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Mitch Morse: 4th best center in NFL


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The NFL Wire has ranked the 11 best players at each position throughout the offense. A few players on the Buffalo Bills’ defense have made those lists. Now the offense is on the board.

 

Here’s why Doug Farrar says he landed Morse at four:

Morse’s injury history—he missed five games in 2018 and nine the year before—may be why the Chiefs decided to let him test the free-agent market. The Bills had no such qualms, signing the 2015 second-round pick and Missouri alum to a four-year, $44.5 million deal with $20.4 million guaranteed in March. The deal makes Morse one of the highest-paid center in the league, and he’s earned that designation. Last season, in 811 snaps, he allowed no sacks and five total pressures, and this sack of Patrick Mahomes wasn’t exactly his fault.

Morse is tall for a center at 6’6” and 305 pounds, but he manages to maintain power through the block with low pad level, optimal leg drive, and excellent overall technique. Even when he does get bent back by stronger interior defenders, he has the upper-body strength and flexibility to recover. In a running game that experienced a lot of transition after the Kareem Hunt fiasco, Morse was a stalwart in everything from taking on nose tackles head-up to moving outside the tackle on sweeps, and up to linebacker depth to hit his targets. The Chiefs may have saved a lot of money letting Morse go, but they’ll miss his talent.

 

 

https://billswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/26/buffalo-bills-mitch-morse-fourth-best-center-nfl/?fbclid=IwAR1GL57LfxwukEQMUB8qMag_0fSJR41OctxshlAT3dk4h1WC8xBJPKO3VTA

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2 hours ago, I am the egg man said:

I had to laugh when ESPN implied that his contract with the Bills is excessive for his worth.

I agree with you.  It's hard to identify a good offensive team that does not have a good center.  This will prove to be money well spent.  I have trouble with many ESPN evaluations of teams and individual players.  

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3 hours ago, I am the egg man said:

I had to laugh when ESPN implied that his contract with the Bills is excessive for his worth.


Indeed.

It's like these analysts forget over and over and over again that the salary cap is constantly rising and that players aren't the highest paid at their position for very long. Within two seasons, Morse won't even be in the top 3. 

Oh, and if the Bills are going to "overpay" for something, let it be someone who will directly impact the success of the quarterback to the degree that Morse will. If it helps Allen turn into a bona fide franchise QB, then it's money extremely well spent.

 

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31 minutes ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

I have trouble with many ESPN evaluations of teams and individual players.  

What made it a bit more silly is that Sammy Watkins didn't make their top 20 player "outlier" contracts.

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4 hours ago, I am the egg man said:

I had to laugh when ESPN implied that his contract with the Bills is excessive for his worth.

 

1 hour ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

I agree with you.  It's hard to identify a good offensive team that does not have a good center.  This will prove to be money well spent.  I have trouble with many ESPN evaluations of teams and individual players.  

 

He missed weeks 3-7 and 13-16 in 2017 and then weeks 7-11 last year and the Bills made him the highest paid center in the NFL.  It's really not beyond reason for someone ("ESPN" or otherwise--a guy on NFL.com said the same thing) to suggest they may have overpaid for Morse.

 

"Morse is due more than $28 million in the first two years of his contract, and only $16 million in the last two. So it's a front-loaded pact where any flexibility for Buffalo to leave the deal after two years will only come after paying Morse as the best center in football. To put it another way: Teams that can't develop their own linemen often pay double for it".

 

"The recent stretch of ex-Chiefs starters who have struggled away from Kansas City -- guys like Jeff Allen and Zach Fulton -- doesn't help Morse's case."

 

Hardly a radical take right there.......

 

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3 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said:

Hmmmm. He was ranked 15th last year and has not taken a snap in 2019 yet. Not sure how he went to #4. He is a massive upgrade over last year. Is he overpaid? We will found out this year.

i'm assuming you think there is one ranking system to rule them all?

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2 hours ago, NewDayBills said:

Yes, we did overpay. Had we not, we may not of had Oliver, Ford or Singletary. Not signing Morse would have thrown a wrench into our entire draft process. 

 

We definitely would have had Oliver.  We aren't passing on Kyle Williams replacement and a special talent like Oliver for a center.

I can see Ford and Singletary though.  But at the same time, I think Spencer Long would have been our starting center if we didn't get Morse.  

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7 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

Hardly a radical take right there.......

Same ones pot shotting Morse's signing surely were trashing McBeane for the O-line they put on the field last year too, I'd bet. They'd likely be ripping on them for not making a move at center if they stood pat.

 

Too many in that "profession" are of a damn if you do or damn if you don't ilk.

