Where Barnett will help most

The acquisition of Nick Barnett will help Buffalo’s defense in many different ways, but there’s one area where he can help to shore things up in a big way. Pass coverage by Buffalo’s linebackers last season was touch and go at times. Losing both Andra Davis and Reggie Torbor to season-ending shoulder injuries in 2010 certainly didn’t help, but there were some struggles in pass coverage against tight ends at times last season. Barnett was widely considered one of the better coverage linebackers in free agency and will bring instant improvement to that part of Buffalo’s defensive game. “He is excellent in pass coverage,” said Bills GM Buddy Nix. “He might be as good as any inside backer in the league in pass coverage. He’s completely healthy and probably healthier than he’s been in a couple of years. I watched him for four hours the other night. He’s playing exactly like he played in college.”