Bills notebook: Oft-traveled Lehman ready to help at linebacker
For Teddy Lehman, his NFL career has come full circle. Sort of.
He was drafted in the second round by Detroit in 2004, but left last March to sign with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers cut him before training camp, which led to a return to the Lions, who cut him before the start of the season.
Now he is in Buffalo, where he is reunited with Bills coach Dick Jauron, Detroit’s defensive coordinator during Lehman’s first two years.
That connection probably played a factor in the Bills signing Lehman to help shore up a dangerously thin and inexperienced linebacking corps.
“I really don’t know upstairs what went on, but I am sure it did help,” Lehman said of his association with Jauron. “I worked with him pretty close since he was the coordinator and got a lot of time with him in meetings and stuff. He probably knew me pretty well and had a good idea what I cpcwiklinskian do on the field.”
Lehman can play all three linebacker spots, an experience that started at the University of Oklahoma, where he began as a middle linebacker but played the final two years outside. He won awards for the nation’s best linebacker in the country (Butkus) and best defensive player (Bednarik).
He started 16 games at outside linebacker as a Lions rookie but eventually made the switch back inside. He said knowing both spots will serve him well in a defense that values versatility.
“It helps you understand the whole scheme,” Lehman said. “Whenever you’re not zeroed in on one position you can kind of see the grand scheme of things. It really helps slow the pace of the game down.”
The only pace Lehman is concerned with right now is getting up to speed on the defense. He played in a similar scheme under Jauron in Detroit, but that was three years ago.
“I have not been in the same system for a while and the similarities of the system kind of force me to use my old habits,” Lehman said. “So that will be one of the obstacles, breaking the old habits because there are a few things that are different. It should be good, but there will be a couple of things I have to break myself from.”
Lehman’s special teams background also has a lot to do with the Bills’ interest in him. Whatever the reason, Lehman is glad to have another chance to resume his NFL career.
“It’s been an interesting season,” he said. “I’ve kind of been all over the place. It’s kind of been a whirlwind, but it’s good to finally be somewhere and hopefully get settled in.”
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Strong safety Donte Whitner went through another practice Thursday, increasing his chances of returning Monday night. Whitner didn’t play Sunday because of a separated right shoulder, but Jauron said Whitner took part in a significant portion of practice.
The Bills had a more physical practice in full pads Thursday. Whitner has been able to lift his arms above his head, but Jauron wants to see how the shoulder feels today so he’ll have a better gauge of Whitner’s readiness.
“Donte had another good day, so we’re a little optimistic,” Jauron said. “We’re not overly optimistic, but there’s some optimism there.”
The same could be said for right guard Brad Butler, who looks ready to return after missing the last three games with a sprained knee. He has practiced fully the last two days.
“We’ll see how he tolerates it, see how it goes [today] and how he feels,” Jauron said. “But he got through it.”
Meanwhile, rookie wide receiver James Hardy practiced on a limited basis after sitting out Wednesday with a sore hip. Jauron believes Hardy should be OK for Monday night. The same goes for tight end Robert Royal, who hasn’t practiced this week with a sore ankle.
The only two players definitely out are wide receiver Josh Reed (ankle) and defensive end Aaron Schobel (foot).
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Not having Schobel has created some challenges for the Bills’ defensive line. But position coach Bill Kollar said the unit has to carry on without its best pass rusher.
“You have a guy like Schobel out, it definitely makes it a bigger burden for everybody else,” Kollar said. “Obviously everybody else has to step up and go out and play.”
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