Projecting the 53 man roster

[GASabresIUFan]

With the 1st pre-season game around the corner, I thought it would be helpful to see where the roster stands based on the news from training camp.

 

Offense (24)

QB (2) - Allen, Trubisky

RB (3) - Cook, Davis, Johnson

FB (1) - Gilliam

TE (3) - Kincaid, Knox - camp battle (1) - Morris, Davidson - Could they keep Morris & Davidson making Gilliam expendable?

WR (6) - Coleman, Shakir, Samuel, Hollins - camp battle (2) - Shavers, MVS, Claypool, Shorter, Hamler

WR Notes: Shorter has been playing the gunner on special teams, MVS is finally working with the 1st team offense, Shavers has been the camp surprise and Claypool got hurt. 

OL - Starters (5) - Brown, Dawkins, McGovern, Torrence & Edwards

OL - Depth (4) - Van Denmark, Anderson, SVP & ???? - camp battle (1) - Grable, Collins, Clapp

Defense (23)

DT (5) - Oliver, D Jones, A Johnson, D Williams, Carter

DE (5) - Miller, Rousseau, Epenesa, Smoot - camp battle (1) - Jonathan, Cline, Toohill, Salomon

LB (4) - Milano, Benard, Williams, Morrow - camp battle (1) - Spector, Jones, Ulofoshio. Can Spector unseat Williams or Morrow? Could they keep 5? Draft pick Ulofoshio is injured - PS?  Has Jones done enough to earn a job?

CB (5) - T Johnson, Douglas, Benford, Elam, Lewis -  Note: Ingram has had a good camp and Hardy is the favorite as the kick returner

S (4) - Rapp, Hamlin, Bishop (IR), Edwards (IR) - camp battle (2+) - with the key injuries, the Bills signed Burgess and Jackson.  Lewis also playing safety.  Is Hamlin now a starter?  Jackson is 36 with 187 NFL games (176 starts) and Burgess has 43 games (3 starts).  
 

Specialists (4) - Ferguson (LS), Bass (PK), Martin (P) & Hardy (KR) - camp battle (1) - Isabella & Hamler (For the KR job)

 

Of the camp battles - I see Grable winning the 4th OL backup job and Jonathan winning the 5th DE job.  I thought MVS was on the way out, but I now see him on the roster as the 5th WR with Shavers and Shorter battling for WR 6.  Claypool’s injury could slot him to the PS.  The other really interesting battle is at TE3 between Morris and Davidson.  Morris is a proven special teams ace, while Davidson is a special athlete who is now healthy.  

 

This leaves 2 jobs available.  Could we see a TE4, a LB5, a CB6 or a S5 to accommodate the injuries at S and to avoid losing one of Spector, Davidson or Ingram?  Given the injuries a S, I suspect they’ll start the year with a 5th safety.  I’m going to assume Bishop and Edwards make the team but depending on their injuries, both could end up on the IR to start the year.  I don’t think they want to lose Spector at LB.  Can they get him back to the PS?  Could they keep 6 DE to not lose Cline or Salomon or do you think both will clear to the PS? What about Davidson or Ingram.  I think they’ll be able to the loser of Shavers vs Shorter to the PS.  I also think they’ll be able to get Salomon and Ulofoshio to the PS.  Not sure about Ingram, Davidson, Cline or Spector. 

 

 

 

Edited August 6 by GASabresIUFan

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

9 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

With the 1st pre-season game around the corner, I thought be helpful to see where the roster stands based on the news from training camp.

 

Offense (24)

QB (2) - Allen, Trubisky

RB (3) - Cook, Davis, Johnson

FB (1) - Gilliam

TE (3) - Kincaid, Knox - camp battle (1) - Morris, Davidson - Could they keep with Davidson making Gilliam expendable?

WR (6) - Coleman, Shakir, Samuel, Hollins - camp battle (2) - Shavers, MVS, Claypool, Shorter, Hamler

WR Notes: Shorter has been playing the gunner on special teams, MVS is finally working with the 1st team offense, Shavers has been the camp surprise and Claypool got hurt. 

