Safeties

[cdub_bills_12]

I like the OP... Landry will command a bit more than he did last year, though he may want to follow his DC... Byrd and Landry would be a good pairing. Byrd must be re-signed ASAP!

If I had to choose between a Probowl FS and a solid LG, It is a no-brainer!

In response to A. Williams... I think that McKelvin and Williams should battle for the #2 corner spot, if this scenario were to come to fruition. We need a SS, MLB and OLB this offseason on defense!

[ThatsWhatSheSaid]

Neither of those seem like viable options to me.

What happens when former 2nd round pick Aaron Williams doesnt cut it at SS? Now you have a guy with no position at all. I like Searcy, I like that he can drop the hammer when he has to, but I dont like him in coverage. He is a run stopper and not much else. He may be a great fit in Pettine's system, but I wouldnt bet on it.

You are negative on Searcy's coverage ability...are you okay with Landry's coverage ability?

[nateodoms'bff]

You are negative on Searcy's coverage ability...are you okay with Landry's coverage ability?

In Pettine's system, yes. It doesn't require the SS to be the last line of defense in coverage. He's good enough that he can pick up a TE deep, or track him sideline to sideline and lay him out. Im not sold on Searcy's ability to do that...

I will say that Searcy did not get a fair shake with Wanny as he had a preference for his veterans to be on the field. I like Searcy a lot, and I would not be opposed to him getting a shot to start at SS. However, if Landry can be had for a reasonable price, OBD has got to go out and get him.

[je0592p]

I would love to see the Bills have a dominate pair of safeties, but you also have to consider other pieces. If we are to put that much into safety position which position are you willing to have a smaller budget for? Would it be LB?, CB?, DL?, or offense? This is what comes into play when signing players. The Bills are heavily invested in DL right now, can they really afford to be heavily invested in safety as well or would our CB and LB position end up suffering?

With that said, usually you focus on the positions that you need for the coaches scheme to work. Pettine has not yet said which formation he is going to lean on(and there is always at least one).

My thoughts:
If we could get 1 great MLB/ILB, 1 great safety, 2 good CB's, good to great DL, average LB's then almost any formation should work. We have the players for the DL. We have a safety in Byrd if we resign him. So rather than go for another great safety why not look for upgrades to LB's and CB's instead? The Bills have Gilmore but need another CB. And who are the Bills LB's again? Barnett is aging. Sheppard not what was expected. Bradham has done fine, but could he start on other teams atm? Or does he only start because our LB's are so bad? Bottom line is the Bills need LB's more than they need another safety(assuming we retain Byrd).

[cdub_bills_12]

When I look at our defensive needs (position only, not taking into account scheme from last year), my list is simple.

1) ILB
2) SS
3) OLB
4) DT (size)
5) CB

So, if Ogletree is there at 8 (and Buddy doesn't see a QB with a grade that high), he is my man!
SS needs to be addressed via FA, later in the draft or A. Williams, Searcy (some competition, NOT WILSON)
OLB, we have some guys here and they could be stop-gaps... making this a later round spot
DT... I think Williams and Dareus play too much of the same way, we need some size
CB... Re-sign McKelvin and let Pettine work with him!

[baldat28]

I move Williams to SS....you can say what happens when he fails but his to say he will fail? What if he's successful? Then you found your SS and you didn't have to go out and spend $6-7 million in FA to get him...If he does fail then just go out next season and sign or draft one, you don't need to have a pro bowl SS in the NFL to be successful, very few teams have 2 pro bowl caliber Safties

[Sulmeister]

Completely agree with the thread. Landry played greats for the Jets. Can stay in the same system.

Better money than what the Jets paid but shouldn't be ridiculous.

[BuffaloSuperBowlParade]

When I look at our defensive needs (position only, not taking into account scheme from last year), my list is simple.

1) ILB
2) SS
3) OLB
4) DT (size)
5) CB

So, if Ogletree is there at 8 (and Buddy doesn't see a QB with a grade that high), he is my man!
SS needs to be addressed via FA, later in the draft or A. Williams, Searcy (some competition, NOT WILSON)

You have SS over CB as an area of need?! No way. McKelvin isn't even a #2 CB, we have seen that over the years of his contract, that won't change. He's a nickle CB at best. Who else do we have? Rodgers, Mcghee (he'll be gone, I think), Brooks? That makes 1 legit CB. Brooks might be able to be a CB2, that remains to be seen. Rodgers may never be anything more than a dime/quarter CB.

