Bills DT McCargo Making Solid Pre-Season Impression
by Brian Galliford on Aug 16, 2010 6:47 PM EDT
in Buffalo Bills Training Camp
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John McCargo's story isn't exactly long, but it's absolutely soaked in strange. A surprising first-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2006, McCargo has been an enigma through four professional seasons. His rookie season was cut short with a foot injury, and after showing flashes of promise in his second season in a rotational role (29 tackles, 2.5 sacks), he barely played in 2008, and only a failed physical prevented an agreed-upon trade to the Indianapolis Colts. A deep reserve in 2009, McCargo was not expected to last long in Buffalo's new 3-4 defense.
But McCargo has had surprising results to this point in the pre-season. The only thing that's gone wrong to this point, and that's being listed third on the team's unofficial depth chart at defensive end behind rookie Alex Carrington. Otherwise, the dominoes have fallen well for McCargo; he has received consistent reps with the second-team defense thanks to injuries to both Spencer Johnson and now Carrington, and has been getting consistent push and pressure in the camp setting. He was impressive in the team's 42-17 loss to Washington, recording three tackles and a sack in extended playing time.
In theory, McCargo would be most useful to the Bills as a sub-package player; the Bills use four down linemen frequently in their nickel and dime packages, and the fifth-year pro is a much better fit in those looks than he is as a traditional 3-4 end. The trick there, however, is that the Bills already employ several players - Marcus Stroud, Dwan Edwards, Carrington, Johnson and Kyle Williams chief among them - that are capable of playing tackle in those packages. Buffalo has a lot of versatility along their defensive line, which doesn't help McCargo's cause.
Entering the final year of the five-year deal he signed in July of 2006, McCargo's best chance at cracking Buffalo's final roster is by beating out Johnson, a similar player type that has three years remaining on a five-year deal he signed in March of 2008. McCargo's gotten more opportunity this summer thanks to Johnson's injury, but Johnson's remaining fiscal numbers could sway the vote regardless. Either way, McCargo has been a pleasant surprise this year, and even if he doesn't make the team in Buffalo, he's done enough this year to get a look from other teams should he be released.
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another turd polishing article?
Chan Gailey's #1 Fan!
by norcaliangelsfan on Aug 16, 2010 7:07 PM EDT reply actions
If you’d like to read it that way, sure.
by Brian Galliford on Aug 16, 2010 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions
McCargo....solid....turd......sounds about right :-)
If all the stars align, pigs learn to fly, humanity achieves world peace, doctors discover a cure for cancer, scientists perfect cold fusion, and hell freezes over, the Bills might win the SB this year.
by Joe P. on Aug 16, 2010 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
another one for joe
YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde
All this in the last year of his rookie deal. What a surprising coincidence.
by Dr. Brackish Okun on Aug 16, 2010 7:27 PM EDT reply actions
very good point
I noticed that as well!
Home of "Spiller the Thriller"
by buffalobacker on Aug 16, 2010 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions
nice call, doctor.
"I may be drunk, Miss, but in the morning I will be sober and you will still be ugly"
I really hope as a new regime is in place, that the best players make the team, not those with long contracts and ties to the old regime.
Basically, if the coaching staff feels McCargo is better than Johnson, then McCargo should stay regardless of the contract situations.
New York City Buffalo Bills Backers
www.nycbbb.com
Completely agree
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on Aug 17, 2010 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Any clue what the usual quota of DL is for a 3-4 team? If it’s 7, I guess McCargo has a decent shot. If it’s 6, I think he needs to beat out Spencer Johnson which would be an upset. It’s been awhile since I followed a 3-4 defense (God’s chosen defense: big)…what are the usual LB quotas and DL quotas around the league?
"Godzilla is coming so get ready." -abayarde
Let me give this a shot
In 2009, on opening day rosters, the 3-4 defensive teams had (if specified):
Pittsburgh: 2 NT, 5 DE
New York Jets: 6 DL
Dallas: 2 NT, 4 DE
Miami: 3 NT/DT, 4 DE
Cleveland: 6 DL
Denver: 7 DL and 3 players designated LB/DE
Baltimore: 7 DL
KC: 2 NT, 4 DE
Green Bay: 6 DL
San Fran: 7 DL
Arizona: 7 DL (more of a hybrid 3-4/4-3)
New England: 7 DL (hybrid)
San Diego: 7 DL
Those numbers are from the week 1 Gamebooks on NFL.com, so I may have missed a player or two if they were on the PUP list or whatever.
Looks like most keep 7. Eight of the thirteen teams that play the 3-4 some or most of the time kept at least 7 DL players.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
appreciate it
All I remember about our old 3-4 days was that Buffalo generally kept 8 LBs unless they had a surplus there…kind of remember the great David White making it as a 9th LB one year in the mid 90’s.
"Godzilla is coming so get ready." -abayarde
Good research K. I'm seeing 7 staying on for us.
If we go 5 DE 2 NT then I see
5 DE: Stroud, Edwards, Carrington, Johnson and McCargo
2 NT: Williams and Troup
If we go 4 DE 3 NT then
4DE: Stroud, Edwards, Carrington, Johnson
3NT: Williams, Troup, Harvey
Personally I see us keep 7 either way with the McCargo scenario being more likely.
Starcraft II: the ultimate sleep depraver.
by CanadianBillsFan on Aug 16, 2010 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions
So it's a Harvey vs McCargo cage match for the final roster spot?
.
"If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." – Martin Luther King Jr.
In theory....maybe
That’s assuming the health of all 53 players on the roster.
If someone like Shawn Nelson or Steve Johnson or Geoff Hangartner were to get dinged before the end of the preseason and were to miss a month of the regular season, that changes the roster makeup. A guy who’s certainly going to make the team, but is injured and will miss time might result in an extra player at that position being kept while he heals up.
We also really don’t know Gailey’s plan for the roster, either. If he believes keeping 4 RB’s or 10 DB’s or whatever is more important than a 7th defensive lineman, that would also play into how this all shakes out.
To me, I’m keeping any player that has a shot to contribute this season and in the future. A guy like Chad Simpson or Joique Bell, or Ellis Lankster holds more appeal than John McCargo, IMO. Basically, I’m keeping the 53 best players, mostly regardless of position.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
Also
A steel cage match would be the ultimate way to decide any roster battles. I think I’d take Harvey in this matchup due to his size and McCargo’s likelihood of getting injured in the cage.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
winn
Starcraft II: the ultimate sleep depraver.
by CanadianBillsFan on Aug 17, 2010 2:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Welcome to the ThunderDome!
.
"If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward." – Martin Luther King Jr.
Harvey does have PS eligibility. That could make a difference.
You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Aug 19, 2010 9:38 AM EDT up reply actions
Hey if we can turn McBusto into a good backup then great!
Personally I like the idea of having a 5 man rotation at DE (Stroud, Edwards, Carrington, Johnson and McCargo), 6 if you add Kyle Williams. It would add versatility, as well as decent depth when the injuries inevitably happen.
And who knows, maybe McCargo can partially redeem himself. I’m not holding my breath, but maybe.
Starcraft II: the ultimate sleep depraver.
by CanadianBillsFan on Aug 16, 2010 9:34 PM EDT reply actions
would you sign him to an extension?
If all the stars align, pigs learn to fly, humanity achieves world peace, doctors discover a cure for cancer, scientists perfect cold fusion, and hell freezes over, the Bills might win the SB this year.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA good one.
No, if we keep him around I’d see how he performs this year and then decide whether to try to re-sign him or not.
Starcraft II: the ultimate sleep depraver.
by CanadianBillsFan on Aug 16, 2010 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Hell would have to freeze over before I would resign him
If all the stars align, pigs learn to fly, humanity achieves world peace, doctors discover a cure for cancer, scientists perfect cold fusion, and hell freezes over, the Bills might win the SB this year.