 

They're irrelevant to the game. They belong in here with us.

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6 minutes ago, I am the egg man said:

Same ones pot shotting Morse's signing surely were trashing McBeane for the O-line they put on the field last year too, I'd bet. They'd likely be ripping on them for not making a move at center if they stood pat.

 

Too many in that "profession" are of a damn if you do or damn if you don't ilk.

 

They're irrelevant to the game. They belong in here with us.

 

 

So you're saying any questioning of signing him as the most expensive Center in the NFL given his recent injury history cannot be justified?  All doubts expressed are simply "pot shotting"?

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8 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

He missed weeks 3-7 and 13-16 in 2017 and then weeks 7-11 last year and the Bills made him the highest paid center in the NFL.  It's really not beyond reason for someone ("ESPN" or otherwise--a guy on NFL.com said the same thing) to suggest they may have overpaid for Morse.

 

"Morse is due more than $28 million in the first two years of his contract, and only $16 million in the last two. So it's a front-loaded pact where any flexibility for Buffalo to leave the deal after two years will only come after paying Morse as the best center in football. To put it another way: Teams that can't develop their own linemen often pay double for it".

 

"The recent stretch of ex-Chiefs starters who have struggled away from Kansas City -- guys like Jeff Allen and Zach Fulton -- doesn't help Morse's case."

 

Hardly a radical take right there.......

 

  He's missed less time the past 2 seasons than Beckham has.  And you said it wasn't an issue for Beckham.

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7 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

He missed weeks 3-7 and 13-16 in 2017 and then weeks 7-11 last year and the Bills made him the highest paid center in the NFL.  It's really not beyond reason for someone ("ESPN" or otherwise--a guy on NFL.com said the same thing) to suggest they may have overpaid for Morse.

 

"Morse is due more than $28 million in the first two years of his contract, and only $16 million in the last two. So it's a front-loaded pact where any flexibility for Buffalo to leave the deal after two years will only come after paying Morse as the best center in football. To put it another way: Teams that can't develop their own linemen often pay double for it".

 

"The recent stretch of ex-Chiefs starters who have struggled away from Kansas City -- guys like Jeff Allen and Zach Fulton -- doesn't help Morse's case."

 

Hardly a radical take right there.......

 

Injuries are part of the game, no doubt.  When you look at his play, he was very good.  He was the best option available and was being courted by other teams.  Putting a rookie center in front of Allen was not an option that the team was ready to accept.  The Bills paid what was necessary to make the signing, unless you feel that the Bills just threw extra money at him out of the goodness of their heart.  As far as not being able to develop their own, we should not forget that this is all the result of a rather unexpected career ending injury.  Front loading the money when the team had a lot of cap space was probably a decent strategic decision and it was likely necessary to close the deal.  High profile free agents, that have multiple options, are going to have a higher price and more favorable terms.

 

Time will tell whether or not he is worth the money.  I put more faith in the real football people that evaluate players and make these decisions instead of sports writers who base their opinions more subjectively.  If you want to place more credence on the sports writers, that is your right.

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26 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

  He's missed less time the past 2 seasons than Beckham has.  And you said it wasn't an issue for Beckham.

 

 

Beckham broke his ankle in 2017.  After surgery, he came back in 2018 and had 77 catches and over 1000 yards before quad injury.  Not an issue.

 

He's a top 5 playmaker in this League.  Morse may be a top 10 Center.  

14 minutes ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

Injuries are part of the game, no doubt.  When you look at his play, he was very good.  He was the best option available and was being courted by other teams.  Putting a rookie center in front of Allen was not an option that the team was ready to accept.  The Bills paid what was necessary to make the signing, unless you feel that the Bills just threw extra money at him out of the goodness of their heart.  As far as not being able to develop their own, we should not forget that this is all the result of a rather unexpected career ending injury.  Front loading the money when the team had a lot of cap space was probably a decent strategic decision and it was likely necessary to close the deal.  High profile free agents, that have multiple options, are going to have a higher price and more favorable terms.

 

Time will tell whether or not he is worth the money.  I put more faith in the real football people that evaluate players and make these decisions instead of sports writers who base their opinions more subjectively.  If you want to place more credence on the sports writers, that is your right.

 

 

Well we all see how that works out every year don't we?

 

Anyway go back and read my posts.  I'm not remotely suggesting that we "place more credence on the sports writers".   

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6 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

Beckham broke his ankle in 2017.  After surgery, he came back in 2018 and had 77 catches and over 1000 yards before quad injury.  Not an issue.

 

He's a top 5 playmaker in this League.  Morse may be a top 10 Center. 

