The Bills need to keep Duke Williams

[Mrbojanglezs]

51 minutes ago, GreggTX said:

Foster is gone, I'd guess. McCloud is probably gone too. As far as Williams goes, he's had a decent preseason, but he's had several shots at the NFL and did not impress. I don't expect anything from him this year, but I'll hope to be pleasantly surprised.

 

Several? Wasn't he only with the Rams? 

[Hebert19]

I think fosters spot on roster is a given.  He's not getting much time because he and Allen are already on same page...imo.  

 

Zay may be gone at this point as he's clearly the worst if the guys not named brown and Beasley. 

[Boca BIlls]

3 hours ago, Don Otreply said:

That’s right, I forgot, the entire league goes through preseason for no reason whatsoever, thanks for clearing that up for all of us. Your a bloody genius. ?

 

Go Bills!!!

You can't see it half the league hasn't even played the starters yet. Coaches saying they would rather have joint practices.

 

You are sitting here trying to make a joke to me yet it's the league saying preseason is meaningless. Your little comment backfired.

Edited August 24, 2019 by Boca BIlls

[John from Riverside]

3 hours ago, transplantbillsfan said:

 

Was it McKenzie with the fumble problems last year or Ray Ray?

 

I think I permanently blocked out the game one of them basically lost us on that fumbled punt.

 

Completely agree.

 

I prefer keeping either Roberts or McKenzie, not both.

I think we should keep both Roberts and McKenzie

 

Put McCloud on the PS

 

Trade Zay Jones for whatever we can get......he should be better then he is at this point....frankly I expected him to tear up this training camp and pre season.....he isnt

 

Keep Duke.....who does not drop footballs

[transplantbillsfan]

15 minutes ago, Boca BIlls said:

You can't see it half the league hasn't even played the starters yet. Coaches saying they would rather have joint practices.

 

You are sitting here trying to make a joke to me yet it's the league saying preseason is meaningless. Your little comment backfired.

 

They aren’ t playing starters largely to make sure they don’t get hurt.

 

That doesn’t mean they aren’t using preseason games as an assessment tool for the depth players.

[Lurker]

5 hours ago, Logic said:

 He could be a red zone specialist, that sort of thing. 

 

Let me start off by saying, I was not a fan of Williams when camp opened.   However, I've been impressed with his play the last two weeks and do indeed think he could make a fine red zone specialist.   

 

I doubt he'll ever get much separation on NFL dbs, but if he can continue to overwhelm them physically (sadly, the new PI rules may make this harder), that's a valuable role on a team with a bunch of smurfs and unsettled TE play.

 

And if it helps send ZJ packing, all the better...

 

 

[Don Otreply]

16 minutes ago, Boca BIlls said:

You can't see it half the league hasn't even played the starters yet. Coaches saying they would rather have joint practices.

 

You are sitting here trying to make a joke to me yet it's the league saying preseason is meaningless. Your little comment backfired.

Not so, this red herring argument of usefulness is not but Employee/management compensation negotiation, having not to do with usefulness, to think otherwise is just silly. I believe you realize this.

 

Go Bills!!!

 

 

[TPS]

It seems another wild card in this discussion is who will be the gunners on ST?  McD was talking up Zay during the week, and Foster had some reps last night. 

If they decide to keep 7 WRs, then a guy like S. Perry is most likely gone.  I can’t see McD weakening STs to keep 7 unless one of those 2 guys proves they can do it. 

[ganesh]

10 hours ago, LOVEMESOMEBILLS said:

3 games, 6 catches for 53 yards, what am I missing? Maybe a good redzone target, but outside of the redzone he's not getting open against 3rd & 4th string players. Take last night for example, he had a great 16 yard TD catch over a much smaller defender, his other 2 catches netted -1 yards. He's had 2 good catches in 3 games and people are blown away by that performance, I don't get it.

He has also not had the opportunity to work with the 1st and 2nd team offense.  Tyree Jackson is NOT an NFL QB

[Commish]

For those who like to read tea leaves, Duke Williams is featured in an official Bills video recently uploaded. Doubt the PR department would allow this to happen to someone who's slated to be cut...

 

https://www.buffalobills.com/video/duke-williams-it-all-starts-with-practice

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

On 8/24/2019 at 6:02 AM, Rad Likes The Bills said:

Which is exactly what happened. He was getting first team reps because he performed. And based off the past two games he’s making the most of his opportunity. He reminds me of Alshon Jeffery 

 

Except AJ averages more yard per season in the NFL than DW in the cfl. 

 

Is it because they both have last names that sound like first names? I see that similarity for sure. 

 

Duke can high high point the ball for sure, I think his athleticism just quite isn’t there. 

 

I guess we all can agree locks are:

 

Brown 

Beasley

Roberts 

 

all the rest may be at risk of the 53 cut down or getting displaced by another cut.  

