Greg Cosell's List of 14 Guys He Really Likes in the Draft - Bills Got 2 of Them, and Another He Liked

[Dablitzkrieg]

3 hours ago, Haslett_Stomp said:

 

I was living in the Boston area when the Pats*** drafted Tedy Bruschi, who was described by the draft "experts" as too small or a tweener with no apparent role in the NFL.  Belichick simply said "he is a football player" when asked why they drafted him.

 

Amazing insight

[Big Turk]

Who was the UDFA LB from Oklahoma we got several years ago that was supposedly going to be awesome if he wasn't way undersized? Dude never played in the NFL as far as I know...how is Bernard different?

[Shaw66]

26 minutes ago, billybrew1 said:

Re: Bernard. I posted this the other day on rumblings. Not a post but a comment. The Bills are not taking Taron Johnson off the field, he’s too good and makes too much money. But I remember when we had Zo Alexander. We had a special role for him on third and long. Now Bernard is nothing like Zo physically but are very smart and both had a knack for getting to the QB. Mahomes usually avoids full-size pass rushers with his quickness. We got KC in third and over six a few times but KC made them. I was thinking of this defense if it’s third and ten or more….

 

Bernard - Boogie - Ed -Von

…..Tremaine - Milano - TJ

Tre - Hyde - Poyer - Elam….

 

Its a small defense but no one is going to gain ten yards running against it. And the pass rush may be superb. Remember Bernard had I think, 16.5 sacks as a LB…. He’s good at it. He’s also agile enough to get mobile QBs yet big enough to bring the, down. So, technically it’s a 3-3-5 defense or if you call Von a LB. 2-4-5 D….. The Bills definitely have to think outside the box when playing elite QBs…. And pure speed could be the ticket in third and long….

 

That's an interesting thought.   It wouldn't surprise me to see Bernard on the edge.  

 

And I hear you about Johnson, but there's a good chance that the Bills defense could be better in a 4-3.  Johnson would still have plenty of snaps, because there would be times when the Bills will want to be in a true nickel.   What's interesting about that is that when they are in pure nickel, it might turn out that Milano or even Edmunds would go to the bench and Bernard stay on the field.

 

Bernard is going to create significant options.  

[Thurman#1]

1 hour ago, billybrew1 said:

Re: Bernard. I posted this the other day on rumblings. Not a post but a comment. The Bills are not taking Taron Johnson off the field, he’s too good and makes too much money. But I remember when we had Zo Alexander. We had a special role for him on third and long. Now Bernard is nothing like Zo physically but are very smart and both had a knack for getting to the QB. Mahomes usually avoids full-size pass rushers with his quickness. We got KC in third and over six a few times but KC made them. I was thinking of this defense if it’s third and ten or more….

 

Bernard - Boogie - Ed -Von

…..Tremaine - Milano - TJ

Tre - Hyde - Poyer - Elam….

 

Its a small defense but no one is going to gain ten yards running against it. And the pass rush may be superb. Remember Bernard had I think, 16.5 sacks as a LB…. He’s good at it. He’s also agile enough to get mobile QBs yet big enough to bring the, down. So, technically it’s a 3-3-5 defense or if you call Von a LB. 2-4-5 D….. The Bills definitely have to think outside the box when playing elite QBs…. And pure speed could be the ticket in third and long….

 

 

 

You could be right, but I doubt it.

 

Rushing as a DE is a whole different animal than rushing from ILB. What he was really good at was finding a hole and getting through it fast. At DE he'd be edge rushing, which isn't nearly so much about finding a hole as it is about beating a man. I doubt we see him at DE, myself.

 

I do expect them to work to try to use his blitzing ability. He's good at it and they'll try to exploit that.

 

But we'll see.

Edited May 4, 2022 by Thurman#1

[dickleyjones]

we saw what the Cinci defense did to KC. having 3 good pass blocking LBs could be interesting.