OL - Starters (5) - Brown, Dawkins, McGovern, Torrence & Edwards

OL - Depth (4) - Van Denmark, Anderson, SVP & ???? - camp battle (1) - Grable, Collins, Clapp

Defense (23)

DT (5) - Oliver, D Jones, A Johnson, D Williams, Carter

DE (5) - Miller, Rousseau, Epenesa, Smoot - camp battle (1) - Jonathan, Cline, Toohill, Salomon

LB (4) - Milano, Benard, Williams, Morrow - camp battle (1) - Spector - can Spector unseat Williams or Morrow? Could they keep 5? Draft pick Ulofoshio is injured - PS?

CB (5) - T Johnson, Douglas, Benford, Elam, Lewis -  Note: Ingram has had a good camp and Hardy is the favorite as the kick returner

S (4) - Rapp, Hamlin, Bishop (IR), Edwards (IR) - camp battle (2+) - with the key injuries, the Bills signed Burgess and Jackson.  Lewis also playing safety.  Is Hamlin now a starter?  Jackson is 36 with 187 NFL games (176 starts) and Burgess has 43 games (3 starts).  
 

Specialists (4) - Ferguson (LS), Bass (PK), Martin (P) & Hardy (KR) - camp battle (1) - Isabella & Hamler (For the KR job)

 

Of the camp battles - I see Grable winning the 4th OL backup job and Jonathan winning the 5th DE job.  I thought MVS was on the way out, but I now see him on the roster as the 5th WR with Shavers and Shorter battling for WR 6.  Claypool’s injury could slot him to the PS.  The other really interesting battle is at TE3 between Morris and Davidson.  Morris is a proven special teams ace, while Davidson is a special athlete who is now healthy.  

 

This leaves 2 jobs available.  Could we see a TE4, a LB5, a CB6 or a S5 to accommodate the injuries at S and to avoid losing one of Spector, Davidson or Ingram?  Given the injuries a S, I suspect they’ll start the year with a 5th safety.  I’m going to assume Bishop and Edwards make the team but depending on their injuries, both could end up on the IR to start the year.  I don’t think they want to lose Spector at LB.  Can they get him back to the PS?  Could they keep 6 DE to not lose Cline or Salomon or do you think both will clear to the PS? What about Davidson or Ingram.  I think they’ll be able to the loser of Shavers vs Shorter to the PS.  I also think they’ll be able to get Salomon and Ulofoshio to the PS.  Not sure about Ingram, Davidson, Cline or Spector. 

 

 

 

 

I'm not a big fan of 4 TE's plus a fullback.  Only 2 ever really play, its the same as a 4th running back imo.  The 3rd guy usually is a special teamer too, so your 4th guy doesn't even dress.  It also makes it harder to have a dedicated returner.  Since neither morris or davidson can actually play fullback, it limits some of what you can do offensively as well.  

 

This is how i usually see it: 

 

 

QB - 17, Trubisky

RB - Cook, Davis, Johnson, Gilliam

WR - Coleman, Samuel, Shakir, Hollins, Hamler (depth in the slot, and potential KR/PR), MVS - I could see Shavers or Coleman, but essentially semi-active depending on matchup and injuries

TE - Kincaid, Knox, Morris - I think davidson shifts to PS, but we'll see.  

OL - Dawkins, Edwards, McG, Torrence, Brown - Vandemark, anderson, VPG, Grable

DL - Miller, Epenesa, Groot, Smoot (groot smoot boogie?), Solomon, DQ, EO, Johnson, Carter, Williams

LB - Bernard, Milano, Williams, Ulofoshio, Morrow, Spector 

CB - Benford, Douglas, Elam, Ingram, lewis, Hardy

S - Bishop, Hamlin, Rapp, Edwards

ST - Bass, Martin, Ferguson

 

Hamler or Hardy could end up on PS potentially, but keeping both on 53 gives you some flexibility for who's active on gamedays.  

 

[SoonerBillsFan]

We have a really good "problem" at WR now. The top 3 along with top 2 TE's and RB's make this offense Potentially  better than it has been in awhile. I still see 70+% completion, 4800+ passing yards 40+ Passing TD's and <12 ints for Allen this year

 

[No_Matter_What]

Too busy now so just glancing through. 2 points:

- Solomon is not part of any camp battle. He is a lock to make roster.

Edit: Or, if he is, he is not losing his spot to Jonathan. Also, I can easily see them keeping 4DT (Williams to PS) and 6 DEs. Either way, Solomon makes roster.

