Center Train is off and running

[f0neguy]

I know folks are clamoring for WR in the first round but if there’s a plug and play center available to protect Josh for the next 5-10 years you need to get him.  Morse was really good but he got pushed around too often.  If they knew they weren’t keeping Morse I don’t understand why they traded Bates unless they really thought he couldn’t do the job.

[NewEra]

2 hours ago, Doc said:

Is the Law Office of Jackson Powers-Johnson a surefire rookie starter and eventual Pro Bowler?

He looks like one to me.  Wouldn’t be happy with him over a WR, but wouldn’t mind it if we were to find a way to also land one of the top 10 WRs in the class.  

[SoonerBillsFan]

2 minutes ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I mean sources saying McGovern was moving to center immediately after they released Morse seemed odd to me. Smokescreen?

No,he can play center.

2 minutes ago, f0neguy said:

I know folks are clamoring for WR in the first round but if there’s a plug and play center available to protect Josh for the next 5-10 years you need to get him.  Morse was really good but he got pushed around too often.  If they knew they weren’t keeping Morse I don’t understand why they traded Bates unless they really thought he couldn’t do the job.

He was traded because they didn't believe he could do the job, McGovern can.

[Buffalo_Stampede]

1 minute ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

No,he can play center.

He was traded because they didn't believe he could do the job, McGovern can.

I know he can. But to release that the day Morse was cut months before camps is weird.

[SoonerBillsFan]

1 minute ago, Buffalo_Stampede said:

I know he can. But to release that the day Morse was cut months before camps is weird.

I think it's 2 fold.  1) that was their offseason plan and just simply announced it. And 2) they were maybe trying to mitigate the fan base crapping themselves wondering what the plan is at Center like they are at Safety?

 

If so,#2 failed for both Safety and Center.

[Big Blitz]

1 hour ago, Beck Water said:

 

 

 

 

Do you mean Zach Frazier, C from WV?

 

Yes.  

[Augie]

I have to wait ten years until I can have an opinion on this.

[stinky finger]

3 hours ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

It's hard for me to hate on the possibility of another Eric Wood anchoring the O-line for another decade. I'd prefer WR or S, but we can get decent fits there in rounds 2-3 and a center would let McGovern stay at LG.

Look - I'm all for safety first, but not in this case.

[BobbyC81]

4 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

I'm all for it.  They have made the offensive line weaker so far and I am scared of what would happen if this is the starting five and something were to happen to mcgovern.  

 

They simply have to add a real center

We have no way of knowing how well McGovern can play center until preseason games, etc.  There’s just as good of a chance that he’s very good as there is for a rookie who’s never played in the NFL.   I’d count on the veteran.

[Mr. WEO]

12 hours ago, NoSaint said:

At 10m you could get a fringe top 5 center, or settle for a not even top 5 WR2

Even so, it’d be less than 10m in cap savings compared to a mediocre wr being the same (and a top guy being 25m)

 1st round has to be an impact player.  That excludes Center.

[frostbitmic]

I understand the reason they cut Morse but I'm not sure of the reasoning for making more changes on the O-Line. Last year McGovern came in and played really well at LG and Dawkins had one of his better seasons playing next to him. By moving McGovern you're making two changes on the line.

 

The way I see it @ Center ...  Morse > McGovern and @ LG ... McGovern > Edwards ... To me that's weakening two positions on the line when a young "Creed Humphrey" type is available to plug and play and be Josh Allen's Center the rest of his career.

 

When was the last time McGovern played Center ? ... I thought the Cowboys experimented with him there but ended up leaving him at Guard.

 

I believe Edwards has played some Center as well and could fill in until a (Frazier or Van Pran in round 2) is ready to go and leave McGovern where he played so well last season, but the coaches see them everyday and I'm just a fan sitting at home on a message board.

 

On any given play there's only one football but there are 5 guys on the line blocking for your QB.

[Ralonzo]

You guys might be surprised if the center is already here and it's not McGovern. Beane wouldn't have moved off both Bates and Morse if he didn't think so. I'd look for if a project C slides into the 4th or 5th with big athletic upside, like Tortellini or whatever.

[MikePJ76]

11 hours ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

McDermott is not going to start a rookie at center.  

If he is a stud he definitely would, anyone would.   They ran left seemingly all game long every week last year and now they have changed that up.

 

if the center spot and left guard are below average or worse than last years performance at the same spots then wr are going to be a secondary issue.  

 

If I ran a team like the bills and had a qb like Allen i would be turning over every rock each season to be my best on the line of scrimmage in front of him, the easier it is for allen the better the team will be.

 

The chiefs and the eagles while andy reid was there always draft on the line of scrimmage.  

 

anyway, I think The Bills would put a rookie center in on day one like like they did last year at right guard if the player was an excellent one.

[Don Otreply]

14 hours ago, Aussie Joe said:

Hear me out Nate!

 

When someone says that they are 99 percent of the time talking about something that is a bad idea ..

 

Just take a WR at 28 … there will definitely be good options still available at that point … just pick the right guy Beane ! 
 

