Bills sign Damien Harris

[Doc]

10 hours ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

pretty sure it depends on the free agent’s veteran status / salary as well?

 

They need to be an UFA (4+ years in NFL) and make at least $1.75M/year to be a CFA (compensatory FA).  Playing time and post-season awards can also change compensation as can salary differences (like Edmunds making $18M/year versus McGovern, the highest paid UFA the Bills signed, making $7.45M/year).  Only McGovern and Harty qualify among the guys they signed while Edmunds, Keenum and Singletary count (waiting on Jaquan Johnson's salary but figure it's below $1.75M). 

Edited March 22, 2023 by Doc

[LOVEMESOMEBILLS]

3 hours ago, 1onemangang7 said:

Excactly.  You found out pretty quick who can play RB in the NFL.  The good contribute right out of the gate. 

you guys and this Cook pipe dream....let it go, he's gonna be gone in a couple years. 

 

 Yeah, Cook was T-1st among RBs with a 5.7 ypc average. He also had the lowest number of carries per 20+ yard runs among RBs at a little under 15. The next closest RB was 22 carries per 20+ yard run, almost 50% higher than Cook's average. We'll being seeing him early and often next year.

 

 

 

[Nephilim17]

1 hour ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

Motor was very good in pass blocking. If he were still on the team, Harris would be our best pass blocking RB. And that isnt a knock on Motor at all.

I'm no expert on Harris but if he blocks like he runs, I believe it.

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, Nephilim17 said:

I'm no expert on Harris but if he blocks like he runs, I believe it.

 

And spend 8 years of your life with Saban and Belichick, you will know technique and assignments.

[Nephilim17]

Just now, DrDawkinstein said:

 

And spend 8 years of your life with Saban and Belichick, you will know technique and assignments.

One would probably pick up some horrible, horrible social skills, but, yes, one would know football techniques and assignments.

[Doc Brown]

8 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Singletary's number came out same day at 1/$3.75M

 

Poyer's took a couple days and was much lower than folks thought it might be. Half of Spotrac's valuation.

Sherfield's took a day and is now reported at 1/$1.77M

 

Harris' number still sitting out there. The longer it goes, the closer it gets to Sherfield

I want to see Singletary's official number as "up to" 3.75M dollars was the report.  It matters too to see if he qualifies for a comp pick.

[Richard Noggin]

2 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

I won’t lie, I have zero issues with a healthy DH being the long term feature back.

 

I don't think the bolded really reflects the way NFL front offices have been thinking about the position of late. Big Money RBs* don't correlate favorably with deep playoff success in recent years, to my knowledge. 

 

*by working definition: RBs on extensions / 2nd deals, or 4th/5th year 1st round RBs...

[folz]

8 hours ago, Solomon Grundy said:

I feel that if Josh would've taken the easier, shorter pass instead of forcing the deep shots things would've been different for the offense. I remember Mahomes having the same problem prior to last season 

 

Josh and Pat both learned that lesson in 2021. As defenses adjusted to them, they then had to adjust to those defenses (specifically Cover 0). They both eventually adjusted and that's why both offenses were on fire again at the end of that season.

 

There were two problems for Josh/the Bills last season (2022) that, imo,  led to the appearance that Josh regressed or forgot to "take what the defense gives you" (i.e. shorter passes). I think we were all frustrated at first at all of the deep shots. But, there were reasons for it and I don't think that they were Dorsey or Josh being greedy or Josh regressing.

1. It came out at some point, that due to Josh's elbow injury, he felt a lot of pain on certain throws, but chucking it down the field (bombs) didn't hurt as much because it was a different motion (less angle, straight-armed, whatever.). So, some of it may have been pain/load management, rather than just being greedy (back to hero ball). And maybe if certain throws hurt, then Josh wasn't as strong or accurate with those throws at that time either, so Dorsey called fewer of them perhaps.

2. Our slot position was a mess once Crowder went down. I think by mid-season Josh didn't really trust McKenzie and/or lil' Dirty wasn't getting open consistently enough. Our slot position production was down 40% from the previous three years.

 

I think a healthy Josh, with the new weapons will take the shorter throws when that's what the defense is allowing. And no question, we should have a stronger slant game with Harty/Shakir/Sherfield. I don't think Josh forgot the lessons he already learned.

 

 

And wow...1.7 million for Harris? Beautiful! I look forward to seeing him help close out games for us in the 4-minute drives when we have the lead. This is why I'm not worried about predictability. His main use (4-minute offense, goal line, short yardage) are all times that defenses will be expecting the run anyhow. Hopefully we now have a back that can still produce those tough yards when they know it's coming.

 

[1onemangang7]

1 hour ago, LOVEMESOMEBILLS said:

 

 Yeah, Cook was T-1st among RBs with a 5.7 ypc average. He also had the lowest number of carries per 20+ yard runs among RBs at a little under 15. The next closest RB was 22 carries per 20+ yard run, almost 50% higher than Cook's average. We'll being seeing him early and often next year.

 

 

 

 ..You're fooled by 5.7 ypc .. so he's better than Simpson ever was? He got 5.7 cause nobody cares if he gets the ball. 

[Airseven]

2 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

I won’t lie, I have zero issues with a healthy DH being the long term feature back.

If by long term, you mean short term, then yes, Harris and Cook could be a very interesting duo.

[newcam2012]

5 hours ago, NewEra said:

You can’t even get yourself to say it was a good acquisition.  This is gold 

I very much like the Harris pick up. It's hard not to like especially so cheap.

 

I wouldn't say "this is gold" because I don't see Harris as a game changer. Nevertheless, it's a very good pick up. 

Edited March 22, 2023 by newcam2012

[John from Riverside]

44 minutes ago, newcam2012 said:

I very much like the Harris pick up. It's hard not to like especially so cheap.

 

I wouldn't say "this is gold" because I don't see Harris as a game changer. Nevertheless, it's a very good pick up. 

I think it gives us the element that if we want to knuckle down and play power football at times, we have the back to do it
 

We’re still not finished product

[freddyjj]

7 hours ago, hondo in seattle said:

 

I know their stats aren't dissimilar but from what I've seen of Harris, he's bigger, faster, stronger.   I think he's a significant upgrade if he stays healthy.  

One thing to consider is Motor ran vs light boxes and DH vs 8 man looks predominantly

[NewEra]

2 hours ago, newcam2012 said:

I very much like the Harris pick up. It's hard not to like especially so cheap.

 

I wouldn't say "this is gold" because I don't see Harris as a game changer. Nevertheless, it's a very good pick up. 

“This is gold”  has nothing to do with the Bills signing Harris

[MAJBobby]

For 1.7M. Absolutely. This is what you pay RBs 

 

 

[Coach Tuesday]

I’ve been hard on Beane for failing to find value in FA but so far this offseason he’s done just that.

[ROCBillsBeliever]

$1.7 million doesn't hurt us in the comp pick formula, either. I see you, 3rd rounder 👀

[MrEpsYtown]

He is excellent on the zone game stuff, but I do hope they integrate a little more of the gap scheme stuff. We do a little bit with Josh running and it is really good. That stuff hurts teams like us with smaller, faster defenses. And Harris looks like he is shot out of a cannon on those power plays.  

[Bills!Win!]

Come on Damien! Do more of this and Bills fans will love you 

 

! 

Edited March 22, 2023 by Bills!Win!

[newcam2012]

6 hours ago, John from Riverside said:

I think it gives us the element that if we want to knuckle down and play power football at times, we have the back to do it
 

We’re still not finished product

The Bills will likely never be a power football team. It will always relay too much on Allen's arm and legs.

 

Statistically the Bills were very good in picking up 3rd downs. It's called the QB down for a reason. 

 

I like the Harris pick up. However, let's not act like he's the next Derrick Henry. He's getting paid a measly 1.7 million for a reason. 

 

Agree, he adds a dimension to the running game. That's a good thing. Can Dorsey actually use him effectively? 

Edited March 22, 2023 by newcam2012