timba

I really don't have a problem with waiting for the guy to develop into a pro bowl tackle and then paying him what he's worth in free agency. I haven't particularly enjoyed these first couple years of D Bell.

I would like Fitzpatrick to be around for a long time. Even if he proves by the end of this year that he is worth replacing, I would like him around as a backup. I think he has a very good influence on the very young offense.

Last years class is one I've been underwhelmed with so far. CJ looks like he's going to be move involved with the offense this year, which is good since we need more big play ability with Evans gone. He's better at picking up the blitz but I still wouldn't say he's good at it. Troup confuses me. On one series he'll be dominant and I think 'alright, he's coming along' and then the next series he seems to revert to last year. Without consistency, he'll be a depth player. I like how Carrington has looked this preseason. He moves well for a 300lb man. I haven't noticed him too much in pass coverage, but he has a decent bull rush and seems to stay in position. I'd like to see a few more big plays out of him. He is physically talented enough to make impact plays, we'll just have to see if he ever does. This is really our first look at Marcus Easley, and he's a very streaky receiver. Both his drops and catches come in bunches. If he would get out of his own head he would be more consistent. I think next year he's going to have a decent year and become the clear number 2, but in his first full year of NFL action I don't expect much. Ed Wang made Aaron Maybin look good in practice. I'm not optimistic he makes the final cut. Moats looked to be improving well at outside linebacker last year. That was after starting last preseason at ILB and looking lost. Well he's back at the inside again, and looks like he's picking up at ILB where he left off. Batten is another guy who was hurt all last year. He got a couple of sacks against Chicago, and has had an OK pass rush. He is also OK against the run, but I haven't seen anything that makes me think he's more than depth right now. I think if he was drafted earlier he'd face a lot more criticism. Levi didn't see much playing time this preseason. He looked like a QB fighting for a roster spot at the end of the game against Detroit, and looked pretty dang good doing it. If he would always play like he's about to lose his job he will find a place in the league, but I don't think it will be with the Bills. Too little too late with too few opportunities. Kyle Calloway is already gone!

You're right with both Searcy and Johnny White. There hasn't been 'the play' that shows they could potentially be play makers, but I don't think either has done anything to hurt their chances to make the roster either. I really wish we'd have seen more of both Sheppard and Hairston (especially Hairston). In their limited time, I think they've shown they're worth keeping an eye on.

1 - Marcell Dareus - Dareus has seen all of his action with the first defense. It's been uncommon for him to be pushed off of the line. He's shown that he can wreck the havoc that he was drafted to cause. Lining up next to Kyle Williams only helps this guy. He's going to make an impact this year. 2 - Aaron Williams - He's been working with the second team for the most part. He is as physical as advertised. Very good tackler. Has been beaten in coverage for a number of big plays. In the game against Chicago he showed that he could bounce back from a mistake and make a play - not getting down on himself keeps him in the game. With no injuries, I think he'll mostly see work in dime packages and occasionally in a nickle package. 3 - Kelvin Sheppard - He's seen very limited action this preseason, his only game coming in the last one against Detroit. He looked to be very instinctive and was around the ball a lot. I didn't notice him much in pass coverage situations, so I won't comment on that. I liked how he hit guys, seemed really aggressive with his contact. 4 - Da'Norris Searcy - He saw a lot of work with 2nd and 3rd string guys. He also had a lot of opportunities for returning punts. I was not impressed with his punt returning ability, and would rather he focus on his safety play. I though he hit well, and was better in run support than pass coverage. 4b - Chris Hairston - He started off injured and didn't see time until the last two games, most of the game vs Detroit. He looked solid with the second unit in Jax, and ended that game at LT. He played all of his time at LT in Detroit. Despite the poor performance of the unit against Detroit, he was very good. He had one mental mistake and gave up an easy sack. There was another sack towards the end of the first half that came from his side, which was caused by Johnny White missing the inside blitz and Thigpen rolled out into the sack. He seems to stick onto his guy when he makes contact. 5 - Johnny White - Hasn't seen much time because of his injury in Denver. Has played mostly with the 2nd and 3rd units. Looks like a very good runner. He can truck a bit and make a guy miss. He didn't see very good blocking from the 2nd or 3rd lines. He missed a block on a blitz against Detroit that lead to a sack, but later picked up that same blitz very well. 6 - Chris White - He's seen time mostly with the 3rd unit, and some with the second. Looks to be ok in pass coverage, and hits well. He doesn't always get good position in run defense and doesn't get off blocks all that great. With the number of bodies at ILB, I think he gets cut but put on the PS. 7 - Justin Rogers - Injured and saw little action. Played a lot in the last game. He showed some skill returning the ball, and from what I saw had decent coverage. If the Bills keep a 6th DB, it's him, otherwise he's another PS candidate. 7b - Michael Jasper - Has been healthy this preseason, which wasn't a common occurrence with the drafted. He is as raw as expected. He's a big body, and when he uses proper technique he does very well at the point of attack. He does seem to tire quickly, and when he gets tired he stands up. I seriously doubt he makes the roster, but I would love to see him on the PS as well.

I hate what they've done to Moats. He showed promise on the outside, so they move him to the inside where now they don't know if he'll make the team. Either way Chris White should not be a lock, and I'd take Moats over him even in the middle. White to PS.

The only way to really lose the last preseason game is to have injuries hit the team.

