billsfan89

I think there's a few guys making the roster we won't be expecting and WR5/6 is one of those spots where I agree there could be a big surprise. I am also thinking D-line and corner could be a "funky" area of the roster.

Is Shaq Thompson a vet rest or does he have an injury?

After watching Hard Knocks I see why they keep going to SJF for camp. Only 6 teams in the league including the Bills do an "off-site" training camp. I hope the Bills keep doing it. It seems like a smart bonding exercise and also keeps guys more focused.

Outside of adult content complaining is the top use for the internet?

I don't hold much hope for his LB upside, but if he could be an ST Ace for a few seasons that would be a big positive. I think one of the possible reasons we haven't heard much from him is that he's not likely doing much as an LB and reporters might not be as in tune with whose killing it on Special Teams? It is possible he's being a contributor there but not getting much attention.

Smith was a very niche role player but very good in that hyper specific role. I think people just forget that you do need these types on the roster.

The year before he signed with the Bills he had a really bad injury that's probably why the Bills got him cheap and he played like a fairly marginal player. Most likely why after he left being 2 years removed from a serious injury his play picked back up to where it was or close to where it was before the injury would be my guess?

Hollins is an ST Ace who has some WR upside, not sure why Pats fans thought he was anything more than a role player? I would take him back on a cheap deal in Buffalo in a heartbeat to assist with Special Teams and be the WR5. But that's all he is. The Pats due to their cap situation overpaid a good role player that's what the Bills did with Tyler Metakavich and several others when Josh was still on his rookie deal... Pretty much every team has bumps and bruises...

I always feel like the first episode or two of the training camp Hard Knocks aren't the most engaging they kind of serve as an overview of the personalities of the team and the coaching staff. It's not until you get to episode 3-5 of the training camp when you start see cuts and more meaningful pre-season action that things from a football perspective get interesting.

Dawkins and Spencer Brown are blue chip players. I would put the Bills blue chip players as being Allen, Dawkins, Benford, Brown and possibly Milano. Groot, Oliver, Shakir, Bosa, Torrence, McGovern, James Cook, and Taron are the Firmly very good players in the tier below blue chip. The roster strength of the Bills is both the insane depth and better than average quality of all units besides the WR core.

I wouldn't be shocked if he was back on the PS later this season. But I think this is a sign that he's either hurt badly (like out months) or that they really like what they have in Shaq, Buffalo Joe, and Ulo or one of the undrafted players. We all know the top 3 LB's are Milano/Bernard/Williams and there's been a lot of positive talk about Shaq Thompson and some positive talk about Buffalo Joe. If Andreesen is doing well and possibly Ulo is solidifying the ST ace role he was drafted to be that's 6 LB's and no room for Spector. Has anyone heard anything out of camp about Ulo? Was drafted in round 5 thought to be a ST ace with some upside at LB. Ulo last year was not a factor but there's a new ST coach who can help coach him up and a year in the league could only help? I am curious to see if he's making an impact on Special Teams?

The first episodes of Hard Knocks aren’t the most interesting. They kind of serve as an intro to the team and its personalities

A very wholesome episode but much like most Hard Knocks early episodes you don’t always get a lot of drama until you get closer to final cuts. But it is so fun to see these guys closer up.

He's most likely a locker room hire. A vet voice in a QB space and someone who a lot of coaches like. If I had to guess that would be it.

I think Jordan Phillips is a good comp for what Walker could be but I do wonder if given another year or two with an NFL Team's strength and conditioning (and stay healthy) program could he develop into a more stout run defender?

I'm very interested in seeing how the coaches handle final cuts. They talk about so many of the "bubble" guys in such great detail. Obviously that's gonna be later in the season but I love seeing the GM/Coaching Staff working on all of these decisions.

I'm hoping that is the case, I think they probably got Cook into camp on a good faith promise to negotiate and maybe a backstop that if all things fail they won't tag him after the season. Russini is very tapped into the league so I'm hoping she is right on this one.

Shaq Thompson seems to be a nice depth addition there. I haven't heard much about Ulo in camp, he was a 5th rounder last year might be the one to push Specter for that last LB Spot esp since he was a ST ace in college.

I hope they bring back McGovern, I think they let Edwards walk but McGovern would be too valuable to let walk.

I look at LB as Milano/Bernard/Williams as the starting trio, and Joe Andreesen and Shaq Thompson as the front runners for the key backup spots. The sixth spot I would look at as Specter's but if Ulo or another LB starts to pick things up or showcasing ST ability I could see him as a surprise cut or PUP list candidate.

I more worry about Hairston's development being heavily stunted for his rookie year and it hurting the Bills depth. I think it is in the Bills interest to not overplay Tre and try to limit his snap counts to 60% of the defenses snaps to keep him healthy and more productive. It's not a concern over availability as I think 3-4 weeks off is what's recommended for the injury so by week 1 I think he will be healthy. However, what is concerning for me is will missing camp/pre-season hurt his development and force Tre into a bigger role? Shakir is the one where I do worry will he be ready week 1? I would guess not, seems like if there was any pre-season to rest guys it would be this one?

Shakir's injury and the Hairston injuries really worry me (maybe even the Samuel one). I think all the other injuries are just injuries that need a week or two to heal and these players will be fine it is early August, just over a month left. So if a guy needs 2 weeks off he has two plus weeks to get ready for the opener. But Shakir is right on the margins for that timeilne.

McGovern over Cook is my take too. I think McGovern being able to play center or guard is a big positive too.

Here's my prediction QB Josh Allen, Mitch (no way they take Mike White over Mitch who was in Josh's wedding party) RB James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson (No changes here) FB Reggie Gilliam (Core ST guy niche offensive role he's good) WR Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Joshua Palmer, Elijah Moore, Curtis Samuel (Accurate no changes here) TE Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes (Accurate, same top two but with Hawes as a niche role player third stringer) OL Dion Dawkins, David Edwards, Conner McGovern, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spenser Brown, Chase Lundt, Tylan Grable (adding SVPG, Alec Anderson, and Van Denmark team likes to be in the 9-10 range and I don't think they want any of these guys on the PS taking out Lundt as I think they move him off to IR) DL Greg Rousseau, Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Joey Bosa, AJ Epenesa, Landon Jackson, Javon Solomon, TJ Sanders (Adding Deon Walker and Carter to get them to 10 D-Line with Larry O and Hochet suspended) LB'S Terrel Bernard, Matt Milano, Joe Andreeson, Dorian Williams (Adding Shaq Thompson and Spector as they usually like to go with 6 here) CB Christian Benford, Tre'Davious White, Taron Johnson, Dorian Strong, Maxwell Hairston (Adding in Codrington as he is a key return man) S Taylor Rapp, Cole Bishop, Darrick Forrest, Jordan Hancock (adding back in Hamlin, he's simply too solid a backup and he plays special teams decently) ST K Tyler Bass P Brad Robbins LS Reid Ferguson So that's 10 in 2 out and Larry O and Hochet suspended. Swapping White for Mitch as a personality hire and swapping out Lundt for a different backup O-linemen (likely thinking they "redshirt" him for a bit). Overall I think this

Wouldn’t make sense to tank his value