Sanjay Lal on the WR Corps

[Tenhigh]

 

Did I say anything that isn't factual? Because facts don't care about fan-hood.

 

There should be a safe zone, i.e. non-critical zone, created here on TBD. I beginning to think it's necessary for too many fans.

Maybe try changing your delivery? Seems like you have a lot of points you want to make, but they are often hard to read through the bile.

[Rocky Landing]

Here's one.

Good link. Thanks, Beerball.

[Mark Vader]

 

@RQUINN619

A Look at Hankerson, Little, Salas, Boykin & what each brings to #Bills #3 WR Battle http://buildingtheherd.com/commentary/bills-wr-battle/

 

 

Great read and analysis.

 

I think it'll be between Hankerson & Boykin.

[chris heff]

There is currently 13 WR on the roster, they probably keep 6. Watkins, Woods and Easly (if his knee is ok and because of ST) make it. That leaves 10 guys to compete for 3 spots. There has to be three guys that can contribute.

[NoSaint]

There is currently 13 WR on the roster, they probably keep 6. Watkins, Woods and Easly (if his knee is ok and because of ST) make it. That leaves 10 guys to compete for 3 spots. There has to be three guys that can contribute.

Easley is likely pup, no?

[3rdand12]

Easley is likely pup, no?

I would guess thats how Bills want to play it honestly.

 

I vote Salas comes out on top of the heap.

 

in some perverse way i am glad Sammy will miss practice time and the "others" get more reps

[ChevyVanMiller]

Keep your eye on this kid.

 

http://bills.buffalonews.com/2016/05/28/bills-wr-davonte-allen-brings-toughness-dont-take-plays-off/

[What a Tuel]

 

Did I say anything that isn't factual? Because facts don't care about fan-hood.

 

There should be a safe zone, i.e. non-critical zone, created here on TBD. I beginning to think it's necessary for too many fans.

 

What exactly is a "who's who" of undrafted, or street free agents? Putting aside your obvious derogatory meaning behind the labeling of those pickups, let's go with it - who wouldn't qualify as one of those 2 categories at this point?

 

I think the sole answer is a trade?

Edited May 29, 2016 by What a Tuel

[3rdand12]

Keep your eye on this kid.

 

http://bills.buffalonews.com/2016/05/28/bills-wr-davonte-allen-brings-toughness-dont-take-plays-off/

not sure i even knew he was in Buffalo.

Thanks for the enlightenment !!

[The Frankish Reich]

 

 

Hankerson issue is bad hands.

 

Long arms......good.......hands too far from brain.....bad.

 

He is a curious case because he otherwise has the ability to be a very good #2 WR.......more ability than Woods and more proven ability than Goodwin or Listenbee.

 

But if he's not in your top 3......and subsequently one injury away from a #2 role where he can get regular cracks at making big plays.......then he probably isn't in your top 6.

 

Doesn't offer a lot else and the last thing you want at the end of the bench is a guy with bad hands.

 

That guy needs to be like Salas who not only can play ST but who can come in and at least catch the few last-option passes that are thrown to him.

 

This is probably as good of a situation as Hankerson can ask for.........he needs to be on a shallow WR corps to stick.

 

Goodwin is the most talented WR on the roster not named Watkins......he is not only fast but has remarkable quickness and change of direction skills and adjusts to the ball and tracks it very well in the air ..but has done squat and shown no intention of committing entirely to football.......but he is in his walk year and if it's ever going to happen it's now.

 

It would be quite a story if someone like Little or Boykin turned into something special.......they are run-of-the-mill washouts that are much better athletes than football players.

Salas looks to me to be the best fit. Hankerson does indeed have bad hands ... but not as bad as Greg Little's hands. Check out this drop rate list from a few years ago (when both were getting serious playing time):

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/signature-stats-drop-rate/

 

That's Little as 5th worst, Hankerson 16th. These guys are gonna drive us nuts. Salas, on the other hand -- looks like a cheapo Hogan, which despite the hatin' on Hogan around here, isn't such a bad thing.