 

- Morrow is definitely part of camp battle

 

Just MO obviously 

Edited August 5 by No_Matter_What

[GASabresIUFan]

I should clarify how I see CB/S.  I think the Bills will roster 10 players between the 2 positions. 
 

If everyone were healthy the units would look like this

CB (5) - Douglas, Benford, T Johnson, Elam and Ingram with Hardy being a KR/CB6, but counted as a KR for roster purposes

S (5) - Rapp, Hamlin, Bishop, Edwards, Lewis

 

With the injuries

CB (5) - Douglas, Benford, T Johnson, Elam & Ingram with Hardy being a KR/CB6 but counted as a KR for roster purposes.

S (5) - Rapp, Hamlin, Lewis, Jackson & Burgess with Bishop and Edwards on IR.  Once each of Bishop and Edwards get healthy, Burgess & Ingram could be on the outside looking in.  

 

 

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

So most years, there's always a vet player or two not subject to waivers that is cut with the intent to bring back and allow someone else to be moved to the recallable IR list.  With the team getting younger this year, how many of those guys to we have left that are eligible.  One name I can think of is Ferguson.

 

As has been pointed out prior, the Bills have always kept 5 LB's so can't see them going with 4 at that group.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

TE is an interesting camp story. 

Also have to remember Kincaid is a hybrid WR/TE. 

Davidson is getting some nice buzz. 

Maybe this is the year you get rid of Gilliam and keep 4 TE. Bills like to run out of heavy sets a lot. Or at least they did with an extra OT lined up as TE. Will have to see what Brady likes.  Someone probably knows, but I wonder if Gilliam snaps went up or down when Brady took over. 

All of these TEs can line up as a FB in a pinch.  Honestly at the goal line they would be fine lining up a back up guard or Oliver at FB. 

My guess is McD sticks with what he knows and keeps Gilliam and Morris while Davidson is cut. 

[YattaOkasan]

Did we forget Deion Jones is on the roster?  Marino said hes been the second best LB so far

[Matt_In_NH]

My 57 man roster...57 men account for IR and the traditional cut down day "roster move"....probably have to cut 1 or 2 from this list.  

 

Offense (25)

QB (2) - Allen, Trubisky

RB (3) - Cook, Davis, Johnson

FB (1) - Gilliam

TE (3) - Kincaid, Knox, Morris over Davidson for special teams

WR (6) - Coleman, Shakir, Samuel, Hollins, Shavers, MVS

OL - Starters (5) - Brown, Dawkins, McGovern, Torrence & Edwards

OL - Depth (5) - Van Denmark, Anderson, SVP, Grable, Collins

Defense (28)

DT (5) - Oliver, D Jones, A Johnson, D Williams, Carter

DE (6) - Miller, Rousseau, Epenesa, Smoot, Jonathan, Salomon 

LB (7) - Milano, Bernard, Williams, Morrow, Ulofoshio, Jones, Spector 

CB (5) - T Johnson, Douglas, Benford, Elam, Lewis

S (5) - Rapp, Hamlin, Bishop, Edwards , Jackson
 

Specialists (4) - Ferguson (LS), Bass (PK), Martin (P) & Hardy (KR) - camp battle (1) - Isabella & Hamler (For the KR job)

Edited August 5 by Matt_In_NH

[GASabresIUFan]

5 hours ago, Matt_In_NH said:

LB (7) - Milano, Bernard, Williams, Morrow, Ulofoshio, Jones, Spector 

The Bills have typically carried only 4 or 5 LBs.  I doubt they'll carry 7.  That's to much roster for a position in which the Bills only play two players on gameday.  I do agree that there will definitely be some hard choices for management to make.  Spector looked good late last year and Ulofoshio was a current year draft pick.  

Edited August 5 by GASabresIUFan

[buffblue]

This is a pretty good attempt.

 

I would keep Clapp and hope to sneak Grable on the PS. Collins is washed. Otherwise hard to argue.

 

Edit - One of Salomon or Ulofoshio will make it due to draft status

Edited August 5 by buffblue

[HurlyBurly51]

Don’t want to lose Davidson or Ingram

[Richard Noggin]

No one listing Hardy who WILL make the team as backup NCB and 1st or 2nd string returner, most likely? Might be 6 CBs and 4 S this year to allow for 4 outside guys and 2 slots, or could be 5 total with 2 slots and only 3 boundaries (hoping Ingram and that other rookie who's flashed a bit make it to the PS). 

