WideNine

Well they do have Mike Edward's on a 1 year deal. I have my doubts about Rapp's range and fit in that FS coverage role, but we will see. But you would like to see the kid start to push for playing time and at least climb the depth chart to be the next man up.

That is what makes the Cole Bishop pick such an interesting one. A bit unusual for McD to invest in a safety and that high in a draft and not just coach up a capable veteran as he has done before. You would think Bishop must fit a profile he and Babich have in mind for some wrinkles they would like to introduce, only time will tell. If he can live up to his college tape then he would be such a versatile chess piece out there.

Yep. Injuries happen so you don't want to use it as an excuse, but our defense was missing a lot of starters and I am sure that impacted the game. Along with Klein filling in for Bernard (emergency unretired from a family vacation), Dodson was out there with him basically playing with 1 arm. Benson was out, Rapp was out, Rasul was nursing a bum knee, and Taron was coming off of concussion protocol. We definitely need better luck on the injury front with our defense down the stretch.

What 5th round player had this draft profile and grade? WEAKNESSES X plays smaller than his 6'0", 195-pound size would suggest. His 40 time was not great and points to an issue on film of separating deep. He does have explosive skills as a jumper and short-area runner, but he's not able to take the top off the defense. X was a highly touted prep player and still carries hype from those days. At Maryland, he struggled to stay healthy, with two straight years of season-ending injuries (broken leg in 2013, lacerated kidney in 2014), and was suspended after a fight against Penn State. 2014 STATISTICS Receptions Yards Receiving Touchdowns 62 792 5 FINAL GRADE: 5.10/9.00 (Quality Backup) Stefon Diggs. Granted there were draftniks that were more positive on Diggs and his potential as a 5th round selection in that draft, but I thought this was a good reminder and an object lesson that WRs can develop into a legit #1 in the right system, with the right QB, with the right dedication to their craft. We can afford to be a bit patient and see how this WR room shakes out with a bunch of guys the Bills have brought in that have plenty of potential that may never have had a QB like Allen throwing to them. We will see how Coleman develops as they work his reps in, and some guys they brought in are looking for that chance to resurrect their careers and they came to the Bills because they know Josh Allen could help make that happen. Should make for some really good competition. We also have the potential to have one of the best 1-2 TE tandems in the league. I think we will move the ball and have the potential to regularly put defenses in a bind between having to load up the box against the run (which I think may even be better this year) or trying to defend a lot of different receiving options that can come out of those same personnel packages with different alignments and motion.

If we ran a 3-4 front that is where he would land. His measurables are so close to Donald's coming out in the draft that I think folks jumped the gun with expectations. Donald has freakish strength and leverage, but I think Oliver is just 25 so plenty of football ahead of him (knock on wood) and the book on him is not written yet. If he hit the open market folks here would find out quickly what other front offices think and would be willing to pay.

We can agree to disagree. He is not Aaron Donald and I think we all can concede that point, but who is? Donald was a unicorn at the position and could rag doll OL players with 50-60 lbs on him. Just stating that a DL player is better when not facing double teams is academic. Donald was better too when teams gambled on blocking him one on one. Oliver racked up 9.5 QB sacks and 72 QB pressures last year and much of that without a lot of help and when having to work against double teams, as Jones was hurt for a good chunk and they also were rotating guys like Settle next to him. He does not have the name recognition or demand the pay of DTs turning in more pedestrian numbers. Hats off to Beane for what looks like a team-friendly contract. And he is not expected to play the middle like a 1-tech nor is he that hybrid DT that can line up and be effective inside or outside as he just does not have the size or build of a Chris Jones 6.6 315 vs 6.1 285. For how the Bills use him in the 3-tech role Oliver is effective and he stayed healthy and gave the team a solid performance last year. I am also pretty confident that teams game plan for him.

I think the Bills brass was counting on developing Spector into a solid backup or starter, but the dude gets injured when you sneeze on him. Hoping he can string together a healthy season at some point. Depth at LB has been challenged down the stretch and is so critical to how this defense plays at its best with its match-up LBs who can come up in run support, blitz as the 5th man or off different pressure or zone looks, and yet still skate with TEs and RBs releasing as well as picking up some of those routes off the slot. Babich has proven he can certainly coach up that position very well.

