From afar, Chris Ellis spotted a legend. Buffalo was moments from kickoff at the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio. Didn't matter. Ellis needed to seize this rare opportunity.

As players warmed up on the sideline, the defensive end beelined to the glossy-jacketed

Bruce Smith. Ellis congratulated Smith on his induction and Smith told Ellis exactly what he

needed to hear.

"He just told me, "This year is your year,'" Ellis recalled. "It encouraged me to go out

there and let it fly this year."

So far this summer, Ellis has had countless chances to do just that. With Aaron Maybin

holding out and injuries rampaging Buffalo's defensive line, Ellis' job audition has doubled

in length in his second NFL season.

Against the Chicago Bears on Saturday night, he played more than any player on defense.

He's not complaining. After a lost rookie season, every snap is a second-chance blessing.

"You take all the reps you can get," Ellis said. "I laugh saying that I get exhausted at

times taking the No. 2 and No. 3 reps. You just appreciate the opportunity and try to make the

best of your reps until [Maybin] handles his situation."

As a rookie, Ellis totaled three tackles and zero sacks. He saw the field on defense in

only six games and went on injured reserve with an ankle injury the final four weeks.

He's itching for Round Two. Maybin's contract impasse — while damaging to Buffalo's

pass rush as a whole — has at least kick-started Ellis' development. He is recommitted.

He's 10 pounds lighter than he was when drafted. And he hits the lights at his St. John Fisher

dorm room by 11 p.m.

In short, Ellis knows this opportunity cannot be wasted.

"It's all about reps and using your reps wisely," Ellis said. "Whatever's given to me, I'm

trying to take advantage of. Be it a run down, a passing down, special teams, whatever. The

more versatile I can be, the more effective I can be."

In Buffalo's 27-20 win over Chicago, Ellis finally saw the expense check for all those

miles of reps at camp. At the end of the first half, he single-handedly warped the game's

momentum. With a pure speed rush around Bears left tackle Kevin Shaffer — a full-time

NFL starter the last five seasons — Ellis tomahawked quarterback Caleb Hanie to the

turf.

On the next play, bookend Copeland Bryan knocked the ball out of Hanie's grasp from the

other side and Ellis pounced on it. And the Bills' offense tacked on a chip-shot field goal

before halftime to tie the game.

Now at 261 pounds, Ellis has improved sharply as a pass rusher through camp, defensive line

coach Bob Sanders noted.

"You always want pressure," Sanders said. "It doesn't always need to end up in a sack but when

it does it's a game-changing, drive-changing, momentum-changing play."

Sanders popped in tape of his new pupils upon his hiring this offseason. Problem was, Ellis

made nothing but cameo appearances.

"He didn't play a whole lot," Sanders said. "So he's a guy that's getting the reps that he

needs. These are very, very important reps for him to maximize his talent."

Whispers of Smith's name clung to the Virginia Tech speed rusher when he was drafted by the

Bills in the third round last year. Ellis heard the unrealistic linkage.

"I wasn't the No. 1 pick or anything like that," Ellis said. "I'm sure he had a little more

pressure than I did. But I definitely heard the comparisons. Those are big shoes to fill. It

was a learning process picking up the defense. It was a lot more complicated with a lot more

adjustments."

A spiked sense of urgency stalks Ellis this summer. Considering Ryan Denney's contract

expires after this season, Buffalo must know if Ellis fits into the long-term defensive

rotation or if he's simply another end that'll get fishtailed away from the pocket.

Ellis had no clue Denney was entering the final year of his deal. Then again, he's locked

in tunnel vision, savoring each snap. He says the playbook isn't daunting the least bit this

summer. Whether it's dropping into coverage, bull rushing, speed rushing or blocking on kicks,

Ellis rarely comes off the field.

"I want to be implemented into the game plan and be effective in any situation given to

me," Ellis said. "You don't want to labeled just a pass rusher, just playing on third downs.

Any situation given to me, I'm trying to be prepared for."

He's miles away from duplicating Smith on the field. But there is one thing Ellis has in

common with his fellow Hokie. When Smith griped about the Buffalo weather at his induction

speech, Ellis chuckled.

Last year, Ellis was devoured by the weather like a naive tourist. A dingy snow shovel left

at his rented house from the previous owner was his only defense. Ellis figured the flimsy

shovel would last him all winter. He thought wrong.

"I won't be shoveling my driveway this year," Ellis said. "I'll get one of those little

snowplows. I broke my back a few mornings trying to get to work. I caught on quickly, so I

definitely will be getting a little snowplow."

As the reps add up, maybe his production changes, too.

"He's worked extremely hard," Sanders said. "The more reps he gets, it just helps him."