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This segment of the Buffalo Bills’ season review for 2011 deals with the defensive side of the ball. The team itself made a major statement regarding the defense when they fired coordinator George Edwards following the final game and replaced him with Dave Wannstedt. Whether the move was fair or not, the numbers warranted it. Statistically, the defense was worse in almost every category in 2011 than they were the previous year, and the players looked dazed and confused playing the scheme they were using. You have to believe Wannstedt will be able to develop some of the younger players, and here is a position-by-position look at the players he’ll have to work with on the current roster:

Defensive Linemen

Marcell Dareus – he had a decent rookie season, getting better as the year went on. He was forced to play a couple of different positions due to injuries, and was a productive player for the most part, even leading the team in sacks. He will definitely be an anchor of the team’s D-line for years to come.

Kyle Williams – he is a Pro Bowl caliber player and the defense really took a hit when he went down. The defense automatically gets better when he’s back next year, and his return combined with a more experienced Dareus will solidify the interior line.

Torell Troup – he was a second round draft pick and hasn’t played like one so far. Supposedly the coaches liked what they saw from him in training camp, but a nagging back injury hindered his play and he eventually wound up on injured reserve. Next season will be his third with the team and should be a make-or-break year.

Dwan Edwards – a starting defensive end, he’s a servicable player but not much of a difference-maker. This should be a spot that the team looks to upgrade if the opportunity presents itself in either free agency or the draft.

Alex Carrington – the NFL is a copy-cat league, and a current trend is taking players who are natural defensive linemen and moving them to linebacker. The Bills did this with at least 3 players, including Carrington, and I feel it’s hindered his development. He’s shown some pass rush ability in his 2 years on the team, but he hasn’t really progressed. When injuries put him in the starting lineup, back at defensive end, toward the end of the season, I thought he was starting to settle in and play decent football.

Spencer Johnson – another player who has always been an effective piece of the D-line rotation who was moved to LB. He made a big play in the Denver game, but in my mind he is not a linebacker, and the hope here is that Wannstedt returns to a base 4-3 alignment and the natural DEs return to that position.

Chris Kelsay – I’ve never been a big fan of his, and watching him try to cover backs out of the backfield after he was moved to LB was painful. He played the best games I’ve seen him play in his entire career here the last 2 games, and it’ll be interesting to see  if he can thrive in whatever scheme Wannstedt decides to use, hopefully a simplified one. Kelsay is officially listed at LB on the roster, but I’m including him with the defensive linemen, where he belongs.

Kellen Heard – he’s a big body space eater who has worked his way into the interior line rotation, and should make the 2012 roster. Heard is only 26 and should get even better with more experience.

Lionel Dotson – it appears Buddy Nix, in 2011, tried to do for the D-line what he did in 2010 for the O-line – that is, find some gems on the waiver wire to help strengthen the unit. Dotson finished the season on the active roster and saw some playing time but didn’t distinguish himself much.

Jarron Gilbert – a third year player who had cups of coffee with the Bears and Jets, he was signed mostly with an eye toward the 2012 training camp. He’s a fringe player and I don’t give him much chance to make the team next year.

Kyle Moore – his pedigree is similar to Gilbert’s – a fringe player who has kicked around for a couple of years. He did have some game experience, with Tampa Bay, before joining the Bills and made a couple of plays in limited playing time when given the chance. He has some pass rush ability which gives him a shot at sticking on the 2012 roster.

Linebackers

Nick Barnett – a great free agent signing by Nix. He’s a veteran and a leader both on the field and in the locker room, and best of all, is a playmaker. Barnett was without a doubt an upgrade over Paul Posluszny.

Kelvin Sheppard – one of a number of rookies who played their way into the starting lineup as the year progressed. He is a tough physical player who should be a fixture at inside linebacker as long as he continues to improve. If  Wannstedt goes to a 4-3, Sheppard should be the middle backer with Barnett moving outside, where I feel he would excel.

Danny Batten – he was an unknown going into 2011, having missed the entire 2010 season due to injury. I would say he was somewhat of a disappointment in 2011, but still too young to completely write off. Like a lot of players on the defense, next year will be make-or-break for him.

Arthur Moats – he is an enigma. In 2010, he was the top rookie the Bills had, providing some pass rush and even gaining some national notoriety when he sacked Brett Favre, effectively sending him into retirement. Rather than develop into a force in 2011, he wound up mostly on the bench early on, yet later in the year when he got back on the field, provided some pressure on opposing QBs. Wannstedt needs to find a role for this kid that takes advantage of his quickness and playmaking ability.

Andra Davis – he is apparently a great guy in the locker room who has helped the younger players develop, but his playing days look  to be behind him. He may make the club again next year if they decide they need to keep some veteran depth, but I don’t see him being much of a contributor.