Edited August 25, 2019 by Over 29 years of fanhood

[The Jokeman]

22 hours ago, GreggTX said:

Foster is gone, I'd guess. McCloud is probably gone too. As far as Williams goes, he's had a decent preseason, but he's had several shots at the NFL and did not impress. I don't expect anything from him this year, but I'll hope to be pleasantly surprised.

McCloud will likely serve on the practice squad again, Foster is a tough call as understand he's been invisible this preseason but he and Josh really had things going well last season down the stretch and with his size/speed/age/salary it's hard giving up on him. 

[RyanC883]

On 8/24/2019 at 5:01 AM, GunnerBill said:

I honestly think Foster is in trouble. He has hardly played on offense through three games and yet was out there on Special Teams. 

 

I don't get what's going on with Foster.   He was lighting it up last year.  Perhaps he performs in games and not practice and isn't seeing the field.  

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

...a very telling statement BUT not sure how much validity it still holds...McBeane was quoted (sorry, have to paraphrase) saying, "the signing of Duke Williams negated the need to draft a WR as a top priority"...sounds like pretty high hopes IMO....FWIW......

[HappyDays]

 

So Zay is in competition now? Interesting.

[dave mcbride]

I don’t have a good feeling at all about Foster. I really think that 2 snaps is not a good sign, especially when all of the other starters saw a lot more. 

[Mrbojanglezs]

8 minutes ago, dave mcbride said:

I don’t have a good feeling at all about Foster. I really think that 2 snaps is not a good sign, especially when all of the other starters saw a lot more. 

 

I thought he was hurt. Wasn't he icing his foot just a few days ago? 

[dave mcbride]

1 minute ago, Mrbojanglezs said:

 

I thought he was hurt. Wasn't he icing his foot just a few days ago? 

I don’t know, honestly. Maybe that’s it, but if he was hurt, wouldn’t he be inactive rather than playing 2 snaps?

[Houston's #1 Bills Fan]

2 hours ago, Roch-A-Bill said:

For those who like to read tea leaves, Duke Williams is featured in an official Bills video recently uploaded. Doubt the PR department would allow this to happen to someone who's slated to be cut...

 

https://www.buffalobills.com/video/duke-williams-it-all-starts-with-practice

HAHAHAHAHAHA...Yeah, I'm sure the PR department is checking with McBeane and saying, "We got this great video to show you" and McBeane doing a slow, stealthy, head shake saying, "yeah, about that....." 

[Nicabills321]

I would very much enjoy watching the types of t.d. catches Williams made the past two games in regular season games.  Someone earlier brought up: "when was the last time you remember seeing a catch like that from a bills w.r.?" 

[Rocky Landing]

On 8/24/2019 at 2:29 AM, Boca BIlls said:

Preseason... They shouldn't keep a guy b.c of preseason. If his practices went well he would have moved up the depth chart.

Are you saying his practice time didn't go well? I don't recall any reports suggesting that.

[Bangarang]

9 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

Are you saying his practice time didn't go well? I don't recall any reports suggesting that.

 

He was invisible for pretty much all of training camp..

[Warcodered]

23 minutes ago, Bangarang said:

 

He was invisible for pretty much all of training camp..

He had Tyree Jackson throwing to him for most of training camp and I'm not sure how much the media covers WR who block well in training camp.

[Bangarang]

7 minutes ago, Warcodered said:

He had Tyree Jackson throwing to him for most of training camp and I'm not sure how much the media covers WR who block well in training camp.

 

He had opportunities during 1v1 reps where both Allen and Barkley were throwing to him as well. 

 

A WR’s main job is to get open and catch the ball. That’s what we were all hoping to see a lot more of. Having a few catches during preseason and being a capable blocker shouldn’t make you must have player on the 53. There are guys every year who show out during preseason and these same guys are looking for work come September. Williams is a fringe roster guy at best and certainly isn’t a must have.

Edited August 26, 2019 by Bangarang

[Rocky Landing]

1 hour ago, Bangarang said:

 

He was invisible for pretty much all of training camp..

That's really a meaningless statement. In reality, he did what he was told, participated in all the drills he was given, and pretty much caught everything thrown in his direction. If he's not put in with the first team, there isn't going to be a lot of reporting on him. Lack of reporting does not equate with "invisible." If he was "invisible," he wouldn't have been given the opportunity he was just given in the last game-- and opportunity he capitalized on.

[NewEra]

He brings a dimension that we currently don’t have.  He adds an additional route to our arsenal.  Of the WRs likely to make the team, Zay is the biggest (other than duke) and I don’t trust him to make Dukes last 2 TDs.  I say we keep 7

[Bangarang]

8 hours ago, Rocky Landing said:

That's really a meaningless statement. In reality, he did what he was told, participated in all the drills he was given, and pretty much caught everything thrown in his direction. If he's not put in with the first team, there isn't going to be a lot of reporting on him. Lack of reporting does not equate with "invisible." If he was "invisible," he wouldn't have been given the opportunity he was just given in the last game-- and opportunity he capitalized on.

