Which Former Bill Are We Going to Miss The Most

[boyst]

30 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Exactly!! The drop off from the guys playing to reserves on the Bills has been a lot smaller than most other teams. Eventually it catches up but a bunch of the guys I mentioned earlier played in important moments and the difference was minimal. 

The chiefs problem last year was the drop behind their top half. The problem with the rVens the last many years is the same and the age of their guys makes it hard to depend on them. 

[Kirby Jackson]

31 minutes ago, boyst said:

The chiefs problem last year was the drop behind their top half. The problem with the rVens the last many years is the same and the age of their guys makes it hard to depend on them. 

For sure.

 

I would say that the depth of the Bills roster has been the biggest reason for the sustained success outside of Josh. They have had injury issues like all teams do but have made it through remarkably well comparatively. Eventually it caught up with guys like Klein, Dane and Savage but they were a long way down the depth chart.

[13 Seconds to Mars]

5 hours ago, NoName said:

Trying to figure out which offseason loss could quietly hurt the Bills the most this year. 

 

Could be a starter, role player, depth piece, leadership guy, coordinator favorite, whatever.

 

Who's the one player from last year's team that you think we're going to miss more than people realize?

David Edwards was a mauler and will certainly be missed in the run game. I’m hoping the Bills pass it more anyway. 

[Urban Achievers]

It’s impossible to miss Curtis Samuel…. he was never there to begin with was he? 

[boyst]

30 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

For sure.

 

I would say that the depth of the Bills roster has been the biggest reason for the sustained success outside of Josh. They have had injury issues like all teams do but have made it through remarkably well comparatively. Eventually it caught up with guys like Klein, Dane and Savage but they were a long way down the depth chart.

Klein was the fault of McD who didn't pull him and go dime package to play 6 db sets. Cam lewis (iirc) went in and played Kelce well and we shut down the chiefs offense after that. It was too little too late to overcome the chiefs 12 players on the field. 

[Maine-iac]

Had to go with Milano because when healthy LB was never a problems spot and when not healthy it was touch and go at times.  I'd like to mention Daquan Jones as an honorable mention though.  He's another one that when he was healthy he had stretches where he was one of the best on the field and the only guy who remotely resembled a 1 tech although still could pressure a QB at times.  2023 in the first 4 games he had 2.5 sacks and 5 QB hits before he got injured in game 5.  Just never seemed to put it all together for a whole season.

[BuffaloBillies]

My next generation of Bills fans (son and daughter) fell IN LOVE with Tre, and I convinced them to throw Milano in there too, which they did. Those 2 guys are big reasons why my kids love the Bills and always will now (we're in Ohio). If nothing pans out for them somewhere else, I'm hoping they can stay involved with the Bills in some capacity. Tre do the Hyde thing on the PS (break glass in case of emergency)? 

[Freddie's Dead]

I went with Cookie.  It looked toward the end of last season that he'd finally healed.  I thought the Bills would at least bring him back for a year.

[BillsSbSoon]

If the plan is to run the ball as much as we have then I would say Gilliam. I don’t think it’s going to be quite as run heavy though 

[Mark Vader]

6 hours ago, Nihilarian said:

Poyer!

He played very good last season, I was surprised.

[PonyBoy]

Milano was such a baller & a gamer!

Dang injuries. Definitely a who's who of might have beens if he stayed healthy. 

 

A somewhat close 2nd choice Gilliam 

[T master]

I put Milano but there are many others along with him. Phillips has always been one of my favorite players, then there's Tre he was drafted here & was creme of the crop at one point Gilliam was another favorite .

 

AJ was a very steady dependable player too & usually you could depend on him showing up at the most opportune times so this team will be much different for sure Oh & Daquon too I'm glad he got to finish out here in Buffalo being a home town guy .

 

The OP forgot PO he played pretty well last year & will always be a Bill in my book !!

[FLFan]

I voted David Edward’s, but if Josh misses any time, it will be Trubisky, hands down.  

[JMM]

I voted Gilliam, but only because there wasn't a NONE OF THE ABOVE option. None of them truly moved the needle other than Milano in his prime. 

[Augie]

 

How much would Bruce Smith in his prime move the needle in Vegas? 

 

 

 

Edited May 29 by Augie

[vincec]

8 hours ago, Bray Wyatt said:

I went with Milano as he was a veteran presence in probably weakest position group

He was looking good at the end of last season too.

[agilen]

9 hours ago, frostbitmic said:

Matt Prater

I voted Milano because he was on the list, but sadly this is 100% the answer 

[Sierra Foothills]

9 hours ago, NoName said:

Trying to figure out which offseason loss could quietly hurt the Bills the most this year. 

 

Could be a starter, role player, depth piece, leadership guy, coordinator favorite, whatever.

 

Who's the one player from last year's team that you think we're going to miss more than people realize?

 

I agree with @Kirby Jackson... great topic

 

8 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

OP you left off Bosa and Shaq.  I'd take Bosa back as a situational pass rusher on a 1 year deal again.

 

@NoName, I agree that Bosa should be included. I also like the suggestion that Aaron Kromer be included.

 

And interestingly and understandably you have longtime Bill Shaq Lawson who technically did sign to the Practice Squad last November... but I think you need to put Shaq Thompson on the poll. He played an instrumental role in shoring up the defense during a time of need.

 

8 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Crazy to think a strong argument could be made for Gilliam. 

 

7 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

Yeah, I’m with the Gilliam thing.  Many don’t appreciate the value of a high performing Fullback.  The rest of the list is almost depressing for not being impressive.

 

I feel the opposite.

 

I'm heartened by both the list of players not returning and the ones that are replacing them.

 

It looks to me like we shouldn't miss a beat.

 

4 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I would say that the depth of the Bills roster has been the biggest reason for the sustained success outside of Josh. They have had injury issues like all teams do but have made it through remarkably well comparatively. Eventually it caught up with guys like Klein, Dane and Savage but they were a long way down the depth chart.

 

I think that's true but the counter is that (especially on the defensive side) because the Bills hung onto a lot of veteran mainstays that there are young players that maybe didn't have the opportunity to develop and also the team probably missed out on a few compensatory pick opportunities.

 

I wonder if the Bills roster building philosophy will change now with a new HC.

 

[Ga boy]

9 hours ago, MJS said:

I think he was appreciated appropriately.

I appreciated Gillian appropriately.

[JimBob2232]

"Miss the most" vs "Hurts the team the most" are 2 different criteria.