Who is the first DT to come in off the bench?

[B-L&hotwings]

Too difficult to predict with any degree of certainty. It'll be situational most likely, and be between Edwards, Johnson and Heard. I'm not sure both Carrington and Troupe are here at the start of the season.

I couldn't decide who to vote for, read most of the thread, still couldn't form a solid opinion. How's that for honesty?

[TigerJ]

Personally, I think the question is premature. Mosgt of the guys in the poll won't be on the roster come September. I'll wait until after cutdown day to try and take a guess, and then the answer might be different depending on whether it's Dareus or Williams who goes off.

[BillsfaninDenver]

Yup. Some of these guys will not be on the 53 man roster so this all needs to be sorted out before the question can be answered. Money will play a big part as well.

[Labatt1960]

I would go with Heard right now.

[jk32]

The biggest surprise of last year to me was Kellen Heard. Late in the season he got alot of playing time and made the most of it. I always thought of him as a slow 2 gap defender, but then I replayed the Pats game and saw a solid burst and a beast of a man to block.

Against the Pats 5 tackles, 2 sacks and a FF.

Vs. Brady and the underneath stuff to Welker I want to see a tall DL to disrupt passing lanes. Marcel 6'3" playing the 3 tech., Heard 6'6" playing the 1 tech., Mario 6'6" play the RDE and Carrington 6'6" playing the LDE.

[ergoiam1]

Depth Depth Depth.... It could have the same effect as the K-Gun....wear 'em out so fast so much... get into their heads quickly...

[BillsFanSinceBirth85]

The fact that there is no clear cut consensus on this question makes me a bit nervous. Outside of the two "power pigs" in the middle (thank you Sapp), we don't really have a clear standout to replace either of them if one goes down. Williams and Marcel are monsters, if one of them goes down, we will see a serious drop off in production at that position.

[BILLiever55]

I would say Dwan but i feel he gets cut. I mean it will really depend what the situation is. Gun to my head I'd say Carrington comes in. To me he has the most potential on that list and if he keeps getting changed from position to position he will lose that potential. Time to capitalize.

[Abe Froman]

I think its probably Dwan Edwards. However, I'm hoping Troupe, or Carrington have a breakthrough year. I'm a bit confused as to how Carrington went from a 3-4 OLB/DE hybrid to a 4-3 DT. But, what do I know. What do all you folks think?

I do not expect dwan edwards to make the roster. He doesn't fit the defense. I would say Troupe will be the first rotational tackle.

[DarylLamonica]

I voted Heard, I think he is the most underrated Buffalo Bill and now has the experience and will only get bettter for the next few years. No he was not a highh draft pick like Troup or Carringotn or vet like Spencer or Edwards but when he went in he made some plays. THe Troup-Carringotn experiment days are over, one or both are going to have to show all lot of improvement or they are gone.

[WhenTheFitzHitsTheChan]

I do not expect dwan edwards to make the roster. He doesn't fit the defense. I would say Troupe will be the first rotational tackle.

If you asked me who's the first DT who doesn't fit the new defense, I'd say Troup. Most scouting reports projected him as a 3-4 nose for a reason. He's a 2 down run stuffer who lacks lateral agility. He doesn't provide much of a pass rush in a passing league. It also doesn't help that he played in 6 games last year, so he still hasn't gotten much vital playing time compared to his competiton in camp. He's going to be one of the last in rotation and that's if he even makes the team.

[FlutieShakes]

I voted Heard, I think he is the most underrated Buffalo Bill and now has the experience and will only get bettter for the next few years. No he was not a highh draft pick like Troup or Carringotn or vet like Spencer or Edwards but when he went in he made some plays. THe Troup-Carringotn experiment days are over, one or both are going to have to show all lot of improvement or they are gone.

I agree, Heard is a no name DT that played pretty well when given playing time. Love the fact he has a mean streak as well. He has an advantage over Troup and Carrington because he actually has game tape.

[Thurman#1]

I think its probably Dwan Edwards. However, I'm hoping Troupe, or Carrington have a breakthrough year. I'm a bit confused as to how Carrington went from a 3-4 OLB/DE hybrid to a 4-3 DT. But, what do I know. What do all you folks think?

Dwan's my best guess too.

Carrington's my best guess for the one who won't make the team.

We'll see.

[Thurman#1]

Yup. Some of these guys will not be on the 53 man roster so this all needs to be sorted out before the question can be answered. Money will play a big part as well.

