Taylor Rapp ruled Out for Sunday

[GASabresIUFan]

3 minutes ago, DJB said:

It was still odd to me he really never got a look or chance 

Never was healthy enough to earn a look.  Hamlin was healthier and better from day 1.  Maybe Jackson gets elevated and adds that physical game to the secondary.

[Ralonzo]

2 hours ago, ngbills said:

The biggest question is who is on Kelce? Do you go Bernard? 

 

Biggest concern is Bishop/Hamlin getting beat deep, combined with using LB to cover Kelce, while also stopping the KC dumpoff to the RB. That will be KC game plan - Kelce over the middle, Worthy going deep varied with quick screens, and the RB safety valves. Bills need a plan for it all. 

 

 

The Bills have been looking forever for that Big Nickel to match on TEs like a Chinn or Dugger. The closest they used to have was probably Siran Neal, a size/speed type of guy, but he was not terribly fluid and his speed was mainly straight line, he wasnt quick. The closest they have now might be Jamarcus Ingram, good size and length at 6'2", a bit light and not quite as fast (4.6). I don't know about his man skills, the plays he made vs Miami were system-generated and he benefitted playing his zone.

[Logic]

Milano and Johnson good to go. Benford likely (though not certain) to clear protocol. YES!
 

 

[Beck Water]

10 minutes ago, GASabresIUFan said:

Is it?  Why?  How has our defense done this year when our starters have been out in the secondary?  

 

Over the top, Not over the top...I dunno

 

But I think it's worthwhile to look at the injury situation and results this season.

 

As far as Rapp goes, he has missed most (3/4, 2/3) of  two games:

Bal L 10-35

Bal W  27-25

He has missed all of 3 games:

Hou L 20-23

Det W 48-42

NWE W 24-21

I think it's worthwhile to look at the other players that were missing (and who was playing for them), putting the games in order:

Bal L 10-35         Bernard (Spector), Milano (Williams), T. Johnson (C. Lewis)

Hou L 20-23       Milano (Williams), T. Johnson (C. Lewis)

Det W 48-42      Rasul Douglas (Elam), Damar Hamlin (C. Lewis)

NWE W 24-21     Baylon Spector (Milano, Williams), Damar Hamlin (C. Lewis)

Bal W  27-25      

 

Let's be real: KC was going to pick on our safeties regardless, because safety has not been a strong point for the Bills all season.  And Bishop in the 2nd half vs. Baltimore wasn't pretty.  But I think it's important to remember that in previous games where Bishop was starting, there were multiple missing starters on D.  The Bills, like a lot of defenses, historically have usually been able to field a competent D when missing 1 starter, but when missing 3, the quality drops off fast.

 

People here like to dog Hamlin, but I think he's played competently for the Bills this season.  I think it's possible that Bishop playing next to starter Hamlin and with starters in front of him, may play better than Bishop playing next to Cam Lewis and missing another starter besides.

 

I would also like to say that I had considerable trepidation about Rapp as a starting safety because of his tendency towards "Friendly Fire".  IIRC, he took out both Douglas AND Bernard on one play during the Pittsburgh playoff game last season, and cost us Bernard (and Douglas hampered). 

I've been pleasantly surprised all year that he was playing more "in control" and mentally sound this season, but his injury occured on another "friendly fire" episode where the Raven was already wrapped up by 2 Bills and Rapp arrived late to the party and took out Hamlin and Douglas.

This year, the Bills are going into the offseason with the lowest-ranked defense they have had since 2020.  I think a barrage of defensive injuries mid-season are partly responsible.  Some people blame Babich.  Whatever reason, it was definitely a reset year on D.  The Chiefs are going to "get theirs" on offense.  The key for the Bills will be to keep their poise, keep moving on offense, and limit the time KC gets the ball.  

 

I may be a minority view but I thought Bishop played OK against Baltimore.  Hamlin was the one who made an error that resulted in a completion for a TD (going for the INT instead of "doing his job").

 

[JESSEFEFFER]

2 hours ago, ganesh said:

Cole Bishop Time....Go Bills !!!

Let's say Cole plays Kelce better than any previous Bills playoff defender.  I wonder how much having brought Micah to the practice squad might have helped.  That seems like the most tangible, hoped for benefit of bringing him in at that point of the season if they never intended on having him in a game.

[LABILLBACKER]

Hamlin is just not the CenterField ball hawk that Hyde was. He can give you an occasional Pic on an overthrow,  but he's not jumping routes. Now we're going to ask Damar to babysit Bishop in the biggest game of the year?  And who backs up Hamlin if he gets hurt?

[T.E.]

10 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Hamlin is just not the CenterField ball hawk that Hyde was. He can give you an occasional Pic on an overthrow,  but he's not jumping routes. Now we're going to ask Damar to babysit Bishop in the biggest game of the year?  And who backs up Hamlin if he gets hurt?

It's going to bug me when Hyde doesn't even dress so that some player who can only contribute on special teams but rarely does can suit up. Seems like exactly the kind of vet presence you'd want on at least the sideline.

