Page 1 of 1

Byrd to play FS for the Bills

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 12:13 pm
by echo31
http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/660386.html
Over three years at the University of Oregon, Byrd intercepted 17 passes, broke up 53 more, forced four fumbles and recovered two fumbles.

The Bills have not had any player intercept 17 passes in a three-year span in the last 15 seasons. Buffalo doesn’t care whether he can explain it, as long as he keeps doing it now that he’s in a Bills uniform.
Byrd’s ball-hawking ability is the reason he was chosen in the second round of the NFL draft. It’s also the reason he is targeted to be the starting free safety for the team, once he picks up the Bills’ defensive scheme. Byrd played cornerback for Oregon. But the Bills actually have been thinking of him at safety for a long time.

Re: Byrd to play FS for the Bills

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 12:19 pm
by DmoneyDuck
wow starting? Didn't they just waste a top 10 pick on a safety 2 years ago in Donte Whitner? Best of luck to the Byrdman!

Re: Byrd to play FS for the Bills

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 12:21 pm
by echo31
DmoneyDuck wrote:wow starting? Didn't they just waste a top 10 pick on a safety 2 years ago in Donte Whitner? Best of luck to the Byrdman!

Well, technically it says he will be starting once he learns the scheme ... if you were to argue semantics, that could mean that he may never start ... poor choice of words by the author of the article

Re: Byrd to play FS for the Bills

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 1:22 pm
by ncduck
Whitner has started at SS from day one there and is a big leader of their D. Not really a wasted pick. There are two experienced free safties ahead of Byrd. They clearly have a lot of faith in what Byrd's game brings to the table.

Re: Byrd to play FS for the Bills

Posted: Tue May 05, 2009 3:17 pm
by BisonDucks
This makes a lot of sense with his straight line speed and his size.