Pre-Pre-Season Look: Predicting the Depth Chart

by Brian Galliford on Aug 1, 2007 2:49 PM EDT in Buffalo Bills Opinion

Let's play a game, Bills fans, in which we all sit down and try to hash out who will make the final Bills roster at the end of this glorious month of August. Since our pre-season opener versus New Orleans is still ten days away, I felt it was a great time to take the team's initial training camp practices into account and put on the Swami hat. So, feel free to agree/disagree with any of my prognostications below, and let's hear your final 53 as well!

OFFENSE (25 players)
WR2: #81 Peerless Price, #82 Josh Reed, #89 Sam Aiken
LT: #71 Jason Peters
LG: #66 Derrick Dockery, #62 Aaron Merz
C: #67 Melvin Fowler, #65 Jason Whittle
RG: #75 Duke Preston, #60 Brad Butler
RT: #68 Langston Walker, #79 Terrance Pennington
TE: #84 Robert Royal, #85 Kevin Everett, #80 Derek Schouman
WR1: #83 Lee Evans, #11 Roscoe Parrish
QB: #7 J.P. Losman, #16 Craig Nall, #5 Trent Edwards
RB: #23 Marshawn Lynch, #28 Anthony Thomas, #31 Dwayne Wright
HB: #88 Ryan Neufeld, #86 Brad Cieslak

DEFENSE (25 players)
LE: #90 Chris Kelsay, #92 Ryan Denney, #76 C.J. Ah You
NT: #95 Kyle Williams, #99 Jason Jefferson
UT: #98 Larry Tripplett, #97 John McCargo
RE: #94 Aaron Schobel, #93 Anthony Hargrove
SLB: #55 Angelo Crowell, #27 Coy Wire
MLB: #51 Paul Posluszny, #52 John DiGiorgio
WLB: #56 Keith Ellison, #53 Mario Haggan
LCB: #24 Terrence McGee, #25 Kiwaukee Thomas
SS: #20 Donte Whitner, #37 George Wilson, #29 John Wendling
FS: #30 Ko Simpson, #42 Jim Leonhard
RCB: #44 Jason Webster, #26 Ashton Youboty, #33 Jabari Greer

SPECIALISTS (3 players)
K: #9 Rian Lindell
P: #8 Brian Moorman
LS: #54 Mike Schneck

Notable Cuts: RB Shaud Williams, RB Josh Scobey, WR Donovan Morgan, WR Jonathan Smith, TE Matt Murphy, DE Eric Powell, DT Tim Anderson, LB Josh Stamer, CB Riley Swanson

Seriously, let's hear it, folks - what changes would you make? What do you like/dislike about that final roster? How do you think the coaches see their roster shaping up? Let's get some chatter going!

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Comments

Notable Cuts

I would think that Josh Stamer would be staying. For awhile now he has been a solid contributor to this team both on special teams and on the defensive side of the ball. Example being goal line stand against Detroit this past year. Too bad he got hurt later in that game.

by applet68 on Aug 1, 2007 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

Yes

But at the same time, we've got a new LB in Coy Wire. How does his position change affect Stamer? Wire is a better special teamer and a better fit for our scheme; I think his move spells the end to Stamer's tenure with this team.

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by Brian Galliford on Aug 1, 2007 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions

mccargo

I hope and think that John McCargo will win the starting spot.

by jwest529 on Aug 1, 2007 4:16 PM EDT reply actions

I'm with ya

I think it could happen by the end of the season, but I highly doubt they'll bench Tripplett right away. Big John will have to earn his starts in the real games, not a few TC practices.

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by Brian Galliford on Aug 1, 2007 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Scobey

I think Scobey will be staying instead of a fifth tight end. Since it looks like Neufeld is the starter at H-back, Cieslak or Schoumann (practice squad) could be cut.
Scobey fills several holes - he's the #2 KR behind McGee, he's excellent on kick coverage, and can serve as an emergency RB if one RB is injured and the other two are tired. (replacing Shaud Williams' 2 carries last year.)

by Krenn on Aug 1, 2007 7:27 PM EDT reply actions

Scobey was my last cut

You're right, he could fill a lot of subtle roles for the team. But I look at it like this - the Bills already have a ton of guys who can play well on special teams. They also have a couple guys they can use at kick returner if they decide to keep McGee fresh (Roscoe, Leonhard have return experience, and Fred Jackson can be stashed on the practice squad).

It was hard for me to say that Schouman would be kept over both Scobey and Stamer, but Derek just brings another element of versatility to our offense - something that is vital to this team's success.

And for what it's worth, if Scobey/Stamer is kept over a TE/HB, I think it's Cieslak who gets the axe - Neufeld is a valuable blocker on special teams and a good vet presence for Schouman, who was actually drafted by the club.

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by Brian Galliford on Aug 1, 2007 7:37 PM EDT up reply actions

My cuts

I would swap Scobey for George Wilson. Not sure we'll keep 5 Safeties, especially one who's been playing there for 2 months.

I could also see Schouman and Ah You missing the cut and hitting the PS. Do we really need a 5th player capable of playing TE? And we aren't going to be running sets with an H-Back that often that we'll need 3 of them. I'd hate to see them cut him because I think some other team would pick him up before he'd go onto our PS, so we'll have to see. As for Ah You, we are deep at DE, so I'm not sure the numbers will add up. There's no way he would dress every week barring injuries. I think the thing in his favor is the fact that Fewell likes to play Denney and Hargrove inside on passing situations. We could very well need a 5th body at DE eventually.