Kirk Morrison – actually if the Bills decide they need some veteran depth in 2012, Morrison would be a better option. He’s 4 years younger than Davis and still has a little gas in the tank. He was signed after the season had started, and given a full offseason of OTAs and training camp, should get a great shot at making the 2012 roster.

Shawne Merriman – this experiment has been a total failure so far, but he apparently will be back for one more shot at a comeback next year. I don’t put much stock in him making any contribution.

Reggie Torbor – spent most of 2011 on injured reserve, and doesn’t really fit in the team’s 2012 plans. Their linebacking corps has been loaded with old, recycled veterans the last couple of seasons, and they need to cut ties with some of them and find some players.

Chris White – his rookie year was cut short by injury, but before he got hurt showed some promise. At the very least he should be a good special teams contributor.

Robert Eddins – I haven’t included practice squad players in these reviews, but Eddins was a guy who showed flashes of having the ability to play in the NFL during last year’s preseason. The coaches must have thought along the same lines because they kept him around. He looked to me to be a very hungry player who wants to play in the NFL, and could be a diamond in the rough.

Scott McKillop – he was a post-season “future” free agent signing. A former 5th round pick of the 49ers, he is rehabbing from major knee surgery, but was an All American in college at Pitt, playing for Wannstedt. He has a reputation for being a good special teams player.

Defensive Backs

Jairus Byrd – he had a solid season and was one of a few bright spots on the defense in 2011. He possesses a great combination of ball-hawking skills and tackling ability, and my advice to Wannstedt would be to put him in a role similar to what Pro Bowl safeties Ed Reed and Troy Polomalu play – allow him to do some free-lancing to take advantage of his playmaking ability.

George Wilson – if you’re going to allow Byrd to free-lance, your other safety has to be a solid guy who has the ability to direct the other secondary players into the right spots, and Wilson fits that description. He got to where he is today the hard way, like a lot of other Bills’ players, and in 2011 was a definite upgrade over the previous starter, Donte Whitner.

Aaron Williams – by the end of the season he played his way onto the field, and got better with each game. He made rookie mistakes along the way (some of which looked like confusion from playing a too-complicated scheme) but he is a good cover guy who has physical toughness and good tackling ability, a trait missing from a majority of NFL secondary players these days.

Terrence McGee – he’s a solid player when he’s able to stay on the field, decent in coverage and also a solid tackler, but the Bills just can’t count on him to stay healthy for a full season and should make sure they have plenty of cornerback depth going into training camp.

Bryan Scott – he’s getting up in years and the team will likely look to find a replacement soon, but I still like his versatility and I feel he needs to be on the 2012 roster.

Da’Norris Searcy – he is the obvious replacement for Scott’s role on the team, and was impressive when he got on the field in 2011. A big, physical safety, he should be molded into a guy whose role is to cover the big, effective tight ends around the league (see Rob Gronkowski).

Leodis McKelvin – if he had been drafted in the 3rd or 4th round instead of being a high pick, the perception of him would be completely different. He wound up the season so far down the depth chart that he rarely got on the field with the defense, yet still kept a positive attitude and made major contributions on special teams as a gunner and punt returner. I’d like to see if a simplified scheme that emphasizes players using their physical talents helps his game.

Reggie Corner – he was originally cut at the end of the 2011 preseason but brought back after injuries struck the secondary. I would be surprised if he’s even invited back to training camp next season.

Drayton Florence – a savvy veteran who had his ups and downs this year, he will probably be in for a battle to hold onto a starting spot at cornerback in 2012.

Justin Rogers – a late round draft pick, he worked his way into significant playing time near the season’s end, and made some plays. He also did a great job returning kickoffs which will help him win a roster spot in 2012.

Josh Nesbitt – an undrafted free agent who started out on the practice squad, then was promoted to the regular roster due to injuries. If he makes the 2012 roster, it’ll be due to special teams play.

This second phase of the Buffalo Bills’ 2011 season review focuses on the offense. On that side of the ball in 2011, the Bills made progress, starting out the year as one of the highest scoring units in the NFL. However, injuries and inconsistent play plagued them for most of the season and overall it was a disappointing year. Here is a position by position player assessment of the offensive players on the current Bills’ roster:

Quarterbacks

Ryan Fitzpatrick – the Bills have decided he is their QB of the future, awarding him with a new contract during the season. His play fell off badly after the contract was signed, however. In my opinion, he is a good enough option to lead this team where it expects to go next year. When his game is on, Fitzpatrick makes quick decisions and gets rid of the ball quickly, and spreads the ball around well, using all the weapons at his disposal. He needs to drastically cut down on interceptions, as some of the throws he made were maddening. It says here that Fitzpatrick will prove to be an even more capable QB when he has a stronger defense on the other side of the ball, one that can keep him from being pressured to score on every drive to keep up.

