Wizard
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Posts posted by Wizard
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Offense
Bulaga, Waddle and Howard
Defense
Griffen, Leonard Floyd, Reader
Cut
Murphy, Nsheke, Smith, DiMarco (use these cuts and money from Lawson and Phillips going) to cover most costs.
Resign Now
White 5 years at 17 million per
No More
Carolina Panthers
Draft Depth
DE, OT, SS, WR
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Agree that we are not a year away, and the draft is the least expensive way of hitting on a potential racehorse.
We have a short window to find out if Allen is the man, so if there is a racehorse like a Hooper, Cooper, or a 2nd running back to determine if Allen is an average starter or a franchise-level QB, buy a horse or two that is a Stud along with drafting too.
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I hear what you are saying. No doubt that having 90 players in camp will separate the best players and some will continue to improve and grow into higher level talent.
There does reach a point though when a mustang or two and few thoroughbreds is needed among a team of plowhorses.
The Bills have a good collection of plowhorses. They have a Mustang who plays CB in White and maybe a few others in Edmunds, Singletary, Brown, and Allen.
Yes...go through camp...sign players and let them compete to build.
All I am saying is buy a Mustang or thoroughbred to surround the plowhorses with some of your money. Guys like Foster, Croom, Smith, Nsheke, Bojo, Kroft, Murphy and a few others are plowhorses whose skills may be useful but are not going to be the horses than win you races.
Citing the greatest QB of all-time, a top 5 TE of all-time, and another mustang or two on each Patriots roster (minus last year) over the last 15 years is exactly right.
Yes...a bunch of expensive free agents does not work, but steady plowhorses with some marquee talent does.
The Bills are currently lacking a marquee talent (some others could grow into that level on the roster) other than CB.
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Free Agency Approach...A Little Nervous
There is something I am a little leery about when it comes to this year's free agency approach. I am afraid that McDermott and Beane are maybe too loyal to their continuity and consistency messaging and approach. While it is great we have a roster that is a playoff or near playoff caliber team, some reasonable but bold upgrade signings are the only way to take the next step in consistently making and competing in the playoffs.
Continuity and Consistency=Complacency?
Continuity and consistency are great as long as crappy players are replaced and complacency does not become the norm.
The signing, resigning, or restructuring of guys like Norman, Kroft, Foster, and Croom are crappy signings. Are they moves of continuity and consistency? Yes. Are they moves that also tend toward complacency in filling out a roster? Yes. Norman is done. Kroft ought to have been outright cut for the valuable cap space. And, Croom is only on the roster because of "relations" with the Pegula's daughter.
Do Not Become Complacent by Keeping Less Than Competitive Talent
We can not use gold spray paint on "crappy players" and keep them as a symbol of the "process" of continuity and consistency approach. Continuity also means stepping forward in a continuously successful direction. And, consistency also means consistently getting better at positions. Current crappy players like Murphy, DiMarco, Smith, and a bevy of underwhelming group of receivers and linebackers after Brown, Beasley, Edmunds, and Milano is continuity and consistency, but unless there players are cut and the money revitalized into serious upgrades, then we will be a somewhat competitive but complacent team.
3 Ways to Determine if the Bills Believe in Both Continuity/Consistency & Not Crappy Complacency....Watch How These 4 Areas are Addressed
- Defensive End: Having Just Jerry Hughes who has 1-2 years left is not going to generate a pass rush. Anything less than cutting Murphy, resigning Lawson, adding a starting defensive end (meaning a top 10 DE free agent), and drafting a defensive end in the first 3 rounds is complacency. Less than this is a crappy and complacent pass-rush unit.
- Wide Receivers: The Bills will need to sign an Amari Cooper/Robby Anderson type, and ADD a 1st/2nd round receiver to John Brown and Cole Beasley to not be a crappy and complacent receiving corps. If more than 2 of Robert Foster, Isiah McKenzie, Ray Ray McCloud, Andre Roberts, Duke Williams, and Nick Easley are on the roster, then continuity and consistency is valued as well as crappy non-competitive complacency.
