BearNorth

A big one I would add...weather, esp in the OP. Think Patriots night game this past season. Can't control it, but that was a deciding factor in the game. This year we are at Miami in the peak of Hurricane season, also at Chicago on Christmas Eve and at Cinci the night after New Years, site of the second coldest game in NFL history and probably playing for home field in the playoffs.

No Aaron Maybin love for this list?

Competition committee decides the rules: Rich McKay (Chairman) – president and CEO, Atlanta Falcons [Coaches' son] Katie Blackburn – executive vice president, Cincinnati Bengals Chris Grier – general manager, Miami Dolphins Stephen Jones – executive vice president, Dallas Cowboys John Mara – owner, NY Giants Ozzie Newsome – executive vice president, Baltimore Ravens [Former Player] Frank Reich – head coach, Indianapolis Colts [Former Player] Ron Rivera – head coach, Washington Commanders [Former Player] Mike Tomlin – head coach, Pittsburgh Steelers [Former Player] Mike Vrabel – head coach, Tennessee Titans [Former Player] This is the current competition committee, notice the number of former players on it. All of the former players have a ring [Reich & Tomlin as coaches, Newsome as an exec].

Shakir is also an insurance policy if Gabe were to go down with injury or becomes too expensive when he hits free agency [e.g. Tyreek Hill]. I think with Josh's big contract, that drafting will become super important as it will give the team (over the 4 years they control the draftees) 15-20 cost controlled regulars.

I have four guys signed that are not on your list. Assume they would all be "reds" Keith Corbin WR CJ Brewer DL Prince Emili DL Ja'Marcus Ingram DB

I think that's what McBeane is building here, do your job, do it well, and don't embarrass the team, right person, right job.

We also have the Lions on the schedule...

Re: Terrell Bernard likely replaces Dodson or Andre Smith I thought Bernard was the Milano backup/(down the line replacement). Dodson and Smith are both bigger LB's and core special teamers (+250 snaps each last season). With the departure of AJ Klein, there should be an open spot in the linebacker room on the 53 man.

Wonder if the Bills will ever get to 90 on the roster? Loaded roster, athletic draft choices at positions of need. Still 4 spots open. Agents probably advising players who want to make a roster to go elsewhere.

Summarizing; and ignoring the Edmunds, Poyer, and to some extent Crowder mentions; here are the "bubble" players mentioned above Dodson Epenesa Ford Gilliam Duke Johnson Kumerow Matakevich McKenzie Haack Hart Taiwan Jones Moss Andre Smith Stevenson Sweeney will be interesting to see how many make the 53, and how many are active on game day

Interestingly Quessenberry played more snaps last season than anyone on the Bills roster. Doubt he is cut.

Just found this article. Pretty interesting stuff, also explains why Stout went well ahead of Araiza. Also answers some of my question about analytics and punting. https://phillycovercorner.com/2022/03/whats-the-value-of-a-good-punt-and-some-more-jordan-stout/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=whats-the-value-of-a-good-punt-and-some-more-jordan-stout Stout rarely has touchbacks, nearly twice as good as the average NFL punter.

Along this train of thought, what do the analytics say about expected points added from scoring drives starting at the 20, vs. inside the 20? Wondering how big the difference is, including the defensive points that result from pinning a team.

San Diego weather from Labor Day on is a LOT different than Buffalo weather. All his games last year were in relatively warm air and a couple of them at altitude [Air Force, Arizona] where we know the ball goes farther. His home games were played at 50 feet above sea level, but again in warm weather. Wonder how he'll do in conditions similar to the first 2021 NE game at the OP, freezing with gusts off the lake.

Dorsey is 4 years (less one day) younger than Brady and won a national title at Miami, where he was 38-2 as the starter, suspect he still has enough skill to show the guys how it should be done.

Pretty sure when "King Henry" ran for 75 against us in the Music City, that Quessenberry sealed the left [inside] edge and allowed Henry to break free.

Bills were also down their #1 [man on an island] corner in that game, people kinda forget that. Wasn't all on the pass rush. Our two all-pro safeties looked pretty pedestrian on the Hill TD as well.

Kumerow played 269 snaps on teams last year, Third Generation NFL Player, suspect he will be a core special teamer, and 6-4 is a nice target in the red zone. If I were a WR/Returner with a history of putting the ball on the ground; I might be a little worried with the addition of Mr. Shakir. He's also a California guy, so you know he will be happy to play catch with JA17.

Is he a guy with a bit of experience that can be the "big Nickel" to match up with the likes of Kittle, Kelce, & Kyle Pitts.

As an Old Timer, and with respect to the era, I would clone 11 Cookie Gilchrist's on Offense. Man amongst boys, he could also handle kicking duties, and played MLB in the CFL. When he played, he was actually bigger than most lineman. [Cookie was 6-3 251, HOF'r Billy Shaw was 6-2 258] Had 230 rushes and 30 catches in 1964, at a time where RB's weren't normally a big part of the passing game.

It almost looks like Gabe got the DB with a discreet elbow to help said DB to fall down.

The sad thing about Ford is there are probably teams in this league where he would start. Competent OL play in the NFL takes a rare talent.

I like the speed, and the fact that he has also played safety with Hyde and Poyer north of 30 yrs old.

Just saying - McBeane got real lucky with Wallace...his 52 starts are the most by an undrafted defensive back since 2011.

I was at the game 12/8/63, when Cookie set the "at the time" pro football record of 243 yards rushing in a basically unplayable field in the Rockpile. I was also at "The Music City Forward Lateral" which was a great game until the last 15 seconds. Of course Mike Stratton's hit on Keith Lincoln Shutting out the Chargers on the road in 1965 The comeback against Houston The 51-3 game The stomping of the Pats last year.