Remaining Roster Battles

[khlax3]

I have seen mentioned in numerous thread the different position battles however I don’t know the remaining battles are position specific. 
 

As far as the specialist go I think those 3 are set. Arazia will be the punter. The only thing he had to prove to win the job was that he could hold and he has done that.

 

On defense I think there are only 2 open spots.

 

1 spot on the dline. The top 8 are set (miller, groot, Epenesa, basham, Oliver, phillips, jones, settle). That leaves 1 spot as I believe they will keep 9 total. There are 4 contenders for this spot. Lawson, Love, Bryant, Ankou.

 

The other spot I think is between a 7th corner and 6th linebacker and it comes down to Spector or Lewis (this could change after game 6 when smith comes of suspension) 

 

on offense I think the qb position is set and oline is set keeping 9 (Dawkins, saffold, Morse, bates, brown, quessenberry, Doyle, ford,

mancz)

 

The top 4 running backs are set with singletary, moss, Gilliam, and cook.

 

The top 4 wr are also set with diggs, Davis, McKenzie, shakir

 

The top 2 tight ends are Knox and Howard.

 

Rather than looking at the last 4 spots available by position I think it makes sense to look at it from ST value along with positional need. 2 of those 4 spots will have to be WR with the remaining 2 spots could be at wr if they keep 7, a 3rd tight end (we have Gilliam so it’s not a given we have to have 3) and I could see up to 6 running backs for ST value. Here are the guys competing for those last spot:

 

Twain jones

blackshear

Sweeney

morris

austin

hodgins

crowder 

kumerow

 

Based on the camp reports and preseason I am keeping jones, blackshear, hodgins and crowder. This gives the best mix of offensive talent and special teams ability. I think you can stash Morris and Sweeney on PS and go into games with 2 true TE and Gilliam
 

 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2022 by khlax3
Mispelling

[scuba guy]

I think Howard may be a gunner 

 

The old added ship up or ship out

[tomur67]

What am I missing about Tommy Sweeney?  I don't see how he has been able to hang on for as long he has. 

[JoPoy88]

1 minute ago, tomur67 said:

What am I missing about Tommy Sweeney?  I don't see how he has been able to hang on for as long he has. 

He’s shown up in camp this year apparently. 

[MasterStrategist]

6 minutes ago, khlax3 said:

I have seen mentioned in numerous thread the different position battles however I don’t know the remaining battles are position specific. 
 

As far as the specialist go I think those 3 are set. Arazia will be the punter. The only thing he had to prove to win the job was that he could hold and he has done that.

 

On defense I think there are only 2 open spots.

 

1 spot on the dline. The top 8 are set (miller, groot, Epenesa, basham, Oliver, phillips, jones, settle). That leaves 1 spot as I believe they will keep 9 total. There are 4 contenders for this spot. Lawson, Love, Bryant, Ankou.

 

The other spot I think is between a 7th corner and 6th linebacker and it comes down to Spector or Lewis (this could change after game 6 when smith comes of suspension) 

 

on offense I think the qb position is set and oline is set keeping 9 (Dawkins, saffold, Morse, bates, brown, quessenberry, Doyle, ford,

mancz)

 

The top 4 running backs are set with singletary, moss, Gilliam, and cook.

 

The top 4 wr are also set with diggs, Davis, McKenzie, shakir

 

The top 2 tight ends are Knox and Howard.

 

Rather than looking at the last 4 spots available by position I think it makes sense to look at it from ST value along with positional need. 2 of those 4 spots will have to be WR with the remaining 2 spots could be at wr if they keep 7, a 3rd tight end (we have Gilliam so it’s not a given we have to have 3) and I could see up to 6 running backs for ST value. Here are the guys competing for those last spot:

 

Twain jones

blackshear

Sweeney

morris

austin

hodgins

crowder 

kumerow

 

Based on the camp reports and preseason I am keeping jones, blackshear, hodgins and crowder. This gives the best mix of offensive talent and special teams ability. I think you can stash Morris and Sweeney on PS and go into games with 2 true TE and Gilliam
 

 

 

 

I like it and great analysis!

