Sometimes change is good. For Aaron Maybin, change could be for the better.

The Buffalo Bills sure hope so.

With the Bills leaving the 4-3 defense in favor of the 3-4 scheme, Maybin is making the

conversion from defensive end to outside linebacker. After being grounded for most of his

rookie year, the position switch just might be what Maybin needs to help his career take off.

"I've been telling people for weeks I couldn't be more excited about this season coming up

with the new defensive scheme that we're running and with the personnel that we're bringing

in, that we've already brought in and just the guys on the team that we already have," Maybin

said this week at the Bills' fieldhouse, where the team is conducting its voluntary offseason

conditioning program. "I think it's going to be great."

The Bills drafted Maybin in the first round last year because of the dynamic pass-rushing

skills he displayed at Penn State. But he didn't get on the field enough to make an impact.

Averaging only 14 snaps a game, Maybin didn't record a sack and was involved in just 18

tackles. Not exactly what you would expect from the 11th overall pick.

Playing time and better statistics could be in the offing for Maybin in the 3-4, with its

multiple fronts capable of causing confusion for opposing offenses.

"I think the system is perfect for me," he said. "When you run a 4-3 package you're a

little bit more limited in certain things you can do from a blitz perspective and certain

looks you can give. When you run a 3-4 defense it's really hard for [offenses] to match up

with a lot of the guys, especially when you have a lot of the athletes that we have on this

team.

"I think the fact that you never really know where the blitzes are coming from, where the

pressure is going to be coming from, just from an offensive standpoint it makes it a lot more

difficult."

It shouldn't be difficult for Maybin to make the transition to outside linebacker. The Penn

State defense he played in had some 3-4 looks and many NFL teams projected him as an outside

linebacker going into last year's draft.

Maybin will have to adjust to dropping back in pass coverage, but he is sure his speed and

athleticism will make up for any shortcoming in that area.

"It's nothing to worry about," he said confidently. "I don't think there are too many guys

that are going to be running past me."

Though listed at 250 pounds last year, the 6-foot-4 Maybin looked much smaller. The lack of

bulk may have limited his effectiveness. His current weight is in the mid-240-pound range, but

he looks noticeably bigger in the arms and upper body.

Beyond bulking up, Maybin said adding strength has been the focus this offseason. He seems

to have made good use of his time away from Buffalo. He worked with his personal trainer two

and sometimes three times a day. He lifted weights in the morning and did kickboxing and mixed

martial arts in the afternoon.

The result is a player who is bigger and stronger with more flexibility.

"I wanted to make sure that I wasn't just getting in the weight room and putting on all

this weight that I couldn't do anything with," said Maybin, who indicated he could add another

five to 10 pounds without losing speed. "I wanted to make sure that it was all functional

weight, that I was stronger, that I was faster, and I feel like I've been accomplishing that

kind of stuff."

Unlike a lot of his teammates, Maybin won't have to get used to a new coach because Bob

Sanders was retained by head coach Chan Gailey. Sanders, who coached the defensive line last

season, is now in charge of the outside linebackers.

"I think that me being able to have a coach on the staff that I've worked with the past

year — I think that that's going to be a huge help for me just because we're so familiar

with each other," Maybin said. "He knows what my skill set is, he knows the kind of player I

am, he knows the kind of worker I am, so a lot of those things that makes it easier where I

don't have to go through all that with a new coach.

"This is a coach that knows me, he knows what my capabilities are, and he's going to do

what he needs to do to make sure that I'm ready to play."

The possibility of Aaron Schobel retiring puts even more importance on Maybin being ready

to perform at his new position.

This offseason is geared toward ensuring he can do just that.

"Right now this year, my motto is just going to be let my play do the talking," Maybin

said. "The coaches will do what they need to do to get us in position to make the plays, and

when my name is called it's time to do work, so I've got to go out there and make things

happen."