State of the 53 Man Roster 1.0
by Nepenthe88 on Feb 1, 2012 11:31 AM EST
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PrintFootball is the ultimate team sport. Problem is, that team can only be composed of 53 men (as per NFL rules). Subtract the three special teams players (Long snapper, Kicker, Punter) and that leaves a scant 50 players-- 25 on offense, 25 on defense, ideally-- to round out the rest of the team. So, while we might seem to be stacked at 4-3DT, the sad fact of the matter is that a good number of them have to be cut to make room for depth at other positions (no amount of DT depth is going to help the team if Byrd, our sole FS, goes down to injury). Soooo... in what I imagine will be an ongoing series I'm posting (another) 53 man roster pictoral. I'm hoping this will be a collaborative project. Do you think someone is out of position? Do you think there's someone else on the roster better suited to a particular position? Did I cut someone you've your heart set on? Etc...
Without further adieu:
some quick notes:
B.Scott is playing strongOLB, but only in obvious pass downs. We still need a starter @ strong OLB
IF Troup can't play, he would most likely be substituted for L.Dotson
D.Edwards & S.Johnson were both casualties due to their age, & tho they might not we worth anything, I would TRY to trade them.
J.Nesbitt is our depth at FS. He doesn't make the 53man roster since (I'm guessing) no one will steal him from the PS, & leaving him there opens up a roster spot for "more valuable" depth.
Ok then... have at it! (and don't forget those special teamers hiding at the bottom)
Just another great fan opinion shared on the pages of BuffaloRumblings.com.
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donald jones and tyler thigpen are not going anywhere.
they gave thigpen a sizable deal for a backup QB. both chan and david lee have worked with thigpen before and chan in particular milked very good production out of him.
jones is a whipping boy for the fan base because he performed poorly as a #2, but that does not mean he will (or should be) cut. jones is a spectacular special teamer and a good depth receiver. there is absolutely no chance he gets cut for a guys like clowney or hagan.
edwards and johnson will get absolutely nothing on the market. no one is going to trade anything for those guys. both are over-the-hill vets with decent sized contracts. plus, theres room for 1 or both of them on the roster. switching to a 4-3 means its entirely possible the bills keep 10 dlinemen.
Its fun to think quarterback, but i think the odds of nix taking one in the first are close to 0%.
by boomsauce on Feb 1, 2012 12:03 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
(I'll address each separate so others can comment on each)
TYLER THIGPEN— most agree we need to bring in a developmental QB. Fitz is #1 and isn’t going anywhere (much to the chagrin of some). B.Smith is the #3/ wildcat QB and it sounds like our new QB coach has big plans for him. That leaves Thigpen as the odd man out. Of course he stays IF NIX doesn’t get his guy in the draft.
Or are you saying we don’t need a developmental QB at all?
or
do you want to keep 4QB’s on the roster? and if so, who would you cut to keep thigpen & the developmental QB on the roster?
‘most agree we need’ and ‘buddy nix thinks he needs’ are two different things. nix and gailey think very very highly of fitz and they also like thigpen, as evidenced by those contracts each player got.
what they will do, in my opinion, is obvious: if they like a QB enough at a given point in the draft, they take him and carve out a roster spot for smith by first calling him a ‘receiver’ and second eliminating either a TE or OL or safety or something. if theres no QB they feel comfortable using a pick on, the depth chart at quarterback stays as it was in 2011.
Its fun to think quarterback, but i think the odds of nix taking one in the first are close to 0%.
both QBs can be cut with virtually no hit to the cap, that doesnt show confidence, confidence is giving a guy a contract that is mostly guaranteed against the teams cap no matter if he gets cut or not ie Maybin, he is still 1 of the bills highest payed player and will be worth 3+million against the cap
Does Smith really count as QB?
I think there’s room for Fitz, thigpen, Smith, and a mid-round draft guy (Kellen Moore?). Smith seems like a wild-card/hybrid player.
I like this
I think this kid can play and he might be a steal in the fourth or fifth. I would take moore over thigpen based on their play last year.
I agree with boomsauce on this one
I do think they need to be developing a young QB, but I dont see him surplanting Thigpen. Maybee a late round pick that they can put on the PS??
Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.
EDWARDS/ JOHNSON – haha! I DO in fact have a 10 man D-line (NIX said he wanted to get 2 DE’s in the offseason so I substituted in red ?‘s for those roster spots). I chose to keep 4 DT’s and 6DE’s (as opposed to 5 and 5) with the thought that it’s easier to slide Carrington / K.Moore INSIDE in a pinch (gameday injury) than it would be to slide Troup or Williams OUTSIDE if we had injury problems again. Unfortunately that means cutting some DT’s… Edwards & Johnson don’t make the cut (in my mind) over the younger guys (for reasons of long term stability and $$$)
IF you want to go to a 5DT / 5DE roster I’m open to the idea BUT you need to tell me who to keep (edwards or johnson) and which DE to cut…
i cant tell you who to keep. i have no idea what they will do on that end. all im saying is that:
A) neither has trade value. if they dont make the team they will be cut outright
B) its likely that one or both of them finds their way onto the roster. both are good players when used correctly, and OBD knows that.
