mushypeaches Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Seeing full well the escalation of COVID and its random impacts on NFL teams and schedules, first I'm glad that the Bills have been diligent with protocols, and have been proactive with isolating one of their QB's (Fromm) all season. Not that he would have done great in a situation like the Broncos just went through on Sunday, but you get the picture. At what point would it seem prudent to sign a reserve place-kicker and stash him on the Practice Squad for this type of insurance? With 15 spots on the PS, it's not like we're really hurting the team by devoting one to an emergency kicker. But I'd certainly rather have one going into the playoffs than be forced to scramble or heaven forbid, cost us a game if Bass can't play. I think it's the next step of being sufficiently prepared and ready - and maybe ahead of the curve if other playoff-bound teams are also thinking this way. C'mon Beane - get'r done! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2o Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Duke Williams does not approve this message. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Speaking of roster moves, did the Bills fill either of the slots yesterday caused by the move of Ford and Brown to IR? I'm assuming they'd keep one open for next week when Milano returns, but was wondering if they did fill the other one. Didn't specifically hear anything?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_In_NH Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 The fact it takes many days to get a player on boarded/through covid protocols before they can be on a roster, this is not a bad idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Hindsight Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I wouldn't be opposed to having a reserve kicker, but its more likely you can get through a game without a kicker/punter/LS than say a QB. Just go for two and squib kick with whoever volunteers. It won't be pretty, but it wouldn't be a disaster 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beast Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 That is actually not a bad idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Stampede Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Kicking should be banned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeding Bills Blue Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Captain Hindsight said: I wouldn't be opposed to having a reserve kicker, but its more likely you can get through a game without a kicker/punter/LS than say a QB. Just go for two and squib kick with whoever volunteers. It won't be pretty, but it wouldn't be a disaster There's definitely a guy on the team who has punted or kicked at some point in their lifetime. Not well, but has done it. The problem is likely that all 3 of these guys would likely hit the reserve list - so now you need a guy to snap it, a guy to punt/kick and a guy to hold it. My guess - centers already do a bit of long snapping drills. The punter and kicker both practice a little bit of doing both. and someone like hyde who's just good at stuff would be your fill in. 10 minutes ago, Captain Hindsight said: I wouldn't be opposed to having a reserve kicker, but its more likely you can get through a game without a kicker/punter/LS than say a QB. Just go for two and squib kick with whoever volunteers. It won't be pretty, but it wouldn't be a disaster Agreed. No QB = no points. No kicker means no field goals/extra points. No punter means go for it when its close, and or line up and have allen punt out of a deep shotgun. Every center can probably snap them long, the consistency is the big problem. Edited November 30, 2020 by dneveu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwhit34 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I think it's a good idea first guy that came to mind was Kaare Vedvik since he can punt and place kick but alas Washington FT has him on practice squad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4BillsintheBurgh Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I think for the playoffs that's a good idea. Beane probably has a list of guys that they would try out, maybe add one after week 16? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YattaOkasan Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Why does any of that unit need to interact with the rest of the team (hell can almost stay away from each other too)? From that perspective i think the likelihood of losing a kicking unit be low whereas QBs share a room together and interact with other team members. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I think there are enough washed-up vets out there that the Bills could probably sign one very quickly. You wonder if they have even told Haush$ to be on call in the event they need to sign someone? I wonder if having more QB's in quarantine would be wise. I don't feel great that our quarantine QB is Fromm. You would think Kyle Orton-- who lives for this--would agree to sign with a team to be stashed away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan in Cleveland Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Not a bad idea and probably of more value than an extra WR. One would think Hauschka would be the first guy they call as he is still a free agent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwai San Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 5 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said: I think there are enough washed-up vets out there that the Bills could probably sign one very quickly. You wonder if they have even told Haush$ to be on call in the event they need to sign someone? I wonder if having more QB's in quarantine would be wise. I don't feel great that our quarantine QB is Fromm. You would think Kyle Orton-- who lives for this--would agree to sign with a team to be stashed away. Not trying to be an azz but how does KO live for this? I'm not getting it. I like the idea tho....I would NOT want to see Fromm trotted out there as the one who needs to win a ball game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogham26 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 6 minutes ago, Ethan in Portland said: Not a bad idea and probably of more value than an extra WR. One would think Hauschka would be the first guy they call as he is still a free agent yea that would probably be the right call to just bring him on the practice squad at the end of the season to have for the playoffs incase bass was to test positive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 1 minute ago, Kwai San said: Not trying to be an azz but how does KO live for this? I'm not getting it. I like the idea tho....I would NOT want to see Fromm trotted out there as the one who needs to win a ball game. Just sort of a joke. Orton is the guy who always seems to be sitting on his couch and is able to sign onto a team for a couple million when they are in a pinch. I think he did that with both us and the Cowboys. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John from Riverside Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 Not a problem I have from a source that we bubble wrap or kickers directly after football games until the next game problem solved 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaw66 Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 There always are 6 or 10 or 12 kickers with NFL experience (some game experience, but at least significant practice experience) bagging groceries somewhere, staying in shape and practicing their kicking. When your kicker goes down, you just go sign one of those guys. I don't see the need to keep kickers on the practice squad. Practice squad players are essentially free agents - they can leave any time to take a roster spot elsewhere. If the Bills have a kicker on their practice squad and almost any NFL team offers him a contract to be on the active roster, he's going. If the Bills don't have one and they need a kicker, a kicker on someone else's practice squad would take the job in a heartbeat. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwai San Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 7 minutes ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said: Just sort of a joke. Orton is the guy who always seems to be sitting on his couch and is able to sign onto a team for a couple million when they are in a pinch. I think he did that with both us and the Cowboys. Gotcha.....yeah he did do that with the Boys and obviously the Bills..... 1 minute ago, Shaw66 said: There always are 6 or 10 or 12 kickers with NFL experience (some game experience, but at least significant practice experience) bagging groceries somewhere, staying in shape and practicing their kicking. When your kicker goes down, you just go sign one of those guys. I don't see the need to keep kickers on the practice squad. Practice squad players are essentially free agents - they can leave any time to take a roster spot elsewhere. If the Bills have a kicker on their practice squad and almost any NFL team offers him a contract to be on the active roster, he's going. If the Bills don't have one and they need a kicker, a kicker on someone else's practice squad would take the job in a heartbeat. Agree - I used to officiate some Semi-pro games. Kickers are literally a dime a dozen. At least 2-3 ex NFL kickers would be smashing away in every league I worked for. Some could boot that ball DANG far.....of course accuracy would always be an issue.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mushypeaches Posted November 30, 2020 Author Share Posted November 30, 2020 2 minutes ago, Shaw66 said: There always are 6 or 10 or 12 kickers with NFL experience (some game experience, but at least significant practice experience) bagging groceries somewhere, staying in shape and practicing their kicking. When your kicker goes down, you just go sign one of those guys. I don't see the need to keep kickers on the practice squad. Practice squad players are essentially free agents - they can leave any time to take a roster spot elsewhere. If the Bills have a kicker on their practice squad and almost any NFL team offers him a contract to be on the active roster, he's going. If the Bills don't have one and they need a kicker, a kicker on someone else's practice squad would take the job in a heartbeat. So the point here is that with the Covid roster restrictions, you need at least 6 days to bring a guy in. If anything happens to your kicker within that timeframe, you're stuck with the guys that you have on the roster. What I'm suggesting is that going into late season + playoff games, what does it cost us to have that replacement guy already in the building and on the Practice Squad. I don't care if you have to get a new guy every week because some other team poaches the one you have. It's a position that can make a tangible difference in the outcome of a game if you don't have the guy that can perform in that very specific situation. Would you want the Bills to have to go for a TD on the last play, down by 2 points, from the 15 yard line? Or would you like to have a guy on the roster that can hit a 32 yard FG 90% of the time? 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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