[Doc]

Salas looks to me to be the best fit. Hankerson does indeed have bad hands ... but not as bad as Greg Little's hands. Check out this drop rate list from a few years ago (when both were getting serious playing time):

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/signature-stats-drop-rate/

 

That's Little as 5th worst, Hankerson 16th. These guys are gonna drive us nuts. Salas, on the other hand -- looks like a cheapo Hogan, which despite the hatin' on Hogan around here, isn't such a bad thing.

 

Here's a great website for dropped passes: http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/drops/2013/

 

Boykin is an interesting case. In 2013, his best season, he played in 16 games, starting 8, and had 49 receptions for 681 yards and 3 TDs. He was targeted 83 times and dropped 2 passes for a drop rate of 2.4%. However in 2014, he dropped 3 passes out of 12 targets. Now is his 2013 season more accurate, or 2014?

 

And at the least, I can see any of the veteran guys replacing Hogan's meager production. For something more than that, it will have to be one of the younger guys.

[Magox]

The 11 receivers beyond Watkins and Woods are a who's who of undrafted and street free agents. Little, Hankerson, Boykin, and Salas have all played or been a roster member for at least 4 teams, so expecting them to magically transform into a competent third option is wishful thinking. The remaining 7 receivers have done almost nothing in the NFL.

 

 

I think the odds of one of those guys breaking out and becoming a player of importance is pretty decent.

But we lost Chris Hogan, he's irreplaceable.

 

The vast majority of posters never insinuated that he was "irreplaceable", just that he was a good reliable, low-cost option that helped our team.

[NoSaint]

 

Here's a great website for dropped passes: http://www.sportingcharts.com/nfl/stats/drops/2013/

 

Boykin is an interesting case. In 2013, his best season, he played in 16 games, starting 8, and had 49 receptions for 681 yards and 3 TDs. He was targeted 83 times and dropped 2 passes for a drop rate of 2.4%. However in 2014, he dropped 3 passes out of 12 targets. Now is his 2013 season more accurate, or 2014?

 

And at the least, I can see any of the veteran guys replacing Hogan's meager production. For something more than that, it will have to be one of the younger guys.

I'm guessing when all is said and done his career drop rate falls much closer to 3% than 25%. How much closer, we will see.

[Ronin]

 

I think the odds of one of those guys breaking out and becoming a player of importance is pretty decent.

 

Based on what, specifically? I mean just "your thinking so?"

 

Seriously, what do you base this on?

 

Also, allow me to ask, suppose these players were on say Cleveland, would you be saying the same thing?

 

In fact, let's take Cleveland's WR cadre of crap and look at it as their roster currently exists:

 

Apart from Travis Benjamin, who had about the same type of season that Watkins had last year, they have Taylor Gabriel, Dwayne Bowe, Darius Jennings, Ranell Hall, Terrelle Pryor, and Marlon Moore.

 

Do you expect one of those players breaking out and becoming a player of importance too?

 

If so, what's your definition of "player of importance?" Seems to me that Hogan was of at least some importance last season as the prototypical type of player that catches most types of passes in this league, but everyone seems to be poo-poo-ing his loss.

 

Just curious your rationale here.

[BADOLBILZ]

 

Based on what, specifically? I mean just "your thinking so?"

 

Seriously, what do you base this on?

 

Also, allow me to ask, suppose these players were on say Cleveland, would you be saying the same thing?

 

In fact, let's take Cleveland's WR cadre of crap and look at it as their roster currently exists:

 

Apart from Travis Benjamin, who had about the same type of season that Watkins had last year, they have Taylor Gabriel, Dwayne Bowe, Darius Jennings, Ranell Hall, Terrelle Pryor, and Marlon Moore.

 

Do you expect one of those players breaking out and becoming a player of importance too?

 

If so, what's your definition of "player of importance?" Seems to me that Hogan was of at least some importance last season as the prototypical type of player that catches most types of passes in this league, but everyone seems to be poo-poo-ing his loss.

 

Just curious your rationale here.