 

Getting injured 2 years in a row isn't an issue for Beckham, but is for Morse.  OK.

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3 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Getting injured 2 years in a row isn't an issue for Beckham, but is for Morse.  OK.

 

 

OBJ broke his ankle and it's been successfully surgically repaired.  Had some probably bogus quad injury at the tail end of last year while angling to get out of NYG.

 

Morse missed 4 games with a foot sprain in 2017, came back later in the season and then reinsured the foot and missed 5 games on IR.  

 

Morse missed 3 games in his rookie season due to concussions in weeks 12 and 17.  Last season, he missed 5 more games.........due to yet another concussion.  His risk of another concussion, given his previous ones, has tripled.

 

What part of this comparison are you really struggling with?

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11 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

OBJ broke his ankle and it's been successfully surgically repaired.  Had some probably bogus quad injury at the tail end of last year while angling to get out of NYG.

 

Morse missed 4 games with a foot sprain in 2017, came back later in the season and then reinsured the foot and missed 5 games on IR.  

 

Morse missed 3 games in his rookie season due to concussions in weeks 12 and 17.  Last season, he missed 5 more games.........due to yet another concussion.  His risk of another concussion, given his previous ones, has tripled.

 

What part of this comparison are you really struggling with?

 

Oh so it was "probably some bogus quad injury" he used because he was angling to get out of NYC.  Good one. 

 

As for Morse's risk, it's not an issue until it becomes one.  I doubt he'll get cheap-shotted and land on his head again anymore than Beckham will break his ankle or fake a quad injury trying to get out of Cleveland.

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4 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Oh so it was "probably some bogus quad injury" he used because he was angling to get out of NYC.  Good one. 

 

As for Morse's risk, it's not an issue until it becomes one.  I doubt he'll get cheap-shotted and land on his head again anymore than Beckham will break his ankle or fake a quad injury trying to get out of Cleveland.

 

Morse risk is what it is right now.  It won't (and didn't) take a cheap shot to get concussed again.  His risk of another concussion is certainly more than Beckham refracturing his ankle (lol what are you talking about?!).  Given his previous 3 (in the NFL at least) concussions, he is at least 3 times as likely suffer more.  

 

Do you really think he (or any player) would have to "land on his head" to suffer a concussion?  Scary medicine from the doc....

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3 hours ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

Injuries are part of the game, no doubt.  When you look at his play, he was very good.  He was the best option available and was being courted by other teams.  Putting a rookie center in front of Allen was not an option that the team was ready to accept.  The Bills paid what was necessary to make the signing, unless you feel that the Bills just threw extra money at him out of the goodness of their heart.  As far as not being able to develop their own, we should not forget that this is all the result of a rather unexpected career ending injury.  Front loading the money when the team had a lot of cap space was probably a decent strategic decision and it was likely necessary to close the deal.  High profile free agents, that have multiple options, are going to have a higher price and more favorable terms.

 

Time will tell whether or not he is worth the money.  I put more faith in the real football people that evaluate players and make these decisions instead of sports writers who base their opinions more subjectively.  If you want to place more credence on the sports writers, that is your right.

Gosh, that's a reasonable take. 

 

How dare you?!

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Concussions are a concern. But to be perfectly honest other than Kelce I can't think of a centre I would as definitively "better" than Morse. He is in the top half dozen to my mind and after Kelce at #1 I can take an argument as to how you slot the others in behind. 

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8 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

Morse risk is what it is right now.  It won't (and didn't) take a cheap shot to get concussed again.  His risk of another concussion is certainly more than Beckham refracturing his ankle (lol what are you talking about?!).  Given his previous 3 (in the NFL at least) concussions, he is at least 3 times as likely suffer more.  

 

Do you really think he (or any player) would have to "land on his head" to suffer a concussion?  Scary medicine from the doc....

 

Every player is at risk of getting injured.  But, your histrionics are duly noted. 

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10 hours ago, Doc said:

 

Getting injured 2 years in a row isn't an issue for Beckham, but is for Morse.  OK.

So you won’t be more worried about a C with head injuries more likely to get injured than a WR? Morse is a good player but there is definitely some risk with his contract. He literally is bashing heads on every play.  

5 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

Concussions are a concern. But to be perfectly honest other than Kelce I can't think of a centre I would as definitively "better" than Morse. He is in the top half dozen to my mind and after Kelce at #1 I can take an argument as to how you slot the others in behind. 

You spelled center wrong. ?

