Bills have shown interest in Lavonte David.

[Einstein]

  On 3/13/2023 at 11:24 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

He can't cover. The 1990s called. They want their linebacker back.

 

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Sal just said on Twitter that he thinks the Bills may be targeting more of a downhill "thumper" at LB after letting Tremaine walk.

If so, that is EXACTLY who Long is.

[Alphadawg7]

Has anything else come out other than that initial tweet reporting some interest?  

 

With us losing Edmunds, and now seeing some other LB's land else where, there are not a lot of great options remaining.  I have a feeling Beane is letting the market shake out, but I just hope we don't wait too long given how important of a position it is in McD's defense.  

 

My first choice was Al-Shaair, but he is going to the Titans.  My second choice is David, so hope we see some movement on this soon.

[Warriorspikes51]

  On 3/14/2023 at 8:20 PM, Einstein said:

 

Sal just said on Twitter that he thinks the Bills may be targeting more of a downhill "thumper" at LB after letting Tremaine walk.

If so, that is EXACTLY who Long is.

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Long is a Dolphin. David is a thumper who can also cover at a high level

Edited March 14, 2023 by Warriorspikes51

[appoo]

  On 3/14/2023 at 8:20 PM, Einstein said:

 

Sal just said on Twitter that he thinks the Bills may be targeting more of a downhill "thumper" at LB after letting Tremaine walk.

If so, that is EXACTLY who Long is.

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I saw that from Sal, and tell Sal the Bills need 3 down backers against modern offenses. I'm not even sure down hill thumpers even exist anymore 

[Warriorspikes51]

  On 3/14/2023 at 8:22 PM, appoo said:

 

I saw that from Sal, and tell Sal the Bills need 3 down backers against modern offenses. I'm not even sure down hill thumpers even exist anymore 

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I assume he means a more physical player than Edmunds. 

[TheBeaneBandit]

  On 3/14/2023 at 8:20 PM, Einstein said:

 

Sal just said on Twitter that he thinks the Bills may be targeting more of a downhill "thumper" at LB after letting Tremaine walk.

If so, that is EXACTLY who Long is.

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He's gone already though...thought Miami snagged him?

[SCBills]

So we go from rangy light coverage MLB to “downhill thumper”? … ok, random .. good thing we drafted Bernard last year, who is the opposite of that. 

 

[BuffaloRebound]

McDermott’s strength is finding and developing DB’s and LB’s.  Would much rather spend free agency dollars on offense or D-Line.  

[Bag of Milk]

 

Bills should have drafted Leo Chenal instead of Bernard last year.

He has the physicality that this team is lacking.

He started slow his rookie year on a stacked Chiefs team, but was all over the field in the Super Bowl.

[Einstein]

  On 3/14/2023 at 8:25 PM, TheBeaneBandit said:

He's gone already though...thought Miami snagged him?

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Yes sir. I was just referencing a conversation I was having before the Dolphins got him (or about the time the Dolphins got him).

[MAJBobby]

Here is the thing with Edmunds. Him and Milano are exact same skill set. Good sideline to sideline that are not aggressive at POA (Milano is a bit better here). What I think the Bills are looking for here are same coverage and range ability but more violent at the point of attack. And more stout at POA. That is what Sal means by thumper. 
 

can either of the two former rookies Benard or Spector or even Dodson fill that eventually?  I think that would be their plan. But look at an older type player that also fits that mold to come in and teach the Benards Spectors Dodsons or Rookie in the twilight of their career. 

[GunnerBill]

  On 3/14/2023 at 8:20 PM, Einstein said:

 

Sal just said on Twitter that he thinks the Bills may be targeting more of a downhill "thumper" at LB after letting Tremaine walk.

If so, that is EXACTLY who Long is.

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Agree that is who Long is. I'll believe it is what the Bills want when I see it.

