Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

[YardRat]

http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2006/09/buffalo-bills-cuts040906.html

"Head coach Dick Jauron is still loyal to respected veterans, perhaps a little too much."

Among the Bills' non-cuts this past weekend were current starting free safety Troy Vincent and reserve running back Anthony Thomas. Despite being clearly outplayed by various youngsters in training camp and preseason, Jauron, known as a "veterans' coach," kept these two experienced but overrated performers.

The 35-year-old Vincent has lost just about everything that made him a five-time Pro Bowler throughout his career, including the ability to make a tackle. Rather than bringing down the ball carrier, the 15th-year man does his best imitation of a bullfighter on the field, dodging the enemy offender. Somehow, though, Vincent made the team over a player 11 years his junior, the promising Rashad Baker, who was a surprise cut.

As for Thomas, he was easily outdone during the preseason by the young Lionel Gates, but it was Gates who felt the wrath of the dreaded Sept. 2 cutdown day. Though he didn't look like a great back at any point this summer, Gates fought hard for two exhibition touchdowns and looked like a legitimate backup behind Willis McGahee.

"Buffalo will continue highly valuing its top-flight special teams unit."

Perhaps the most surprising non-cut the Bills ended up making (or, not making) was the decision to keep fifth-year safety Coy Wire. Though the 27-year-old is a weak link when he has to play on defense, the former third-round pick is a tremendous special teams performer. Over the last two seasons, thanks in no small part to Wire, the Bills' special teams unit has ranked No. 1 in the NFL.

Buffalo easily could have released Wire to make way for a promising defensive back (CB Eric King, etcetera), but the special teams aspect, although overlooked, does make up one-third of the game of football. By deciding to keep Wire, it's obvious Jauron will continue thinking highly of assistant head coach/special teams Bobby April's opinion. Rightfully so, considering April may far and away be the league's top ST coach.

Accompanying Wire on the non-cut/special teams list was 5-foot-7, 193-pound running back Shaud Williams. The third-year man from the University of Alabama is a major liability on the offensive side of the ball, but Buffalo values his contributions on special teams and in practice during the week.

[Mitchy moo]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

DJ cut a few vets this year, this guy is high.

[clumping platelets]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

Vincent is a much better mentor to Ko Simpson than Baker could ever imagine being

As for Thomas, I like the fact we have a veteran behind Willis.......however, I would have kept Gates over S. Williams

[Historian]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

Marv's achilles heel is that he's loyal to a fault.

Seen it in the past with players as well as assistant coaches.

[YardRat]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

Marv's achilles heel is that he's loyal to a fault.

Seen it in the past with players as well as assistant coaches.

If that loyalty puts us back in the Super Bowl in the near future, I'll take it.

I think the author is off-base on Vincent and maybe even Wire to a certain extent. We need Troy for at least this year, until the '06 draft picks get a year under their belt and Wire is a necessary evil at safety until Bowen gets healthy. It's a bonus that he's a good STer.

I agree with him on Gates and Baker, though...we should have kept both IMO.

[G. Host]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

PFT = Pro Football Trash

[Don't Panic]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

I think this post is pretty right on. Haven't seen enough of Vincent to echo the thoughts there, but it will be interesting to see if he is failing to make tackles during the season. He does serve as a great mentor to Simpson, though, so maybe that was the thinking in keeping him. Thomas over Gates is hard to justify in my opinion, but so be it. I'll always remember that flip Gates did... if that one play doesn't get you on a team (in the sense that they said Andre Davis' one play earned him his spot), then I don't know what does. The ST stuff isn't so much a knock as it is a justification of why those guys were kept. I have very little problem with that, either (although I was surprised we let Baker go and kept Wire). Real365 is pretty right on in my opinion. I tend to agree with a lot of their perspective, many times before even knowing the source. That's true once again here.

[Jan Reimers]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

We do need a few veterans and Vincent will be an on-field coach for Whitner and Simpson. While Gates was a surprise cut, the other tough cuts were virtually all ST-driven. Marv and Dick are great believers in strong special teams.

I don't think you can criticize a coach too much for keeping veterans when he keeps 10 rookies and 21 new players in all, and has only 7 guys 30 or older on the roster.

