Buffalo716

I mean it's niche football but I went to destroyers games

If you're a change of pace back in the NFL it means you're typically coming in with a different style than the starter ahead of you He would be a really good running back at the next level to start as a change of pace back in his career... And then grow into something more He's not the guy who's ready for 20 carries a game right out the gate for 10 years... He's better suited for seven to 10 carries a game while he adjusts to the NFL And he has the frame to grow into more.. but just like James Cook need of the work on his pad level the last two seasons.. and he came out this year with low pads braking tackles He also needs to work on some of his game to become what would be considered a feature back at the NFL level... Though he has the skill set and potential for it There's a lot of running backs going in the second and the third rounds that have the ability to turn into feature backs at the NFL level.. you don't need to spend the top 10 pick on one.. you just need to be patient and develop them James Cook has that potential he needs to become a better blocker to be a true three down feature back at the NFL level.. if you can't block on 3rd and seven you're never going to be on the field 70% of the time

Well he plays in a specialized offense.. lance runs a very scheme-oriented offense in Kansas He has repetition in both a gap and zone scheme.. but he probably fits a One cut zone run scheme better at the NFL level He has a nice build but he would rather juke a defender then punish him in a one-on-one.. his burst and vision is great.. his pad level is a little high I think he's a great change of pace back at the NFL level with the ability to be a little bit more.. cook has a lot more explosiveness Yeah Allen is down right now because quarterbacks for 3 years have signed deals.. so he's got pushed down Look at running backs that have signed deals.. he's not top two.. realistically not top three He has production in our offense that does not mean he would produce in 32 offenses across the league at the same rate Saquon Barkley signed a deal last year at 12 some million a year.. one year of NFL inflation doesn't mean James Cook is worth that I would pay him under that but still pay him

So if Barkley is getting 12 million a year.. James Cook isn't worth 15 or 12 He's not Barkley.. not to say he's not talented but you can't ask for saquon money when you're not him

I'm a football scout not a capologist There's plenty of people here who understand the cap better than me Big Devin Neal fan in the right scheme 3-4th round , big fan

Listen you make valid points Touchdown score points.. points wins games Do I want James Cook here for the next 3 years Yes

It's a great argument Listen all I do is coach and scout football for the last 20 years.. I evaluate football talent I think James Cook is phenomenal.. I think he's phenomenal In a league with the salary cap I don't know how you could pay him second highest.. they have to work out a better deal

He also has holes in his game did you gloss over that You act like I'm saying he's a bum and doesn't deserve an NFL contract lol I'm saying the second highest paid running back in the league is too much for the bills to pay... If he wants to take a top 7 deal that's a different story But he's not anywhere near a future Hall of Fame player so paying him the second most in the NFL is not anything I would do

Is it? Or is it the same scouting staff that was able to find Matt milano's, and Dane Jackson's, and Christian Benfords and Levi Wallace Late round picks that have gotten second contracts from NFL teams and some even big contracts coming up for Benford McDermott's a secondary guy so it's not a shock he was looking for guys that fit his coverage scheme.. maybe they need to focus on the front 4 more.. I've been scouting high school and college players for a long time I know a bills scout.. I don't think they're bad at their job... Maybe beane has been giving them the wrong defensive lineman type to look at.. tweener type guys like boogie bashem.. when they should have been looking for dominant one techniques, to pair around oliver, and better 5 techs And then drafting for positional need has also hurt us.. a good team like the Bills should go in to the draft taking the 6 7 best possible players.. not drafting a corner because we're weak at it.. or moving down because we're not sure and not getting enough in return I like beane.. he's been the best GM rounds 5 6 7... He's pretty good in the mid rounds.. we need to hit in the top two rounds more

You also act like Josh Allen didn't have the least amount of passing attempts he did in the last 6 years We went from a passing offense to a ball control offense.. James Cook has 18 rushing touchdowns because the shift in our offense Josh Allen could throw it a 140 more times for 10 more touchdowns and we could have eight rushing touchdowns from our running backs Josh Allen's throwing went down James Cook running went up.. that's kind of how it goes But yes I don't think we would be missing much going with a young Ray Davis who is improving, a great third down back and then another free agent or rookie It wouldn't impact our points per game that much honestly.. that's why cook needs to take a good number 36 for 3... That's it and he's never getting another contract from me.. because he's Chris Johnson's lite... He's a knock below CJ 2K as a runner.. 11 to 13 million is a sweet spot I would be willing to pay for his talents I'm not going down to his demands at 15 million a year number two overall per year Yeah he's great inside the twenties.. he can break off a 60 yard run But teams also play light boxes on him inside the 20.. he faces the lightest boxes in the NFL It's not like we get inside the 20 and teams put 8 in the box... He's facing 6-7 man boxes down the field He's really good at what he does... He's nowhere near Thurman Thomas Adrian Peterson saquon Barkley Eric Dickerson priest Holmes, laveon bell.. insert whoever All pro name He's really good .. he has holes in his game You can't pay him top three money when he has holes in his game and he seems to drop easy passes

