Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott have spoken recently about wanting a more explosive offense. To reload the Bills with players from explosive college offenses, we should look at 2023’s most explosive teams (especially vs AP-ranked defenses), how often Bills scouts frequented them, and what offensive draftables contributed at each school..
To me, it is no surprise that LSU had more explosive plays per CFBStats than any other college offense, and no surprise that Joe Brady and D.J. Mangas are now on the Bills’ offensive staff. Former LSU DC Dave Aranda is in Sean McDermott’s inner circle, and had plenty of expperience with this LSU offense. While Malik Nabers is a pipe dream, Brian Thomas Jr. is within striking distance of The Beane Team. At 6-4 205 4.48, he’s almost exactly the height, weight, and speed of Marvin Harrison Jr., and the LSU ‘X’ receiver made 22 catches at 16.8 yards a pop on average this year. Add in his 79% catch rate in 2023, a 10th-place finish in FBS receiving yards, his top-20 EPA per target, and a high school basketball background, and Josh Allen would have a big downfield target with tremendous speed and great hands –even if he were in trade-up range.
Georgia ties LSU in the number of scouted games, and the Bulldogs’ offense has a pair of wideouts to examine. Ladd McConkey (no relation to Buffalo-born Phil) has a 16.0 average on 11 catches this year, and consistency with 15.7 on 15 catches in 2022. Ladd’s 74% catch rate is 5th-highest, he has the 2nd-highest run block grade among WRs, and gives his drafting team depth of target, with his Yards Per Route Run that is 2nd to Nabers in this class. Three reasons why he won’t be a Bill: He plays slot, and Shakir is faster than he’ll run at the Combine; he was underwhelming in scouted games (4-38-9.5-Long17vs Auburn ) and watch #19 Brock Bowers blocking for McConkey and you’ll see how McConkey gets his TDs. The “X” receiver on the second team for the Bulldogs, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint, is even slower than McConkey, but he blocks his hiney off downfield, and might be a late-5th, early-6th-round selection. I’m most intrigued with Sedrick VanPran, the Bulldogs’ Center. He’s a LG-OC versatile hogmolly who is one of the 4 best pass blockers among the IOLs you’ll see (Cooper Beebe, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Dominick Puni, and Van Pran). SVP has let up just one sack and one hit in the past two seasons as the Bulldogs’ center. Kromer will like his long arms and heavy hands, and Van Pran held up well against SEC defenses, earning him ALL SEC First Team. He’ll need a faster Combine forty to be the Bills’ RD2 selection, but I could see Beane wheeling and dealing if he drops into early RD3.
Look at the teams that had offensive lines stout enough to get those 50+, 60+, 70+ and even 80+ plays downfield. Pittsburgh, Miami, Duke, Ole Miss, and UCF had the most explosive plays downfield in 2023, so it’s no surprise that Beane’s scouts had them on their radar screens. Each has a hogmolly to pay attention to, and nobody’s talking about Matt Goncalves of Pitt. If he’s there at your RD4#130 pick, snag him. He’s your swing tackle for a decade. In the huddle, at 6-6 330 5.23, he’ll make O’Cyrus Torrence feel better about his massive size. Goncalves made All-ACC as a junior and senior, and made the All-ACC Academic Football Team. A native New Yorker, Goncalves’s home is halfway out Long Island. He was an important contributor for a Pitt offense that averaged a school-record 41.4 points and 486.6 yards per game, ranking third nationally in scoring and eighth in total offense.
LG LT OC Javion Cohen (RD4?) and pure Center Matt Lee (RD6?) are two other hogmollies I want to familiarize you with. Miami Hurricanes automatically get lots of attention by the Bills, as Manny Diaz was part of that inner circle of McDermott’s. But don’t forget two Bills scouts (A.J. Highsmith and Pete Harris) have Miami as their alma mater, and Jahmile Addae, the new Cornerbacks Coach, came to us via Hurricane. Last I checked in early October, Matt Lee had been in on 2,230 Pass Block Snaps over 3 years, with 1 sack allowed. Cohen had the most impressive interview of all of 76 IOL I listened to. Listen to 3 of the media’s questions.
Front-office types Brendan Rowe, the Bills’ Director of football operations, and Lake Dawson, Senior executive, went to college at Notre Dame, and they had to notice the extra-explosive Golden Domers this season. Both of ND’s tackles, LT Joe Alt, and RT Blake Fisher, as well as RB Audric Estime (“EST-im-may”) helped make it so. I’d look for a complementary running back to pair with James Cook in the midrounds, and Estime (along with Jawhar Jordan and Trey BensonRay DavisFront-office types Brendan Rowe, the Bills’ Director of football operations, and Lake Dawson, Senior executive, went to college at Notre Dame, and they had to notice the extra-explosive Golden Domers this season. Both of ND’s tackles, LT Joe Alt, and RT Blake Fisher, as well as RB Audric Estime (“EST-im-may”) helped make it so. I’d look for a complementary running back to pair with James Cook in the midrounds, and Estime fits that bill (along with Trey Benson, Cook’s fellow Bulldog Kendall Milton, and Ray Davis).
Watch for these guys from explosive teams at the Combine, Bills scouts at their Pro Days, and at 1 Bills Drive for 30-Visits.
Editor’s babble: Sharpen your pencil and get ready, the NFL Combine is up next. We are so grateful for Dean Kindig’s contributions to our blog. You can also find Dean on Xwitter @TCBILLS_Astro.
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