starrymessenger

Agree. If he winds up being a reliable contributor it will take awhile. He's not going to be a day one difference maker.

There are actually a number of players on NFL rosters & practice squads, including WRs with CFL playing experience. Hard to compare the WRs because they have different skillsets (eg I think Dontrelle Inman runs a sub 4.4 forty if memory serves. Duke will never do that). My thinking is that Williams may well pleasantly surprise.

Agree the ability to catch Allen's ball is a very important, though of course not the only consideration. To me Foster has a habit of trapping the ball into his body. While this is fine w/respect to certain types of throws (eg over the shoulder basket catches - that incidentally Fosterhas shown he can accomplish) it can be problematic obviously on slants and crosses and other important routes. So I suspect this is something RF is working on. As for Duke I am less concerned. He has strong hands and uses them to catch the ball. One caveat though is that his Edmonton QB is known for throwing a receiver friendly ball. Not sure we can say the same about Josh at this stage in his development.

I like Harry too but I've been asking myself whether if Duke works out these two guys would more or less be candidates to fill the same role in this WR corps. I saw some of Duke's Edmonton games last year and he looked to me to have some YAC ability. Not to say that Duke is the prospect Harry is but if they like him the Bills might go in a different direction re skillset to round out their complement of receivers. Or maybe not. Not a lot of time for them to make these assessments but maybe their interest in Duke suggests they are thinking of going in a different direction in the draft. I guess time will tell.

Apparently he was generating interest after his breakout 2018, so the Bills were early. To me he's like Juwan Johnson, a talented guy with potential worth a 4th or 5th round pick - except we didn't have to burn a pick. I also give him some credit for starring in a pro league, even if it's not the bigs.

Yeah they are the two you would start with, with Wake not far behind. Wake almost signed with Buff out of BC Lions but the Dolphins 4/3 was thought to a better fit for him. Back in Cookie's day there really wasn't so huge a difference between NFL/CFL play, and maybe as late as when Cousineau or Johnny Rogers went north of the border out of school. But the NFL is now a much bigger, better organized league than it was back then so that the gap between the two leagues is now enormous. I think Wake once had like 23 sacks one year. Fact remains though that there are always a few players there who can help an NFL team and Williams could well be one of them. Nothing wrong with the CFL being like a triple A franchise to NFL teams.

Croom is at least 2 inches taller and 20-25lbs heavier. Yes he has to improve his blocking. I think they are probably looking at Williams as a big bodied wide catch radius possession/red zone receiver. I think he just might be a bit more than that - seems to have some YAC in him. Looks to be a physical, aggressive player with good hands, and the ability to track and high point the ball. Looks to me like he's got a chance. The Bills seem to think so anyway. Hope for all concerned that it works out.

...and Dontrelle Inman, who helped Toronto to a Grey Cup just caught a TD pass from Luck yesterday. There are always a few guys in the CFL who can play in the bigs. Not many, but a few.

....in Edmonton, Alberta.

I don't think he'd do it now, but Alshon's combine 40 was 4:48. Benjamin ran a 4:61. I think the reference to Alshon's is a good one however. I don't think this guy is a lazy and predictable route runner like Kelvin. Actually plays/runs with more energy and aggression. Wouldn't call him unathletic myself. Good signing IMO. He's got a shot.

The Kelvin we never knew.

I can't say that I know enuf about who is most to blame in all this but I would hesitate before making a play for AB despite his talent. There would be a risk of bad chemistry between the team's budding (but still developing) star at QB and the team's already established #1 receiver. I'd rather have Allen grow with talented young guys like him, even if they too have a lot to learn. Now if discord were not a concern or was a low risk and the comp to Pitt made sense, sure who wouldn't want Brown's talent.

To all but the colour blind that's a TD.

Yeah. 4.32. Thanks. 4.45 makes me feel a lot better. And 180lbs/6' is fine if a corner is skilled like he is. His run support must have been pretty suspect for him to go undrafted.

I'm a little surprised he went undrafted. To me he deserved a closer look considering the circumstances, despite his borderline size/strength and 4.63 combine 40 (Denzel Ward ran in the low 3.3s). He was a zero rated recruit because he lost interest in football for awhile following a family tragedy (death of his father). He walked on at Bama and earned a scholarship while developing into a starter and their most technically sound corner (15 pass breakups his final year). I have to admit the pro football evaluators know more than I do but if the 2017 draft were held today I'm pretty confident he would not go undrafted (though I'm not sure how high he would go - 3rd? I mean there is room for improvement as far as defending the run is concerned).