 

Also, keeping only 4 LBs (in OP) is kinda bonkers, or the math is wrong as 5 are listed including camp battle. 5 is the mark imho this year (so many to keep on DL). 

 

Injuries will likely make a decision (or two) much easier for the Bills, and possibly help them stash a promising youngster (or two). FA vet injuries in camp/preseason are even more predictably impactful, as a team is more likely to simply move on from them due to cost and lack of investment/future potential (with maybe a gentlemen's agreement to keep the phone close should circumstances dictate a re-signing). 

[Pete]

19 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

 

Offense (24)

QB (2) - Allen, Trubisky

RB (3) - Cook, Davis, Johnson

FB (1) - Gilliam

TE (4)- Kincaid, Knox - - Morris, Davidson 

WR(5)- Sameuel, Coleman. Shakir, Hollins, Shavers

OL(9)- Brown, Schnoman, McGovern, Torrence, Edwards, Van DeNark, Anderson, 

Grable, Gringle

 

 

19 hours ago, GASabresIUFan said:

Defense (23)

DT (5) - Oliver, D Jones, A Johnson, D Williams, Carter

DE (5) - Miller, Rousseau, Epenesa, Smoot - Salomon

LB (4) - Milano, Benard, Williams, Spector-Draft pick Ulofoshio IR

 

CB (5) - T Johnson, Douglas, Benford, Elam, Hardy

S (4) - Rapp, Hamlin, Lewis, Bishop (IR), Edwards (IR) -  Burgess.
 

Specialists (4) - Ferguson (LS), Bass (PK), Martin (P) & Hardy (KR) - camp battle (1) - Ty & Hardy (For the KR job)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 6 by Pete

[babulator]

IDK several drops from MVS @ yesterdays practice. Keeping this guy around is gonna haunt us, this will be a big mistake if he sticks. 

[GunnerBill]

Okay I'm going to have a stab.... pre-season games can change things but what we have learned from this regime it rarely does. They value training camp much more than making plays with vanilla scheming in pre-season games. Though it often is the forum in which people solidify perceptions - Van Demark last year who had a strong camp and then was excellent on pre-season being the example. Would they have been comfortable going with him as their primary LT backup without seeing him block in pads in pre-season? Possibly not. Essentially pre-season games tell us (the fans) what they are thinking and what their pecking order is but it changes less than you sometimes imagine in terms of production in those games affecting roster decisions. 

 

So with all that said, here goes:

 

QB (2): Josh Allen, Mitch Trubisky

FB (1): Reggie Gilliam

RB (3): James Cook, Ray Davis, Ty Johnson

TE (3): Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris*

WR (6): Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Tyrell Shavers

OL (9): Dion Dawkins, Connor McGovern, David Edwards, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Ryan Van Demark, Alec Anderson, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, La'el Collins**

Offense Total: 24

 

DT (4): Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson, DeWayne Carter

DE (6): Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Von Miller, Dawuane Smoot, Kingsley Jonathan, Javon Solomon***

LB (5): Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Baylon Spector, Edefuan Ulofoshio****

CB (6): Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Kaiir Elam, Ja'Marcus Ingram, Daequan Hardy*****

S (5): Taylor Rapp, Mike Edwards, Cole Bishop, Cam Lewis, Damar Hamlin******

Defense Total: 26

 

ST (3): Tyler Bass (K), Sam Martin (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)

Special Teams Total: 3

 

Okay explanations:

* - the third Tight End. I know Davidson has made some plays in camp and so in a sense he is the sexy choice here. And he might make it. But your third tight end has to play special teams, and big body blockers are even more of a priority for teams with the new rules. Morris is a really solid special teamer, is definitely the more reliable blocker as of now and has shown he can play when given opportunities too. This could flip though as I suspect the Bills feel like they could sneak whoever the loser of the competition is through to the PS and there is even a chance they keep four tight ends at the expense of a 6th receiver. 

 

** - the ninth offensive lineman. I think this comes down to a straight fight between Will Clapp and La'el Collins. Why? Because the Bills depth options otherwise are Van Demark, Anderson, and VPG with zero career starts between them. I think they like all three of those guys a lot but will want at least one vet. I lean Collins because he can play tackle and guard (though is not the player he was) and they already have Anderson and VPG who can cover at center. I will say this, even if they keep 10 I don't think BOTH vets make it. If they keep a 10th it will be Tylan Grable and that will only be if they don't feel they can sneak him through to the PS.

 

*** - the defensive end rotation. I feel strongly that they will not want to lose either Kinglsey Jonathan or Javon Solomon. If they were sure about Von's status and readiness they'd just have him, Groot and AJE and then Jonathan and Solomon would rotate as the 4th guy. But the uncertainty about Von means they signed Smoot and he will have some value as an upgrade on the role Shaq Lawson has played here the past two years. Which means I think they have to allocate six roster spots to the position. 

 

**** - the 5th linebacker. The Bills normally keep five. Milano, Bernard and Williams are locks. I think Spector's demonstration late last year that he can play on defense and his specialism on special teams makes him closer to a lock than most think. Which leaves one spot. Ulofoshio's rib issue bears watching and he might get the old Brandon Beane redshirt injury treatment, but if he doesn't I think he makes it and they rely on getting Nicholas Morrow or Deion Jones through to the PS as their vet there which is what they did last year with Christian Kirksey and then AJ Klein. 

 

***** - the 6th cornerback. I think the five true corner slots are locked down. Elam has had some run with the ones in camp so I think the trade him during pre-season scenario that some speculated about is now off the table. Ingram has had by all reports a good camp has played a bit of nickel as well as being their clear 4th outside guy and is a classic developmental UDFA story that this staff has had plenty of. Daequan Hardy makes it as nominally a "sixth" corner but is really here because he looks like winning the returner job. 

 

****** - the safety situation. If Bishop and Edwards had been healthy all camp and able to properly learn this defense the Bills would keep four safeties and Lewis v Hamlin would be a genuine roster spot battle. But with those two missing so much time and being behind the 8ball in terms of learning this defense I suspect both Lewis and Hamlin are in for now as vets that have played in and understand the scheme. I think in-season one of them probably shakes loose at some point. But to go into week 1 I think they will carry an extra body here. 

 

 

There you go. I'll update after the pre-season games but for now this is my prediction. 

 

 

Edited August 6 by GunnerBill

[SectionC3]

7 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

Okay I'm going to have a stab.... pre-season games can change things but what we have learned from this regime it rarely does. They value training camp much more than making plays with vanilla scheming in pre-season games. Though it often is the forum in which people solidify perceptions - Van Demark last year who had a strong camp and then was excellent on pre-season being the example. Would they have been comfortable going with him as their primary LT backup without seeing him block in pads in pre-season? Possibly not. Essentially pre-season games tell us (the fans) what they are thinking and what their pecking order is but it changes less than you sometimes imagine in terms of production in those games affecting roster decisions. 

 

So with all that said, here goes:

 

QB (2): Josh Allen, Mitch Trubisky

FB (1): Reggie Gilliam

TE (3): Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris*

WR (6): Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Tyrell Shavers

OL (9): Dion Dawkins, Connor McGovern, David Edwards, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Ryan Van Demark, Alec Anderson, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, La'el Collins**

Offense Total: 24

 

DT (4): Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson, DeWayne Carter

DE (6): Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Von Miller, Dawuane Smoot, Kingsley Jonathan, Javon Solomon***

LB (5): Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Baylon Spector, Edefuan Ulofoshio****

CB (6): Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Kaiir Elam, Ja'Marcus Ingram, Daequan Hardy*****

S (5): Taylor Rapp, Mike Edwards, Cole Bishop, Cam Lewis, Damar Hamlin******

Defense Total: 26

 

ST (3): Tyler Bass (K), Sam Martin (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)

Special Teams Total: 3

 

Okay explanations:

* - the third Tight End. I know Davidson has made some plays in camp and so in a sense he is the sexy choice here. And he might make it. But your third tight end has to play special teams, and big body blockers are even more of a priority for teams with the new rules. Morris is a really solid special teamer, is definitely the more reliable blocker as of now and has shown he can play when given opportunities too. This could flip though as I suspect the Bills feel like they could sneak whoever the loser of the competition is through to the PS and there is even a chance they keep four tight ends at the expense of a 6th receiver. 

