Predicting the Bills’ 53: Defense & Special Teams

A few days ago, I gave my thoughts and predictions on what the Buffalo Bills’ offense will come to look at come the first game against the Jets on September 13. Today you get to hear my thoughts (who doesn’t want to hear them??) on what the rest of the squad should shape up to be.

</p> <div>I predicted we keep 26 offensive players, so that leaves 27 spots to fill with defense and special teams. The same amount McDermott has kept every year since taking over in 2017.</div> <div>In the offensive edition of "Predicting the Bills’s 53", I detailed the current roster situation and when we have to submit our final 53 man roster, but here’s a quick recap:</div> <div>The roster currently sits at 81 players, the league max is 80 but Christian Wade does not count against that number.The team must make their decision for the final 53 man roster on September 5 by 4 P.M. while usually this decision would be made by August 31…but ya know, Covid.The only two Bills’ players to opt out of the season were both on defense. Starting Defensive Tackle Star Lotulelei and rotational Cornerback E.J. Gaines. I fully support both players’ decision, it must have been difficult, but it does leave our defense without two of it’s key components.</div> <div>Since taking over as the Buffalo Bills Head Coach, Sean McDermott has taken the defense to new heights. Installing his base 4-3 defense and effective usage of nickel defenses. They’ve ranked in the top 5 each of the last two seasons and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier’s coaching experience has had a very obvious impact on both McDermott and the defensive unit. Frazier has earned the respect of the organization so much that back in March he was promoted to assistant head coach, which I hope helps with our game management. Frazier is definitely a guy who should get another crack at being a head coach again if the Bills’ defense has the season we expect them to have.</div> <p><img decoding="async" src="http://ife.ezz.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/e1f224_f6e2870ba03b48fb903bd326124d00a1mv2.jpg"/></p> <div>Some quick highlights from camp so far from the special teams and defensive side of the ball:</div> <div>Tyler Bass (selected in the sixth round, 188th overall, by the Bills after a strong Senior Bowl showing) is being given every opportunity to win the starting kicking job and making the most of it. That doesn’t mean Stephen Hauschka hasn’t been good, both kickers have had their struggles, but it seems the team wants Bass to show what he can do as much as possible in practice, without the test of a preseason. ***UPDATE HAUSCHKA HAS BEEN RELEASED AS I FINISH WRITING THIS ARTICLE***There’s a bit of a battle for the backup LB positions. Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano and A.J. Klein all seems to be locked in, but no one has taken that leap or shown out enough to lock in for sure behind our starters. This leaves guys like second year LB Vosean Joseph, ex-Steeler and savvy veteran Tyler Matakevich, Corey Thompson and Tyrel Dodson all vying to make this roster.There is A LOT of solid players fighting for starting roles and spots on this defensive line. A mix of veterans like Trent Murphy and Mario Addison, young studs like Ed Oliver and AJ Epenesa and new additions like Quinton Jefferson and Vernon Butler. They’ve kept 9 defensive lineman the last 2 seasons and I expect that again as McDermott loves rotating his line throughout games. The only for sure starters for me right now would be Hughes and Oliver.</div> <p><img decoding="async" src="http://ife.ezz.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/e1f224_3aaaa1a44f5d4e70a55326d663c6aa3cmv2.jpg"/></p> <div>Here we go!</div> <div>SPECIAL TEAMS:</div> <div>Kicker: Tyler Bass (1)</div> <div>– ***I WROTE THIS AS HAUSCHKA RELEASE WAS ANNOUNCED. The job is now solely Tyler Bass’..but here were my thoughts anyways because why not. All the respect to Hauschdaddy, I suspect they released him now so he has a chance to find a new team before the season ***</div> <div>I appreciate Stephen Hauschka and what he’s done here, I do. He’s been super consistent within 45 and hit some big kicks for us, but it’s time to move on. The Bills would lose either of these guy if they tried to move them to the PS, kicking has been weak across the league. So, I think they go with the power and potential of Bass here. They drafted him for a reason and have been giving him plenty of action in camp. He launches some absolute missiles off his foot at times. I’d be upset with a decision to keep 2 kickers and you can’t blink an eye at the fact we’d save about $2 million in cap if Hauschka is cut as well.