Dee Alford as the punt returner

[Kirby Jackson]

The Bills released their depth chart. I didn’t see that one coming.

[billsfan89]

I wonder if they will call up the WR from the PS to do the duties for week 1? Alford is a very critical defender having him return punts seems foolish. Like if someone gets hurt and you gotta throw a guy in there fine but to go into the game like that? 

[Kirby Jackson]

Just now, billsfan89 said:

I wonder if they will call up the WR from the PS to do the duties for week 1? Alford is a very critical defender having him return punts seems foolish. Like if someone gets hurt and you gotta throw a guy in there fine but to go into the game like that? 

In a weird way, it’s a credit to Hancock. If something were to happen to Alford they are comfortable with Hancock.

[BillytheKid]

This was discussed the last couple of days on Sals podcast and also on WGR.

 

Dee returned punts in 2023 for the falcons but they said what most likely will happen is Dortch will get called up to be the punt returner for the game. Especially if Shakir can’t play. I haven’t seen what the actual injuries list is yet or if it has come out yet. 
 

Supposed to be out today. Even if Shakir does play, they were saying good chance Dortch gets called up anyways. We will see. 

Edited September 9 by BillytheKid

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

13 minutes ago, billsfan89 said:

I wonder if they will call up the WR from the PS to do the duties for week 1? Alford is a very critical defender having him return punts seems foolish. Like if someone gets hurt and you gotta throw a guy in there fine but to go into the game like that? 

 

Unless Shakir can't play, I'd be surprised as the likely callup would be Dortch and since you can only call him up 3 times, would think you wouldn't want to use them up so early in the season.  You never know by week 4 or later one of the other WR could get hurt and out extended time, so then could move Dortch to 53.  I'd think to would give Alford a chance first to see how it goes.

[The Jokeman]

Just now, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Unless Shakir can't play, I'd be surprised as the likely callup would be Dortch and since you can only call him up 3 times, would think you wouldn't want to use them up so early in the season.  You never know by week 4 or later one of the other WR could get hurt and out extended time, so then could move Dortch to 53.  I'd think to would give Alford a chance first to see how it goes.

It makes sense to go Alford short term to save Dortch call ups for as need necessary thing or if he has to pull in WR duty too. I say Week 1 go in with the 53 you got and make changes accordingly for Week 2. 

[WhitewalkerInPhilly]

8 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

The Bills released their depth chart. I didn’t see that one coming.

I won't be shocked if the team makes a move later but as I mentioned in the main thread I think the decision is more about utility and flexibility then excellence

 

Alford did punts for the Falcons in a similar way to Shakir did here except Shakir is MUCH more valuable in his main role.

 

In Alford we have (hopefully) average slot, outside CB and a punt returner all on the same game day slot 

[Logic]

Salary cap and roster spot shenanigans. Nothing more.

Greg Dortch will be called up three times, and then he'll be activated the 53-man roster. There's a chance between now and then that an injury or roster move elsewhere creates the needed space.

Dortch is your PR and WR5. Skyler Bell potentially inactive for the first several games of his rookie season.

 

[NickelCity]

24 minutes ago, WhitewalkerInPhilly said:

In Alford we have (hopefully) average slot, outside CB and a punt returner all on the same game day slot 

 

I have higher expectations for Alford than being an average slot. I think he could be quite good. It is nice that we have Hancock available behind him, though. 

[mannc]

1 hour ago, Kirby Jackson said:

In a weird way, it’s a credit to Hancock. If something were to happen to Alford they are comfortable with Hancock.

I doubt Alford will return any punts.  They will call up Dortch from the PS, IMO.

[ChevyVanMiller]

I think this might be the "Vested Veteran" rule at play. If a player (with a minimum 4 years of NFL experience) is on the roster for the first regular-season game, their base salary locks in as 100% guaranteed, meaning the team is on the hook for the full amount even if they release the player the very next day.

 

I think Alford will do the job week 1, then Greg Dortch will take over once his salary won't be guaranteed.

[Dillenger4]

LOL - Alford as punt returner? Is Josh the next one up?? In no world we live in will Dee be anywhere close to returning a punt. He is way too valuable to our D. So underrated on this board. Jim LenRod went out and got him as our second FA acquisition. He's the real deal.

[Kirby Jackson]

2 minutes ago, Dillenger4 said:

LOL - Alford as punt returner? Is Josh the next one up?? In no world we live in will Dee be anywhere close to returning a punt. He is way too valuable to our D. So underrated on this board. Jim LenRod went out and got him as our second FA acquisition. He's the real deal.

