Welcome to Orchard Park - Bills S77 Final 53

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By Donovan Simmons | @RZDSimmons | Aug 30, 2022 

 

 

Season 77 of RedZone Football is upon us. And after all the preliminary duties have been taken care of, coaching staffs assigned, waiver draft completed and the league offices processing the wildest open to the trade market that potentially has ever opened a RZ cycle. It’s time for football.

 

Now before we get into meeting the 53 players for S77 here in Buffalo, let's talk about the staff. Coach Mayne Event made his return last cycle and was tasked with reviving the Bayou. There were definitely some high and low spots all throughout the cycle. So now, Coach Mayne takes his talents to Orchard Park, NY and will navigate the waters of RZ with the Bills Mafia by his side. Coming along with Coach, Offensive Coordinator Braden Williamson. These two were connected at the hip for the second half of last cycle and the production on the field benefited from this pairing. On the other side of the ball, Defensive Coordination Marlon Burgess comes aboard after he was placed in the Coordinator Draft by the Colts. Coach Burgess will look to get this defense in position to make plays and get the ball back in the hands of Josh Allen and this offense. 

 

Now as I mentioned earlier, with the flurry of trades to open the cycle and the Waiver Draft, the Bills bring in 4 additional players. A pair of corners in veteran Desmont Trufant and 4th yr man out of Colorado Isaiah Oliver. Oliver was acquired in a deal from ATL for TE Oj Howard. To replace Howard at the TE2 spot, the athletic former Hurricane Jimmy Graham was selected in the Waiver Draft.  Also on the defensive side, LB Blake Martinez was acquired in a deal with NYG for a 2023 3rd round pick. 

 

So  before we get to the final 53, these players were placed on the Practice Squad prior to the S77 kickoff. 

 

Practice Squad

FS Henry Black

CB Dane Jackson

HB Darryton Evans

CB Kindle Vildor

DE Andre Mintze

WR Tre Nixon 

T Tommy Doyle

CB Olaijah Griffin

MLB Javin White

T Luke Tenuta

SS Tristin McCollum

QB James Morgan

 

And now, the Season 77 final 53 for your Buffalo Bills

 

QB - Josh Allen, Matt Barkley

A top 3 arm talent in all of RZ and I highly doubt he’s going to finish 3rd. Josh in the clear leader of this offense and team. And they will look for him to carry them as far as his play will take them. Matt Barkley will back him up.

 

RB - Devin Singletary, James Cook, Duke Johnson,Taiwan Jones, Reggie Gilliam (FB)

All four of these backs are capable of contributing to the offense in many different ways. Singletary and rookie James Cook are a step ahead and will share the load as lead back. Duke Johnson and Taiwan Jones will have the opportunity to flash in passing sets. Reggie Gilliam will be the Fullback.

 

WR - Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis, Jamison Crowder, Isaiah McKenzie, Khalil Shakir, Marquez Stevenson

 

The Bills have a very deep WR core. Led by the former Terrapin, Stefon Diggs. While a lot of the focus will be on Diggs, who will emerge as the WR2. Will it be the veteran slot guy Jamison Crowder (Who’s in the final year of his deal and isn’t expected to be re-signed)? Or will the 22yr old out of UCF Gabiel Davis come of age and fall into that WR2 role? Davis really had a great camp. Let's hope that he is able to transition that into production on the field. Rookie Khalil Shakir and 2nd yr man Marquez Stevenson showed promise in camp but are likely a year away from getting significant playing time unless there’s an injury. 

 

TE - Dawson Knox, Jimmy Graham, Tommy Sweeney

In my opinion, the best receiving option on this offense not named Stefon Diggs is Dawson Knox. It will be just a matter of time before he’s considered one of the top TE’s in all of RZ. And to help him with his development, the brass bring in Jimmy Graham to be the TE2 and mentor Knox. Tommy Sweeney will be the blocking TE.

 

T - Dion Dawkins, David Quessenberry, Spencer Brown

Dawkins and Quessenberry will hold down the tackle spots for S77. 2nd yr man Spencer Brown will back them up and most likely take over for Quessenberry next season as he is on the final yr of his deal. 

 

G -  Rodger Saffold III, Ryan Bates, Nate Solder, Ike Boettger

Saffold is locked in at one guard spot. The question throughout camp was who will get the start at RG. That was answered when Cody Ford was a cut day deal to TEN. Bates wins the RG spot and Nate Solder was brought in to backup and mentor the 25 yr old. Ike Boettger is the other backup. 

 

C - Mitch Morse, Greg Mancz

The veteran Morse is the man in the middle. The former Missouri Tiger will be the glue that makes this front 5 run. Greg Mancz will back him up. 

 

DE - Von Miller, Greg Rousseau, AJ Epenesa, Carlos Basham Jr. 

The big free-agency get for the Bills was elite pass rusher Von Miller. This cycle more than ever, a solid pass rush will be the key to everything else on the defensive side of the ball. He’ll be opposite Greg Rousseau out of The U. Basham and Epenesa could potentially have this front set up for years to come. 

 

DT - Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones, Jordan Phillips, Tim Settle

The one sure thing about these defensive tackles is Ed Oliver. The 24yr old out of Houston could definitely see some rush lane open up if the opposing team is too focused on Miller and Rousseau. The question is who is DT2? Keep your eye on Tim Settle. Built out of the same mold as Oliver and can play all 3 downs. DaQuan Jones and Jordan Phillips will back them up.

 

OLB - Matt Milano, Blake Martinez, Terrel Bernard, Andre Smith Jr. 

While the rookie Bernard had a promising camp, he looks to be a year or two away from taking the starting role opposite Matt Milano. So the Bills brass acquired Blake Martinez from NYG. While bringing in Martinez feels like a one year rental, this staff wants to put this team in the best position to compete and possibly contend for a division title in S77. 

 

MLB - Tremaine Edmunds, Baylon Spector, JoJo Domann

The heart and soul of this defense is Tremaine Edmunds. He is also due a new deal at year's end. All signs so far point to both sides being open to an extension. Baylon Spector may also be a name we see starting for this team down the line. JoJo Domann will be a special teamer. 

 

CB - Tre’Davious White, Taron Johnson, Desmond Trufant, Isaiah Oliver, Kaiir Elam, Jordan Miller, Siran Neal, 

The other position on the defense that was addressed was CB. While they do have shutdown corner Tre”Davious White and they love Taron Johnson on the other side of the field. Some combination of Trufant, Oliver and rookie Elam will hold down the Nickel and Dime CB slots. Jordan Miller and Siran Neal will only factor in on special teams. 

 

S - Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, Jaquan Johnson, Damar Hamlin

Arguably, one of the best safety tandems in RZ. While both are on the other side of 30, Poyer will be looking for a new deal at season's end. Both will look to be the great erasers in the back 7. 

 

Specialist - Tyler Bass, Corliss Waitman

Normally, this is the “Kickers Kick” section of the Final 53. But news broke over the weekend rookie punter Matt Ariaza being apart of a group sexual assualt back when he was at San Diego State. Staff swiftly released him out of his deal and brought in Corliss Waitman, 3rd yr man out of South Alabama. Now we can get back to Kickers Kicking. 

 

Follow me @RZDSimmons on Twitter all season long for Bills coverage. And check out the team page at daddyleagues.com/redzone/team/BUF