Three unexpected studs and three duds on the Bills roster at this point in the season

[BuffaloBill]

The regular season is better than halfway in the bag. Who are three “unexpected” studs on the Bills roster at this point and who are three duds. “Unexpected” is obviously subjective but an easy example of the “expected” would be Josh Allen.

 

“Unexpected” Studs:

1) Dawson Knox - the Bills look like and play like a different team when he is in the lineup - definitely a step forward this season

2) Jordan Poyer - possibly not “unexpected” but he is probably the most solid all around player in a very solid defense

3) tie Levon Wallace & Taron Johnson - The secondary has been lights out all season and these two guys have been an absolutely pleasant surprise with superb play.  

 

Duds:

1) Easy - Cody Ford - can’t imagine he will remain on the roster

2) Mongo - huge disappointment this year

3) Gabriel Davis - This is probably harsh as I like the guy (very much) but why has he mostly disappeared from the roster this year?

 

 

What are your thoughts?

[No_Matter_What]

Knox, Brown and Rousseau are unexpected studs. How could you not mention Brown.

[CaptnCoke11]

I’d hardly call Davis a dud.  His snaps are way down from last year.  Certainly looked like 2020 Davis yesterday 

[wppete]

Gabriel Davis is Not a dud. He has done nothing but produce when targeted. He was also dealing with a foot injury coming out of preseason. 
 

Edited November 15, 2021 by wppete

[msw2112]

Other than the drop against Jax, which was a big one, Davis has played well when he's been in the game and targeted.  He played very well yesterday.  I agree with Ford and Mongo.  I also agree with Knox and the next post that cited Brown and Rousseau as unexpected studs.  I also think Epenesa has exceeded many peoples' expectations this year.  Star, before his COVID exit, had been playing better than expected and you could argue the same for Oliver.  

Edited November 15, 2021 by msw2112

[artmalibu]

Davis is buried on a very good WR group.

 

Th think there is a rookie DE that should get stud talk, he is tied for first in sacks....

[BearNorth]

I think after winning Toe Drag Swag this morning, that Davis is no longer in witness protection.

 

I also notice that he has started playing ST's the last three games, which was missing earlier in the season.

 

 

[MJS]

Ford isn't unexpected, though.

[Mark Vader]

2 minutes ago, BuffaloBill said:

The regular season is better than halfway in the bag. Who are three “unexpected” studs on the Bills roster at this point and who are three duds. “Unexpected” is obviously subjective but an easy example of the “expected” would be Josh Allen.

 

“Unexpected” Studs:

1) Dawson Knox - the Bills look like and play like a different team when he is in the lineup - definitely a step forward this season   Patience has paid off. This guy has taken so much criticism for his first couple of years, but he came on very late last season and has continued to improve since then. 

2) Jordan Poyer - possibly not “unexpected” but he is probably the most solid all around player in a very solid defense

Not unexpected at all. He was our best defensive player last year.

3) tie Levon Wallace & Taron Johnson - The secondary has been lights out all season and these two guys have been an absolutely pleasant surprise with superb play.  

Johnson is not unexpected. Wallace has been a surprise, especially since he still gets picked on, but he has stepped up his game.

 

I would also give an honorable mention to Ed Oliver & Spencer Brown. I'm not saying Brown is a stud, but I was not expecting him to have the type of impact he is having with this team right now.

Duds:

1) Easy - Cody Ford - can’t imagine he will remain on the roster

I was cheering for this guy, but it just is not working out.

2) Mongo - huge disappointment this year

Love this guy's attitude, but it does not translate to performance.

3) Gabriel Davis - This is probably harsh as I like the guy (very much) but why has he mostly disappeared from the roster this year?

Emmanuel Sanders is the answer. Davis is not a dud. He will get more opportunities.

 

What are your thoughts?

 

[Matt_In_NH]

Oliver is turning into a stud.

 

Agree on Feliciano, very disappointed in him.....but mostly disapointed that this team has found a way to lose 3 games.

[Fred Slacks]

12 minutes ago, wppete said:

Gabriel Davis is Not a dud. He has done nothing but produce when targeted. He was also dealing with a foot injury coming out of preseason. 
 

Except in the Jaguars game when he dropped a wide open pass that probably helps us win that game.....drops happen yes, but in critical moments in tight games they are compounded.  I do think we could use him more but to say he only has produced we also have to remember where he let us down in a big moment.

