Training Camp battles in the secondary: What will win out, youth or experience??

[Shaw66]

5 hours ago, ***** said:

This is McDermott we are talking about.  When was the last time a rookie got a big role? 
 

he will go with experience a thousand times out of a hundred. 
 

if white can run he will start 

I’m curious to know where and how the late round DBs are playing.  There was talk of one or both playing safety? The other being a nickle?? 
 

where are they getting reps? 

Yes. Total no-brainer as far as I'm concerned. Experience starts, youth works its way into more snaps as the season progresses. He does it that way all the time. 

 

The objective for McDermott's players is to execute the play as called 100% of the time - that means go in the right direction, go to the right place, react to what the offense is doing in the right way.  If White does that 100% of the time and Hairston is at 95%, White will play even if on Hairston's 95% he's a half-step faster.  McDermott does it that way he abhors having 5% of plays where a player has left a hole in what is truly a team defense. 

 

The result is that the younger players sit until they can execute more or less flawlessly.  Bishop sat, Bernard sat. It wasn't so true in the earlier years, because no one knew the defense as well as McDermott wanted, so Edmunds and Milano played a lot, even though they were making mistakes. Now, it's different. 

 

The only way Hairston starts in September is if (1) he's a really quick learner or (2) White has nothing left and Hairston has learned at least enough to make him better than Jackson and Lewis. 

 

Edited July 26 by Shaw66

[schoolhouserock]

Experience then youth then experience again.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

Hamlin is SOLID DEPTH, but we need him to remain that way ! I’m hoping Bishop has a killer offseason. He is no longer a rookie so hopefully McD will show enough balls to start him. A backfield of Bishop/Rapp is a physical one I would love to see with Hamlin spelling Bishop occasionally on deep pass plays.

[Pete]

Secondary is where I am paying attention to cuts mostly.  Special teams will determine how many Secondary players we keep. If we keep Coddrington, that cut will come from Secondary.  Beane will not gift 2025 Secondary draft picks.  So very, very interesting 

[Pete]

Ingram is making it do to his play and being a core special team player.  Ingram,Gilliam, Cam, Buffalo Joe are core teamers.  Rookies that play ST upped their chances of making Final Roster.

[Victory Formation]

14 hours ago, Virgil said:

I could see that argument too.  Someone with potential is going to be cut.  Typically I’d say they’ll go younger for the cheaper salary, but most of these guys are both young and cheap, so who knows 🤷🏻‍♂️.  
 

I think guys like Ingram and Lewis are key, as they can play multiple positions and allows them to carry more depth at other positions. 
 

I don’t think I saw Tre coming back as strong as he’s shown so far.   Because I really didn’t think he was going to make the team when we signed him.  I still could see him being the odd man out with his salary.  While not much, Benford is #1 and we drafted Hairston in the first.  Is Tre worth that much on the bench when you have other young guys cheaper you want to develop?

 

I love Tre, but it won’t shock me if he’s cut. 

There’s just so much talent on the DL and in the secondary that I hope that we carry an extra player or two there. I know Hoecht and Ogunjobi will also be suspended for the first six games of the season as well, so maybe we can sneak a few players onto our 53 man roster until they come back..

 

And I hope this doesn’t happen but there may be a few injuries by the time that Hoecht and Ogunjobi become available so it may be a good idea to hang onto some of these guys, just in case..

 

Id also like to see Buffalo carry only two QBs and maybe we should consider carrying only 5 WRs instead of six possibly because our depth at WR is nowhere near as good as our depth at DB/secondary.. WR#6 is probably marginally better than WR#7 on the practice squad..

 

And I do think TreDavious will make the roster. He will be CB#3 behind Benford and Hairston..

[NewEra]

I feel like there are going to be some VERY tough decisions to make.  Such a great problem to have.  Seems like one of those years where Beane can snag a late draft pick or 2 for guys he was going to cut.  
 

