BreezeMafia Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 Below average center. Comical how is he viewed as one of the top centers in the league. Comical.
Kirby Jackson Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 He's been the most overrated player on the team for years. But he really fell off this year. I was actually shocked by how bad he'd gotten this preseason. It wasn't a popular take. Meanwhile.....as I predicted at the time of the trade.....Jason Peters will still be playing at a high level when Wood was reaching the end. There is an increasing likelihood that that trade will be remembered as a Hall of Famer traded for somebody the average NFL fan has never heard of. At no time was it EVER a good thing that Peters wasn't here. The Bills have assembled an OL without much athleticism. They do not look like a modern O-Line. As for John from Hemet's take about Wood and his injuries.......yes, I called him "Balsa" Wood for a reason. He was easy to break early in his career. But athletes bounce back. A broken leg or a torn achilles used to be a career ender but not anymore. The problem is that Wood is not an athlete. He's no longer able to make the kind of plays where he was once hurt, though. So staying on the field has gotten easier. Anchoring is how he broke his leg. He blocks on skates now. Running downfield is how he tore his ACL. He can't get to the second level to save his life any longer. Maybe he can get on a good HGH program and play better next year but I'm afraid he's got a bullseye on him now and even adding better OG's isn't going to matter. He's going to be attacked head on until he shows he can sink his hips and hold his ground or get a push. Wood is so popular because A) fans wanted him to be good to justify the loss of Peters and B) He's a try hard and want-to player and a very likeable guy. Tons of good stories about him. He's just not that good of a football player and that's what matters, unfortunately. Really well said and unfortunately I couldn't agree more. He isn't a part of the OL solution; he's part of the problem.
stony Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 AMEN! I've been calling for Wood's head all season long. HE is HORRIBLE at Center. I think he has only one positive grade given to him by ProFootballFocus. He's definitely a problem and not a solution... Hope Marrone has the cajones to try and upgrade that spot and have someone compete with a team leader/captain. Marrone IS/shouldbe the leader and do this without hesitation. You must not watch the games or pay attention to anything. Wood IS not good at playing Center in the NFL. He's been average his whole career or below average and this season has been his worst!! Another person living in a fantasy. Are you guys high? Clearly you not only do NOT have a PhD in "line-stud" but you may also be blind... Usually people who need to see good can make a more accurate assessment. What are we arguing about? You said it yourself, Eric Wood is a "line-stud."
thebandit27 Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 I called him the most overrated player on the team around week 1 and got flamed. It came from good posters too (like Bandit). I just don't think that the guy is very good. I specifically looked for your post in this thread...you were right, he's been underwhelming this year. Good call mr. Kirby!
BillsVet Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 No team is ever perfect in personnel evaluation, and the Bills haven't shelled out big dollars on their own guys or UFA's, but the bigger money signings haven't been impressive. Wood has been talked about here. Aaron Williams seems to get beat in coverage and takes bad angles to the ball. The good has been trading for Jerry Hughes, re-signing Dan Carpenter, and to a lesser extent, UFA Corey Graham. Mike Williams was released and Bryce Brown hasn't seen much of the field. The other lower-cost signings/re-signings like Alan Branch, Lawson, Chandler, McKelvin, Chris Williams, Rivers, Spikes, and Dixon have been so-so.
dave mcbride Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 No team is ever perfect in personnel evaluation, and the Bills haven't shelled out big dollars on their own guys or UFA's, but the bigger money signings haven't been impressive. Wood has been talked about here. Aaron Williams seems to get beat in coverage and takes bad angles to the ball. The good has been trading for Jerry Hughes, re-signing Dan Carpenter, and to a lesser extent, UFA Corey Graham. Mike Williams was released and Bryce Brown hasn't seen much of the field. The other lower-cost signings/re-signings like Alan Branch, Lawson, Chandler, McKelvin, Chris Williams, Rivers, Spikes, and Dixon have been so-so. I think Williams is a very good safety. Yes, he gets beat, but so does every other safety in the league (he's not a CB, after all, even though he was drafted as one). He's had a good season.
