McDermott - "Still looking for that other safety"

[MikePJ76]

23 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Forrest was supposed to push for this role. Has been invisible. Should not have to depend on a 5th rd rookie to push bishop. I guess Lewis is an option but not a starting caliber guy. With negative 600k in cap space I don’t see them signing anyone decent. Maybe Po returns and is ok being paid in candy like lil dirty. Not sure his wife/agent would ok it. 

Nothing about Forrest should have led anyone to believe he had any chance to be a starting player here.  
 

 

[SoonerBillsFan]

52 minutes ago, Captain_Quint said:

Turns out that he sucks so far. 

That sucks. I had high hopes as before his scapula injury, he was knocking the crap outta people and could cover decently.  I wonder if he hasn't had the chance because McDermott was forcing the opportunities to Bishop?

[HappyDays]

So Bishop is still getting the 1st team reps in practice at least.

[SoonerBillsFan]

4 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

So Bishop is still getting the 1st team reps in practice at least.

We have Safeys now?  Is that a new hybrid position?

 

[balln]

48 minutes ago, YattaOkasan said:

Are you aware that Rapp was out for all those games (he left the ravens game in the first half and the second half is where we almost blew it)?  I think you might because of the next line, but wasnt sure cause in the first line you said you thought Rapp starting was a joke.  Seems like Rapp could potentially hold down the fort (though he has lapses at times and is not fleet of foot).  

I’ll Help you. RAPP and HAMLIN. 
 

rapp got roasted v Denver on deep shot td 

 

he’s a replacement level starter. 
 

pff thinks he’s worse. 55 grade for 2024. Yikes

 

 

[Billsatlastin2018]

Capitain Oblivious Quote of the Day!

Can Gabe do double duty at Safety?

[balln]

11 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

So Bishop is still getting the 1st team reps in practice at least.

Just such a weird and bold McD comment this am. “We’re still trying to figure out who’s playing next to Rapp”

 

like is he playing mind games w bishop? Just weird. Would be easy to just say “yea bishop has missed time and only had one practice before the game. He’ll be better. We have love and confidence in him.”

 

NOPE. instead he says what he said. Bizarre

[GASabresIUFan]

Is it a bad thing this late in camp that a team allegedly going to compete for a Super Bowl has no idea, outside of Benford and T Johnson, who the other 3 starters are in the D backfield? White looks old. Rapp is injured again. Bishop is coming off an injury and looked bad against the Bears. Hairston is now "healthy" but is a rookie with very few reps in camp so far.  Hamlin looks like a solid depth, but shouldn't start.  The rest of the bowl of Spaghetti, Forrest, Herndon, Jackson, Lewis, Strong, Hancock and Ingram aren't ready to be starters (Strong & Hancock) or (aren't good enough to start (Lewis) or so bad they should even be on the roster (everyone else).

Edited Tuesday at 08:00 PM by GASabresIUFan

[folz]

3 hours ago, Bockeye said:

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/buffalo-bills/news/buffalo-bills-may-pursue-all-pro-safety-after-38-0-loss-bears-justin-simmons-atlanta-falcons-denver-broncos-damar-hamlin-cole-bishop/e2466385d11a2b7d26a06442

 

This would be a great move at this point. 

 

Justin Simmons is 31 years old. He's going into year 10 of his NFL career (8 years in Denver, 1 year in ATL).

 

He played for Atlanta last year. He had 62 tackles, 2 INTs, and 7 Passes defended.

From 2019-2023, he either made the pro bowl and/or 2nd team All-Pro (AP) each season.

 

At the start of free agency, he was looking for a two-year deal worth about $10-14 million per year. I'm sure that number has gone down, considering it's August and the season is almost upon us. He played on a one-year deal with Atlanta last year for $8 million. SportTrac currently has his market value at $5,784,805.

 

Would be great to have him, but money and age are a concern. Sounds like his coverage ability has fallen off a bit in the last couple of years (according to some). Yet, he'd probably still be an improvement (even if he's slowing down). If Beane can find the money, I wouldn't be opposed to a 1-year deal.

 

 

https://www.si.com/nfl/bills/news/free-agency-3-safeties-bills-should-pursue-following-sunday-defensive-meltdown

 

This article suggests two other candidates, besides Simmons: 1. Jordan Poyer and 2. Marcus Maye. I don't think we'd bring Poyer back, there is a reason we moved on when we did. He did still have 98 tackles and three passes defended for the Dolphins last year---but it seems that most Dolphins fans were not thrilled with his play last year (despite the big tackle number). Poyer is 34 years old. Maye is 32 years old and the last time he started a full season was 2020. He played for two teams last year (Miami and then LAC) with 4 starts, 42 tackles, and 2 PD. Not really sure if he is even an upgrade from Hamlin at this point. In 2020, his last full season as a starter, he had 88 tackles, 11 PD, 2 INTs, 2 sacks, 2 FF, 1 FR (but that was 5 years ago). Last year, Damar had 89 tackles, 5 PD, 2 INTs, 1 FR (for reference).

