Ryan "Rick" Bates Watch Thread

[JMM]

So the complete silence on this, with days to go. Do we think that's a sign they match or a sign they don't?? What do you guys think??

[YoloinOhio]

37 minutes ago, MrEpsYtown said:

I think he would be fine at guard, but yeah I highly doubt he is the pick as he probably isn’t available and I don’t think they go IOL. I think they will draft one of these tackles, like Tulsa’s Smith or Luke Goedeke, Abraham Lucas, Logan Bruss, Cole Strange, etc etc and make them a guard. Smith is starting to grow on me the more I watch. 

Tyler Smith is the best fit after Zion Johnson but not sure he’s there bottom of 2nd. 

9 minutes ago, JMM said:

So the complete silence on this, with days to go. Do we think that's a sign they match or a sign they don't?? What do you guys think??

I don’t think it means anything but that the bills are making them wait the whole 5

[NewEra]

11 minutes ago, JMM said:

So the complete silence on this, with days to go. Do we think that's a sign they match or a sign they don't?? What do you guys think??

Almost everything the Bills do now is in complete silence 

Edited March 27, 2022 by NewEra

[MrEpsYtown]

6 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Tyler Smith is the best fit after Zion Johnson but not sure he’s there bottom of 2nd. 

I don’t think it means anything but that the bills are making them wait the whole 5

I think we see them trade up in the second. Not necessarily for Smith, but the value seems to be mid first to mid second. They can tray to get two players in that range. 8 players can’t make this team. 

[Buffalo716]

58 minutes ago, billrooter said:

Nice article appreciate that I bookmarked it. I like Linderbaum as well, thing is didn't we just lock up Morse for two more years? I realize Linderbaum can move but the article says it wouldn't make much sense, but can you imagine if we had 3 Incognitions starting on the OL? I loved Richies tenacity on the field! Also do think they have to consider him if he falls, those type of lineman might only come along what every 5-10 years? I will be more interested to see what Gunnerbill and other draft guys think of him as a fit for Buffalo.

He's obviously a talented offensive lineman.. great hands hips and feet.. great agility and never gets beat to the spot

 

By his lack of size is actually concerning for the NFL level.. and he's not going to be a fit for all teams because of it.. going to be scheme dependent 

 

I wouldn't say he's a once every 10 year lineman like a Quinton Nelson..(though different positions) but if he gets into the right scheme he can be a pro bowler 

 

 

Edited March 27, 2022 by Buffalo716

[Coach Tuesday]

At the end of the day they have to trust their evals.  They’ve had more time with Bates than anyone.  They know what his strengths and weaknesses are and they should be able to determine what he’s worth within a reasonable range.  They can’t listen to me and get spooked by their misevaluations of Ford, Teller, Spain, Creed, etc. - they need to maintain discipline and stick to their process.  It’s frustrating as fans because they keep screwing up the position but it won’t help to compound the problem by wildly overpaying based upon an outsider’s willingness to pay a certain price.  

Edited March 27, 2022 by Coach Tuesday

[Aussie Joe]

34 minutes ago, JMM said:

So the complete silence on this, with days to go. Do we think that's a sign they match or a sign they don't?? What do you guys think??

What’s the point of speculation from us outsiders? We will know soon enough… 

 

 

[JDubya76]

6 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

I don’t think it means anything but that the bills are making them wait the whole 5

I would make anyone that signed one of my RFAs wait until the deadline for an answer. It give us a chance to mess with the other teams backup plans. 

[MrEpsYtown]

33 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

He's obviously a talented offensive lineman.. great hands hips and feet.. great agility and never gets beat to the spot

 

By his lack of size is actually concerning for the NFL level.. and he's not going to be a fit for all teams because of it.. going to be scheme dependent 

 

I wouldn't say he's a once every 10 year lineman like a Quinton Nelson..(though different positions) but if he gets into the right scheme he can be a pro bowler 

 

 

Yeah, he was little banged up at the end of the year, but Marquand McCall, all of 6-3 and 342 lbs of him physically  beat Linderbaum up a little bit. So that is the concern, but he plays with such great leverage that he will hold his own against bigger guys. He will also be playing with better linemen, so won’t be on an island as much. 