10 hours ago, Florida Bills Fanatic said:

Injuries are part of the game, no doubt.  When you look at his play, he was very good.  He was the best option available and was being courted by other teams.  Putting a rookie center in front of Allen was not an option that the team was ready to accept.  The Bills paid what was necessary to make the signing, unless you feel that the Bills just threw extra money at him out of the goodness of their heart.  As far as not being able to develop their own, we should not forget that this is all the result of a rather unexpected career ending injury.  Front loading the money when the team had a lot of cap space was probably a decent strategic decision and it was likely necessary to close the deal.  High profile free agents, that have multiple options, are going to have a higher price and more favorable terms.

 

Time will tell whether or not he is worth the money.  I put more faith in the real football people that evaluate players and make these decisions instead of sports writers who base their opinions more subjectively.  If you want to place more credence on the sports writers, that is your right.

It was a solid post until this part.  Football “people” are wrong all the time.  Most of them are physical education majors.  Blindly trusting football people is kinda silly.

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1 hour ago, Doc said:

 

Every player is at risk of getting injured.  But, your histrionics are duly noted. 

 

Including settled medical opinion is now histrionics?

 

Just answer my question:  in order to be re-concussed, does Morse have to land on his head?  Will you're scratching your noggin over that one, is he more likely to suffer another concussion?  Less?  The same?

 

 

 

22 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

So you won’t be more worried about a C with head injuries more likely to get injured than a WR? Morse is a good player but there is definitely some risk with his contract. He literally is bashing heads on every play.  

You spelled center wrong. ?

It was a solid post until this part.  Football “people” are wrong all the time.  Most of them are physical education majors.  Blindly trusting football people is kinda silly.

 

 

Exactly.  Studies have shown that "low speed" players (O and D linemen) are more likely to suffer brain injury than speed players (WR, RB).

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50 minutes ago, C.Biscuit97 said:

So you won’t be more worried about a C with head injuries more likely to get injured than a WR? Morse is a good player but there is definitely some risk with his contract. He literally is bashing heads on every play.  

 

Why should I worry?  It’s a violent game and injures happen.  I would no more worry about him getting injured than, say, Allen. 

 

23 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

Including settled medical opinion is now histrionics?

 

Just answer my question:  in order to be re-concussed, does Morse have to land on his head?  Will you're scratching your noggin over that one, is he more likely to suffer another concussion?  Less?  The same?

 

It took him landing on his head to suffer another concussion 3 years after his first.  Again like I said above, no reason for extra worry just based on the chance he might suffer a concussion versus the chance any player has of suffering an injury playing a violent sport. 

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47 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Exactly.  Studies have shown that "low speed" players (O and D linemen) are more likely to suffer brain injury than speed players (WR, RB).

Do you have links to these studies? Thanks in advance.

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he needs to become an ironman. put a different helmet on him or something to stop the concussions. 

 

the foot injury from 07...does anyone know if he had surgery on it? he didn't injure it last year so that seems like a good sign. 

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1 hour ago, Doc said:

 

Why should I worry?  It’s a violent game and injures happen.  I would no more worry about him getting injured than, say, Allen. 

 

 

It took him landing on his head to suffer another concussion 3 years after his first.  Again like I said above, no reason for extra worry just based on the chance he might suffer a concussion versus the chance any player has of suffering an injury playing a violent sport. 

 

So you don't believe the evidence regarding his increased risk of concussion ("injury")?  Just answer the simple question.

 

Or the previous one: does he have to land on the ground with his head to get another concussion?  The increased risk would naturally lead to increased worry. 

 

Equating his risk of another concussion with OBJ's risk of refracturing the same ankle was worth a chuckle, though.  SO is your current "it's a violent game, everyone is at equal risk of getting injured at all times".

 

 

 

53 minutes ago, MJS said:

Do you have links to these studies? Thanks in advance.

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4628259/

 

https://thebiglead.com/2017/10/31/linemen-are-more-prone-to-cte-than-skill-position-players-nfl-study-concludes/

 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171031084827.htm

 

and many others citing the same evidence and the NFL funded study.

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53 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

So you don't believe the evidence regarding his increased risk of concussion ("injury")?  Just answer the simple question.

 

Or the previous one: does he have to land on the ground with his head to get another concussion?  The increased risk would naturally lead to increased worry. 

 

Equating his risk of another concussion with OBJ's risk of refracturing the same ankle was worth a chuckle, though.  SO is your current "it's a violent game, everyone is at equal risk of getting injured at all times".

 

Yes he has an increased risk of getting another concussion.  But OK, go ahead and worry a bit more.  I’ll wait to worry if/when he gets another one. 

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A great Center is the General of the offensive line. I will bet you there will be very few penalties and much more protection for Josh Allen.

Eric Woods didn't receive a lot of love but you never know what you got till its gone.

KC will miss him for sure.....

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