Archives for April 2003

Positives: Has good upper-body muscle development. More quick than fast, but can make cuts at the holes and has the hip swerve needed to avoid defenders slashing through traffic. Instinctive runner who sets up and uses his blocks well. Very creative and strong inside runner who plays at a low pad level, carrying defenders on contact and breaking arm tackles consistently. Has an above-average short burst to cut back or bounce outside and the acceleration to run away from defenders. Will usually improvise and create when the hole is clogged. Shows good ball security and will cut sharply while finding a way to get open on pass routes.

Negatives: Not asked to block and needs work on his technique, as he will overextend and lunge when trying to cut-block in pass protection. Can set up a defender, but seems to struggle a bit running in space. Used mainly on flares and screens and needs some pass-route refinement, but his hands appear natural.

Last year's first round was the longest in NFL History at 5 hours 48 minutes, an average of one pick every 11 minutes or so. At that same pace, this year's 23rd overall pick would come at about 4:10 PM. Buffalo's second round pick (48th overall) is projected to take place at 7:25 PM.

Be sure to check out Buffalobills.com's up-to-the-minute coverage of this weekend's NFL Draft. Presented by Tops Friendly Markets, the online Draft Central will provide complete player biographical information on each of Buffalo’s draft picks as well as live audio and video of the post-pick press conferences with President/General Manager Tom Donahoe, Head Coach Gregg Williams and other key team personnel.

"Anytime you look at your football team you are trying to add quality big people. It's a game of big people and if we can add some to either side of the ball we are going to try to do that. We need depth on our team at several positions. We could still use some depth in the secondary, at wide receiver and at running back so there's probably not any area of the football team that we can look at say we probably won't look at anyone there. We are going to look at everything. Based on who is there we are going to try to make intelligent decision that will help our team." – Tom Donahoe

Here's a look at Buffalo's All-Time First Round Draft Picks

Teams that might be willing to move down to the Bills’ 23rd spot are New Orleans, which has the 17th and 18th picks, and Cleveland, at No. 21. New Orleans, however, would prefer to move up than down.

‘The worst pick…Walt Patulski…’

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‘Only one thing is known: because of 11 free-agent signings in the offseason, “The Toms” — Donahoe and assistant Tom Modrak — can concentrate on taking the best available player and really mean it.’

‘What would be wrong with selecting a player who might start at center for a decade or so? If Faine is the pick, the Bills would be hoping he contributes more than most of the team’s Notre Dame draft picks so far.’

‘If none of the linemen are around, the Bills may look for a defensive back, either Texas A&M’s Sammy Davis, USC’s Troy Polamalu or Bethune-Cookman’s Rasheen Mathis.’

”’I don’t think we can go wrong in this draft right here,” the Bills veteran offensive guard said. ”I think Tom has a pretty easy job. I think he could call me up and I could draft our first-round pick.”’

"We want our fans to know all the latest draft day developments as they happen," said Bills President/General Manager Tom Donahoe. "We'll be sending out Coach's Corner alerts all weekend to keep our fans up to date on everything that happens during one of the most important weekends for our team."

The Bills (No. 23) might be inclined to trade up with the Browns to snatch one of the last defensive linemen in the first round. The Browns might only net a fifth-round choice by dropping two notches, but they could rationalize the value of taking a cornerback at No. 23.

Ken Simonton will get a second chance to record history this week when the Claymores face the Berlin Thunder, the team that Simonton scored a record-tying 4 rushing touchdowns against in Week 1.