Ford and Williams playing well as a duo at RG and RT, per Joe Buscaglia

[Buffalo_Stampede]

5 hours ago, JoPoy88 said:

Is that what happened? That makes more sense. I only saw the wide shot it looked like he got trucked

Yeah. Plus it was 1 rep of 1vs1, not really much to make of it. Gave the rook some confidence though.

3 hours ago, eball said:

Dawkins/Spain/Morse/Ford/Williams?

 

Sign me up. That’s a top 10 OL. 

Potentially. Also love the depth of Feliciano (G/C), Nsekhe (LT/ RT), and Winters (RG/LG).

 

 

 

 

[kenny3000]

14 hours ago, thenorthremembers said:

Thats the way I took it as well.   One of the things I agree with a lot of posters on here about is that Ford is a guard.

 

I think he could have been a good tackle, but he's gonna be a great guard!!  This is good!

[thebandit27]

I said on draft day that Cody Ford could be an all pro at guard.

 

I would be excited to see him there

[H2o]

Imagine if our OL actually IS now solidified and becomes top 10 in the league? We already have Singletary who was gashing defenses last year and now Moss who has drawn rave reviews thus far in TC. If our running game becomes upper echelon then that will open things up for the passing game that much more. This team will be a LEGIT contender. 

[thenorthremembers]

13 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

Half the posters here also wanted dawkins to play guard lol

 

You need to develop tackles, it's hard

The Dawkins guard people were and are out of their minds, Dawkins is a tackle, is built like a tackle, and his film says tackle.  If you go back and watch Ford at OU I just thought it screamed guard because of what a bruiser he is, plus he tends to play with a lower center of gravity in spite of the fact that he is around the same height as Dawkins.

 

I do agree tackles are coming out more raw and need to be developed, I just dont think that was the case with Ford.   His body type, arm length, and style of play doesnt look like a long term fit at tackle regardless of coaching.   He doesn't have incredibly quick feet which causes him to lunge, which makes his shorter arms more of an issue.  I think its a very good move, and he may end up a pro bowler because of it.

[Juice_32]

If Williams can stay healthy and find his form, look out. This is why I love Beane’s volume approach to the O-line. If one or two guys step up, you get great value.

[NewEra]

4 hours ago, Dont Stop Billeiving said:

Agreed, Williams was asked to play too many positions last year and was still recovering from injury. He used to be an excellent player and hopefully will regain that form. If the Bills have decided Ford is best at Guard, I hope they keep him there and let him get comfortable at the position (no more flip-flopping between OG and OT). 

 

On a side note, given the recent stadium situation, aren't you contractually obligated to change your name to 'Bills Stadium' now? ?

No.  My name has nothing to do with the hat Co.   It signaled the beginning of a “new era” for the buffalo bills.  The Drew Bledsoe era.  Lol

[Dont Stop Billeiving]

1 minute ago, NewEra said:

No.  My name has nothing to do with the hat Co.   It signaled the beginning of a “new era” for the buffalo bills.  The Drew Bledsoe era.  Lol

I figured that was probably the case but couldn't pass up the opportunity lol.

 

Your name is maybe more relevant now than ever, onwards and upwards with McBeane! Go Bills brother! 

[NewEra]

Just now, Dont Stop Billeiving said:

I figured that was probably the case but couldn't pass up the opportunity lol.

 

Your name is maybe more relevant now than ever, onwards and upwards with McBeane! Go Bills brother! 

I won’t stop billeiving!!!

Edited August 24, 2020 by NewEra

[Rocky Landing]

I haven't gone through this entire thread, but I think I may be the only one on this board that thinks Ford is going to stay at RT, and Williams will play RG.

[Doc]

3 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

I haven't gone through this entire thread, but I think I may be the only one on this board that thinks Ford is going to stay at RT, and Williams will play RG.

 

Anything is possible but the smart move is to have it the reverse.

[ColoradoBills]

Even if Ford plays RG this year it's good he has had exposure to RT.  He can play RT if the need arises.

I could see him taking snaps and competing for RT once again next year.

Wherever he ultimately ends up I sure hope he excels. 

[thebandit27]

Ford at RG allows the team a lot of flexibility in their game day roster.