I think most 3-techs need that 1-tech that can draw the double-teams. Especially against a team like KC who has Humphrey and Thuney at LG where Oliver usually plays - very few 3-techs are going to win against a double-team from those two guys. Oliver is still impactful, plays with a hell of a motor, and occupies blockers, but he shines best and gets into the backfield more often when we have someone like Jones teams have to account for and he can play off of. I don't think it is a knock on Oliver, it just stresses the importance of having that impact guy in the middle if you hope to have your 3-tech be a disruptor in the backfield. With the Panthers McD had Star playing at a pro bowl level - it is part of the d-line formula, but they have struggled filling it here. They gave impact player money to Star when I think he was on the down slope with the tank mostly empty and we did not have the best compliment of 3-techs around him. Jones has been the best option to date and is very good when healthy.

Just no meaningless injuries. You can't wrap players in bubblewrap, but knocking on wood. May be a great opportunity to decide on players on both squads that are on the bubble vs different competition.

Some "hot takes" on players I remember from this board. Not that I think folks are wishing for any players we pickup to struggle. Edmunds was very replaceable at LB. Cody Ford was going to struggle with foot speed and subsequently his balance and leverage in pass pro. Kromer may have been able to coach him up more and get more out of him as a run game mauler that I think he was better suited to. Humphrey at center was a better bet than Basham. I think this board universally hated on Kelvin Benjamin and questioned his work ethic and effectiveness the moment he refused to warm up and catch passes with our young QB Josh Allen before a game. He did not pan out here or anywhere else. We are overpaying for Star. The list goes on and on and to be fair of course the times when there were different opinions and I like that too... folks to challenge opinions. I loved his aggressive playing style but argued that Taron Johnson would never stay healthy enough to be a solid contributor. Apologies to Taron who has turned in many great seasons and is recognized as one of the premier slot corners in the league. I wanted Hokenson or the TE the Jags drafted over Knox. Folks here argued you don't take a TE that high. Oliver has outshined Hockenson and that Jags TE tore himself up in training camp and ended up on IR his first 2 seasons. I think he is now on the Vikings and is considered a blocking TE. Looks like he ate that guy who was drafted. I was worried going into last season with Bernard who looked so overwhelmed as a rookie in 2022. The Bills can coach these guys up if they have the athletic ceiling. It is too funny that the national media has labeled him as a breakout player this year - what was last year?

That was a blind spot on this thread. And could well turn out to be the most urgent area to nail down if a few misses cost us key games. The teams on our menu this year are not pushovers and many games may likely be decided by a kick. There were years where I dreaded every punt, kickoff, and field goal because our Bills made those routine areas of the game that most fans take for granted into an adventure. Finally thought that area was solid when we coined our Bassomatic label. Never envisioned him getting a terminal case of the yips. Apparently they brought in some competition. Different isn't always better, but Bass needs to be better.

That, and half our starters are usually on crutches or sporting arm slings and braces by the post season. The drop off from our starters to the retired Kline and one-armed Dodsons of the sport is noticeable. And Tim Settle or Phillips are not the same player as Jones on the interior. Cannot count how many times I saw Settle getting rag dolled out there. Against KC where their OL strength is guard-to-guard you have to be stout in the middle.

Well, it was not like Davis and Diggs were putting the fear of God into opponents as the Bills faced the most man coverage. Opponents just were not scared to put their DBs on an island with our WRs so I am curious if any of our new crop find a way to demand more attention/respect. I think we have some guys with speed and some separators in that receiving room now who did not have someone like Allen throwing to them before along with a compliment of guys with size that can highpoint, fight, and win 50/50 throws. As to corners it would be nice to go into a playoff game with KC more healthy with Benson active and our full compliment of starting coverage LBs. Some changes at safety, but I trust McD to get the most out of those guys.

I would say an impact DE, but not too far behind that a young 1-tech that can impact the pocket and control the A gaps. We know where we are at with the lack of game closers come playoffs. So DEs that can get there or at least impact throws is high on that list and that guy who can compress the pocket and force the double teams that free up the rush. Not expecting a lot out of Von just hoping for adequate play where the coaches are careful with his reps to get the most out of him - injuries and father time matter. I like Jones as a 1-tech. But he has been dinged down the stretch for us the past 2 seasons. Glad we moved on from some underperformers on that interior DL that get blown off their spot. The moves look like upgrades on paper and should help spell the big guy, but finding Jones successor would be in my future plans.

I get a kick out of the commercials we had back then. Had a buddy who had one of those 2nd generation Ford Fiestas... just wouldn't die.