Who hurt and who helped.... Pre-season game 2

[26CornerBlitz]

I thought wilder looked good out there.

 

I agree with eball on EJ. His 2-point conversion going through 3 different reads was great, as were his throws down the sideline.

 

I bet you there are some teams out there with shaky backups (Giants, steelers) who would easily trade for him.

 

I forgot to add Wilder to my Chips list. He looks slow to the hole with wasted steps and no explosiveness. Not NFL caliber talent.

[nucci]

 

I guess I didn't see the head scratchers yesterday. He was clearly upset with receivers at least twice for running the wrong routes, and got in their faces about it. That's new. Much better touch on his throws as well.

 

Have you seen the #2 QBs in this league? I realize all of EJ's detractors respond with "London" every time the guy is mentioned but he looks capable of holding down the fort to me.

Have you seen the No.1s? Rams don't have one...Jets have Fitz but nothing else....I think we're ok at QB for now

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

I was kind of wondering if this was more of an audition for Gay for other teams to look at him. Maybe they've seen enough of Carpenter in camp to know he can and will handle kick offs this year. So we'll give his leg a rest tonight (though he did still kick off) and let Gay show other teams what he can do whe nwe cut him. If so, wasn't a very good audition for him.

 

 

Jordan Gay.... Given a chance to show he could be more than a kick-off specialist Jordan Gay proved that he is just a kick-off specialist. If Carpenter handles everything in game 3 then that is a sure sign to me that Gay's job is in jeopardy.

[Blokestradamus]

Jonathan Meeks is hawt garbage. You can hear the cogs whirring as he remembers that he's the last man in coverage. Also missed the tackle that sprung Rainey.

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Jonathan Meeks is hawt garbage. You can hear the cogs whirring as he remembers that he's the last man in coverage. Also missed the tackle that sprung Rainey.

Agreed. Meeks is terrible. I couldn't understand the hype he was getting earlier in camp.

[Fixxxer]

I was kind of wondering if this was more of an audition for Gay for other teams to look at him. Maybe they've seen enough of Carpenter in camp to know he can and will handle kick offs this year. So we'll give his leg a rest tonight (though he did still kick off) and let Gay show other teams what he can do whe nwe cut him. If so, wasn't a very good audition for him.

 

 

 

I think the coaches gave Gay an opportunity to compete as FG kicker to see if they can make Carpenter expendable, don't forget that this year, with as many injuries and suspensions that specialist spot became a luxury we can't have.

Safe to say, Carpenter's job is secure after last night.

[Blokestradamus]

Agreed. Meeks is terrible. I couldn't understand the hype he was getting earlier in camp.

 

Colt Anderson is taking his ST reps away too.

 

I'll post my full thoughts here later. I've got a provisional 1.700 words on the game waiting to get published. No shock that Bryson Albright gets a mention!

[GunnerBill]

Jonathan Meeks is hawt garbage. You can hear the cogs whirring as he remembers that he's the last man in coverage. Also missed the tackle that sprung Rainey.

Yep. I could have mentioned Meeks but he was so bad I forgot to even consider him. He is gone.

[Matt in KC]

I thought Albright really helped himself, looking like one of the best player on the field when he played. He looks like a great developmental backup.

 

For the first time in a long time I am very happy with our QBs. EJ is definitely maturing, and seems to have lost his panic. Cardale could be really good with a couple years coaching and experience.

 

I did not think Little really helped himself. He should be able to run with the #1s and just looks outmatched and inconsistent at that level. And I don't think it is likely he continues to develop (much). He is on the bubble for me as I look for last cuts to draw up a roster of 53.

 

Carpenter can boom kick-offs. I think the issue is the wear on his leg and his ability to stay solid for the long haul so he can do both later in the season.

Also, Douzable did not look very good to me, ending up on the ground a lot.

[Buffaloed in Pa]

E.J. looked better than Cardale.

[/dev/null]

E.J. looked better than Cardale.

EJ is in his fourth NFL season and second with Roman as OC

Cardale is in his second pre-season game

 

That said, EJ has helped his case as an NFL backup QB. Question is will he be a career backup with the Bills or bounce around the league seeking greener pastures

[The Frankish Reich]

I thought Albright really helped himself, looking like one of the best player on the field when he played. He looks like a great developmental backup.

 

For the first time in a long time I am very happy with our QBs. EJ is definitely maturing, and seems to have lost his panic. Cardale could be really good with a couple years coaching and experience.

