MrEpsYtown

Morse has only missed 2 games since he has been with us and he had an excellent year last year. He certainly started slow at the top of his contract but that stability of a veteran center who is extremely smart does a lot for a quarterback’s development. His history of concussions does not influence his play or hold back the tun game. Saffold missed four games in the last six years. His play has fallen off in some ways, but he is a massive upgrade over Feliciano and Williams. I do think depth is somewhat of a concern, but there are still bodies on free agency who have some versatility. Plus David Quessenberry signing really lengthened the depth as he can play both tackles and guard. I am a Spencer Brown fan and I do like Tommy Doyle. With Ryan Bates coming back we are in excellent shape. We could use a veteran free agent like Reilly Reiff who would be the perfect swing tackle backup. Also keep in mind that people will get cut over the next couple of weeks. On the Cody Ford thing, what is Beane supposed to say? “Look I screwed up. He blows and there is no hope for him. I really should have drafted DK Metcalf.” There is nothing wrong with seeing if Kromer, who revived the lost career of Austin Corbett, could do it again. I think we are going to be ok. I think they liked Cam Jurgens and Logan Bruss. Jurgens was gone before they picked in the 2nd and Bruss went at the end of the third. Both higher than anticipated IMO. They passed on other guys, so I don’t think the value was there for them. I suppose they could have drafted Bruss instead of Bernard, but one has to assume they had a higher grade on Bernard.

Benford’s numbers are very similar to Micah Hyde’s coming out. But I think you see what he can do corner wise before you move him to safety, but this guy seems like a very interesting player.

I agree on many of your points, but Shakir is already way ahead of Stevenson in terms or his acumen as a receiver. But Stevenson definitely has the advantage of being in an NFL program for the offseason. But I think that is the battle to watch in terms of the roster construction. I think Kumerow does too many things specials wise and offers size that they don’t really have otherwise. Not that I think he is a lock.

Travon Fuller seems pretty interesting as well. Graduate transfer from Texas A&M.

It’s early obviously but I think Stevenson will be a goner. It depends on how much they value Kumerow on special teams. Shakir does everything Stevenson does but better and even ran a faster 40.

Obviously

He looked pretty good in my re-watch of the East-West Shrine game in the DVR. Nothing earth shattering, but he looked pretty good in pass pro and got some push. Seemed like more of a position blocker, like more of a get in the way and swivel than destroying people. But not the worst pick for a developmental tackle. But this feels a little like an “Austin Proehl favor to dad” draft pick. But the guy is big and has been around the game his entire life and from all accounts is a great kid. Fun fact, dad worked under Chan Gailey at Georgia Tech a while back.

I would love to see some 4-3 under sets with Edmunds as the SAM setting the edge on the line and Milano and Bernard running to the football. Used to be a staple for the them in Carolina but have not seen it much here.

Some tidbits from SI article a linked above: The first thing to understand about Araiza is he’s not just a twig in pads. He’s 6' 1", 200 pounds and ran a 4.68 at the combine; Deakin says he would run with the skill-position group during offseason conditioning. He’s described by multiple people as a tremendous athlete, making five tackles covering his own punts (Novak is trying to rein that part of Araiza’s game in as to preserve his longevity). He’s a football player who happens to be able to punt, and that’s part of the reason he didn’t punt early on at SDSU…. The second thing to understand about Araiza is he’s a punting wonk. Be careful asking him about his craft unless you’re prepared to get a lengthy crash course on the topic. He’s shortening his steps to get more under the ball at impact, increasing his hang times. He’s shortening how far he drops the ball from his body as well. “The swing path is like a crescent, so [dropping it closer to the body] changes where it is in that crescent,” Araiza says. “When you’re hitting the ball, the ball’s coming out more as a line drive, whereas the shorter the arms are, the ball gets a lot higher.” He describes hitting a good punt as understanding where the ball is in space and matching your foot up to it as the ball moves on the axis of direction (right, left, up or down). Even though the ball is dropping maybe 12 inches in the air from his hands to his foot, little things can change where it goes as it travels downfield. A drop to the right of his foot means the ball is likely going to end up to the right of his target. Highly recommended read. https://www.si.com/.amp/nfl/2022/04/22/matt-araiza-nfl-draft-viral-punter

Watching the East-West shrine game on my DVR. Spector is aggressive, all over the field, but I have seen a bunch of him over pursuing. Maybe he was supposed to force things back inside. 🤷‍♂️Playing some in the middle and in nickel. Looks pretty good in coverage. Looks like he is making the calls and getting guys lined up. Defintely intriguing. It’s an all star game, bit I figure I’d focus in on him. Probably not beating out Matekevich or Dodson, but a shot to make it over guys like Andre Smith imo.

Araiza training and catching a snap with one hand.

Just to add, a nice article here where he talks about the adjustments he’s making to get more hangtime. https://www.si.com/.amp/nfl/2022/04/22/matt-araiza-nfl-draft-viral-punter

My DVR

To me, if you out-kick your coverage in the NFL, your coverage team sucks. In Buffalo it isn’t all about hang time all the time, as we saw in the Patriots game. Araiza is going to be weapon who can get hangtime if needed, but can also hit long line drives through the wind. If he is our punter in 2021 we win that windy game. I get that he may not have shown a lot of hangtime in his game. Maybe that isn’t what the coaches wanted. He did show it at the combine.

Two things…if Alec Anderson can play center he is an interesting piece as a college RT. He has some length and could be an interesting piece to keep on the practice squad. Also Jalen Wydermeyer is going to make the team. I think he is competing with Sweeney, but also Gilliam as I am not sure this team keeps a fullback imo. Wydermeyer has a better than good shot.

Yeah that ABC show is for the general public, not football junkies. It has that Lifetime movie after school special feel.

Yes 100%. Beane said in his presser there are still vets out there who are yet to be signed that they are watching. He also mentioned people getting cut right after the draft and those are other avenues to fill depth.

Araiza is not the first kicker/punter to come out of college. There have been a bunch of guys in the past who did both in college and had to learn how to hold in the pros. He is a great athlete with bigger hands than Kenny Pickett. I am sure he needs work, but this has been done before, and if he puts the work in, I am sure he will be fine. It’s significant, but the challenge is being overblown. In fact, because he was a placekicker, he may have an even better understanding of what Bass wants him to do holding wise. He is going to be fine.

I said Davis is replacing Sanders as the number 2 and Shakir is taking over Davis’ old spot. Meaning Shakir’s usage is probably going to be similar to what we saw with the Davis the last few years. Apologies if I was unclear.

The way I see it is he is replacing Gabe Davis who is replacing Sanders. So whatever Davis’ rotation has looked like the last few years, that’s what he is doing imo. And if anyone gets hurt he fills in there. Interested to see if they use him in the return game as well.

He has a role. Teach Araiza everything he knows about holding and then get cut.

Onlyfans? I kid I kid…but if there is one let me know. But I am joking.

Oh I agree. But that’s why he dropped. I really like him. Coming into 2022 he was viewed as the top tight end.

He ran a 5.02 forty.

He talked about Elam making a really good defense even better and he is a lock down guy. He loved the Cook pick as a do it all playmaker. Then talked about the punter. He essentially said that times when the offense doesn’t score, Araiza can flip the field. Rhett Lewis chimed in, that his neighbor is former left footed punter Jeff Locke, and Locke texted him that the wind pattern in Buffalo is better for left footed punters. Lewis also said that Shakir is a great weapon for Josh. Marc Ross picked the Jets.