simpleman Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I have asked this before in other related threads, but no one discussed it. I just read the article posted on his rehab. He has never really made enough of an impression on multiple coaching staffs as a WR. He is a good cover man on special teams. A good hitter, is big, tough, fast, decent hands, I assume smart. Decent qualities for a safety to have. We need quality depth at safety, especially if AW is forced to retire due to his injury. Buffalo has had some success at converting a WR to safety before. Could Easley play safety and special teams? Clearing a space on the roster and giving him more time on the field? It would seem a more efficient use of a roster spot than simply as a special teamer if he could be a decent backup safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTO Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 No, the man has always had knee issues. He's gifted no doubt, but those knees though.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manther Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 No, I don't believe Easley is any answer at safety. Back up or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddaryl Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 no .......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hapless Bills Fan Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I have asked this before in other related threads, but no one discussed it. I just read the article posted on his rehab. He has never really made enough of an impression on multiple coaching staffs as a WR. He is a good cover man on special teams. A good hitter, is big, tough, fast, decent hands, I assume smart. Decent qualities for a safety to have. We need quality depth at safety, especially if AW is forced to retire due to his injury. Buffalo has had some success at converting a WR to safety before. Could Easley play safety and special teams? Clearing a space on the roster and giving him more time on the field? It would seem a more efficient use of a roster spot than simply as a special teamer if he could be a decent backup safety. Simpleman, the better question will be whether Easley's shattered knee will be far enough advanced in its rehab to allow him to 1) play at all 2) play at his previous level on ST Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffalothruMyVeins Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I think he does posess those traits you mentioned, but his injury history is concerning. He averages probably 2 offensive snaps per week on offense, and 12 special teams snaps, and most of the time is nursing an injury by the bye week, and more often than not, it seems, on the IR for the last couple games of the year. Giving him 60 snaps per week would is something that his body doesn't seem like it could handle. Also, Rex's defensive scheme is seemingly very difficult for guys who have played defense for a decade to get, so a converted WR, late in his career, presumably would struggle to get complex concepts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machine gun kelly Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Simpleman, I'm not ripping on you, but your falling into the contemplation of converting players when there are already players specialized in that field. For example, everyone wanted to convert Tebow to a TE. He's not a TE, he's a bad QB. Easley is a good ST player, but to convert to a whole new set of skills from offense to defense is a leap. The only real leap I see is when CB's as they get older but are tough or put on weight become Safeties. If Graham can't make the conversion well, and was a CB for 8 years, why would a ST player be able to do it. I appreciate the creative thinking, just don't see it happening. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie Nails Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Poor guy may never play again. He's going to try to come back, but the injuries he's suffered at the end of last year were devastating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I think if this could have been done chan/nix would have tried Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark80 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 (edited) Simpleman, I'm not ripping on you, but your falling into the contemplation of converting players when there are already players specialized in that field. For example, everyone wanted to convert Tebow to a TE. He's not a TE, he's a bad QB. Easley is a good ST player, but to convert to a whole new set of skills from offense to defense is a leap. The only real leap I see is when CB's as they get older but are tough or put on weight become Safeties. If Graham can't make the conversion well, and was a CB for 8 years, why would a ST player be able to do it. I appreciate the creative thinking, just don't see it happening. Players have made transitions from one position to another and WR to DB is one of the more common ones that happen. Granted, it usually occurs at the college level, but I'm sure there are examples of it occurring at the NFL level. Troy Brown comes to mind immediately. Although he was more of an emergency sub than a true position change, he handled himself fairly well as a CB when he played and I'm sure if he changed full time he would have become an effective corner. An obvious example of a very successful position change was Jason Peters from TE to an All-Pro LT. Also, the Seahawks have been switching dlineman to olineman like crazy under Carroll. JR Sweezy is probably the best example of it and has gone from a no name 7th round pick DT to a very serviceable guard. They have also attempted this with numerous UDFA to varying degrees of success. I don't think it's likely to be successful here, but to dismiss the idea as having no chance at working is a bit off to me. Edited February 19, 2016 by Mark80 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdand12 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Players have made transitions from one position to another and WR to DB is one of the more common ones that happen. Granted, it usually occurs at the college level, but I'm sure there are examples of it occurring at the NFL level. Troy Brown comes to mind immediately. Although he was more of an emergency sub than a true position change, he handled himself fairly well as a CB when he played and I'm sure if he changed full time he would have become an effective corner. An obvious example of a very successful position change was Jason Peters from TE to an All-Pro LT. Also, the Seahawks have been switching dlineman to olineman like crazy under Carroll. JR Sweezy is probably the best example of it and has gone from a no name 7th round pick DT to a very serviceable guard. They have also attempted this with numerous UDFA to varying degrees of success. I don't think it's likely to be successful here, but to dismiss the idea as having no chance at working is a bit off to me. Name one time a 26 year old player was moved from WR ( ? ) or ST to safety. thats before we get into the mental and play calling responsibilities. Not a knock on our OP. But this is far fetched at best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Defense Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 I am assuming this is all a joke, right? That, after 6 years in the NFL, and at almost 30 years old, and coming off a significant injury, someone would suggest that Easley might be converted to a safety? Just trying to get a reaction, correct? Definitely not "creative thinking" if the OP is serious. If not a joke, not just messing around, YIKES... