Tag: tyler bass

Bills 53-man roster projection: Start of training camp

Buffalo Bills 2020 53-man roster projection at the start of training camp.

The Bills are getting training camp underway at their team facility in Orchard Park. That alone signals things are different.

In a typical offseason, the Bills are getting after it in Rochester for camp. Instead, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the team is at home in OP for safety reasons. Among those measures includes waiting until later this month to get on the field and in pads for practices.

So maybe this 53-man roster projection is a bit too early, but let’s give it a crack anyway. Here’s a roster prediction for the Bills as the team gets training camp underway:

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, right, watches as quarterback Matt Barkley warms up during practice. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Quarterback (3)

Josh Allen, Matt Barkley, Jake Fromm

Cuts: Davis Webb

Earlier this offseason the Bills were in a position to potentially keep two quarterbacks and cut Matt Barkley. He’s no longer really a “veteran” mentor to Allen, games played wise. Allen has 27 starts to Barkley’s seven. Cutting Barkley could also save the Bills $1.5M against the salary cap.

But that was months ago. We’ve since lost all sense of normalcy and preseason games. It would be insane for the Bills to go into a season with Jake Fromm as QB2, at least right away, considering he’ll have never played in an NFL game at all before then thanks to the cancelled exhibition games. At least Fromm has big-time college experience from Georgia, though.

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Bills training camp preview: Special teams

2020 Buffalo Bills training camp preview: special teams

The Buffalo Bills are a few short weeks away from arriving for training camp in Western New York. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the preseason festivities will be diminished; the team will not hold their sessions at St. John Fisher College, their training camp location since 2000.

Nevertheless, the aim of the training camp remains the same. The organization must prepare players for the preseason, which depth players will compete in their final battle for a roster spot.

Training camp could hold greater importance this year, as the trimmed down preseason slate leaves fewer opportunities for players to impress the coaching staff.

The Bills Wire will complete a position-by-position analysis of each group on the Bills roster. This edition will focus on the special teams unit:

Bills wide receiver Andre Roberts. Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

Players (age)

  • Stephen Hauschka (35: 13th season)
  • Tyler Bass (23: Rookie)
  • Corey Bojorquez (23: 3rd season)
  • Kaare Vedvik (26: 2nd season)
  • Reid Ferguson (26: 4th season)

2019 recap

The Bills special teams unit underwent a bit of a reconfiguration entering the 2019 season, as coordinator Danny Crossman was jettisoned and Heath Farwell was brought in to guide the unit. The team improved upon their performance last year, as they seemed to commit fewer egregious errors on coverage than previous seasons.

The Bills improved to sixth in average yards kick return and 14th in average yards per punt return. Bringing in 2018 All-Pro Andre Roberts helped the cause, and the veteran was named to the Pro Bowl last year for the second consecutive year. Roberts dropped off from his career-year in 2018, when he led the league in punt and kick return average. Nevertheless, he finished fourth in the league in kick return average and helped give the Bills some consistency in the return game.

Stephen Hauschka hit 22 of 28 field goals last year, which was the same stat line that he had in 2018. He went through a lull mid-year, highlighted by struggles against the Browns. However, the veteran rebounded to have a decent year. He made only one of five kicks from beyond 50 yards last year, though. Hauschka, at one point, set the NFL record for most 50-plus yard kicks in a row, only to now struggle in that department.

The Bills love Corey Bojorquez‘s big leg, but issues of consistency plagued the 23-year-old in his first full season in the league. He averaged 41.9 yards per punt, good for 30th out of 31 qualified punters. In total, 10 punters had a net average that was better than Bojorquez’s gross average.

Now here’s a rundown of storylines to follow in this position group:

Can Stephen Hauschka stave off a challenge from rookie Tyler Bass?

The big question right here. Hauschka was 21st in field goal percentage last year. He was 20th in the number of touchbacks on kickoffs. He made only one of five kicks from beyond 50 yards. Hauschka had a rough game against the Browns, missing both of his kicks in a game decided by three points. However, he rebounded to make 14 of his final 15 field goals on the year.

While often defending Hauschka’s misses the Bills decided to surprise us. Buffalo, in drafting a kicker, could be a sign that there are some concerns regarding Hauschka. Rookie Tyler Bass could be a kickoff specialist in the short term, but if he can show some greater accuracy, it could make the competition during training camp very interesting. Bass and his big leg certainly shows the Bills don’t want to worry from around 50 yards anymore.

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Tyler Bass has to ‘beat out’ Stephen Hauschka for Bills’ kicking duties

Buffalo Bills rookie Tyler Bass has to beat out Stephen Hauschka says Heath Farwell.

The Buffalo Bills certainly left some surprises on the table when the third day of the 2020 NFL Draft rolled around.

Not only did the Bills select Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm, kicker Tyler Bass from Georgia Southern was selected by the Bills in the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively.