 

You don’t know what he was told to do. There are no participation trophies or attendance awards in the NFL. There are also people who go to training camp (me) and don’t have to rely on reports from others to have an opinion about what’s happening on the field.

 

I get it though, for whatever reason this guy was hyped to the moon during the off-season and now people are using a few  ordinary plays in preseason games to justify that hype. Maybe he ends up making the roster, it’s possible. I just think it’s silly to say we need to keep him.

 

Edited August 26, 2019 by Bangarang

[buffaloboyinATL]

7 hours ago, NewEra said:

He brings a dimension that we currently don’t have.  He adds an additional route to our arsenal.  Of the WRs likely to make the team, Zay is the biggest (other than duke) and I don’t trust him to make Dukes last 2 TDs.  I say we keep 7

A preseason like this one makes me wish they would increase the active roster size by 2-3 more.  And don’t even get me started on game day inactives. Ridiculous.

[One Buffalo]

Cover 1 has highlighted some of his blocking work on run plays, which some have mentioned up-thread.  This is a hidden value that should not be discounted.  Not standalone of course, but coupled with the red-zone weapon value, he might just make the team.  Coaches have some tough decisions to make for sure (good problem to have).

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rocky Landing]

25 minutes ago, Bangarang said:

 

You don’t know what he was told to do. There are no participation trophies or attendance awards in the NFL. There are also people who go to training camp (me) and don’t have to rely on reports from others to have an opinion about what’s happening on the field.

 

I get it though, for whatever reason this guy was hyped to the moon during the off-season and now people are using a few  ordinary plays in preseason games to justify that hype. Maybe he ends up making the roster, it’s possible. I just think it’s silly to say we need to keep him.

 

I do know that he was told to go out on the field more than any other wide receiver on the roster in game three. And while I certainly didn't go to any of the practices that fans were allowed to attend, I can say that Astro reported on Williams every time. (I believe Astro is a fan of D'haquille's, as well.) If it's silly to say we should keep him, it's sillier to say he was invisible.

[BillsFan17]

Similar to when Justin Hunter, I like what Duke brings to the table, but does he have a well enough rounded game to succeed against other teams top starters?

 

 

I'd like to hold onto Duke, but also dont think I'd be crushed if we held onto someone else e.g. McKenzie 

[Bangarang]

7 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

I do know that he was told to go out on the field more than any other wide receiver on the roster in game three.

 

This is is what you want to hang your hat on? Pretty weak.

 

Quote

And while I certainly didn't go to any of the practices that fans were allowed to attend, I can say that Astro reported on Williams every time. (I believe Astro is a fan of D'haquille's, as well.) If it's silly to say we should keep him, it's sillier to say he was invisible.

 

I was probably blindfolded for all those practices anyway.

[PetermansRedemption]

12 minutes ago, One Buffalo said:

Cover 1 has highlighted some of his blocking work on run plays, which some have mentioned up-thread.  This is a hidden value that should not be discounted.  Not standalone of course, but coupled with the red-zone weapon value, he might just make the team.  Coaches have some tough decisions to make for sure (good problem to have).

 

 

 

 

 

 

That first block is even more impressive because he was being illegally hit back. Easy call of illegal hands to the face on the cornerback. 

[Royale with Cheese]

I didn’t think he had a chance 3 weeks ago.

Now I’m confident he makes it.

[Stank_Nasty]

Has anyone put this up anywhere yet? 

 

PFF run blocking grades from #BUFvsDET:

1) Duke Williams 89.3
2) Dawson Knox 78.5
3) Wyatt Teller 73.4
4) Dion Dawkins 68.1
5) Spencer Long 66.2

[Forward Progress]

Duke is looking like the receiver that Kelvin Benjamin was supposed to be for us - not great speed, but big, strong and wins contested catches.  Benjamin had checked out before he got here and didn't come close to meeting expectations, but still got all of the #1 snaps for the first half of the season.

 

You know the arrow is pointing up when the guy fighting for the #6 WR spot on the team is playing better than the #1 guy the same time last year.

Edited August 26, 2019 by Forward Progress

[NewEra]

1 hour ago, buffaloboyinATL said:

A preseason like this one makes me wish they would increase the active roster size by 2-3 more.  And don’t even get me started on game day inactives. Ridiculous.

No doubt about it.  Ridiculous.  I wonder what  the real reason behind them not expanding roster is? The owners not wanting to spend the money on the salaries?  They yap about player safety and make changes to the game rules.....why would they not increase the rosters?

[Rocky Landing]

1 hour ago, Bangarang said:

 

This is is what you want to hang your hat on? Pretty weak.

 

 

I was probably blindfolded for all those practices anyway.

Or drunk! 

[muppy]

haha well my snarky take is The Bills can Always use another Williams on the roster ? My rational take is the guy has height advantage over other potential receiver candidates and has shown he can make plays in the endzone I think he has earned a roster spot..

[stosh64]

When is the last time we have seen a Buffalo receiver do this?

And he doesn't seem to take plays off like so many recent WR's we have had.

The man works.

We need to keep him.