With the Bills changing defensive schemes this year from the 4-3 to the 3-4, you have to think that there are players on the team who don’t fit into the new defensive philosophy. That being said, holdovers from previous regimes in Buffalo may have some trouble making the squad. The first such casualty came when the Bills recently cut last year’s 5th round selection, LB Nic Harris. One player who has been a Bill for a much longer time that could be in trouble is converted OLB Chris Kelsay.
Kelsay was a 2nd round draft pick for the Bills back in 2003. He was seen as a good fit for their 4-3 scheme, as a DE who could bring some pressure on the QB, while maintaining position against the run. Kelsay did not play much in his rookie season, as the Bills had a good defense and he was learning the pro game (Aaron Maybin should be thankful for my low rookie expectations). In his second season, Kelsay showed some promise, getting 4.5 sacks and playing in a defensive line rotation for a very good defense. That 2004 defense anchored the team to their last winning season, but since then, the Bills and Kelsay have struggled.
Kelsay’s 2005 season left much to be desired as he registered just 2.5 sacks. A year later, he did reach his career-high with a whopping 5.5 sacks. While this is not a terrible number for your second-best pass rusher, it is not a number that screams “pay me 6 million a year or I’m walking”. Needless to say, the Bills outbid…themselves, and Kelsay wound up with a 4 year, $23 million-dollar contract before the start of the 2007 season. He did this after registering just 12.5 sacks in four seasons. Unfortunately, Kelsay’s sack numbers have remained consistent to his career before the contract. He’s reached the passer for just 9.5 sacks the last three seasons.
You might be a fan of Kelsay’s, though I’m not sure I’ve seen his jersey yet, and I’ve been to every home game he’s played in, and say he’s better against the run. Now I’m not a defensive coordinator or a general manager, but it’s hard for me to believe that the Bills had too many players that were good against the run last season. They surrendered over 2,500 yards on the ground. Obviously just one player does not make a solid run defense, but I don’t recall teams running away from him, or him blowing up plays in the backfield with any consistent penetration.
The Bills need players who fit their scheme, and I don’t see how that is Kelsay in any capacity. Is he an explosive pass rusher off the edge? Does he seem nimble enough to drop back into coverage? Will he contribute on special teams? Does Ellis Lankster articulate himself well in press conferences? I feel the answer is no to all of these questions.
Kelsay might be a great guy in the locker room, and maybe he has worked as hard as he can for the Bills the past seven seasons. While character is nice to have, talent and scheme win in this league, and he doesn’t help enough in either of those departments to make a whole lot of sense for the 2010 Bills. Nic Harris was a speedy linebacker who at least played on special teams last year and he was let go for a player who fit the 3-4 better. Keep an eye on Kelsay and see if he can adjust and reinvent himself, or see if he finds himself looking for work come September.