One of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Too bad it wasn't the Jets DE who seems to have shortened our kickers career. He didn't even know he should be somewhere

Exactly. I too favoured Rosen ahead of Allen on draft day and I would also now take Allen before Rosen. And it's certainly not that I think less of Rosen now than I did then. The reason is I'm pretty comfortable with the notion that Allen will realize enuf of his potential to improve upon the things he needs to work on. He will never be Drew Brees accurate but he will be accurate (and consistent) enuf to be very effective as a threat passing the football. Then of course there is that other thing - I watched all the college tape I could find on Allen prior to the draft (as well as the other top four). What stood out plainly was that he was a man amongst boys. Perhaps not surprising given the conference. But then when he's on his game on an NFL playing field he often looks again like a man amongst boys (even tho he is the boy and they are the men), not like at WYO to be sure, but still he dominates. Thats flat out crazy. I've been watching pro football for 30 years. I see things in Allen that remind me of Elway, or Cam (closest comparison IMO) or Steve Young or Donovan McNab or even Vince Young but I don't think any of those guys (except maybe Cam) showed the same level of physical dominance as rooks as Allen has been able to flash consistently. His athleticism for playing the all important position is other worldly and in any scheme designed to accommodate it he will be a lethal force. I think the Bills struck gold. Kudos to Beane & the Bills. Since he's been mentioned a few times in this thread, a word on Lamar. He will develop as a passer IMO (like Josh). Adjusted for drops I believe he had the highest college completion percentage of the top 5. Broke 70% if memory serves. Lamar Jackson is no toy. He's the real deal. Ozzie knows football. The 2018 QB class was outstanding, not the best ever probably, but really good.

Following Jets example (about time). Makes good sense. Guys like Josh and Darnold can learn a lot from the right long tenured vets.

Im not sold on their D either. I think Drew Brees annihilates them. Haven't checked the injury reports but KC was short starters on D when they lost to NE. If they are back healthy then NE would have its hands full with KC and PM.

Good point. I thought about it before posting but not sure that Lamar at this stage in his career can go against Belly. Agree it could happen. For sure Ravens D would have a shot at shutting Tom down. All things considered I see NO as Brady's Waterloo this year, if worse comes to worse.

The news regarding Brady's play declining are accurate IMO. But only in that you will not get the same consistency as before over a 16 game schedule. With the bye he will be the same guy we've always hated in the playoffs. He was that guy today. Sure the Jets suck but he made outstanding throws, as good as ever. Beating Brady simply means pressuring him without having to blitz. The formula hasn't changed. Hopefully somebody gets it done. I like KC and, if need be, NO.

I feel sorry for the guy. Seems like the ongoing problem is testing positive for weed. He hasn't been creating disturbances in public or harming people (except himself) if I remember correctly. So he has an addictive personality and can't lay off the stuff. It's a real shame that so great a talent has been wasted.

To me BB nailed this down about right. With JA is all about whether he can improve as a passer. He's certainly has a way to go but if he gets there, scheme assisted or not, he will dominate consistently. We all see certain comparables amongst players who share some of his skillset: Ben, Elway, Cam, Steve Young, etc...but I don't think I've ever seen a player quite like Allen. Make or break its bound to be a fascinating ride.

Dawkins is an idiot. He is overrated by most on this board. Gets beat clean a lot. Probably belongs on the right side. His chop block was dangerous, illegal, occurred right in front of ther ref, and was completely unnecessary - the Jet was neutralized by the guard. As for the Jet DE, somebody needs to take note of his number - for future reference. Don't know if these Bills are that hard bitten though, even if they should be IMO. In the NHL you don't get away with that. Somebody takes note of the number, sometimes the aggrieved party, and eventually it catches up to the perp, probably when he least expects it (aka the best time to reintroduce yourself).

I agree with the OP. As long as he protects himself (and he seems to be doing more of that) I have no problem with giving him designed runs, RPOs etc... When plays or protections break down I'm fine with him scrambling and looking for opportunities to run and, as importantly, to pass (he also appears to be throwing it away better when there is no play there to be made).. His physical skillset is so impressive that shutting him down as a runner takes away too much of what makes him effective as a threat to opposing Ds. When (if) he cleans up his throwing mechanics he's going to be scary good, a guy with a complete set of tools for destroying a defence and breaking an opponent's will. He will never be Drew Bree's accurate but I think the Bills braintrust see Cam Newton when they look at Josh and I think that to be the measure of improvement that is needed in Josh's passing game. We just need to hope that he doesn't become Vince Young, who was an exciting player who won his share of games with his legs when he came into the league. At least Allen already has a big step up on these guys (especially Vince) as far as his intangibles are concerned.