A stat I interested in keeping a close on eye

[BillsOwnAll]

Im not a big stat guy, but its intriguing to see the percentage of TDs/Fgs are scored when the opposition has to start on there own 20 after a kickoff other then anywhere else. We can see just how valuable potter is to us.

IMO I think itll help our defense immensely. The momentum of returning a kick to the 35-40 is just as big as only having to go 60 yards. I think itll be frustrating for offenses to be sitting on the sideline knowing there going to have to go 80 yards just about every time. This stat could be skewed tho if he contiues to kick over 90% of his kicks out.

[Night Train]

Potter is worth a roster spot, without a doubt. Only when the weather turns harsh will the ball stop going out automatically.

Saves on injuries (see Kevin Everett ) and takes away a potential big play by the opposition, especially in a close game.

[stuckincincy]

Im not a big stat guy, but its intriguing to see the percentage of TDs/Fgs are scored when the opposition has to start on there own 20 after a kickoff other then anywhere else. We can see just how valuable potter is to us.

IMO I think itll help our defense immensely. The momentum of returning a kick to the 35-40 is just as big as only having to go 60 yards. I think itll be frustrating for offenses to be sitting on the sideline knowing there going to have to go 80 yards just about every time. This stat could be skewed tho if he contiues to kick over 90% of his kicks out.

You can only dress 46 come game time. I'd be surprised if Potter takes a game-day spot.

I guess they put him on the roster because they though he would not survive the cuts and get plucked. If so, they should have had him attempt some kicks in the PS to see if he can supplant Lindell. With the new rules the past season, there are a lot of KOs not returnable. It's an unflattering indictment of the BUF D, that they can't deal with a KO that passes the 20, IMO.

[SabreEleven]

"A stat I interested in keeping a close on eye "

The good ol' days...sniff, sniff.

[Luisito23]

LOL

[BLeonard]

The problem with that sort of stat is, defenses are different from team to team. If you have a bad defense, it doesn't matter where the opposing team starts. If you have a good defense, the opponents could start on the 40 everytime and not get anything.

Here's where Potter is going to make the Bills better and why he's worth the roster spot:

1: Lindell doesn't have to handle kickoffs. Remember, Lindell was hurt last year making a tackle on a kick return.
2: Less chances for injuries on Special Teams. Every time Potter gets a touchback, that's one less time that our KR cover team has to get hurt covering a kickoff. Keven Everett might still be playing today if he didn't have to make a tackle on kickoff coverage.
3: Whiile some complain about him taking up a "valuable roster spot," I say that him being in the spot is most likely better than who would have been in the spot instead of him. Realistically, who did you want them to keep over Potter? Ruvell Martin? I say Martin because he was the first one signed back to the team after the cuts. Chances are, if they didn't keep Potter, they would have kept Martin, which they ended up getting back anyway.


You can only dress 46 come game time. I'd be surprised if Potter takes a game-day spot.

Prepare to be surprised, then. He'll be on the list of 46 that dress, for the reasons I stated above. Those reasons, IMO, are a much better reason for dressing Potter, as opposed to a random special teams guy.

Kickoff specialists aren't anything new, by the way. The Bills used one in 1991 - Brad Daluiso... Other teams have used them in recent years, as well.

-Bill

[BillsOwnAll]

"A stat I interested in keeping a close on eye "

The good ol' days...sniff, sniff.
haha and me evn prouf read its!

[madness]

If you need further proof, just check out the Jets return game against us (and everybody else) last year.

[stuckincincy]

The problem with that sort of stat is, defenses are different from team to team. If you have a bad defense, it doesn't matter where the opposing team starts. If you have a good defense, the opponents could start on the 40 everytime and not get anything.

Here's where Potter is going to make the Bills better and why he's worth the roster spot:

1: Lindell doesn't have to handle kickoffs. Remember, Lindell was hurt last year making a tackle on a kick return.
2: Less chances for injuries on Special Teams. Every time Potter gets a touchback, that's one less time that our KR cover team has to get hurt covering a kickoff. Keven Everett might still be playing today if he didn't have to make a tackle on kickoff coverage.
3: Whiile some complain about him taking up a "valuable roster spot," I say that him being in the spot is most likely better than who would have been in the spot instead of him. Realistically, who did you want them to keep over Potter? Ruvell Martin? I say Martin because he was the first one signed back to the team after the cuts. Chances are, if they didn't keep Potter, they would have kept Martin, which they ended up getting back anyway.



Prepare to be surprised, then. He'll be on the list of 46 that dress, for the reasons I stated above. Those reasons, IMO, are a much better reason for dressing Potter, as opposed to a random special teams guy.

Kickoff specialists aren't anything new, by the way. The Bills used one in 1991 - Brad Daluiso... Other teams have used them in recent years, as well.

-Bill

I remember Rick Roby, MIA - punter and KO - but like Daluiso - decades ago.

Kickoff rule change has big effect on NFL
January, 3, 2012
By Paul Carr | ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/35597/kickoff-rule-change-has-big-effect-on-nfl

Potter or not...

A roster spot need not be a "random ST" player. He might be that back-up LB that BUF likely needs.

[BillsOwnAll]

The problem with that sort of stat is, defenses are different from team to team. If you have a bad defense, it doesn't matter where the opposing team starts. If you have a good defense, the opponents could start on the 40 everytime and not get anything.


-Bill
I was just talking about this stat for the bills not all other teams

[BLeonard]

A roster spot need not be a "random ST" player. He might be that back-up LB that BUF likely needs.

...And, if they don't dress Potter and Lindell gets hurt on a kickoff return (or any play, really) again, who is gonna kick PAT's and FG's?

They don't have to put any of the LB's on the "non dress" list if they don't want to... My guess would be, Tavaris Jackson will be inactive until he learns the playbook well enough to surpass Thigpen, or they release him. That leaves 6 "non dress" spots left.

Anyway you slice it, I don't see how any of the guys that are on that border of dressing and not dressing are any more of an asset than Potter is. Again, Potter keeps Lindell off the field on kickoffs, lowers the wear and tear on our special teams players and will give the defense an advantage by having opposing offenses start on their 20 a good percentage of the time. I can't imagine any other player on that "dress/not dress" bubble offering that much to the Bills in mutiple facets of the game.

Keep in mind, Garrison Sanborn has made the team and has dressed simply because of his longsnapping. So, apparently, having that extra roster spot hasn't been an issue in his case.

-Bill

[stuckincincy]

...And, if they don't dress Potter and Lindell gets hurt on a kickoff return (or any play, really) again, who is gonna kick PAT's and FG's?

They don't have to put any of the LB's on the "non dress" list if they don't want to... My guess would be, Tavaris Jackson will be inactive until he learns the playbook well enough to surpass Thigpen, or they release him. That leaves 6 "non dress" spots left.

Anyway you slice it, I don't see how any of the guys that are on that border of dressing and not dressing are any more of an asset than Potter is. Again, Potter keeps Lindell off the field on kickoffs, lowers the wear and tear on our special teams players and will give the defense an advantage by having opposing offenses start on their 20 a good percentage of the time. I can't imagine any other player on that "dress/not dress" bubble offering that much to the Bills in mutiple facets of the game.

-Bill

If Lindell suffers wear 'n tear with kickoffs, he's a china doll and I would cut him. If our ST needs R&R, even with the much lower return rate per my link, I'd can those Lil' Nancys, too, and find tougher men.

[YardRat]

You can only dress 46 come game time. I'd be surprised if Potter takes a game-day spot.

Of course he will take a gameday spot, it's the only reason he's even on the roster to begin with. If he is one of the inactives, that should push every last fan over the edge of "these guys don't have a ****ing clue".


I remember Rick Roby, MIA - punter and KO - but like Daluiso - decades ago.

I believe your thinking of Reggie Roby, and I don't ever remember him being used on kick-offs in the NFL...could be wrong on that point, though.

[mikemac2001]

Just the fact that they have to go 80 yds for td's creates more plays which creates more chances for stops/turnovers
Less wear and tear on backups/special teamers due to less high impact blocks/hits (less need for other Special team roster spots)
long fg's at the half also come into play if he can nail a 55yarder 20% of the time it might end up stealing a game

id rather we have one kicker but the move is not a bad one

[stuckincincy]

Of course he will take a gameday spot, it's the only reason he's even on the roster to begin with. If he is one of the inactives, that should push every last fan over the edge of "these guys don't have a ****ing clue".



I believe your thinking of Reggie Roby, and I don't ever remember him being used on kick-offs in the NFL...could be wrong on that point, though.

Right you are - punter, but IIRC he was also listed as a LB ala Paul Maguire.

Sadly - he died young.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reggie_Roby

[BLeonard]

If Lindell suffers wear 'n tear with kickoffs, he's a china doll and I would cut him. If our ST needs R&R, even with the much lower return rate per my link, I'd can those Lil' Nancys, too, and find tougher men.

Hs nothing to do with "Wear and Tear. Lindell is 35 and, quite frankly, has never been good on kickoffs, as far as I've seen. As for the ST needing "R&R," it's about keeping them fresh and risking as little chance for injury as possible... Again, ask Kevin Everett about being a "Lil' Nancy."

Lower return rate, yes... But, Potter that the return rate could be virtually ZERO. I'd bet a good amount of teams would be willing to sacrifice a roster spot, in order to minimize their chances of injury on kickoffs even further than the league average.

Let me ask this: Who are you dressing instead of Potter that would have as big of an effect as he does? Again, of the guys on the "dress/not dress" bubble, I don't think there is a guy that does more fir the Bills than Potter does.

Looking at the roster, heres the 7 I don't dress: T. Jackson, Choice, R. Martin, Lee Smith, Sam Young, Carrington and Chris White. Pending on Brad Smith's injury, one of those might dress instead of him.

Don't see how any of these guys is a bigger asset than Potter is.

-Bill

[YardRat]

White made the team because of his special teams contributions also, I'd be surprised if he was inactive.

[BLeonard]

White made the team because of his special teams contributions also, I'd be surprised if he was inactive.

Like I said, those are the 7 I wouldn't dress, based on the roster... You could sub out someone like Kyle Moore for White if you wanted. The point is, I don't think any of those guys is as big of a contributor as Potter is.

-Bill

[BillsOwnAll]

Let me ask this: Who are you dressing instead of Potter that would have as big of an effect as he does? Again, of the guys on the "dress/not dress" bubble, I don't think there is a guy that does more fir the Bills than Potter does.
Agreed.


Also white is there for ST purposes. IMO a punt gunner is more of a talent then a kick off cover guy, thats more scheme and having several sure tacklers.

[jamze132]

Im not a big stat guy, but its intriguing to see the percentage of TDs/Fgs are scored when the opposition has to start on there own 20 after a kickoff other then anywhere else. We can see just how valuable potter is to us.

IMO I think itll help our defense immensely. The momentum of returning a kick to the 35-40 is just as big as only having to go 60 yards. I think itll be frustrating for offenses to be sitting on the sideline knowing there going to have to go 80 yards just about every time. This stat could be skewed tho if he contiues to kick over 90% of his kicks out.
Couldn't agree more. When the offense has to go 60 yards for a FG and 80 for a TD, it will wear on you a little.

[jamze132]

Potter is going to be more valuable to this team than people think right now. Injuries are going to subside, our defense will go out knowing that the offense has to play mistake free football for 80 yrds for a TD.

[better days]

You can only dress 46 come game time. I'd be surprised if Potter takes a game-day spot.

I guess they put him on the roster because they though he would not survive the cuts and get plucked. If so, they should have had him attempt some kicks in the PS to see if he can supplant Lindell. With the new rules the past season, there are a lot of KOs not returnable. It's an unflattering indictment of the BUF D, that they can't deal with a KO that passes the 20, IMO.

Any defense will have a much easier time defending an 80 yd field than a 60 yd or less field. That is the reason Potter was drafted & will dress for every game.

[THRILLHO]

(Disclaimer: This is just a general commentary, not trying to bring down this thread. And it is not sarcastic, even if it sounds that way.)

I love how what is viewed as the second or third least important position is getting talked about so much by us. It really is quite interesting. What is more interesting is what effect having two kickers will have on the rest of our roster. Would Potter have made it to the practice squad? Will we regret not having a true #5 WR?

Potter may or may not realize it, but him being on the roster is more significant than plenty of the other 52 guys.

[Dozerdog]

For the life of me- I am simply amazed in this world of the engineered athlete- that a single guy can't master punting, Kickoffs, and field goals.

He would be worth MILLIONS freeing up roster spots.

[alnilla]

He's worth a spot no doubt about it

[MidnightVoice]

For the life of me- I am simply amazed in this world of the engineered athlete- that a single guy can't master punting, Kickoffs, and field goals.

We call them Rugby Players :D

[stuckincincy]

For the life of me- I am simply amazed in this world of the engineered athlete- that a single guy can't master punting, Kickoffs, and field goals.

He would be worth MILLIONS freeing up roster spots.

Heh - I wonder what the NFL would do if a player came along who could reliably bang 60 yard FGs? I'd like to staff that club...12 OLs, a Tebow, a pass-catching fullback like Larry Centers, etc.