Its fun to think quarterback, but i think the odds of nix taking one in the first are close to 0%.
agree, both players ARE valuable (S.Johnson moreso because he could play DT & LDE)… but are they more valuable than the 2 DE’s Nix plans on getting in the offseason? Probably not, especially because their age (31-32@ the beginning of the season) means they’ll probably only be around for this season.
tho you’re right about their trade value.
I think you got this one right, mostly
I think Edwards makes it in place of Heard, but I would definately shop him to see if he has any value. He is a starting 3-4 DE on several teams and his pay is very marketable IMO. If we can move him I am in favor of that and keep Heard. If not I would keep Edwards.
S. Johnson will have to be cut.
I agree with the 4 DT, but I am leaning towards 5 DE’s Kelsay, Carrington, Merriman, FA pickup and a 1-3 round draft pick.
Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.
Heard is a back DT, Edwards is a back up LE, different positions, cut Edwards, Johnson and Merriman take that 10 million and sign Cliff Avril and draft Zack Brown SLB in 1st round
I dont think so
I have not seen anyone projecting Edwards as a 4-3 LDE. I guess he could if he lost 20LB, but I dont thnk so.
Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.
seeing how Dareus and Williams will have to be carted off the field and with Troupe and Heard as the back ups it makes no sense to keep Edwards and Johnson, Carrington and Kelsay are the LEs, Eddins and Moats are the only RE on the roster well sort of, bring in Cliff Avril and have Eddins and moats as his back ups
DONALD JONES— really? that suprises me. I thought Hagan played better (with less time in the system) and… I kinda expect the BILLS to draft a guy like M.Maze to compete w/ Clowney for Roscoe Parrish’s old roster spot. I remember Gailey saying he had BIG plans for Parrish, so I’m ASSUMING there’s a roster spot for a quick shifty guy like Clowney/ Maze & that Gailey would value his skillset over D.Jones.
I’m also of the mind that keeping D.Jones as depth for special teams is weak (regardless, I’ll slot him in over Clowney in version 2). Anyway, our special teams guys are as follow:
—Lindell / Moorman (K/P)
—G.Sanborn (LS)
—B.Smith
—S.Chandler (or his replacement)
—L.Smith
—3rd TE ???
—C.White
—S.McKillop
—D.Searcy
—L.McKelvin (or replacement)
—J.Rodgers
—D.Clowney (or replacement / D.Jones)
—McIntyre
—T.Choice
why is it weak? donald jones is hands down the best gunner on this team, and one could argue hes the best special teamer they have. special teams is a big part of football.
absolutely they will keep a cat quick slot guy on the team, but that guy will get roscoe parrish’s roster spot- not donald jones’. the depth chart (assuming they keep johnson) would shake out something like this:
johnson
‘big time’ WR that nix goes after in draft or FA
nelson
parrishesque slot guy
jones
easley, brad smith, and being something of wild cards. easley depending on health and smith depending on the quarterback (and general roster) situation.
ill admit that its not impossible for clowney or hagan or aiken or someone to take a roster spot from one of these guys, but id actually bet that david nelson gets unseated before donald jones does.
Its fun to think quarterback, but i think the odds of nix taking one in the first are close to 0%.
Ok. A number of people want D.Jones back, so I’ll slot him in over D.Hagan in version 2. Honestly I don’t remember him as gunner, but that IS a valuable special teams position, so I defer =)
re: CUTTING NELSON— that’s an interesting thought, But Gailey pretty much uses him as a slot “TE”: He’s generally the first to be waved in the backfield for extra protection, and runs “over the middle” pass catching TE type outlet passes… If / when Nelson gets replaced/ loses playing time, it will be because we have an elite pass catching / blocking TE on the roster. Till then, he definitely has a spot.
re: EASLEY— agree he’s dependent on health, & that he will have to battle for a roster spot, but… when camp comes I think he’ll come in and play an Arron Hernandez (6-1, 245) type role. Easley’s a similarly BIG, FAST, versatile WR (6-2, 230 and noticeably bulked up since that combine wt.) who has the skills to line up outside, in the slot and (possibly) play special teams (I doubt they would have drafted him if he couldn’t)
Easley
I wouldn’t discount him so quickly as our potential #2 guy (open when he’s not) type of WR. He’s definitely on the roster bubble mostly b/c of no evidence in the NFL and very little tape in college on him + the injuries. But if he stays healthy and if he shows good grasp of the offense I would not be that surprised to see him line up as our #2 on the outside.
I think Jones makes the team also
but I think he gets the Parrish/Clowney spot with Hagan making it as the #6 WR. I think OBD will resign Stevie, and target a solid #2 WR in FA . I Think Easly chalanges for that spot and at a minimum is the #3 WR if he stays healthy. Nelson will have his niche in the slot again. That makes four with Jones and Hagan making six.
