DT TJ Barnes to OT

[Mace]

Why draft them when you can make them out of defensive linemen I guess. It's easy as punch.

Speaking of the offensive line, the group had a new member Tuesday. Former defensive tackle T.J. Barnes is now in an offensive lineman jersey and practicing with that position group. Ryan explained the move.


"Well, when I saw him," Ryan said when asked when he got the idea. "You've seen some conversions like that. Obviously in Buffalo you guys had it with the kid that's playing in Philly now, (Jason) Peters played tight end then you guys went to d-line and you just knew he was such a great athlete. This guy is such a big man, he's smart, a graduate of Georgia Tech so I was like, you know, let's give him a shot there. We can always move him back but let's give him a shot at o-line and see how he does. Obviously right now he looks a little lost to say the least but I'm confident. I think he's got the mental makeup for it, I think he's smart, I think he's got a great teacher, he's got two great coaches over there that are working with him on a daily basis, he's got a great room offensive line guys with Cordy Glenn, learning from a Cordy Glenn or a Richie Incognito and Eric Wood. These guys are going to try to take him under their wing as well and so we'll see how he develops."

http://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffal...om_week_1.html

[YardRat]

Ehhh, what the hell...why not.

[cookie G]

That's sooo 60's

[Mace]

That's sooo 60's

Thought of you when I read the article. "Cookie is going to be displeased."

[Scumbag College]

Right Tackle issue solved. We can address the OL next in the fifth round of the 2024 draft.

[cookie G]

Thought of you when I read the article. "Cookie is going to be displeased."

Well of course.

I was hoping he'd be the new DT after Dareus is named Scapegoat '16 and is let go.

[Mace]

Well of course.

I was hoping he'd be the new DT after Dareus is named Scapegoat '16 and is let go.

Yeah, I thought he'd surely have a chance at a spot on the DL, myself. Was totally inappropriate imho to compare him to Jason Peters who had Mouse McNally to work with him after being a wedge buster on ST, and having been a TE at least had some OL fundamentals to start with.

I don't know about Kromer yet, but I don't think he's a McNally.

[BillsImpossible]

Rex has no plans of dropping him in to coverage.

[HHURRICANE]

What's wrong with trying this? Everyone is no negative here lately.

[Mace]

What's wrong with trying this? Everyone is no negative here lately.

It's dumb and will take years to work even if it has a snowballs chance in hell.

If you want an offensive tackle, you're off to a better start by getting an offensive tackle, even a not good one, who is not a defensive tackle, and sort of has a better head start on being useful at the position.

You can think this is negative sure, I think it's just common sense based on practical fact.

[stuckincincy]

Ehhh, what the hell...why not.

That's right...any port in a storm.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

What's wrong with trying this? Everyone is no negative here lately.

It seems like a lot of the more optimistic posters have left the board. The way people talk about this team, you'd think they won 8 games in the last three years.

It's dumb and will take years to work even if it has a snowballs chance in hell.

If you want an offensive tackle, you're off to a better start by getting an offensive tackle, even a not good one, who is not a defensive tackle, and sort of has a better head start on being useful at the position.

You can think this is negative sure, I think it's just common sense based on practical fact.

True, but the guy was roster fodder anyway. It doesn't matter if we cut him tomorrow or cut him in a few months with the OT experiment fails.

[stuckincincy]

I'd expect the club's PR spinners will offer up a stream of jive about this and that. They need to release smoke to bury Whaley's figurative "fart in church" comments of a few days ago.

[EDS]

What's wrong with trying this? Everyone is no negative here lately.

I think Barnes has a very small chance to make the roster in any event, but you do have to wonder why Rex did not start this conversion two years ago when he had Barnes as a rookie.

[Bill Cody]

Ah now I see why we didn't need to draft OL

[Joe Fo Sho]

What's wrong with trying this? Everyone is no negative here lately.

People see any Bills report, even one as meaningless as this one, and assume that the Bills and other fans are thinking that this is going to solve all of their problems. In actuality, this is probably just an attempt to get something out of a guy that probably won't make the team. There's nothing wrong with trying this, it's not like we're going to start Dareus at center week 1. People probably would have made the same comments if an article came out a while back that we were moving TE Jason Peters to offensive tackle.

[justasportsfan]

Everyone is no negative here lately.

Our defense went from no. 4 to 19. OUr head coach needs players to run a scheme and now his no. 1 pick may not even be available to play.

The jets and fins are getting better.

You must love losing.

[cookie G]

It seems like a lot of the more optimistic posters have left the board. The way people talk about this team, you'd think they won 8 games in the last three years.

And there are those who act like we're making fun of the Seahawks or Steelers.

When your 0-16 in playoff appearances and keep doing the same thing over and over, you've earned the ridicule.

True, but the guy was roster fodder anyway. It doesn't matter if we cut him tomorrow or cut him in a few months with the OT experiment fails.

Pretty much.

Eh, we were just having a little fun last night.

[swiper]

It seems like a lot of the more optimistic posters have left the board. The way people talk about this team, you'd think they won 8 games in the last three years.



True, but the guy was roster fodder anyway. It doesn't matter if we cut him tomorrow or cut him in a few months with the OT experiment fails.

Who in their right mind would be optimistic about this move. The guy is a pawn and will be cut, so none of it matters. It's just something for Ryan to try and distract the fans attention for a few minutes - away from complaining about how their #1 pick will be useless to them this season.

[cookie G]

People see any Bills report, even one as meaningless as this one, and assume that the Bills and other fans are thinking that this is going to solve all of their problems.

Its not that there isn't precedent for feeling this way.

Keep in mind, this is a team that dumped both of their OT's in one season, one a Pro Bowler
and didn't attempt to replace them.....for 3 years

In the meantime, they were replaced by the likes of Kirk Chambers, Demetress Bell, Eric Pears and...idk who else, I forgot. Some guy who was cut by the Raiders, I think.

This is also the team that let Andy Levitre walk and replaced him with....a bunch of UDFA's and practice squad players.
He wasn't replaced for...3 years.

These guys have a habit of expecting the next Jason Peters to come along every year.

Which brings us to..

People probably would have made the same comments if an article came out a while back that we were moving TE Jason Peters to offensive tackle.

When Mouse McNally said he had the most potential for an OL as any he's coached, people listened. Considering he coached Anthony Munoz, and wasn't generally known for blowing hot air, most just said, its worth a shot.