[BearNorth]

1 hour ago, Success said:

 

If you had told me in August that we'd get to this point of the season with only 1 starter out - I might have actually thrown a party in celebration.  

 

This is as healthy as we've been. Somehow, once again, KC is even healthier - but I definitely can't complain.

 

Except that KC has, on IR - Rashee Rice, Skyy Moore and Mecole Hardman.  We have no one of comparable talent level on IR.

[oldmanfan]

19 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Hamlin is just not the CenterField ball hawk that Hyde was. He can give you an occasional Pic on an overthrow,  but he's not jumping routes. Now we're going to ask Damar to babysit Bishop in the biggest game of the year?  And who backs up Hamlin if he gets hurt?

They’ll bring Jackson up most likely and Lewis can backup.  We can play what if all day long.  Who backs up Mahomes if he reinjures his ankle?

 

This is going to be a great game.  We have to slow down Kelce somehow.  They have to deal with our 6 man front and running game.  And so on.  Going to be epic.

Edited Friday at 08:46 PM by oldmanfan

[JerseyBills]

4 hours ago, T master said:

 

Mika - Edit ; Micah - get ready we might need you this week !! 

 

There now do all you english majors here to police a football web site feel better ?

 

Oh dam i almost use a period instead of a question mark OMG !!! 

He was seen in helmet and pads for the 1st time I believe 

[skibum]

I think Micah Hyde off the couch would surprise a lot of people. His injury is risky, but it has a minimal impact on his athletic ability. And he is experienced enough that he can play instinctively without much warmup. It's like riding a bike for him, and he has been resting for a whole year. If he has truly been maintaining his fitness at a high level, I think he could also play at a high level. Better than Kareem Jackson, I think.

Edited Friday at 08:47 PM by skibum

[RunTheBall]

3 minutes ago, skibum said:

I think Micah Hyde off the couch would surprise a lot of people. His injury is risky, but it has a minimal impact on his athletic ability. And he is experienced enough that he can play instinctively without much warmup. It's like riding a bike for him, and he has been resting for a whole year. If he has truly been maintaining his fitness at a high level, I think he could also play at a high level. Better than Kareem Jackson, I think.

No way. You don’t just come off the couch in game shape. He’d be gassed by the second quarter. Once we didn’t bring Micah up for the last NE game there was zero chance he was playing this post season.

 

[Doc Brown]

22 minutes ago, skibum said:

I think Micah Hyde off the couch would surprise a lot of people. His injury is risky, but it has a minimal impact on his athletic ability. And he is experienced enough that he can play instinctively without much warmup. It's like riding a bike for him, and he has been resting for a whole year. If he has truly been maintaining his fitness at a high level, I think he could also play at a high level. Better than Kareem Jackson, I think.

McDermott basically said there's no chance that Hyde would be called up this weekend on Monday I believe.  It's going to be Bishop and Hamlin with Cam Lewis as the backup.  Kareem Jackson will pry get the practice squad activation again.

[GASabresIUFan]

@Beck Water  Thank you for a complete and reasoned response.  The bottom line is I'm correct to be worried about a starting combo of Hamlin and Bishop.  That doesn't mean they'll ultimately be the reason we lose to KC, but losing Rapp is a major blow to our chances of winning.  

 

Personally, I'm actually still bullish on the team Sunday.  I think our ball control offense will help limit the defense's exposure and expect a game very similar to what we saw against Balt.  The key will be finding at least 3 stops of the KC offense through turnovers and or punting.  Without Rapp, those stops maybe have to come from turnovers again.

[ExiledInIllinois]

45 minutes ago, LABILLBACKER said:

Hamlin is just not the CenterField ball hawk that Hyde was. He can give you an occasional Pic on an overthrow,  but he's not jumping routes. Now we're going to ask Damar to babysit Bishop in the biggest game of the year?  And who backs up Hamlin if he gets hurt?

God!

 

(Too soon? SORRY, couldn't resist!)

[QLBillsFan]

4 hours ago, mikemac2001 said:

Hide isn’t going to play 

McD literally said this a couple times Kareem Jackson would be next up Bishop to start w Lewis going in if he implodes 

[YodaMan79]

Eric Weddle came off the couch for the Super Bowl.  It should be all hands on deck here. 

[McMuffin]

Could we possibly look back on the Hyde signing as the most pivotal and underrated signing in Bills history if Bishop plays a key role in them advancing to the Big Game?

[BillsFanForever19]

7 minutes ago, YodaMan79 said:

Eric Weddle came off the couch for the Super Bowl.  It should be all hands on deck here. 

 

All Hands on Deck? So you're saying both Kareem Jackson and Micah Hyde should be active then, right?

 

Kareem Jackson (and Lewis Cine before Phili poached him from us) has been the go to Safety elevated even with Hyde on the roster. The idea that activating Hyde represents "all hands on deck" is a misrepresentation.

Edited Friday at 09:36 PM by BillsFanForever19

[mikemac2001]

11 minutes ago, QLBillsFan said:

McD literally said this a couple times Kareem Jackson would be next up Bishop to start w Lewis going in if he implodes 

I know I was making fun of his spelling