- Tight Ends: Having Kroft, Knox, Sweeney, Smith, Croom, and Becker is one of the saddest TE lineups in the NFL. Knox is the only roster lock. Sweeney is maybe a #4. A top 5 TE free agent, and the drafting of a TE better than everyone else besides Knox currently on the roster is the only way to avoid complacency.
Fortify All Areas: The Only way to Balance Continuity and Consistency While Avoiding Crappy Players and Complacency
The Bills can not obviously get an above average start or even average starters in all of these positions. However, they do need to be better than last year in all of the following areas for continuity and consistently moving forward.
- The Bills will need a #1/#2 running back
- Another starting OLB
- A starting right tackle
- A starting TE
- A #1 WR
- A #1 and #3 Defensive End
- Stronger overall depth at LB and CB from last year.
What will Bills Leadership Do?
Yes...they have key people to resign very soon. And, yes, not every solid player in free agency or the draft can be added.
Will the Bills this free agency and draft balance continuity and consistency while getting more quality and skilled competitors?
Or, will the Bills be more adverse to taking competitive risks and shelling out cash to players that take the overall roster to the next level?
My Hope
I am hoping to hear more Bills signings with names like Hooper, Kirksey, Van Noy, Howard, or Bulaga, than I am recent transactions like Norman, Croom, Kroft, and Foster.
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That's a bunch of Mularkey!
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Wow! You did like a 10,000-word post and managed two feats: your offense did not improve despite the verbage, and you somehow managed to conclude that Lee Smith and Patrick Dimarco actually belong and contribute to the Bills Roster!
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I appreciate the thoughts and details.
The only philosophical part I disagree with you on is that none of your proposed free agents are consistently above average "difference makers."
Your proposed salary for those 6 free agents is about 37 million. Sure...these 6 would improve depth and fill spots, but I would rather get 3 free agents with that 37 million or a little more that are younger, more upside, or more proven that are plug-n-play starters/upgrades for a similiar amount of money.
Get me any 3 of Henry, Hooper, Bulaga, Conklin, Armstead, Ngaouke, Green or whomever the Bills feel are top tier free agents at the RB/RT/WR/TE/DE, and I believe that money will have been better and more intentionally spent for the success of the Bills.
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Bills ought to be among top 5 in free agency additions. It is time to cut the fat, resign value, and break the bank! Now is the time to win the division.
Year 3 for Allen and Coaches. Up to 115 million or so of cap space if fat is cut. Next two years determine Allen/McDermott and franchise for this decade.
Cut Fat: DiMarco, Kroft, Lee Smith, Yeldon, Murphy (played better lately), Nsheke, and restructure Star.
Let Go by FA/Retirement: Gore, Alexander, Stanford, and Spain (moving Ford to backup guard).
Resign Value on DL/CB Phillips, Lawson, K. Johnson, Wallace, L. Waddle (tackle depth). Have Wade as PR/KR with Roberts and as the 3rd/4th back.
Offense Targets
2nd RB: Peyton Barber (lucky to get Hyde)
TE: Austin Hooper (2nd choice: H. Henry)
OG: Andrus Peat (Scherff is a dream)
OT: Bulaga or D. Williams (Conklin/Constanzo dream)
WR: Green (pipedream) Cooper or R. Anderson are not worth money. If no on Green, Best WR available in Round 1 or 2 (Tee Higgins)
DE: Yannick or Armstead (Van Noy soild alternative as cover LB and blitz DE)
OLB: Judson (Kline as alternative)
CB: Wayans (compete with Johnson/Wallace for #2CB)
FS/SS: Get a solid vet for depth (pipedream of Ward or Joseph from 49ers or Raiders for Zone coverages and future replacement of Poyer or Hyde).
ST: Competition for Bojo and Hausch that are undrafted free agents or if a good competition piece wiggles free:
Draft
1st: WR/DE or if RB Taylor available
2nd: WR/DE/OT/RB
3rd: BPA: LB/CB/G
4th-6th: 5 Picks in these rounds..draft depth at all positions...OT/OG/DT/DE/S/RB
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Get rid of Kroft, Nsheke, Gore, conservative offensive playcalling by Daboll when we need to go for the jugular, and we would be up by two touchdiwns at least.
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My family moved to northern California in 1988. I noticed during the first few weeks of elementary school that there was a sea of 49ers and Raiders fans based of student t-shirts and Starter jackets for the wealthy kids.
I did not yet have a team. As talented as the 49ers were with Montana and Rice and the excitement of Bo Jackson's Raiders, I could not decide.
I watched some of the fall 88 season. The Bills were Red, White, and Blue (military child), and I loved that they were from my birth state of New York (Coast Guard kid who lived in New York and Alaska previously).
I remember loving how Thurman Thomas would play in what I would guess was the beginning of the "No Huddle" offense they ran. I chose them in 88, and the last time they won a playoff game, I was 16.
Let's go Buffalo!
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In 10 Years, I believe we will say the following:
1. D.K. Metcalf was an above average wide receiver with a few pro bowl level years. Mark him down for 8K-9K yards and 65-70 touchdowns. What will keep him from the upper-echelon level will be the following: good but not great quarterback play, a long strider/not quick/explosive in first 10-15 yards, and frequent double teams. His floor is David Boston from the early 2000's Cardinals...his ceiling...with the right team and QB (Andre Johnson but less big play touchdowns and 1,000 yard seasons).
2. Noah Fant (if he ends up with a ProBowl level quarterback) will be the best TE of his generation (meaning with Gates, Gronk, and Graham near the end and Kelce at the top right now.)
Fun Prediction:
- Pass on D.K. Metcalf (Trade to 13-19) and get a 2nd or 3rd rounder
- Pick Noah Fant
- 2nd round pick...on best wide receiver on their board
- Use that extra 2nd or 3rd rounder on a RB/DT to rebuild these positions for the future
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I live an hour south of Denver. The Broncos are the talk of the town; however, it is nice to have a pro baseball, basketball, and hockey team that are all decent; however, I'm not a fan of any of these teams either.
Local talk radio and online news articles are filled with the typical local statements that are completely subjective such as "the backup LG is ready to make a leap to stardom, or Elway is a rising GM." Elway was a hell of a quarterback, and he is a solid businessman (car dealerships, restaurants, etc.); however, Elway is a crappy GM, and he would not be hired or even considered as a GM by any other team. He is only in the position because of his popularity in Denver as a former player and celebrity.
Broncos fans talk a lot about the Mike Shanahan days and how great they were recently (a great defense and luck of getting the last years of Peyton Manning); however, they won't be going anywhere soon. Much like the Rockies and the Nuggets in their sports, the Broncos are a 6-10 to 9-7 team that has a few good divisional games with the Chargers, Raiders, and Chiefs. These games lead to interesting conversations; otherwise, I'm indifferent.
I have my Bills flag out during the season. Colorado Springs is a military town, so I see a lot of flags of other teams besides the Broncos. Rare to find a Bills flag flying around though.
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There is not much to sell off, but, yes, Clay, McCoy, and Benjamin are done. Only value is in McCoy...and his injuries, domestic allegations, his o-line, and age won't help with much of a return. Weapons are needed for Allen both in the draft and free agency. Primary focus needs to be the offensive line.
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What evil was done for us to have the worst Karma in the history of the NFL?
How is it possible that Pat Mahomes is throwing 4 touchdowns in week 1, 6 touchdowns in week 2, and he already looks like the GOAT out there?
We can't even trade down effectively without it biting our butts. Mahomes is the GOAT, and the Bills front office, team, and the Karma gods have made us the goats.
4 Possibilities
- The football gods are real...and we did something wrong. What was done to deserve such long suffering?
- The Chiefs have a great coach and a stable front office
- The Chiefs waited a year with Mahomes and have great weapons and a line to help him out
- The Chiefs don't talk about a "Process," instead, they are in the process of looking good for awhile and have made one of the best recent fleecings in a trade in modern NFL history.
Hail to the GOAT!
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Several posts have reasonably asked what value or depth guys like DiMarco, Foster, Ducasse, and a few others on the roster do for the Bills. Your thoughts on the following?
There are 5 guys who who have literally zero value/role on this team
- Foster, Newhouse, Jones, Lee, Lewis, DiMarco
There are about 5 current Bills that are street FA level. A player could come in off a practice squad, or off the streets and replace this player without any noticeable difference.
- Ducasse, Peterman, McDermott, Thomas, Stanford/Lacey
My Questions for McDermott and Beane
- Is it a complex salary cap management thing that keeps these guys on the roster?
- Is it McDermott & Beane's pride that blinds them to keeping these guys?
- Is it poor coaching "up" of players?
- Are there just not a good pool of players to replace these guys?
3 Practice Squad Bills Better than a Player Currently on Roster?
- Ford at RB over Jones
- Phillips at WR over Foster
- Wesley a better swing G/T than Ducasse or Newhouse )
10+ Free Agents that are Better than the 10 (zero value or street FA level ability) players on the roster
- Dez Bryant (would become our #2 or #3 WR option)make him our #3 WR option)
- Hankins (DT to replace Washington's position, and better than Yarbrough)
- Breeland (A guy that would be no lower than our #5 CB and likely are #4 CB)
- Eric Reid (this guy is a starter and better than Bush or Neal, or Pitts, or Lewis for secondary)
- K. Wright (better than Foster and provides veteran experience to WR's, opens up field)
- T.J. Ward (a better safety than Neal or Bush and a better secondary member than Pitts and Lewis)
- Boone/Cooper/Joeckel (any of these guys can replace Ducasse, Newhouse or McDermott and probably push Miller of the roster too)
- Courtney Upshaw (a blitzing/hybrid DE/LB...guy is Yarbrough's replacement right now and better than all backup LB's and great veteran mentor for S. Lawson)
- Perriman (He can't be any worse than Foster and liely has more value than McCloud or Holmes)
- Reilly (worse case scenario make him McCloud your #5 receiver, drop Foster, and have Reilly become your 6th receiver)
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Solid summation of today's game (poor attempt at looking anything like a competent team).
The bottom line is this...last year the stars aligned and deservedly so for Bills fans. The only Super Bowl/playoff level quality of any team for the last 17 years or so was the respected fandom and passion that fans have for the Bills.
Josh Allen, Edmunds, and the cap room and draft picks are the things to hold onto.
Although a horrific game in every facet, at least the blinders were removed concerning Peterman, the lack of talent, the O-line, a lack of QB pressure, and a fairly thin roster in talent as well as depth.
Probably won't get much for some players, but Hughes and McCoy have value. Take your few draft picks, cut as many losses as possible, and use the year to evaluate the coaching staff, the scheme, the younger players, and the practice squad.
3-13 or 4-12 this year. Not pretty...but it is what we have, so let's do the best with what we've got.
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O-Line, O-Line, O-Line,
Only Michael Vick in his Atlanta Days or Bo Jackson in Tecmo Bowl could make something happen with this line.
Long season
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Well....I think today only reemphasizes that the Bills do not have an offensive line. No line...a talented but experienced quarterback who is not close to ready.
Maybe the idea of trading players like Benjamin, Hughes, and Clay who will be underutilized, have high salaries, and won't be with the team in 2 years for draft picks 2 years (even if they are 5th-7th rounders) is not a bad idea. Maybe...this will free up more money, allow for more long-term acquisitions of talent, more picks to build an offensive line and start finding the long-term replacements at WR, RB, and DE.
Play the rookies...minus Josh Allen (till about maybe week 6-8) after the season is out of reach. Lose a lot of games but learn a lot as the staff puts together the long-term Process of success.
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Kelvin Benjamin is going to cost too much for the Bills to retain. Wide receiver salaries for #2 receivers masking as #1 receivers are way too high, and by the time Allen becomes an above average starter or the Bills get a go-to quarterback, Benjamin will no longer be worth his salary. Jerry Hughes and Charles Clay also can bring decent value, but they either will under-perform because of the lack of talent around them (currently) to generate sacks in Hughes' case or move the chains when the Bills have a porous offensive line.
