How many of the core ST Aces do they keep?

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Looking at the Bills roster I'd classify their core aces as : T Jones, J Kumerow, T Matakevich, S Neal, & R Gilliam with Matakevich and Jones the front runners.  Next level after those 5 are players like T Dodson, J Johnson, D Hamlin for starters.

 

I do think some core specialists are needed for ST on the roster, don't take getting rid of most lightly.  But also think while Matakevich and Jones are the leaders, Kumerow, Neal, and Gilliam have graduated to the point they are ready to have the baton passed to them.  Keeping Matakevich and Jones just means you're delaying the inevitable another season, at some point they will be gone and some new inexperienced guys will take their place on ST.  But there are enough fairly experienced players left as I named above that their absence may not be missed too much.

 

They are not keeping 5 RB's so if Jones stays Blackshear is cut.  Has Blackshear played any ST this training camp?  I don't think it's a slam dunk he gets picked up by another team, though he very well may.  Posters said the same thing in past years about Duke Williams and another player, (can't recall the name) and they went no where so I'm not close to 100% certain he's gone.  Similarly with Matakevich, if he stays Spector goes, though do think he has a better chance at sticking on PS.

 

So do they rip the band aid off and let Matakevich and/or Jones go this year?  Really think the time may have come to move on from at least one of them.  Also save a fair amount of money by letting one or both of them go.  The risk in letting them go is ST play costs us a game, but no guarantee same wouldn't happen if they were here.  Keeping them really makes it more of a super Bowl or bust year as potentially you're losing potential first subs in for the 2023 season and basically in the same place as you are now.  So many unlucky breaks can happen in one season and this team is built for a more sustained run so don't think putting all your eggs in one basket is the right approach.  If you're Tampa with Tom Brady, it's a different story.

 

They have a kicker who can easily reach the end zone on almost all of his kickoffs (as long as the instructions get through to him) and a punter that can boom some long ones.  Think I read the Bills punted the 2nd lowest times lat year.  As good as their offense is getting 1 to 2 first downs per drive Araiza could easily punt for a touchback.  While not ideal as strong as their defense also is, not the worst thing.  Not suggesting they should do this all season, but maybe the first few games to play it safe until some of the new guys get well familiar with their ST roles.  On returns the worst thing is players taking holding penalties, maybe again early in the season take a knee on kick offs and fair catches on punts.  Again with strong offense not terrible starting from the 25, how often even last year did they start in better field position and how often was a run called back for a penalty.

 

Think I've kind of changed my thinking on the ST roster make up.  A month ago would have more favored keeping Matakevich and Jones, now think at least one needs to be let go and wouldn't be all that upset if it's both.  Time for a changing of the guard so as to keep more of the rookies.

[ghostwriter]

I’d keep Blackshear if at all possible.. don’t know about the rest other than Taiwan is too old.

[Big Turk]

Makes no sense to keep players who don't play ST that will either be inactive or get 4-5 snaps a game over a player who is critical on ST.

 

People act like if we keep Hodgins over Kumerow that he is going to be in the games a lot...he isn't. He will have minimal snaps and will not play teams. Doesn't make sense to keep players who won't play anyway over guys who are core ST players.

[NoSaint]

30 minutes ago, Big Turk said:

Makes no sense to keep players who don't play ST that will either be inactive or get 4-5 snaps a game over a player who is critical on ST.

 

People act like if we keep Hodgins over Kumerow that he is going to be in the games a lot...he isn't. He will have minimal snaps and will not play teams. Doesn't make sense to keep players who won't play anyway over guys who are core ST players.

you do realize special teams players are impactful on very few plays too, right?

[Saxum]

1 hour ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

Similarly with Matakevich, if he stays Spector goes, though do think he has a better chance at sticking on PS.

 

Spector  is replacing Klein not Matakevich.  I can see both Klein and Matakevich.  Matakevich has shown capable of being a spot replacer on defense.

[TheyCallMeAndy]

1 hour ago, Victory Formation said:

I’d keep Blackshear if at all possible.. don’t know about the rest other than Taiwan is too old.

Jones seems to be very safe unless he’s injured, same with 44. Lewis, Blackshear, and McCloud flashed

Andre Smith is a beast and looks vastly improved even going back to last year. He may be the LB4 right now 

[NewEra]

5 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

 

Spector  is replacing Klein not Matakevich.  I can see both Klein and Matakevich.  Matakevich has shown capable of being a spot replacer on defense.

Bernard is replacing Klein. 
 

maybe Spector will replace smith.  Or Matakavich.  
 

 

[TheyCallMeAndy]

2 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Bernard is replacing Klein. 
 

maybe Spector will replace smith.  Or Matakavich.  
 

