Early 53 Man Roster Project

[ChanOverChin]

I always like to do a roster projection every so often just to see what the status of the roster is and which players realistically have a shot to make the team. It also shows our current depth at each position and whether we should be on the lookout for a player at a certain position.

 

The * indicates that a new player has made the roster from last year i.e. (either wasn't with the team to start the year or did not contribute much for some other reason last year). There are 21 of these such players. You could look at these players as "improvement players" potentially.

 

This probably our best group heading into training camp. Hopefully, more additions will be made to improve the team.

 

Pos. # Starter # Backup # Reserve WR 11 T.J. Graham # Da'Rick Rogers* TE 84 Scott Chandler 85 Lee Smith 89 Chris Gragg* LT 77 Cordy Glenn 72 Zebrie Sanders* LG 74 Colin Brown 71 Sam Young C 70 Eric Wood 61 David Snow* RG 60 Kraig Urbik RT 75 Chris Hairston 79 Erik Pears WR 10 Robert Woods* 88 Marquise Goodwin* WR 13 Stevie Johnson 16 Brad Smith QB 4 Kevin Kolb 3 E.J. Manuel* # Tavaris Jackson* RB 28 C.J. Spiller 22 Fred Jackson 20 Tashard Choice NT 99 Marcell Dareus 90 Alan Branch* 98 Torell Troup* DT 95 Kyle Williams 92 Alex Carrington 96 Jarron Gilbert* RE 94 Mario Williams 93 Mark Anderson SLB 91 Manny Lawson* # Jerry Hughes* MLB 50 Kiko Alonso* 51 Chris White* 52 Arthur Moats WLB 53 Nigel Bradham 43 Bryan Scott 54 Marcus Dowtin* RCB 24 Stephon Gilmore FS 31 Jairus Byrd 27 Duke Williams* SS 23 Aaron Williams 25 Da'Norris Searcy 36 Jonathan Meeks* NCB 33 Ron Brooks 26 Justin Rogers LCB 21 Leodis McKelvin 29 Crezdon Butler* K 5 Dustin Hopkins* P 6 Shawn Powell* LS 65 Garrison Sanborn

[Big Turk]

Looks good, will be interesting to see if they pick up anyone after cut down days

[Kelly the Dog]

Realizing that I think there may be 4-5 new players on this roster before the start of the season from FA and trades, mine is:

 

QB: Kolb, Manuel, TJax (Tuel PS)

RB: Spiller, FredEx, Choice

WR: Stevie, Woods, Graham, Brad Smith, Goodwin, Da'Rick

TE: Chandler, Smith, Gragg, Dickerson (no FB means extra TE)

OT: Glenn, Hairston, Pears, Sanders

C: Wood, Snow

OG: Urbik, Brown, Young,

DE: Mario, Anderson, Carrington, Gilbert (some of the DL are interchangeable depending on 34/43)

DT: Kyle, Dareus, Branch, Troup

OLB: Lawson, Hughes, Dowtin, Bryan Scott (some LB are interchangeable, like, Bradham, plus Mario and Mark Anderson)

ILB: Kiko, Bradham, Chris White, Moats (ugh, really need Dansby)

CB: Gilmore, McLovin, Brooks, Butler,

S: Byrd, Searcy, AWilliams, Duke, Meeks (with Duke and AW playing a little nickle or dime CB)

ST: Hopkins, Powell, Sanborn

[Brainiac21]

I think you may have to make room for a FB... i don't see one here, but they have talked about having one a few times and it sounds like they will.

 

Also, Dorin Dickerson has a good shot.. maybe over Gragg or Smith.

 

If they add a CB somehow, which would be a good idea, Meeks could be on chopping block (hey the history of Buddy's 5th-7th rounders is not favorable to making the team).

 

Otherwise, yeah... pretty much.

Edited April 30, 2013 by Brainiac21

[Dorkington]

If we can grab an extra OL and ILB, and have both of them be solid contributors, I'll feel relatively optimistic. Still think we'll have another losing year, but potentially on the right track with all the young talent we (potentially, again) have.

[DanInUticaTampa]

My surprise cut is going to be Troup.

 

Overall, I think the roster can turn out ok, but LB and OG still have me nervous. but the other positions I feel pretty pretty comfortable with as far as the talent that has been added, but players have a lot to prove still. Though CB help might be needed as well, but I have a good feeling brooks will have a breakout year.

[Kelly the Dog]

I think you may have to make room for a FB... i don't see one here, but they have talked about having one a few times and it sounds like they will.

 

Also, Dorin Dickerson has a good shot.. maybe over Gragg or Smith. Otherwise, yeah... pretty much.

Marrone spoke in the last couple days about maybe not having a FB. They only have one signed, and he is no stud. Marrone mentioned maybe playing a DT as a FB in short yardage and goalline. I think they use Gragg and Dickerson as a hybrid HB/TE/FB and line either of them up all over the place, sometimes wide, sometimes in a 2 back backfield, sometimes as a HB in motion or on the wing.

