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Bills sign C Spencer Long to 3 year deal


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here's his combine / draft scouting report from NFL.com

 

OVERVIEW

Native Nebraskan. Walked on and redshirted in 2009. Did not see action in '10. Stepped into the lineup in '11, starting all 13 games at right guard. Played through a torn right meniscus in '12, starting all 14 games at RG. In '13, started the first six games at RG before tearing his right MCL against Purdue and undergoing season-ending surgery and did not work out at the NFL Scouting Combine because of it (medical exclusion). Elected not to lift at the combine because of an appendectomy. Team captain.

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS

 Very solidly built with a good frame. Good leg drive -- can create a push in the run game and position-sustain. Solid in pass protection -- good anchor, shadow and mirror. Good base and balance -- controls and steers defenders. Flashes some nastiness. Intense, competitive battler. Smart and instinctive. Lunchpail worker will do a lot of extras and is very ambitious and driven to succeed. Excellent weight-room strength -- can squat a small house. Good versatility -- has played inside and outside. Very tough and played much of final two seasons through knee injuries. Possessed the biggest hands of any offensive lineman at the combine.

WEAKNESSES

 Average athlete. Is tight-ankled and heavy-legged -- lumbers to the second level. Struggled with the quickness of Minnesota's Ra'shede Hageman (though he was noticeably playing through a knee injury that required surgery and forced him to miss the rest of the season after leaving the Minnesota game). Labors to cut off the inside rush. Struggles to adjust and pick off linebackers and is not efficient pulling and trapping.

DRAFT PROJECTION

 Rounds 3-4

BOTTOM LINE

 Big, tough, physical, ornery blocker with starter-quality positional traits and intangible qualities. Is best in a phone booth, where he excels as a run and pass blocker, and is smart and savvy enough to contribute outside in emergency situations.
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8 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

May or may not have anything to do with Paradis or any other Center. They may have signed him to replace Groy and compete for a G position with versatility to back up at C. I agree 3 years says starter more than backup, but that’s not too surprising since he’s always been a starter. 

 

At 3 years up to 15 mil? I don't think so.

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25 minutes ago, gonzo1105 said:

The Bills depth on the offensive line is terrible. As it sits right now, the Bills are starting Russell Bodine, Vlad Ducasse, Jeremiah Sirles, Dawkins, and Teller with Ike Boettgger and Conner McDermott as the primary backups. It is straight up pathetic.

 

My guess is the Bills will try him at Center and if he can't handle it they will use him as a swing Center and Guard backup because they do need some former starting depth as well as starters.

I think you are absolutely correct.  He will be the 2019 version of Groy as the primary backup for center and guard.  The details of the contract will tell us a lot.

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Just now, ndirish1978 said:

He's the swing IOL who will be offered a chance to compete to start. Not enough money to pencil him in as a starter. He was making 27M on a 4 yr deal with the Jets.

 

He is our new Groy. Solid in a pinch at G or C. My guess is he'll be competing with a rookie C. There are a few good ones coming out that can be had in rounds 2 and 3.

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1 minute ago, ndirish1978 said:

He's the swing IOL who will be offered a chance to compete to start. Not enough money to pencil him in as a starter. He was making 27M on a 4 yr deal with the Jets.

 

I see.  That gives this signing some perspective.  

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1 minute ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

I think you are absolutely correct.  He will be the 2019 version of Groy as the primary backup for center and guard.  The details of the contract will tell us a lot.

I think Groy was supposed to start at G and backup at C but was never able to solidify that so made him the 6th man

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2 minutes ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

I think you are absolutely correct.  He will be the 2019 version of Groy as the primary backup for center and guard.  The details of the contract will tell us a lot.

There is no reason that Long would not start at G immediately as of now, depending on who else is signed and drafted 

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7 minutes ago, LSHMEAB said:

Holy crap! This appears to be an AWFUL signing. What do we need to do, bring in an offensive consultant? Man o man. They gotta do better than this.

Sorry I just asked this question and then I saw this......it sounds like swing OL potential OG starter money to me......

 

Just for reference.....we did NOT have average OG play last year from the RG position.   I am thinking we match this with a OL in the draft.

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5 minutes ago, FeelingOnYouboty said:

 

He's not good and the fact that Beane just paid him 3 years/13M is awful. YUCK!

Sounds like he was pretty good in Washington actually. Then he had one rough half-season with the Jets before moving back to guard and fairing okay.

 

Played Right Guard in college by the way which suits us perfectly...

Edited by 2018 Our Year For Sure
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Meh.  He's probably the equal of Bodine.  He's a bit younger though.  He'll replace either Bodine or Groy on the roster.  I think the Bills are looking to draft a young center, and Long could start if the youngster needs a little time to acclimate to the NFL.

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46 minutes ago, blacklabel said:

44 starts in a 53 game career, only ended up a FA due to coaching changes. This will be the end here for Groy. Long and Bodine compete for the starting center gig. 

 

I feel faint at the thought of such quality going at it..

 

No doubt Josh will feel the same 

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12 minutes ago, LSHMEAB said:

Holy crap! This appears to be an AWFUL signing. What do we need to do, bring in an offensive consultant? Man o man. They gotta do better than this.

 

If they are getting the healthy 2017 Spencer Long it's a steal in the current Market...

 

If they get the guy that struggled through injury with the Jets last year it's a bit too much...?

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1 minute ago, 2018 Our Year For Sure said:

Sounds like he was pretty good in Washington actually. Then he had one rough half-season with the Jets playing a new position.

 

Played Right Guard in college by the way which suits us perfectly...

 

3 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

There is no reason that Long would not start at G immediately as of now, depending on who else is signed and drafted 

 

Agreed. I would plug him in as the starting right guard right now. Let him play where he is comfortable and where he played in college. Outside of Saffold, Foster, Quinton Spain and maybe AJ Cann, there is not much better on the market at guard. Long is probably similar in value to Cann. Long makes sense because he offers them options and leverage. If they can't sign Morse, then they can chase a guard and leave Long at center. 

 

29 minutes ago, Patriot Killa said:

 

Yes he is a zone player lol.

 

He was at his best in man schemes under Bill Callahan in Washington. Sure he can play in a zone, but he's no good there. It's why Gase got rid of him and I think Gase is going to go all in on Matt Paradis. 

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2 minutes ago, TigerJ said:

Meh.  He's probably the equal of Bodine.  He's a bit younger though.  He'll replace either Bodine or Groy on the roster.  I think the Bills are looking to draft a young center, and Long could start if the youngster needs a little time to acclimate to the NFL.

 

Long is 29 and Bodine is 27.

 

What?

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