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Update - Kiko out for the yr with acl tear (1 Viewer)

KellysHeroes

KellysHeroes

Footballguy
Bills GM Doug Whaley confirms second-year LB Kiko Alonso will move to weak-side linebacker in 2014.

It certainly sounds like DC Jim Schwartz will be running a 4-3 defense. Freshly-signed Keith Rivers will be the starter on the strong side, while Whaley says the team is still looking for a middle linebacker in free agency. Manny Lawson's role will be reduced. Schwartz's weak-side 'backer in Detroit was DeAndre Levy. Levy played 1,055 snaps in 2013, racking up 119 tackles and six picks. Alonso's tackles may dip but he'll remain a strong IDP option.

Slight dip or bigtime downgrade?

 
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KellysHeroes said:
Bills GM Doug Whaley confirms second-year LB Kiko Alonso will move to weak-side linebacker in 2014.
It certainly sounds like DC Jim Schwartz will be running a 4-3 defense. Freshly-signed Keith Rivers will be the starter on the strong side, while Whaley says the team is still looking for a middle linebacker in free agency. Manny Lawson's role will be reduced. Schwartz's weak-side 'backer in Detroit was DeAndre Levy. Levy played 1,055 snaps in 2013, racking up 119 tackles and six picks. Alonso's tackles may dip but he'll remain a strong IDP option.

Slight dip or bigtime downgrade?
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Slight dip but nothing too substantial if at all. Kiko is a sideline to sideline LB with lots of speed. He wont have to face that extra blocker on the weak side so should be in line with some tackles. WLB is not a bad spot, just look at Lavonte David. MLB>WLB>SLB.

 
It is fine. Schwartz's WLBs of previous years have shown they can have a big fantasy impact.

DeAndre Levy was LB #10 in 2013. Kiko Alonso is more athletic than Levy.

 
Lateral move, in my opinion. One could even argue that is a positive move in terms of potential production. He will still play 99 % of the snaps, he will have a more free role since he doesn't have to go up against offensive linemen as often with his smaller frame, and the generous home stat crew in Buffalo will continue to give him plenty of tackles. He had 159 total tackles last season. 88 of these were at home. 71 in away games. PFF registered 53 tackles at home and 64 tackles in away games. Go Buffalo...

With that being said; I don't think he will repeat his 2013 production for 2014 but it has nothing to do with him moving to WLB. Vontaze Burfict, Lavonte David, Chad Greenway, Philip Wheeler, Alec Ogletree are all WLBs....Paul Worrilow played WLB in his two big breakthrough games where he had 38 tackles over two games, so it is not like it is a position where you can't get volume. But Alonso had an amazing rookie season, clicking on all cylinders with what to me seemed like a fluky start to the season, so if I'm gambling I'm betting on him not matching his 2013 production - be it through injury, how he is utilized or performance. So if I'm buying I'm hesitant to purchase him at his current price.

 
I think the problem is that Spikes is a tackle machine.

I would pay him top 5 LB money if he were to stay on the field for 3 downs, but he has established himfelf as a 2-down guy.

From these two assessments I conclude that Spikes will eat into Kiko's tackle opportunities, and a guy like Bradham will eat from Spikes' ceiling.

 
womb said:
I think the problem is that Spikes is a tackle machine.

I would pay him top 5 LB money if he were to stay on the field for 3 downs, but he has established himfelf as a 2-down guy.

From these two assessments I conclude that Spikes will eat into Kiko's tackle opportunities, and a guy like Bradham will eat from Spikes' ceiling.
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Spikes will only eat into Kiko's tackles if he has to chase down the guys - we he cannot so that well (why a 2 down back). Anyone running up the middle is a MLB tackle anyway so not a huge impact.

 
bear in mind I haven't followed football all offseason, but my vague memory is that buffalo played quite a bit of dime coverage last year, where it was basically kiko as lone lb surrounded by a bunch of db, which you might not see so much of this year.

