Rocky Landing

Why would we want Taiwan Jones on the practice squad? (He's not subject to waivers, btw)

Are you honestly saying that Matt Haack makes Taiwan Jones expendable?

Right now (on paper, at least), we have a worse ST unit than we did last season.

I suggested earlier in the thread that it's really easy for fans to undervalue special teams, and this is a pretty good illustration of that...

Not really sure why this has turned into a "Jones vs Kumerow" debate. But the point remains: how far do you dismantle what was a strong unit last season. Roberts, D. Johnson, J. Johnson is currently injured, and we should drop an elite gunner, to boot? It's not just about how many stops a single player got. Special teams is crucial to getting good field position. That's important!

It's a shame we don't play them until December. It would be nice to get an early crack at the rook.

Are you suggesting that ST did not contribute to decent field position last season, or that it will not be a factor in field position this season? I would certainly disagree with that.

A strong ST unit translates into good field position which translates into more trips to the red zone. We certainly benefitted from that last season. At least on paper, it doesn't look like we're going to start on ST as strong as last season, even with Jones. It's easy for fans to undervalue special teams, but it's a lot more than just kicking into the end zone.

Just how much do you think we should dismantle our ST from last season?

I'm going to step in and defend both of them. Shaw might be an emotional slapdick, and BADOLBILZ might be just a dick, but they're both respected posters here, they both know a lot about football (more than me, anyway), and these types of debates, contentious though they may be, raise the level of discourse on this site to a height that https://patriotsfans.freeforums.net/, or https://finheaven.com/forums/miami-dolphins-forum.4/, or https://forums.jetnation.com/forum/5-ny-jets-forum/ could only dream of, if they were actually capable of recognizing a coherent debate.

There are several teams that could claim him before he falls to GB.

I THINK WE'LL BE ABLE TO MANAGE WITHOUT SHOUTBOX FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

In case anyone's wondering what an apple box is: https://www.filmtools.com/filmtools-apple-box-full.html

I wonder if the the grips ordered additional apple boxes for Murray?

Wonder how well he can play guard? Wonder if he clears waivers?

I think there is an erroneous assumption that Covid-19 isn't going to be the issue it was last season. In fact, it could be much more of an issue, and I wonder if they're not going to put poor Fromm back in his lonely little world that he endured last season?

I'm not worried at all about what the loss of Johnson means for the D-line. He had a good preseason, but I think Addison still offers more at DE. What I am concerned about is the state of our STs. Johnson made a lot of plays last season on punts and kickoffs, and the Bills definitely benefitted from good field position all season. With Johnson out, that's two core players gone. But, of course, K/PR is a much more pressing issue.

Nerds.

It could certainly be that this is the year where there are no surprises come the cut-down date, which would be... surprising...

That's a smart trade, IMO. With the hits they've taken this offseason (especially Carl Lawson's injury), that seems like a good fit, and good value, at a clear need. Shaq's worth a sixth round pick, IMO.

Good Night for the No Huddle Offense Ever since Dick Jauron's horrible "No O-line/No Huddle" offensive scheme, I've been skeptical of the ho-huddle offense. It seemed to me that it would often put the offense in as much of a disadvantage as the opposing D. It also seemed to require a fairly simple menu of plays that could be audibled at the LOS. This buffalo offense, however, is a different story. There is so much continuity, and familiarity on this starting offense, such a strong relationship between Daboll, and Allen, and so much trust, and leadership in Allen, that I suspect they can run a far more complex scheme from the no-huddle than the majority of other teams in the NFL. In fact, Allen's ability to audible seemed to have inspired the Packers to call a TO, at one point. OK, here's my homerism for the day: If they decide to run it with any frequency, this team may have the best no-huddle offense since the K-gun under Marv Levy.

I just threw up in my mouth a little bit...

I think that also, with the departure of Roberts, Beane will be loathe to diminish ST any further. I assume this would give Jaquan Johnson a leg up, as well.

They happen every year. I didn't see this as its own thread, and I thought it deserved one. Who are your surprise cuts, and your surprise guys to make the 53? One caveat: I think it's going to take a couple days after Tuesday for everything to come out in the wash, vis a vis IR, waivers, etc. For those posters who really follow the rest of the league, please include other team's cast-offs in your predictions, if you have any. I'll start, Surprise Cut: I've said for a while that I think Addison will be a surprise cut. I know they value him, and I know he's currently listed as a starter. But, especially when one considers the future (as Beane most certainly does), Hughes, Epenesa, Rousseau, Basham, Obada, and Johnson all provide more long-term value. Surprise 53: (Get ready to flame) Nate Becker. That's right, Nate Becker. Honestly, this would surprise me as well. But, consider: They've held onto him on the PS for two years, and signed him to futures contracts at the end of the '19, and '20 seasons. They've been developing him since they acquired him in '19. IMO, like Ike Boettger, I think they take these developmental guys seriously, and I also think they look at the time they put into their development on the PS as an investment. Obviously, he's been traveling well under the radar, and nobody has been talking about him (and to be fair, no one has been asking about him, either). I think this may be his year. If not now, maybe later in the season. So, who do you got?

FWIW, I would be pretty surprised if there weren't one or two "surprise" cuts this Tuesday that weren't really cuts. I can't remember who it was last year (McKensie, maybe?) who was cut with the promise of re-signing them after moving another player to IR. I don't remember the player, but I do remember the story, and how there was a lot of trust the player had to afford Beane to not entertain other offers, and follow through with the promise. Especially with the continuation of some players getting special designation on the PS that protects them, I think there are several who are not subject to waivers, in lieu of some who are, who could be involved to help get a couple valuable players to the PS. Right now, there are eight WRs, eight DEs, and five backs whom I believe McD/Beane would love to keep around. Some of them include core ST players that are routinely undervalued on this site. But, with the departure of Roberts, I'd be surprised if they were willing to let go of a single one of them. So, I'm going to assume we won't really have the final 53 until a couple days after Tuesday.