[damj]

I've been out of the loop, what was the Bears offer?

 

[John from Riverside]

I think Beane is absolutely giving the finger tot he bears by waiting till the deadline to say we wont match.

[Turbo44]

25 minutes ago, damj said:

I've been out of the loop, what was the Bears offer?

 

No offer reported (I don’t think) - Bills have to Wednesday to match

[Motor26]

6 hours ago, 2020 Our Year For Sure said:

I think Williams is decent in pass pro. 

 

Are you saying they shouldn't start Spencer Brown at RT this year? Why are you only saying this now, I haven't seen a single person say that the entire offseason. Where ya been?

I’m saying if the plan is to keep the status quo on the right side of the line, they’re going to struggle. Williams is going to be 30 this season and has already looked to be in the decline physically. Brown should get the chance to start but they’re going to need to have competition or at least a competent backup if he struggles again. He got worked in pass pro so many times last year, he’s a good run blocker, but leaves a lot to be desired from a pass pro standpoint.

Edited March 27, 2022 by Motor26

[Rockinon]

4 minutes ago, ScottLaw said:

Yep…. My guess is they take a guy early who can play both guard and tackle to push Brown for a starting spot.

I'm more inclined to think they would be looking for someone that can play G/C.

[The Jokeman]

3 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

I don’t think it means anything but that the bills are making them wait the whole 5

We might be lining up to sign another vet before giving up on Bates. We might as well and take our time to do so. One name I have seen sign anywhere is Chris Reed. He's been a solid veteran backup that's been on a few different teams the last 7 seasons. At the very least he's a veteran backup G.

[3rdand12]

18 minutes ago, Rockinon said:

I'm more inclined to think they would be looking for someone that can play G/C.

Morse really needs an apprentice this season perhaps. Surprised he made it this far

18 minutes ago, Rockinon said:

I'm more inclined to think they would be looking for someone that can play G/C.

They likely need to get two from the draft. C/OG  and or OG/T

[MrEpsYtown]

For context, Bradley Bozeman signed a 1 year deal worth 2.8 million. I am not a huge fan, but he has a proven track record of play at both LG and C. Not the athlete Bates is, but Bozeman plays very well in power/gap schemes. 

[Einstein's Dog]

14 minutes ago, The Jokeman said:

We might be lining up to sign another vet before giving up on Bates. We might as well and take our time to do so. One name I have seen sign anywhere is Chris Reed. He's been a solid veteran backup that's been on a few different teams the last 7 seasons. At the very least he's a veteran backup G.

Along those lines it might be that the FO is weighing the amount for Bates vs putting an additional say $1-2M for starter level Trai Turner. 

 

The FO could be in frantic negotiations with Trai.  Get that deal done before turning down Bates.

[Turbo44]

18 minutes ago, Einstein's Dog said:

Along those lines it might be that the FO is weighing the amount for Bates vs putting an additional say $1-2M for starter level Trai Turner. 

 

The FO could be in frantic negotiations with Trai.  Get that deal done before turning down Bates.

Maybe they are and just are making Chicago wait. Then they take the Bates money and put it towards a veteran??

 

or Beane is irritated that Chicago signed him, plans to match, and making Chicago wait puts Chicago in the disadvantage of not pursuing another guard

[Einstein's Dog]

9 minutes ago, Turbo44 said:

Maybe they are and just are making Chicago wait. Then they take the Bates money and put it towards a veteran??

 

or Beane is irritated that Chicago signed him, plans to match, and making Chicago wait puts Chicago in the disadvantage of not pursuing another guard

Most scenarios seem to conclude that we will be waiting until the last day to decide.

 

One unfortunate problem is that there don't seem to be many good veteran choices that would be an upgrade.  The poster I responded to was mentioning Chris Reed, who is not an upgrade.  So turning down Bates even at an uncomfortable price would leave us with a hole to fill.  

 

IMO, getting Turner would be an upgrade.  And the front office would want to know if they could get him at a price they have in mind before deciding on Bates.  That would be the time constraint.