I think there's a lot of reason to expect him to continue to perform, but maybe just not at last year's level.

 
Why is Spikes considered a tackle machine? I've seen him play plenty and sure, he can stuff the run right up the middle. The past two seasons he posted 48 and 55 solos playing all but one game. As long as Kiko doesn't leave the field, I'm not real worried about a dip in production.

Everydown 4-3 WLBs with his athleticism can thrive, and then some.

 
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Bdub said:
Why is Spikes considered a tackle machine? I've seen him play plenty and sure, he can stuff the run right up the middle. The past two seasons he posted 48 and 55 solos playing all but one game. As long as Kiko doesn't leave the field, I'm not real worried about a dip in production.

Everydown 4-3 WLBs with his athleticism can thrive, and then some.
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I only see that you agree with my conclusion for the most part. The point that I am trying to make is not that Spikes misses games, he misses downs.

I will take the example you provided and take it a step further with your permission:

Spikes had 48 solos and 38 assists in 2013. Now add to this that he had this performance in 694 snaps.

Alonso had 84 solos and 72 assists in 2013. Now add to this that he had this performance in 1176 snaps.

The calculator translates Spikes performance to 1176 snaps as 81 solo tackles and 64 assists. That is a high LB2 range if not low LB1.

Kiko will undoubtedly get his tackles, but it looks like they will be more on the outside and on the third downs.

 
The bigger effect on Kiko would be if their stat keeper figured out how to properly credit assisted tackles. The had 72 assisted tackled credited last year (42 at home, 30 on the road), only 6 other LBs had more than 50.

 
Per Rotoworld:

Updating a previous item, ESPN's Adam Caplan reports the hip surgery Bills WLB Kiko Alonso underwent this offseason was to repair a torn labrum.
The typical recovery timetable for a torn labrum is 4-6 months. Alonso being ready for training camp depends on when he went under the knife. Alonso hasn't been participating in OTAs and can likely be ruled out for minicamp next month. Training camp doesn't commence until late July. May 28 - 1:45 PM
Source: Adam Caplan on Twitter
Does anybody know when this surgery happened? If it was right after the season, that's one thing. If it was this month, oh boy......

 
Man I hope so. It'll be tough losing Lee and Alonso in less than 24 hours the first week of OTA's.

 
Sell high if you have a league mate that thinks he's a top LB. This has nothing to do with the position change. He's just not a great football player. He's an injury risk and will spend most of his time chasing RBs and TEs on passing downs. If he plays the MLB on passing downs then wait for a huge game or two and trade really high.

Let the trashing commence!

 
DonFue said:
Sell high if you have a league mate that thinks he's a top LB. This has nothing to do with the position change. He's just not a great football player. He's an injury risk and will spend most of his time chasing RBs and TEs on passing downs. If he plays the MLB on passing downs then wait for a huge game or two and trade really high.

Let the trashing commence!
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Id rather just sit on him and watch him dwindle on my roster if that's the case.

*and ftr, I don't/haven't owned Kiko.

 
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Defensive report from Buffalo's OTAs.

Seems Spikes is going to call plays so that hints he'll be more than a two-down thumper.

Could be an IDP sleeper of sorts if he is indeed on the field all three downs.

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/5-things-we-learned-about-the-Bills-defense-this-week/720c3c24-b19b-4056-b04b-b27e412d133d

5 things we learned about the Bills defense this week

Posted Jun 1, 2014

Chris BrownBills Insider

From a new linebacker in the middle to a battle in the secondary, here are the top 5 things we learned about the Bills defense in the first week of OTAs.

Buffalo’s defense is undergoing a good deal of change in preparation for the 2014 season. They have a new defensive coordinator with a new scheme and some new pieces slated to be in the starting lineup. Here are our top five observations about the Bills defense after the first week of organized team activities.