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chilly Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Is moving to safety going to make him healthier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thurst44 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Name one time a 26 year old player was moved from WR ( ? ) or ST to safety. thats before we get into the mental and play calling responsibilities. Not a knock on our OP. But this is far fetched at best George Wilson was 26 when he did exactly that, and he had a couple very good seasons for us, before dropping off a cliff, skillswise. That said, I highly doubt Easley will be doing that, nor do I think he should. If anything, if he comes back, he should be exclusively ST. Honestly, when I've been messing around with that sportstrac salary cap tool, I've pretty much written him off (not that i know anything )...hopefully, that's wrong. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdand12 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 George Wilson was 26 when he did exactly that, and he had a couple very good seasons for us, before dropping off a cliff, skillswise. That said, I highly doubt Easley will be doing that, nor do I think he should. If anything, if he comes back, he should be exclusively ST. Honestly, when I've been messing around with that sportstrac salary cap tool, I've pretty much written him off (not that i know anything )...hopefully, that's wrong. Damned fine work. George Wilson!! If M E cannot make it back i will miss him. He did his job very well indeed. Have you written off Aaron Williams yet. I hate to suggest it even, but i kinda want to for his sake and the Bills moving forward ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heitz Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 We should get a safety to play back-up safety... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark80 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 (edited) Name one time a 26 year old player was moved from WR ( ? ) or ST to safety. thats before we get into the mental and play calling responsibilities. Not a knock on our OP. But this is far fetched at best Perhaps you did not read the last sentence of my post. The post I was responding to was saying it is impossible to learn new specialized skills in the NFL. I said that was not true but admitted that it mostly happens in college and that it would most likely not be successful in this case. Edited February 19, 2016 by Mark80 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mij yllek Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Bills GM Doug Whaley proclaimed FS Aaron Williams (neck) 100 percent healthy. Williams missed the final 11 games after suffering a series of neck injuries, but apparently would have been ready for the playoffs. Williams himself has said he doesn't know what to expect from his future until he resumes taking hits next summer. Williams is due $3.675 million between salary and bonuses in 2016 Unless something catastrophic happens in camp, he will be back next season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thurst44 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Damned fine work. George Wilson!! If M E cannot make it back i will miss him. He did his job very well indeed. Have you written off Aaron Williams yet. I hate to suggest it even, but i kinda want to for his sake and the Bills moving forward ? I would also miss Easley, but wish he could have stayed healthier. All the late news about Aaron Williams sounds cautiously optimistic to me. They seemed to think it was 50/50, and implied that if it swung in one direction, the injury did not make it any more dangerous to play, but if it leaned in the other direction, he would wisely retire. Hopefully, Whaley's assessment from a few weeks ago was knowing. He's a solid leader and an underrated defender -- it was right around when he and Kyle went down that the running d fell off a cliff. However, I agree, if there's any doubt, he should walk away. This is just based on social media posts and interviews, but I'm a huge fan of Aaron Williams, the person, as well as the player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdand12 Posted February 19, 2016 Share Posted February 19, 2016 Perhaps you did not read the last sentence of my post. The post I was responding to was saying it is impossible to learn new specialized skills in the NFL. I said that was not true but admitted that it mostly happens in college and that it would most likely not be successful in this case. I may well have glossed over it. But you certainly did say that. I sued you post to respond in general perhaps. My apologies good Sir! I would also miss Easley, but wish he could have stayed healthier. All the late news about Aaron Williams sounds cautiously optimistic to me. They seemed to think it was 50/50, and implied that if it swung in one direction, the injury did not make it any more dangerous to play, but if it leaned in the other direction, he would wisely retire. Hopefully, Whaley's assessment from a few weeks ago was knowing. He's a solid leader and an underrated defender -- it was right around when he and Kyle went down that the running d fell off a cliff. However, I agree, if there's any doubt, he should walk away. This is just based on social media posts and interviews, but I'm a huge fan of Aaron Williams, the person, as well as the player. I too am a fan of his switch. He has been a vocal leader and would most likely serve the Team well in the future. So i am also a fan of him as a Bill! My worry is when he makes full contact in camp he or his body decides it is over. I dont want to see it. so how do the Bills hedge the bet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts