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Jason LaCanfora of CBSSports.com reported that the Bills have been granted permission to speak with current Jacksonville defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Meanwhile, a pair of reports say the Bills have asked for permission to speak with New York Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine about their vacancy.
Last season, as we all know, the Bills switched back to a 4-3 base defense after (trying to) run the 3-4 defense in Chan Gailey's first two years as head coach. If Tucker were to be hired, there wouldn't be that much of a change.
The Jaguars defensive coordinator has run a 4-3 scheme each of his four seasons in that position.
It may be a different story if the Bills were to somehow land Pettine. Since becoming a defensive assistant in 2004 with Baltimore, Pettine has only operated in defenses that have had a 3-4 base.
If he were to come to Buffalo and employ that 3-4 defense, what would it look like?
Here are a couple of different looks, without the addition of free agents or rookies and assuming Jairus Byrd is back:
1)
Defensive Line
LDE: Kyle Williams
NT: Marcell Dareus
RDE: Alex Carrington
Linebackers
LOLB: Mario Williams
LILB: Kelvin Sheppard/Nigel Bradham
RILB: Nick Barnett/Nigel Bradham
ROLB: Mark Anderson
Defensive Backs
CB: Stephon Gilmore
FS: Jairus Byrd
SS: Da'Norris Searcy
CB: Aaron Williams
Features:
Mario Williams gets put as a 3-4 outside linebacker, which he played in his final season in Houston for five games before going down with an injury. In that role, he had five sacks. At 6-foot-6 and 290-plus pounds, Williams doesn't have the ideal height-weight-speed combination, but was brought in to be a big part of the Bills' pass rush. Alex Carrington would get in to the starting lineup after his strong finish in 2012.
2)
Defensive Line
LDE: Mario Williams
NT: Marcell Dareus
RDE: Kyle Williams
Linebackers
LOLB: TBA/Arthur Moats
LILB: Kelvin Sheppard/Nigel Bradham
RILB: Nick Barnett/Nigel Bradham
ROLB: Mark Anderson
Defensive Backs
CB: Stephon Gilmore
FS: Jairus Byrd
SS: Da'Norris Searcy
CB: Aaron Williams
Features:
With Mario Williams' hold-your-ground style of play last season, he may actually be better suited to play as a defensive end in the 3-4. He could follow the J.J. Watt mold of batting down passes, something he tries to do a lot throughout a season, and still chip in some sacks during offensive line breakdowns. The biggest negative to this is that he would likely be the highest paid 3-4 defensive end for the next 20 years. Having him on the line would put a huge hole at outside linebacker. However, this year's draft class looks to be very rich in top flight talent for 3-4 pass rushers.
Other Notes:
Despite playing nose tackle for the Bills previously, I think Kyle Williams at this point would be best suited as a 3-4 defensive end that can penetrate the backfield. Marcell Dareus at this point is more of the type that absorbs multiple blockers and can take up space, which is perfect for a nose tackle. While Mark Anderson is unproven as a 3-4 outside linebacker, his height-weight combination is a perfect fit. Nigel Bradham should figure in to the defense somehow next season after having a strong finish in 2012. Also, I believe the strong safety position is Da'Norris Searcy's to lose.
Would Pettine, if hired, be married to the 3-4? I don't have an answer to that question at this point. This is just a glance at what a 3-4 may look like with their current personnel.
Twitter: @JoeBuscaglia