While drafting a kicker appears like a pretty set in stone thing since many in the NFL are undrafted players… it’s not. Buffalo special teams coordinator Heath Farwell spoke via a video press conference this weekend and things are not going to be handed to the rookie.

Farwell’s kicker right now? It’s still Stephen Hauschka.

“It’s an open competition, it’s not (Bass’s) job by any means. It’s Steve’s job right now. He’s the incumbent, he’s had a lot of big kicks over his career, a history of good kicks in big games, in the playoffs, he was 4-for-4 last year. He’s still the guy and it’s up to Tyler to beat him out,” Farwell said.

What this battle might come down to is leg strength.

Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane admitted as much earlier this offseason.

“That’s one of the things we talked about with (Hauschka). Last year Stephen wasn’t able to kick the 55-plus balls as much. But, we were happy with Stephen’s accuracy at 50 and in,” Beane said.

And in terms of the new man on campus, that’s one of the most highlighted traits in his game, so Hauschka will have to show his strength. Farwell also explained a work ethic in Bass’s game that he enjoyed seeing during the pre-draft process. Per the special teams coordinator, during both his pro day and at the Senior Bowl, Bass was one of the first players on the field both times.

“The talent of his kickoffs, field goals, everything about him… the mindset,” Farwell said.

As Farwell stated, Hauschka did go 4-for-4 in the Bills’ postseason loss to the Texans. But while he is the record-holder for consecutive kicks made over 50 yards, he’s dropped off since earning that in 2017. In 2019, Hauschka was 1-for-5 from beyond 50 yards.

Unfortunately for Hauschka, what seems to have changed came via an injury.

In December 2018, Hauschka caught a blindside hit from Jets defender Henry Anderson. He was fined and Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott had a candid moment in response to what happened, claiming there’s “no place in football” for such incidents.

Hauschka has struggled since taking that hit, but Farwell said, he’s still the Bills kicker until Bass, who is working out with long snapper Reid Ferguson this offseason, does something about that.

 

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Some Bills specialists working out together in offseason

Buffalo Bills special teamers Reid Ferguson, Tyler Bass, Kaare Vedvik working out together this offseason.

Buffalo Bills long snapper Reid Ferguson recently revealed that he’s doing his part to get together some of his Bills teammates for offseason workouts in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Last week, a contingent of Bills players from the team’s offense met down in South Florida. Among them were quarterback Josh Allen and new No. 1 receiver Stefon Diggs.

But the special teamers aren’t sitting around, either. Ferguson recently was profiled along with his brother, Blake, in the New York Times. The story explored how the two brothers, both long snappers as Blake was recently drafted by the Dolphins, are prepping for the 2020 season with the tough circumstances going on this NFL offseason due to the pandemic.

In that piece, the two discussed how they’re working together to improve, while also not trying to give away any secrets… considering now they’re both AFC East rivals, after all. But also mentioned is how Ferguson has invited two of his newer Bills comrades to workout with the brothers.

Rookie kicker Tyler Bass drives two hours from South Carolina to meet with the brothers in Smyrna, Ga. Along with Bass, punter Kaare Vedvik is also joining the crew, but took it a step further. He used to drive from Birmingham, Ala, about a two and a half hour trip according to the report, but now Vedvik actually moved to a closer location.

Vedvik signed with the Bills earlier this offseason and will compete with Corey Bojorquez for Buffalo’s punting job. Bass, the team’s sixth-round pick, will compete with Stephen Hauschka for kicking duties. The two new guys appear to be going an extra mile to meetup with some of their new teammates while prepping to hopefully find full-time jobs with the Bills in 2020. But don’t think for a second the two incumbents aren’t working, too. They could all likely be there, but the ongoing pandemic is making travel difficult.

Both of these spots will be training camp battles to watch later this summer for the Bills.

 

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Isaiah Hodgins, Tyler Bass, Dane Jackson sign with Bills

The Buffalo Bills have three players from their rookie draft class under contract, according to The Houston Chronicle. 

The Buffalo Bills have three players from their rookie draft class under contract, according to The Houston Chronicle.

Sixth-round picks in receiver Isaiah Hodgins and kicker Tyler Bass have signed on the dotted line with the Bills, while seventh-round cornerback Dane Jackson did as well.

Bass will go head-to-head with Stephen Hauschka for kicking duties in Buffalo during training camp. Hodgins and Jackson will compete for depth spots at their respectively playmaker positions.

Hodgins brings added size to the Bills at 6-foot-4 on the outside on offense. Jackson will compete for one of the final roster spots on the Bills in a packed cornerback room. Both players will likely have to prove their worth on special teams as well.

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New Bills kicker Tyler Bass has some trick-shot skills (video)

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass from 50 and 60 yards.

Tyler Bass vs. Stephen Hauschka will be a training camp battle for the Buffalo Bills in 2020.