[GolfandBills]

34 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Who was the UDFA LB from Oklahoma we got several years ago that was supposedly going to be awesome if he wasn't way undersized? Dude never played in the NFL as far as I know...how is Bernard different?

Striker.. He was a pass rusher.   Bernard is a great blitzer and can cover.  He’ll be a valuable piece for the defense in sub packages 

Edited May 4, 2022 by GolfandBills

[Freddie's Dead]

37 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Who was the UDFA LB from Oklahoma we got several years ago that was supposedly going to be awesome if he wasn't way undersized? Dude never played in the NFL as far as I know...how is Bernard different?

 

Striker.  He had a drinking problem....

 

Edited May 4, 2022 by Freddie's Dead

[Magox]

Personally, I think Bernard has a high floor, I think the likelihood of him becoming a player that plays in at least 50% of the snaps in this league are pretty high.    Knowing what sort of team leader he is and his passion for the game and his Mental DNA makeup combined with his athleticism he just has what it takes to be an above average player in this league, I think.

 

I think he is going to be beloved from the Buffalo fanbase in the years to come.

[Carmel Corn]

3 hours ago, LEBills said:

In case anyone is wondering, the list as seen when I paused the video was:

MJ Emerson CB Miss St -BROWNS

Luke Fortner C UK - JAGS

Bryan Cook S Cincinnati - CHIEFS

Zakoby McClain LB Auburn - RAVENS

James Cook RB Georgia - BILLS

Wan’Dale Robinson WR UK - GIANTS

Nik Bonitto EDGE OK - BRONCOS

Perrion Winfrey DL OK - BROWNS

Channing Tindall LB Georgia - DOLPHINS

Deangelo Malone LB W.Kentucky-FALCONS

Tyrion Davis-Price RB LSU - 9ers

Marcus Jones CB Houston - PATS

Terrel Bernard LB Baylor - BILLS

 

So Shakir wasn’t on that list though he said he was and he said that he loves him. Bills still had 2 on there (Cook and Bernard) and I guess Shakir was an honorable mention.

 

EDIT: forgot to type one:

 

Matthew Butler DT - UTenn- RAIDERS

Thanks for doing this!  I find it interesting that the vast majority of the players ended up with AFC teams.  The elite talent differences between the conferences is staggering.  

[BigAl2526]

I was already optimistic about Cook, and I've heard lots of good things about Shakir, but the presence of Terrel Bernard on that list is really encouraging.  Once he gets acclimated to the NFL, I can imagine it will be like having a Milano clone.  They are both small for linebackers, and Milano has begun to have some injury issues.  If the Bills can get solid play out of Bernard, I can see the Bills platooning the two, each getting 50% of the reps more or less.  Less wear and tear means less risk of injury. 

[soflabillsfan1]

2 hours ago, billybrew1 said:

Re: Bernard. I posted this the other day on rumblings. Not a post but a comment. The Bills are not taking Taron Johnson off the field, he’s too good and makes too much money. But I remember when we had Zo Alexander. We had a special role for him on third and long. Now Bernard is nothing like Zo physically but are very smart and both had a knack for getting to the QB. Mahomes usually avoids full-size pass rushers with his quickness. We got KC in third and over six a few times but KC made them. I was thinking of this defense if it’s third and ten or more….

 

Bernard - Boogie - Ed -Von

…..Tremaine - Milano - TJ

Tre - Hyde - Poyer - Elam….

 

Its a small defense but no one is going to gain ten yards running against it. And the pass rush may be superb. Remember Bernard had I think, 16.5 sacks as a LB…. He’s good at it. He’s also agile enough to get mobile QBs yet big enough to bring the, down. So, technically it’s a 3-3-5 defense or if you call Von a LB. 2-4-5 D….. The Bills definitely have to think outside the box when playing elite QBs…. And pure speed could be the ticket in third and long….

 

A 224lb guy is not going to be lining up at DE.

[Rhode Island Red]

2 minutes ago, soflabillsfan1 said:

A 224lb guy is not going to be lining up at DE.

