Matt in KC

I'll guess:Best Goodwin Woods Easley TJ Graham Hogan Da'Rick Rogers I think the top two, middle two, or the bottom two could be reversed, but that's roughly the tiering for career success. I think Rogers could be very good if he really applied himself for a few more years. I just don't know if he has that much runway. My best guess is PS this year, maybe getting called up somewhere and doing nothing, then struggling to follow that same route next year (and then being done for good).

Yes to Winfield, no to Florence. Drayton was losing a step his last year here and was becoming a real liability. I imagine that's gotten worse by now....

No, no, no... Then it's Thad time! (After that it's certainly over.)

Maybe we'll bring in X-Man (just doesn't sound right) Marquette King.... It looks like from preseason the kid can boom them! I don't know if he can place them at all, but at this point, 3 Preseason games in a row averaging over 50 yards / punt looks like an upgrade to me after the shanks we were treated to....

Sorry man. I was kinda joking in the other thread but somehow managed to volunteer you! For Karma's sake, another appeared at the same time that I appeared to have started. I locked mine and it magically disappeared. . . . So who is cutting our new punter?

Either EJ is healthy and they only want 3 QBs (and he was beaten out by Thad)--or-- They are confident they can get as "good" QB play from someone for even less money.

I doesn't work like that. From the league calendar:

If you're watching, Zazie, copy and paste into the OP!

Yes, before each of those players get their own thread! Thanks for volunteering to compile the list.

Keeping only 9 DBs without IR'ing Gilmore would be really tough and risky.This is the best I can make sense of that: 5 CBs: Gilmore, McKelvin, Brooks, Butler, Rogers 4 Safeties: Byrd, Williams, Searcy, Duke Williams This means cutting CBs: Heath, Robey Safeties: Meeks, Ellis, Rodney Dangerfield I think we keep one of Heath, Robey, or maybe Meeks, and still look for another CB elsewhere. Fortunately (for the numbers only) I don't think we have 7 LBs worth keeping. Keep: Lawson, Dowtin, Alonso, Moats, Bradham, Scott Cut: Pough, Brian Smith. That's right... there's no one else to consider!

I forgot about Dickerson! I just haven't seen how he would make it with the better WRs and TEs. I can see the arguement for keeping him if we do keep just 5 WRs, especially with no FB backup on the roster and our TEs weak. I don't see us keeping Dickerson and Brad Smith, but keeping one makes sense. Has Dickerson been hurt? He's just been... missing from what I've watched. I've barely seen Caldwell play. My notes from the first 2 PS games indicates only one noteable play: a horrible play in the 4th quarter against the Vikings, on a run play. As bad as I think Legurski is, we just can't afford to cut him unless we find someone better somewhere. Either way, I can't imagine he's on the team next year. I thought of that too. Stupid question: if he's on IR (designated to return) to start the season, is his full year salary guaranteed? It might make sense to do this to give the young guys enough runway to prove they more deserve the permanent roster spot. I guess we'll see. I haven't tried making a 53-man roster, so I don't know just how tight we are....

No, equal opportunity. If they have an advantage, it's that they've built a relationship with him and he may well have friend/s, housing in the area and want to stay where he is.

Thanks! So they aren't a rookie (straight out of college) but don't have an accrued season. That makes sense.

I just don't see how Jay could make the roster. I'd like to see him develop, but roster spots "cost" too much. He strikes me as a perfect PS guy. At safety, Searcy has the edge for sure, but Meeks could be better... some day.

