Published: June 06, 2009 10:09 pm      

BILLS: Scott frees up Whitner

ORCHARD PARK — With 17 players ending up on injured reserve in 2007, the Buffalo Bills introduced their fans to generally unknown players on an almost weekly basis. Confusion ensued.

Who’s that playing safety? Didn’t he play for the Lakers?

Alas, Bryan (not Byron) Scott, a former Penn State standout who spent time with the Falcons, Saints and Titans, was signed by the Bills after Ko Simpson broke his ankle in the ’07 opener. Scott proved to be an asset on defense and special teams, and was signed to a two-year contract the following March.

Scott entered last season as Donte Whitner’s backup at strong safety, but migrated into the starting lineup by season’s end. His big break came in an October win over San Diego, when the 6-foot-1, 219-pound effectively foiled Antonio Gates, holding the All-Pro to just 55 yards on four catches.

“They called my number, and in this league, it’s all about hard work and taking advantage of opportunities,” Scott said. “The coaching staff told me I did a pretty good job covering the tight ends. But there were a few plays I wish I had back. I’ve still yet to play that perfect game, where a tight end has zero catches and zero yards. That’s what I’m shooting for.”

This year, Scott enters training camp as the presumed starter at strong safety, while Whitner will shift to free safety, looking to make more plays on the ball.

“The combo with me and Bryan is a unique combo. Last year we did it towards the end of the season, but I was still playing nickel (cornerback). We’ve been on the field together, we have good communication with each other out there, it’s just fun,” Whitner said.

“Now I have the opportunity to roam back there, get some big hits, interceptions, all of the different things that show up on the stat sheet.”

Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell views Whitner and Scott as interchangeable safeties.

“I’ve been wanting to get to that point for a couple of years,” Fewell said. “It gives us a lot of flexibility.”

Scott said he and Whitner are trying to build chemistry on the field so they can better disguise coverages.

“We want to give quarterbacks different looks, keep them guessing, so they can’t make a pre-snap read,” he said. “We can both play in the box, and we can both play deep middlefield.”

Scott was a three-year starter at cornerback with Penn State. He was drafted in the second round by Atlanta in 2003, and moved to free safety midway through a rookie season in which he had 63 tackles, highest among the Falcons’ defensive backs. The following season, he started all 16 games at strong safety, and had 85 tackles, 2.5 sacks and one interception. He also started two playoff games.

“When I came out of college, I thought I had adequate cover skills, and I’ve just tried to refine it these last few years,” he said.

Scott has also refined his musical ability, learning how to play piano, drums, guitar and saxophone by ear. During his rookie season, he participated in the “Monday Night at the Mic” competition. He and Michelle Branch lost in the finals to Doug Flutie and the Barenaked Ladies. Scott also sang at the funeral service for Kevin Dare, a Penn State pole vaulter who died while competing in 2002.

Scott’s Pick Your Passion Foundation For The Arts provides scholarships for students who wish to pursue music education.

“I like to see guys get involved in the arts,” Scott said. “I feel like it well-rounds a person.”

When he’s done playing football, Scott hopes to emulate a future basketball star — and it’s not Byron Scott.

“When Waymon Tisdale passed away, it was kind of an inspiration to see he played 12 years in the league, and then he put 12 albums out,” Scott said. “Not to say I’ll put albums out, but who knows? The sky is the limit.”

E-mail reporter Jonah Bronstein at jonah.bronstein@niagara-gazette.com