Bills to host NT Jimmy Kennedy on Thursday

Would be a very nice pickup.

Let’s hope

And I LOVE every second of it… This is a step in the right direction! Overpay, I don’t care, just don’t let him leave w/o a deal… NT are getting really hard to come by!

Things are starting to shape up… We got a RT for today (reserve tomorrow), now we have the opportunity to get a rotation NT… Then possibly draft a rookie.

Get’r Done Nix!

50% of all free agents that have visted Buffalo have signed with the team!!

Roll out the money! Signing him would bring a player from a winning franchise. That would be good.

Let’s hope we start to get busier in the next few weeks, in terms of free agents coming OBD with a view to signing. If we can get this one wrapped up, we will have sorted out a major headache and got a key piece in the 3-4 jigsaw puzzle! Fingers crossed… it works out fine.

He is more of a gap shooter, which would make him a better fit as a 3-4 end. That would then allow us to address the nt in the early rds of the draft. Plus we clearly need depth at the de position b.c. by my count we only have 2 players there…stroud and spencer johnson.

But, he is backing up The Williams Wall. A lot of good quality, even starting caliber defensive tackles would ride the bench behind the Wall.

Kennedy could be a very good NT, even as he starts playing the position at age 30 (assuming he signs with Buffalo).

Kennedy played in primarily Tampa 2 defenses his entire career (or variations of the Tampa 2): St. Louis, Chicago, and Minnesota. One thing is clear… he’s not a great one-gap penetrator. Minnesota’s variation of the Tampa 2 has the DT’s playing some two gap (Williams Wall). Kennedy has done well with this.

This leads me to believe that he could be an effective two-gap NT. Buffalo would have an effective NT solution with Kennedy and Kyle Williams.

I would love this signing because I think Jimmy Kennedy could fill a serious need for us, at least temporarily, while we find a younger guy to groom. The reason I say some Bills fans crack me up sometimes is because I highly look forward to the same people who argue to trade Kyle Williams and who went ballistic over the Cornell Green signing – because they say Kyle will be 30 by the time we are ready to contribute and Cornell Green is only a temporary solution – to applaud the signing of a 30 year old career disappointment at a position he does not play.

I think J. Kennedy would give us time to find a great NT, and he might even excel in a new role with the Bills. For that I would be very happy with this signing. But if signing Jimmy Kennedy is a good idea, so was signing Cornell Green and so is keeping Kyle Williams unless the trade is for serious compensation.

So far so good Nix.

Speaking of a rotation with Kyle Williams by the way, how perfect would Terrence Cody be for this team in the second round? He’s going to fall because hes only a two down player who is an immense run stuffer but an absolute nobody as a pass rusher. Imagine the ability to use Kyle as a DE on run downs and then take Cody out and put in Kyle at NT on passing downs? Kennedy would only give us more options.

Here’s what Joel Buchsbaum wrote (excerpt) about Kennedy before passing away frior to the 2003 Draft.

Positives: Has rare size and good football intelligence. Is quick off the ball, reads and reacts quickly and neutralizes blockers. Also has a short burst to the ball and QB. Good character, worker. Fights through traffic and is seldom on the ground. Has a good spin move and motor. Can hold his own against the double team. Loves the weight room.

Negatives: Not explosive or sudden adjusting to the cutback in space. Can improve his pass rush skills and ability to collapse the pocket with an edge rush. May be a two-down player. Average change of direction and rush technique.

Summary: A legitmate two down lineman and a likely top five pick.

My summary: Rotoworld is wrong. Kennedy was a NT when he left Penn State, and has played out of position in penetrating one-gap defenses. No wonder this guy sucked until he got into a two gap system (Minnesota). If Buffalo signs him, my prediction is he becomes a very good 3-4 NT.

OT and NT canidates are two serious areas to look at. Still can’t for get the OLB positon.

Sorry, had to do that. Quality NT who took awhile to develop and came into his prime last year. I watched those Minnesota playoff games and he stood out. Would be a great signing IMO.

The comments here make me laugh. The majority of commentors disliked the Cornell Green signing because he was nothing more than below average. Now Jimmy Kennedy, a very mediocre player, is visiting and there are more positive comments here than we’ve seen in weeks.

I know Kennedy’s upside as a NT is far greater than Green’s will ever be here, but its pretty funny to see the discrepancy in opinions on the two. Kennedy has been a career underachiever, even if forced out of position at times, throughout his time in the NFL. I’d love to know why everyone is so, so, so much more in favor of this guy than they were of the thought of Green potentially starting for us.

It’d be nice to sign him though, I totally agree.

Two potential DL FA candidates

I am really happy they are bringing this guy in, I think he would be a great addition.

Sign a guy who thrived off the work of the Williams wall when they wore down o-lines and expect to get a player?

If we draft a fat man like Dan Williams in the draft to play NT, Kennedy won’t be on the field as much as we think, and that would allow us to play Williams as a super sub along the entire DLine in our 3-4. Thats not a bad situation to be in as it does give us a lot of scheme flexibility.

I’m not saying bust the bank for the man, but anything just under Green’s contract should do it.

In my eyes, this is a cheap easy solution to fill a need at NT. He might not be the best but when we’re starting with nothing, he would be a fantastic signing.

Especially the CHEAP part.

I’m with Kurupt——-this would be a good signing not a great signing. Kennedy isn’t suddenly going to be a stud defensive lineman. He is a career under achiever (for his #12 pick in the draft) and is a rotational player that would add depth to the line.

The Bills will have to ante up to sign him. When the Bills paid $3 million a year for Green most of us went WTF, but the Skins signed NT Maake Kemoeatu to a 2 year $6.75 million contract. It’s his 3rd team in 7 years and he is coming off an Achilles Tendon injury. The market is what it is, so Green’s salary for a 10 year vet isn’t so outlandish as it first seemed.

Here’s my thought: perhaps Williams could be the two-down guy while Kennedy comes in on passing downs. Just a thought.