The Bills defense turned in a strong performance during the 2014 season, leaving one to wonder how good the unit might have been had linebacker Kiko Alonso been in the lineup.
Alonso missed the entire season after tearing his ACL last summer, which cost him a chance to build on a standout rookie season and help a Bills team that missed the playoffs after finishing 9-7. Alonso said the group “played great” last season and he’s certain that he’ll be back on the field to help them turn in another strong year.
“I anticipate being 100 percent before camp,” Alonso said, via the team’s website. “By camp, I definitely feel I’ll be at 100 percent. I feel very good with where I’m at. By camp I’ll be full go.”
Alonso said he’s rehabbing four or five days a week and it will be more than a year since the injury when camp opens, so he should be able to meet his prediction. Given their shared history, Rex Ryan’s defense shouldn’t ask him to do things too differently than he did them while playing for Mike Pettine and that may be part of the reason why Alonso thinks the team is capable of doing big things in 2015.
“I have very high expectations,” Alonso said. “We have a great defense and a great offense as well. I expect nothing less than to go out there and win a lot of games.”
There may not be many people lining up behind Alonso to say the Bills have a great offense, but his healthy return helps make another winning record a realistic expectation all the same.