After a week and a few days of training camp, the Bills released their first crack at a depth chart. As with anything this early in camp, you can take it with a grain of salt – but this is great insight into where the Bills coaching staff sees the roster as of today.
My thoughts (Offense):
- Right off the bat, take a bow Marquise Goodwin. To miss most of the off-season in a bid to become an olympian and earn your way to third receiver is quite the feat. In what could be a make-or-break camp for his career as a Bill, the former University of Texas speedster has come to play. Greg Salas has pushed to be the next man up after him, which given the reports makes a lot of sense. If you’re in the “other” list – and you’re not currently out injured – I’d be a little worried.
- We have chalk at the QB position, which was to be expected given Taylor’s stranglehold on the starting job. EJ won’t be challenged by Cardale this year, unless the Ohio State rookie picks up his accuracy toute de suite. Personally, I’m not too bothered by that – as Jones is supposed to be a developmental quarterback. Let. Him. Develop.
- At running back we get a little funky. Reggie Bush is for all intents and purposes LeSean’s backup during the Karlos Williams suspension/weight loss situation. Despite Karlos not currently being able to see the field, the offensive staff (and Rex) still seem to have faith in him to do the job once he’s available – and in shape – to do so.
- At tight end, Jim Dray has been in the “safe blocking TE” role from day one and there he will stay. Chris Gragg has hopped ahead of the Annen/O’Leary/Mundine crowd and it’ll be interesting to see if the Bills continue to churn that 6th TE based on players who fall into FA.
- Offensive line is chalk as well with no real surprises. The big question for that group I have is – will we see the starting five play together at all this pre-season?
My thoughts (Defense):
- With the injury to Reggie Ragland, everyone slides up a spot as listed on the chart – so Zach Brown is the starter, Lattimore his backup and Hawthorne the third teamer. The previous experience in the Ryan system works for both players – Lattimore for Rex, Hawthorne for Rob – so it will be interesting to see how the competition grows there once David Hawthorne has acclimated to the team.
- Brandon Spikes, third team linebacker seems like an impossibility if you remember his play from 2 years ago, but in this system, Brandon is a Mike that has two (one?) entrenched players ahead of him. I’m going to presume that barring additional injuries, Hawthorne and Spikes may be fighting for one spot.
- On the defensive line, Adolphus Washington is the listed starter at DE, but has been losing reps to Corbin Bryant, which is something to keep a note of as the pre-season continues. Will the rookie hold on to the spot or will Bryant, with two years in the system step up and take it?
- Duke Williams ahead of Anderson and Meeks at the safety spot is notable, if only for the ignominy the former Nevada player suffered in game last season.
- Kevon Seymour made great use of Stephon Gilmore’s time away from the team pre-training camp, grabbing a backup spot behind the former Gamecock. Seymour has also stepped up as a kick return candidate as well behind his fellow Trojan Reggie Bush.
My thoughts (Special Teams):
- With the departed Marshall Morgan no longer pushing Dan Carpenter, Jordan Gay has entered the kicking competition. It would take near perfect however to unseat the man who looks like Kid Rock, though.
- Reggie Bush is the presumptive Kick and Punt Returner, which is fine I guess. But if he’s going to have a special role (“Bush position” ala Saints) I would try and limit the opportunities for him to get hurt.
- The long snapper battle will be the least paid attention to – but Sanborn flubbing some snaps last year was a demerit on an otherwise spotless career thus far with the Bills. With the import the special teams has on the defensive minded Ryan, there might be a change to come.
What are your thoughts on the chart to date? Predictable? Surprising? Let us know!
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