Although the Bills will be competitive because of quality coaching and a team first approach, the Bills would be best off selling of Benjamin, Hughes, and Clay and getting some much needed draft capital to add to the extra picks they have next year (4th and 7th, I believe) along with their own.
The Bills would be wise to sell these guys off...see what we have with backups this year (Lawson, Fede, O'Leary, Lee, and the jumbalaya of WR's on the roster), and then use several extra picks to make a long-term line for Allen and get some cheap but young talent in areas woefully lacking in both quality and in depth (linebacker, wide receiver, and a running back) as Shady will likely either get a minimal suspension and/or his legs fall off in the next two years any way.
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Call it whatever you want as far as priority, but I would be happy with the following draft.
Rounds 1-7
DL
LB
OL
Sure, I'd like a top flight QB, TE, another WR, more depth at CB, etc... but it is all about having a lot of talent and a lot of depth on both sides of the line. The only player in my opinion worth drafting that isn't on a line or near it is AJ Green. If the Bills are sold on him, then take him. Otherwise, I would be fine hearing nothing by DL, LB's, and OL taken to create a stronger running game, passing game, and to actually look like the Bills have some "interest in stopping the run."
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Really...Corto got resigned...
From all accounts he has a strong work ethic, seems likeable, and he contributes on Special Teams, but the Bills need to seriously get away from having a current roster with 5 legitimate starters on their team, 20backups, and 20+ "blue collar special teams guys."
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Rodgers is worth a look. He is a true 3-4 NT 6'4 and 350lbs (on a light day) with 10 years of playing experience. Name one other Bills player that fits that criteria.
The Bills still don't know what they have with Troupe. Williams is going to need a breather as well. And, if Buffalo truly is going to run a hybrid defense, then it never hurts to have more depth.
Worst case scenario is probably that Rodgers is out-of-shape and doesn't have a big impact but serve as DL depth for two years on a low-risk contract. Best case scenario is probably Rodgers maybe being an effective two-year stop gap while Troupe is developing and providing some flashes of run support.
Considering the run defense and lack of DL depth, experience, and talent, Rodgers is a viable option.
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Looks like Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick is making a big splash in Mobile this week. Already had the Manning brothers on his bandwagon.
I say the Bills draft the best D-Line/LB at #3. And then trade back into the 1st round to take Kaepernick to be our franchise QB. Thoughts?
I live in Nevada and am a student at the University of Nevada, Reno.
Kaepernick is worth a 3rd or 4th round pick if evaluators feel that Kapaernick's throwing motion can be worked on and if he has a mind for a pro-style offense. I can personally tell you he is very quick, tall, a strong character guy by all accounts at the university, and he can do a lot of things with the football outside of the pocket or when a play breaks down. He is a poor man's version of Cam Newton with more playing experience and probably more maturity than Newton but less upside and a lot less competitive conference schedule.
He had one of the best running games in the country the past three (3) years (including himself). He didn't have to rely on the passing game that much as Nevada never had an elite receiver while he played at Nevada and the pistol offense he ran doesn't call for a lot of deep receiving routes.
3rd or 4th sounds much more reasonable.
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I think Donte is as good as gone. Wilson, Byrd, and Scott is a good safety core. I think they need to focus on signing Wilson. He is arguably better than Donte and certaintly more flexible with better ball skills.
It takes 10 mill+ a season to sign Asomugha, I'd pass.
If someone could coach McKelvin up to be a good CB, leaving return duties to CJ or Freddie, and you sign Florence the CBs are set. Then if McGee can get healthy it's only a bonus.
So signing Florence and Wilson would be priorities for me.
Amen...I would only add (take a CB with a 5th, 6th, or 7th round pick) for increased depth in the secondary. Otherwise, the secondary has a good core with or without Donte.
Bills sign LB Tyler Matakevich on a 2 year deal $9m
in The Stadium Wall Archives
Posted
Too much for a process ST guy.
To Do List
1. Griffen
2. Bulaga
3. Leonard Floyd
4. Jordan Howard
5. Extend White Now!
6. Cut waste (Murphy, Nsheke, Smith, etc)