Alphas first stab at the 53 as we approach first preseason game

[Alphadawg7]

4 minutes ago, The Dean said:

 

Yeldon?

 

Alpha excellent effort. I agre with most (as they are fairly obviously). I also think, as others have pointed out, the numbers are a bit skewed to the D. I also think it is quite unlikely that both ST standouts will get cut. Perhaps if a couple players are realling killing it at ST it's possible. Still a really good attempt at this point dealing with the available info.

 

What do you guys think of today's depth chart?  Is Harrison really on the bubble, or could this be a motivational move?

 

Well Harrison would also open up a roster spot to keep one of those ST aces as well.  So honestly, I think looking at the roster right now, the depth chart, etc, to make numbers balance more else where, cutting or trading a DT (I had them potentially keeping 5) does make some sense.  

 

The more I think about it and read others comments here, I am starting to re-think the DT depth chart and how many we keep, and think its more likely we keep 1 less DT than I originally posted.   

 

So yeah, I do believe he is one of the guys who is the bubble conversation.  Its a numbers game, and there are only a couple areas where we can logically make cuts, and DT is certainly one of those areas.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

43 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Well this is good news, and definitely a differing perspective than some of the journalists have been saying.  McD giving Knox a vote of confidence is a good thing.  Impression I got from a lot of the reporters recaps is that he was struggling with consistency.

 

Wonder if this is just McD keeping his confidence high, or maybe (and more likely) its just a more accurate accounting for his camp than maybe over critical journalists can have.  I for one am pulling for Knox, and reading this from McD is encouraging.  In fact, I am going to adjust my predicted 53 back from Hollister to Knox after seeing McD's confidence in him.  Mainly because from what I have gathered over his time here is that McD pretty much means what he says, so I am going to trust this more than journalist reports through camp.  

 

https://billswire.usatoday.com/2021/08/11/sean-mcdermott-dawson-knox-really-good-training-camp-buffalo-bills/

 

I think what the reporters see is catches and drops (if any).

 

I think what McDermott and the coaches see is more every play - was he expected to block?  did he pick up the right guy?  was he supposed to run a route?  he may not have been targeted, but did he get a clean release, run a crisp route, and gain separation?

 

The coaches are looking at every play, and the reporters are only looking at the highlights.

 

The other thing is Hollister has missed a bunch of time with the back injury, so he has ground to make up.

[GunnerBill]

I think cut Phillips, Doyle, Lewis and Adams add in Jones, Dodson, Sweeney and Hart and this is pretty much the 53 I'd guess at this stage.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

29 minutes ago, The Dean said:

 

Yeldon?

 

Alpha excellent effort. I agre with most (as they are fairly obviously). I also think, as others have pointed out, the numbers are a bit skewed to the D. I also think it is quite unlikely that both ST standouts will get cut. Perhaps if a couple players are realling killing it at ST it's possible. Still a really good attempt at this point dealing with the available info.

 

What do you guys think of today's depth chart?  Is Harrison really on the bubble, or could this be a motivational move?

 

Yeah, Thanks, great catch, I'll fix it.

 

I think it's a definite "shot across the bows" for Phillips.  I think it's going to be 4 guys kept, and Phillips is being told "right now, you're behind a guy who is on the sidelines with concussion".  I don't think it's definite at this point - I don't believe the Bills will make a move until they're coming out of camp because if someone gets injured then everything changes.  But yeah, it's a warning.

[HappyDays]

1 minute ago, GunnerBill said:

I think cut Phillips, Doyle, Lewis and Adams add in Jones, Dodson, Sweeney and Hart and this is pretty much the 53 I'd guess at this stage.

 

Anything is possible but I'd be surprised if the Bills cut a 5th round rookie. The fact that they took Doyle right after drafting Brown tells me they saw something in him they really liked. I'm pretty sure I heard he was getting some 1st team reps at LT at a recent practice.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Just now, HappyDays said:

 

Anything is possible but I'd be surprised if the Bills cut a 5th round rookie. The fact that they took Doyle right after drafting Brown tells me they saw something in him they really liked. I'm pretty sure I heard he was getting some 1st team reps at LT at a recent practice.

 

More likely than cut him would be he develops some nagging injury and winds up on IR to start the season.

[GunnerBill]

3 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

 

Anything is possible but I'd be surprised if the Bills cut a 5th round rookie. The fact that they took Doyle right after drafting Brown tells me they saw something in him they really liked. I'm pretty sure I heard he was getting some 1st team reps at LT at a recent practice.

 

I just don't think their two backup tackles being rooks is very McBeane. Doesn't fit their MO at all. I expect them to find a Vosean Joseph / Isaiah Hodgins style injury for Doyle that requires IR after the 2nd or 3rd pre-season game.

Edited August 11, 2021 by GunnerBill

[HappyDays]

11 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

I just don't think their two backup tackles being rooks is very McBeane. Doesn't fit their MO at all. I expect them to find a Vosean Joseph / Isaiah Hodgins style injury for Doyle that requires IR after the 2nd or 3rd pre-season game.