Pretty much my opinion too. Anything short of an 8 sack, 50+ tackle season, let him go. Yes i know that’s almost unreachable, but that’s the point.
Starcraft II: the ultimate sleep depraver.
by CanadianBillsFan on Aug 16, 2010 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions
It really depends...
Would McCargo sign a deal to get back-up money? If he makes the team and plays well in reserve and his contract demands reflect reality, then I would be open to resigning him…considering all the above happens of course.
Act like a sober human being, not a drunk Internet username. -- Brian Galliford
by NorCal BillsFan on Aug 17, 2010 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
McCargo’s gotten more opportunity this summer thanks to Johnson’s injury, but Johnson’s remaining fiscal numbers could sway the vote regardless
Are you saying the one with more years left on his deal is more likely to stay, or be cut? Sorry I’m confused.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
I believe Johnson’s contract may put him on the chopping block if McCargo is anywhere near him performance wise. Cutting Johnson gives Gailey and Nix more flexibility in the next offseason to shape the roster as they see fit.
Thats what I was thinking
I just wanted to make sure.
The player I would like least at #9 would be my sister’s cat, Captain Creamsicle. She does have a great work ethic and agility, but I’m really concerned that at 9 lbs., she’s too small to play safety in the NFL. She also bites way too often on play action and is easily distracted by someone waving string in the crowd. Lastly, her wonderlic score was pretty awful, answering "meow meow meow" for most of the questions- Dr. Brackish Okun
Why not
Hey, this guy is a first round talent… Seems strange that he would finally break through this year, but with our lack of talent overall, I guess this might be his best shot at getting some real playing time.
I got nothing.
by Jason from OH-IO on Aug 17, 2010 12:16 AM EDT reply actions
Only 1.5 more sacks
and he will tie Erik Flowers on the Bills career sack list.
NC State fan here
Didn’t like the pick when we made it. Hope it works out. Another of Marv’s blunders. I love Marv Levy, but he set the franscise back 5 years with his drafts and FA signings. Of course, at the root of it is Ralph. He hired a strong guy in Donahoe, then overreacted and signed Marv.
by BillinNC on Aug 17, 2010 8:26 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
"Maybe"
The Bills get lucky and get at least one productive year out McCargo his total of 46 tackles in 4 years suggest otherwise. He had injury problems in college and he has had injury problems in the NFL.
My Crystal Ball says—- If he makes it thru a full year he will sign some where else next year for a good chunk of change and will immediately get hurt!!!
.
I don't suffer from insanity;
I enjoy every minute of it
Best Chance
I don’t really think his best chance of making the roster is to beat out Johnson. I think there will be a last 2 or 3 roster spots and guys like Donald Jones, Danny Batten, John McCargo, Joique Bell will be fighting for those regardless of position. Because with about 50 on the roster you can pretty much cover yourself at all positions…
Defensive Linemen
Tell me if I’m mistaken, but I always thought that defensive line prospects were some of the slowest to develop? Sure, some are great right out of college, but I thought the majority took well into 4-5 seasons to really come into their own. Kind of like HR hitters in baseball – their power numbers don’t truly blossom until they are well into their 20’s.
Maybe McCargo is one of those guys, refreshed by a new coaching staff and finally has a good feel for the game. I’m sure in college these guys don’t learn half the stuff they need to know and practice and perfect at the NFL level….
Yep
Slowest to develop, fastest to sign with another team!:)
Home of "Spiller the Thriller"
by buffalobacker on Aug 17, 2010 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Yup, I guess it would work out that way, with 3-5 year rookie contracts being the norm.
by syrbillsfan on Aug 17, 2010 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions
defensive line prospects were some of the slowest to develop?
Yeah but they’re not suppose to be slower than malassis in February. McBusto has been beyond slow to develop. In fact, he’s regressed!
Starcraft II: the ultimate sleep depraver.
by CanadianBillsFan on Aug 18, 2010 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions
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