Tag: Damar Hamlin

Stock up, stock down following the Bills’ preseason win over the Lions

Stock up, stock down following the #Bills’ preseason win over the #Lions (via @mckennamiddle):

The Buffalo Bills kicked off their preseason with a dramatic 16-15 win over the Detroit Lions. The Bills controlled the game early, but a fourth quarter push from Detroit needed to see a late field goal from Tyler Bass to win the game for Buffalo.

Let’s see which of the preseason performers for the Bills excelled (and which didn’t) against the Detroit Lions in Bills Wire’s stock report:

Rookie Damar Hamlin is ready to go ‘Waterboy’ for Bills

Buffalo Bills 2021 NFL draft pick Damar Hamlin will play Waterboy for team.

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No thoughts on his opinion of Gatorade, but the Bills landed a prospect that would make Bobby Boucher proud during the 2021 NFL draft.

Damar Hamlin was one of three sixth-round picks by the Bills on Saturday. The Pittsburgh product, for being a later pick, was surprisingly touted by ESPN’s NFL draft guru Todd McShay.

During the broadcast, McShay predicted Hamlin would make Buffalo’s final 53-man roster out of training camp, calling him a “special teams maven.”

Typically late-round picks are asked to do a little bit extra when entering the league since it takes time for them to develop their overall game.

Speaking of a little bit extra, someone point Hamlin over the to c-c-c-cooler.

During his video conference after he was selected by the Bills, Hamlin acknowledged that he’d do the dirty work on special teams for Buffalo, no problem. Hamlin added he’d go even further than that and pass out water if he was asked to do so.

“Throughout this whole process I’ve been preaching that. I’m just willing to do whatever to be a contributor on team. I don’t care if I’ve got to pass out water at halftime. I just want to be on a winning team and contribute,” Hamlin said. “No matter what it is, I’m willing to do it.”

Music to the Bills’ ears. That’s always been the type of D.N.A. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane love to bring into the team’s locker room. It’s a good bet they liked that about Hamlin.

Following the draft, Beane shed light on exactly how important getting in Hamlin and the team’s other late-round picks was.

Beane ended up trading back in the draft. Due to COVID-19, the entire prospect pool of players that entered the draft was smaller than usual. Post-draft, teams then sign undrafted players.

With that initial pool being so small, there would be less UDFA to bring in. Realizing that, Beane moved back to make sure he could bring in a few extra players to promote competition.

“There were less guys on our priority free agent board,” Beane said. “I was just trying to get as many guys, because we had a bunch of guys in that fifth-, sixth-round range that I felt like there will be guys we like, let’s just get as many picks as we can.”

Interestingly, Beane also had several players that he selected that had connections to players on the team currently. Hamlin was one of those as he played at Pittsburgh with cornerback Dane Jackson. The Bills leaned on some of their own to help the COVID-damaged scouting process, and might have even got some help for the team’s training room staff.

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5 safeties Chargers could consider in 2021 NFL draft

The Los Angeles Chargers are thin at the safety position.

Safety Rayshawn Jenkins showed his worth on the field and he was rewarded for it. However, it wasn’t by the Chargers. Instead, the Jaguars were the team who remunerated Jenkins.

Many, including myself, expected Los Angeles to re-sign Jenkins, with the expectation that he was going to form a tandem with Derwin James coming back next season.

L.A. might be banking on Nasir Adderley next season, but given the fact that head coach Brandon Staley likes to roll with three safeties on the field, the team could be looking to add another one.

With that being said, let’s take a look at five potential options in this year’s draft:

Ar’Darius Washington, TCU

Checking in at just 5-foot-8, 178 pounds, Washington is under the category that size doesn’t matter. He has the speed and range to thrive on the back end of the defense as well as the toughness and competitiveness.

Washington had five interceptions as a redshirt freshman in 2019 and ranked as one of the top safeties in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.In 2020, Washington started all 10 games and finished with 37 tackles, including one tackle for loss and five passes defensed.

At the next level, Washington projects as a free safety who can slide into the slot. His speed, toughness and ability to always be around the ball will allow him to be a contributor on special teams.

Andre Cisco, Syracuse

You want an absolute play-maker at the position? Cisco is that guy.