[davefan66]

  On 3/14/2023 at 9:04 PM, MAJBobby said:

Here is the thing with Edmunds. Him and Milano are exact same skill set. Good sideline to sideline that are not aggressive at POA (Milano is a bit better here). What I think the Bills are looking for here are same coverage and range ability but more violent at the point of attack. And more stout at POA. That is what Sal means by thumper. 
 

can either of the two former rookies Benard or Spector or even Dodson fill that eventually?  I think that would be their plan. But look at an older type player that also fits that mold to come in and teach the Benards Spectors Dodsons or Rookie in the twilight of their career. 

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Milano is a better player than Edmunds. Edmunds had a knack for being out of position quite a bit at the POA. Got pushed around some and was late to play when the tackle already occurred.  Yeah, he may have had a better season last year, but I don’t put a lot of stock in how good a player is in the last year of a contract. 
 

I’d like to see a vet guy who can hold the position for a season or two. Maybe we have Edmunds replacement on the roster now?  Maybe we draft a guy.  

[Royale with Cheese]

  On 3/14/2023 at 9:19 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

Agree that is who Long is. I'll believe it is what the Bills want when I see it.

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Is there a chance we get a thumper but take him off the field on passing downs and replace him with a big safety?

Edited March 14, 2023 by Royale with Cheese

[Lost]

  On 3/14/2023 at 9:04 PM, MAJBobby said:

 What I think the Bills are looking for here are same coverage and range ability but more violent at the point of attack. And more stout at POA. That is what Sal means by thumper. 
 

can either of the two former rookies Benard or Spector or even Dodson fill that eventually?

Expand  

 

No

[LABILLBACKER]

  On 3/14/2023 at 8:21 PM, Alphadawg7 said:

Has anything else come out other than that initial tweet reporting some interest?  

 

With us losing Edmunds, and now seeing some other LB's land else where, there are not a lot of great options remaining.  I have a feeling Beane is letting the market shake out, but I just hope we don't wait too long given how important of a position it is in McD's defense.  

 

My first choice was Al-Shaair, but he is going to the Titans.  My second choice is David, so hope we see some movement on this soon.

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Yup, Al-Shaair, David, VanderE in that order. All would be 7-9 M range.

[Einstein]

  On 3/14/2023 at 8:22 PM, appoo said:

 

I saw that from Sal, and tell Sal the Bills need 3 down backers against modern offenses. I'm not even sure down hill thumpers even exist anymore 

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I was surprised by Sal's comment too, but I wonder if he knows something from the Bills front office or if he is just speculating.

 

Long can cover. He's not great at it, but he's also not horrible at it either. He is NOT Reggie Ragland who couldn't cover at all. Obviously Long is a Dolphin now but I would have loved to have him in red and blue.

[GunnerBill]

  On 3/14/2023 at 9:31 PM, Royale with Cheese said:

 

Is there a chance we get a thumper but take him off the field on passing downs and replace him with a big safety?

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If we had any safeties.... sure.

[Royale with Cheese]

  On 3/14/2023 at 9:36 PM, GunnerBill said:

 

If we had any safeties.... sure.

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Is Bernard that lost or is he someone that just needed a year to have the game slow down for him?

[appoo]

  On 3/14/2023 at 9:34 PM, Einstein said:

 

I was surprised by Sal's comment too, but I wonder if he knows something from the Bills front office or if he is just speculating.

 

Long can cover. He's not great at it, but he's also not horrible at it either. He is NOT Reggie Ragland who couldn't cover at all. Obviously Long is a Dolphin now but I would have loved to have him in red and blue.

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Thing is, if Long is the LB, then the Bills would have to go to a real 4-3 because they wouldn't have two backers who can go sideline to sideline and they have to play Long as much as they'd be paying him, and then add another slot to go Dime as your base pass package,  because they would only have 1 backer who's reliable in coverage

 

If anything, I'd rather just toss Bernard into the fire as the Will then pay for someone like Long

Edited March 14, 2023 by appoo