Canadian Bills Fan Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 Wow. Sick of Eric Wood? Everyone here was so happy when he chose to sign an extension with us rather than become a free agent and now people are sick of him? Eric is part of the heart and soul of this team and I will never be sick of him CBF
papazoid Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 eric wood's 2015 cap hit is $6 mil. his dead money if cut is $5.4 he's not going anywhere
BillsVet Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 I think Williams is a very good safety. Yes, he gets beat, but so does every other safety in the league (he's not a CB, after all, even though he was drafted as one). He's had a good season. I'm not enthused about his play. For a team that puts pressure on QB's (at least earlier this season) I don't see Williams making many significant plays. And in the last two weeks he's been poor in run support. He's definitely not close to the worst, but the Bills talked him up so much last off-season and it's not there for me.
eball Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 I'm not enthused about his play. For a team that puts pressure on QB's (at least earlier this season) I don't see Williams making many significant plays. And in the last two weeks he's been poor in run support. He's definitely not close to the worst, but the Bills talked him up so much last off-season and it's not there for me. I agree with you -- but I think he has been dinged up all season and that's why we're seeing the dropoff. He's just not healthy.
FireChan Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 I'm not enthused about his play. For a team that puts pressure on QB's (at least earlier this season) I don't see Williams making many significant plays. And in the last two weeks he's been poor in run support. He's definitely not close to the worst, but the Bills talked him up so much last off-season and it's not there for me. He's had two bad games. He's played great last year and earlier this year.
BmarvB Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 anyone remember life when we didnt have a Center at all and even trivial snaps were an issue? Yes, I remember very well. He's still a good center who would benefit by better guard play next to him.
Kirby Jackson Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 I specifically looked for your post in this thread...you were right, he's been underwhelming this year. Good call mr. Kirby! I wish that I was wrong but he hasn't been a good player. He headed out below average last year (not that I put too much stock into that) but it's certainly and indication that he wasn't playing great.
Canadian Bills Fan Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 Below average center. Comical how is he viewed as one of the top centers in the league. Comical. Your making it very hard for me to remain nice and polite right now lol CBF
respk Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 I think Woods is serviceable if they replace the guards. The guards are so poor their play affected Glenn and Woods as they tried to cover for them. If I'm the Bills, I find replacements for both guard positions and a good backup to play center and guard and see what happens next year. It's be tough to replace 2 guards and center in one offseason.
John from Riverside Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 He's been the most overrated player on the team for years. But he really fell off this year. I was actually shocked by how bad he'd gotten this preseason. It wasn't a popular take. Meanwhile.....as I predicted at the time of the trade.....Jason Peters will still be playing at a high level when Wood was reaching the end. There is an increasing likelihood that that trade will be remembered as a Hall of Famer traded for somebody the average NFL fan has never heard of. At no time was it EVER a good thing that Peters wasn't here. The Bills have assembled an OL without much athleticism. They do not look like a modern O-Line. As for John from Hemet's take about Wood and his injuries.......yes, I called him "Balsa" Wood for a reason. He was easy to break early in his career. But athletes bounce back. A broken leg or a torn achilles used to be a career ender but not anymore. The problem is that Wood is not an athlete. He's no longer able to make the kind of plays where he was once hurt, though. So staying on the field has gotten easier. Anchoring is how he broke his leg. He blocks on skates now. Running downfield is how he tore his ACL. He can't get to the second level to save his life any longer. Maybe he can get on a good HGH program and play better next year but I'm afraid he's got a bullseye on him now and even adding better OG's isn't going to matter. He's going to be attacked head on until he shows he can sink his hips and hold his ground or get a push. Wood is so popular because A) fans wanted him to be good to justify the loss of Peters and B) He's a try hard and want-to player and a very likeable guy. Tons of good stories about him. He's just not that good of a football player and that's what matters, unfortunately. Unfortunately I cannot argue with any of this........not when I see rb's having to create their own holes in the middle of the line play after play after play Unfortunately I cannot argue with any of this........not when I see rb's having to create their own holes in the middle of the line play after play after play HOWEVER.....I still think that if you put two monster guards along side of him he is very servicable
Kirby Jackson Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 I think Woods is serviceable if they replace the guards. The guards are so poor their play affected Glenn and Woods as they tried to cover for them. If I'm the Bills, I find replacements for both guard positions and a good backup to play center and guard and see what happens next year. It's be tough to replace 2 guards and center in one offseason. Wood = C, Woods = WR
RealityCheck Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 The O-line is doing their best. They just aren't that good. It's a combination of Marrone and Whaley at play. Bad players plus bad coaching gets you what we have. In a week, it will be on Whaley to address these problems.
Al Czervik Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 Wow. Sick of Eric Wood? Everyone here was so happy when he chose to sign an extension with us rather than become a free agent and now people are sick of him? Eric is part of the heart and soul of this team and I will never be sick of him CBF I'm with ya
RyanC883 Posted December 23, 2014 Posted December 23, 2014 Wood is fine. Is he a pro-bowl player, no. But he is a solid center who you can build a good O-line around, as long as the offensive coaches are all gone.
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