Before the question can be answered, yeah.

Before we can take a stab at it, no, IMHO. Why not throw out a guess?

[Thurman#1]

I do not expect dwan edwards to make the roster. He doesn't fit the defense. I would say Troupe will be the first rotational tackle.

Tim Graham, in his latest chat, said he had got the feeling from his contact with the Bills that they wanted to keep Dwan.

That doesn't mean it will happen, but hearing him say that means the odds of him staying have gone up quite a bit, IMHO.

[BillsFanSinceBirth85]

Before the question can be answered, yeah.

Before we can take a stab at it, no, IMHO. Why not throw out a guess?

Exactly, no reason to mince words. The fact is, one of the aforementioned will be the primary back-up DT. After reading through this thread, and taking into consideration some of the more thoughtful posts, heres what I've come to conclude:

1) One of the 2010 class gets cut; whether that be Troupe, Carrington, or Heard, we can't be sure but it seems to make sense;
2) One of the vets gets cut; weather that be Big Spence or Dwan Edwards, we can't be sure;
3) Carrington doesn't have a specific position in the NFL which he can hang his hat on.

The foregoing leads me to believe Carrington may be the surprise cut.

Think about it this way: We have had a hard time stopping the run the last few years; KW and MD are nasty in the middle; after them, no one stands out; Troupe, is a BIG man, and can stuff the run IF he stays healthy; Heard, is also a beast of a man and obvious DT; Spence and Edwards are great vet reserves. Therefore, Carrington is at a disadvantage, and the odd man out for the New Look 2012/13 Bills.

I really liked the prospect of Carrington, but I haven't seen much, and he has played. If Troupe gets healthy and can play through camp, I think he makes it as a clear DT.

[BillsFanSinceBirth85]

Tim Graham, in his latest chat, said he had got the feeling from his contact with the Bills that they wanted to keep Dwan.

That doesn't mean it will happen, but hearing him say that means the odds of him staying have gone up quite a bit, IMHO.

I agree, I think Dwan stays. Spence is getting real long in the tooth, and he mentioned retirement last year during the locker room clean out.

[WhenTheFitzHitsTheChan]

I agree, I think Dwan stays. Spence is getting real long in the tooth, and he mentioned retirement last year during the locker room clean out.

So you describe Spencer Johnson as real long in the tooth at the age of 30, but you think Edwards who is 31 years old should stay. What are you talking about?

[Labatt1960]

I voted Heard, I think he is the most underrated Buffalo Bill and now has the experience and will only get bettter for the next few years. No he was not a highh draft pick like Troup or Carringotn or vet like Spencer or Edwards but when he went in he made some plays. THe Troup-Carringotn experiment days are over, one or both are going to have to show all lot of improvement or they are gone.

I would agree. Heard has shown more than both Troup and Carringtion so far. Yes, Troup has had injuries and Carrington has been moved around a lot. But still, at the end of the day Heard has shown more and will continue to improve.

[Thurman#1]

Exactly, no reason to mince words. The fact is, one of the aforementioned will be the primary back-up DT. After reading through this thread, and taking into consideration some of the more thoughtful posts, heres what I've come to conclude:

1) One of the 2010 class gets cut; whether that be Troupe, Carrington, or Heard, we can't be sure but it seems to make sense;
2) One of the vets gets cut; weather that be Big Spence or Dwan Edwards, we can't be sure;
3) Carrington doesn't have a specific position in the NFL which he can hang his hat on.

The foregoing leads me to believe Carrington may be the surprise cut.

Think about it this way: We have had a hard time stopping the run the last few years; KW and MD are nasty in the middle; after them, no one stands out; Troupe, is a BIG man, and can stuff the run IF he stays healthy; Heard, is also a beast of a man and obvious DT; Spence and Edwards are great vet reserves. Therefore, Carrington is at a disadvantage, and the odd man out for the New Look 2012/13 Bills.

I really liked the prospect of Carrington, but I haven't seen much, and he has played. If Troupe gets healthy and can play through camp, I think he makes it as a clear DT.

You could be right. IMHO, though, they keep both Spencer Johnson and Dwan Edwards if they possibly can. They're the two toughest and most experienced.

I agree, I think Dwan stays. Spence is getting real long in the tooth, and he mentioned retirement last year during the locker room clean out.

30 isn't all that old. He won't turn 31 till December 12th. IMHO he's got another 3 - 5 years left in him.