Ed_Formerly_of_Roch

You're absolutely certain that guys like Winter, Boehm, Bates, Boettger, Adams, Ford, etc have absolutely no experience with long snapping? Even say in college as a backup, maybe never did it in a game, but was the 2nd or even 3rd string long snapper?

But is there still an advantage with him over Know or Sweeney WRT blocking? Particularly when the defense knows if Smith is one the field, that's one less player we're going to worry about much in coverage. Yes Smith is better, but is it still large enough gap to keep him especially after netting out all the penalties. Didn't realize he was the backup long snapper, but also don't know if anyone else on the roster has experience in that area either. We do have a number of lineman who at some point played center, so not sure they haven't also done some long snapping particularly since many of these guys were more backups. Having some long snapping experience on your resume when you're a bottom of the roster guy to begin with would be beneficial for them. I'm not an anti Smith guy, but do think that roster spot could be filled more efficiently other ways and don't think it's as much of a slam dunk that he sticks as you make it sound and one injury between now and September can change this all around too. Will see soon enough.

I agree with your comments about TE, I'd much prefer to see them keep Sweeney over Smith and think if Sweeney shows any sign of improvement that will happen. The only thing that may keep Smith around is his veteran leadership. They did lose a couple other vets in other areas, Gore, Alexander, Murphy may be gone. But on the other hand a guy like Tyler Kroft has been around 4 or 5 seasons now so becoming a vet and also getting to the point you want guys like Edmunds and Allan to become the leaders which is tougher to do when you have guys like Smith and Gore on the team. Maybe it comes down to you keep either Smith or DeMarco for leadership? 80% in general but for QB's and with his resume, I'd bump that up higher. I'd be very surprised if he were not picked up by another team if released.

I agree with you about much less roster churn this year after final cut down day, however QB likely is the one exception as plenty of tape on him. There's also plenty of college tape on him and as was mentioned add in the Covid concerns, think he'd get snatched. Wouldn't be shocked if many more teams carry 3 QB's this season than other years. One of his strengths is smarts, weakness arm strength to some degree. In the Covid era, having a QB who can learn the offense quickly would help. To your last question why did they draft him, likely the answer is they never expected him to drop that far so by taking him, they just likely signed Barkley's replacement for next season when his contract runs out.

Understand, but I look it at many of the red have very little chance of making the roster so deserve to be red, but think there are some either/or choices. Call it a forth color then.

Good starting point! I'd make the following changes: Taiwan Jones black for ST play Hodkins and McKenzie blue as likely one of them will make the roster Sweeney also blue Isn't there some new rule this season that you have to carry 9 offensive lineman? Johnson and Murphy blue as one of them will likely make Think I'd also change Vosean Joseph to blue as at least one more LB makes the roster I'd make Norman black and Dane Jackson blue Think Marlowe is black I'd make both punters blue as one of them makes it and make Bass and Hauschka both blue as again one of them makes it That would put me exactly at 53 counting all the blacks and blues I added

I read an article that interviewed companies and groups involved with re-naming processes and the biggest take from this was don't rush into anything, and that these types of processes typically take close to a year to decide on a name. And if you do decide much faster than that, you probably didn't do a very good job of thinking through it carefully was what I got out of this article.

From what I read this would have been McD's last year of his contract, but doesn't Beane still have one more year beyond 2020? So not as much urgency there. Also I'm sure the reason they signed McD first was to twist the knife some for all the people (mainly on this site) who ripped the Bills for hiring the HC before the GM as no on does such a stupid thing as that!

I agree with you there too, but to many here it seems he should be around #4 or 5. Admittedly there's a good chance he could produce better than either of the two rookies (regardless of J Browns comments) but you don't allow draft choices to go that you view as better long term assets.

Personally I'd rather see them keep the 4 TE's ad go with only 6 WR. That will alienate all the Duke Williams fans though. But would prefer to keep Sweeney over Williams. Actually if Sweeney shows any improvement in blocking, I'd keep him over Smith.

OK did find where that is the rules for this year. But still be surprised if they placed Kroft there and he likely has enough experience that some other team would sign him

That may be the decider for spring play, if we can get fans in we'll go with it. While it may be mostly freshman and sophomores playing that will hurt the play this year, by say 2022 it could mean a more experienced level of play It doesn't matter then as the schools aren't libel for it then if they aren't playing.

Does Boehn or Kroft have PS eligibility left? Almost certain Kroft does not. You have to have less than 2 accrued seasons played.

Kind of funny in away . You have the "we want to play" movement. But then you have this other whole player movement demanding certain things of the schools around player safety, etc. Not saying they are at all wrong, but I wonder if these demands are part of what's driving schools to say cancel as they know they can't address these concerns. In a way the players may have accelerated the desire to cancel.