[Mr. WEO]

Davis a dud?  
 

This take is awful

[Weatherman]

29 minutes ago, wppete said:

Gabriel Davis is Not a dud. He has done nothing but produce when targeted. He was also dealing with a foot injury coming out of preseason. 
 

Except for dropping a game tying /winning ball last week I would agree with this.  

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

I’d classify the 2021 running game as a dud up until yesterday 

[eSJayDee]

42 minutes ago, No_Matter_What said:

Knox, Brown and Rousseau are unexpected studs. How could you not mention Brown.

Those were the exact 3 I thought of.

For duds, I'll say Feliciano, Haack, and ...  Ford or Davis.

The 3rd dud was kinda tough as I think Davis' problem is more a lack of opportunity.  As for Ford, were we really EXPECTING that much?  hoping yes, expecting no.

[JGMcD2]

28 minutes ago, Fred Slacks said:

Except in the Jaguars game when he dropped a wide open pass that probably helps us win that game.....drops happen yes, but in critical moments in tight games they are compounded.  I do think we could use him more but to say he only has produced we also have to remember where he let us down in a big moment.

Or we move on from it because it’s an anomaly for him over 1.5 seasons… Josh seemed to have no issues going to him yesterday after the drop. 

[Rigotz]

Unexpected Studs:

Levi Wallace

Spencer Brown

Greg Rousseau

 

Nobody thought Brown and Rousseau would be this impactful in their first year. Levi has been quietly fantastic.

(A lot of people saw Knox, Poyer, etc coming)

 

Unexpected Duds:

Cody Ford

Matt Haack 

Zach Moss

 

We expected Ford and Haack to be bad, but not this terrible.

I was hoping Moss would take a step this year. Instead, he's looking as average as Singletary.

 

[BuffaloBillyG]

48 minutes ago, BuffaloBill said:

The regular season is better than halfway in the bag. Who are three “unexpected” studs on the Bills roster at this point and who are three duds. “Unexpected” is obviously subjective but an easy example of the “expected” would be Josh Allen.

 

“Unexpected” Studs:

1) Dawson Knox - the Bills look like and play like a different team when he is in the lineup - definitely a step forward this season

2) Jordan Poyer - possibly not “unexpected” but he is probably the most solid all around player in a very solid defense

3) tie Levon Wallace & Taron Johnson - The secondary has been lights out all season and these two guys have been an absolutely pleasant surprise with superb play.  

 

Duds:

1) Easy - Cody Ford - can’t imagine he will remain on the roster

2) Mongo - huge disappointment this year

3) Gabriel Davis - This is probably harsh as I like the guy (very much) but why has he mostly disappeared from the roster this year?

 

 

What are your thoughts?

Mongo has been a huge dud this year. That 20 pounds he lost (and let's HOPE he doesn't lose more while on IR) is making a difference.

 

Dud category for me would include Dawkins, Moss, and Horrible Harry.

 

Suprise studs:

Sanders, Knox, and McKenzie on Special Teams.

[947]

Unexpected Dud for me is Dawkins. He hasn't been terrible, but is playing at a much lower level than most of us were expecting. I know there are post-Covid issues, and he seems to be getting some mojo back now, but I doubt anyone predicted he'd be average to slightly below at the halfway point of the season.

 

Ford can't be called a Dud, because he's been exactly as terrible as everyone here expected.

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

37 minutes ago, Fred Slacks said:

Except in the Jaguars game when he dropped a wide open pass that probably helps us win that game.....drops happen yes, but in critical moments in tight games they are compounded.  I do think we could use him more but to say he only has produced we also have to remember where he let us down in a big moment.

He also helped in big moments last year.

[First Round Bust]

Ford is at the top of the dud list;

1. 2nd round with first round grade ? that we traded up for....sigh

2. yes injuries have hampered but now clear of those and results are sub-optimal

3. likely off-season cut - saves 1.5M in 2022 cap - interesting that street FA Ike B makes more than Cody this season

 

at the top of the stud list...Brown...has developed to stabilize the line...

 

 

 

[FireChans]

55 minutes ago, MJS said:

Ford isn't unexpected, though.

Yeah if you didn’t think Ford sucked, you were drinking the Koolaid 

[Mr. WEO]

Also, it' "Le'Veon" Wallace, not "Levon"....