Mike Brown also doesn't open the pocketbooks historically to pay his guys You need to have a certain amount of cash down to pay out big contracts .. something he's never wanted to do He has the smallest college scouting staff in the NFL.. and probably the smallest cash to cap Paying burrow.. it's one thing Paying everybody else is another

The touchdowns is partially due to the light boxes that he faces.. the lightest in the NFL James Cook, half this board thought he was a Jag when we drafted him lol called it a reach Ray Davis and ty Johnson.. and whoever we would choose to be our third guy could probably replicate 18 rushing touchdowns together... Doesn't just have to be one guy James Cook is a really good running back with limitations.. to act like he's saquon Barkley or Adrian Peterson or Eric Dickerson would be a lie He's not that type of guy.. he's really good in our scheme and benefits from lighter boxes because Josh Allen Even Joe Mixon is more physical especially late in the season when the holes get smaller the weather gets colder and the hits hurt more.. like that's the most I'd be willing to give him Joe Mixon deal Mixon is a better three down back.. but cook is a better runner.. that equals out

61% but the point stands That's not enough to pay him that much at the running back spot he needs to take a better deal

A pure runner is somebody who sounds exactly like it says.. doesn't make running look difficult... There's a good amount of running backs in the league who look like they plod for 4-5 yards Indecisive, choppy steps, not trusting their instincts , their change of direction isn't top notch A pure runner or a natural runner is exactly what it sounds like.. he glides, it looks effortless, even going fast it looks smooth... Some people are just born to run away from other people But that doesn't mean you can break the bank on a guy who plays with the lightest boxes in the NFL statistically and comes off the field on a lot of third Downs.. there's a correct deal for him but it's not 15 million a year I think James Cook gets a lot of touchdowns because teams run light boxes even inside the 15.. and he has the juice to get it to the end zone He's not a all pro type running back unless he dedicates himself to getting stronger and being able to protect Josh Allen because he's going to lose 40% of the snaps... Can't pay a guy 15 million year when he's only on the field 60% He needs to improve and get that number up to 70 some.. or he's just one of the best two down runners... Which with a salary cap you can't pay 15 million If this was baseball sure give him anything.. but we can get three good players for that salary

That's why the NFL is tricky... He wouldn't be the first running back or the last one to have a breakout year towards contract time and never duplicate it Do I think he's a very talented runner good years ahead of him .. yes In a sport with a salary cap it makes you think things through... Like just taking Ray Davis in the third round last year Who has shown the ability to run with some power, some explosiveness, a willing to block and catch If James Cook doesn't want to take a deal that doesn't bury the Bills salary cap... Ray Davis is sitting in the wings waiting to take 200 carries

Yep lol there's literally so much running back talent.. is he a great pure runner, absolutely Can we get by with Ray Davis ty Johnson and a rookie or free agent? Yes.. ray Davis has a good career ahead of him

That's not what makes or not makes a third down back lol I played running back in college.. I will tell you the biggest transition from college to the pros is pass protection That's what makes a three down running back a three down running back.. if you cant protect your quarterback you will not be on the field the majority of third Downs where you need to block and protect the quarterback People think a third down back equates to Darren sproles or Alvin kamara out of the backfield.. but that's a rare small percentage of a receiving back.. I won't even call it a three down back A three down back has to be able to block and protect the quarterback on the third and nine.. when the routes need to develop and they're bringing six and he needs to smoke a blitzing linebacker in the mouth That's not a part of James Cook's game and it probably never will be

It's hard to hold out and command top dollar when you're not a three down back James Cook is really good at what he does.. he is not anywhere close to insert Hall of Fame level talent running back here.. he has holes in his game and is a terrific two down back You can't pay a two down back 15 million a year... To make him happy I'd give him three for 30 I'd give him 22 guaranteed... But that's about it

Yeah and we only have like four area scouts.. so they're not scouting one position.. they're going to three games a week scouting teams and their draft prospects Compiling the data to the national scout or the director who will then break it down further and make a board

There's not one scout who does that LOL NFL teams don't employ 35 area scouts.. The Buffalo Bills have had 5-7 area scouts plus the National scout and director of college scouting and assistant plus some blesto guys and some others so probably around 12-14 people on the road at points and that's considered a pretty good size scouting group.. teams like Cincinnati have ran with 4-5 total people in their scouting department... Bills probably have realistically 15 to 20 We have a handful of area scouts.. a director of college scouting , assistant director of college scouting, a few blesto for underclassman and probably a national scout .. they used to release it they don't anymore NFL teams don't have 20 scouts for 20 positions

Never left because my soul doesn't let me ... My brother's and cousins have all moved away to Boston or Los Angeles or San Diego or Tennessee But here I am ... Still have my family home on the east side of Buffalo even tho I reside in cheektovegas

Future starting center I love a college tackle who isn't good enough to play outside and kick him inside to center He has some functional athleticism and he's a nasty guy

Bazley never even stepped foot on campus as an Orangemen Lydon was on a sweet 16 and elite 18 if I recall correctly.. those teams were still really talented

If you're mulling it over you're already done

That's why we're so blessed to have Josh