 Center can happen later … WR is definitely the bigger need 
 

 

Agree, don’t make an easy decision hard, just do the smart thing, WR at 28. They still have ten more picks to follow up. 

[Utah John]

I have assumed since the Morse release that this is what Beane's plan is.  I think (actually I hope) that Beane was just throwing a little shade on his plans with the McGovern talk.

 

A great center is a solid investment for a decade.  WRs come and go much more quickly.

Edited March 19 by Utah John

[GunnerBill]

If you could guarantee me I am getting Legette at #60 then sure, I'd live with JPJ at #28 (if he even makes it that far). But nobody can guarantee that. Beane can't know that. If you pick an IOL in round 1 and end up with a WR that doesn't fit the bill later that is just bad asset management, however good JPJ ends up being. 

[nucci]

14 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Literally the late 20s has always been the sweet spot for center's off the board in rd 1

 

But there's probably going to be more impactful players left

 

 

 

 

why literally?

[MikePJ76]

3 minutes ago, Don Otreply said:

Agree, don’t make an easy decision hard, just do the smart thing, WR at 28. They still have ten more picks to follow up. 

The first round should always be the best player available.  They really shouldn't force a WR here when there are more to take throughout the weekend.  Every year teams find players at wr from every round and UDFA.

 

The team has a glaring hole at center, safety and pass rusher.  They really should let the draft come to them, no trading up and take the best available player.  If it is a WR then that is fine that is the right move.  

 

Chasing players and drafting for need in the first round usually gets teams in trouble.  

 

also anyone who thinks center is not an impact position is crazy.  Go back and watch the KC Buffalo game, the Chiefs O Line whipped the Bills defensive line.  

[MikePJ76]

well after reading Tim Graham's athletic article on McGovern just now....I pretty much am wrong and this team in no way will take a center in the first round.  McGovern is the center.

 

https://theathletic.com/5348891/2024/03/19/connor-mcgovern-bills-center-transition/

 

 

So its down to safety, D-line and WR.

[MrEpsYtown]

4 minutes ago, MikePJ76 said:

well after reading Tim Graham's athletic article on McGovern just now....I pretty much am wrong and this team in no way will take a center in the first round.  McGovern is the center.

 

https://theathletic.com/5348891/2024/03/19/connor-mcgovern-bills-center-transition/

 

 

So its down to safety, D-line and WR.

 

Any cliffs notes on the article? I really like the idea of McGovern at center so I wanna feel good about myself!

[N.Y. Orangeman]

People are sleeping on Connor…

[MikePJ76]

28 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

 

Any cliffs notes on the article? I really like the idea of McGovern at center so I wanna feel good about myself!

The Dallas Cowboys drafted him to play center, but over four seasons, McGovern almost exclusively played guard.

When he became a free agent last year and signed with the Buffalo Bills, he was a guard, a guard, a guard.

“But I always had the mindset that I eventually would be the center,” McGovern said. “It came sooner than I thought.”

 

essentially that and he and his wife make pizza on fridays before road games.  He has the stuff flown in from italy. He started it the friday before the jets game they won and continued it for the road games the rest of the way.  

 

[JerseyBills]

Been saying rd 1 C. Usually able to snag the top 1 late rd 1

[Motorin']

2 hours ago, Ralonzo said:

You guys might be surprised if the center is already here and it's not McGovern. Beane wouldn't have moved off both Bates and Morse if he didn't think so. I'd look for if a project C slides into the 4th or 5th with big athletic upside, like Tortellini or whatever.

 

If he's there in the 5th, I think Beaux Limmer is the guy. Very similar athletically to Creed Humphrey, except he put up 39 on the press to Creed's 29 reps. 

 

He played mostly Guard, but filled in at Center this season. Need a guy that can anchor against the bull rush of elite DT's. 

 

[BigDingus]

I will never be against improving the OL!

 

Even if I'd like them to be looking for a young WR1 to eventually take over for Diggs, protecting Josh is just as important. 

 

The Chiefs spent quite a few picks on linemen & now have a solid core of guys. I'd be thrilled for us to do the same. 

[Don Otreply]

2 hours ago, MikePJ76 said:

The first round should always be the best player available.  They really shouldn't force a WR here when there are more to take throughout the weekend.  Every year teams find players at wr from every round and UDFA.

 

The team has a glaring hole at center, safety and pass rusher.  They really should let the draft come to them, no trading up and take the best available player.  If it is a WR then that is fine that is the right move.  

 

Chasing players and drafting for need in the first round usually gets teams in trouble.  

 

also anyone who thinks center is not an impact position is crazy.  Go back and watch the KC Buffalo game, the Chiefs O Line whipped the Bills defensive line.  