</div> <p><iframe src="//static.usrfiles.com/html/1ff485_7f7027ae04ce1551d624aeb75b96ae7e.html"/></p> <div>Punter: Corey Bojorquez (1)</div> <div>– Bojorquez was very consistent last season with the Bills and is still growing as a punter. The man can boot the ball and already beat out Vedvik, I don’t see him losing the job, especially now that Lachlan Edwards has been released leaving the job to Bojorquez.</div> <div>Long Snapper: Reid Ferguson (1)</div> <div>– I pray that there will be a day a long snapper doesn’t count against a 53 man roster spot. But for now, we have Reid Ferguson…reliable and a great locker room guy. Plus, have you seen his ‘Bottle Cap Challenge’??? Can’t ask for much better at the position.</div> <p><iframe src="//static.usrfiles.com/html/1ff485_af6147a55a3ff799d45245617ac1c81f.html"/></p> <div>DEFENSE:</div> <div>Defensive Line: Ed Oliver, Jerry Hughes, Harrison Phillips, Trent Murphy, A.J. Epenesa, Mario Addison, Quinton Jefferson, Vernon Butler & Vincent Taylor. (9)</div> <div>– McDermott will probably keep 9 defensive linemen, as he loves having different pieces and versatile guys to move along the entire line, depending on the situation.</div> <div>– Trent Murphy has been a name that’s been coming up among those discussing cuts that could save us some cap room. Cutting the veteran DE would save the team almost $8 million in cap space. His production on the stat sheet doesn’t jump out at you, just 9.0 sacks in 26 starts with the Bills after amassing 9.0 in 2016 with Washington that led to his deal in Buffalo. But Sean McDermott LOVES Murphy, who was good enough to start over Shaq Lawson last season and how he buys into the “Process” the Bills have been trying to instill in their organization. He closed last season strongly finishing with 2 sacks in Week 17 and 2 in the playoffs against the Texans, seemingly putting things together in our system. An experienced veteran who’s bought into the culture and can be a productive piece is worth keeping in this scheme and will battle Epenesa for the starting spot opposite of Hughes.</div> <p><img decoding="async" src="http://ife.ezz.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/e1f224_6bc7fcb5f4ca43b2a8d753ffc759d5f1mv2.jpg"/></p> <div>– With starting DT Star Lotulelei opting out of the season (no hate against his decision) and Jordan Phillips’ departure, it leaves open a big gap in the defensive tackle rotation that’s prime for the taking. We signed super solid players like Quinton Jefferson from Seattle and Vernon Butler from our farm team Carolina and get Harrison Phillips back after a lost year to injury last season. I expect big things from Vernon Butler, a former first round pick who had 6.0 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 7 tackles for loss playing just about 40% of the snaps in Carolina last season. Butler never really fit in a starting role in Carolina’s 3-4 defensive schemes now has a chance to cause some real trouble as a 3 tech defensive tackle next to Oliver.</div> <p><img decoding="async" src="http://ife.ezz.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/e1f224_f8bd90f0085f4dd89a9eb9937743b9cfmv2.png"/></p> <div>Linebackers: Tremaine Edmunds, Matt Milano, A.J. Klein, Vosean Joseph & Tyler Matakevich. (5)</div> <div>– Edmunds, Milano and Klein are all locks to make this team and start. Matt Milano is criminally underrated as one of the best weak side linebackers in the NFL and poised to preform entering a contract year. A.J. Klein was inked to a 3 year, $18 million deal (over half guaranteed!) from the Saints where he was a reliable starter. He comes here to fill in that strong side LB role and brings some versatility to the unit.</div> <div>– The departure of captain and long-time vet Lorenzo Alexander leaves the leadership role on the defense in the hands of Tremaine Edmunds. Edmunds may only be 22 years old, but he’s entering the third year of his career and second as a captain. One of the NFL’s emerging defensive stalwarts, this is Edmunds defense now to lead. I’m excited to see him continue to grow in our system.</div> <p><iframe src="//static.usrfiles.com/html/1ff485_1c32584a221a5994de3581ac737829da.html"/></p> <div>-Vosean Joseph is interesting here, but I think he makes this team based off of physical ability and promise alone. He hasn’t particularly stood out at camp thus far but was a fifth round pick last year who spent the season on IR and now doesn’t have a preseason to display in-game ability. He carries an upbeat attitude but plays NASTY, leaving a successful college career at Florida to declare as a junior.