I don’t disagree. The Bills released a depth chart with Alford as punt returner 1. This isn’t us discussing it. This is what they said will happen.

[CA OC Bills Fan]

As a few others have said, Dortch will be the punt returner. Whether it's due to his salary being guaranteed if he's on the opening day roster or if it's just they don't want to put him (or any of the other veterans currently on the PS) on the roster until they have a few weeks to see where they are injury wise or growth wise, I fully expect Dortch to be a PS call up for week 1 and likely weeks 2 and 3 before deciding who to cut or put on IR to create room for him. 

 

Also, seems obvious but in case some didn't think about it, PS players would never show on the depth chart. So, since Dortch is on the PS, they had to show someone else as the returner.

Edited September 9 by CA OC Bills Fan

[Cash]

1 hour ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

 

Unless Shakir can't play, I'd be surprised as the likely callup would be Dortch and since you can only call him up 3 times, would think you wouldn't want to use them up so early in the season.  You never know by week 4 or later one of the other WR could get hurt and out extended time, so then could move Dortch to 53.  I'd think to would give Alford a chance first to see how it goes.

 

The bolded is more or less an argument for calling Dortch up early and often - you might have an open spot on the 53 before you run out of call-ups, so why wait?

 

Personally, I make no prediction on what they're going to do with either call-ups or PR in week 1.  I'm very curious to see what they do, but I can't claim to have a bead on them yet.  Beyond punt returning, I also want to see what they do with special teams in general.  This is the first opening-day 53 in a long time that doesn't have a WR who is a core special teamer.  In no particular order, we had at least one of Kumerow, Sherfield, Hollins, Shavers, Andre Roberts, or Andre Holmes active going back to McDermott's first year.  Assuming they don't call up Sherfield to fill that role, where do those core special teams snaps come from instead of backup WR?  I'm looking forward to finding out.

[pennstate10]

1 hour ago, Logic said:

Salary cap and roster spot shenanigans. Nothing more.

Greg Dortch will be called up three times, and then he'll be activated the 53-man roster. There's a chance between now and then that an injury or roster move elsewhere creates the needed space.

Dortch is your PR and WR5. Skyler Bell potentially inactive for the first several games of his rookie season.

 

This is the answer. Dortch is the punt returner for the first 3 games. If he does poorly, he’s out. If he does well, he’s signed to the 53. 

[eball]

48 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I don’t disagree. The Bills released a depth chart with Alford as punt returner 1. This isn’t us discussing it. This is what they said will happen.

 

Are teams required by the league to release depth charts? Is there any penalty for doing something other than what is on said depth chart?

 

I've said it in other places...these depth charts are meaningless to me with all of the different personnel groupings and substitutions. I don't think having Dee Alford currently listed as the first PR means diddly poo if they decide on gameday to do something else.

 

[Scott7975]

1 hour ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I don’t disagree. The Bills released a depth chart with Alford as punt returner 1. This isn’t us discussing it. This is what they said will happen.

 

Brady said in press conference that they don't know who will return punts. Depth charts aren't written in stone.

[Kirby Jackson]

2 hours ago, eball said:

 

Are teams required by the league to release depth charts? Is there any penalty for doing something other than what is on said depth chart?

 

I've said it in other places...these depth charts are meaningless to me with all of the different personnel groupings and substitutions. I don't think having Dee Alford currently listed as the first PR means diddly poo if they decide on gameday to do something else.

 

 

1 hour ago, Scott7975 said:

 

Brady said in press conference that they don't know who will return punts. Depth charts aren't written in stone.

Teams are required to release depth charts but they don’t have to follow them. It’s noteworthy though because we haven’t seen him return punts and they listed him ahead of Davis and Shakir who would have been the natural fits. I suspect that Dortch will be the guy, at least early. Listing Alford as PR1 though isn’t nothing.

Edited September 9 by Kirby Jackson

[Scott7975]

1 minute ago, Kirby Jackson said:

 

Teams are required to release depth charts but they don’t have to follow them. It’s noteworthy though because we haven’t seen him return points and they listed him ahead of Davis and Shakir who would have been the natural fits. I suspect that Dortch will be the guy, at least early. List Alford as PR1 though isn’t nothing.

 

It's not nothing. This is all speculation though. Claiming Alford is definitely the punt returner or Dortch or anyone is just speculation. We won't know until the gameday roster and callups happen and who we actually see on the field for the first punt.

 

I'd assume the coaches have a pretty good idea who it will be. I don't really see any competitive advantage for keeping it a secret. Likely, it will be Alford. Why they just won't say it? I have no idea. Either they don't know or they see some advantage of not saying that I believe is a nothing burger of some perceived advantage.