[Brainiac21]

Marrone spoke in the last couple days about maybe not having a FB. They only have one signed, and he is no stud. Marrone mentioned maybe playing a DT as a FB in short yardage and goalline. I think they use Gragg and Dickerson as a hybrid HB/TE/FB and line either of them up all over the place, sometimes wide, sometimes in a 2 back backfield, sometimes as a HB in motion or on the wing.

I'm not sure of the quotes, so maybe. But neither Dickerson nor Gragg is much of a powerful blocker. I still would not be surprised to see one in the end.

 

Also hoping we're right and that Hopkins takes over as PK fulltime. Would hate wasting a spot on kickoff specialist.. ugh.

Edited April 30, 2013 by Brainiac21

[Kelly the Dog]

I'm not sure of the quotes, so maybe. But neither Dickerson nor Gragg is much of a powerful blocker. I still would not be surprised to see one in the end.

Agreed. On both of the last points. We may see one. I heard Marrone say it myself so it wasn't third party info, and he was saying "maybe we...". The reason I think they may lean this way is, uncertainty of Chandler being 100% ready to play and effectiveness post injury, combined with they really didn't know what kind of TE they were going to draft when they started. They liked Eifert, Ertz, MacDonald I know of. They could have taken Kelce. But all of those guys are a little different. What they ended with is a clone of Dickerson, so they may just decide to go with that as a position on the team and, combined with all the other speed guys they got, just go speed, speed, speed.

[PIZ]

Drew Smith is going to make this team. He is better than Choice.

 

He is #10 for Albany:

 

[Lurker]

Realizing that I think there may be 4-5 new players on this roster before the start of the season from FA and trades, mine is:

 

QB: Kolb, Manuel, TJax (Tuel PS)

RB: Spiller, FredEx, Choice

WR: Stevie, Woods, Graham, Brad Smith, Goodwin, Da'Rick

TE: Chandler, Smith, Gragg, Dickerson (no FB means extra TE)

OT: Glenn, Hairston, Pears, Sanders

C: Wood, Snow

OG: Urbik, Brown, Young,

DE: Mario, Anderson, Carrington, Gilbert (some of the DL are interchangeable depending on 34/43)

DT: Kyle, Dareus, Branch, Troup

OLB: Lawson, Hughes, Dowtin, Bryan Scott (some LB are interchangeable, like, Bradham, plus Mario and Mark Anderson)

ILB: Kiko, Bradham, Chris White, Moats (ugh, really need Dansby)

CB: Gilmore, McLovin, Brooks, Butler,

S: Byrd, Searcy, AWilliams, Duke, Meeks (with Duke and AW playing a little nickle or dime CB)

ST: Hopkins, Powell, Sanborn

The CB and ILB positions jump out as real concerns. Whaley has his work cut out for him in finding some bodies to add depth there (although whipping out the checkbook for Dansby would solve that immediate need).

Edited April 30, 2013 by Lurker

[NewEra]

Realizing that I think there may be 4-5 new players on this roster before the start of the season from FA and trades, mine is:

 

QB: Kolb, Manuel, TJax (Tuel PS)

RB: Spiller, FredEx, Choice

WR: Stevie, Woods, Graham, Brad Smith, Goodwin, Da'Rick

TE: Chandler, Smith, Gragg, Dickerson (no FB means extra TE)

OT: Glenn, Hairston, Pears, Sanders

C: Wood, Snow

OG: Urbik, Brown, Young,

DE: Mario, Anderson, Carrington, Gilbert (some of the DL are interchangeable depending on 34/43)

DT: Kyle, Dareus, Branch, Troup

OLB: Lawson, Hughes, Dowtin, Bryan Scott (some LB are interchangeable, like, Bradham, plus Mario and Mark Anderson)

ILB: Kiko, Bradham, Chris White, Moats (ugh, really need Dansby)

CB: Gilmore, McLovin, Brooks, Butler,

S: Byrd, Searcy, AWilliams, Duke, Meeks (with Duke and AW playing a little nickle or dime CB)

ST: Hopkins, Powell, Sanborn

 

Thanks for making a readable version

[NickelCity]

Thanks for making a readable version

 

+1, this was much easier to read!

 

I also think a CB and ILB depth need to be added, and I would like a Guard as well. I know Marrone's an OLine coach, but simply subtracting Levitre does not inspire confidence, to me at least.

[BB2004]

Realizing that I think there may be 4-5 new players on this roster before the start of the season from FA and trades, mine is:

 

QB: Kolb, Manuel, TJax (Tuel PS)

RB: Spiller, FredEx, Choice

WR: Stevie, Woods, Graham, Brad Smith, Goodwin, Da'Rick

TE: Chandler, Smith, Gragg, Dickerson (no FB means extra TE)

OT: Glenn, Hairston, Pears, Sanders

C: Wood, Snow

OG: Urbik, Brown, Young,

DE: Mario, Anderson, Carrington, Gilbert (some of the DL are interchangeable depending on 34/43)

DT: Kyle, Dareus, Branch, Troup

OLB: Lawson, Hughes, Dowtin, Bryan Scott (some LB are interchangeable, like, Bradham, plus Mario and Mark Anderson)

ILB: Kiko, Bradham, Chris White, Moats (ugh, really need Dansby)

CB: Gilmore, McLovin, Brooks, Butler,

S: Byrd, Searcy, AWilliams, Duke, Meeks (with Duke and AW playing a little nickle or dime CB)

ST: Hopkins, Powell, Sanborn

 

Unless there are any surprises in camp, I would assume that this seems the most logical. I agree, the Dansby signing at this point would be a nice pickup.

