Buffalo Bills play it smart by re-signing Lorenzo Alexander
By Paul Taylor
The Buffalo Bills have reportedly re-signed Lorenzo Alexander in a move which was necessary to provide veteran leadership on defense.
There is no denying the Buffalo Bills are going to miss Kyle Williams, who will retire following the Pro Bowl. He was the epitome of hard-work and making the most of his talents during his 13-year NFL career, which was more than can be said for the team as a whole during this time.
Another thing that will be sorely missed next season, is Williams’ veteran presence and leadership. However, at least the Bills are doing something to attempt to make up for this void.
As reported by ESPN‘s Adam Schefter, the team has re-signed Lorenzo Alexander. His new deal will be for one season.
This represents a triumph for Alexander who, according to certain members of the media, was a candidate to be cut ahead of the 2018 campaign. The reasoning was down to a combination of his age, salary and poor performances in 2017.
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However, the 35-year-old was able to rebound and be one of the league’s most consistent linebackers in 2018. He recorded the second-most sacks of his career with 6.5 and was particularly efficient against the run.
Alexander also showed decent productivity in pass defense, as evidenced by career highs of nine pass defenses and two interceptions. Making all of this even more impressive, was that he only started eight of the 16 regular season games he played in.
The 2016 second team All-Pro also offers value with his versatility. Whether its lining up in any number of positions on defense or special teams, he does whatever he can to help the team.
The Bills will have their work cut out, in returning to the playoffs next season. However, if they do manage to turn things around, Alexander will play a prominent part.
Similar to the retiring Williams, the two-time Pro Bowler is a prime example of getting the most out of your skill set. This is in large part thanks to an impressive work ethic, which head coach Sean McDermott will be hoping rubs off on some of the younger players on the roster.
Alexander’s bounce back year also shows others how it’s possible to come back from adversity. One of the reasons for his regression from a Pro Bowler in 2016, was down to struggling to adapt to the 4-3 defensive scheme put in by McDermott after he replaced Rex Ryan in Buffalo.
However, the Oakland, California native persevered through a challenging 2017 campaign. In fact, he ended it on a high note, having his best performance of the season in the playoff loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. (He recorded a sack and 10 tackles, including two for a loss.)
This undoubtedly provided Alexander with some motivation that he could still do a job for the Bills, which he proved consistently during 2018. As a result, he now fulfills his wish to return to the team for another season.
Next. Bills could have a steal in Duke Williams. dark
What is your take on Alexander’s time in Western New York? Do you expect him to continue to produce at a similar level next season for the Buffalo Bills? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.