5 – Spikes is calling plays

It wasn’t certain that Brandon Spikes would be making the defensive calls even though he is the team’s middle linebacker, but that has proven to be the case. The veteran looks very comfortable doing so despite being in a brand new scheme and surrounded by all new teammates as well.
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Oof. Traded Tulloch because I was stacked at LB. Lost Daryl Washington, now Kiko, in one offseason. Oy.

 
Guy in my league has Kiko, Washington, and Weatherspoon. Here's to hoping this is just precautionary and he'll be okay- what a fun guy to watch play!

 
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ESPN's Buffalo reporter said Bradham

Mike Rodak @mikerodak
Next up for the Bills at WLB would likely be Nigel Bradham. They could also try third-round pick Preston Brown on the outside.

 
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I think it's Bradham or a long shot in Ty Powell. Those are really the only two 3 down LB's on the roster IMO. Brown, Rivers and Spikes aren't good coverage backers.

 
Maynard046 said:
I think it's Bradham or a long shot in Ty Powell. Those are really the only two 3 down LB's on the roster IMO. Brown, Rivers and Spikes aren't good coverage backers.
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Yes because those options are mind blowing. And how do you know Brown is no good in coverage? Rivers had played three downs before and was already slated to be 3 down SLB with Spikes coming off. With Spilkes slated to call plays I think this increases the chances he has at taking on a 3 down role but Brown also called plays and while slated to be backup MLB could make an impact taking over for Kiko. Calling plays isn't end all be all but it does show a good amount of trust in my book. Buffalo isn't in Dallas shape here I don't think. Obviously not ideal but they seem to like Brown well enough, so we'll see what happens. If you are right and Brown/Spikes can't handle nickel packages I think those guys just sub in. Unless a FA is signed I see it being Brown, Spikes and Rivers right now.
 
At the moment, I think Da'Norris Searcy is going to get the bump in value. It's been beaten to death all off-season that he'll defer to Meeks or Williams in passing situations. I can't imagine the LB's being mentioned being better in nickle situations. If Searcy is bumped to a 3-down player, he'll have top 10 value.

I really like the Ty Powell call. He was sniped last year off the Seahawks TS. He came out of a FCS school, and he's a little older than most 2nd year guys. However, he's the most athletic LB on the roster.....that includes Alonso. Obviously, I'm not comparing instincts....just pure athleticism. They participated in the 2013 Combine:

Kiko Alonso

6'3"

238

4.74 (1.66, 2.71)

4.18 & 6.93 Shuttles

9'9" BJ

30.5 Vert

Ty Powell

6'2"

245

4.60 (1.58, 2.63)

4.40 & 6.98 Shuttles

10'2" BJ

37 Vertical

28 Reps

I was very high Bradham coming out of FSU, but something doesn't feel right with him. The former and current regime seemed to do everything they could to keep him off the field. It's going to be an interesting battle to follow.

 
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Agree with Whitney26; the real "winners" in value here are more than likely the safties and not any of the linebackers. Not only would Searcy get a bump as a likely nickel linebacker, but the uninspiring LB's in general could mean more tackles for Aaron Williams and whoever starts next to him (Duke Williams?). Personally I'm not interested in Rivers or Bradham even if they fill Alonso's role because I just don't think they have the upside to be every week starters in IDP. Powell has the measurables to be a difference maker, and considering that he's a waiver wire add even in deep leagues there is no risk if he doesn't pan out. I'd rather own the player with the higher upside, even if it's unlikely that he reaches it.

 
I won't disagree that safeties could benefit from poor lb play, but also remember that schemes make these guys, sometimes, and searcy was basically a lb under pettine.

it was typically alonso surrounded by db, and you probably won't see a similar look this year with pettine gone.

 
Everybody seems after Brown and Bradham, if you miss out on them then grab Rivers; he was already ticketed for a starting role

 
KellysHeroes said:
Everybody seems after Brown and Bradham, if you miss out on them then grab Rivers; he was already ticketed for a starting role
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Don't waste a roster spot. I've nabbed him so many times over the years, he's not capable of putting up numbers worth rostering even if he whole heartedly wins out.
 
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