[FutureBillsGM]

Everyone is clammoring for ILB and CB but G is scary. Colin Brown as a starter? People wanted him ran off the team during preseason last year. And the only backup being Young. Unless the plan is to kick Sanders inside and even that is a complete unknown. People talk about Chibane from 'Cuse but he's wasnt even close to draftable by most teams and is insanely unathletic. G would be my priority.

[bananathumb]

Everyone is clammoring for ILB and CB but G is scary. Colin Brown as a starter? People wanted him ran off the team during preseason last year. And the only backup being Young. Unless the plan is to kick Sanders inside and even that is a complete unknown. People talk about Chibane from 'Cuse but he's wasnt even close to draftable by most teams and is insanely unathletic. G would be my priority.

 

Agree. Need to sign a guard, a good one. Maybe trade Tavaris or Kevin for one!

[ChanOverChin]

I don't think the Bills will go into the season with only FOUR CBs as has been proposed above even with D. Williams on the roster. They will take at least FIVE. Realistically, they need to sign a vet CB to improve the depth at that position. Gilmore/vet FA or trade/McKelvin/Brooks/Rogers or Robey would be nice.

 

One UDFA player to keep an eye on is CB Robey from USC. I think he has a shot to make the final roster by beating out either Butler or Rogers.

 

I like Dickerson, but who do you cut if you take him?? Gragg?? An OL??

[Brainiac21]

i'm more concerned with G and CB. i don't understand where the confidence comes from sometimes. let's at least hear a plan for G. are they moving Hairston or some other OT there? is there one of these guards who did very little in preseason last year like Snow or Williams that they see potential in? until i hear something, that is a big gaping hole to me.

 

and CB.. ugh. depth is atrocious. Brooks seems to be one of these guys people put an inordinate amount of faith in based on very little. he didn't start in college and people say "well he was behind Claiborne and Honey Badger", all well and good, but that doesn't prove anything other than he's unproven. it's ookay to have some hope, but he's a 4th rounder who barely plays, and had a hard time getting his head turned around when he did, and he is one injury away from being in the starting 2. his status should probably be more of a 4th CB until proven otherwise. Rogers (a 7th rounders) was poor last year, and Crezdon Butler was cut about 4 times last year.

[Kirby Jackson]

QB: Manuel, Kolb, TJax (Tuel PS)

RB: Spiller, FredEx, Choice

FB: Gaskins

WR: Stevie, Woods, Da'Rick, Graham, Goodwin, Kaufman

TE: Chandler, Smith, Gragg, Dickerson

OT: Glenn, Hairston, Pears, Sanders

C: Wood, Snow

OG: Urbik, Brown, Young,

DE: Mario, Anderson, Carrington, Gilbert

DT: Kyle, Dareus, Branch,

OLB: Lawson, Hughes, Dowtin, Bryan Scott, Pough

ILB: Kiko, Bradham, Moats

CB: Gilmore, McKelvin, Brooks, Rogers, Butler,

S: Byrd, AWilliams, Duke, Searcy

ST: Hopkins, Powell, Sanborn

[NewEra]

Everyone is clammoring for ILB and CB but G is scary. Colin Brown as a starter? People wanted him ran off the team during preseason last year. And the only backup being Young. Unless the plan is to kick Sanders inside and even that is a complete unknown. People talk about Chibane from 'Cuse but he's wasnt even close to draftable by most teams and is insanely unathletic. G would be my priority.

 

Agreed. I think we NEED a left guard. I'm not happy with any of our current players playing there. Brown or young starting? Bad idea IMO. I'm surprised we didn't grab anyone in the draft of via FA to this point. It's the weakest link on our team bar far IMO (except maybe TE minus chandler to start the year).

 

I don't think the Bills will go into the season with only FOUR CBs as has been proposed above even with D. Williams on the roster. They will take at least FIVE. Realistically, they need to sign a vet CB to improve the depth at that position. Gilmore/vet FA or trade/McKelvin/Brooks/Rogers or Robey would be nice.

 

One UDFA player to keep an eye on is CB Robey from USC. I think he has a shot to make the final roster by beating out either Butler or Rogers.

 

I like Dickerson, but who do you cut if you take him?? Gragg?? An OL??

 

Agreed about Robey. He's a little guy for sure, but he has the athleticism to stay with the little slot WRs. Rogers was bad last year. Maybe he'll be better with a good pass rush, but I think Robey has a great shot to beat Rogers and butler out. He's an amazing athlete.