Hodgins must stay

[SCBills]

52 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

That’s the case when a team is stacked with talent,  sadly we will have some guys poached by other teams, is what it is. 

Get a non-premium position poached, or lose a guy like Wildgoose at a premium position .. ok.. No one was treating him like Benford last year before we tried to stash him. 

 

You can’t be losing a guy with the potential of Hodgins.  JMO, but there’s levels to this. 

[Beast]

What if he drops a couple the next game or doesn’t have any catches?

[Don Otreply]

1 minute ago, SCBills said:

Get a non-premium position poached, or lose a guy like Wildgoose at a premium position .. ok.. No one was treating him like Benford last year before we tried to stash him. 

 

You can’t be losing a guy with the potential of Hodgins.  JMO, but there’s levels to this. 

I agree on Hodgins, the Coaches and Hodgins have put a lot of work in, and it shows, I think he will be one of the seven WR we keep on the 53, jmo. 

[SCBills]

3 minutes ago, Beast said:

What if he drops a couple the next game or doesn’t have any catches?

I mean, sure, that could happen .. but I don’t know why it would.   He’s been a camp standout and everyone said “ok, let’s see what he does in a game”, and then he balled out in the game.  
 

At this point, he’s trending towards legit depth WR. 
 

I have to think he knows, whether communicated to him directly or indirectly, that the month of August determines if he makes this team.  So far, so good. 

[davefan66]

32 minutes ago, PetermansRedemption said:

I’d personally be shocked if Kumerow makes it over Crowder. Maybe it’s just my personal bias. I hate keeping a guy just for his special teams play when he brings absolutely nothing else. Kumerow as a receiver is below average at best. Crowder had more yards last season than Kumerow in his entire career. 

The way they value ST’s on the Bills gives the nod to Jake.  I do believe he’s a better receiver than people give him credit for.

[JimmyNoodles]

We have 4 guys in the slot: McKenzie, Shakir, Austin, and Crowder. Don’t need that many. IF Austin becomes the primary returner he’s safe. McKenzie and Shakir aren’t going anywhere. That leaves Crowder as the odd man out. 

[CSBill]

53 minutes ago, Beast said:

What if he drops a couple the next game or doesn’t have any catches?

 

Then we'll all throw him under the bus, talk about his mother, and wonder why he was even invited to training camp.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

29 minutes ago, JimmyNoodles said:

We have 4 guys in the slot: McKenzie, Shakir, Austin, and Crowder. Don’t need that many. IF Austin becomes the primary returner he’s safe. McKenzie and Shakir aren’t going anywhere. That leaves Crowder as the odd man out. 

with this offense slot skill set works everywhere imo

Edited August 14, 2022 by Over 29 years of fanhood

[Royale with Cheese]

59 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Taiwan isn't just a gunner, he has been an elite gunner, one of the best in the NFL. Now I do think he slowed a tad last year but my instinct is that for the Bills none of the other candidates have yet passed him. I don't think he is a lock, but I expect him to make the roster at this point. 

Being that he didn’t play a snap, I would say he’s a lock.

31 minutes ago, JimmyNoodles said:

We have 4 guys in the slot: McKenzie, Shakir, Austin, and Crowder. Don’t need that many. IF Austin becomes the primary returner he’s safe. McKenzie and Shakir aren’t going anywhere. That leaves Crowder as the odd man out. 

Shakir is probably our main back up on the outside….probably with Hodgins.

[Milanos Milano]

Kum sucks. If he stays and Hodgins goes, I’m going to be very mad. 

[TPS]

1 hour ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Taiwan isn't just a gunner, he has been an elite gunner, one of the best in the NFL. Now I do think he slowed a tad last year but my instinct is that for the Bills none of the other candidates have yet passed him. I don't think he is a lock, but I expect him to make the roster at this point. 

Agreed. My point was that Duke's chance probably comes down to finding a solid gunner to replace Taiwan.  Given the potency of their O, I would think they put more weight on the gunner position than the return.

[Brand J]

If they cut Hodgins he’ll probably be a NY Giant the same day.

[JimmyNoodles]

16 minutes ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

with this offense slot skill set works everywhere imo

That’s true but they all can play any position. If Hodgins makes it, for example, would not surprise me to see him in the slot at times. 

[GunnerBill]

21 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

Being that he didn’t play a snap, I would say he’s a lock.

 

 

I mean that is what it meant last year. Definitely a reasonable assessment.

[Simon Says]

3 hours ago, Niagara Dude said:

Always good to have tall receivers for red zone play and he would be the Bills tallest if he stays. Bills will have some tough decisions to make at the WR position

Kumerow and Pau'u are 6-4.