Tyler Thigpen – signed as a veteran backup to Fitzpatrick because of his familiarity with coach Chan Gailey’s system, he saw little action as Fitzpatrick was pretty durable. He wasn’t very impressive in the little action he saw, and the Bills should at least consider bringing in training camp competition for the backup QB spot next year.

Running Backs

Fred Jackson – he was the team’s MVP before being injured, the most versatile back the Bills have had since Thurman Thomas. His return to the lineup next season should help the team resume the offensive effectiveness they showed at the start of 2011.

C.J. Spiller – finally got the opportunity to show his talent as an every-down back, though it came at the expense of Jackson getting hurt. Although faster than Jackson, he showed he can run between the tackles as well as outside. It will be a challenge for Chan Gailey to find enough touches next season for both Jackson and Spiller, but if he figures out how to do it the Bills’ offense will be tough to stop.

Tashard Choice – he was cut by 2 different teams before the Bills picked him up. Recruited to and coached by Gailey at Georgia Tech, he saw a lot of playing time at season’s end spelling Spiller. He didn’t really show much, but then again didn’t have much time to learn the offense. It will be a challenge for him to make the final roster in 2012. If Gailey decides to keep him in 2012, he’s the perfect candidate to be cut, then re-signed after clearing waivers.

Johnny White – he made the 2011 roster mostly for special teams contributions, and didn’t get much of a chance to run the ball with Jackson and Spiller sharing the load. Then again, when Jackson went down and opportunities arose for someone to back up Spiller, those touches went to Choice. White will have to show something in next year’s camp to make the roster again.

Corey McIntyre – the only fullback on the roster, he brings a much-needed physical presence to the offense. He rarely touches the ball, but is an effective blocker and a good special teams player. He should be a lock to return in 2012.

Bruce Hall – a tough runner, he has been in a couple of Bills’ training camps so far but never been able to crack the roster. His chances of survival are slim, but then again his path is similar to the one Fred Jackson took to where he is today.

Wide Receivers 

Stevie Johnson – despite all his immature antics, it’s imperative that the Bills get him signed. In the NFL, it’s all about accumulating as many playmakers, on both sides of the ball, as you can if your team is going to be successful. Johnson is a playmaker and has good chemistry with Fitzpatrick. Yes, his celebration act is wearing thin, but Gailey doing what a lot of coaches today don’t have the kahunas to do – benching him for the rest of the New England game – should go a long way towards curing that problem.

David Nelson – a very unselfish player, he plays a vital role in the Bills’ offense as the slot receiver. He’s the perfect possession receiver and an important weapon for the offense to succeed. He’s done a lot since making the team as an undrafted free agent 2 years ago, and will only get better.

Donald Jones – another undrafted free agent, he played well enough to push Lee Evans right off the roster in 2011, and was supposed to be a big part of the offense, but wound up battling injuries all year. He definitely should be back as a contributor and important depth player next season, but it would be wise for the Bills to try to upgrade this spot if possible, either through free agency or the draft.

Roscoe Parrish – his career was revived when Gailey arrived and began involving him in the offense, but injuries have sidetracked him big time. It may be time to cut ties with him next year and start going with younger players, since speed has always been a big part of his game and age and injuries are bound to slow him down.

Brad Smith – it’s really hard to say where on the depth chart he fits. He’s listed as the third QB, but got zero playing time there other than a few wildcat plays. He returns kickoffs but didn’t get much action there either. Injuries pushed him into the starting lineup as a receiver, and the results were mixed. Once he became a starting wideout, his other contributions disappeared. To be effective in 2012, he needs to go back to the versatile role he filled at the start of the season.

Derek Hagan – he played against the Bills while with Oakland early in the year, then signed with them after getting cut. By season’s end, all the WR injuries pushed him into a major role, and he became a frequent target for Fitzpatrick. Despite that, I don’t see him on the 2012 roster.

Naaman Roosevelt – this season was a great opportunity for the home-grown product to make his mark with the Bills. He had a great long catch-and-run play against the Giants, but his role diminished as the season wore on, and he seemed to drop a lot of balls also. He’ll have to pick up his game to make the team again in 2012, remembering that he was actually one of the final cuts this year, and only got a second shot because of all the injuries.

Kamar Aiken – I thought he showed some promise in the preseason, but when he got his opportunity to play late in the year, did basically nothing. He’s an extreme long shot to be back next season.

Ruvell Martin – a fringe player who is on the team for special teams purposes, but isn’t really that effective in that role either. He has almost no chance of coming back in 2012.

Marcus Easley – when I think of him, I think of the start of the career of former Bill Joe DeLamielleure. Joe D. was a first round draft pick who was almost forced to quit before he ever played, as doctors discovered an irregular heartbeat. He was eventually cleared to play and went on to a Hall of Fame career. Next year should be a make-or-break season for Easley physically. Here’s hoping, for the kid’s sake, it turns out similar to DeLamielleure.