Who is playing for their place on the team in the Lions PS game? Who do you think we try to get on our Practice Squad? OFFENSE RB - Choice, Brown, Gaskins I'm really not sure what the team is thinking here. Choice seems to the frontrunner, but Marrone made a comment a week or so ago that he wanted someone that offered a different dimension as a backup. I thought that meant heavier than Choice, or good on ST. Brown is listed on the roster as a 1st year player; Gaskins is listed as a rookie. (I thought the difference was rookies were drafted, but now I'm back to not knowing). I fully expect one of these guys to make the PS. I suspect the team will keep 3 RBs plus Summers. FB - Summers I think Summers makes the final 53. He's been playing a lot and playing pretty well. He helps the game day roster a whole lot more than the backup RB above or a 6th or 7th WR. He's been solid on ST and I want Goodwin following him on his kick returns. LG - Colin Brown, Doug Legurski Brown has the starting position sewn up and has been playing pretty well. I thnik Legurski probably makes the roster as well (or is cut only when we sign someone else), but we're in trouble if he ever has to play. QBs There's already a lot of discussion on these guys that we don't need to fully rehash here. I think the big question is if Kolb gets an injury settlement before the 53-player cutdown. There's no way we carry 5 QBs on the roster! I Guess Leinart gets cut too after the Detroit game, and Thad stays on as a new developmental backup. Is Thad PS-eligible? WR There has been a lot of discussion in other threads. For our Bubble players, I think Easley has already made the team and Brad Smith gets cut. I think we'll try to land Hogan or Kaufman on on the PS. We might try to keep Hogan on the final roster, but no way Kaufman makes it (short of an all-world game against Detroit), as much as I like the kid. Unlike others, I wouldn't be surprised if we only keep 5 WRs (Stevie, Woods, Goodwin, TJ, Easley) TE - Lee Smith, Gragg Lee Smith has made teh team, even though we haven't seen anything from him yet. Gragg does not look good to me, but I can't imaging us releasing him. DEFENSE DT - Corbin Bryant, Alan Branch, Torrell Troup, Jay Ross I think Bryant has played the best of these guys in the PS games, by far. I think Branch or Troup join him on the team. They've played at about the same level, but Troup is less expensive.... I'd guess Branch is one of our big "name" cuts who gets picked up elsewhere. Jay Ross is a great PS candidate, who has shown promise, but really doesn't look ready for a real game. DE Blatnick has shown flashes, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the final 53. If not, I want him on our PS if he clears waivers. LB - Marcus Dowtin, Bryan Scott I've seen more good plays from Marcus Downtin Abbey than Scott, but I don't know if he's ready for prime time. I don't know if he's PS-eligible. I have no idea what is going on with Scott and would not be surprised to see him cut, or playing regularly. (Anyone have any insight?) CB - Butler, Rogers, Heath, Robey I think Butler makes the team. Rogers looked bad against the Skins, but I don't know if he's actually back 100%. If not, I'm not sure we can afford to cut him. On the flip side, I don't know if we can afford to play him! Health has shown flashes. I'd like to keep him on the PS. Edit: Robey or Heath to PS Safeties - Duke Williams (4th round), Johnathan Meeks (5th round) Neither of these players look ready for a real game to me, but Wiliams looks closer. I suspect we keep Williams and try to pass Meeks to the PS. Does anyone think we try to keep 5 safeties (these 2 plus Byrd, Williams, Searcy)?

They played the plainest defense so far this year, by far, often with CBs playing off 6-7 yards (even on 3rd and short!) The only new thing I saw was the D-Line rotating through the first half. They also looked like they were playing a lot more zone covreage, and getting eaten up for it.

C.J. Spiller- 1500 yards rushing Under- due to us playing from behind E.J. Manuel- 20 touchdown passes Over - Assuming he's healthy all 16 games Robert Woods- 60 receptions Push KIko Alonso- 110 tackles Under Mario Williams- 11 sacks Over Leodis McKelvin- 20 plays where he looks in position on a play and then the pass is still completed Over - this is a hard one. I expect many where he's out of position! Stevie Johnson- 2 fines for inappropriate touchdown celebrations Under Dustin Hopkins- 3 kickoffs out of bounds Under Matt Leinart- dresses for 3 games Under This last one isn't exactly a stat, but I thought I'd throw it in: Wins- 7 Push

...and here: http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/160822-being-a-buffalo-bills-fan-in-a-nutshell/

I'd close this dup thread. http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/160816-32-reasons-being-a-buffalo-bills-fan-is-more-painful-than-childbirth/

1 week is how long you take to prepare for an opponent in the NFL. If he's not really back physically, I'd rest him of course. I'm worried about his body getting hurt, and him being able to practice with the team leading up to the game, not him being mentally unprepared or anything else.

So when do teams have to start reporting official injury status (out, doubtful, questionable etc.)? Next Sunday?

I just had a great idea! Can Byrd play CB?

