By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The wait lasted only minutes before patience dissolved. Early on the morning of Feb. 28 - the first day teams could sign free agents - Bills officials grabbed the telephone and set forth on overhauling a defense.

That initial call landed Buffalo linebacker Jeff Posey.

Ensuing negotiations brought linebacker Takeo Spikes from the Bengals.

Buffalo also acquired former Pro Bowlers defensive tackle Sam Adams and safety Lawyer Milloy.

"I think it was a very strong message that we were looking to improve in whatever way we could," Bills coach Gregg Williams said. "It might have been one of the strongest catalysts, jump-starts to our off-season program, when you see us going out and making as many acquisitions as we did make."

The changes have led to immediate results - and respect.

Buffalo ranked 29th in the NFL against the run and allowed an average of 25 points last season.

Entering Sunday's game against the Bengals, the Bills are still having trouble stopping the run.

But they rank ninth overall in total defense and have held opponents to an average of 14 points a game.

"They're a lot more experienced than they were last year," Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna said. "They added some pretty good experience to their defense and some pretty good playmakers.

"You're not going to surprise them with anything. You're going to have to play sound football."

The new additions have fit in well with the existing group.

Spikes ranks among the AFC's leaders in tackles (33) and interceptions (2).

Fellow linebacker London Fletcher has 43 tackles, and defensive end Matt Schobel has 2.5 sacks.

The secondary, headlined by Milloy and cornerbacks Nate Clements and Antoine Winfield, is among the NFL's best defending the pass.

Clements has three interceptions, and Winfield, one of the hardest-hitting corners in the league, is second on the team with 39 tackles.

"I think they've got to be two of the young, brightest stars coming up in the NFL," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "They're both really competitive, aggressive guys."

After starting the season 2-0 with convincing wins against the Patriots and Jaguars, the Bills enter with a two-game losing streak.

A defense that stifled its first two opponents bowed some in Weeks 3 and 4. The offense helped little.

The Dolphins and Eagles averaged 20 points, 172 rushing yards and 153 passing yards against Buffalo.

The Bills offense, however, scored 20 points combined.

"The most important stat these last two weeks has been the stat on the scoreboard where we lost," Williams said. "We can skew passing stats. We can skew quarterback ratings. We can skew rushing stats any way you want to.

"But the most important stat is that we're 2-2 as a team and we lost these last two ballgames."

What has hurt the Bills defense the past two weeks are penalties and big plays at inopportune times.

Buffalo has been penalized 12 times for 89 yards.

Runs of 25 and 62 yards led to Philadelphia touchdowns in the Eagles' 23-17 win.

A 25-yard run by Dolphins running back Ricky Williams the week before led to Miami's final touchdown in a 17-7 victory.

"We need to be more consistent," Spikes said. "I think last week was one of the worst weeks we played on defense mentally.

"I don't think we were focused in the first part of the game. . . . You can't have that."

Beefed-up defense

A look at Buffalo's key acquisitions and their career totals through last week's games.

Player	Pos.	Games	Sacks	Int.
Takeo Spikes	LB	83	15.5	7
Jeff Posey	LB	79	12	1
Sam Adams	DT	138	30	2
Lawyer Milloy	SS	116	19	8

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E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com

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