Bills IDP for 2017

[teprovich88]

New defensive scheme coming to Buffalo with McDermott taking over HC duties, meaning a switch away from Rex Ryan's 3-4 hybrid to a more traditional 4-3 base scheme I would assume. In past years, IDPs from Buffalo have been treated very nicely by the stats crew.

What are some thoughts on how this scheme change will affect some of the Bills IDPs? I have seen some beat writers already talking about Alexander being a misfit in this new scheme, which I would agree with. Lawson gets moved from OLB to DE. How does Ragland project in this new scheme?

Personally I was very hopeful for Reggie Ragland enter the 2016 season prior to his ACL tear. By all accounts his ACL recovery has been smooth and at the 5 month mark (give or take) he seems right on track for a return for training camp 2017.

[Dyno_7]

Ragland played a 4-3 at Bama so I would assume he will fit in just fine. If Lawson gets the DE tag, he might be worth a stash. I could be wrong, but one of the Brown LB's might be a FA. Can't remember which though. I have to imagine they'll be looking for help at safety either in the draft or FA.

[lukkynumber13]

Zach Brown is a free agent, yes

[lawilt]

Hughes moving back to DE?

[bruiser]

Hughes moving back to DE?

Probable

[TB3falcons]

Shaq Lawson moving back to DE as well?

[bruiser]

Shaq Lawson moving back to DE as well?

I view him more as a SAM, but that's just me. He is probably the new DE that Buffalo needs for the scheme.

Anytime a team changes up scheme, they will be looking for at least one man to fill out the new scheme. Kyle Williams will be 34yrs old next year and has mentioned retirement, but it seems that he may be back for one last hurrah. He's still very, very good. I'd expect him to slide inside to 3-tech in base next to Marcell Dareus (also very good) at NT. This brings Jerry Hughes back down on the line, but they are now without Mario Williams on the other end. Who is that guy? We shall see....

Better question: do the Bills re-sign Zach Brown and ease Ragland back in? Surely, Brown has to be viewed as more important to the defense right now than Ragland's torn ACL.

[bruiser]

Lorenzo Alexander and the Bills are currently talking about him coming back for 2017. I'd rather bring back Zach Brown if I had to pick one. Alexander will be 34yrs old, so he may take whatever they offer just to play out his career with this veteran group. I don't think playing SAM backer would be much of a change for him from last season. He and Ragland could share snaps there?

[ThePeckers]

I'm in a league with holdouts and due to Z. Brown's huge year he's now a holdout for me. I don't see paying him the holdout money, roughly 10.5 million up from his 900,000 salary this year. If he resigns in Buffalo he may be worth a shot at in FA but heck no to the $10.5 mil.

[dlf_tomk]

Holdouts are a great rule. Love them. I had Zach Orr this year as one. Now he's retired it'll be Telvin Smith. Humph.

Anyway. Bills. What do we think about Adolphus Washington Team D?

I'm not buying him (because Bills) but I'm quietly interested

[bruiser]

If he progresses as expected, he should see a role rotating on the d-line with a bump in snaps up from 30%. This would just be my guess...

[lukkynumber13]

Who do we project as the Bills' starting safeties? Is Hyde their new SS? Poyer?

[bruiser]

Good question, because if they are adapting a new scheme, they may not employ a traditional 4-3-4. I could envision a 5-2-4 look where the strong safety is the point of attack. The loss of Gilmore can't be understated, tho.

[dlf_tomk]

I dont know either. But Im snatching up Hyde where I can get him. Best case scenario he's an impact SS. Its worth the gamble

[TheDogPound]

Who do we project as the Bills' starting safeties? Is Hyde their new SS? Poyer?

With the money that they are paying Hyde, I think they are going to try to have him start at Safety. I read an article that mentioned slot corner, however I don't trust that assumption. If I am guessing and due to the investment, I say he gets 1 dibs at the starting safety position.

He is a player that I definitely have my eye on in IDP.