Miyagi-Do Karate

If the comp is Bojo, I am okay with it still. It took him a while, but Bojo became better with hang time and pooch punting over time. But there were growing pains with him outkicking coverage, etc. Just going to have to develop some of that with Araiza.

Benford. I feel like this guy is going to turn into an elite safety for us. Big (Poyer and Hyde size), good tackler, and great hands/cover skills.

he would need to make it to the PS for us to protect him. If we had to cut him, I suspect he might get signed elsewhere first. That said, maybe my fears over him not working out as a holder are inflated, in light of the Bojo experience.

if he is shaky as a holder, the Bills will be really stuck. They can’t sign Araiza to the PS, as he will Be poached. They can’t sign two active punters to the roster. And they can’t afford to roll the dice in a SB year on someone who may mess up Bass as a bad holder. I think they learned from their mistake with Bojo, who screwed up Bass constantly and almost ended Mason Crosby’s career last year. Given how little the team punts, i suspect they would go with Haack if Araiza is a shaky holder, and pray Haack improves as a punter.

Agree. A bunch of people on here have been “disagreeing” with my statements that Araiza is going to have to be a good holder to win the job. I don’t understand what is so controversial about that. As you said, they let Bojo walk for a worse punter/better holder. Then GB just did the same thing with Bojo. I am hoping Araiza is fine as a holder, and this won’t be an issue. But he is going to have to do it, and not mess Bass up, or else he won’t be making the team.

i think there is a little bit of the “ghost of Wyatt teller” at play too. Beane said the VA Tech coach— similar to with Teller— raved about Tenuta. Beane today expressed regret a few times on letting Teller get away and not being patient enough with his development. Sounds like they all know Tenuta’s shortcomings with leverage and technique, but think they can coach him up.

Just listened to Beane, and he said he played corner, safety, and nickel at Villanova. So there are definitely options with him.

Wondering if we are developing the next generation of safeties in Damar Hamlin and now Benford. Benford just screams safety to me. Big, good tackler, and great coverage instincts.

I get he is a late rounder, but the negatives on him are overwhelming! Hope they can coach him up a little.

Consider that he is taller and weighs more than both Hyde and Poyer. I can’t wait to hear Beane talk about this, but I have to think he is going to be a ball-hawking safety.

As Matthew 7:15 says, “Beware of false punters, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

I am really excited about this guy, the more I am reading up on him.

wow— for real? I had no idea. I sort of lumped Villanova in with UConn— elite bball school, but sort of non-existent or start-up football program.

pretty much. It’s why they kept Haack. He is an elite holder but terrible punter. Azaria has to at least be serviceable as a holder, or else he probably is cut or on the PS if we can stash him.

for real. Can you think of a current backup QB that holds? I think that is a thing of the past.

there are limitations on QB’s having enough practice time with the kicking units. So pretty much only punters now hold. I can’t think of a single team where the backup QB holds anymore.

No, I can’t recall them ever dressing three.

Beane has been surprisingly good at getting late round or undrafted DB’s (Dane, Levi, Taron, Hamlin, Neal, and Goosechase who was poached). So I am going to trust him fully on this guy. Maybe a possible safety?

that would be my preference, but they aren’t going to take him out of the QB room or waste a gameday spot on a holder. I am pretty sure it has to be Azaria. And if he can’t do it, Haack wins the punting job.

Did not realize Villanova had a football team!

I am pretty sure he does have to be the holder here.

Haha. BTW, I totally forgot about Kaare!!

the bills should just have Barkley hold full time and activate him on game days in that role. I don’t want any punter messing up Bass again.

But can he hold?

people have been trying to get rid of McKenzie for years, and he always beats out the competition. That’s what I love about him.