The Bills Secondary

[Billsfed1]

I think they’ll be quite good this year, with or without Hairston. 

 

Strong looks pretty strong.  Safeties are good, I’m gonna say Hamlin goes for 4 Int’s this year, maybe 5 if that D-Line works out.

 

If you look at the schedule, take Baltimore away…there’s a lot of lay ups there for a McDermott defense.

 

Somebody is going to eat on the back end.  Benford has never been a stats guy, and I think somehow by default it’s Hamlin because in the regular season at least he has instincts

 

 

 

 

[NeverOutNick]

3 minutes ago, Billsfed1 said:

I think they’ll be quite good this year, with or without Hairston. 

 

Strong looks pretty strong.  Safeties are good, I’m gonna say Hamlin goes for 4 Int’s this year, maybe 5 if that D-Line works out.

 

If you look at the schedule, take Baltimore away…there’s a lot of lay ups there for a McDermott defense.

 

Somebody is going to eat on the back end.  Benford has never been a stats guy, and I think somehow by default it’s Hamlin because in the regular season at least he has instincts

 

 

 

 

Hamlin better not see the field. He does not have “instincts” he’s lost out there. If he’s a regular in our defense it will not end well. Better hope Bishop takes the next step or Hancock is the real deal. Also, please PLEASE Rapp just chill with the trying to kill people every play. We don’t need our corners getting speared from his wreckless head first tackling anymore. I really hope Hancock or Forrest show something and Bishop was worth that 2nd round investment because too often last year our corners were left on islands because Hamlin was clueless in pass coverage and Rapp was head hunting. 

 

BUT after saying all of that I do think our corners will be much improved. A healthy Benford, Taron and Tre along with the speed and upside of Hairston is exciting. 

[BruceVilanch]

I don't think Hamlin is going to start, it think it's Bishop and Rapp for the starting safties

[GunnerBill]

55 minutes ago, NeverOutNick said:

Hamlin better not see the field. He does not have “instincts” he’s lost out there. If he’s a regular in our defense it will not end well. Better hope Bishop takes the next step or Hancock is the real deal. Also, please PLEASE Rapp just chill with the trying to kill people every play. We don’t need our corners getting speared from his wreckless head first tackling anymore. I really hope Hancock or Forrest show something and Bishop was worth that 2nd round investment because too often last year our corners were left on islands because Hamlin was clueless in pass coverage and Rapp was head hunting. 

 

BUT after saying all of that I do think our corners will be much improved. A healthy Benford, Taron and Tre along with the speed and upside of Hairston is exciting. 

 

Hamlin does have instincts and he isn't "lost out there". What he lacks is the physical skillset to be an NFL starter. If he is half a step out of position it is over because he isn't enough of an athlete to compensate. He has to be perfect every time and even the greats are not that. 

 

I also hope Hamlin is not starting for us because he is not that level of talent. I think Rapp, at best, is a passable starter so Bishop developing is pretty important to this team. He was horrible last season. He definitiely DID look lost in coverage every time he stepped on the field. But his run fits did improve slowly as the year went on so hopefully with a full camp and pre-season he can show what he is about.

Edited 17 hours ago by GunnerBill

[Big Blitz]

3 hours ago, Billsfed1 said:

I think they’ll be quite good this year, with or without Hairston. 

 

Strong looks pretty strong.  Safeties are good, I’m gonna say Hamlin goes for 4 Int’s this year, maybe 5 if that D-Line works out.

 

If you look at the schedule, take Baltimore away…there’s a lot of lay ups there for a McDermott defense.

 

Somebody is going to eat on the back end.  Benford has never been a stats guy, and I think somehow by default it’s Hamlin because in the regular season at least he has instincts

 

 

 

 

 

I think CB has improved for sure.  
 

I’m not sold on Safety - I think it’s the weakest position on the team that relies on 2 major “Ifs.”

 

If Rapp stays healthy 

If Bishop makes a jump 

 

 

They were brutal last year against good/great QBs.  
 

