Benford is our next strong safety

[BillsFan130]

30 minutes ago, ProcessTruster said:

By the time the playoffs come around, he'll be a veteran at the position. 

 

Go draft offense.   All playoff games will be shootouts anyway.   Let's make sure we can win that way.   Philly had a monster defense and it got smoked.

Ya but the bigger question is what if he isn’t good at the position? As he’s never played it before. Then you got a major hole lol.

 

I am not saying draft one.

 

I am saying just bring in a low cost Vet for 2-3 mil to compete with him. (That’s nothing and it’s a bit of a security blanket)

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

13 hours ago, Success said:

Not sure if this is worth its own thread, but I've seen quite a bit of discussion about the need to draft a safety early, assuming that Poyer won't be a Bill this season.

 

Benford has the measurables & the skllls that are needed.  He would be a backup for years if he stays at CB on this team.  He's too good to just be a backup, and I think he could have a very successful transition to SS w/ the right coaching.

 

My heart will sink a bit if I see the Bills draft a safety in the 1st or 2nd round (or even the 3rd), simply to replace Poyer.  They need to focus on the trenches. We have skilled players on the roster right now that can pick up the slack in the secondary.

 

Just my 2 cents.  

 

Agreed. I said this 5 minutes after we drafted him!!

 

i sort of fault Beane and McD for not moving him to safety immediately. Beane’s view after the draft was that it was easier to start him at CB. I disagree. At a minimum, they could have used the his time on IR to make the shift. 

[BillsfaninGa]

10 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

Alan Williams made this transition from corner to safety and did pretty well at it. We’ve seen this before.

Who is Alan Williams?

[Simon Says]

14 hours ago, Success said:

Not sure if this is worth its own thread, but I've seen quite a bit of discussion about the need to draft a safety early, assuming that Poyer won't be a Bill this season.

 

Benford has the measurables & the skllls that are needed.  He would be a backup for years if he stays at CB on this team.  He's too good to just be a backup, and I think he could have a very successful transition to SS w/ the right coaching.

 

My heart will sink a bit if I see the Bills draft a safety in the 1st or 2nd round (or even the 3rd), simply to replace Poyer.  They need to focus on the trenches. We have skilled players on the roster right now that can pick up the slack in the secondary.

 

Just my 2 cents.  

 

What makes you so sure he becomes a competent safety THIS season? It isn't an automatic transformation. 

[Dopey]

14 hours ago, Success said:

Not sure if this is worth its own thread, but I've seen quite a bit of discussion about the need to draft a safety early, assuming that Poyer won't be a Bill this season.

 

Benford has the measurables & the skllls that are needed.  He would be a backup for years if he stays at CB on this team.  He's too good to just be a backup, and I think he could have a very successful transition to SS w/ the right coaching.

 

My heart will sink a bit if I see the Bills draft a safety in the 1st or 2nd round (or even the 3rd), simply to replace Poyer.  They need to focus on the trenches. We have skilled players on the roster right now that can pick up the slack in the secondary.

 

Just my 2 cents.  

 

Agreed. I felt this way when he was drafted. I think he's going to be pretty good back there.

[FireChans]

11 hours ago, buffblue said:

This is just a horrendous take

???

[TheBeaneBandit]

53 minutes ago, BillsfaninGa said:

Who is Alan Williams?

THE Alan Williams 

[Nephilim17]

1 hour ago, BillsfaninGa said:

Who is Alan Williams?

Aaron Williams' brother, a legend in the Italian American-Football League.
 

[Buffalo Junction]

If Benford is transitioning to safety then getting a FA to start for at least the beginning of the year is a good idea. It’s a position in flux due to Poyer (FA), along with Hyde and Hamlin’s injuries. I’d almost want to see a vet like Adrian Amos brought in on a 2-3 year deal to cover a Benford transition and possible injury to Hyde who may be gone after this upcoming season. 

[Paup 1995MVP]

15 hours ago, FireChans said:

Christian Benford is better than Tre White right now. So idk about all that buried on the depth chart stuff 

That's a strong statement.  Maybe true and maybe not.  Tre looked stuck in mud late last year.  Hopefully he can regain some his old form over the next 6 months.  I think you want your best players always on the field.  Assuming Poyer is not back, we have Hyde and then a mishmash left at the other safety position.  If Benford is better then White at CB in 2023, then put Tre at safety if he has anything left and start Benford and Elam at boundary corner.  And maybe Hamlin makes a great comeback and can be our 3rd safety.  But we still need a replacement when Hyde is done.  So we need another playmaker at safety either in free agency or the draft.    

