Joe B. predicts the 53 for week 1

[Rocky Landing]

Unless of course Sammy, rw, Percy, Easley and the winner of this battle leave hogan on the outside. That might really chap you, eh?

It would. I'll admit it. I'm a Hogan fan.

[It's in My Blood]

Oh agreed. I just don't think Brown is good and doesn't play STs. I'd much rather keep Dixon over Brown. Brown is the most hyped, least productive player the Bills have had in a long time.

 

My sources say Hackett was the only coach who would actually talk to Joe B. Thus, he started lobbying for his friend to get jobs. Happens all the time in the media.

Probably so. Loyalty aside, if he had some sense of the ridiculousness he was spewing, I don't think he'd be lobbying for Nate Hackett as head coach of the Buffalo Bills.

[Pete]

Almost right. Goodwin over Lewis , Dixon over Bryce, and Steward over Gay. Laddler is my sleeper pick for roster. My guess is Chris Williams and Matt Cassell both get cut, and we free up cash for next year

[hondo in seattle]

Here's Fairburn's cut at this:

 

http://www.syracuse.com/buffalo-bills/index.ssf/2015/06/buffalo_bills_53-man_roster_projection_will_bryce_brown_make_the_cut_in_2015.html

 

[Pete]

Here's Fairburn's cut at this:

 

http://www.syracuse.com/buffalo-bills/index.ssf/2015/06/buffalo_bills_53-man_roster_projection_will_bryce_brown_make_the_cut_in_2015.html

 

closer IMO. Very similar to my guess. Fairburn and I were thinking alike on LB- he liked Tarpley and I like Steward. Other then that, I have Goodwin over Lewis and the rest is what I call

[26CornerBlitz]

@RQUINN619

Since everyone's doing it- My #Bills pre-camp 53 man projection

[GunnerBill]

It would. I'll admit it. I'm a Hogan fan.

 

 

Me too. Can I be co-chair of the fan club?

 

There are a lot of Hogan doubters on this board.... I think the dude can play and just keeps getting better. I would be amazed and angry if he ends up not in our 53. It would be a major mistake in my mind - he will catch on somewhere else and make plays.

[YoloinOhio]

Interesting how the debate at WR seems to have turned into Goodwin vs. Lewis. This went on for a while in another 53-roster thread, as well.

 

Personally, I think Lewis offers the team attributes that none of our other WRs have, whereas Goodwin is all speed, and not enough production.

 

And, I'm glad Hogan is getting the respect he deserves. For a while, the debate seemed to be Goodwin vs. Hogan.

keep in mind that Clay is 6'3 and can legitimately line up as a WR. one reason they were all in on him was his versatility. He can play the role of size WR. This could allow them to stash Dez and keep Goodwin.

[NoSaint]

There are a lot of Hogan doubters on this board.... I think the dude can play and just keeps getting better. I would be amazed and angry if he ends up not in our 53. It would be a major mistake in my mind - he will catch on somewhere else and make plays.

i think most agree hes an acceptable #4 around the league. i dont think thats being a doubter.

 

unless you think hes a solid 3 or potential 2.... then yes, count me in the doubters.

 

i think a lot of times the two sides talk past each other using vague terms when they really are much closer to agreeing than they like to admit if quantified more solidly.

[thebandit27]

I don't see the logic in keeping a guy like Lewis over Goodwin...there are plenty of guys that are 6'4" and can be taught to run a pass route and fight for a jump ball if that's what you want.

 

Sub-4.3 speed cannot be taught, and Goodwin is one of 5 guys in the entire NFL (if we're still counting the unsigned Chris Johnson) that can run that fast. It's an added dimension to the offense that most teams simply do not have an answer for, and it can be the source of a few key plays throughout the season.

[Kelly the Dog]

I don't see the logic in keeping a guy like Lewis over Goodwin...there are plenty of guys that are 6'4" and can be taught to run a pass route and fight for a jump ball if that's what you want.

