Buffalo Bills rookie Torell Troup felt for a game like he was back at Central Florida.

The second-round pick in April's draft got plenty of playing time Saturday against Cincinnati with starting nose tackle Kyle Williams out to rest some minor bumps and bruises.

That meant Troup got an entire game of experience under his belt.

"It felt really good. I went into the game with the mind-set that I was going to do my job and pick up the slack and make sure I didn't give them anything in my gap," he said.

Although he's progressing well through the preseason, that's probably the most playing time Troup can expect to see for a while. When Williams returns he'll step back into the starting role.

Troup, however, has shown he can be a viable member of a rotation with Williams.

"I think Troup has really worked hard since the time he first got here. He's grasping what we want out of him in this defensive scheme," Bills defensive line coach Giff Smith said.

"I've been real pleased with the progress he's made. He's not exactly where we want him, but then again I don't know if anybody is at this point. He has gotten better, and I think he is going to be able to help our defensive unit this fall."

Playing in a rotation will be foreign for Troup, who was a two-time All-Conference USA selection as a nose tackle for UCF, where he started 39 of 50 career games.

"I didn't have a rotation in college so this is going to be kind of new to me. It's going to be good," he said.

Smith said it hasn't been determined how the playing time between Troup and Williams will balance out.

"You go into a game having kind of a generic number that you're looking at, but injuries and style of offense you're playing can change that number," he said. "You have an idea going into [a game], but it's always adjustable during a game."

At 6-foot-3 and 315 pounds, Troup has a classic nose tackle frame. But that doesn't make the transition to the professional level any easier.

Like many rookies, Troup was initially shocked by the speed in the NFL.

"The actual game speeds up a little bit more. [It's] just experience and taking [my] time," he said. "I feel like I'm progressing every game and [my] coach is reminding me to work on the little things. My hands and my feet placement and making sure I'm doing the little things right, because that's what makes you win."

Troup has the luxury of learning behind Williams, one of the Bills' best defenders.

"Kyle's our bell cow. He can do a lot of things," Smith said. "I think Troup's learning a lot from Kyle."

Williams checks in at 6-foot-1 and 306 pounds, which is on the smaller side for NFL nose tackles. That means Troup needs to be ready to spell him.

"I'm taking it with an open mind and doing whatever I can to help the team. If that's five, 10 or 20 snaps a game, I'll do whatever it takes to help," Troup said.

Smith also said there are times when the Bills will work with Troup and Williams on the field together.

"We're going to mix and match and get the best guys out there," he said.

If Troup can make an impact as a rookie, it can help the Bills go a long way toward shoring up their leaky run defense.

"He's really worked hard. He's a great young man that wants to be good," Smith said. "He's got a nice talent base to him and as long as he keeps progressing like he has been, then I think he's going to be a nice player for the Buffalo Bills."

jskurski@buffnews.comnull