 

 

There is just as much chance that none of the players on the roster turn into contributors like Hogan as there is that one of them becomes a keeper.

 

I like some of the individual talents........speed on some.......size on others.........but you are right.......every team has a bunch of these guys with strengths but clear weaknesses.

 

But on the other hand......Gary Barnidge emerged out of nowhere last year and was extraordinary........it can happen..

 

And according to the NFL players that vote on the top 100 he is better than Sammy Watkins. All hail the top 100!

[John from Riverside]

 

 

There is just as much chance that none of the players on the roster turn into contributors like Hogan as there is that one of them becomes a keeper.

 

I like some of the individual talents........speed on some.......size on others.........but you are right.......every team has a bunch of these guys with strengths but clear weaknesses.

 

But on the other hand......Gary Barnidge emerged out of nowhere last year and was extraordinary........it can happen..

 

And according to the NFL players that vote on the top 100 he is better than Sammy Watkins. All hail the top 100!

I do wonder what the bills thoughts are as they are watching their players work OTA's with a little bit of cap to spend at the moment.......

 

It is a area of uncertainty......I wonder if they are eyeing June 1st cuts here

[Doc]

I do wonder what the bills thoughts are as they are watching their players work OTA's with a little bit of cap to spend at the moment.......

 

It is a area of uncertainty......I wonder if they are eyeing June 1st cuts here

 

They definitely will be eyeing June 1st cuts. BTW, you have a PM.

[Big Turk]

The 11 receivers beyond Watkins and Woods are a who's who of undrafted and street free agents. Little, Hankerson, Boykin, and Salas have all played or been a roster member for at least 4 teams, so expecting them to magically transform into a competent third option is wishful thinking. The remaining 7 receivers have done almost nothing in the NFL.

 

Buffalo needs to work Clay into the passing game because after Woods there's very little.

So much of a players success boils down to scheme fit, opportunity, being injured at the wrong time, proper coaching, and being asked to play to their strengths.

 

It's pretty impossible to simply say "Well, this player hasn't done anything, so he is going to suck."

 

Don't get me wrong, that is a distinct possibility, but with so many variables that go into a player being good at a role he is asked to fill, especially for a guy that isn't starting, its pretty silly to dismiss them out of hand. A few of these guys have had pretty decent seasons before with 500-700 yards, which would be plenty good for a #3 receiver especially one in this offense.

 

I'm more of the mindset that a lot of players don't get the opportunity to take advantage of and with more playing time there will be players who would surprise you. Could they make the pro bowl? Maybe not, but we aren't looking for that in a #3 and #4 receiver. We are simply looking for a few solid guys to move the chains now and then on 3rd down with reliable hands.

 

We are acting like there is a huge difference between most teams #3 and #4 WR and what we have, and I just don't buy it.

[3rdand12]

So much of a players success boils down to scheme fit, opportunity, being injured at the wrong time, proper coaching, and being asked to play to their strengths.

 

It's pretty impossible to simply say "Well, this player hasn't done anything, so he is going to suck."

 

Don't get me wrong, that is a distinct possibility, but with so many variables that go into a player being good at a role he is asked to fill, especially for a guy that isn't starting, its pretty silly to dismiss them out of hand. A few of these guys have had pretty decent seasons before with 500-700 yards, which would be plenty good for a #3 receiver especially one in this offense.

 

I'm more of the mindset that a lot of players don't get the opportunity to take advantage of and with more playing time there will be players who would surprise you. Could they make the pro bowl? Maybe not, but we aren't looking for that in a #3 and #4 receiver. We are simply looking for a few solid guys to move the chains now and then on 3rd down with reliable hands.

 

We are acting like there is a huge difference between most teams #3 and #4 WR and what we have, and I just don't buy it.

I think this scheme, Coaching fit and how young players are developed is a significant factor in what we see from team on the field. Another tick in the box for Coaching continuity ( i did not say rex ) The younger the player the better the chance for a uptick in performance of course. I am hoping one of the Kids steps up and takes off. and Salas will be the # 3

[Augie]

So, I skipped ahead....are we going to be OK?