Mike Rodak's projected 53 man roster

[Pinkerton Security]

Still early but I think hes pretty close...there arent many differences between what I thought and what he has layed out. I have a feeling Rex keeps John Conner just because he is loyal to guys and Conner fits his physical mentality. Would def be glad to see Chris Williams gone, if hes still here come September I'll be shocked.

http://espn.go.com/blog/buffalo-bills/post/_/id/19170/projecting-the-buffalo-bills-53-man-roster

[better days]

I hate the fact the Bills reporter is a Patriots* honk.

But I agree with him about the roster.

[jimmifli]

He has a very punchable face.

[sudzy]

8 DL and 5 LBs?
So Rodak is thinking they will be a 4-3?

[YardRat]

Kind of a lazy attempt, IMO, and it doesn't help he isn't plugging in players to positions they are going to see the most action at. I really don't see them going with 4 TE's, and only 8 olinemen. One or two 'unknowns' will make the team (Chandler? Hamilton? ) Would be stunned if Brooks keeps his spot, and think Ladler will have the edge over Meeks.

[YardRat]

8 DL and 5 LBs?
So Rodak is thinking they will be a 4-3?

Williams, Hughes and Buchanan will be playing OLB, kinda makes me wonder how much Rodak actually knows about the game.

[Jry44]

Williams, Hughes and Buchanan will be playing OLB, kinda makes me wonder how much Rodak actually knows about the game.

If you've ever read anything he's ever written previously, your conclusion would be a resounding NOTHING.

I can't read the guys stuff. He's in competently clueless.

[swiper]

Thigpen makes the team. He was a great return man for us last year. I think his QB roster will be different than he writes.

One of Urbik, Richardson and Kuoandijo will get cut.

One of the DTs (Bryant, Charles, Carrington) will be gone after Dareus is back.

I don't think the Bills keep 4 TEs. I don't care about Roman's offense. That position isn't important enough to take up 4 active roster spots. So if O'Leary makes the active roster, then Gragg is gone.

5 safeties and 11 DBs total? I think the fact Corey Graham can play either position gives them some flexibility to keep only 10 guys - allowing them to keep a player at a tighter position.

[HHURRICANE]

I saw three guys making the team. This is lazy at best.

[better days]

Thigpen makes the team. He was a great return man for us last year. I think his QB roster will be different than he writes.

One of Urbik, Richardson and Kuoandijo will get cut.

One of the DTs (Bryant, Charles, Carrington) will be gone after Dareus is back.

I don't think the Bills keep 4 TEs. I don't care about Roman's offense. That position isn't important enough to take up 4 active roster spots. So if O'Leary makes the active roster, then Gragg is gone.

5 safeties and 11 DBs total? I think the fact Corey Graham can play either position gives them some flexibility to keep only 10 guys - allowing them to keep a player at a tighter position.

I disagree about the DT's. I think they all stay. But if one does go, I would expect that to be Bryant.

I agree about the 4 TE's. I think Gragg & Gray will fight for the last TE spot in TC. I expect O'Leary to make the team.

I also agree about all the DB's. I think Ladler or Meeks gets cut. Or maybe they both get cut.

[YardRat]

Thigpen makes the team. He was a great return man for us last year. I think his QB roster will be different than he writes.

One of Urbik, Richardson and Kuoandijo will get cut.

One of the DTs (Bryant, Charles, Carrington) will be gone after Dareus is back.

I don't think the Bills keep 4 TEs. I don't care about Roman's offense. That position isn't important enough to take up 4 active roster spots. So if O'Leary makes the active roster, then Gragg is gone.

5 safeties and 11 DBs total? I think the fact Corey Graham can play either position gives them some flexibility to keep only 10 guys - allowing them to keep a player at a tighter position.

Given different circumstances I think Thigpen would make the final roster also, but the acquisition of Harvin makes him expendable.

[DraftBoy]

Williams, Hughes and Buchanan will be playing OLB, kinda makes me wonder how much Rodak actually knows about the game.

I think he's going by how the Bills roster currently has them listed. It's odd regardless but that's the only logical conclusion I can make.

[DraftBoy]

Some notes that intrigued me, he has the Bills 5th and 7th Round picks both getting cut. Not a huge surprise for a 7th Rounder but if you lose your 5th Rounder because he can't play then you just drafted poorly. For those that don't recall I blasted the Steward pick after the draft as a wasted one.

I think almost any of the cut WR's could take spots from Goodwin and/or Hogan. I also think they take away a TE spot (Gragg, imo) and add Thigpen on in a specialist only role.

Having 5 ILB's seems like overkill to me, wouldn't be surprised if the Bills tried to pick a spot here to keep Gay on the roster. They have some versatility in their defensive scheme so they don't need all the ILB's with the way Ryan moves guys around.

