MAJBobby Posted January 7, 2020 Posted January 7, 2020 (edited) ***Disclaimer*** I will not put all Names not on the Bills in this thread as it would get to long, I will keep it to a couple names in each tier (as I see them). Hope you enjoy the read. Special Teams is easy so I knocked out a 3rd one today. Also Tomorrow RB is on the list. And might get to WR. Currently on Roster: (Positional Spending 4 players 4.61M Cap ranked 15th in league) Corey Bojorquez (RFA 2021) – Saves 660K against cap if Cut Steven Hauschka (UFA 2022) – Saves 1.8M against the cap if Cut. Reid Ferguson (UFA 2022) – Saves 650K against the cap if Cut Kaare Vedvik (signed futures deal) My Take: First, I am going to start with Corey Bojorquez, I by no means am a punting expert here so I will rely on numbers and some things that I saw. First talk about inconsistent and that seems to be a theme with him. Will get off a nice punt one minute and then shank the next. It is maddening. Second something else I noticed he seems slow to kick the ball, more so than other punters, it is like his process and movements just are slower than most. To the numbers his AVG is 41.9 and a net AVG of 37.7 with a single block and 34 inside the 20. That puts him at 32nd in AVG, 32nd in Net AVG, tied for 2nd in blocks and tied for 3rd in punts inside the 20. While I like the number of punts inside the 20 h also has 7 Touch backs which is tied for the most in the league. I think the Bills have been trying to get better here for a couple years, but I also do not think that they want to break the bank on punter when you look at the level of competition brought in. I do think they likely have made their only move into this position with Kaare Vedvik who as a punter at Marshall had an avg of 44.0. But this is a position that needs to be upgraded. I am not going to talk about Reid Ferguson too much, I am fine with him as LS. Snaps are fine and have good pace back to punter and kicker, don’t see really to many issues here. Other than a good way to make a living if you want to teach your kids how to Long Snap. Next one is tricky because kickers are a weird group and when you have one that is solid but not exceptional you look elsewhere but that could come back to haunt you. Couple things though Hauschka has been trending down the last 2 years but also was good in playoff game and late in the season. Really when Bills put in a claim for Chase McLaughlin, he picked it up. Weird to say I have a feeling sticking with Hauschka over McLaughlin out of camp is going to hurt. But again, just a kicker. Looking at his numbers he is 79% in FG, 94% in XP those put him at 25th in FG% and 24th in XP%. Looking a little further 1-19 yards – No Attempts 20-29 yards – 5/5 100% 30-39 yards – 7/8 88% 40-49 yards – 9/10 90% 50+ - 1/5 20% So we see the issue this year was those long FGs and that also meshes with what seemed like lack of leg on Kick Offs as well. Could he be replaced sure but be careful when looking for kickers they are a fickle group and there was a league wide kicking problem this year. UFAs Possible Kicker Kai Forbath Dan Bailey Mason Crosby Joey Slye – I could see him hitting the market maybe as Graham Gano comes off IR Younghoe Koo Punter: Sam Martin Matt Bosher Britton Colquitt Ryan Allen Lac Edwards Matt Haack (would love it but likely gets tendered as an RFA and not going to give a punter a qualifying offer I don’t think). Draft Punter: Michael Turk (AZ ST) (46.0 avg 11th in Nation) with 67 punts 53 were 50+ and 36 inside 20 Arryn Siposs (Auburn) (43.8 avg 28th in Nation) 11 punts were 50+ and 16 inside 20 Joseph Charlton (South Carolina) (47.7 avg 3rd in Nation) 27 punts 50+ 28 inside 20 Kicker: Dominik Eberle (Utah State) Rodrigo Blakenship (Gorgia) Logon Justus (Indiana) Final thinking in this Position group for me would be: Take one of our picks after round 5 and draft one of the punters. The reality is once we get passed round 4 I think any player drafted is going to have a hard time seeing the field with the depth that we have built on this team. So, I am looking to upgrade a position that we have been trying to for a while All three of these punters have draftable grades IMO. So, go get one. I really am not going to be comfortable going into camp with Kaare Vedvik and Corey Bojorquez in a punting battle. All kickers in the draft have undraftable grades and without seeing an actual upgrade to Hauschka right now just stay with him. Just know that anything over 50 yards at this point I would seriously consider going for it instead, especially in open air conditions. The Punter needs to be upgraded and be serious about it go draft one in this years draft, that will be better value than getting another CB that ends up on the PS or any position like that. Edited January 7, 2020 by MAJBobby 1 1 1
VirginiaMike Posted January 7, 2020 Posted January 7, 2020 Thanks for looking at this. I don't have the stats, but I thought Hauschka was no worse than average and maybe a little above average on kickoffs. I'm ok if he stays. Bojorquez is a "gots to go" for me.