I put my address in and it said wasn't eligible for this address, same as other years. I even tried putting in the address of a nursing home, and two assisted living facilities and all of those address were not eligible. So would really love to see what addresses to actually work. I do think they may make some type of special offers this coming season as many bars are not open, will see. There's another whole thread about the NFL supposedly having games on Saturdays if college football is canceled. Will be interesting to see how DTV agrees to this as that would really cut short the number of games available on ST. Would hardly be worth getting it as some weeks only maybe 4 out of area games would be offered.

Maybe jest wasn't the right word, (but was easier to spell) over exaggeration may be a better term is what I think he was saying. You hear it al lthe time in sports life, coaches, bosses, etc talking up people and takes above the level it really is warranted.

I'm sure his comments were somewhat in jest and was just meant to talk them up, but also does mean they are both looking real good and he's impressed with their play. Whether they truly know the playbook better who knows, but does sound like it was somewhat of a shot at some vets that may not know it any better or at least not as well as expected than the two rookies. May be just trying to give a wake up call to McKenzie, Roberts and Foster that you better up you're game or be gone.

That 70% number was based on 15 years of data, but do agree this year could be different as likely lower chances of teams grabbing players cut by others unless it's someone that another team wanted to draft or sign. If they feel they can slip Hodkins to the PS without getting grabbed then that may happen or as I said in another thread they are really hoping he gets a hang nail so they can move him to IR. But even then, you still have Diggs, Brown, Beasley, Roberts, Davis, and likely McKenzie ahead of him. Think he'll need to show a marked improvement in training camp from last season to stick over one of these other guys.

That's what Jay S is predicting will happen particularly now since the 2021 cap will likely be much lower

70% of 6th rounders stick with the team

Likely if Williams is cut, agree he will be picked up by someone else as has shown enough. I'd say Hopkins has more upside because he was drafted where as Williams never was. Her signed as an UDFA and got cut in September. No teams were interested in him so for two seasons played in Canada. Granted much was for off field issues, but still he wasn't signed. As to teams cutting 6th rounders all the time, 70.2% stick the 1st year, dropping to 57% the second year all the way down to 10% by year five. However by year 5, only 18% of 3rd rounders are still on a roster too. I think Williams would need to show a significant improvement from last season to be kept over a draft pick. As I said the best chance for Williams is Hodkins is put on IR, then that may open a spot and that's assuming they keep 6 WR Actually I forgot completely about Roberts so that even further lessens Williams chances.

More like #6 spot! There's no way he's making the team over a 4th round draft pick who has the #4 WR spot locked up and even a 6th rounder likely has a leg up on him particularly since both guys drafted are as big as Williams is. So they both bring to the table the same thing Williams brings other than some experience. McKenzie brings are rather uniquely different skill set that is lacking elsewhere so likely he also has a leg up on Williams to be kept as will come down to Williams or 2 draft picks all with very similar skill sets. Beane likes his draft picks! The top 4 spots are taken, I think #5 goes to McKenzie, so the only way I see Williams making the team is if they feel they can sneak Hodkins to the PS. Likely the more experienced Williams would outplay Hodkins in training camp, but the long term upside may be higher with Hodkins so they would be more reluctant to lose him. Maybe the team gets lucky and Hodkins breaks a nail so they can move him to the PS for a year, then Williams chances could change. Likely whomever is the #6 WR will be inactive most weeks anyway barring injuries ahead of him.

I'll tell you one company who'd like scream up and down over this is Sunday Ticket! There is a maximum of 16 games each week, take away; Thursday, Sunday, and Monday night game you're down to 13 games. Haven't looked at this years schedule specifically but typically when you get into the bye weeks there are some weeks with six teams with byes. That leaves 10 games. Now take away three more for Saturdays, you're down to 7 games on Sunday. Considering almost everyone gets three games on local TV, 2 early and the doubleheader, that leaves DTV with 4 games to convince people to pay $300 to watch each week. Could see this becoming a sticking point as I'm sure there is something in the agreement that specifies a minimum number of games will be available each week to them. I realize week 17 that didn't happen, one week may have been written into the contract, but if every week. Even the weeks without byes, the selection would still be small. Think to broadcast Saturdays will require a major contract redo with DTV over this. Personally I'd be happy with games on Saturday, but can see this being a sticking point.

So we're in the "acclimation period" I'd have thought that would not have allowed anything involving an actual use of a football, more like exercises, stretching, running, etc? Looking at some of these photos, while there's no 11 V 11 kind of looks like more normal practices??

I'll bet it's much more common place than you realize. 30 years ago, did you see a player coming off the field after a loss smiling, these days they are hugging it out with the winning team laughing, joking, and telling stories after the game. They are all friends to some level! Just as they say the would is getting smaller, so is the NFL and all other sports for that matter IMO.