Keeping Scobey could also push Preseason Hero Sam Aiken out the door. I wasn't impressed with Aiken last year on ST's which is his forte. Having a bunch of capable ST's players could enable us to keep a younger, fresher WR. A guy like Donovan Morgan, who's been impressive in camps, or Jemalle Cornelius could be better options for us, especially if either shows any semblance of ST ability.

In the end, Scobey makes my team and he pushes either Wilson or Schouman (to the PS) out the door. And Aiken better watch his back, and Greer too for that matter. Riley Swanson looks like a better CB prospect than Greer ever was.

by Kurupt on Aug 1, 2007 8:23 PM EDT reply actions

Hmm...

I like Wilson because he can play all three phases of the game. That makes him a valuable reserve no matter the situation.

I also think Ah You sticks exactly because of the reason you state - ends playing tackle. That was the deciding factor for him.

If Scobey sticks on the roster, I think the last person he pushes out the door is Sam Aiken. He's indeed pretty worthless as a wideout, but he's a big-name guy on special teams. I highly doubt he's going anywhere, though I obviously won't count it out.

Personally, I'd rather see the team keep a sixth receiver (Morgan) over a fifth TE/HB than Scobey over the fifth TE/HB. A sixth (fifth if you're counting Aiken as strictly ST) receiver, IMO, provides more immediate value to the team than a fourth RB. Just my opinion.

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by Brian Galliford on Aug 1, 2007 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Wilson

I have heard Wilson being a big contributor on ST, but I just don't remember him being a part of that at all the past 2 years -- in fact, I think he was inactive almost all the time (and/or in the practice squad) during those 2 years. Why are people saying he is such a valuable ST player? Scobey, Aiken, Haggan and Stamer (the bubble players, I presume) have all been great ST contributors.

by labill on Aug 2, 2007 11:55 AM EDT reply actions

Hmm...

Not sure I said he's a "great" special teamer, but this guy can definitely hold his own. He gives us a guy who can play special teams, offense and defense. He's a smart guy and a hard worker; I'd rather have a guy like that at the tail end of a roster than a guy who won't be a contributor at all (namely Schouman).

Also I don't see Haggan as a bubble guy. He's been working with the twos, so I think he's good.

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by Brian Galliford on Aug 2, 2007 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Wendling

How is John Wendling doing? You list him as bascially the 5th safety, and I have heard absolutely nothing about him in the training camp reports. Could he be a real dud?

by labill on Aug 2, 2007 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

Re: Wendling

John Wendling hasn't made my reports because he's been running with the third unit. He's been making some plays, though - diving pass break-ups in the end zone and the such; most of these plays are coming against Trent Edwards and other third-unit players, however. Wendling won't see the field much as a defender this year; his rookie role will be predominantly special teams.

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by Brian Galliford on Aug 2, 2007 4:43 PM EDT up reply actions

roster differences...

i don't see the team keeping 5 DE's... Perhaps 5 DT's but I have to think Ah You is headed for the practice squad. Maybe that brings back Tim Anderson (gasp!!) as the 5th DT (God I hope he's not on the team by opening day!).

Also I don't see us keeping 5 safeties either. I can see George Wilson as the odd man out also.

As far as the offense goes. I think Shobey stays and we keep only 4 TE's/HB's. That would make Shoouman a good candiate for the practice squad.

John I.

by jri111 on Aug 2, 2007 12:04 PM EDT reply actions

DT/DE

I'd rather keep a ninth D-Lineman who helps our depth. Tim Anderson would never see the field as a 5th DE; Ah You could, seeing we use ends inside at tackle a lot. I think he gives us more versatility than Anderson does.

We kept five safeties last year, despite the fact that we had a vet in Vincent on board. Jim Leonhard wasn't even part of that rotation until Vincent got hurt! (Vincent, Whitner, Bowen, Simpson, Wire)

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by Brian Galliford on Aug 2, 2007 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

What, no Corto?

Well, we can dream, can't we?

by Slimmons on Aug 2, 2007 12:16 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Corto

I seriously expect this kid to garner serious consideration for the practice squad.

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by Brian Galliford on Aug 2, 2007 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree on Corto to the PS.

Also, similarly to the DE-switching-to-DT philosophy you mentioned, Brian, our safeties (even/especially our top guy, Whitner) can switch more comfortably to CB than vice versa.

I still think Schouman will beat out Cieslak. We'll see how pre-season plays out.

Stamer vs. Haggan. One will stay, I'm betting. I actually think Stamer will, but we'll see.

George Wilson brings a speed and accustomization to the ball, and apparently, has picked up the schemes and adjustments very quickly. Let's see how he hits in live action.

Five receivers makes sense - especially with Wilson on the roster at S.

My guess would be 4 HBack/TEs and 4 RBs. Scobey will make the squad (over Cieslak/Neufeld) for his skill kicking teams roles. That's my guess. With no FBs, there's a need for 4 bodies at pure RB, in my estimation...

by Dock Ellis on Aug 3, 2007 9:42 AM EDT reply actions

Re: HB

I think you're spot on - if the Bills keep a fourth RB (don't discount Fred Jackson in this race, btw - I think he could beat out Scobey for the 4th RB job at this point), that Cieslak would be the cut. Neufeld/Schouman just makes too much sense in terms of a veteran/rookie combination, and Brad never really overly impressed me as it is.

I just have a feeling that all of our draft picks will make this team. Call me crazy, but I think all 7 guys will be part of the final 53.

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by Brian Galliford on Aug 3, 2007 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions