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Everybody should know by now how instrumental little-used linebacker A.J. Klein and defensive end Efe Obada contributed to the Buffalo Bills' 45-17 win over the New York Jets Sunday.
Monday was a chance for defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier to not only acknowledge them but underscore their value.
Klein's ability to plug into any linebacker spot, for instance, was huge on Sunday, when the Bills had to go without injured middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds.
Klein handled the signal-calling seamlessly and finished with seven tackles, two behind the line of scrimmage, and a pass breakup.
"A.J. did a great job throughout the week of practice in the absence of Tremaine," Frazier raved, "handled all the different situations that came up in the game. I saw him in the hallway earlier and just expressed to him my gratitude for the way he played and the way he led our guys on the field. Just did a terrific job.
"... I don't know how many teams have a guy who provides that type of flexibility. It's very unique for us to have a guy who can fill all three roles and not to have a major drop-off anytime he's had to play for us on a full-time basis. He's played well, so it's a luxury to have a guy like A.J. on your roster. ... He's been really good for us the last couple of years that we've had him and we're grateful that we got him."
Frazier also pointed out that the staff never lost its belief in Obada's ability to contribute but has just had to make difficult decisions each week on what the rotation will be after deciding to go heavy on the defensive line.
The Bills originally kept five defensive tackles and five defensive ends and typically only activate four of each for games.
Obada was pressed into service Sunday because the last-minute COVID-19 diagnosis of Star Lotulelei forced the team to place him on the COVID reserve list and go with an extra defensive end in the wake of also losing Justin Zimmer to a season-ending knee injury.
Before Sunday, Obada had been inactive for all but two games.
Obada's hit on Jets quarterback Mike White forced the first of four interceptions. He later added the Bills' only sack of White.
"It's a challenge, it's a conversation we have each week trying to decide, based on the numbers, who's going to dress, who's going to be down," Frazier said, "because we really feel like each one of those guys ... are capable of playing. Those weeks when [Obada] was down, it's just been a numbers game with the tackles or the defensive ends. It's not that we don't think he's capable.
"And the same is true when some other guys weren't able to be up. So it's a challenge for sure as we're discussing and trying to figure out which eight guys can be up or sometimes which nine guys can be up because we have such good depth. It's a good problem to have."
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