I expect Cam Lewis to ball out and win the spot we were all hoping Hancock would land.  Having years in this system is going to turn this into a Hamlin vs Bishop competition last year.  Cam is going to play faster and look like the much better player throughout most of camp.  Or do they keep current lesser player and gamble on youth, traits and upside, knowing it’s a complex system and will take time to learn. 
 

is there room for both Cam and Hancock?  Doubtful.  

 

Then there’s Jamarcus Ingram.  I think he’s solid player and worthy of other rosters.  Seems like he has no shot to make this team
 

Dane Jackson- I can see him playing his best football knowing this might be his last opportunity to solidify himself as an NFL player.  Doesn’t seem like there room for him on the 53 though.  
 

Who would make it to the PS?  Miami is desperate for DBs, I’d expect them to look into any db we cut.   Would love to see another former bill spurn the fins.  Kudos to Rasul.  

[Pete]

1 minute ago, NewEra said:

I feel like there are going to be some VERY tough decisions to make.  Such a great problem to have.  Seems like one of those years where Beane can snag a late draft pick or 2 for guys he was going to cut.  
 

I expect Cam Lewis to ball out and win the spot we were all hoping Hancock would land.  Having years in this system is going to turn this into a Hamlin vs Bishop competition last year.  Cam is going to play faster and look like the much better player throughout most of camp.  Or do they keep current lesser player and gamble on youth, traits and upside, knowing it’s a complex system and will take time to learn. 
 

is there room for both Cam and Hancock?  Doubtful.  

 

Then there’s Jamarcus Ingram.  I think he’s solid player and worthy of other rosters.  Seems like he has no shot to make this team
 

Dane Jackson- I can see him playing his best football knowing this might be his last opportunity to solidify himself as an NFL player.  Doesn’t seem like there room for him on the 53 though.  
 

Who would make it to the PS?  Miami is desperate for DBs, I’d expect them to look into any db we cut.   Would love to see another former bill spurn the fins.  Kudos to Rasul.  

My guess is Hancock has an “injury” and is placed on IR.  Unless we make trade or two

[NewEra]

39 minutes ago, Pete said:

My guess is Hancock has an “injury” and is placed on IR.  Unless we make trade or two

Sounds about right

[BillsFanForever19]

My prediction?

 

Boundary CB:

Christian Benford 

Maxwell Hairston

Tre'Davious White

Dorian Strong

 

Nickel:

Taron Johnson

 

Safety:

Taylor Rapp

Cole Bishop

Damar Hamlin 

 

Nickel/Safety Hybrid:

Jordan Hancock

Cam Lewis

 

"CB" (Really just a ST Returner):

Brandon Codrington

 

I could see a scenario where Laviska Shenault beats out Codrington, in which case he'd be carried as an extra "WR' instead.

 

I could also see a scenario where Jordan Hancock looks ahead of schedule, in which case Cam Lewis is released and i'd imagine Ja'Marcus Ingram is kept (as I imagine they'd not want to cut both from Special Teams).

Edited July 27 by BillsFanForever19

[Special K]

Updating after the first week of camp:

 

It looks like the Hairston injury all but locks Tre White as the starter in week 1....I think there was a high chance Tre was winning it before the injury anyway.

 

It also appears Bishop has the Safety job locked up as well, even though he is missing today's practice with a quad injury.

 

As for the final two battles, I think the Bills will use the two open roster spots due to the 6 game suspensions of Larry O and Hoecht to carry Lewis/Hancock and Jackson/Strong onto the roster at least for the first 6 weeks.....they might have some tough decisions to make if everyone on the roster is still healthy at that point.

 

I really hope Hancock and Strong really show out in the preseason games....those are two of the players I will be watching closely next Saturday!

 

Edited Thursday at 07:09 PM by Special K

[Malazan]

It seems like the ones with the most ability to walk without limping will win out.

Edited Thursday at 06:58 PM by Malazan

[Sierra Foothills]

On 7/22/2025 at 4:24 PM, Special K said:

What do you think will win out....youth or experience?