Benford is the most important player on this team not named Josh Allen.  

[Pete]

7 hours ago, Billsfed1 said:

I think they’ll be quite good this year, with or without Hairston. 

 

Strong looks pretty strong.  Safeties are good, I’m gonna say Hamlin goes for 4 Int’s this year, maybe 5 if that D-Line works out.

 

If you look at the schedule, take Baltimore away…there’s a lot of lay ups there for a McDermott defense.

 

Somebody is going to eat on the back end.  Benford has never been a stats guy, and I think somehow by default it’s Hamlin because in the regular season at least he has instincts

 

 

 

 

Does Strong look good?  I thought I read or heard somewhere he has not had the best camp this year, and his roster spot is tenuous, unless he steps up

4 hours ago, Big Blitz said:

 

I think CB has improved for sure.  
 

I’m not sold on Safety - I think it’s the weakest position on the team that relies on 2 major “Ifs.”

 

If Rapp stays healthy 

If Bishop makes a jump 

 

 

They were brutal last year against good/great QBs.  
 

Benford is the most important player on this team not named Josh Allen.  

Roos, and Im thinking and hoping TJ Sanders I think are very important 

[K-9]

6 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Hamlin does have instincts and he isn't "lost out there". What he lacks is the physical skillset to be an NFL starter. If he is half a step out of position it is over because he isn't enough of an athlete to compensate. He has to be perfect every time and even the greats are not that. 

 

I also hope Hamlin is not starting for us because he is not that level of talent. I think Rapp, at best, is a passable starter so Bishop developing is pretty important to this team. He was horrible last season. He definitiely DID look lost in coverage every time he stepped on the field. But his run fits did improve slowly as the year went on so hopefully with a full camp and pre-season he can show what he is about.

Yep. Doesn’t matter how good your instincts are if you don’t have the athleticism to get to the place you know you have to be. 

[TheWeatherMan]

7 hours ago, BruceVilanch said:

I don't think Hamlin is going to start, it think it's Bishop and Rapp for the starting safties

I hope this is the case, still think the Bills should pick up one of the experienced vets still on the market and part with Hamlin.  If Bishop still isn’t ready we absolutely cannot go with Hamlin, plus we have zero quality depth..

[syhuang]

4 hours ago, Big Blitz said:

 

I think CB has improved for sure.  
 

I’m not sold on Safety - I think it’s the weakest position on the team that relies on 2 major “Ifs.”

 

If Rapp stays healthy 

If Bishop makes a jump 

 

 

They were brutal last year against good/great QBs.  
 

Benford is the most important player on this team not named Josh Allen.  

yes, Benford is definitely the most important player behind Josh.

 

 

[Augie]

8 hours ago, BruceVilanch said:

I don't think Hamlin is going to start, it think it's Bishop and Rapp for the starting safties

 

That certainly seems to be what they are hoping for based on training camp reps. Fingers crossed that they are a good fit back there. Bishop seemed to have so far to go, but it seems they both have been putting in the work. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

Last year we had Benford/Douglas/Elam as our top 3 boundary CBs. So it's not a high bar to clear. The trio of Benford/White/Max should be much improved. 

 

It sound like Bishop is going to get the chance to wrestle the S job away from Damar. That would be absolutely huge for us. 

 

Add in a (hopefully) improved pass rush and they won't have to cover long before the ball has to come out. An improvement to the pass rush plus more talent in the DB room would be a real game changer to the make up of this team. 

[GolfandBills]

8 hours ago, Billsfed1 said:

I think they’ll be quite good this year, with or without Hairston. 

 

Strong looks pretty strong.  Safeties are good, I’m gonna say Hamlin goes for 4 Int’s this year, maybe 5 if that D-Line works out.

 

If you look at the schedule, take Baltimore away…there’s a lot of lay ups there for a McDermott defense.

