Ryan Bates has eye on starting role [paywall]

[Logic]

***Every time I've ever seen Ryan Bates step into the starting lineup -- from the first preseason game onward -- I've liked what I've seen from him. With the way the contracts of Morse, Feliciano, and Williams are structured, I think it's possible Bates gets a crack at the starting lineup outright in 2022. At worst, I see him being a very valuable utility guy here for as long as we can afford him.


https://theathletic.com/2477632/2021/03/26/they-saw-something-in-me-ryan-bates-knows-the-value-he-brings-to-bills-talented-o-line/

 

Ryan Bates was one preseason game into his first training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2019 when he got a call from an unknown number. He was on FaceTime with a friend and had a date scheduled with his girlfriend that night — dinner and a movie. Like he does with all unknown numbers, he declined the call and let it go to voicemail. Then he got a text from that same number. It was Eagles general manager Howie Roseman.

“Oh, no,” Bates said.

He told his friend he’d need to call him back and immediately called Roseman. As he heard the dial tone, Bates assumed he would be cut. Why else would the general manager be calling an undrafted rookie on a Friday morning?

That wasn’t the case. Bates’ time in Philadelphia was over, but Roseman informed him the Eagles were trading him to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for defensive end Eli Harold.

“It took us by surprise,” Bates said. “I didn’t really expect anything. That’s not really something that happens to undrafted free agents being traded after the beginning of preseason. I called my girlfriend to tell her, ‘Hey, dinner is off. You have to drive me to the airport.’”

Bates grew up just outside of Philadelphia and was an Eagles fan growing up. He got to play alongside Jason Kelce and Jason Peters, two franchise icons. In a blink of an eye, it was over. His offensive line coach told him to take it as a compliment. The Bills approached the Eagles and sought out Bates after seeing him in one preseason game. That said something about him as a player, particularly an undrafted player.

“They saw something in me that not a lot of teams saw,” Bates said. 

..............


This offseason looked like it could provide an opportunity for Bates with questions about the futures of Morse, Jon Feliciano and Daryl Williams. All three are returning, leaving no obvious path to a starting job for Bates. But the way the Bills structured those contracts leaves them flexibility with the veteran pieces on their offensive line in 2022 and beyond. For now, Bates is Buffalo’s swing tackle with Ty Nsekhe departing in free agency. But Bates is much more than that given his ability to play the entire offensive line. As the Bills have looked to save money, Bates is an affordable utility player to have.

...Bates isn’t content, either. He understands his role but wants more. His goal is to be a starting center. Morse, who has been a mentor and friend to Bates, occupies that spot currently. Feliciano has played there as well, but that’s where Bates sees his future.

 

[Victory Formation]

I really like Bates, this article isn’t some feel good propagandist bull crap, he really does have potential to be a good starting guard in this league. I think he’s better than Ford but that’s just my opinion.

Edited March 26, 2021 by Victory Formation

[Bray Wyatt]

5 minutes ago, Victory Formation said:

I really like Bates, this article isn’t some feel good propagandist bull crap, he really does have potential to be a good starting guard in this league. I think he’s better than Ford but that’s just my opinion.

 

This is my thoughts exactly, he will compete for the LG spot

[Logic]

@Bray Wyatt @Victory Formation

 

I’m guessing he may be the primary swing tackle in 2021. However, the Morse, Feliciano, and Williams contracts are all structured in such s way that any of them could be cut after this season with minimal financial blowback. 
 

Bates says he wants to be a center in the long term. I could see him continuing to work at that and taking over the starting center role in 2022.

[Magox]

I remember reading a lot about him his first year with the Bills and how internally the Bills were very positive about his prospects of becoming a meaningful players on the Bills roster.

[glazeduck]

Sweet. Every player receiving a paycheck should prepare, train, study, lift, practice, eat, sleep, want and feel as though they should be a starter. I don't want anyone on the roster that doesn't. That's not a shot at the article or Bates, just a general philosophy.

 

Football is a violent sport where things can change drastically with literally every and any snap of the ball. If Bates keeps this mentality and work ethic, he'll get his shot. Him pushing for or earning a starting spot over Ford, Ike, Mongo or Morse would be a very very good thing for us.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

As he should. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

26 minutes ago, Victory Formation said:

I really like Bates, this article isn’t some feel good propagandist bull crap, he really does have potential to be a good starting guard in this league. I think he’s better than Ford but that’s just my opinion.

 

This from the article caught my eye:

Quote

“I feel like I fit better,” Bates said. “At tackle, some people might consider me undersized being 6-5, 305. People might say I have shorter arms. I can play tackle and guard, but the aspect I like at center is I’m in control. I like to make the calls. I’m vocal on the line. I like being in control. That’s the way I like to put it.”

 

Dawkins is listed at 6'5" 320

Williams as 6'6" 330

 

Wild to me that 1" and 15-20 lbs would make a guy "undersized"

[Motorin']

I remember this shot of the sidelines towards the end of the loss to KC in the regular season. 

 

Brian Winters was sort of crying, and Bates looked pissed. Something told me about the way he was carrying himself that he was ready to play and wanted a chance to prove himself.

[glazeduck]

3 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

This from the article caught my eye:

 

Dawkins is listed at 6'5" 320

Williams as 6'6" 330

 

Wild to me that 1" and 15-20 lbs would make a guy "undersized"

It's less the height and weight -- there are plenty of tackles that are 6'5" in the league, and 305 is a little slight for playing weight, but not so much that it's uncommon. 

 

The issue is arm length. A great deal of success in the trenches happens with hands and arms and if the guy you're trying to block has significantly longer arms than you, the can be tough to control.

Typically edge rushers are longer limbed than DTs, so you can get away with shorter arms inside. 