While teams, including the Bills, often bring in competition at the kicking spot every training camp, this one has a bit different spin. Bass wasn’t a free agent signee or UDFA. The Bills used a draft pick on the Georgia Southern product.

Could that give him a leg-up (pun intended) on the competition with Hauschka? Certainly this will come down to performance, regardless.

But having said that, Bass has some pretty cool trick shots, of sorts, in his back-pocket.

In December 2018, Bass posted video of these two massively long kicks. Of course, these won’t help him in games since the scenarios are completely different. But Bass hits two kicks from 50-plus yards barely moving.

Check them out here:

 

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Bills 2020 NFL draft class ranked 2nd in return on investment

In recent years, The Athletic has used a tool dubbed the “Consensus Big Board Draft Rankings.” 

In recent years, The Athletic has used a tool dubbed the “Consensus Big Board Draft Rankings.”

It’s a bit of a complex system that’s based off of compiling the opinion of more than 60 NFL draft evaluators and pegs prospects into one final big board based on the findings. So kind like a final prospect ranking chart combining the thoughts of all those “experts” melted into one.

Using that, The Athletic reflected on the 2020 NFL Draft. Calculating that into another detailed formula which involves the value of individuals picks held by NFL teams, the outlet pegs which draft picks were “steals” and which were “reaches.”

After using that blueprint  for every NFL team and stacking them up against one another, the Bills’ 2020 draft haul to be the one that will have the second-best “return on investment” in the future.

In regard to the Bills’ draft specifically, one player wasn’t touted as one of the best of the bunch:

As for Buffalo, San Francisco and Houston, there are three different stories. Analysts were high on Buffalo’s draft but not nearly high enough — Buffalo gained value with every single pick except kicker Tyler Bass. A first-round talent in the second, a third-round talent in the fifth and a pair of fifth-round talents in the seventh highlight their draft.

Additionally, individual picks that were pegged steals, which would have gained the Bills the most stock here. Maybe a bit of a surprise, it’s quarterback Jake Fromm, Buffalo’s fifth-round pick. Meanwhile, Bass did appear as one of the biggest reaches of the draft.

 

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Watch the new Bills kicker nail a 50-yard field goal with no steps, and a 60-yarder with one step

Tyler Bass has a LEG on him.

The Bills have brought in a new kicker this offseason, selecting Tyler Bass in the sixth round of the NFL Draft out of Georgia Southern. Bass will presumably replace Steven Hauschka, who struggled with the Bills last season.

Bass also has an absolute cannon of a leg, apparently. In a clip that I still don’t quite believe, Bass appears to hit a 50-yard field goal … without taking any steps beforehand. He then appears to hit a 60-yard field goal, by taking just one step. I … did not think this was a thing a human being could do.

I pulled a hip flexor just watching this clip. I am physically in pain. What on Earth.

If the Bills ever get in a situation where they need him to hit a field goal with no run-up, they are SET. Why this would happen? I have no idea. But they are going to be ready for it.

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2020 NFL Draft: Grading the Bills’ Day 3 picks

Here are the grades for the Buffalo’s draft picks on Saturday. 

The Buffalo Bills added some intriguing pieces to their roster on the third day of the 2020 NFL Draft. These prospects will be battling for a roster spot, undoubtedly pushing veterans for snaps this fall. With the uncertainty of training camp this summer, which is where these players usually make their first mark for their team, these players have an uncertain road ahead.

Here are the grades for the Buffalo’s draft picks on Saturday:

UCF Knights wide receiver Gabriel Davis. Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Round 4 | No. 128 | WR Gabriel Davis | Central Florida

Grade: B+

This is a very good value pick at this point in the draft for the Bills. Davis has the frame that is largely missing in the Bills’ receiving corps. At 6-foot-3, 216 pounds, the Central Florida wideout can use his size to win contested catches. He is a vertical threat for the team, even though he isn’t necessarily a flat-out burner. Davis does a good job of using his frame to gain position inside defenders. He had a stellar junior season, catching 72 passes for 1,241 receiving yards and 12 touchdown receptions.

Davis doesn’t necessarily have positional versatility at this point. He played mostly on the left side of the formation at Central Florida. His ascent up the depth chart will depend on how quickly hie expands his expertise at running an expanded route tree.

The pick further creates a bit of a logjam at the bottom of the Bills wide receiver depth chart. Isaiah McKenzie, Robert Foster, Andre Holmes, Duke Williams, and Ray-Ray McCloud III will challenge for roles in the fall.

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Buffalo Bills full 2020 NFL Draft class

Full list of the Buffalo Bills’ 2020 NFL Draft class and picks.

The 2020 NFL Draft has come and gone for the Buffalo Bills. It took a little bit to hear their name, but the Bills finally made some picks.

And to many, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane made his seven total selections count. Despite not having a first-round pick, the two sixth-round picks gave Beane and the Bills their full load of seven picks in the seven-round draft process.

So here it is, your full Bills 2020 draft class:

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