Rather than focus on the minutiae of the debacle that was the loss in Miami, I figured it would be a better use of energy to talk about some of the big issues roster wise that are rearing their head in Buffalo. Because of the focus on a “quick fix”/”win now” mentality, the last few years – under Marrone and Ryan – have been an exercise in loading the roster while not worrying as much about what came “after”.
We are now in the “after”.
Not in terms of winning now mind you, but in terms of the injuries mounting to the point where your 5th receiver (Goodwin) in 2015 is your number 1a in week 7, along with a street free agent (Hunter) and pressed-into-service special teamers. Or your backup safeties aren’t aware enough to catch a pick that hits them in the hands (Meeks) or cannot locate a moon shot and then blows up the corner trying to cover deep on 3rd down ala the final Dolphins touchdown. We’re going to focus on two areas:
-Short term needs, which are integral to allowing offense/defense to function; and
-Medium term needs, which are going to be hitting the fan when the off-season begins.
At the end of the season, we’ll revisit this and see what’s changed, if anything.
Let’s start with the short term:
Short Term Need 1 – Wide Receiver: With Sammy Watkins and Greg Salas on IR, Kolby Listenbee on the NFI list, Marcus Easley on the PUP and an injury to Robert Woods, the Bills receiving corps is quite thin. Now, add in Marquise Goodwin being in the concussion protocol and you have a screaming need at this position.
Options
With the trade deadline coming up, in addition to the practice squad or street free agents the Bills have players on the block to ponder as well:
With Nov. 1 trade deadline one week from Tuesday, 49ers now open to trading WR Torrey Smith, per sources. Multiple teams have shown interest
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2016
Torrey Smith would be an interesting option, because he would fill a #2 role at receiver in the short, medium and long term. With Robert Woods recovering from his foot, by the time he is good to go you’d have a solid trio of Woods, Smith and Hunter – with that changing to Watkins, Smith and Listenbee in the Fall of 2017.
Short Term Need 2 – Safety: Aaron Williams’ injury during the Dolphins game was a dirty one as Rex alluded to in his Monday presser. However, what’s done is done. At the moment he Bills are going to be, barring some medical miracle (or malfeasance) without their free safety. Both Meeks and Blanton were far from successful in replacing #23, Meeks dropping a gift-wrapped pick and Blanton being a) out of position and b) careening into an out of position Darby on the Kenny Stills touchdown. Neither inspire confidence replacing the former Longhorn in the short or medium term, let alone long-term should the head/neck injuries finally catch up to Williams.
Options
There are a few street free agents that can come in off of name value – Dashon Goldson, recently of Atlanta for instance. But the one that intrigues me hasn’t played FS regularly (if at all) in his career.
Antonio Cromartie.
He knows Rex’s system. His deficiencies at corner would be mitigated in a free safety role in terms of coverage. Tackling would be the issue – Antonio has not been known as a “thumper” even on his best day. But in terms of getting them through the year with someone that would need minimal coaching up on the intricacies of the Ryan defense, I’d throw a flyer at Mr. Cromartie.
And now, let’s look at the medium term:
Medium Term Need 1 – Wide Receiver: Hey, didn’t we just talk about this? Well, in addition to the injury issues, after this year the only receivers of note on the roster will be Sammy Watkins, Kolby Listenbee, Marcus Easley and … ?
Not a good situation.
If the Bills want to have a decent receiving corps regardless of who is under center (more on that in a minute) they’re going to need to upgrade at wide receiver. Just having Watkins, who has now yet to complete a 16-game NFL season healthy as the “bell-cow” at receiver is a fool’s errand. Re-signing Tate for special teams and/or adding Hunter back is good for depth purposes, but Robert Woods will need to be replaced at #2. If they traded for a Torrey Smith, or someone similar that can be a medium to long term option that wouldn’t break the bank.
Medium Term Need 2 – Safety: Step away from the injuries to Aaron Williams and you still have a position that was filled with depth consisting of special teamers and backups that have yet to assert themselves. In 2017, the only safeties on the roster would be Corey Graham and Aaron Williams – health permitting. Now is the time to acquire a playmaker on the back end that can erase the mistakes made by the rest of the defense when necessary. I’m not naive enough to think there’s an Ed Reed clone out there – but if EDMC wants to start a program, I got five bucks…
In the realm of reality, drafting or signing a free safety that can at worst step in should Graham or Williams get dinged or in best case be one of their long term replacement has to be up there with wide receiver as a need that cannot go unfilled – or worse, given the Buffalo PR treatment of, “what if I told you we signed in FA…” spiel referring to free agents in-house that were retained.
Medium Term Need 3 – Right Tackle: Jordan Mills is not a starter you need to depend on. Seantrel and Cyrus are good options if 100%, but Jordan Mills is the same guy he was on the Bears and the Miami game illustrated that succinctly. A guy who can get beat like a drum and look to fight the guys he kept losing two on pass rush battles at the end/after the game isn’t going to help the Bills, their quarterbacks or their runners.
The Bills would really be well served to take the page they took in last year’s draft (defensive focus) and flip it to offense. Between RT, WR and QB, there are needs on that side of the ball that are mission-critical to getting a semblance of a playoff push in years to come off the ground.
Medium Term Need 4 – Cornerback: Should the Bills no elect to re-sign Stephon Gilmore this off-season, that will set this domino off. As it stands now the corner depth is fine; but if you’re going to allow your top guy to walk, this also means they’re going to be all in on Darby replacing him. That will either elevate the remaining corners or create a need at some point in the chart (2nd – 4th) for the position. Given Ryan, Thurman and Ryan’s importance placed on corner, this is a spot one cannot trifle with.
Medium Term Need 5 – Quarterback: I’m going to go into more options in terms of starter for the crowd that wants Tyrod gone later this week as a logic exercise, but in this case I’m referring to the number 2 spot. EJ Manuel will be a free agent at the end of the year and both sides would be best served with a divorce. So who replaces him? A “solid” vet? Cardale Jones? A rookie?
If the Bills aren’t going to go #AllIn on a high draft pick or marquee FA / trade at QB, finding someone that can be an effective stand in should Tyrod get hurt will have to be on their list.
Those are my thoughts on the roster as it’s constructed. What’s yours? Feel free to comment here, on twitter (@rdotdeuce or @buffalowins) or on Facebook.
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