LABILLBACKER Posted January 8, 2020 Posted January 8, 2020 I'm so sick of Bojo punting. And his stats reflect that. I agree, go out and draft a stud punter ala Moorman in the 5th or 6th. A team like Buffalo based on defense has to upgrade from Bojo.
whatdrought Posted January 8, 2020 Posted January 8, 2020 Hey @MAJBobby - any chance you can link previous segments as you go so they build on each other? 1
MAJBobby Posted January 8, 2020 Author Posted January 8, 2020 18 minutes ago, whatdrought said: Hey @MAJBobby - any chance you can link previous segments as you go so they build on each other? Yeah I can do that. No prob. Next one will have all the links to each at the end of the post. Good idea. 1 1
Mark Vader Posted January 9, 2020 Posted January 9, 2020 Drafting a Punter would be a good idea. Hauschka woke up after the Bills put the claim on McLaughling and was never a problem afterwards. He should have at least one more good year left in him. We'll see about 2021.
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 Big fan of your work and analysis @MAJBobby
Rc2catch Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 I think we see Hauschka no matter what next year. Kicking has become a major epidemic and it’s weird because you’d think there would be a lot, but there’s barely 20 good kickers left. I would expect they’ll take the veteran. I think I would struggle to find 5-10 guys I would want kicking a game winning 45 yarder over Hauschka. I did like that Slye kid in Carolina but I don’t know if I would cut the veteran for him. Bojo is talented but just yuck. He’s all over the place. If we’re a run team playing top notch D you need that field position. I could find 20+ punters I would take over him.
MJS Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 On 1/7/2020 at 6:04 PM, Pete said: Mathew Slater and Clowney would be my FA priority No thanks to Clowney.
LABILLBACKER Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 In other words based on his stats Bojo is by far the worst punter in the NFL. Cut him Immediately and maybe sign Colquitt or Allen. Keep House money for 1 more season but realize you can't have him kick beyond 50. Just go for it around the 40. Josh has been good converting 3rd & long and 4th downs which should take a little pressure off of Hauschka. We should be aggressively going for tds anyway, not field goals.
Solomon Grundy Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 (edited) Maj, check out Sterling Hofrichter from Syracuse. 3x Ray Guy award candidate. Punts and kicks. Local product Edited January 10, 2020 by the skycap
MAJBobby Posted January 10, 2020 Author Posted January 10, 2020 38 minutes ago, the skycap said: Maj, check out Sterling Hofrichter from Syracuse. 3x Ray Guy award candidate. Punts and kicks. Local product Will do. Going to really start digging into the draft in a week or so. Having a good team really messed up my offseason timing stuff, I haven't even thought about the draft past my initial gradings. Not hating having a good team to make me do that but that is another reason I decided to do these things, so I can get other Ideas on who to look at.
Ed_Formerly_of_Roch Posted January 10, 2020 Posted January 10, 2020 Would be real nice if one of those you draft also has some field goal kicking experience too. Use him just on the long ones instead of Haus. Years back, that was somewhat common a punter who can also kick field goals, not so much anymore.