</div> <p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iJCY5ORqdH0"/></p> <div>Cornerbacks: Tre’Davious White, Josh Norman, Levi Wallace, Taron Johnson, Siran Neal & Dane Jackson. (6)</div> <div>-The decision by E.J. Gaines to opt out of the season leaves a depth opening in the CB unit. This is where I think Dane Jackson makes the team. Jackson was a seventh round pick out of Pitt this year who started every game the last 3 years, earning himself second-team All-ACC honors and an invite to the Senior Bowl. A lot of “draft guys” deemed Jackson a steal and project him to be a fit at nickel back in our defense.</div> <p><img decoding="async" src="http://ife.ezz.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/e1f224_575af399c9d64b3b8ec61c0fac98d7d3mv2.jpg"/></p> <div>– Siran Neal is interesting. I would have projected just 5 CBs make the team, but can you even consider Neal a CB? He’s a Swiss army knife for our team showing the ability to play CB, safety and LB while contributing on special teams. In fact, he earned All-OVC honors in ’16 as a linebacker and ’17 as a safety. He contributed in a variety of situations last year and I expect McDermott to keep integrating him in more specific roles and best utilize his unique talents.</div> <div>– Here’s to hoping Josh Norman can return to his former glory, coming off a rocky 2019 season. Now reunited with Sean McDermott, I’m sure he hopes to return to his All-Pro level play he had under McD back in Carolina. I’m not sure he starts opposite Tre White over Levi Wallace, but he’s a great rotational guy with a ton of experience in one of the Bills’ youngest positions. If he keeps a level-head, stays healthy and buys into our culture he should find some success.</div> <p><img decoding="async" src="http://ife.ezz.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/e1f224_ed700c3eefda495998454b864a719d12mv2.jpg"/></p> <div>Safeties: Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Dean Marlowe & Jaquan Johnson. (4)</div> <div>-Probably the least amount of “predicting” here. Poyer & Hyde are our star combo at safety and have been awesome since being paired up. Jaquan Johnson was a STEAL for the Bills’ in the sixth round of the 2019 draft after an incredibly successful college career where he earned second-team All-American and second-team All-ACC twice. Not getting much run as a rookie, he still impressed the coaching staff and will see more opportunities to showcase his skills this season. Marlowe is another Carolina transplant whose bounced between the roster and practice squad since joining the Bills in 2017 but has been around the system and is a solid depth guy.</div> <div>– Jordan Poyer has been a bit of a mixed bag for the Bills. He seems to garner more headlines (not for the best reasons at times) around him then he would if he wasn’t married to Instagram model Rachel Bush. Despite that, he’s been a solid locker room guy and provided us with solid production and ball-hawking skills at SS. Entering a contract year, I’d like to see more improvement tackling and taking down players this year, but he’s someone who will command a decent payday after this season in a time the Bills’ need to prepare to resign Tre White, Matt Milano and Josh Allen. I’m sure plenty of Bills’ fans will still follow Bush though…</div> <p><img decoding="async" src="http://ife.ezz.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/e1f224_073ad0e85ed642bbb4907b7c5dd0e42bmv2.jpg"/></p> <div>Let me know what you think. I believe the defensive roster is a lot easier to project this season than the offensive roster and don’t see much variation coming from this list…but again, what do I know? I’m no Brandon Beane and I have the confidence in the guys in charge to put together the biggest and baddest defensive unit in the league.</div> <div>This is what I could see the depth chart shaping out to be, I can see all of these guys seeing playing times on Sundays, especially with our heavy rotations.</div> <p><img decoding="async" src="http://ife.ezz.mybluehost.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/e1f224_de6b6b034d9644ed86e5f9afba4b0abemv2.png"/></p> <div>The defense has a full plate in front of them, carrying a great expectation to be one of the top unit in the league again following 2 wildly successful seasons. New signings and key departures will shake things up, but for the better, as the depth and level of talent we’ve accumulated is apparent and the best this team have seen in 20 or so years.</div> <div>Let’s Go Bills Baby.</div> <div>Follow me on Twitter for more Bills’ news and stories! (@merekatkat)</div> </div> <p>

BUFFALO SPORTS NEVER STOP. THIS TRAIN NEVER STOPS.

Predicting the Bills’ 53: Defense & Special Teams