Bills' Mario Williams embraces switch to 3-4 defense

The Buffalo Bills led the league with 54 sacks and no one would fault defensive end Mario Williams if he didn't want to switch to a new scheme. 

In Jim Schwartz's lone season as defensive coordinator, the Bills excelled in a switch to his 4-3 defense. 

With an entirely new staff, the Bills will move back to a 3-4 formation under head coach Rex Ryan and defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman. 

Williams will likely be moved from defensive end to weakside linebacker next season and he had no qualms undertaking a new role. 

"Depending on verbiage and such, there could be a learning curve as far as the summer and stuff like that, but I'm all for it and I'm sure the guys are too," Williams said to NFL.com's Kevin Patra. 

The Bills' star recorded 14.5 sacks, the fourth-best total in the league. 

"In general that system gives you a lot more opportunities, a lot more advantages, different matchups, things like that," Williams said. "I think as far as schematically that hybrid defense, especially when it's coached well, and you got players to implement and plug into the places, I think gives you the best chance."

Buffalo's defensive line will anchor the team and will need another outstanding campaign from its front seven if it wants to snap the league's longest playoff drought.