[patmoran2006]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

I agree with keeping Vincent, and for ST and practice contributions, I dont have a problem with Shaud Williams sticking either.

The only thing I have a problem with is keeping Coy Wire over Rashad Baker.. Wire SUCKS and Bowens is more than good enough to take his spot on ST.. Baker had some coverage ability.. we better pray Wire never has to step out there on defense.

[Historian]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

If that loyalty puts us back in the Super Bowl in the near future, I'll take it.

.

That loyalty lost us four Super Bowls, Rat.

Walt Corey? Dick Roach? Ring a bell?

Look, That type of high character is sorely lacking in American business nowadays, much less in the NFL. I admire Levy for it, I really do.

But I think there's a difference between loyalty to a veteran player, (ala Vincent) who can be a defacto coach on the field, thereby increasing his value, and loyalty to a veteran who hasn't done squat in four seasons.

I understand we had turnover. Believe me, I was one of the ones *****in the loudest when Williams and Donahoe cut guys like Jones, Holicek, et al....mainly because they still had skills to offer.

But this crowd...I have to wonder. Seriously.

[The_Philster]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

Believe me, I was one of the ones *****in the loudest when Williams and Donahoe cut guys like Jones, Holicek, et al....mainly because they still had skills to offer.

don't even get me started on Holocek I had just gotten his jersey a few months before he left.

[justasportsfan]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

I would've kept Baker and signed someone on the practice squad like DiGiorgio and once Bowens is 100% cut Wire and put DiGiorgio to the active roster.

[Devin]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

Actually I think the guy is pretty spot on.

[North_Coast]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

This article is bull manure. How many coaches wouldn't prefer a veteran over a rookie or second year player? More importantly, if Levy and Jauron were so loyal to veterans, why did they sign Craig Nall? Why is JP Losman starting? Why didn't they go out and sign some veteran QB they knew if they didn't like Holcomb?

Neither Vincent nor Wire are Marv's "guys", so where's the loyalty coming from? Some have argued that Thomas was kept over Gates because he's Jauron's "guy", but c'mon, boys and girls, that's one player out of 53 -- and Thomas is a better blocker and better STer than Gates -- as is Shaud Williams. In fact, if there's a common thread here, it's that all around skills and excellence on ST really counts for the Bills.

As for Troy Vincent, I think the defense has a bunch youngsters on it, especially the secondary, and the coaches seem to believe they need somebody out there to act as coach/mentor.

Besides, it's unlikely that the Bills are going to make the playoffs, so keeping a veteran as a "mentor" or for his ST skills isn't exactly jeopardizing the post season -- and, who knows? Maybe, like in 2004, the Bills will win a couple games because of stellar ST play.

[madness]

Re: Two observations from Buffalo's weekend cuts

Wow, this article couldn't be further from the truth. Just another hack taking shots at Jauron because of his "track record".

1. Didn't Vincent have surgery on his shoulder in the off season? Don't you think that would have affected his tackling ability last year? I shouldn't even have to mention the value he brings to this team with his knowledge. He has even gone on record as saying he'd still wouldn't hold back teaching if he lost his starting position! Why would you cut somebody with that kind of character that can still play? Oh and forget the obvious fact that nobody has been able to beat him out for the position yet.

2. Coy Wire was kept for his outstanding ST skills and for depth. We have a rookie at SS and an injury-prone vet (who's injured) backing him up. Yes let's cut Wire and keep an extra FS instead. Trust me I wouldn't be thrilled at all if the guy was in the starting lineup but last time I checked, that's not why he's still here.

3. A-Train was making the roster not because of some blood brother pact made w/ Jauron but because we needed an experienced power runner. Shaud, another ST demon, gives Fairchild another weapon out of the backfield. I wouldn't be surprised to see a 2 back set w/ him and Willis sometime this year. Fairchild, an ex RB coach, obviously wouldn't have a clue about RB depth.

4. Apparently he didn't get the memo. "Bills keep 20 new players"! Loyalty to veterans? Doesn't that usually imply veterans that have been on the team? WTF would you sign veterans in the off season for if you didn't plan on keeping them?

5. Oh and for those you trying to create an argument for keeping a promising player, this is absolutely the best way to start. "Though he didn't look like a great back at any point this summer..."