 

Normally I'd agree but they're the ones that drafted him... I can't imagine they brought him in just to compete with Spencer Brown. If they want to fake an injury I suppose that would work.

[Patrick Duffy]

56 minutes ago, Alphadawg7 said:

Well this is good news, and definitely a differing perspective than some of the journalists have been saying.  McD giving Knox a vote of confidence is a good thing.  Impression I got from a lot of the reporters recaps is that he was struggling with consistency.

 

Wonder if this is just McD keeping his confidence high, or maybe (and more likely) its just a more accurate accounting for his camp than maybe over critical journalists can have.  I for one am pulling for Knox, and reading this from McD is encouraging.  In fact, I am going to adjust my predicted 53 back from Hollister to Knox after seeing McD's confidence in him.  Mainly because from what I have gathered over his time here is that McD pretty much means what he says, so I am going to trust this more than journalist reports through camp.  

 

https://billswire.usatoday.com/2021/08/11/sean-mcdermott-dawson-knox-really-good-training-camp-buffalo-bills/

Yeah reports were he was not doing so hot. There was a video posted where he made a very good catch in traffic in the EZ few days ago. I don't know, some reporters can be those type that see a player drop one pass and then say that player is "having a bad camp". 

 

In any event this is good to hear about Knox. We all know what he struggles with from seeing him anyways. Hopefully less drops and the always fun to watch running over defenders.

[GunnerBill]

Just now, HappyDays said:

 

Normally I'd agree but they're the ones that drafted him... I can't imagine they brought him in just to compete with Spencer Brown. If they want to fake an injury I suppose that would work.

 

I think they see both of them in their long term plans but the Bills draft the best player on their board then work out the logjams later. They might go with two rooks as backups it just doesn't feel very them. 

[Patrick Duffy]

21 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

I think what the reporters see is catches and drops (if any).

 

I think what McDermott and the coaches see is more every play - was he expected to block?  did he pick up the right guy?  was he supposed to run a route?  he may not have been targeted, but did he get a clean release, run a crisp route, and gain separation?

 

The coaches are looking at every play, and the reporters are only looking at the highlights.

 

The other thing is Hollister has missed a bunch of time with the back injury, so he has ground to make up.

Yup, you beat me to it, I just said very similar thing. Some of the reporters may see one dropped pass and call it "having a bad camp".

[Patrick Duffy]

24 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

I think cut Phillips, Doyle, Lewis and Adams add in Jones, Dodson, Sweeney and Hart and this is pretty much the 53 I'd guess at this stage.

I don't know. Dodson is pretty solid. I recall he made some impressive plays last season. Anyway, we all just guessing and it will all depend how things go. It will be interesting to see how it plays out for those players on that end of the roster. Will be a few tough decisions I'm sure.

[ganesh]

14 hours ago, EmotionallyUnstable said:

 

They are in win now mode, IMO, and that means packing the 53 with guys who can play. 

Well put.   

[GunnerBill]

10 hours ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

I don't know. Dodson is pretty solid. I recall he made some impressive plays last season. Anyway, we all just guessing and it will all depend how things go. It will be interesting to see how it plays out for those players on that end of the roster. Will be a few tough decisions I'm sure.

 

That is why I am saying add him in to the 53....

[Patrick Duffy]

2 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

That is why I am saying add him in to the 53....

Oh ok, I misread....Thought you meant he wouldn't make it. Sorry.

[dollars 2 donuts]

@Alphadawg7 I am worried, Buddy, that not being able to evaluate the starters who are sitting tomorrow might adversely influence your review of who makes the team.

 

I don’t envy you in the challenge of maintaining this thread.

 

😂😉

Edited August 12, 2021 by dollars 2 donuts

[auburnbillsbacker]

Nice roster!  Isn't Jones a lock at RB as a special teams standout?

[Hapless Bills Fan]

17 hours ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

Yeah reports were he was not doing so hot. There was a video posted where he made a very good catch in traffic in the EZ few days ago. I don't know, some reporters can be those type that see a player drop one pass and then say that player is "having a bad camp". 

 

In any event this is good to hear about Knox. We all know what he struggles with from seeing him anyways. Hopefully less drops and the always fun to watch running over defenders.

 

The reports I saw were that Knox has been having a good and consistent camp and the drop he had the other day was uncharacteristic.  People who I think normally do a reasonably centered job of reporting like Sal Capaccio etc.

[Process]

No way we keep 11 d lineman. Either Phillips or Zimmer won't make it IMO.

[Patrick Duffy]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

The reports I saw were that Knox has been having a good and consistent camp and the drop he had the other day was uncharacteristic.  People who I think normally do a reasonably centered job of reporting like Sal Capaccio etc.

That's the thing, conflicting reports.....I don't remember who said exactly, but it was in one of the TC threads that said he was struggling, or it may have meant for that particular day maybe? I'm not quite sure, but remember reading it.

 

Then a different one says otherwise. Anyways, doesn't really matter much in regards to Knox since it's clear what he struggles with. Whatever the case hopefully he has worked on it and improves.