2 hours ago, Protocal69 said:

Yeah he can stay. Remember his rookie year he was having just as good as a camp as Gabe Davis. As long as his injuries are a thing of a past sign me up. Bye Kumerow

If Bills keep 7 WR Hodgins and Kumerow coukd both stick. Stevenson and Austen apparently aren't needed for returns; Cook,Shakir McKenzie and Duke could handle them.

[Alphadawg7]

4 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

We drafted him

we’ve been patient with him

We need to keep him

 

I don't see it as a "must" keep him, be cool if he made it, but it's not a need to do type thing.  The reality is we have fielded the #1 offense in the AFC 2 consecutive years, and the 5th WR on depth chart averaged just 25 rec for 230 yards, including one of those seasons being a 17 game season.  No one behind the 5th guy even registered 100 total yards, and in both seasons we saw injuries to our #2 WRs and also our #3 WR last year...still didn't get any action from the depth guys as a WR.

 

What that means, is Hodgins is going to need to contribute on ST if he is going to make this team because he won't likely see any meaningful amount of snaps as a WR.  

 

I like Hodgins, and will be rooting for him to make the team.  And I will say he has gone from an after thought early in camp to guy who now has at least made the decision tough and trending in the right direction.  But the reality is this team will be hard to make, and he has at the very least Diggs, Davis, McKenzie and Shakir ahead of him, and there is still the possibility Crowder finds a roster spot.  So I still think Hodgins will likely have to show he can play ST if he wants to make this a "must" keep situation.  

Edited August 14, 2022 by Alphadawg7

[Solomon Grundy]

AVAILABILITY is the key component here

[Rock-A-Bye Beasley]

3 hours ago, Limeaid said:

 

"Must" as in orginal OP is a big word. 

 

There are taller WRs on roster including Jake Kumerow.   

 

There are lots of factors - special teams role, availability, number of playbook roles, years left on rookie contract, etc.  This is a jigsaw which there is no picture on box and many pieces are similiar.

kumerow fumbled. So we will probably never see him ever again. 

[Rc2catch]

As mentioned above, let’s see if he survives the preseason before locking him into a roster spot. Feel like he’s flashed every camp but can’t make it to week 1 healthy 

[TampaBillsJunkie]

4 hours ago, Captain_Quint said:

Is this a haiku thread already? 

 

Isaiah must stay

The Bills drafted him, so now,

We must be patient. 

 

Blackshear Two TD's

The Bills found him, so now

Must develop him

 

 

[Utah John]

Thanks for posting, Mrs. Hodgins.  Your son did quite well yesterday.  Mrs. Kumerow already called about her son, saying he's a lot better on STs. 

[Milanos Milano]

15 minutes ago, Utah John said:

Thanks for posting, Mrs. Hodgins.  Your son did quite well yesterday.  Mrs. Kumerow already called about her son, saying he's a lot better on STs. 

The drying up of the great salt lake is making things extra salty these days I see. 

[Utah John]

3 minutes ago, IronMaidenBills said:

The drying up of the great salt lake is making things extra salty these days I see. 

I move around a lot.  Just left Fairbanks Alaska, now in Memphis.   Not sure about the water level in the Mississippi, I'll have to check.

[Sierra Foothills]

1 minute ago, Utah John said:

I move around a lot.  Just left Fairbanks Alaska, now in Memphis.   Not sure about the water level in the Mississippi, I'll have to check.

 

Give our regards to Lake Mead.

[Milanos Milano]

4 minutes ago, Utah John said:

I move around a lot.  Just left Fairbanks Alaska, now in Memphis.   Not sure about the water level in the Mississippi, I'll have to check.

It’s all good, just poking fun. 

[Rock'em Sock'em]

3 hours ago, JimmyNoodles said:

We have 4 guys in the slot: McKenzie, Shakir, Austin, and Crowder. Don’t need that many. IF Austin becomes the primary returner he’s safe. McKenzie and Shakir aren’t going anywhere. That leaves Crowder as the odd man out. 

It matters than Crowder's contract is guaranteed.  I expect Buffalo to try to trade Crowder, but if that doesn't happen, I predict that we keep seven and Stevenson goes to the practice squad.

[VaMilBill]

5 hours ago, PetermansRedemption said:

I can definitely see it happening.

Diggs, Davis, Crowder, Shakir, Mackenzie, Hodgins

Don’t think they will keep crowder shakir and Mackenzie. I think kumerow still makes team based on ST contributions

[Motorin']

2 hours ago, Over 29 years of fanhood said:

with this offense slot skill set works everywhere imo

 

People also forget that in 11 personal only one wr is on the line. The other 2 play off the line so they can go in motion. They need to play inside or out on any given play. 

[298Woody]

Trade Crowder to keep the young cheap guys.

[No_Matter_What]

I really like Hodgins and hope he makes the team and contributes.