 

** - the ninth offensive lineman. I think this comes down to a straight fight between Will Clapp and La'el Collins. Why? Because the Bills depth options otherwise are Van Demark, Anderson, and VPG with zero career starts between them. I think they like all three of those guys a lot but will want at least one vet. I lean Collins because he can play tackle and guard (though is not the player he was) and they already have Anderson and VPG who can cover at center. I will say this, even if they keep 10 I don't think BOTH vets make it. If they keep a 10th it will be Tylan Grable and that will only be if they don't feel they can sneak him through to the PS.

 

*** - the defensive end rotation. I feel strongly that they will not want to lose either Kinglsey Jonathan or Javon Solomon. If they were sure about Von's status and readiness they'd just have him, Groot and AJE and then Jonathan and Solomon would rotate as the 4th guy. But the uncertainty about Von means they signed Smoot and he will have some value as an upgrade on the role Shaq Lawson has played here the past two years. Which means I think they have to allocate six roster spots to the position. 

 

**** - the 5th linebacker. The Bills normally keep five. Milano, Bernard and Williams are locks. I think Spector's demonstration late last year that he can play on defense and his specialism on special teams makes him closer to a lock than most think. Which leaves one spot. Ulofoshio's rib issue bears watching and he might get the old Brandon Beane redshirt injury treatment, but if he doesn't I think he makes it and they rely on getting Nicholas Morrow or Deion Jones through to the PS as their vet there which is what they did last year with Christian Kirksey and then AJ Klein. 

 

***** - the 6th cornerback. I think the five true corner slots are locked down. Elam has had some run with the ones in camp so I think the trade him during pre-season scenario that some speculated about is now off the table. Ingram has had by all reports a good camp has played a bit of nickel as well as being their clear 4th outside guy and is a classic developmental UDFA story that this staff has had plenty of. Daequan Hardy makes it as nominally a "sixth" corner but is really here because he looks like winning the returner job. 

 

****** - the safety situation. If Bishop and Edwards had been healthy all camp and able to properly learn this defense the Bills would keep four safeties and Lewis v Hamlin would be a genuine roster spot battle. But with those two missing so much time and being behind the 8ball in terms of learning this defense I suspect both Lewis and Hamlin are in for now as vets that have played in and understand the scheme. I think in-season one of them probably shakes loose at some point. But to go into week 1 I think they will carry an extra body here. 

 

 

There you go. I'll update after the pre-season games but for now this is my prediction. 

 

 

I'll add a little context here, having seen a couple of practices.  Davidson looks the part of an NFL player.  Very smooth and speedy.  Collins looks stiff and washed.  I think they're going to have a hard time moving on from Davidson, and I wonder whether the Collins roster spot is contingent upon what happens at center.  

[NeverOutNick]

1 hour ago, babulator said:

IDK several drops from MVS @ yesterdays practice. Keeping this guy around is gonna haunt us, this will be a big mistake if he sticks. 

Any other staff and I’d say it’s a certainty MVS isn’t making it with the rise of Shavers but I don’t trust our FO to make that call. Still holding out hope that during preseason Hamler, Claypool and Shavers make it obvious that MVS is expendable because I agree the guy drops way too many catchable balls to be dependable during the season. Let’s go with young guys with a lot of upside. We already have our veteran WR in Hollins

[SoCal Deek]

22 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

Okay I'm going to have a stab.... pre-season games can change things but what we have learned from this regime it rarely does. They value training camp much more than making plays with vanilla scheming in pre-season games. Though it often is the forum in which people solidify perceptions - Van Demark last year who had a strong camp and then was excellent on pre-season being the example. Would they have been comfortable going with him as their primary LT backup without seeing him block in pads in pre-season? Possibly not. Essentially pre-season games tell us (the fans) what they are thinking and what their pecking order is but it changes less than you sometimes imagine in terms of production in those games affecting roster decisions. 