[YardRat]

Here's my preliminary shot at one...

QB---EJ, Cassel, Taylor (3)
RB---McCoy, Jackson, Dixon, Williams (4)
FB---Felton (1)

I really don't see the team keeping two FB's, but wouldn't be too shocked (just disappointed) if Conner made the team over Boobie. Ryan didn't bring him in to be a warm body, and Roman already let Dixon walk once. Dumb if they do, but possible.

TE---Clay, O'Leary, Gray (3)
WR---Watkins, Woods, Harvin, Hogan, Easley, Brown. (6)

I don't see them keeping 4 TE's, and Gragg has proven nothing. They'll probably keep an extra olineman for jumbo packages, but would still like to see them replace Clay Lite (Gray) with a blocking TE. I think Goodwin is gone, barring an injury to one of the top three. I really like Thigpen also, but as I said earlier Harvin makes him expendable (unfortunately) I would bring him back before Goodwin.

C---Wood, Urbik (2)
G---Incognito, Miller, Richardson (3)
T---Glenn, Henderson, Kouandijo, Chandler (4)

I honestly think Cyril or Cyrus are going to go on IR for the season and get one more shot next year to prove something, and Williams should be injury-settled. I wouldn't be surprised to see a late acquisition, vet FA to fill out the squad.

DT---KW, Hamilton. (2)
DE---Dareus, Carrington, Charles, Bryant, Wynn. (5)

Bryant and Charles can also play DT, Wynn may go when Dareus' suspension is over.

OLB---Mario, Hughes, Lawson, Buchanon, Johnson. (5)
ILB---Brown, Bradham, Powell. (3)

Rex likes specialist OLB's, Buchanon could be his current version of Maybin. Don't need too many ILB's, Ryan likes to plug in safeties more than Pettine or Schwartz.

CB---Gilmore, McKelvin, Graham, Darby, Robey, Cockrell. (6)

I just don't see Brooks making this team (he shouldn't) and Cockrell is still young. At some point a corner is going to go down and open up a spot for somebody like Butler.

S---AWilliams, DWilliams, Rambo, Ladler. (4)

Graham is also playing safety, Rambo is more of a traditional 'last guy standing' FS, and IMO Ladler is going to show up this training camp enough to beat out Meeks and the others.

LS---Sanborn
P---Schmitt
PK---Carpenter (3 st total)

I believe that's 54, and Wynn going when Marcel comes back will be 53. If they really do want to keep two kickers, I agree with DB it'll probably be at the expense of a LBer (Johnson or Powell).

[Jry44]

Some notes that intrigued me, he has the Bills 5th and 7th Round picks both getting cut. Not a huge surprise for a 7th Rounder but if you lose your 5th Rounder because he can't play then you just drafted poorly. For those that don't recall I blasted the Steward pick after the draft as a wasted one.

I think almost any of the cut WR's could take spots from Goodwin and/or Hogan. I also think they take away a TE spot (Gragg, imo) and add Thigpen on in a specialist only role.

Having 5 ILB's seems like overkill to me, wouldn't be surprised if the Bills tried to pick a spot here to keep Gay on the roster. They have some versatility in their defensive scheme so they don't need all the ILB's with the way Ryan moves guys around.

I see this completely differently.

If a 5th rounder is getting cut it's because you have a deep, talented roster. Sure there are occasions where you find a diamond in the rough that late, but if a 5th round pick is a lock to make your team at this point, you've got some serious problems.

[DraftBoy]

I see this completely differently.

If a 5th rounder is getting cut it's because you have a deep, talented roster. Sure there are occasions where you find a diamond in the rough that late, but if a 5th round pick is a lock to make your team at this point, you've got some serious problems.

You look at this roster of LB's and see a deep and talented roster?

[Ed]

He only has the Bills keeping 8 OL, but Rex always kept 9 when he was with the Jets and I think it's pretty common for most teams to keep 9. So I would add OT Tyson Chandler and get rid of one of the 11 DB's he has making the team. Most likely Jonathan Meeks. He probably should have gone undrafted and has been pretty useless.

[Yasgur's Farm]

EJ haters must not see this thread as a threat.

[better days]

I see this completely differently.

If a 5th rounder is getting cut it's because you have a deep, talented roster. Sure there are occasions where you find a diamond in the rough that late, but if a 5th round pick is a lock to make your team at this point, you've got some serious problems.

IMO, if a 5th rnd pick can make the practice squad & develop, he was a good pick.

[trapezeus]

hard to read rodak.

[better days]

You look at this roster of LB's and see a deep and talented roster?

I do. Brown, Bradham, Lawson & Hughes.

And I expect Lawson to have a great year playing in Rex's defense.

And the Bills 5th rnd pick is a RB, I don't know what he has to do with the LB's on the team.