 

Right now Dodson replaced Klein and is the first guy off the bench when they need a 3rd LB. I think they want Bernard to be that guy though. 

[Ralonzo]

Neal is the only viable big nickel, he's a lock.

[NewEra]

5 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Right now Dodson replaced Klein and is the first guy off the bench when they need a 3rd LB. I think they want Bernard to be that guy though. 

For now.  

[Buddo]

Matakevitch has always performed well as a LB when asked to. Imho if he didn’t play teams, he could be first off the bench @ LB and we wouldn’t struggle if that was the case.

With Bass and Araiza, I do think there’s an opportunity to re-think what we want to, or can, do with Special Teams, and I believe that could provide a chance to keep someone we may have previously let go.

[CSBill]

7 hours ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

Think I've kind of changed my thinking on the ST roster make up.  A month ago would have more favored keeping Matakevich and Jones, now think at least one needs to be let go and wouldn't be all that upset if it's both.  Time for a changing of the guard so as to keep more of the rookies.

 

Agree.

 

Other roster factors will heavily influence this decision, but I think one is gone. There are only so many specialist you can keep. There is not room or need for Jones in the RB room, and I don't think Matakevich has played a down on defense in the preseason, so who knows? I would add, it appears there are some much better options than Kumerow on the receiving depth chart.

 

I think all three are in trouble. I would not be surprised if all of them are let go. But, knowing how this staff loves their ST'ers, I also would not be surprised if all three are in the line-up on September 8.

[DCbillsfan]

Matakevich, Jones, and Neal are all making the team imo.  None of them played yesterday which indicates to me they are safe.  They tried a bunch of different guys on kickoff coverage yesterday.  Mixed results.  Probably last year for Jones and Matakevich.  Neal just signed 3 year extension in the Spring.

Edited August 21, 2022 by DCbillsfan

[Matt_In_NH]

RB4’s have consistently looked good in preseason. This is one of those areas where you can’t always believe and trust what you see in preseason when you are watching guys who are getting cut.   Blackshear wont make it and will clear waivers and be on the PS.   His ticket to the roster is special teams not RB.  Maybe next year he sticks.  Duke probably does not make it either.  
 

In general  the team puts more value on special teams vs depth at WR, RB, CB etc than the average fan thinks they should.  The organization is right.  

[Chandler#81]

For this season specially, get rid of the old warhorse’s on STs and keep <Very> promising young players. Ferguson, Bass & Araiza are all we really need. If it’s too windy for Bass to send KO’s into the stands, angle kick it to keep them cornered. School up the very talented noobs on position responsibility and go win the Lombardi!

[Matt_In_NH]

I do wonder about Matekevich.  They can save some money there so if someone else can perform the special teams role then I could see that happening.  

[billybrew1]

8 hours ago, Big Turk said:

Makes no sense to keep players who don't play ST that will either be inactive or get 4-5 snaps a game over a player who is critical on ST.

 

People act like if we keep Hodgins over Kumerow that he is going to be in the games a lot...he isn't. He will have minimal snaps and will not play teams. Doesn't make sense to keep players who won't play anyway over guys who are core ST players.

We have to build an astounding STs group or it will haunt us all year… Having said that the team needs to add depth. If Hodgins made it he’d be the #4 flanker or outside WR. He could snaps resting Diggs or Davis or in four and five WR sets. Why you want to really keep him is in case of injury. If Diggs, Davis or Shakir suffers an injury, Hodgins is playing more. Not to say Kumerow couldn’t do that, I don’t know. Lastly, Hodgins has begun working on Special teams recently…..

3 minutes ago, Matt_In_NH said:

I do wonder about Matekevich.  They can save some money there so if someone else can perform the special teams role then I could see that happening.  

Our backup LBs are playing very well. I don’t know about Special Teams though….I didn’t watch Denver yet, but Joe Giles-Harris made some beautiful tackles vs. the colts….then Spector and Bernard…

[The Jokeman]

8 hours ago, Limeaid said:

 

Spector  is replacing Klein not Matakevich.  I can see both Klein and Matakevich.  Matakevich has shown capable of being a spot replacer on defense.

If Spector replacing Klein, where do you see Terrell Bernard?

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

I’d rather see those special teams spots used on players with D/O contributor potential. 
 

particularly when kick offs are barely returned so we’re down to punt returns and coverage. 

[Son of a K-Gun]

I want the young guys to get their shot, but this fanbase of all fanbase should know the importance of special teams.  Between Steve Tasker’s contributions and heartbreaking losses due to ST breakdowns, I have seen the value in having a unit you can trust to make all of the plays when the pressure is ratcheted up to the highest level in the biggest spotlight.

 

The organization knows this, and these veteran ST aces are making the 53 without a second thought.