 

 

Other FA options:

Marcus Williams. 28 years old. 5 years in NO, 3 in Baltimore. Good player, but has missed 21 of his last 51 games. 

Vonn Bell. 30 years old. Played for NO, CIN, and CAR. Again good player. Missed 4 games in 2023, started 11 of 17 games last year.

Tashaun Gipson. 35 years old. Played in 9 games for San Fran last year, only starting 1 game.

John Johnson III. 29 years old. Played for Rams and Browns. Some good years stat-wise, but last year only played two games (fractured scapula) and only started 8 games in 2023.

 

There is a reason most of these guys are still available: age/injuries/slowing down. There is always a chance of picking up someone after team cuts, but from the few articles I could find on the subject, it does not appear that any higher-end safeties (or better than what we already have) are expecting the chop. But there could be a surprise.

 

But yeah, it doesn't look like there is much help out there, even if we had the money. Simmons is probably the best of the bunch, if we were to bring someone in. But again, he too seems to be slowing down a bit, so even he is a bit of a gamble at this point (at somewhere between the $6-8 million price tag he'd carry).

 

 

Hoping the light comes on for Cole sooner rather than later. 🤞

[gomper]

3 hours ago, Fleezoid said:

 

I agree. They'd be nuts if they don't do it.  A patchwork secondary with Hamlin getting significant playing time is not the answer. 

Totally agree. SOMETHING has to be done. You can't have another season of hiding Damar. The CB2 situation is not good either. With all the concern about the Dline, and rightfully so, the secondary worries me more. The organization obviously knows this. Beane has to earn his $ here and make it happen. 

[eball]

35 minutes ago, HappyDays said:

So Bishop is still getting the 1st team reps in practice at least.

 

And neither left practice with an injury!

 

[ngbills]

Justin Simmons is just a call away

[Simon]

2 minutes ago, eball said:

 

And neither left practice with an injury!

 

 

Careful.

I can totally picture Rapp jumping in his car after practice and then running over Bishop to get to a jaywalker in a Dolphins jersey.

[uticaclub]

1 hour ago, MikePJ76 said:

Nothing about Forrest should have led anyone to believe he had any chance to be a starting player here.  
 

 

Same could have said about Poyer

[jkeerie]

1 hour ago, YoloinOhio said:

Forrest was supposed to push for this role. Has been invisible. Should not have to depend on a 5th rd rookie to push bishop. I guess Lewis is an option but not a starting caliber guy. With negative 600k in cap space I don’t see them signing anyone decent. Maybe Po returns and is ok being paid in candy like lil dirty. Not sure his wife/agent would ok it. 

McD said in his presser today that Forrest is actually progressing in the defense.  Likely he'll play in the next preseason game.

[NeverOutNick]

3 hours ago, NickelCity said:

I'd love to see what Hancock next to Rapp looks like, but it's a lot to put on a rookie. 

Can’t be any worse than plugging Hamlin or Lewis out there instead. Give it a shot, kid seems to be smart from what I’ve seen at OSU

[Rubes]

Who knows, maybe we'll pull another Lawyer Milloy again right before the season starts.

 

[ticketssince61]

4 hours ago, Bockeye said:

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/buffalo-bills/news/buffalo-bills-may-pursue-all-pro-safety-after-38-0-loss-bears-justin-simmons-atlanta-falcons-denver-broncos-damar-hamlin-cole-bishop/e2466385d11a2b7d26a06442

 

This would be a great move at this point. 

 

 But he is 32 years old. Does he have anything left in the tank?   

 

Look at Poyer last year with the dolphins who was way too old and way too slow

[Brand J]

For what it’s worth, Simmons had a poor rating from PFF, a 59.9 which ranked 113th among 171 qualifying safeties in 2024. The Falcons also decided not to bring him back, BUT you’d still have to believe a 3 time All Pro who’s up there in age is still better than what we have. 

[CincyBillsFan]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I don't recall McD declaring Bishop the starter at safety.  We all thought that he had the inside angle for the job but did McD ever make it official?  So to me there is nothing unusual for him to remind EVERYONE that the competition for that safety spot is still open.  Basic football coaching 101.

 

As for Bishop the situation is actually simple:  if he stays healthy and is able to fully practice over the next 3 weeks he's got the job.