 

Sub-4.3 speed cannot be taught, and Goodwin is one of 5 guys in the entire NFL (if we're still counting the unsigned Chris Johnson) that can run that fast. It's an added dimension to the offense that most teams simply do not have an answer for, and it can be the source of a few key plays throughout the season.

Lewis is the perfect PS guy to me. I doubt anyone is going to sign a #7 WR from a small school to their active roster. I suppose it's possible that he wows other teams in preseason games with a couple spectacular TDs but with all of our 12+ WR and our varied offense he's probably not going to see a ton of balls his way.

[TPS]

I think it's a good guess, and he identifies two very tough decisions--WR and RB. I would add two other competitions, OG and KO specialist (vs everyone else).

Goodwin's problem is his health. If he can last a season, he is one dangerous WR.

On RB, I think KWilliams will determine the fate of Boobie and Brown. KW is as fast as Brown, but maybe not as shifty. He could make Brown expendable saving Boobs.

I'm not sold on Richardson yet. Don't know if he's athletic enough for what they want to do? I hope so, because he's a bruiser.

Someone posted a good argument for keeping Gay, reducing injuries and wear and tear; however, if there is someone they don't want to lose, Gay is a choice.

[Kelly the Dog]

I don't see the logic in keeping a guy like Lewis over Goodwin...there are plenty of guys that are 6'4" and can be taught to run a pass route and fight for a jump ball if that's what you want.

 

Sub-4.3 speed cannot be taught, and Goodwin is one of 5 guys in the entire NFL (if we're still counting the unsigned Chris Johnson) that can run that fast. It's an added dimension to the offense that most teams simply do not have an answer for, and it can be the source of a few key plays throughout the season.

Also, Goodwin is as good as anyone we have outside of Sammy at tracking the long ball in the air. There is a real skill and natural talent to that and it's very hard to do. He's already excellent at it and proves it over and over. He's also very good at timing his jumps and reaching the ball at the apex of his jump. Another skill that a lot of WR don't do. He's good at wrestling the ball away and he's a willing and decent blocker, far better than you would expect. At the Senior Bowl and in his career with the Bills he showed he can get off the line and beat press coverage at the snap.

 

That's why Rex and Lal are saying he's not a track guy and it's very evident. His entire problem is the injury issue and no one knows the answer to it. Keeping him on the roster is a no brainer if he is healthy. A lot of fans (I'm not including you, you do) don't realize that guys who don't make a ton of plays still change the way defenses play and they worry about guys that can beat them easily like Goodwin.

 

I forgot who it was but one of the Bills coaches in 2013 said this, too, in the middle of the season. That the opposition always knew when Goodwin was on the field and always made adjustments to him, like one safety would move over or always be leaning to Goodwins side at the snap just because of his speed.

 

Then because of his injuries, he got put in the Doughouse even though he was healthy for more than half the season, when Marrone started using the "Well if we use the spare key we won't have a spare key!" line of reasoning.

[TPS]

Also, Goodwin is as good as anyone we have outside of Sammy at tracking the long ball in the air. There is a real skill and natural talent to that and it's very hard to do. He's already excellent at it and proves it over and over. He's also very good at timing his jumps and reaching the ball at the apex of his jump. Another skill that a lot of WR don't do. He's good at wrestling the ball away and he's a willing and decent blocker, far better than you would expect. At the Senior Bowl and in his career with the Bills he showed he can get off the line and beat press coverage at the snap.

 

That's why Rex and Lal are saying he's not a track guy and it's very evident. His entire problem is the injury issue and no one knows the answer to it. Keeping him on the roster is a no brainer if he is healthy. A lot of fans (I'm not including you, you do) don't realize that guys who don't make a ton of plays still change the way defenses play and they worry about guys that can beat them easily like Goodwin.

 

I forgot who it was but one of the Bills coaches in 2013 said this, too, in the middle of the season. That the opposition always knew when Goodwin was on the field and always made adjustments to him, like one safety would move over or always be leaning to Goodwins side at the snap just because of his speed.

 

Then because of his injuries, he got put in the Doughouse even though he was healthy for more than half the season, when Marrone started using the "Well if we use the spare key we won't have a spare key!" line of reasoning.

That will determine his fate for sure.

[GunnerBill]

i think most agree hes an acceptable #4 around the league. i dont think thats being a doubter.

 

unless you think hes a solid 3 or potential 2.... then yes, count me in the doubters.

 

i think a lot of times the two sides talk past each other using vague terms when they really are much closer to agreeing than they like to admit if quantified more solidly.

 

I think he is a solid 3 on a lot of teams - he was the 3 on this team last year and scored over 400 yards, 10 yards per catch and 4 TDs as a number 3 (5th target after Chandler and Fred) on a team with Quarterback issues - and I still think he has room to grow as a football player.

[buffalover4life]

Boobie had two punt Blocks. That will go a long way towards him making the team. Also can play FB. Bryce has done nothing to earn a roster spot, should have showed up for voluntary work outs to prove his hunger.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

I don't understand the politics of cutting Boobie. Whaley brought in both Dixon and Brown. I get that we paid more for Brown, but I don't think that means Whaley is more beholden to him than Dixon.

 

EDIT: I also don't understand why people think Dez Lewis will make the team with how loaded we are WR right now. He has been hurt so far, and is a rookie. Stash Lewis on the PS, and I would be very surprised to see anyone take him. Then if Harvin acts up you can bring him up, but right now I think Goodwin has to be in.

I am not sure politics are as important to Whaley as everyone thinks. Mike Williams demonstrates that. Whaley wants to win and has never shied away from the fact that not all deals work out.

[YattaOkasan]

I am not sure politics are as important to Whaley as everyone thinks. Mike Williams demonstrates that. Whaley wants to win and has never shied away from the fact that not all deals work out.

I think this is the case as well, but have often seen the argument (not so much here) "Brown is Whaley's guy and he doesn't want egg on his face."

[Kelly the Dog]

I think this is the case as well, but have often seen the argument (not so much here) "Brown is Whaley's guy and he doesn't want egg on his face."

Right. But GMs, thankfully, don't think like fans do. I would bet anything that Whaley both still doesn't think that was a bad move (trading a #4 for Bryce Brown), and would have no problem whatsoever releasing him if he thought the guys he was keeping make the better roster.

 

He traded for Brown because two years in a row, Tashard Choice was our #3 RB and was not very good. The previous season, both CJ and Fred got hurt, and we were stuck with a lousy starting or #2 RB. The following year (this year) CJ would be a FA (who we didn't keep) and Fred would be 34 and not able to handle the rigors of being a #1 RB for 16 games. That was solid thinking then and solid thinking now. Whaley didn't know he would be able to trade for Shady.

 

It was a smart trade, because GM's are supposed to look short term, mid term, and long term, at the roster as a whole.

[GunnerBill]

Right. But GMs, thankfully, don't think like fans do. I would bet anything that Whaley both still doesn't think that was a bad move (trading a #4 for Bryce Brown), and would have no problem whatsoever releasing him if he thought the guys he was keeping make the better roster.

 

He traded for Brown because two years in a row, Tashard Choice was our #3 RB and was not very good. The previous season, both CJ and Fred got hurt, and we were stuck with a lousy starting or #2 RB. The following year (this year) CJ would be a FA (who we didn't keep) and Fred would be 34 and not able to handle the rigors of being a #1 RB for 16 games. That was solid thinking then and solid thinking now. Whaley didn't know he would be able to trade for Shady.

 

It was a smart trade, because GM's are supposed to look short term, mid term, and long term, at the roster as a whole.

 

And don't forget it only happened because they couldn't find a partner willing to let them back in the 2nd round for Carlos Hyde. A 4th was a little bit steep for my tastes - a 5th I'd have said it was a no-lose option.