Very disappointed in how Alonso looks so far.You're annoyed people aren't giving you a rational response to this? What are you disappointed in? I saw my first couple plays where he didn't look great, which is still very good and promising for a rookie. My disappointment with him comes from the hype I read here with some proclaiming that he had a good shot of being Defensive Rookie of the Year. I haven't seen anything anywere resembling that so far. Granted, he might end up good, but the hype made me expect more at this point. He hasn't jumped out as of yet. Maybe he will. No one knows. Maybe I overreacted to the hype by being disappointed. So forget the hype for a minute. He's a second round rookie being asked to captain the defense (radio). So far the's doing a very good job. DROY is crazy speculation before the season starts, though I'm much more forgiving of baseless optimism than pessimism. i don't remember a rookie LB ever catching on so fast for us. He looks like he's ahead of where poz ever was. It took Crowell what... 3-4 years to start looking like he could compete? -------- Wondering if Hughes will turn into Maybin 2.0 Why on earth would you think that he'd perform like Maybin or that it would be a Maybin-like situation if he flames out? I'm thrilled with him so far. What does he have, 1+ sacks pre game so far? My fear with Hughes is for a couple of reasons. 1. Another team gave up on him. 2. While he may be a good pass rushing specialist, in order to serve in that function you better not leave open spaces in the field when you fail. Players can't survive primarily as rushers unless they are elite at it. If they are not, they usually cause more problems then they help. One report on him stated that he was performing very poorly in other phases of the game. This description reminded me of Maybin, whose stench still remains in my nostrils. He could turn out to be good, but at this point I would bet against it. Certainly I could be wrong, just like anyone who thinks he will be a defensive force. He looks good to me, like a real disruptor on defense. We paid what for him? (A 3rd round draft pick who wasn't panning out.) --------- Wannstedt was not the problem. He played vanilla because vanilla looks like it may have been the best optiin. Huh? This is the first game they've played more like last year: CBs playing off and nothing too exotic, including disguising the D. That looks like the best option? I never believed Wannstedt was the problem last year. Yeah, I know a lot of you did. I think our personnel on D was grossly overrated last year and that there may not have been a worse group of linebackers in the league. Except for Gilmore, the corners were a disaster, and the defensive line was putrid. I do agree our LBs were just aweful. But, I blame the coaches more for sticking with players and schemes that just weren't working. That's how I personally decided they needed to go. ------------- How can a team go so many seasons without an excellent linebacker? I'm hopeful for Kiko, and Lawson, and have been happy with how Moats and Bradham are progressing. Downtin has caught my eye a few times late in games as a young guy adjusting to the NFL. They may work out but I am glad to see your acknowledgment of the insanely poor history of linebackers on this team. It's good that you are hopeful, but that is far from any verifiable proof. I think Moats has been near nothing except for his hit on Farvre. Bradham is fast but appears slow to react, in my opinion, and reaction time is far more important than speed. Kiko is unknown and I have no opinion of Lawson or Downtin as of yet. We'll have to see how it plays out. So far I've really liked how each of those guys as looked this year, minus a few ugly plays against the Redskins. --------- How many players would hurt this team if they got hurt? Spiller has a decent backup and RB is the most overrated position on the field.Having a great RB means nothing in the standings. I have no idea what you are saying. Losing eny players, especially starters would hurt. EJ, Gilmore, Spiller, Kyle, anyone on the o-line, Mario, or Stevie most of all, roughly in that order. What I am saying is that there is a lack of very important players on the team whose loss would devastate them, and not because of great depth, but rather because a lack of excellent players. I get what you're saying, but not sure what it means really. We have significant depth problems. We cannot survive a single loss on the o-line IMO. Also add Spiller to your list below Gilmore would hurt. Maybe a couple guys on the D line. SJ. EJ, even though we have no idea what he is. ------ All that said, they have an outside chance at .500 because the NFL is a game of attrition, so if you get luckier than the other guy with injuries you can still compete. So all this complaining and you think we could get to .500 with some injuries? That is optimistic! I stated clearly that they could end up .500 if they stay healthy and other teams don't. If that is optimnistic to you, I am confused about what you mean. We're not far off from each other. I think we're a 7 win team, +/- 2 games. No way can /i see us good/lucky enough to win 10 games, or bad/unlucky/injured enough to win 4 or less. I was surprised because you sounded pretty down on the team, but then mentioned .500, which to me is a big promising step forward. ---------------------- i think the Seriously response by yungmack was about right. If you're just trolling for a reaction, congrats, you got me. A pity that if someone questions the optimism based on nothing, that makes them a troll. Is someone a troll when they declare that there is a good chance that EJ and KIko will win the respective ROY awards as I saw posted on this site? Optimism based on nothing is normal and healthy, and pleasant, though yes, it can go too far. That said, you're obviously not a troll with these responses, not just saying things to "get my goat" and waste my time. ROY talk is similar in that it baits people into the conversation. If I felt compelled to shoot them down it would probably tick me off. I don't think there's an overly-positive version of term troll, but feel free to make one up. I think we're running out of colors. Thanks for the dialog.

I thought Glenn looked pretty good, but noticed some issues w Pears play for the first time this PS. I get the concern about Fred (though he doesn't look shot to me, just declining). What makes you say that about Kyle? I don't see it at all.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/08/25/lions-send-thad-lewis-to-the-bills/