BPA “at a position of need”  is always what happens (no matter what anyone tells you) one goes for the biggest impact with the first pick, in this offense as it stands presently it is WR in the first, OLine is always important and quality can be found in the rounds after.  With the history of our defensive scheme and acquisitions failing annually in the playoffs, (for many reasons) it’s is past the moment to not fully fill out the offense.  I for one can not say what Beane will do, the likes of you and I and everyone else here can only hope for the best outcome. Fingers crossed 🤞 

[MrEpsYtown]

18 minutes ago, BigDingus said:

I will never be against improving the OL!

 

Even if I'd like them to be looking for a young WR1 to eventually take over for Diggs, protecting Josh is just as important. 

 

The Chiefs spent quite a few picks on linemen & now have a solid core of guys. I'd be thrilled for us to do the same. 

 

Sorry for the rant Dingus! and this is not directed toward you, just my general angst.

 

I will say that the Chiefs hit on a second-round pick, a center who gets away with holding on every play and got lucky with a sixth with an excellent guard in Trey Smith. They will lose one of those guys in free agency next year. They do not have a LT and their LG and RT were big free-agent signings. 

 

They missed on Darian Kinnard, they missed on Lucas Niang, who knows what Wanya Morris is. They have not done a great job drafting offensive linemen. 

 

I understand they have drafted pretty well, especially 2022. But they have hit on 2 homegrown linemen. We have 3 homegrown linemen starting for us right now. This idea that they are amazing drafters is a misconception. They hit on Mahomes and Chris Jones, two guys drafted by John Dorsey. He also drafted Kelce a while back. KC had a really good 2022 draft and found Rashee Rice last year. The Bills had 34 homegrown players on their 53 last year. The Chiefs had 32. Mahomes and Jones are two of the best in the league and people think Humphrey is amazing because PFF. But that and the Super Bowls blind some of us. They are good drafters who hit on 3 hall of famers with John Dorsey at the helm. 

[Billl]

What if the Chiefs offered Creed and their third for Buffalo's first?  Would that be preferable to drafting a center in the first and then only having over more pick until the end of round 4?

[MrEpsYtown]

2 minutes ago, Billl said:

What if the Chiefs offered Creed and their third for Buffalo's first?  Would that be preferable to drafting a center in the first and then only having over more pick until the end of round 4?

 

IMO, the entire front office should be fired if they made that move. 

[without a drought]

[Putin]

At 28 I want  a player who will start day on one regardless of the position , I don’t believe in ( just take a WR at 28 ) 

 

[Brand J]

1 hour ago, Motorin' said:

 

If he's there in the 5th, I think Beaux Limmer is the guy. Very similar athletically to Creed Humphrey, except he put up 39 on the press to Creed's 29 reps. 

 

He played mostly Guard, but filled in at Center this season. Need a guy that can anchor against the bull rush of elite DT's. 

 

Creed scored a perfect 10 on the RAS. Limmer scored a 9.82 with his biggest detriment being his weight, so you’re not far off with the comparison!

[Motorin']

7 minutes ago, Brand J said:

Creed scored a perfect 10 on the RAS. Limmer scored a 9.82 with his biggest detriment being his weight, so you’re not far off with the comparison!

 

Except Limmer's RAS is based on the Gaurd position, not center. He's the exact same weight as Humphrey and 3/10ths of a inch taller. So basically same body, except I think Limmer has a stronger core. 

 

Very close 10 & 20 yards splits, 3-come and shuttle. Creed has him by a hair.

 

But Limmer's 36.5 vertical is impressive, as is his 39 reps. 

 

Check out his anchor against 360lbs Sweat:

 

 

 

 

[Brand J]

5 minutes ago, Motorin' said:

 

Except Limmer's RAS is based on the Gaurd position, not center. He's the exact same weight as Humphrey and 3/10ths of a inch taller. So basically same body, except I think Limmer has a stronger core. 

 

Very close 10 & 20 yards splits, 3-come and shuttle. Creed has him by a hair.

 

But Limmer's 36.5 vertical is impressive, as is his 39 reps. 

 

Check out his anchor against 360lbs Sweat:

 

 

 

 

What’s his projection? I’d use one of the 4ths with the hope he beats out Edwards at LG. Seems more talented.

[Motorin']

14 minutes ago, Brand J said:

What’s his projection? I’d use one of the 4ths with the hope he beats out Edwards at LG. Seems more talented.

 

4th is where he's projected to go. He gave up 8 pressures and 4 sacks last year. His weakness are being undisciplined at times in pass pro. I think that's something he can improve on with technique and coaching. 

[Big Blitz]

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Don Otreply]

1 hour ago, without a drought said:

Looks like drafting a center high is off the table…, 😂

[BigAl2526]

Beane wants an impact player in the first round.  He doesn't always get it, (Kaiir Elam) but he wants it, and that will determine who he targets.

[SoonerBillsFan]

That train just got derailed big time.

[UConn James]

We’ll see what McGovern is made of at C, but for me the Jerry Ostroski experiment is still pretty fresh in mind. He was moved into the spot and would just get absolutely bull-rushed into the backfield. He looked the part, sure, but it was just terrible results.
 

Better draft a guy who has *actual* starting experience at the spot more recently than / & beyond the level of high school.