1. Ryan Fitzpatrick 2. Tyler Thigpen 3. Brad Smith 4. Fred Jackson 5. CJ Spiller 6. Johnny White 7. Corey McIntyre 8. Scott Chandler 9. Mike Caussin 10. Steve Johnson 11. Marcus Easley 12. Roscoe Parrish 13. David Nelson 14. Donald Jones 15. Kamar Aiken 16. Naaman Roosevelt 17. Demitrius Bell 18. Andy Levitre 19. Eric Wood 20. Craig Urbik 21. Eric Pears 22. Chris Hairston 23. Chad Rhinehart 24. Geoff Hangartner 25. Cordaro Howard 26. Marcell Dareus 27. Kyle Williams 28. Dwan Edwards 29. Alex Carrington 30. Torell Troupe 31. Spencer Johnson 32. Kellen Heard 33. Shawne Merriman 34. Nick Barnett 35. Andra Davis 36. Chris Kelsay 37. Danny Batten 38. Kirk Morrison 39. Kelvin Sheppard 40. Arthur Moats 41. Antonio Coleman 42. Terrence McGee 43. Drayton Florence 44. Leodis McKelvin 45. Aaron Williams 46. Reggie Corner 47. Jairus Byrd 48. George Wilson 49. Byran Scott 50. Da'Norris Searcy 51. Brian Moorman 52. Rian Lindell 53. Garrison Sanborn PS 1. Michael Jasper 2. Josh Nesbitt 3. Justin Rogers 4. Chris White 5. Robert Eddins 6. Zack Pianalto 7. Jammie Kerlew 8. Felton Huggins

This is pretty ridiculous, and the OP telling everybody to re-read his foolishness and take it seriously only exacerbates that ridiculousness. Given: 1. Jasper is very large and strong, but has bad technique. He has problems getting low. 2. It takes a long time to get something that big in motion, and once it is in motion it doesn't change direction well. If it's a pass, the line will be able to get lower. Cut block that big MF. You don't meet somebody that large head to head. Or call a roll out, and he won't catch them. God forbid it's a screen. If it's a run, he's not going to get that big body of his very far forward before the OL reaches him. All you're doing is opening running lanes by starting him further back, and giving the OL better angles before they meet him.

I'm going over, 12 games. He'll miss a game or two at a time a couple times.

I believe that tune turned into

Starting at step 1 or step 2, it's a matter of priority right???? damn...

He should probably get just as many chances as other #2's get. I do have to give it Union though, and CJ is a different kind of back. I believe there is opportunity for him in the screen game, and motioning out into the slot from a 2 rb set (freddy and CJ) that would give CJ matchup advantages.

You've got it right. If Fred had been a 1st round pick there wouldn't be any question on who should be considered our #1 back this year.

Dude... they're being compared because there is some idea that CJ is a better RB than Fred. If your requirement for a finesse RB is that his blocking needs to be prefect, than Fred should be measured by that same requirement. They're both playing behind the same line NOW, so yes there results can be compared. If we're talking about situational awareness in using these guys, I would be using CJ on 2nd and short, and 3rd and long when I've got my back going out as a receiver. I don't want CJ in when I need a dependable yard, dependable blocking from my back, or dependable hands from my back. If that doesn't 'define' your number 1 back, what does?

I would like to know what people think that CJ does better than Fred. I know CJ is faster. We've been told he is highly elusive, but from what I've seen he hasn't outperformed Fred. He's not better at catching. He's not better at blocking. "Fred is on the wrong side of 30!" Fred is outperforming this young 20-something. Make CJ earn it and both he and the Bills will be better for it.

Maybin was picked in the first round and his lame @$$ was dropped. When you perform, you should play.

In Gaileys interview after todays practice (here) he said that he thought that both Fred and CJ were #1 backs and that Fred was 'slightly ahead.' I do like CJ's potential playmaking ability, but I would prefer Freds consistency in everything. He's a solid runner, receiver, and blocker. From the last game, I saw that CJ still has a lot to learn about blocking. CJ also doesn't that 1-2 extra yards when the play seems over like Fred does. I think Fred is right that he doesn't get enough respect, I it should be bluntly stated that he is our #1 back going into the season.

I don't care if a guy is 'prototypical size' for a position. If a guy is effective in a position, play him there! I don't know where they're getting this inclination to play Moats in the middle. He was a pass rushing DE in college, and proved to have TALENT doing similar at OLB. Moving him to ILB where he has to learn significantly more about the position is a mistake. He's back to where he was at the start of last year. Thinking instead of reacting.

After watching his 'Gruden Special,' I find this hilarious.

I see where it is, and I just watched the replay from different angles about 20 times each. The guy led with his shoulder pads and despite that it was still helmet to helmet. If that's a decent throw and Jones doesn't have to jump, that's a 100% clean hit if the defender does exactly the same thing. I can see where that one is a penalty, but it looks hard to avoid. I'm watching it now. He started to STAND UP when he hit him. EDIT: Also, for Barbarian: http://i.imgur.com/Wau0k.jpg I just found the Batten replay, and I take back what I said. Brady actually jumps into the air, and Batten brought him down the fastest way possible.

I found the Donald Jones play around there. It was a huge hit, no denying it, but Jones was making a play for the ball, the defender didn't leave his feet and didn't put his head down. I can't say that he deserved a penalty there. I realize it was a play that took one of the Bills out but the only problem with the play was the Bronco's reaction afterwards. Frankly it's a good example of how to have a clean hit that is still a big hit :/ EDIT: Just fast forwarded to the other angle replay. It does look like there is facemask to helmet contact. I can see where the penalty came from but I don't think it was intentional. I feel so anti-buffalo saying that but the defender was trying to lead with his shoulder.

As I said with the other, if you recall when in the game it was I'll take another look. I remember thinking that it looked like the defender led with his pads.

Do you recall when it was in the game? I'd like to take another look at it and have the game replay available.

I actually had no problem with the hit on Jones. I thought the guy was trying to make a play on the ball and didn't think he lead with his head. He hit him the his pads. What I was disgusted with was the response of the Bronco's players after it was clear that Jones was hurt.