We haven't even seen Searcy play with any kind of regularity, yet you're already prepared to replace him. Wilson had a down year, yes, but don't throw away Searcy because of it. I like the way he plays in run support, and I think he can develop coverage skills. He's still young.

You say Pettine can help McKelvin get better... but why wouldn't be then be able to make Williams and Seacy better? Either he improves everyone, or no one. You shouldn't pick a player you like that he "will improve", and neglect that effect on the guys you want gone.

[hemma]

It's almost a guarantee that Landry's achilles would pop just before the 1st game.

Hector cursed this team.

[BillsFaith]

Completely agree with the thread. Landry played greats for the Jets. Can stay in the same system.

Better money than what the Jets paid but shouldn't be ridiculous.

I could see Landry. I've been saying James Ihegdigbo since Pettine landed in Buffalo. No not a high profile signing, but he knows the division and the Defense inside and out. Pettine loves him and will not be shocked one bit if he brings Ihegdigbo in. Who knows... seems like a good luck charm. 2AFC champ games and 2 superbowls the last 4 years.

[Donmega]

In Pettine's system, yes. It doesn't require the SS to be the last line of defense in coverage. He's good enough that he can pick up a TE deep, or track him sideline to sideline and lay him out. Im not sold on Searcy's ability to do that...

I will say that Searcy did not get a fair shake with Wanny as he had a preference for his veterans to be on the field. I like Searcy a lot, and I would not be opposed to him getting a shot to start at SS. However, if Landry can be had for a reasonable price, OBD has got to go out and get him.

If the Defense doesn't require great coverage skills then why not let Searcy play and save up that money to sign our other players. Not really interested in Jets castoffs.

[rhinocoach]

Neither of those seem like viable options to me.

What happens when former 2nd round pick Aaron Williams doesnt cut it at SS? Now you have a guy with no position at all. I like Searcy, I like that he can drop the hammer when he has to, but I dont like him in coverage. He is a run stopper and not much else. He may be a great fit in Pettine's system, but I wouldnt bet on it.

you meen like Torell Troup, James Hardy, John McCargo, Josh Reed & Ryan Denny?

[rhinocoach]

You have SS over CB as an area of need?! No way. McKelvin isn't even a #2 CB, we have seen that over the years of his contract, that won't change. He's a nickle CB at best. Who else do we have? Rodgers, Mcghee (he'll be gone, I think), Brooks? That makes 1 legit CB. Brooks might be able to be a CB2, that remains to be seen. Rodgers may never be anything more than a dime/quarter CB.

We haven't even seen Searcy play with any kind of regularity, yet you're already prepared to replace him. Wilson had a down year, yes, but don't throw away Searcy because of it. I like the way he plays in run support, and I think he can develop coverage skills. He's still young.

You say Pettine can help McKelvin get better... but why wouldn't be then be able to make Williams and Seacy better? Either he improves everyone, or no one. You shouldn't pick a player you like that he "will improve", and neglect that effect on the guys you want gone.

I think Searcy will step into Wilsons spot.
He has been one of our better backups for 2 years now.

[KJMiller127]

Yea, they gotta get this done. There is a big drop off in many safety position players from those who are playmakers (the few) and just role players that you don't hear much from. Jarius Byrd is on a lot of people's radars.

[rhinocoach]

Yea, they gotta get this done. There is a big drop off in many safety position players from those who are playmakers (the few) and just role players that you don't hear much from. Jarius Byrd is on a lot of people's radars.

He won't last 30 seconds in FA.

[KJMiller127]

He won't last 30 seconds in FA.

dude would have a few teams bidding over him. I Like levitre and they really need him, but Byrd is a must have. Be great if they re-signed both though!

[rhinocoach]

dude would have a few teams bidding over him. I Like levitre and they really need him, but Byrd is a must have. Be great if they re-signed both though!

Agreed.
I want to keep them both but Levitre could be replaced in rounds 1-4 while Byrd is a once in 5 years steal.