 

1. I think Crowder and Hodgins will make it

2. Jones for ST/gunner...he's just that good at that role

3. Last spot to me is a bit different, I think we keep 6 LBs (Spector for now, will be interesting when Smith suspsension ends) and opt for Lewis over Blackshear.  

 

Unless Blackshear is in the plans for a returner role, I think they try to stash him on the P/S.  I already think Dorsey will have his work cut out for him involving the top 3 RBs, and Lewis adds more value as a possible gunner and backup corner (especially with a bit of uncertainty with Tre's exact return, as of now).

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

Who is our returner? I think the OP left Stevenson out in his list of options for the last spot. Traditionally you would think one of Stevenson or Austin would make the team as the returner. Personally I am willing to roll the dice with McKenzie in that role despite his issues but I know many are not. So who is our returner if it is not Stevenson, Austin or McKenzie?

[nosejob]

30 minutes ago, khlax3 said:

I have seen mentioned in numerous thread the different position battles however I don’t know the remaining battles are position specific. 
 

As far as the specialist go I think those 3 are set. Arazia will be the punter. The only thing he had to prove to win the job was that he could hold and he has done that.

 

On defense I think there are only 2 open spots.

 

1 spot on the dline. The top 8 are set (miller, groot, Epenesa, basham, Oliver, phillips, jones, settle). That leaves 1 spot as I believe they will keep 9 total. There are 4 contenders for this spot. Lawson, Love, Bryant, Ankou.

 

The other spot I think is between a 7th corner and 6th linebacker and it comes down to Spector or Lewis (this could change after game 6 when smith comes of suspension) 

 

on offense I think the qb position is set and oline is set keeping 9 (Dawkins, saffold, Morse, bates, brown, quessenberry, Doyle, ford,

mancz)

 

The top 4 running backs are set with singletary, moss, Gilliam, and cook.

 

The top 4 wr are also set with diggs, Davis, McKenzie, shakir

 

The top 2 tight ends are Knox and Howard.

 

Rather than looking at the last 4 spots available by position I think it makes sense to look at it from ST value along with positional need. 2 of those 4 spots will have to be WR with the remaining 2 spots could be at wr if they keep 7, a 3rd tight end (we have Gilliam so it’s not a given we have to have 3) and I could see up to 6 running backs for ST value. Here are the guys competing for those last spot:

 

Twain jones

blackshear

Sweeney

morris

austin

hodgins

crowder 

kumerow

 

Based on the camp reports and preseason I am keeping jones, blackshear, hodgins and crowder. This gives the best mix of offensive talent and special teams ability. I think you can stash Morris and Sweeney on PS and go into games with 2 true TE and Gilliam
 

 

 

 

I like Bryant. I think he can make big plays when needed. I also like Love, but I sadly think he's going back to the P.S. I think Shaq may be the odd man out.

 

Edited August 15, 2022 by nosejob

[17islongenough]

Are we sure the QB1 spot is settled? Barkley had over 200 yards yesterday in a half and Allen had 0.  

[Sammy Watkins' Rib]

8 minutes ago, nosejob said:

I like Bryant. I think he can make big plays when needed. I also like Love, but I

 

But you what???!!

 

Don't leave us hanging like that.

[Big Turk]

I'm not so sure they aren't keeping 3 TEs and even if they only keep 2, I don't know that Howard is beating Sweeney out...

 

Sure he might be ahead of him on the depth chart now but if the Bills think Sweeney has room to grow and Howard doesn't offer them much upside, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Howard get cut. That type of thing happens a lot around the NFL.

[nosejob]

S

5 minutes ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

 

But you what???!!

 

Don't leave us hanging like that.

sorry, got bounced around with the site.

[BADOLBILZ]

I expect the early season roster to be pretty fluid.

 

The Bills may keep more OL or DB than expected because the OL position is one of the weaker ones in the league and the Bills DB's are better players than their TE or WR counterparts.

 

With 11 days between the season opener and the home opener I'd look for the Bills to treat the first game roster sorta' like a weekly "active" roster and then do some re-arranging after the opener.........particularly if it involves giving a roster spot to a veteran whose salary they don't want to have to guarantee by having them on the roster week 1.

 

Guys like Shaq Lawson or Tavon Austin.........or maybe Carolina releases Andre Roberts.......something like that.