[TheyCallMeAndy]

9 hours ago, freddyjj said:

Aaron Williams was the CB from TX who transitioned to S 

Hyde and Poyer were also CBs who moved to safety when they came to Buffalo.

[Success]

2 hours ago, Herb Nightly said:

What makes you so sure he becomes a competent safety THIS season? It isn't an automatic transformation. 

 

I'm not sure.  But if you're Beane, it's hard to cover all of the bases, and you have to roll the dice here & there.  You could say, Benford might not make the transition, so we have to draft a safety early 'just in case' - but then you're sacrificing the opportunity to fill another need that is more pressing.

 

I think if Hamlin can play again, and we can re-sign someone like Marlowe cheap, we have to roll w/ what we have. I could see drafting a safety in the later rounds, but the 1st few rounds are like precious gems this year. We have to hit on those picks, and they have to be targeted at positions that are clear needs.

 

[Beck Water]

16 hours ago, BillsFanForever19 said:

 

Perhaps it was just injuries, but he was buried in the depth chart at the end of the year. It was confusing to me because at the beginning of the year he was a Starter who seemed to be holding his own. Then when he came back from the hand injury, he couldn't get playing time over Tre, Kaiir, and Dane.

 

But re: the OP - I agree. If Damar can return and Benford is switched to Safety as alluded to, I really think that position could be covered. Maybe sign a cheap vet you think could work in the system and/or Draft a guy you like in the midrounds. But I don't see the need to select one in Round 1 or 2.

 

It was injuries.  He was playing between 40-60% of the snaps (95% when Elam was a healthy scratch) thru Thanksgiving.

Then he had an oblique injury and was on IR for 4 games, inactive coming off (which is not unexpected for a guy coming off IR and trying to get up to speed)

[BullBuchanan]

If you're banking on a 2nd year 6th round pick to make a position switch an immediately start at a high level, that's a pretty bold assertion. It would also create a hole in our CB group that would have to be replaced. Personally, I'd rather bring in a starter who is native to the position either via draft or FA while Benford learns the position, if that's indeed the plan.

[BuffaloMatt]

I am going to miss Mrs. J PO. 

[TBBills Fan]

13 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

Alan Williams made this transition from corner to safety and did pretty well at it. We’ve seen this before.

Rod and Charles woodson both did as well I beleive

[MrEpsYtown]

5 minutes ago, TBBills Fan said:

Rod and Charles woodson both did as well I beleive

 

Yes 100%. Aeneas Williams as well. But all those guys switched in the twilight of their careers, whereas Aaron, Hyde, and Poyer were slow corners who made the switch. 

 

Keep a lookout for those 4.55 corners in UFA and at the combine who could be potential safety converts. 

[somnus00]

Say what you will about McFrazier, but they are excellent at developing defensive backs. And they have already turned former CBs into one of the best safety tandems in the league (Poyer and Hyde). Benford is intriguing, but I'd still like to add one more safety in the offseason.

[Thurman#1]

18 hours ago, Success said:

Not sure if this is worth its own thread, but I've seen quite a bit of discussion about the need to draft a safety early, assuming that Poyer won't be a Bill this season.

 

Benford has the measurables & the skllls that are needed.  He would be a backup for years if he stays at CB on this team.  He's too good to just be a backup, and I think he could have a very successful transition to SS w/ the right coaching.

 

My heart will sink a bit if I see the Bills draft a safety in the 1st or 2nd round (or even the 3rd), simply to replace Poyer.  They need to focus on the trenches. We have skilled players on the roster right now that can pick up the slack in the secondary.

 

Just my 2 cents.  

 

 

 

Benford a safety? Apparently very possible.

 

Benford, a guy who has never played the position, our next starting safety? Really really unlikely. I expect to see them bring in a safety, spending a pretty solid amount of resources on him, either cap money or a fairly high pick.

[T master]

There should be a couple of players already on the roster that have contracts like Siran Neal that know the D & could fit in pretty quickly i would think he could also help Benford transition to that position but i think he would be a good one to fit in before the pre season starts to get acclimated to the scheme .