 

They can dress 7 OLmen and have 4 players with extensive starting tackle experience, 3 players with extensive starting guard experience (if you include Ford’s days at Oklahoma), and 2 players with extensive starting center experience.

[GunnerBill]

20 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

I haven't gone through this entire thread, but I think I may be the only one on this board that thinks Ford is going to stay at RT, and Williams will play RG.

 

So the reason to do this is if the Bills are still adamant that Ford is their long term right tackle. Once you move him to guard the chances are he is your guard moving forward. 

 

If however the Bills have any doubt about his long term suitability at tackle then the priority should be putting out their best combination of 5 as it stands today. I am strongly of the view that is likely Williams at tackle and Cody inside. 

[Rocky Landing]

2 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

So the reason to do this is if the Bills are still adamant that Ford is their long term right tackle. Once you move him to guard the chances are he is your guard moving forward. 

 

If however the Bills have any doubt about his long term suitability at tackle then the priority should be putting out their best combination of 5 as it stands today. I am strongly of the view that is likely Williams at tackle and Cody inside. 

I agree with this in theory, although I don't think they need to be all that "adamant."  I think they're confident Ford will continue to develop. I also think Ford grew comfortable in his role as last season progressed. And, if Ford is a better G than T, the same might be said for Williams. 

 

I also suspect that the acquisitions for such a deep O-line unit may have more to do with the possibility for attrition due to Covid-19. Offensive, and defensive linemen are certainly the highest risk players on the team as they are in close, face-to-face contact with opposing players, and many of them are technically obese. I would not be surprised if, in practice, they were moving players around the line a lot for this reason.

 

But, I still think, at least for the start of the season, they are going to place a higher value on continuity than they would for other, more typical seasons.

[TigerJ]

If that's what works, I'm all for it.  I think the biggest question mark regarding that combination, was the health of Darryl Williams.  It  the Bills get a positive answer, then they're set on the right side.  Ty Nsekhe becomes the obvious swing tackle in reserve.  The only major question left becomes interior depth.  There's too much of it.  They would likely go into the season with 8 offensive linemen on the 53 man roster.  If Williams and Ford nail down the right side, while Spain and Dawkins on the left and Morse in the middle.  Nsekhe makes 6, and there's room for 2 more.  Obviously at least one of those and preferably both have position flexibility between center and both guard spots.  Competing veterans include Boehm, Boettger and Winters.  First or second year interior linemen include Bates and Harrell,  Clearly, Beane will try to trade somebody.  I'm guessing the Bills may keep one veteran backup and one youngster, probably Ryan Bates because of his wide position flexibility.  Winters is obviously starter quality, but I don't know how much center he's ever played.  

[GunnerBill]

34 minutes ago, Rocky Landing said:

I agree with this in theory, although I don't think they need to be all that "adamant."  I think they're confident Ford will continue to develop. I also think Ford grew comfortable in his role as last season progressed. And, if Ford is a better G than T, the same might be said for Williams. 

 

I also suspect that the acquisitions for such a deep O-line unit may have more to do with the possibility for attrition due to Covid-19. Offensive, and defensive linemen are certainly the highest risk players on the team as they are in close, face-to-face contact with opposing players, and many of them are technically obese. I would not be surprised if, in practice, they were moving players around the line a lot for this reason.

 

But, I still think, at least for the start of the season, they are going to place a higher value on continuity than they would for other, more typical seasons.

 

Strongly disagree with the bolded. Based on what he has put on tape in the NFL Williams is definitely better at tackle than guard. 

[Doc]

4 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

Strongly disagree with the bolded. Based on what he has put on tape in the NFL Williams is definitely better at tackle than guard. 

 

Yup.  Again, he was a 2nd team All-Pro RT at in 2017 and the Bills have needed a good RT for over a decade.

[ColoradoBills]

2 hours ago, thebandit27 said:

Ford at RG allows the team a lot of flexibility in their game day roster.

 

They can dress 7 OLmen and have 4 players with extensive starting tackle experience, 3 players with extensive starting guard experience (if you include Ford’s days at Oklahoma), and 2 players with extensive starting center experience.

 

The new rules will allow them to dress 8 OL.  I do agree that the flexibility is good.

[Doc]

Why not let them dress everyone?