Buffalo Bills veterans that won’t make team

Dennis Amo

Jul 21, 2014; Pittsford, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Bryce Brown (35) carries the ball as defensive back Deon Broomfield (46) pursues during training camp at St John Fisher College. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills veterans that won’t make team

Every year we look at players that are on the bubble to make the team going into training camp, and usually this is a projection based on who is currently on the roster and no injuries occur.

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Going just one step further, we will take a look at who I think won’t be on the roster at the start of the season that was on the roster last year, so looking at which Buffalo Bills veterans won’t make the team.

The Buffalo Bill took care of one of my guys already. I had pegged guard Chris Williams as one that would not make the team this year. He was a bad signing when brought in by Doug Marrone and their just was no way that he was going to make this offensive line squad, unless there was an injury at each position, and even then I think that he would have been passed up by someone that Rex Ryan would have brought in at the last minute as well.

I will take a look at five players that I think won’t be on the roster at the start of the season, as well as a couple of additional guys that may or may not make the team as well just based on numbers and where the team stands with players from what they did in the offseason.

So in to particular order or ranking guage, where are my selections of veterans that won’t be on the the Buffalo Bills for the week 1 game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Next: Ron Brooks

Dec 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) is tackled by Buffalo Bills cornerback Ron Brooks (33) in the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Ron Brooks is a player that has played in 34 games in his 3 years in Buffalo. A total of 50 tackles in those 34 games, he has primarily been a special teams players only starting in 3 games for the Buffalo Bills during his time here.

In both 2012 and 2013 he has missed a good portion of each of the beginnings of the seasons due to injury and was inactive for 2 games last year as well.

Ron Brooks has to do something amazing to make the team this year. With the Buffalo Bills drafting Ronald Darby, Rex Ryan loves his corners, but his corners have to be able to stand on an island and be productive.

With Darby, Stephon Gilmore, Leodis McKelvin, and Nickell Robey pretty much set to make the team already, the numbers are not in favor for Ron Brooks to be back in a Buffalo Bills uniform.

His time in Buffalo is done. He has injury issues, and just has not been able to provide stats when he has been on the field.

Next: Defensive Line choice

Sep 14, 2014; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive end Jarius Wynn (92) and defensive tackle Stefan Charles (96) sack Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) during the second half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Buffalo beats Miami 29 to 10. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills have one of the top defensive lines in the league, and with that comes that disappointing nature that there are limited positions available for back-up to compete for a spot on the team.

Stefan Charles is going to be one of those guys that will not make this team and it really is due to the numbers game on the defensive line. With Charles as a defensive tackle, he has to compete for a job behind Marcell Dareus and Kyle Williams, who take up 2 of the possible 4 spots available for the interior line. With Alex Carrington coming back and Corbin Bryant coming off a solid year, there is really only 1 spot, Bryant’s, that is up for grabs with 5 players trying for that spot.

Like I said before, Charles is going to fall victim to a numbers game and just be left out in the cold. He is coming into his 3rd year in the NFL and has played in 24 games for the Buffalo Bills and started 1 of them.

There is a possibility that he might be eligible for the practice squad but that is a long shot as he is outside of the requirements for the first two seasons. He can be eligible for a 3rd practice squad season, but the Buffalo Bills can not maintain a roster less than 53 players for the entire year.

Stefan Charles will not be a Buffalo Bills defensive lineman at the start of the season.

Next: Staying on the defensive side of the ball

Dec 7, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; A general view of a Buffalo Bills helmet on the turf prior to the game against the Denver Broncos Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Keeping with the defense, and there were not many changes on the defensive side of the ball so one would think that there would not be a lot of issues when it came to numbers and players at positions.

We move to the linebackers. Randell Johnson is another one that I do not think will make this team. With Jerry Hughes making the move to outside linebacker and Nigel Bradham and Preston Brown on the inside, the Buffalo Bills are stocked at linebacker.

Randell Johnson will have to compete with Ty Powell, AJ Tarpley, Jimmy Gaines, and Tony Steward to get the one or 2 available spots for linebackers and I just don’t see it happening.

Johnson was inactive for most of the season last year only being available for 5 games. In those 5 games he had 1 tackle, which came from special teams, and only had a fumble recovery to show for stats in his 5 games. His primary functions was on special teams and that was only in 4 of the 5 games.

I think that there are too many linebackers that will be able to produce more for the Buffalo Bills and Rex Ryan than that o Randell Johnson. Johnson may be eligible for the practice squad for his second year in the NFL but I think that will be the only way that he makes the team.

Next: Tight End

Nov 10, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Buffalo Bills tight end Chris Gragg (89) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons (94) after making a catch during the fourth quarter of a game at Heinz Field. Pittsburgh won the game 23-10. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

The Buffalo Bills addressed their tight end position by signing Charles Clay to 5 years 38 million and because of this they may have pushed one of their own out on the streets.

By one of their own I mean a guy that the Buffalo Bills draft and has been with them for the last couple of years.

The player I am talking about is Chris Gragg. With the Buffalo Bills since being drafted by them in the 2013 draft. He was inactive for a couple of games last year, but has not really developed over the years. Whether it was not getting the playing when behind Scott Chandler and Lee Smith or if the potential is just not there, with the addition of Charles Clay, MarQueis Gray, and Mich O’Leary in the draft, I think that the Buffalo Bills are moving into a different direction with hybrid tight ends, and Gragg is just not that type of player, at this point.

Next: Running Back is the last stop

Aug 8, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Bryce Brown (35) runs the ball during the second quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Similar to the tight end position, the Buffalo Bills made advancements and moves to secure players that would better the positions than the players that were currently there.

Running back was no different. In a blockbuster, one for one trade, the Buffalo Bills brought in LeSean McCoy to anchor the offensive backfield with Fred Jackson, Boobie Dixon, and Bryce Brown as the back-ups.

Karlos Williams was then drafted by the Bills this season and they currently have 5 players on their roster at the running back position.

With five backs listed, there is no way that they can take all of them into the season, at least one is going to be losing their spot on the Bills roster. That one person is Bryce Brown. Not really a special teams guy like Boobie Dixon is, and the veteran leadership that Jackson brings is unmatchable. Karlos Williams provides a very similar player but does not have the edge that Williams has out of the back field.

For the time being he is still LeSean McCoy’s back-up as he was in Philadelphia before traded for a 3rd round pick, but lack of explosiveness and fumbling issues will be the down fall for Bryce Brown and making the roster for the Buffalo Bills.

Next: Final Thoughts

Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (88) celebrates after winning against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Bills beat the Lions 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

With all that being said, there still is the possibility that injuries occur and some of these players might just be there for week one of the season.

Two additional players that are on the bubble from what I can see with the roster and each position being broken down, call them my honorable mentions for not making the team, but Mario Butler I think will have to show something to get on this squad and the other is Marquise Goodwin. A specialist as far as speed goes and he is a track guy, but with the addition of Percy Harvin and Dezmin Lewis, I don’t know if there is going to be room on this roster for Goodwin and his speed.

Next: Madden 16 rankings for DT are out

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Dennis Amo

Dennis is married with three kids and is proud to be a military spouse. He is a lifelong Bills fan and has been through the Super Bowl years to the depression with the Bills. Follow me on twitter and Facebook.