Where do we need depth?

[TypicalBill]

with the draft over and our depth chart set... i think we still need depth on the offensive line. We need to get Conaty back and sign someone after June 1st who has starting experience and would be quality depth. im not comfortable with Ben Sobieski as a backup guard. He's not proven and was injured a lot during his college career.

If we could find a starting FS who gets cut because of salary cap issues, i wouldn't mind taking a look at him, but not if he asks for too much. Im not sold on Reese either, he was cut because Denver was looking for an upgrade and not because of salary cap issues (although i think he would make a good backup)

what im saying is, i think our defensive backfield should look like this.

SS Wire (Prioleau)

FS Starter (Reese)


Thoughts?

[DraftBoy]

We also need LB, and WR depth.

[HenryRules]

WR depth is the most pressing need I think. I don't like Bobby Shaw as our 3rd WR and everyone else should be thankful they're receiving NFL pay.

Interior OL would be problem #2 in my books. I don't know anything about backup OLmen throughout the NFL, so I don't know the potential signings, but if we get a decent C (no I don't think Conaty fits into this category - and judging by the interest shown in him, neither do the GMs in the NFL), I think we can make do letting Pucillo get some reps and see if he can work. I don't think guard is an ultra-important position on the line, and I'd rather have Pucillo who has taken some reps in practice last year with the squad and may have some upside be given the work at backup guard than a free agent who has basically peaked at being a backup guard. But center is a huge need for this team ... if Jennings ends up being our backup center, an injury to teague will cause at least 2 (JJ at C and MP at LT) and possibly 3 (JJ at C, MW at LT, MP at RT) people to be at new positions on the OL. OL requires too much chemistry to let that situation develop.

LB depth is up there as well as aside from Spoon, I don't think any of our backups have shown that they could be decent starters for a game or 2. And Spoon is coming back from an injury that caused him to sit out for an entire season, so I wonder how good he'll be able to fight off blockers using that arm of his. As it now stands, our LBs are the best starters on our D IMO, so I think we need better backups behind them or else an injury to Spikes, Fletcher, or Posey could cause us to drastically change our game plans from game-to-game.

Again I agree with TB in that I'd like one more veteran safety that is a more traditional-style FS for situations that call for a ballhawk that can play centerfield. I don't think he necessarily would have to be starter quality, although that would be nice, but someone we could use on 3rd and long situations.

QB depth is something else that I would have liked us to upgrade, but only during the draft. AVP and Bledsoe are QBs with a completely different style and succeed in different schemes. Travis Brown I really have no faith in whatsoever, the staff and front office also seem to be disappointed in his progression. I was hoping during the draft that we'd get a QB with a brighter future, ideally one that could succeed in a Bledsoe-style offense with deep throws, but not a necessity. AVP's classy style and locker room presence prohibit us from cutting him to sign a FA IMO, but I was hoping we could draft someone who would unseat him as #2 before next season so that we could let AVP go before 2004.

[Tatonka]

i dont think there is any way at all that we need LB depth..

polk and spoon are good LBs

crowell and haggan will make the team

[Stewie]

We need a true #2... I hope Reed is ready but even if Reed does step up, we lose quality at both the #2 WR and #3 WR positions from last year (comparing Peerless to Reed and Reed to his replacement).

Interior OL too.. Why hasn't any team signed Mo Collins from Oakland? He's a good former 1st rounder, and all he did was start for the best offense last year. I think he'd be an upgrade at the RG spot.

[colin]

I am certain we are gonna pick up a quality WR in June.

[Bert102176]

wish we still had Reggie Germany.

[TypicalBill]

don't we still have Germany? i thought he was on IR last season?

[Bert102176]

we cut Germany due to a failed physical , which I think was stupid cause they gave him the physical before he was all healed.

[TypicalBill]

Originally posted by Bert102176
we cut Germany due to a failed physical , which I think was stupid cause they gave him the physical before he was all healed.

aah, thanks.


thats unfortunate, i remember people talking about his potential and that he looked promising in his rookie year.


oh well, we have Moulds, Reed, Shaw, Aiken as the top 4... we dont need a superstar, all we need to to is add a veteran with some experience after June first...i dont think its as big a need as other positions..


I've read some excellent reviews on Aiken.. All the draft sites rate him mid 2nd to mid 3rd round so i think we got a steal.. He also was the MVP of the senior bowl playing against the top corners in the college game.. He was awesome because he had a real QB throwing to him (unlike what he had in his college team). Some of the best college players played in the senior bowl. He's got great size too which will make him a favourite target for Drew in 3rd downs and red zone possesions. IMO he will win the 3rd spot.

[ublinkwescore]

We should bring back Jeremy McDaniel - he's better then Charles Johnson hands down.

He'd be #3 quality if he could stay healthy.

[The_Philster]

Jeremy is playing for the Indiana Firebirds of the Arena Football League. I remember he played pretty well the one year, got hurt, and got cut. I'd love to see him back. He worked pretty hard at trying to get the West Coast offense figured out...and Gilbride's schemes should be simpler to learn.

[Doc]

First of all, depth is hard to come-by these days. No team has a lot of depth. Second of all, the only place the Bills are truly thin is at WR, because after Shaw it's a bunch of unproven (although some are promising) guys and Charles Johnson who I've written-off as a WR and have pencilled-in as a lockerroom leader. Speaking of Shaw, what's wrong with him as the #3 WR? Last year he produced what Reed did, and I think he could easily duplicate what Reed did as a rookie 3rd WR (not saying that Shaw is as good as Reed will be, but that an experienced Shaw is at least as good as a rookie, even one as promising as Reed). As for O-line depth, Marcus Price is a great backup for either OT spot and can probably play both guard spots as well. I'd like to see Conaty return, and I believe he will, which would provide good depth at the one remaining spot not covered by Price. If the Bills are missing more than 2 starters on the O-line, they're hurting anyway and that much depth is almost impossible to find. Last of all WRT Reese, he signed a 1-year deal with the Broncos, who drafted a FS (Sam Brandon) high in the 2002 draft. They had cap problems and have allocated a good chunk of change to Brandon, so that's why Reese was allowed to walk. While Reese might not be great, he'll be an upgrade to Prioleau IMHO.

[BillsOwnAll]

LB defitnly we need to stop all running mostgames are lost because they cant stop the run theres always execeptions though some are lost in the air but mostly the little plays like 10-15 yard gains a run//screen pass. we need to stop the damn screen!!! im sick of that.

[justasportsfan]

Originally posted by BillsOwnAll
LB defitnly we need to stop all running mostgames are lost because they cant stop the run theres always execeptions though some are lost in the air but mostly the little plays like 10-15 yard gains a run//screen pass. we need to stop the damn screen!!! im sick of that.

We still have Spoon and Wire. I think wr. If Moulds eve went down (I hope not) , cb's will have a field day. I doubt if Reed commands a double team.