Post Draft Day 2 Strategy: Holes to Fill

[IgotBILLStopay]

Summary bolded below:

 

Putting together a roster is like a Jigsaw puzzle.

 

On the one hand, you have to make sure your strengths remain your strengths and on the other you have to make sure you dont have significant holes that can be easily exploited by opposing teams.This post is about how you add personnel to shore up your strengths and fill holes at the same time.

 

Offense:

 

We have four strengths on offense: a. The run game with Shady, Tyrod, Incognito and Glenn b. Deep ball with Sammy and Tyrod c. low turnovers thanks to Tyrod d. Tyrod's ability to improvise and make something out of nothing with his scrambling and evasiveness

We had two weaknesses: a. Weak right tackle position that led to a zillion sacks b. intermediate passing game

 

A couple of the weaknesses are innate to the quarterback and we cant do anything about them - For all he brings to the table, Tyrod does not really go through all progressions - especially over the middle and is too quick to take off. He is laso not the most accurate in the intermediate passing game. That leads to a weaker intermediate passing game and the host of sacks despite him being a good scrambler. That said, the weaknesses have to be addressed to an extent.

 

Running Game:

 

A solid offensive line, full back and running back depth are the keys to continuing the run game domination. Shady is a year older - so I am not sure how much more he has left in the tank. Given all the sacks from the right side, shoring up the offensive line on the right side and continuing to have sufficient depth on the O-Line and FB / RB positions should have been the goals in the offseason.

 

We matched Ryan Groy - who was an unsung hero for us last year. We have lost Gillislee, who in my mind was the perfect backup [i thought it was a no-brainer that we'd match but what do I know]. Signing Vlad Ducasse at guard should also lead to depth. CK is an unknown after the hip surgery. Dawkins appears to have the inside track to start at RT and is a definite upgrade. DiMarco and Tolbert more than replace Felton. The only hole to fill appears to be a back-up running back.

 

Passing Game:

 

Woods has left. Justin Hunter left. Dez Lewis, Powell and Tate were clearly not the answers last year (though Tate was good in the return game and Powell showed some sparks of brilliance). Clay has been very inconsistent (part of it the play calling and part of it is the QB, I know). Probably the biggest holes on our roster were WR 2,3 and 4. Andre Holmes has the size to provide an end zone target - but in Oakland he appears to have regressed after a nice 2014 campaign. Ditto for Corey Brown, who appeared to regress in Carolina after a nice 2015 campaign and a nice 2014 special teams campaign. Zay Jones more than makes up for Wooods at #2. Being with your former coach, having arguably the surest hands in the 2017 draft class and having above average atheticism that does yields quick, if not lasting separation means a great target in the intermediate passing game. His size though is a concern since Tyrod already has trouble seeing over the middle. That means we still are missing a big target over the middle - maybe a tightend.

 

Defense:

 

Strength: Defensive Line. Under Schwartz - Dareus, Mario, Hughes and Kyle were fantastic in a 4-3 set up. We still have 3 out of the four and have added Shaq, Lorax, Adolphus. Worthy is a decent backup. I dont see why we cannot be great again so long as McD puts a muzzle on Hughes (and his penalties) and allows Dareus to be Dareus. Line Backers: In the modern NFL - you only have the WILLs and the MIKEs. We are set at MIKE with Ragland and Preston. So who will be the WILL. I think Humber is a decent backup but not really starter material. So WILL is our big need here.

 

Defensive Backs: This is the other area where our roster was decimated. Losing Gilmore and NRC was huge. Williams was a loss too, but I dont think safety was a big strength for us last year. We still have Darby and Seymour showed some flashes last year. We addressed the CB hole with Tre'Davious White who is a day one starter and will be steady if not splashy. We added Micah Hyde who is among the most versatile safeties. I am not sold as much on Poyer as our starting FS though he will be invaluable on special teams. I dont know how good he will be coming back from that lacerated kidney. I feel this is an area we need to still address.

 

Special Teams:

 

Under Bobby April, this used to be a strength for the Bills - but depite having Carpenter & Gay, I think kicking was a major headache for the Bills - I could point to missing PATs leading to at least a couple of losses the past two years. Steven Hauschka is an immediate upgrade and he can kick field goals as well as punt - saving a roster spot - I always felt having a separate punter (Schmidt) was a luxury that could be avoided. His problems Seattle (with PATs being blocked) was more because of the line than any problems with his kicking - so they are correctable. I can quibble about his contract - but cant complain when he fills such a major need. White should also immediately contribute in the return game. Lorax will contribute here as always. I think we are set on ST except for a backup kicker.

 

Besides the above analysis - games are won with playmakers. One can have consistent steady performers everywhere and still lose every game because we are always one great play away from winning. Our playmakers on Offense are clearly Tyrod, Shady and Sammy. On defense, it has to be the DL. One nagging feeling I have about the offseason additions is that while we acquired consistent performers across the board, we didnt really get any home run hitters who can change the game. Add to that Tyrod, Shady and Sammy all have injury concerns (Tyrod due to the nature of his game).

 

So our major needs going forward are

 

An explosive back up Running Back, a pass catching tall tight end, WILL, a free safety and a back up kicker.

 

RB: Samaje Perine is the RB left that I am most excited about. He is a bruiser and will be a nice complement to Shady.

I dont think he will last till round 5 though (Lions should take him in round 4). Thinking out of the box- Karlos Williams had his best games backing up Shady. Yes he has off field concerns, but if he can rebound his best chance will probably be in Buffalo. He looks on Kyle as a mentor and we know his fiancee was literally begging for the Bills to Call. I think he can be had for a reasonable price and can be the explosive back up we need.

 

Tight End:

 

Bucky Hodges and Jordan Leggett are the two guys left that I am most excited about. At least one should be available in Round 5. Other wise, Tyler Bainridge as a free agent option appears to be feasible except I dont know if he can be had for under 1.5 million a season. I dont think we can pay more than that.

 

WILL:

 

the pickings on the free agent market are really slim here and this is probably our biggest draft need right now. The guy I am most excited about is Jalen Reeves Maybin (from Tennessee). I have seen him play and is almost the perfect WILL. I know we have to be careful drafting a player with that last name:) but this one will come in with far fewer expectations. Update: we picked Matt Milano (who appears a bit undersized - Stryker 2.0? and Vallejo? Little known fact about Milano: Jabrill Peppers modeled his linebacker skills after Milano. I still feel we need an upgrade here.

 

FS:

 

I would like to give Jairus Byrd a shot here. He is a free agent, his best years were as a Bill, his dad is a coach for us and he is (or was) a playmaker.

 

Kicker:

 

I havent really followed the kickers - so your guess is as good as mine.

 

And of course no draft is complete without a project QB. Bills did surprisingly well here - I thought Peterman would go by round 3 at the latest!

Edited April 29, 2017 by IgotBILLStopay

[yungmack]

Summarize please. Thanks.

[IgotBILLStopay]

Summarize please. Thanks.

Sorry I can get a bit wordy, cant I? Summary bolded above. Hope that works.