Edited March 26, 2021 by glazeduck

[Hapless Bills Fan]

28 minutes ago, Bray Wyatt said:

 

This is my thoughts exactly, he will compete for the LG spot

 

Boettger says "Hi!"

 

If Bates wants to target a starting role, go for RG IMHO.

[Bray Wyatt]

Just now, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Boettger says "Hi!"

 

I know he's there too but I am not all that impressed with him either. 

 

Bates versatility more than likely keeps him as a backup swingman in case a starter goes down, but if he were to win a starting spot that's where it would be. Hopefully they allow him to compete for it.

[Logic]

I still can't believe the Bills were able to trade a defensive end they were going to cut anyway for an offensive lineman who can play all five spots!

Granted, they also traded away Wyatt Teller for a 5th only to see him become a top 10 guard. Ya win some, ya lose some. With the Bates trade, I feel like they really won one.

[HOUSE]

Doesn't he have a brother Master ?

[Rochesterfan]

I think long term he is your C/G player that people are looking to draft.  I think they keep grooming him to take over for Morse at some point.  
 

Right now they seem to like Mongo a bit more at Center, but I hope this is the year he begins to take that mantle.  I love his position flexibility and his desire to play center is a huge bonus for his future on this team.

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Just now, Bray Wyatt said:

I know he's there too but I am not all that impressed with him either. 

 

Dawkins and Morse sounded pretty impressed with him.  "You say Boettger, I say 'Stallion' "  "He's been a comfort to Mitch as far as protections there"

Since the Bills benched Spain to give Ford a shot at LG, I think they view Ford as legit LG competition as well.  So Bates would be #3.

 

Whereas on the R side right now, it's Mongo and *crickets* competing, right?  And if the Bills are serious about improving the run game, they have to see that sometimes Jon was the problem there.

 

One of the points made by Feliciano in his post-signing media availability was that he feels he can play anywhere on the line - not just any interior position, anywhere.  I thought that was interesting and could possibly provide a clue to how the Bills view their OL competition.  OTOH, just 'cuz Mongo sees that as within his skill set, doesn't mean the Bills agree.  But I looked it up and his arms aren't any shorter than Bates arms.   🤷‍♂️

 

Just now, Bray Wyatt said:

 

Bates versatility more than likely keeps him as a backup swingman in case a starter goes down, but if he were to win a starting spot that's where it would be. Hopefully they allow him to compete for it.

 

Why do you see him as a better LG than RG, just curious?

[Doc]

They liked him so much...and then have done everything they can to not play him. 

[IgotBILLStopay]

Morse's homegrown replacement next year. I like the long term planning. 

15 minutes ago, Bray Wyatt said:

 

I know he's there too but I am not all that impressed with him either. 

 

Bates versatility more than likely keeps him as a backup swingman in case a starter goes down, but if he were to win a starting spot that's where it would be. Hopefully they allow him to compete for it.

Actually Boettger was so good as a replacement last year, the worry is that he may attract bigger bucks than the Bills want to give. That said, let us this year if last season's performance was a fluke (no reason to think so).

[Bray Wyatt]

3 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Dawkins and Morse sounded pretty impressed with him.  "You say Boettger, I say 'Stallion' "  "He's been a comfort to Mitch as far as protections there"

Since the Bills benched Spain to give Ford a shot at LG, I think they view Ford as legit LG competition as well.  So Bates would be #3.

 

Whereas on the R side right now, it's Mongo and *crickets* competing, right?  And if the Bills are serious about improving the run game, they have to see that sometimes Jon was the problem there.

 

One of the points made by Feliciano in his post-signing media availability was that he feels he can play anywhere on the line - not just any interior position, anywhere.  I thought that was interesting and could possibly provide a clue to how the Bills view their OL competition.  OTOH, just 'cuz Mongo sees that as within his skill set, doesn't mean the Bills agree.  But I looked it up and his arms aren't any shorter than Bates arms.   🤷‍♂️

 

 

Why do you see him as a better LG than RG, just curious?

 

Not that I didn't think of him necessarily as a better LG than RG, just that that spot seems more open to competition than the other spots on the line. Seeing Logic's point about Bates preferring to be a center, maybe they want to groom him there more and replace Morse in a year when his release would be more cap friendly? Or Feliciano could replace Morse next year and Bates slides into RG?

 

Having Bates and Feliciano certainly does give us lots of options, but can also cloud the picture as to what the FO is planning.  Also a lot of this depends on if Cody Ford starts to realize that potential we drafted him for this year

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 minute ago, Bray Wyatt said:

 

Not that I didn't think of him necessarily as a better LG than RG, just that that spot seems more open to competition than the other spots on the line. Seeing Logic's point about Bates preferring to be a center, maybe they want to groom him there more and replace Morse in a year when his release would be more cap friendly? Or Feliciano could replace Morse next year and Bates slides into RG?

 

Having Bates and Feliciano certainly does give us lots of options, but can also cloud the picture as to what the FO is planning.  Also a lot of this depends on if Cody Ford starts to realize that potential we drafted him for this year

 

I could be wrong, but I don't see Feliciano as having that RG spot locked down.  Maybe I'm mis-reading between the lines, but sometimes I think the player's post-signing presser reflects a bit of what was discussed about how the team sees him.  Jon emphasized that he wanted to win, he wanted to be in Buffalo, and he'll do whatever the team needs him to do.

 

Or maybe I'm off-base and it reflects my personal assessment that if we intend to run the ball, we need to improve our interior OL play Big Time and it's hard to see how we do that while keeping the lineup the same.  I'm also not persuaded that Ford is the answer, though if I were a defensive player, I'd play very, very clean towards Josh with both Ford and Mongo in there.