I think you and Thurman are probably correct, but billybrew’s notion of having Bernard on the field for the situations he mentioned are intriguing, to say the least.

For example, howzabout a 3-3-5?  Von/Ed/Groot, backed by Milano/Edmunds/Bernard, then the usual nickel…?

They wouldn’t have picked him if Coach SetInHisWays Frazier wasn’t open to finding ways to use him…..

 

I also wonder how Tim Settle might fit into these scenarios.  Yes, a significant run-stuffer but I’m impressed with his pass rush power, he’s just a beast all around, hoping for great things from him.

[The Dean]

2 hours ago, billybrew1 said:

LOL, our whole offense, the K-Gun, should have been called the T-Gun because Jim Kelly had one big read. If it was a run defense, he’d throw to to the Thurmanator, if it was a pass D, he’d hand it off to Thurman. This is absolutely 100% true. Of course it was more complicated than that re: the other receivers….but that was the gist of the K-gun. That’s why we were so unstoppable.

It looks like we will be unstoppable again even though we were already unstoppable….LOL, we have Josh Allen!

Though the two of them will make us even more unstoppable. Both Cook and Shakir.

I think we might have a role forBernard on our defense as well. He is a talented blitzer and we definitely have to do something the next time we play Mahomes in the playoffs….

 

 

You do know the K in K-gun was not for "Kelly", right?  Just checking.

[YoloinOhio]

4 hours ago, Floydboy12 said:

I thought Bernard was the best pick the Bills made. 

I didn’t know much about him until this weekend but then again I don’t watch much Big 12. But three guys I also didn’t  know much about - Taron J, Matt Milano, Dawson Knox, Gabe Davis… well the rest is history and i trust our decision makers. They aren’t taking this kid in the 3rd round unless they have a plan for him. I also wonder if they know Schoen liked him a lot (there is a picture of him shaking his hand at the Sr Bowl) and thought the NYG might take him early 4th so they grabbed him late 3rd. 

[Big Turk]

2 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

 

Striker.  He had a drinking problem....

 

 

I see he played in the CFL for 3 seasons but never got a sack and played sparingly by his stat count...

 

 

[Tanoros]

5 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

Having listened to Cosell, now I understand why I'm excited about this draft.   

 

Liking Elam is a given, whether you like the trade up or not.

 

Here's what Cosell said about Cook:   The OC's job is to make the QB's job as easy as possible.  The less the QB has to think about what to, the more he can just think about executing, so the big thing you can do for the QB is to allow him to know what the defense will, and to know it as soon as possible.   Post-snap reads make things difficult for the QB.  

 

When a guy like Cook, a true dual threat, is in the huddle, the Defensive Coordinator doesn't know if he's defending a heavy pass formation or a heavy run formation, because he doesn't know where Cook will be positioned.  That forces the DC to go to his base defense, whatever that is, to have the best chance at defending whatever is coming.  And when that happens, the OC has done his job, because the QB knows he's looking at the base defense, and he knows where he's supposed to attack the base defense.  Running holes get bigger, one receiver or another gets free in open space, either because he had a mismatch or because of where the defense is forced to leave big seams in the zone.   

 

That's what Cook can do for a team, and there aren't many teams that have a guy like that. 

 

And then it dawned on me that Bernard is the opposite side of the same story.   The Bills played a lot of nickel last season - it was their base defense.  I think Cosell said they led the league, so the QB always had a good idea of where to attack the Bills.  If Bernard can make the grade, the 4-3 will become the base defense.  And one would think that then the Bills would be vulnerable to versatility just like other teams will be vulnerable to the Bills with Cook in the lineup.  But, no.  With Bernard in the lineup, they can be 4-3 or in nickel, interchangeably, because Bernard can be a safety, or Bernard occasionally may even be a nickel back.  Bernard can take the tight end, leaving a safety free to roam.  

 

The point is that Cook can force Bills' opponents to go to their base defense, and Bernard can make it difficult for other teams to do the same to them. 