 

I did not think Little really helped himself. He should be able to run with the #1s and just looks outmatched and inconsistent at that level. And I don't think it is likely he continues to develop (much). He is on the bubble for me as I look for last cuts to draw up a roster of 53.

 

Carpenter can boom kick-offs. I think the issue is the wear on his leg and his ability to stay solid for the long haul so he can do both later in the season.

Also, Douzable did not look very good to me, ending up on the ground a lot.

Not sure how catching 2 TDs (the first one slapped out of his hands after at least 3 steps) counts as "outmatched" - I was no fan of Little, but he did all you could expect of him yesterday.

[Saxum]

What did Gay do? Overall I'd say he helped himself with the KO's, especially the one that dropped in at about the 25(?).

 

He proved that he can't be a scoring kicker, but, hopefully we don't need him for those duties.

NFLN did show one replay (Bills feed) but it was from behind. If it was a regular season game that would be one to challenge...still wish Rex had.

 

 

 

There is no need to keep Gay. You don't want TB's and Carp is just fine at not getting them.

 

And sorry, but I meant a replay of the game.

 

 

 

Give Biermann a shot as backup kickout specialist in game 3; he has a good leg and we already know what we got with Gay.

[The Frankish Reich]

On kickoffs: with touchbacks coming out to the 25, the relative value of a guy who gets (like Gay) 67 % touchbacks vs. a guy like Carpenter (perhaps 50%?) seems diminished. In fact, you can make a good case that you're better off enticing the other team to attempt a return on a ball kicked 3-4 yards deep into the end zone - sure, you risk a long return, but the receiving team also risks: (1) getting tackled inside the 25; (2) fumbling it away; (3) having a decent return called back on a penalty. In other words, using a roster spot on a kickoff specialist was already questionable under pre-2016 rules; now, the calculus has decidedly tilted against it. So Gay was given a shot to show he's not just a kickoff specialist, and he failed in epic fashion.

[Buffaloed in Pa]

EJ is in his fourth NFL season and second with Roman as OC

Cardale is in his second pre-season game

 

That said, EJ has helped his case as an NFL backup QB. Question is will he be a career backup with the Bills or bounce around the league seeking greener pastures

I know.I know. But it is what it is. E.J. is better NOW.

[Matt in KC]

Not sure how catching 2 TDs (the first one slapped out of his hands after at least 3 steps) counts as "outmatched" - I was no fan of Little, but he did all you could expect of him yesterday.

I think the no TD call was the right one. Certainly it was consistent with how they have been calling them. (Though I think control + 2 feet should equal a TD, regardless of what happens after.) I liked them going back to Little right after that and that it worked the next time.

 

I just looked up the play-by-play and you are right, it isn't as bad as I remembered. I thought there were more incompletions to him, and overall I am not impressed with his awareness / control / concentration / hands. Last night was a probably a positive for his standings; he can't help that he wasn't in with the ones. At his skill level though, I would rather keep a developing WR or specialist over him unless it looks like he is finding new life.

[The Frankish Reich]

I think the no TD call was the right one. Certainly it was consistent with how they have been calling them. (Though I think control + 2 feet should equal a TD, regardless of what happens after.) I liked them going back to Little right after that and that it worked the next time.

 

I just looked up the play-by-play and you are right, it isn't as bad as I remembered. I thought there were more incompletions to him, and overall I am not impressed with his awareness / control / concentration / hands. Last night was a probably a positive for his standings; he can't help that he wasn't in with the ones. At his skill level though, I would rather keep a developing WR or specialist over him unless it looks like he is finding new life.

And I agree with that. Look, if we're the Pats, I keep Little over a Dezmin Lewis because having an immediate contributor on the roster if needed may be the difference between being the first seed in the playoffs vs. the third. That's not the Bills. You can't let a potentially greater talent, under team control, slip away for a slight edge in immediate impact. My comment is limited to the fact that Little appeared to help himself last night, but you have to weigh that against an established baseline of inconsistency as an NFL player.

Edited August 21, 2016 by The Frankish Reich

[fansince88]

Felton with his fumble didn't help him. IMHO

[Johnny Hammersticks]

Felton with his fumble didn't help him. IMHO

Pretty sure it doesn't matter for Felton. He's not on the roster to carry the football or make receptions. He's there to crack heads.

[4merper4mer]

Good list; no disagreements from me. I'd include EJ in the "helped" list -- looks like a different QB out there.

This is weird because I like EJ but I didn't think yesterday was great. Some good plays for sure but he had that one he threw to two Giants who bumped into each other going for it. I still am pro EJ overall but yesterday was just ok to me.

Edited August 21, 2016 by 4merper4mer