 

So with all that said, here goes:

 

QB (2): Josh Allen, Mitch Trubisky

FB (1): Reggie Gilliam

TE (3): Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Quintin Morris*

WR (6): Keon Coleman, Curtis Samuel, Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, Marquez Valdez-Scantling, Tyrell Shavers

OL (9): Dion Dawkins, Connor McGovern, David Edwards, O'Cyrus Torrence, Spencer Brown, Ryan Van Demark, Alec Anderson, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, La'el Collins**

Offense Total: 24

 

DT (4): Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson, DeWayne Carter

DE (6): Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Von Miller, Dawuane Smoot, Kingsley Jonathan, Javon Solomon***

LB (5): Matt Milano, Terrel Bernard, Dorian Williams, Baylon Spector, Edefuan Ulofoshio****

CB (6): Rasul Douglas, Christian Benford, Taron Johnson, Kaiir Elam, Ja'Marcus Ingram, Daequan Hardy*****

S (5): Taylor Rapp, Mike Edwards, Cole Bishop, Cam Lewis, Damar Hamlin******

Defense Total: 26

 

ST (3): Tyler Bass (K), Sam Martin (P), Reid Ferguson (LS)

Special Teams Total: 3

 

Okay explanations:

* - the third Tight End. I know Davidson has made some plays in camp and so in a sense he is the sexy choice here. And he might make it. But your third tight end has to play special teams, and big body blockers are even more of a priority for teams with the new rules. Morris is a really solid special teamer, is definitely the more reliable blocker as of now and has shown he can play when given opportunities too. This could flip though as I suspect the Bills feel like they could sneak whoever the loser of the competition is through to the PS and there is even a chance they keep four tight ends at the expense of a 6th receiver. 

 

** - the ninth offensive lineman. I think this comes down to a straight fight between Will Clapp and La'el Collins. Why? Because the Bills depth options otherwise are Van Demark, Anderson, and VPG with zero career starts between them. I think they like all three of those guys a lot but will want at least one vet. I lean Collins because he can play tackle and guard (though is not the player he was) and they already have Anderson and VPG who can cover at center. I will say this, even if they keep 10 I don't think BOTH vets make it. If they keep a 10th it will be Tylan Grable and that will only be if they don't feel they can sneak him through to the PS.

 

*** - the defensive end rotation. I feel strongly that they will not want to lose either Kinglsey Jonathan or Javon Solomon. If they were sure about Von's status and readiness they'd just have him, Groot and AJE and then Jonathan and Solomon would rotate as the 4th guy. But the uncertainty about Von means they signed Smoot and he will have some value as an upgrade on the role Shaq Lawson has played here the past two years. Which means I think they have to allocate six roster spots to the position. 

 

**** - the 5th linebacker. The Bills normally keep five. Milano, Bernard and Williams are locks. I think Spector's demonstration late last year that he can play on defense and his specialism on special teams makes him closer to a lock than most think. Which leaves one spot. Ulofoshio's rib issue bears watching and he might get the old Brandon Beane redshirt injury treatment, but if he doesn't I think he makes it and they rely on getting Nicholas Morrow or Deion Jones through to the PS as their vet there which is what they did last year with Christian Kirksey and then AJ Klein. 

 

***** - the 6th cornerback. I think the five true corner slots are locked down. Elam has had some run with the ones in camp so I think the trade him during pre-season scenario that some speculated about is now off the table. Ingram has had by all reports a good camp has played a bit of nickel as well as being their clear 4th outside guy and is a classic developmental UDFA story that this staff has had plenty of. Daequan Hardy makes it as nominally a "sixth" corner but is really here because he looks like winning the returner job. 

 

****** - the safety situation. If Bishop and Edwards had been healthy all camp and able to properly learn this defense the Bills would keep four safeties and Lewis v Hamlin would be a genuine roster spot battle. But with those two missing so much time and being behind the 8ball in terms of learning this defense I suspect both Lewis and Hamlin are in for now as vets that have played in and understand the scheme. I think in-season one of them probably shakes loose at some point. But to go into week 1 I think they will carry an extra body here. 

 

 

There you go. I'll update after the pre-season games but for now this is my prediction. 

 

 

Gunner

The most interesting aspect of your projected roster is that this may be the first time in NFL history that a team won’t have a single Running Back. 😳

[finn]

1 hour ago, babulator said:

IDK several drops from MVS @ yesterdays practice. Keeping this guy around is gonna haunt us, this will be a big mistake if he sticks. 

Yeah, his MO is a boom or bust player. We got rid of one pass dropper in Gabe and still have one in Cook; we don't need another. I'd rather give the roster spot to Davidson and let Hamler stretch the field in addition to his KR duties.