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A Second String Bills Team


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11 hours ago, Rocky Landing said:

This probably isn't worth its own thread, but I've been discussing with friends who are fans of other teams how important depth is to a team, and how this will be especially important with the upcoming 17 game season. This Bills team is deeper than any one I can remember, and I suspect its depth stacks up to maybe any other team in the league. 

 

So, I thought it would be an interesting exercise during this slow offseason, to look at what a Bills team would look like, made up entirely of depth players. Some of you may take issue with some the players I've got as second string-- which is fine. I'm interested in the discussion. The competition for depth on this team is fierce. And also, several of these players are in the conversation for starting positions, and certainly, some of them will be starters come September. Anyone who has a different opinion of what the Bills second string would currently look like, I want to hear it. But-- prove me wrong-- such a Bills team would be in serious contention for the AFCE. Not favored, perhaps... but not the Jets, either.

 

OFFENSE:

QB: Mitch Trubisky

RT: Ryan Bates

RG: Forrest Lamp

C : Jon Feliciano

LG: Ike Boettger

LT: Spenser Brown

WR#1: Gabriel Davis

WR#2: Jake Kumerow or Duke Williams

WR#2: Isaiah McKenzie

TE: Jacob Hollister

RB: Singletary or Moss or Breida (It could be any one of them!)

 

DEFENSE:

DE: Efe Obada

DT: Harrison Phillips

DT: Justin Zimmer

DE: Greg Rousseau

LB: AJ Klein

LB: Tyrel Dodson

S: Jaquan Johnson

S: Damar Hamlin

CB: Dane Jackson

CB: Rachad Wildgoose

NCB: Siran Neal

 

Defense would give up a lot of points. Offense would score some though. I think it is a 4-13 or 5-12 type roster. 

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7 hours ago, Rocky Landing said:

"Cornerstones" like Stevie Johnson, or CJ Spiller, or, IDK, Scott Chandler? Is it such a crazy premise to say that the current 2021 Bills second string is as good, or maybe even better than the 2013, 6-10 Bills led by... EJ Manuel? In a division facing Brady*, and Tannehill, and a Rex Ryan led Jets with Geno Smith that went 8-8?

 

In the '21 season, the Bills will face three teams in their division that are ALL in the midst of a rebuild, and, for a couple, no small amount of denial. The Dolphins will be a solid(ish) team led by a QB who played 2020 scared. The Pats* defense will be fierce, and their offense will be anemic. The Jets will likely be trash.

 

In the '21 AFCE division, the Bills second string O-line would be average, the RBs would be average, the defense would be average, Hollister would be average, but Davis would be top tier, the rest of the WRs would be solid, and Trubisky would clearly be the best QB.

 

Again, as I posited in my OP, probably not favored to win the division, but certainly contenders. And, certainly NOT a two win team, as @Bangarang suggested. 6-8 wins in a 17 game season, and possibly better.


you can point at Stevie, but he’d have been the best WR on this backup roster… and Robert woods walks in ahead of our backups. Fred and CJ are both better. Cordy and wood on the line would instantly be your top 2 in this roster. Chandler would walk into your locker room as starter.

 

and that ignores the much stouter defense with guys like Jerry, Kyle, Mario, Gilmore, Byrd, before even reaching the kiko tier of player. 
 

that was a not very good 6 win team. Your roster is worse. With any given Sunday, and extra week and no Brady could they hit 6? Sure. But this talk of challenging for the division is less likely than the talk of them getting the top pick. And that’s assuming 100% health out of our backup squad.

Edited by NoSaint
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13 hours ago, Rocky Landing said:

This probably isn't worth its own thread, but I've been discussing with friends who are fans of other teams how important depth is to a team, and how this will be especially important with the upcoming 17 game season. This Bills team is deeper than any one I can remember, and I suspect its depth stacks up to maybe any other team in the league. 

 

So, I thought it would be an interesting exercise during this slow offseason, to look at what a Bills team would look like, made up entirely of depth players. Some of you may take issue with some the players I've got as second string-- which is fine. I'm interested in the discussion. The competition for depth on this team is fierce. And also, several of these players are in the conversation for starting positions, and certainly, some of them will be starters come September. Anyone who has a different opinion of what the Bills second string would currently look like, I want to hear it. But-- prove me wrong-- such a Bills team would be in serious contention for the AFCE. Not favored, perhaps... but not the Jets, either.

 

OFFENSE:

QB: Mitch Trubisky

RT: Ryan Bates

RG: Forrest Lamp

C : Jon Feliciano

LG: Ike Boettger

LT: Spenser Brown

WR#1: Gabriel Davis

WR#2: Jake Kumerow or Duke Williams

WR#2: Isaiah McKenzie

TE: Jacob Hollister

RB: Singletary or Moss or Breida (It could be any one of them!)

 

DEFENSE:

DE: Efe Obada

DT: Harrison Phillips

DT: Justin Zimmer

DE: Greg Rousseau

LB: AJ Klein

LB: Tyrel Dodson

S: Jaquan Johnson

S: Damar Hamlin

CB: Dane Jackson

CB: Rachad Wildgoose

NCB: Siran Neal

 

Looks better than some teams the Bills fielded in the drought ;) 

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17 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Exactly my thoughts…. And we’d have the exact same post throughout those off-season years of people convincing themselves a roster like that could compete for the division.😅

 

Yep, always a good move to make fun of fans being fans on a fan message board.

 

You be you, Scott.

 

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13 hours ago, Mango said:

This looks like a roster from the Dick Jauron years.

 

Where is 7-9 Forever to like this post ;) 

 

BTW OP this is the best thread started since OTA's ended  :)

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The depth on this roster is clearly the best it has been since the 90s.  And for those stating there are no known game-changers or superstars — well, duh.  If they were already superstars they wouldn’t be depth, they’d be starting.  The point is that there is a great mix of serviceable veterans and youth with potential.  If we had to trot that team out week after week they’d probably be competitive but not playoff caliber.  If we need to use a number of them in spot situations this year we’ll be in very good shape compared to most of the league.

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14 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

It MIGHT be a better roster as that 4-12 2010 Chan Gailey roster, but better than the 2013 Bills roster? Not even close.

 

Yea that is the roster I'd compare it to. 

2 minutes ago, eball said:

The depth on this roster is clearly the best it has been since the 90s.  And for those stating there are no known game-changers or superstars — well, duh.  If they were already superstars they wouldn’t be depth, they’d be starting.  The point is that there is a great mix of serviceable veterans and youth with potential.  If we had to trot that team out week after week they’d probably be competitive but not playoff caliber.  If we need to use a number of them in spot situations this year we’ll be in very good shape compared to most of the league.

 

The people stating that are stating it in response to the OP suggesting this set of backups could compete for the division. The depth is decent. I think an entire 2nd team of any roster in the league would struggle to win more than 4 or 5. The Bills have one of the deepest rosters in football, but nobody should excuse serviceable depth for starters. If the injury bug hit the Bills at key positions (obviously Josh but even let's say in a worst case we lost Diggs, White and Dawkins for more than half the season) they would miss the playoffs, the same as any other team - see San Fran last year who went from Superbowl runners up to out of the playoffs with awful injury luck. 

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13 hours ago, Rocky Landing said:

Disagree. If Spencer Brown turns out to be serviceable, that would be a middling O-line. Then there is a mediocre (at worst) RB, decent TE, competent WR corp (Davis, and McK make plays). And, not a terrible defense. If Rousseau pans out, that's a solid D-line. 

 

And also-- Mitch Trubisky would be the best QB in the division.

 

Middling, mediocre and decent + no playmakers = a contender for the first overall draft pick

 

As for Mitch Trubisky.........look at the talent at WR and TE Miami has........or the OL and TE that New England has...........it would be very difficult for check-down Mitch to look like the best QB in the division with that supporting cast.

 

Sorry,  but you are out of focus on this take.

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2 hours ago, ScottLaw said:

Exactly my thoughts…. And we’d have the exact same post throughout those off-season years of people convincing themselves a roster like that could compete for the division.😅

 

 

This roster would have the aughts era TSW screamin' for a first round runnin' back!

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