I like your point, and there is a good merit to it. However, Taron Johnson is no slouch (he’s becoming one of the best slot corners) and we would be taking him off of the field for a rookie. Also (I only heard the Cover1 guys talk about this), but it sounds like Bernard doesn’t have good hip movement which will hurt his ability to play pass coverage, and then combine that with this lack of top end speed, and it’s not even guaranteed he can vary a defender down the field. 
 

Bernards films shows him being at his best in either close to mid range, and shooting gaps with quickness and agility (good at avoiding blocks and not engaging). To me, this feels like a Klein replacement with some potential to give us more options in the 4-3 defense. We needed depth at lber and we got it. 
 

I’m curious how Bernard compares to Taron in a slot/big safety role, but Taron is damn good, and it would be alot to expect Bernard to take his starting spot during the season, and especially early in the season. 

[Shaw66]

19 minutes ago, Tanoros said:

I like your point, and there is a good merit to it. However, Taron Johnson is no slouch (he’s becoming one of the best slot corners) and we would be taking him off of the field for a rookie. Also (I only heard the Cover1 guys talk about this), but it sounds like Bernard doesn’t have good hip movement which will hurt his ability to play pass coverage, and then combine that with this lack of top end speed, and it’s not even guaranteed he can vary a defender down the field. 
 

Bernards films shows him being at his best in either close to mid range, and shooting gaps with quickness and agility (good at avoiding blocks and not engaging). To me, this feels like a Klein replacement with some potential to give us more options in the 4-3 defense. We needed depth at lber and we got it. 
 

I’m curious how Bernard compares to Taron in a slot/big safety role, but Taron is damn good, and it would be alot to expect Bernard to take his starting spot during the season, and especially early in the season. 

Well, that's interesting about his limitations in pass defense.  I'll have to reshape my thinking.   

 

As someone else said, they didn't take him to be a situational player.  There were several front office comments saying he can wear the green dot - that is, he's the guy you want running your defense.  

 

And yes, I hear you about Johnson, but I think McDermott wants a bigger, run oriented guy on the field.  

 

It will be interesting to see how they use him, and how long it will take to get him there.   If you saw his press conference after he was drafted, he is super-smart.  He talked about how he will learn the whole defense - first learn his position, then learn all the other positions.  He develops an in-depth understanding of everything going on out there.   I think McDermott wants that on the field.  

[chris heff]

4 hours ago, T master said:

I knew Beane would get the best players he could but after hereing Cosell bragging on how good Cook was i felt better about the pick . I hated the pick of Moss & i did the pick of Cook at first too because it's like Beane has a fetsh with backs that are 5' 11" tall & 199 lbs & i wanted a bruiser .

 

My guy i loved last year was AJ Dillion big back good hands & speed & he could move better than most & GB has used him to their advantage !

 

But back to the way Cosell , Browny, & Tasker were just gushing over Cook i think he will be a good get for the Bills & Dorsey probably loved it too because that's just one more weapon in his arsenal this season ....

 

GO BILLS !! 

Bean has a “fetish with backs that are 5’11”tall”? Moss is 5’9’ and Singletary is 5’7”, who are the tall backs he’s drafted?

[Big Turk]

6 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

That's an interesting thought.   It wouldn't surprise me to see Bernard on the edge.  

 

And I hear you about Johnson, but there's a good chance that the Bills defense could be better in a 4-3.  Johnson would still have plenty of snaps, because there would be times when the Bills will want to be in a true nickel.   What's interesting about that is that when they are in pure nickel, it might turn out that Milano or even Edmunds would go to the bench and Bernard stay on the field.

 

Bernard is going to create significant options.  

 

The Bills don't play 4-3 as their base, they play nickel due to most teams base formation being 3 WRs.

[YoloinOhio]

4 hours ago, Big Turk said:

 

The Bills don't play 4-3 as their base, they play nickel due to most teams base formation being 3 WRs.

They have been base nickel, but there is speculation they are going to evolve and start playing 3 LBs more often