 

Also could see Beane getting froggy and trading to try to fix some imbalances on offense.........the last couple WR, TE and interior OL are not where you want them in a season where you are otherwise positioned to bully your way into a Super Bowl.

 

[ColoradoBills]

13 minutes ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

Who is our returner? I think the OP left Stevenson out in his list of options for the last spot. Traditionally you would think one of Stevenson or Austin would make the team as the returner. Personally I am willing to roll the dice with McKenzie in that role despite his issues but I know many are not. So who is our returner if it is not Stevenson, Austin or McKenzie?

 

Stevenson just had surgery and is out for a couple/few weeks.  Shakir is getting punts yesterday and most likely will get more.

McKenzie is a lock and is always a fallback option for PR.

 

Shakir and Austin probably battle it out with Shakir the hopeful, is my guess.

[NewEra]

22 minutes ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

Who is our returner? I think the OP left Stevenson out in his list of options for the last spot. Traditionally you would think one of Stevenson or Austin would make the team as the returner. Personally I am willing to roll the dice with McKenzie in that role despite his issues but I know many are not. So who is our returner if it is not Stevenson, Austin or McKenzie?

Looks like Shakir, Cook or Dirty.  
 

stevenson had surgery.  I think he’s gonna be on IR or the PS.  Can’t see anyone signing him the 53.  

[nosejob]

4 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

I'm not so sure they aren't keeping 3 TEs and even if they only keep 2, I don't know that Howard is beating Sweeney out...

 

Sure he might be ahead of him on the depth chart now but if the Bills think Sweeney has room to grow and Howard doesn't offer them much upside, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Howard get cut. That type of thing happens a lot around the NFL.

I think Wydemeyer(sp)? will be placed on p.s ...and I think by the end of the year, he'll replace a worn out Howard and make a huge. smooth. lumbering target fo JA

[NewEra]

Just now, nosejob said:

I think Wydemeyer(sp)? will be placed on p.s ...and I think by the end of the year, he'll replace a worn out Howard and make a huge. smooth. lumbering target fo JA

He got cut.  He’s toast

[nosejob]

2 minutes ago, NewEra said:

He got cut.  He’s toast

Doesn't mean they won't put him on the P.S

[NewEra]

If we keep a 5th rd, I’d rather keep Blackshear over Jones.  I think he could be our best punt returner.  He’s pretty electric with the ball in his hands too.  Wish he could work his tail off and become a proficient gunner.  If we’re going to keep a guy strictly for ST reasons, it would be nice for him to be able to play two prime ST roles.  

1 minute ago, nosejob said:

Doesn't mean they won't put him on the P.S

Usually when guys are cut this early in camp, they don’t want them.  
 

I would think they’d want to keep him around and coach him up some more.  But you’re right, they could put him on the ps. 

 

 

[nosejob]

3 minutes ago, NewEra said:

If we keep a 5th rd, I’d rather keep Blackshear over Jones.  I think he could be our best punt returner.  He’s pretty electric with the ball in his hands too.  Wish he could work his tail off and become a proficient gunner.  If we’re going to keep a guy strictly for ST reasons, it would be nice for him to be able to play two prime ST roles.  

Usually when guys are cut this early in camp, they don’t want them.  
 

I would think they’d want to keep him around and coach him up some more.  But you’re right, they could put him on the ps. 

 

 

IDK there's something about this guy after reading all the scouting crap that just gives me the gut feeling. I wish i could provide an NFL comparison.

[khlax3]

37 minutes ago, Sammy Watkins' Rib said:

Who is our returner? I think the OP left Stevenson out in his list of options for the last spot. Traditionally you would think one of Stevenson or Austin would make the team as the returner. Personally I am willing to roll the dice with McKenzie in that role despite his issues but I know many are not. So who is our returner if it is not Stevenson, Austin or McKenzie?

 My thought in the OP was

 

KR: cook and blackshear (cook starts as the primary but if role increases throughout season blackshear could become primary)

 

PR: shakir as the primary with blackshear also backup. If shakir ends up with a prominent role on offense this could be also transition to blackshear)

 

In order for blackshear to make it though he has to prove he can also play on coverage teams