Rocky Landing

Is it a given that Duke Williams can't play special teams? He's big, strong, and physical, and highly motivated. I would think he would be a natural for ST.

I believe he was ranked second in the NFL in returns last season.

I think they will keep four DEs. I would think Murphy, and Lawson both make the 53, but are rotated quite a bit. I think Yarbrough would be the most likely fourth DE.

Feliciano was the Raider's primary backup at center, also. I think Bodine is outside looking in. As far as the starting five goes, I think the only lock at any given position is Morse at center. Everything else is TBD.

We seem quite stacked at guard (Dawkins can even play guard, as well). Waddle seems like a bit of an unknown quantity. We could do a lot worse than Dawkins/Nsekhe/Ford at tackles, even if Ford is initially put at guard. But, Waddle has to better than Sirles!

I see him as an insurance policy that was purchased before they drafted Singletary.

This is the thread I have been waiting for! Thoughts: - This list seems rather spot on. - I think that whether Tyree Jackson makes the team depends largely on how well he plays in preseason. If he shows even a little promise, I would think that McD, and Beane would not feel comfortable putting him on the practice squad. A 6'7", athletic QB, with a cannon for an arm, who shows any amount of potential would get snatched up pretty quickly off the PS, I would think. In fact, he may end up as a lock well before TC is done. - Is Patrick DiMarco still relevant? - This list shows our lack of depth at LB. Also at Safety. But, man, we look deep at CB. - I would hope that we carry seven WRs, assuming that Andre Roberts is primarily special teams. Also, there's a few of those guys in red that I really hope get a shot!

It's not unreasonable to assume that our O-line will be much improved from last year. But, that will have to be a reality, IMO, before we see a no-huddle on game day. I still remember Dick Jauron's no-huddle/no-Oline offense, and what a disaster that was.

Still a fair point, though. It's hard to argue that the collapse of our O-line wasn't a primary factor in the collapse of our run game. And RI was surely a big part of that, along with the departure of Wood.

I'm right there with Ty Nsekhe, as well. There was a great interview with him where he very articulately, and honestly described his style of play, and why he is physically more suited to the left side. He came off as professional, intelligent, and humble. Plus, he is 6'8" with the wingspan of a bull moose's antlers. I would love to see Dawkins get bumped in to LG, with Nsekhe at LT. I'm also on the Duke Williams bandwagon. Love his story, intensity, and blocking ability. It's early, but it's disappointing to read that he's been struggling in OTAs. I'm also a big fan of McKenzie. I love his energy, and intensity, and he always has a smile on his face. And, I love his skills. He has great acceleration, and gets open. He also seemed pretty clutch last season, iirc. I hope he isn't supplanted by the combo of Beasley/Roberts, who both fill the role that McKenzie filled at the end of last season. And one last fave, although he is such a long-shot to make the 53, it's ridiculous: Christian Wade. I know that highlight reels are very deceptive, but I recommend watching his rugby reel. He also has incredible acceleration and is so strong! I would love to see what that guy could do with pads on. yes.

Not for a Bills fan...

I could be wrong, but wasn't it "Most Hated Player" he was voted? There's a difference. Be that as it may, the situation at the Raiders is becoming hilarious, in a gawking-at-an-accident-by-the-side-of-the-road sort of way.

He has a library card.

Whatever may be said about Ritchie, I don't ever recall him playing dirty on the field. Burfict, of course, is another story.

The Headhunter has arrived!

I have to say that I am entirely down with everything Shaw66 wrote, and I'm ecstatic with Josh Allen. But, the one thing that sticks in the back of my head that makes me question all of it is the nagging reality of how astonishingly poorly the quarterback position was managed last season. A clumsy "quarterback competition" that resulted in Nate Peterman starting, and JA as the only backup, with the worst receiving corp in the league, and one of the worst O-lines. Peterman's play was so bad, that he had to be benched for a rookie that conventional wisdom, and just about every pundit alive, said was a raw prospect that needed time to sit, and learn. It was probably fortunate that Allen was quickly injured so that he wasn't turned into Trent Edwards-- afraid to hold onto the ball for more than 2.2 seconds. That he came back from his injury and did, indeed, improve remarkably is a testament to his resilience, tenacity, and character. I do think Beane has done an exceptional job this offseason in FA, and the draft. And so, I remain cautiously optimistic. But, serious mistakes have been made.

I'm cautiously optimistic. But, what keeps me from being giddy is the thought that we are, at least on paper, the third ranked team in our division. A lot of our success hinges on how well the Jets adjust to their new coaching staff. I'm optimistically expecting them to have growing pains. (I'm also optimistically hoping Brady* falls down in the shower.) We certainly have a shot at the playoffs this year. But, I can't get my expectations too high. And, man, I'm so tired of putting our playoff hopes on a wildcard. So, I'm going to temper my optimism on the knowledge that we seem to be moving in the right direction from a 6-10 season.

Nice odds.

I’m good with nothing else.

He had a great catch percentage during his time in Oakland.

Well, of course. Lots of things are going to change between now and September. Any discussion on the current state of the depth chart is speculative. My point was that adding to the TE room does not indicate that there is a set of three that they're decided on. And, all that being said, I would assume that they're still going to value veteran experience along with preseason performance.

This makes no sense to me. Along with the fact that they just signed Lee Smith to a three year contract, adding another TE to the mix makes me suspect that they aren't fine rolling with Knox, Sweeney, and Croom. Would McD expect Sweeney to be more than PS candidate? At the very least, I certainly wouldn't put Sweeney above Knox, Croom, or Smith.

Oh, no doubt. I would love it if the Bills got Hard Knocks this year. And, I have do doubt that McD would hate it!

I think a lot of people don’t understand just how enormous, and therefore distracting, a production like Hard Knocks is. OldTimeAFLGuy posted in another thread about how McD would not allow construction crews anywhere near the fields where they were practicing because of the distraction. A show like Hard Knocks will be twenty times the distraction. It would be very surprising if McD wanted anything to do with it.

Well, there are 12 days scheduled at the moment, with the last one being Wednesday, August 15th. Their second preseason game is the next day, 8/16. They also have a practice the day before their first preseason game on 8/8. I would assume that’s intentional?