The reason I dont think they will keep a speedy slot guy this year is bc they already have him on the team. Chan needs to find a way to keep CJ Spiller on the field with Fred. This way they can go from a three wide, two back set to a one back(Fred) spred with CJ, and Nelson in the slots. This will help give CJ some of the touches he has earned and be a nightmare to defend against. I would think CJ would see more mismaches when he motions out of the backfield into the slot. He also makes a big decoy that has to be accounted for, which should open some doors for Fred.
Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.
Naaman Roosevelt
I really like Naaman. He hardly ever (if ever) drops a pass. I would not be shocked if they cut him, but I definitely don’t want him to be cut.
"The Amish Rifle is your god now." - Muzza34
by BuffaloOwdaTwnr on Feb 1, 2012 12:23 PM EST reply actions
Me either, especially since he was cut last year. Though to be honest, I might prefer him to Donald Jones.
"Slowly all the roles we act out become our identity. And in the end we are what we pretend to be." - Jerry Cantrell.
The thing I really like about Naaman is that he is a home town boy
I was really concerned that another team would pick him up last year when we cut him, but they did not. If that stays the same he will be really great insurance already knowing the offense and just a phone call away if and when one of our WR goes down with an injury.
Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.
the thing i really like
was his 60 yard TD. It showed he had enough speed, he understood his route, and the coverage, and this kid has amazing hands. He catches basically everything, and the simple fact is, that he was averaging like, 16 yards a catch. why we used him so little, is just another example of questionable personnel decision by Chan Gailey.
ABAYARDE IS NOSTRADAMUS JUST WATCH WE WILL NOT YIEALD TO NOBODY YOUR SOUL WE WILL TAKE
Why the hate for Jones
He isn’t going anyplace. Just like Stevie needed a few years to shine, so too, goes the way of Jones.
I'd rather go out in a blaze of glory, then slowly fade away in the antiquities of time.
Ya'll also notice
It seems like our offense started sputtering a little when he went down for good.
flayed ones stealth mode
"Fleshling! Do not shoot! For I am one of you fleshy things. It is I. Your Uncle Stan. Can't you tell by the long strips of fleshy substances covered in bodily fluids? Trust me! I have fleeeeeeeeesh."
ehhhhh i dont really like this roster
Ay Ay Ay Ayyyyy
by BuffaloBillsBigestFan on Feb 1, 2012 4:39 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
If Stevie and Parrish are not re-signed
WRs look like this: FA guy (Bowe/Jackson?), Nelson, Jones, Hagan, then Roosevelt Clowney or Easley (2 of them).
lil curious
is Brad Smith done playing WR and actually gonna play QB this season?
Brad Smith plays “free game-day roster spot”, aka emergency QB. And he’ll get used as needed, most likely what they tried to do with him early on in the season.
by BuffaloRepresent on Feb 2, 2012 9:47 AM EST up reply actions
Rec'd I really like this post.
I had been working on my 53 man roster and this post made me finish it. I agree with most of what you have with just a few tweeks and changes.
First I think they will resign Stevie, Urbik, Rinehart, Choice, Chandler, Hagan, Morrison, and Scott. I really dont think they will resign Bell due to the injury issues.
Second I think they will target a top FA WR to play outside with Stevie, a solid RDE, and a starting SLB. That is just three guys, if they can pull that off then the draft is looking a lot easier.
Third, I think they will go LT in the first round of the draft. This allows Hairston to be the swing tackle. In the second and third round I have them going RDE and SLB this fills both of those positions. I can see them going after some DB depth with the two fourth round picks. One CB and one FS helps to fill out those positions. I also have Scott as a SS on my roster even though he will probably get some LB reps.
I have Morrison in place of McKillop, not that it matters much. I also have Thigpen staying as the #2 QB as I mentioned above but for the most part I could really get behind what you have on this roster. Three good FA’s and three good top draft picks and a lot of those ???? go away.
I would love for you to keep this updated !!
Please base your arguments in provable facts instead of pulling stuff out of your rear. -CanadianBillsFan- This is why talk is cheap because the supply always exceeds the demand.
FS SS
Byrd Wilson
Nesbitt Searcy
WLB MLB SLB
Barnett Sheppard Zack Brown®
Audie Cole® McKillop George Iloka®
CB2 RE DT DT LE CB1
Rogers Avril Williams Dareus Kesay Williams
Minnifeild® Eddins Heard Troupe Carrington Mckelvin
X Y LT LG C RG RT TE Z
Jackson(FA) Nelson Hairston Levitre Wood Uribik Pears Chandler Johnson
Easley Parish McCants Brown Jasper Rinehart Green® Quick®
QB HB FB LS P K Practice Squad
Fitz Patrick Jackson McIntyre Sanborn Moorman Lindell Nesbitt
Brock Osweiller® Spiller White
Brad Smith Choice
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