Bills Continue FA Perusing, Visit with CB Carr

by Brian Galliford on Mar 20, 2008 2:51 PM EDT in News Comment 14 comments

Apparently, adding two defensive backs in one day (S Bryan Scott and CB William James) wasn't quite enough depth-bolstering for the Buffalo Bills, as the team is meeting with Raiders restricted free agent CB Chris Carr today. Carr, a four-year veteran, stands at 5'10", weighs in at 180 pounds, and is just 25 years old with some untapped potential. He fits the type of player profile that the Bills usually target during free agency.

What makes Carr an intriguing visit is the fact that he's spent a large portion of his career returning kickoffs - relatively well, at that - for a poor Oakland franchise. This type of player is exactly what the Bills need, as 2008 is the ideal time to finally allow Terrence McGee to focus solely on defense. That goal is the reason that I included UConn cornerback Tyvon Branch in my section of the Buffalo Rumblings Authors Mock; Carr is a bit smaller than Branch and isn't a perfect fit in Buffalo's scheme, but he would bring solid value to the return units. Personally, I wouldn't be disappointed to see Carr signed at all - his presence could do wonders for McGee, who needs to prove this year that he can be the Bills' top cornerback for the rest of his career.

In case you hadn't heard, voluntary off-season conditioning workouts begin for the Bills next week - although some players have already showed up. That list includes DE Chris Kelsay; the fact that his starting linemate, Aaron Schobel, has not showed up yet is concerning to Connor Byrne:

Given his performance in 2007 -- and it wasn't good for the money the Bills gave Schobel -- it's valid to question why the 30-year-old isn't in Buffalo right now with some of his other teammates, including Kelsay. Although workouts are voluntary at the moment, Schobel could have slightly repaid the franchise that made his bank account enormous by showing up to work and sending a positive message to his teammates.

Instead, though, Schobel has so far chosen to keep his distance. If he doesn't make an appearance within the next week, then he'd better show himself on the field in 2008.

The crux of Byrne's article is that Buffalo's defensive ends are overpaid - a topic we've beaten to death here. (And by the way, Byrne's figures for Kelsay's contract - 6 years, $24 million - are incorrect. Kelsay signed a 4 year, $23 million deal last off-season.) Schobel's absence at One Bills Drive, at this point, means nothing. Sure, it'd be nice to see him in Buffalo sending that "positive message", but he's not exactly sending a negative one, either. Byrne is right - Schobel needs to prove his worth this season; I'd just much rather see him do it on the playing field. Byrne seems to be jumping the gun on this one a bit.

Stay tuned - jri111 will have an interesting article about Buffalo's defensive backfield situation up later this evening, and we'll wrap up the Buffalo Rumblings Authors Mock tomorrow morning with the final two rounds. We'll be asking for feedback on that little project, as well, so brainstorm ideas for future mocks from the four of us so that we may best serve y'all.

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What is

the compensation for Carr? And what's the defensive backstory on him?

by Kumario! on Mar 20, 2008 3:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Undrafted free agent

Probably none, as he was an undrafted free agent. It's unlikely the Raiders gave him a high tender.

by Krenn on Mar 20, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Comments on the Mock's / Defensive Secondary Art.

Brian, I am looking forward to the article on the Defensive backfield and what all these free agency moves, both additions and subtractions, mean for the coming year. I hope he includes a bit about the theory of how secondaries operate, as I always hear the words cover-2/cover-3, zone, etc. and am never sure what it all implies.

Concerning feedback on the mock's, they are interesting but I always lose interest after round 2 since it all depends on who is left the boards. But keep up the good work, I learn alot on this site.

by south123 on Mar 20, 2008 3:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Schobel

That's a bit of overreacting at this point. Doesn't Schobel always show up late to these things anyhow? We don't need to go into how the DE's need more than a few sessions in the weight room to get better.