[Freddie's Dead]

You had me until Gabriel Davis.  His decline in production is directly proportional to the rise of Colonel Sanders.  Gabe will get his, as he did yesterday.  That catch on the Jest 2 yd line, while being interfered with, was just *****in' ridiculous.  Shame on you.   My dud?  Pick a Tommy.

[Draconator]

Studs
Rousseau
Brown
Wallace

 

Duds
Ford
Moss
Sweeney. (Can't block)

[finn]

Surprise studs: Knox, Brown, Wallace and (if you don't mind one more) Sanders 

Surprise duds: Williams, Boettger, Dawkins

 

Haven't seen Boettger mentioned in this thread, but watch him on the replays and (negative) highlights. When he's in and there's a screwup on the line, he usually appears at least partly responsible. I would say Williams is doing even worse, though. He seems to be mailing it in. Those studs, though, wow. And Oliver is coming on. In fact, the whole defense is impressive, from top to bottom. I'd like to see them get home on the pass rush a bit more maybe, but otherwise they're just superb. 

[Big Turk]

1 hour ago, BuffaloBill said:

The regular season is better than halfway in the bag. Who are three “unexpected” studs on the Bills roster at this point and who are three duds. “Unexpected” is obviously subjective but an easy example of the “expected” would be Josh Allen.

 

“Unexpected” Studs:

1) Dawson Knox - the Bills look like and play like a different team when he is in the lineup - definitely a step forward this season

2) Jordan Poyer - possibly not “unexpected” but he is probably the most solid all around player in a very solid defense

3) tie Levon Wallace & Taron Johnson - The secondary has been lights out all season and these two guys have been an absolutely pleasant surprise with superb play.  

 

Duds:

1) Easy - Cody Ford - can’t imagine he will remain on the roster

2) Mongo - huge disappointment this year

3) Gabriel Davis - This is probably harsh as I like the guy (very much) but why has he mostly disappeared from the roster this year?

 

 

What are your thoughts?

 

Davis hasn't had the opportunities he had last year because Sanders is much more durable than "Glass" Brown.

 

He got them yesterday and made the most of them.

[vincec]

Whether you consider Davis a disappointment depends on your opinion of him coming into the season. I saw plenty of posts declaring that the Bills didn’t need Sanders because Davis was going to step right in as the new #2, and how he was going to take most of Sanders reps anyway. However at this point there is no comparison. Whether Sanders is better than expected or Davis is not quite as good is debatable, but it looks like a little of both to me.

[billsbackto81]

2 hours ago, MJS said:

Ford isn't unexpected, though.

What's unexpected is that he's actually gotten worse.

[Reader]

Studs: DB's ability to throw footballs

Diggs pregame warmups

Beasley leaving twitter

 

Duds: Star's handling of COVID risk

McKitrick's hygiene

Tre's locker

 

[ganesh]

3 hours ago, mattynh said:

Oliver is turning into a stud.

 

Agree on Feliciano, very disappointed in him.....but mostly disapointed that this team has found a way to lose 3 games.

Same goes for everyone on the OL. 

[2ForMacAdoo]

3 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

Also, it' "Le'Veon" Wallace, not "Levon"....

This is pure gold. Thanks for giving me a terrific abs workout.

[LABILLBACKER]

4 hours ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

I’d hardly call Davis a dud.  His snaps are way down from last year.  Certainly looked like 2020 Davis yesterday 

Please don't insult toe tap because the coaches have throttled his targets.

Studs....Knox, Brown, Groot, Bass

Duds...Ford, Boett, Mongo

Edited November 16, 2021 by LABILLBACKER

[3rdand12]

4 hours ago, MJS said:

Ford isn't unexpected, though.

well he must have been a surprise to the Staff. They kept playing him. even after he struggled. and again and again.
expected
 

[Bob in STL]

Unexpected Studs

1 Spencer Brown

2. Rousseau 

3 Knox 

 

Duds:

1. Ford

2 Butler

 

[Aussie Joe]

The Biggest “unexpected” stud is Spencer Brown…

Bills picked him up at pick 93 in April…

 

What would it take you to want to trade him now half way through his rookie season? 

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

5 hours ago, BuffaloBill said:

The regular season is better than halfway in the bag. Who are three “unexpected” studs on the Bills roster at this point and who are three duds. “Unexpected” is obviously subjective but an easy example of the “expected” would be Josh Allen.

