Bills' defensive players tout Pettine's new playbook

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine promised change when he took over for the maligned Dave Wannstedt in January.

The Bills' defensive squad is now noticing those changes, and they like what they see. (photo: Matt Britt, Flickr)

Defensive end Mario Williams and linebacker Nigel Bradham are the latest Bills to tout Pettine's work. The players, both coming into their second year with the team, had similar observations about the differences between Wannstedt's scheme and Pettine's, mainly the latter's up-tempo style.

Bills continue to bolster defense on 3rd day of draft

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

As the smoke settled on the final day of the draft, the Bills bolstered their depth on both sides of the ball, highlighted by a pair of talented linebackers.

With the 105th pick, Buffalo selected Nigel Bradham, outside linebacker out of Florida State. A speed back with good situational pass blitzing, Bradham was a three-year starter and team captain with the Seminoles. He appeared in all 52 games of his college career and led the team in tackles all three years. At 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds, Bradham should be a physical presence in Buffalo's scheme.

"In spread formations, a lot of the linebackers are smaller now, but he’s got size," Bills National Scout Darrell Moody told the media. "He’s got a chance to play at any one of the two outside positions. He’s got straight line speed. He played in their subpackages. I think he’s got good cover skills.”

At pick No. 147, Buffalo took Tank Carder, a 6-foot-2, 236-pound outside linebacker out of TCU. Carder was a two-time Mountain West player of the year (2010-11), the 2011 Rose Bowl Defensive MVP and a 2011 All-American. He started 39 consecutive games at one point TCU, the defensive juggernauts who led the NCAA in defensive three consecutive years (2008-10). He, like Bradham, is strong against the rush, and his ability create interceptions may place him in plenty of third-down passing situations.