Many of the position battles set to get under way as camp opens next weekend, are those where only 1 or 2 of the players vying for a spot on the final roster will be cut. Not so in the defensive end department. As of right now, Buffalo have 8 players digging in for what I believe will be only 3 or 4 jobs.
Current Roster Players (In order of NFL experience)
Aaron Schobel - Entering his 8th NFL season - 8th with the Bills
Ryan Denney - Entering his 7th NFL season - 7th with the Bills
Chris Kelsay - Entering his 6th NFL season - 6th with the Bills
Shaun Nua - Entering his 4th NFL season - 1st full season with the Bills
Copeland Bryan - Entering his 3rd NFL season - 1st full season with the Bills
Ryan Neill - Entering his 2nd NFL season - 2nd with the Bills
Corey Mace - Entering his 2nd NFL season - 2nd with the Bills
Chris Ellis - Rookie
The starters
Without spoiling the ending for anyone, Aaron Schobel and Chris Kelsay will be the starters for the 2008 season. Both had down years in ‘07, much of which I attribute to a lack of productive play in the middle of the defensive line. Thus, I fully expect their numbers to improve assuming Stroud and company can stay healthy. Of course, Schobel may be more reliant on Kelsay’s improvement rather than the addition of Stroud in the middle.
Battle for #3
Third round pick Chris Ellis jumps right off the page for me in terms of a situational pass rusher. This is the only reason I believe Ryan Denney may make the team. Ellis’ lack of experience, coupled with his unproven run stopping ability, could keep Denney in the mix if there is little improvement on the latter front. Beyond the two household names (in Buffalo that is), the remaining candidates will have to make a significant impact in order to make the team - this includes long snapping incumbent Ryan Neill. In no way does Neill have his job locked up for the ‘08 campaign. His multitude of mistakes towards the tail end of last season will keep him looking over his shoulder at anyone on the roster capable of handling his duties. Moreover, his play at defensive end, is for lack of a nicer term, useless.
Who to watch for
One of my favorite picks in this year’s draft was the selection of Chris Ellis. The loss of Anthony Hargrove could have had more of an impact that many would like to think. However, Ellis’ pass rushing prowess makes him an interesting player to watch throughout the preseason. If he has the explosiveness off the ball that many scouts say he does, I expect him to make reasonable contributions on the defensive side of the ball, and make up for the loss of Hargrove.
Possibly Shocking Cut
In my training camp predictions, I put myself out there and said that Denney would not make the team in ‘08, and I still believe this will be the case. His foot problems from last year may still be an issue, and he has never quite lived up to the expectations that I think the Bills had for him when they moved up to take him in the 2nd round of the 2002 draft. The addition of Ellis in this year’s draft may have sealed the underachiever’s fate.
Final Predictions
Quantity Kept: Three. I know it seems ludicrous to assume that a team would keep only 3 defensive ends, and it’s very possible that they will keep a fourth, but I just don’t see a deep enough group here to eat up a roster spot which could be used for positions with far deeper talent (i.e. cornerback). Moreover, the versatility of Spencer Johnson in the middle, could make this a more than feasible option.
Players Cut: If the Bills keep 3, you can send well wishes to Nua, Bryan, Neill, Mace, and Denney. If they decide to keep a fourth, it will come down to Bryan and Denney - and I like Denney in that match-up.
Practice Squad Candidates: Considering the fact that I am predicting only 3 DE’s to make the team, I would pencil in maybe 2 practice squad players. I would anticipate Copeland Bryan sticking around in that capacity, and I could see Corey Mace playing a similar role.
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4 Responses to “Training Camp ‘08 - Defensive End Preview”
Posted: 07/18/08 at 3:06 am
(4)
Schobel, Kelsay, Denney & Ellis.
(if it were to be three, that would mean that Ellis didn’t show enough promise, and being that the case, Denney would be the third)
Posted: 07/18/08 at 4:32 am
Lee, you are probably right on this one being 4. I think I’m trying to convince myself more than anything.
Posted: 07/18/08 at 4:37 am
I would have to agree with Lee, they have very little veterain presence here so why not mix in a promising young talent in Ellis maybe he turns out to be better then they thought.
Posted: 07/18/08 at 4:34 pm
James, I don’t at all feel that Ellis will miss the cut. In fact, he is a shoe in! I would bet the farm on it. My contention is that Denney will miss the cut, and that the remaining crop of DE’s are simply not good enough to warrant a spot on the active roster. Then again, I know this would be a radical move, considering almost every team I know of carries at least 4 DE’s. But then again, I had to make a ballsy prediction somewhere along the line…haha!