He totaled 13 interceptions and 14 passes defensed in just 24 career games. Lining up deep, in the box and in the slot, Cisco shows the physicality, range, instincts and ball skills for the position.

At the next level, he projects as a free safety, but he has the ability to line up all over the field. Cisco also has plenty of gunner and special teams experience, which is vital for the Bolts.

Damar Hamlin, Pittsburgh

Hamlin is a diverse, tough, smart, and well-rounded defensive back who shows great coverage ability and ball skills, as well as excellent tackling in space and traffic. The former basketball and track athlete displays his athleticism when closing on pass-catchers.

For the Chargers, Hamlin would be a versatile player who can be a part of a two-high safety set, used in the box or lined up in the slot across from tight ends. His play speed, tackling ability and competitive nature would serve him well on special teams, too.

He was recruited by defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill, who served as the Panthers’ secondary coach at the time. Therefore, the connection between Hamlin and Hill could bring the two together.

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Tyree Gillespie, Missouri

Like these other safeties, Gillespie possesses the versatility needed at the next level. Gillespie wore many hat in Tigers’ defense. He has experience in single-high, two high and in the box as well as in man coverage on tight ends.

Gillespie is a diverse, tough, smart and well rounded defensive back. In coverage, he is disciplined, showing great reactive athleticism to lock onto pass-catchers. He is a great tackler in space and traffic, taking good angles to the ball and shows very good straight-line speed.

With Los Angeles, Gillespie would project as a free safety with the ability to play in the slot. His speed and ability to chase down ballcarriers would serve him well on special teams.

James Wiggins, Cincinnati

After tearing his ACL in 2019, Wiggins wasn’t really able to bounce back in the way that he wanted after his season was cut short due to COVID-19. All in all, Wiggins finished his collegiate career with 87 total tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack and five interceptions.

Another versatile safety, Wiggins has experience in single-high, two high as well as in the slot. A key defender for the Bears, he has the athleticism, explosiveness, and big-play ability, along with the hard-hitting nature, good ball skills and awareness.

If he stays healthy, Wiggins can be a key piece in the secondary, projecting as a free safety where he can use his speed on the back end. He also has versatility to line up and stay in phase in man coverage. His skillset is tailor made for special teams.

2021 NFL draft: Pittsburgh safety Damar Hamlin could be Day 3 target for Chargers

Renaldo Hill could reunite with one of his former players.

Offensive line, cornerback and edge rusher are seen as the obvious positions that the Chargers must address this offseason. But safety is one that Los Angeles should elect to tamper with, as well.

Rayshawn Jenkins is a pending free agent. Derwin James has experienced major injuries the past two consecutive seasons. Nasir Adderley is coming off of a sophomore slump. Alohi Gilman’s sample size of playing time is small.

After addressing positions of need in the first two days of this year’s draft, the third day would be the most ideal time to deepen the secondary with a safety and one that could be a target is former Pittsburgh’s Damar Hamlin.

Hamlin, a four-star cornerback, came in as the highest-rated defensive player from the state of Pennsylvania. He was recruited by defensive coordinator Renaldo Hill, who served as the Panthers’ secondary coach at the time.

After dealing with injuries his first two seasons, Hamlin was moved from corner to safety in 2019, where he and Paris Ford, one of the top safety prospects, formed a solid tandem.

In 12 games, Hamlin amassed 84 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and ten passes defensed. He followed that up with another productive campaign, totaling 66 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and seven passes defensed.

Hamlin, the 6-foot and 201 pounder, was one of two safeties in Pittsburgh’s defense which was a mixture of man and zone coverage. At times, he came into the box or played the single-high role when they would mix up their looks.

Hamlin is a diverse, tough, smart and well rounded defensive back who shows great coverage ability and ball skills, as well as excellent tackling in space and traffic. The former basketball and track athlete displays his athleticism when closing on pass-catchers.

For the Chargers, Hamlin would be a versatile player who can be a part of a two-high safety set, used in the box or lined up in the slot across from tight ends. His play speed, tackling ability and competitive nature would serve him well on special teams, too.

Overall, the need for safety depth and special teamers and familiarity with Hill should be selling points for Hamlin when Day 3 of the draft rolls around.