 

But I came to say other thing. I am rewatching 4th quarter since I didn't have a chance to watch it yesterday, and man, Luke Tenuta as LT is brutal on that Hodgins 27y circus catch. He didn't even slow down his rusher. Its amazing that Barkley managed to throw that ball. Go and look. 

Edited August 14, 2022 by No_Matter_What

[Mat68]

4 hours ago, SCBills said:

On a team with high priced superstars at QB, WR, EDGE and CB … you have to make tough decisions.

 

One of them is who re-sign.. Can’t just pay a guy like Poyer, otherwise that deal would already be done.

 

The other is asset allocation.  And I’m not sure we’re at the point any longer where we can afford to risk losing talented young players with multiple years on cost controlled contracts, just because we want to have ST’s-centric guys in Jones, Matakevich and Kumerow. 
 

We’ll see how the next two preseason games, and corresponding practices, go.. but if I had my way, a lot of thought would go into the idea that those three would be replaced by Blackshear, Spector and Hodgins. 
 

Give me the RB4 that can actually play RB/return kicks.  Give me a young backup LB on teams that can actually play LB, especially if we may have to move off one of Edmunds or Milano after this year.  And Hodgins will be a WR5/6 for another team if we don’t make him WR5/6 here. 
 

Young, cost controlled talent is more important than ever now, and guys like Hodgins and Benford are 53 or another team territory.  I checked Twitter and yesterday during the game and those two were being discussed by legitimate NFL accounts and reporters. 
 

Not sure about Hodgins, but Spector and Blackshear strike me as guys who can definitely be solid on ST’s. 
 

 

Get Bedford and Hodges at gunner.  See what they can do.

[Brandon]

37 minutes ago, No_Matter_What said:

I really like Hodgins and hope he makes the team and contributes.

 

But I came to say other thing. I am rewatching 4th quarter since I didn't have a chance to watch it yesterday, and man, Luke Tenuta as LT is brutal on that Hodgins 27y circus catch. He didn't even slow down his rusher. Its amazing that Barkley managed to throw that ball. Go and look. 

 

It's just his first preseason game,  but yeah,  I thought Tenuta had a pretty rough game.  

 

As for Hodgins,  again, it's just one preseason game,  but if he keeps playing like that,  it's going to be hard to keep him off the roster. 

[Sierra Foothills]

21 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

Get Bedford and Hodges at gunner.  See what they can do.

 

Are you talking about Bednard?

[Mat68]

13 minutes ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

Are you talking about Bednard?

 No Linebakers dont play gunner.  Get Benford at gunner so they can move on from Neal.

Edited August 14, 2022 by Mat68

[Sierra Foothills]

2 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

 No Linebakers dont play gunner.  Get Bedford at gunner so they can move on from Neal.

 

Oh, Benford.

[ColoradoBills]

3 hours ago, JayBaller10 said:

If they cut Hodgins he’ll probably be a NY Giant the same day.

 

I agree.  Who can and cannot clear waivers and get to the PS has to be a factor in the final roster spots along with next years

depth slots chances.

 

Hodgins:

As to Hodgins I would think the coaches (and most of us fans) would agree that he deserves more snaps with the 2s in camp

and in the next 2 preseason games.  Another thing to watch for is any ST reps he may be taking in camp/games.  While ST is important

I would also just add that IF 7 WRs are kept at least one probably won't dress.  I would have no problem with Hodgins being kept for

his pass catching depth skills vs him getting lost to waivers.  He needs to stay healthy the rest of the off season!

 

Kumerow:

While I wanted to see him succeed at his primary position (WR) I have to say his WR play is not very good.  He got his chance last

year to prove that and the result was in 116 offensive snaps with 2 catches on 6 targets for 28 yards.  His WR play in the remaining

games must be taken into consideration as to whether he makes the team.

 

I say all this assuming Jones is a lock.  I refuse to believe that one year of good ST play (that is all Kumerow has had) guarantees him

a roster spot.  If the coaches think as I do, Kumerow has to prove his worth as a WR too.  These bubble players know this better than

we do so these 2 guys have to know they are probably in a fight for that spot. 

I'm looking forward to seeing who wins this challenge.

[Mat68]

9 minutes ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

Oh, Benford.

Yes Benford my bad.

[BillsFanForever19]

Need to see him with the 2's to start the game before we say he "MUST" be kept. He looked good against the UDFA's of the Colts. But these are people who may or may not even make a Practice Squad somewhere. 

[GunnerBill]

57 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

 No Linebakers dont play gunner.  Get Benford at gunner so they can move on from Neal.

 

Neal is the best gunner in the NFL. They just signed him to a good extension. He is also their backup nickel. They are not moving on from him.

[Beast]

I'm still not betting on a guy that has shown he can't stay healthy. All the best him though.