MAJBobby Posted January 10, 2020 Author Posted January 10, 2020 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said: Would be real nice if one of those you draft also has some field goal kicking experience too. Use him just on the long ones instead of Haus. Years back, that was somewhat common a punter who can also kick field goals, not so much anymore. there are some. Just none of the top punters do. Edited January 10, 2020 by MAJBobby
Bleeding Bills Blue Posted January 22, 2020 Posted January 22, 2020 On 1/7/2020 at 5:33 PM, MAJBobby said: ***Disclaimer*** I will not put all Names not on the Bills in this thread as it would get to long, I will keep it to a couple names in each tier (as I see them). Hope you enjoy the read. Special Teams is easy so I knocked out a 3rd one today. Also Tomorrow RB is on the list. And might get to WR. Currently on Roster: (Positional Spending 4 players 4.61M Cap ranked 15th in league) Corey Bojorquez (RFA 2021) – Saves 660K against cap if Cut Steven Hauschka (UFA 2022) – Saves 1.8M against the cap if Cut. Reid Ferguson (UFA 2022) – Saves 650K against the cap if Cut Kaare Vedvik (signed futures deal) My Take: First, I am going to start with Corey Bojorquez, I by no means am a punting expert here so I will rely on numbers and some things that I saw. First talk about inconsistent and that seems to be a theme with him. Will get off a nice punt one minute and then shank the next. It is maddening. Second something else I noticed he seems slow to kick the ball, more so than other punters, it is like his process and movements just are slower than most. To the numbers his AVG is 41.9 and a net AVG of 37.7 with a single block and 34 inside the 20. That puts him at 32nd in AVG, 32nd in Net AVG, tied for 2nd in blocks and tied for 3rd in punts inside the 20. While I like the number of punts inside the 20 h also has 7 Touch backs which is tied for the most in the league. I think the Bills have been trying to get better here for a couple years, but I also do not think that they want to break the bank on punter when you look at the level of competition brought in. I do think they likely have made their only move into this position with Kaare Vedvik who as a punter at Marshall had an avg of 44.0. But this is a position that needs to be upgraded. I am not going to talk about Reid Ferguson too much, I am fine with him as LS. Snaps are fine and have good pace back to punter and kicker, don’t see really to many issues here. Other than a good way to make a living if you want to teach your kids how to Long Snap. Next one is tricky because kickers are a weird group and when you have one that is solid but not exceptional you look elsewhere but that could come back to haunt you. Couple things though Hauschka has been trending down the last 2 years but also was good in playoff game and late in the season. Really when Bills put in a claim for Chase McLaughlin, he picked it up. Weird to say I have a feeling sticking with Hauschka over McLaughlin out of camp is going to hurt. But again, just a kicker. Looking at his numbers he is 79% in FG, 94% in XP those put him at 25th in FG% and 24th in XP%. Looking a little further 1-19 yards – No Attempts 20-29 yards – 5/5 100% 30-39 yards – 7/8 88% 40-49 yards – 9/10 90% 50+ - 1/5 20% So we see the issue this year was those long FGs and that also meshes with what seemed like lack of leg on Kick Offs as well. Could he be replaced sure but be careful when looking for kickers they are a fickle group and there was a league wide kicking problem this year. UFAs Possible Kicker Kai Forbath Dan Bailey Mason Crosby Joey Slye – I could see him hitting the market maybe as Graham Gano comes off IR Younghoe Koo Punter: Sam Martin Matt Bosher Britton Colquitt Ryan Allen Lac Edwards Matt Haack (would love it but likely gets tendered as an RFA and not going to give a punter a qualifying offer I don’t think). Draft Punter: Michael Turk (AZ ST) (46.0 avg 11th in Nation) with 67 punts 53 were 50+ and 36 inside 20 Arryn Siposs (Auburn) (43.8 avg 28th in Nation) 11 punts were 50+ and 16 inside 20 Joseph Charlton (South Carolina) (47.7 avg 3rd in Nation) 27 punts 50+ 28 inside 20 Kicker: Dominik Eberle (Utah State) Rodrigo Blakenship (Gorgia) Logon Justus (Indiana) Final thinking in this Position group for me would be: Take one of our picks after round 5 and draft one of the punters. The reality is once we get passed round 4 I think any player drafted is going to have a hard time seeing the field with the depth that we have built on this team. So, I am looking to upgrade a position that we have been trying to for a while All three of these punters have draftable grades IMO. So, go get one. I really am not going to be comfortable going into camp with Kaare Vedvik and Corey Bojorquez in a punting battle. All kickers in the draft have undraftable grades and without seeing an actual upgrade to Hauschka right now just stay with him. Just know that anything over 50 yards at this point I would seriously consider going for it instead, especially in open air conditions. The Punter needs to be upgraded and be serious about it go draft one in this years draft, that will be better value than getting another CB that ends up on the PS or any position like that. I agree. The free agents arent good, and the draft guys all look to have significantly better legs than Bojo. If you draft one - you're committed to upgrading the position. If you don't, you have a somewhat desirable destination for UDFA. The only issue is - punting in buffalo sucks. I say drop one of the ones after 150 on any of those 3. Watching Kern legit pin the patriots back again and again was a thing of beauty.
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