 

“Unexpected” Studs:

1) Dawson Knox - the Bills look like and play like a different team when he is in the lineup - definitely a step forward this season

2) Jordan Poyer - possibly not “unexpected” but he is probably the most solid all around player in a very solid defense

3) tie Levon Wallace & Taron Johnson - The secondary has been lights out all season and these two guys have been an absolutely pleasant surprise with superb play.  

 

Duds:

1) Easy - Cody Ford - can’t imagine he will remain on the roster

2) Mongo - huge disappointment this year

3) Gabriel Davis - This is probably harsh as I like the guy (very much) but why has he mostly disappeared from the roster this year?

 

 

What are your thoughts?

 

I don't think it's fair to tag Gabriel Davis as a "dud".  We're playing less 4WR and 3WR sets, and Emmanuel Sanders and Knox between them said to him "All Your Snaps Now Belong To Us".  And when he is out there, he's often out there blocking (and he's very good at it).

 

I personally think we should take some snaps from Sanders and give them to Davis.  Sanders is a good player, but at 34 I think that would help him hold up through a long season, and Davis brings fresh legs and better blocking.

 

 

Unexpected Studs:

1. Spencer Brown.  We signed Williams to lock down the RT position, and I felt Brown was this year's swing tackle and next year's RT.

He has to be leading the "unexpected Studs" race

2. Rousseau.  He didn't play last season.  The Beane-meister was obviously trying to temper expectations talking about guys who might not contribute this season but would in the long term.  He's come on fast.

3. Taron Johnson.  He's been a good player all along, but last season many were looking at him and thinking he was the "weakest link".  He leveled up.

 

Unexpected Duds:

1. Ford - no argument there.  

2. Tie between Dawkins and Williams - we thought we had a "Sweet Lock" on the OT position, but they are not playing up to expectation.  Williams lost his job, and Dawkins is not playing up to the level we expect of him

3. Star.  He's actually played quite well, but after opting out due to Covid, to go through training camp unvaccinated and wind up on the Covid list in late August as a close contact  - C'Mon, Man!

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

28 minutes ago, 3rdand12 said:

well he must have been a surprise to the Staff. They kept playing him. even after he struggled. and again and again.
expected

 

Agreed.  Beane wagered that Ford and Mongo would improve this season, and they've gone in the other direction.

[Fred Slacks]

6 hours ago, JGMcD2 said:

Or we move on from it because it’s an anomaly for him over 1.5 seasons… Josh seemed to have no issues going to him yesterday after the drop. 

In the tight Patriots game he also dropped a TD pass. I’ll move on from the Davis drops when the rest of this board let’s up on the Knox drops. They happen I get it. But to say that Davis is the cure all after playing a terrible Jets secondary is an over reaction when just the previous week he dropped the one target he was given. 
 

I personally have nothing against Davis. I loved this game he put up and his potential. I think I’m more reacting to the overreaction of this board. We lay a stinker against the Jags and everyone says it’s coaching when there were clearly dropped opportunities (not just Davis but also Beasley in that game). Josh had the overthrow to Diggs. Few plays that in a 9-6 loss make the difference. Then this week we laid it up on the Jets which I admittedly was enjoying everything about this game. Everyone’s reaction it seems on this board is how the coaches finally pulled their heads out of their butts and did everything different when in reality I think it was merely better execution (with the major exception of superior offensive line play). 

Davis had 3 targets this week vs 1 target last week. Not really a significant improvement on targets he just did more with his targets this week. I’d hardly say 3 targets in a game is an emphasis to get him the ball. I’d guess 3-4 targets is probably about where it will stay for the season unless there’s an injury to one of the other top three. I’d also add Sanders had a couple receptions that didn’t count because of penalties that were terrific catches. So his stay sheet doesn’t look as good as it could have otherwise. 
 

Without proofreading my above rant let me conclude that my tone probably is jerky. I loved every minute of this game. I hope we dial it up similarly vs the Colts but I expect them to play more 2 high safety looks. I hope we have a better counter for that. I’m optimistic that we do. 

 

[BillsfaninSB]

Knox was not unexpected.

 

Stud:  Brown.  Easy.  
 

Dud:  Sadly Ford, although it wasn’t too much of a stretch to predict he would struggle.