David Clowney – he was cut by Carolina prior to the 2011 season and signed by the Bills to compete for a spot next year . Normally these guys are afterthoughts who don’t deserve mention. The Bills, however, have a recent  history of finding diamonds in the rough so who knows?

Tight Ends

Scott Chandler – a waiver pickup during the 2010 season, he took full advantage of his opportunity and played his way into a major role in the offense, setting a team record for touchdown receptions by a tight end despite missing some games due to injury. He should continue to be a top red zone target for Fitzpatrick next season.

Kevin Brock – signed late in the year due to injuries, he actually made a couple of plays, which is a credit to him for both earning playing time and earning the trust of Fitzpatrick.

Fendi Onobun – he was on the practice squad of 3 or 4 teams in 2011, which means either a lot of teams like him or a lot of teams let him go. He was a stop-gap signing for injury reasons and I wouldn’t expect him back.

Lee Smith – like Chandler a year earlier, he was signed off the scrap heap after being cut by the Patriots. He didn’t see a lot of action, then got hurt. He’s supposed to be a top-notch blocker.

Mike Caussin – he has hung around for a couple of years now, so he must have some value to the coaching staff, even though he hasn’t garnered a lot of playing time.

Offensive Line

Eric Wood – one of the Bills’ recent first round draft picks who has actually worked out. He was playing at a Pro Bowl level before getting hurt and although the line still played pretty well after he went down, it will be a much stronger unit next season when he’s back.

Andy Levitre – a starting guard, he was forced to move out to left tackle and even to center because of injuries. His one week at center was a real adventure, but overall he was a stalwart for the team all season and a bright spot going into 2012.

Kraig Urbik – another 2010 scrap heap signing after he was cut by the Steelers, he, like Levitre, was a warrior all year. He also played center after Wood was hurt and did an admirable job. He should be a solid fixture at one of the starting guard spots next season.

Erik Pears – another castoff signed in 2010, he played his way into the starting right tackle spot and earned himself a new contract. He did have some penalty problems late in the season that he’ll need to clean up next year.

Demetrius Bell – he is a free agent going into next season and the Bills may not pursue signing him. Gailey benched him for poor play in the preseason, then put him back in the lineup but I’m not sure the Bills are sold on him as the long-term left tackle answer.

Chris Hairston – he had a typical up-and-down rookie season, but playing the tough left tackle spot, it was mostly up. He gained valuable experience being forced to play and he, not Bell, seems to be the favored option at left tackle.

Colin Brown – he surprisingly made the final roster at the start of the season as a backup tackle. He was forced to play some at guard and didn’t do badly, but really stood out when he had to take over at center the last 2 games when Urbik got hurt. He goes into the 2012 season looking like a valuable depth player along the line.

Chad Rinehart – yet another Buddy Nix scrap heap find who provided depth on the line, mostly at guard. Just like the others already mentioned, he gets better the more game experience he gets.

Michael Jasper – drafted as a nose tackle, he spent the year on the practice squad, then was switched to the offensive line. He’s very athletic for a player his size (6’4, 383 lbs.) and the Bills feel that athletic ability could help him develop into a good tackle. He’s definitely a long-term project, however.

Sam Young – a waiver wire pickup in 2011 from Dallas, he didn’t distinguish himself much in limited playing time but will probably be given an opportunity to make the 2012 squad.

Garrison Sanborn – he’s strictly a long snapper but the fact the Bills’ special teams had no negative plays all year on special teams due to poor snaps says he’s good at the job.

I picked 9 winners out of the final week’s 16 games, so the record for the entire regular season finished at 159 correct and 97 wrong. The playoffs begin this weekend with 4 wild card games – all interesting matchups. Here are my picks:

Cincinnati at Houston – neither of these teams is very experienced in playoff football, and quarterbacks Andy Dalton of the Bengals and T.J. Yates of the Texans are in their first playoff games. I expect this to be a low-scoring defensive battle, and Wade Phillips’ defense will come out on top and lead the Texans to a win at home.

Detroit at New Orleans – I believe the Lions actually have the better defense between these 2 teams, but there’s no way they’ll slow down Drew Brees and the Saints’ passing attack in the Superdome. New Orleans wins big here.

Atlanta at New York Giants – great matchup between 2 teams that feature tough running games. The Giants’ season was a roller coaster ride again, just like last year. After watching them finish the year with impressive wins against the Jets and Cowboys to sneak into the postseason, it looks to me like the Giants are peaking at the right time, just like they did in 2007 when they won the Super Bowl. I’ll go with the G-Men to win at home.

Pittsburgh at Denver – defenses have figured out how to stop Tim Tebow, and the Steelers are one of the few teams who still play hard-nosed defense. This will be a one-sided game with Pittsburgh coming out on top.