 

Somebody is going to eat on the back end.  Benford has never been a stats guy, and I think somehow by default it’s Hamlin because in the regular season at least he has instincts

 

 

 

 

Lost me at Hamlin 4/5 INTs

[oldmanfan]

We tend to think we need All Pro level guys at each position which is of course impossible.  But we should be pretty solid in the defensive backfield.  At corner now with Hairston OK you’re going to have Benford as a shut down type guy, then Hairston and Tre battling it out.  And a lot of depth with guys experienced in the system including Jackson, Hardy, and my boy Ingram, plus strong as a rookie.  The slot you have Taron, you have Cam Lewis (who is a solid backup there and at S), and Hancock.  I actually think this might be the weakest part of our DBs as Taron seemed to take a step back last year.

 

At safety we’re all still a bit spoiled by the Hyde/Poyer due we had for so many years, but Rapp now has a year in the defense under his belt, Bishop as well plus the entire camp this year, and they will be starters.  Then you have Forrest and Hamlin as veteran depth, Hancock to develop, and of course Cam Lewis if need be.

 

I think the DBs should also benefit from better rush from the guys up front.

[Brand J]

The most unforgivable Hamlin play - to me - was that opening TD Derrick Henry took for 70 or whatever it was. He lacked anything on the play - instincts, positioning, athleticism, aggression - he was late to attack the hole Henry sprang through and failed to take a good angle to cut him off. The big run he gave up to Jonathan Taylor was pretty similar. If you’re going to be a marginal athlete, you have to know your angles. Rapp is a perfect example - he’s a worse athlete than Hamlin but often makes the stops a safety should. 

[Dillenger4]

I love that Rapp hits like a missile! He flat out stopped Miami in Miami last year with some tremendous bone jarring hits! He is underrated. I know a lot of non Bills fans that speak highly of him. I hate the dweebs that say "he hits his own players"!! It's football. It happens! Because he plays hard at high speed. Poyer did it too in his prime. Hard hitters hit. Rapp hits. We are lucky.

Hamlin - he hits like Tre White.

Also - Max Hairston hits hard!!! We need him healthy.

[Fleezoid]

2 hours ago, Brand J said:

The most unforgivable Hamlin play - to me - was that opening TD Derrick Henry took for 70 or whatever it was. He lacked anything on the play - instincts, positioning, athleticism, aggression - he was late to attack the hole Henry sprang through and failed to take a good angle to cut him off. The big run he gave up to Jonathan Taylor was pretty similar. If you’re going to be a marginal athlete, you have to know your angles. Rapp is a perfect example - he’s a worse athlete than Hamlin but often makes the stops a safety should. 

 

He played mostly solid to finish the season last year, but I absolutely think we've seen his ceiling. As a lot here have said, he's a quality back-up, but nothing to rave about as a starter. If I remember, there's other, more subtle examples of his positioning/instinct issues. If he's the starter, I can absolutely see those issues cropping up again. 

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

11 hours ago, NeverOutNick said:

Hamlin better not see the field. He does not have “instincts” he’s lost out there. If he’s a regular in our defense it will not end well. Better hope Bishop takes the next step or Hancock is the real deal. Also, please PLEASE Rapp just chill with the trying to kill people every play. We don’t need our corners getting speared from his wreckless head first tackling anymore. I really hope Hancock or Forrest show something and Bishop was worth that 2nd round investment because too often last year our corners were left on islands because Hamlin was clueless in pass coverage and Rapp was head hunting. 

 

BUT after saying all of that I do think our corners will be much improved. A healthy Benford, Taron and Tre along with the speed and upside of Hairston is exciting. 

Hamlin is not “lost” out there. He’s more often than not in the right position. Safeties are extremely important in McD’s scheme. I don’t think he would have somebody out there that’s totally clueless. He’s a 6th round pick so he lacks the athleticism to be a ball hawk, but solid depth and great value. Last year really proved to me that he belongs on the team and is not some pity case because of what happened to him.