I'm kind of surprised that we'd be bringing in Carr. To me, that could mean the front office likes our 4 CB's as is, with the 5th CB (maybe Carr) representing a ST'er/kick returner. If that's the case, Carr would be a nice addition because he is a very good kick returner. I'm not sure we'd find a kick returner of his stature in the later rounds. I too like Branch, but I'm getting the feeling that a CB won't be taken until the later rounds, if at all. Bringing in a guy like Carr with some CB skills and experience, but would have more of an impact on special teams does make sense then....

by Kurupt on Mar 20, 2008 3:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Is it just me

or are other people starting to get the feeling the team believes Ashton Youboty is ready to be the real deal?

It's not delivery, It's DiGiorgio!

by poz on Mar 20, 2008 3:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I get that feeling too

I like what I saw him down the stretch last year. He wasn't great, but he proved he was capable. Many people have unfairly labeled him a bust, but it's apparent he just wasn't ready to contribute right away. Let's hope his time is here now...

by Kurupt on Mar 20, 2008 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ashton

I'm one of those people who have listed him as a quasi-bust. I'm not sure what we'll get from him this year, which makes me feel like we have to bring in players to be on the safe side. This guy is going into his third year, and in all reality, we have no idea what we have in him. If he turns into the real deal this year, I'll be the first one to borrow one of sireric's crow recipes, and have a feast.

by krytime on Mar 20, 2008 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

About Youboty,

I watched a few of the games recently and noticed that he is usually in position in coverages. The problem with him is, he doesn't make the play on the ball to prevent the catch. He's right there and lets him catch it, usually bringing him down 2-3 yards after. Maybe the Eagles pick was a sign of things to come, but I doubt it for some reason. Is a ok tackler who can bring a guy down, but can miss and not someone to give a big hit.

Still don't know how he fits in.

by Kumario! on Mar 20, 2008 4:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Youbuty is still young

Youbuty was a guy who really should have played out his college career before declaring for the draft. He really needed some more seasoning on the field which he would have gotten playing for the Buckeyes. If he had waited another year, he would have been a first rounder probably.

All that has happened is the guy ended up leaving early, we snagged him, and now have had to spend the 1 year of college seasoning on him, and so far 1 year of pro seasoning that most DBs take 2 years on to get better.

Do I think he is a bust right this moment? No, but I do think he needs to show this year that he is better than just a pro-nickel back. He has shown flashes of this type of abitlity, and he now has two years in a pro scheme, its his time to step up.

So how done was Pat Williams when we let him go Tommie boy??? Stick a fork in him level right?

by WABillsfan on Mar 20, 2008 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Youboty came out when he wasn't totally ready. Of course he wasn't going to be ready to play right away. Add the fact that he missed time due to his mother's death and he was really behind where more experienced rookies would have been. His first year was basically a redshirt year to me. Last year he got more time, flashed some potential and should be ready to show what he has this year. At this point it is way to early to call him a bust because he wasn't ready to start with. If he doesn't show any improvement this year and gives us nothing, then he can be considered a wasted pick.

Is 'bust' even the correct word to be used anyhow? I mean, he was a 3rd round pick for crying out loud. If anything, he would have to be considered a player who never fulfilled expectations. He's not a top 10 pick we're talking about here...

by Kurupt on Mar 20, 2008 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

More Carr...

CARR MAY NOT GET OUT OF OAKLAND: As badly as Carr stated he wants out of Oakland, he may not get his wish if the Raiders covet him. They tendered him a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent (1 yr. $927K), meaning that Oakland has seven days to match any offer Carr might receive from another NFL club. However, being a former undrafted college player Oakland would be due no compensation from another NFL team if the Raiders chose not to match another club's offer sheet.

In all likelihood though the Raiders would not match any offer sheet for Carr of any substantive dollars because it sounds as if they'll be dropping upwards of $70M on DeAngelo Hall if the trade with Atlanta goes through.

by Kurupt on Mar 20, 2008 6:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not just

All the money they are giving to Hall but they just franchised Asomugha, and they should sign him long term soon, even crazy Al has to run out of money eventually.

Man do I miss #78

by sireric on Mar 20, 2008 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs