’s draft that are better than this year? It seems to me that at least this way we can get the defense squared away and add a receiver or tight end and have everything in place for a QB next year. Thanks . I enjoy your column.

Sam from Tupper Lake , NY
Sent from my iPhone

CB: I think with Ryan Fitzpatrick no longer on the roster it’s pretty much a must that the Bills draft a quarterback somewhere in the first two rounds of the draft. Obviously what falls to them will say a lot in what is ultimately done, but with a thin free agent class at QB and the draft class at QB not tremendously deep the Bills have to land a QB early as I see it.

5 – Chris,

I’m wondering what type of offense the Bills will run given coach Marrone and Hackett’s system at Syracuse. During the season last year Nassib was quoted as saying that their success with the no huddle spread offense was due to the fact that they run to set up the pass. This is an unusual description and quite the opposite of a west coast system. Yet, newly resigned QB Jackson was quoted as saying he’s looking forward to playing in a west coast system. What type of system do you think the Bills will run?  Thanks for your insight. Go Bills!

Joe
Sent from my iPad

CB: I think it’s safe to say the offense will be heavily rooted in West Coast principles, but it will have its fair share of power running. That’s coach Marrone’s influence being a former offensive lineman. He and coach Hackett wanted to take the best elements of a number of different offenses and incorporate them into one system. Essentially their offense is a multiple system with West Coast roots.

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.

“After the Houston, game we were all on the same page,” Dareus said on the radio show.  “We’re just like, ‘even though our team is not where we want it to be right now, we can still take those shots.’  We can still be that defense we want to be.  That’s what we’ve been trying to do, nonstop—get after it.”

Dareus is coming off one of the best performances of the year, in  Buffalo’s loss at Indianapolis.  He had five tackles, one sack, one quarterback hit, and a stop behind the line of scrimmage.  For the season, the former first round draft pick has three and a half sacks.

And with five games remaining, Dareus is not ready to throw in the towel.  He insists on giving his best effort for the rest of the season, mostly because of the Buffalo fans.

“The fans in Buffalo cheer for us regardless,” he said.  “It doesn’t matter what’s going on with win or lose, the Bills fans are great fans.  I’m playing for them.  They come and mention me all the time on Twitter, Facebook, to see how I’m doing, see how the team’s doing.  They’re really concerned about us.  I really adore them, I love them a lot.  I feel like I’m playing for them.  They want this for us.”

The John Murphy Show airs weeknights from 7-9pm on the flagship station of the Buffalo Bills, WGR Sports Radio 550.

A hamstring problem was also added to the list of injuries the defensive tackle is dealing with. It’s not expected to keep him out of Thursday night’s game. Here is Buffalo’s updated Tuesday injury report

Did not practice
DE Mark Anderson – knee
CB Aaron Williams – knee
DE Chris Kelsay – neck
RB Fred Jackson – concussion

Limited in practice
DT Kyle Williams - ankle
DT Spencer Johnson – ankle
DT Marcell Dareus – shoulder, hamstring
G Andy Levitre – knee
C Eric Wood – knee
CB Justin Rogers – knee
CB Leodis McKelvin – groin
WR Brad Smith – hamstring

Full practice
RB C.J. Spiller – shoulder
OT Chris Hairston – knee
DE Mario Williams – wrist, knee
S Da’Norris Searcy – hand

“I feel like I’m giving my all out there,” said Dareus. “I feel like I’m giving my all.  I’m just playing the best that I can play.  I take on double teams, I get no movement, and I do the best I can.  I hustle to the play.  I feel like I’m doing pretty good, but if they want me to give more, I’ll give more.  I want to do the best I can on every play.”   

“The play on the field is to me in line with the other people on the football team,” said head coach Chan Gailey of Dareus. ”Can he be better? Can we be better? Yes, everybody can step their play up a notch and improve our defense and they all have to. I’m not going to talk about individual play one way or the other, it’s a group thing. Everybody has to do what they’re supposed to do.”

Dareus, did face some double teams. He finished Sunday’s game with a tackle.

ProFootballFocus named both to their Team of the Week for Week 6. Here was their assessment.

Defensive Tackle: Marcell Dareus, BUF (+3.4) and Nick Fairley, DET (+3.2)
The two top defensive tackles taken in 2011, both showed what they’re capable of in week 6 of their sophomore years. Dareus feasted on Adam Snyder while Fairley overcame two penalties to put forth his strongest showing as a pro. They combined for two hits and eight hurries.

Safeties: Jairus Byrd, BUF (+5.2) and Madieu Williams, WAS (+3.4)
Some defensive backs just have a knack for making plays, and the two big ones Byrd made essentially won the game for Buffalo. How do you think Minnesota fans felt watching Williams play so well? Not something they were overly accustomed to in his last few years with the club.

Byrd also was named Player of the Game by ProFootballFocus for the Bills win over the Cardinals.

We’ll be joined by the Bills Marcell Dareus live at New Era.  He’s ready to talk about the Bills matchup with the Patriots this weekend, and about his work with the cap company on their new football cap.

Former Bills punter Greg Cater is our guest during the seven oclock hour as well.  He punted for the Bills for four years in the 1980s, and is now a free-lance punting coach.  Cater has been working with the new Bills punter, Shawn Powell, for several years now, and we’ll get his thoughts on the Bills newest acquisition.

Fans are invited to stop by the New Era Flagship Store at 160 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo tonight from 7pm-830pm to watch the radio show.

The John Murphy Show airs weeknights from 7pm-9pm on the flagship station of the Buffalo Bills, WGR Sports Radio 550.

Dareus returned to Buffalo a day after funeral services for his slain younger brother Wednesday in Alabama.

He’s expected to practice today. His schedule is very similar to last week when he re-joined the team Thursday and played Sunday against the Chiefs.

That according to Bills CEO Russ Brandon. Making his weekly radio appearance on Bills flagship station WGR Sportsradio 550, Brandon said he was flying down to be at the funeral today as a Bills representative for Mr. Wilson.

“Hopefully we’ll get Marcell back with our Bills family soon,” he said.

“I think he’s okay. He left last night and I think he’ll be okay,” said Gailey. ”He understands exactly what he needs to do in the next couple of days so he can get back here and be ready to go when he gets back whenever that is.”

Gailey said he’s not sure exactly when Dareus will return to the team this week. He missed Wednesday’s practice last week.

“I’m sure he is hurting just in the short period of time we had a conversation I could tell he is hurting, but he is being strong,” said Gailey.

Dareus arrived back at One Bills Drive around lunch time and participated fully in practice. The defensive tackle is scheduled to rejoin his family in Alabama after Sunday’s game.

“He felt the responsibility to be back here, knowing he had responsibilities there,” said Gailey. ”I think everybody is going to work to make sure it all goes as smoothly as possible. It can’t go smooth, but as smoothly as possible.”

Dareus flew back to Buffalo from Alabama after tending to family matters after the tragic passing of his younger brother over the weekend.

My family and I want to thank everyone for all their thoughts and prayers for the untimely death of my brother Simeon Gilmore.

— Marcell Dareus (@marcelldareus) September 13, 2012

We also would like to give our condolence to the families of the other victims. We pray that this tragic lost will be a example of the urgen

— Marcell Dareus (@marcelldareus) September 13, 2012

Need to get guns off the streets.

— Marcell Dareus (@marcelldareus) September 13, 2012

RB Fred Jackson
DT Marcell Dareus

“I spoke to Marcell and all of our condolences do go out to him and the family,” said head coach Chan Gailey. “He’s got a lot on his plate to say the least. I talked to him this morning. I think he’ll be back for Sunday’s game whether it’s tonight, tomorrow or the next day, but I think he’ll be here for this week. He wants to be back.”

“Obviously, it is a tragic situation and as an organization we are behind Marcell and his family 100-percent. That is our main focus,” said Brandon.

“I have been in contact with him and many people in our organization have. The most we can do is stand by him. He has obviously had some very difficult times throughout his life. It is amazing what he has accomplished on the football field and the kind of person he is off of it. All we can do is stand by and band together as an organization and a community.”

Dareus has experienced more loss than most in his young life, losing his father at age 6, a grandmother that helped raise him at 13, his high school coach and mentor at 18 and his mother at 20.

Here’s a closer look at the hardships Dareus has had to work through in his young life.

“We have to win this game,” said Dareus of Buffalo’s opener with New York. ”It is a division game and I look at it as one of the most important games of the year for us. To start this thing out right, go out there and give everybody what they want and came to see.”

“I pride myself on stopping the run,” he said. ”Stopping the run first, and making them a one-dimensional team. As a team I think we all gravitate to that, stopping the run and defending the pass. And I think that is where we are going with that. We are going to be ready to go.”