High Mark

I have seen posted in many threads, to the point where it seems to have become an accepted fact, that Maybin was a Juaron Draft pick 100%. Now I like everyone else have heard the reports the Jauron wanted Maybina and Modrak claims to have wanted Cushing – but do you believe everything you hear? At the end of the 2008 Season Jauron was almost FIRED. He was a hair away from getting the Axe (so close so that halfway into 2009 he actually was canned). So, are we to believe that 4 ½ months later, the then “circle jerk of trust” went 100% with a lame duck coach who was sitting on the hottest of hot seats against the advice of the entire scouting staff? I don’t believe that one bit. Now I don’t doubt Jauron wanting Maybin at all, but I do doubt the notion that Modrak was against selecting Maybin. Modrak may have had Cushing as BPA, but I bet he had Maybin as 2nd best BPA – a pick the staff has tried desperately to distance themselves from. There is no way that the scouting staff was trumped completely for the opinion of a coach everyone knew wouldn’t last another year or 2, Jauron defiantly had some backing from eh scouting staff in that draft room. If Modrak was good at his job he would have had Maybin rated no higher than the 4th round. In that case, the “circle jerk of trust” decided to draft the highly un-recommended 4th round prospect that the lame duck halfway fired HC wants? Sorry if I don’t buy that scenario either. Ok, so Modrak wanted Cushing…. Haven’t we heard this before? In 2004 he was part of the scouting staff hand picked by Donahoe to be head of scouting. That year that staff TRADED UP to select Losman. 2 years later in 2006, Modrak was reported to have wanted Cutler (this info, just like the Cushing info, came out AFTER the season). So Modrak had given up on Losman after 2 years, one of which was spent on the bench with a broken leg? Please – not buying it, no way he gave up on Losman that fast. Its also pretty fishy considering Cutler starts off his career on such a strong note – hindsight anyone? Again this Cutler news didn’t break until after the season. Fast forward to 2009 and its Cushing…”I wanted Cushing” Modrak says- again reported after the season, Oh what a coincidence that he is the ROY. I bet if you asked him today who he wanted he would say “I wanted Mathews……” Sorry but I am not buying it.

I think we are seeign maybins last days as a Bill. I dont think he will be active again. I just have a hunch that with his benching, they are poising themselves to pick up Merriman. It makes too much sense not to.

Well yes. I was dumb to assume we would draft good players. I would prefer Mayock making our selection every time over our entire scouting staff

Thank you for not calling me an idiot. The Line formed a nice pocket but only had to hold them up bc of how great Fitz played. This helped the hole line not just Howard. I saw it twice on the first or second drive of the game. Right now I am watchign the game on NFL replay, which doesnt show every play, but the play that ends at 8:14 in the 3rd he ends up face down while trying to block suggs. 9:40 or so in the 4th he gives up the edge very fast on a slant pass to Johnson. Doesnt fall over but he gets pretty off balence. with 3:20 left in the 4th he got blown up on a run play that resulted in a 1 yr loss. He handled Suggs until about 1:10 left in the 4rth when he whiffed on him. Same with 40 seconds left. Whiffs bad again with about 20 seconds left. However, he also had some good blocks on Suggs in between there. Howard played pretty strong but he just was overmatched in space. In the NFL he is more like a G than a T. I could see him being a G for this team and moving Hangman to backup duty if we ever get a quality set of Ts. People are just acting like he dominated when he was routinely exposed - maybe its because of how much worse Green was.

If you guys want to compare Clayborne and Heyward check out ESPN3.com http://espn.go.com/espn3/index They have both Iowa dn OSU vrs Wisconsin. Wisconsin has 2 future NFL players at G and T on the left side. Thats the closets thing these guys will see to the NFl in college

We cant even Bench Maybin bc he never started and doesnt play

I agree with your strategy except for one key element. We should do this with at least 2/3rds of said picks in EVERY DRAFT. Thats what all the good teams do.

Ill go with the #1 pick this year, and reverse the culture of losing next year. We don’t need wins this year to win next year – I don’t believe that logic at all. (case in point the Dolphins/Falcons/Chiefs and countless other teams who turn it around on a dime) Quite frankly this is the year to tank it. We are already half way there at 0-6. We have a new Coach, new GM, and need a whole bunch of new players. A couple bad wins here or there won’t result in wins in 2011, but WILL result in us missing on a Bradford or Mario Williams or Jake Long. A few wins could result in us just missing on the next P Willis or Roethlisberger type guy the same way those worthless wins have hurt us in the past (because Lynch and Losman were such studs). Nix apparently would have taken Okung or T Williams this year but we weren’t high enough up for either of them, would you trade those crappy jets or Panthers wins for one of those guys? Because I sure as hell would. Like a previous poster said, it starts with our scouting. It doesn’t matter where we pick if we blow it every time. But if we can hit on the right QB or someone D front 7, that one guy could literally turn this entire franchise around. Hopefully Nix can get lucky this year and select the right guy. Bottom line, this year is a wash, 7-9, 5-11, 0-16, doesn’t matter. It wont help us win games next season. But if we can add another Jim Kelly or Bruce Smith with the #1 overall pick, we have a better chance at winning in 2011

+1

Since week 2 basically.

for week 7 of the NFL 2010 or over the length of their careers?

I agree that you need a QB, QB is the single most important position on a football team, but that’s not my point. The Cowboys had Romo. They also had Barber and Witten (a very good core). So what do they do? They go out and spend multiple first round picks on skill players like an average WR (Roy Williams) a back up RB (Felix Jones) and yet another WR (Dez Bryant). Now they are a soft football team that is light in the pants at the most crucial part of the football field – the line of scrimmage. They have enough RBs WRs and TEs to field two SB caliber teams, yet an OL that’s as good as their current record (1-5). Their DL is weak too. The 3 most important parts to a football, QB, OL, DL. What do you get when 2 of those 3 suck? 1-5 Look at the Giants. They got a QB. Their RBs are undrafteds. They assembled a great OL and have kept them together – that’s what makes that team good. Now they routinely draft DLmen to get after the QB and won a Superbowl doing it. Sure they added a WR but at the right place and time. Look at the Steelers, the Patriots, the Colts (not so much OL but DL for sure, and they have the best QB to ever play the game which is why they can slide on the OL) the Ravens even. The Rams bring in two Ts and a veteran stud C before Bradford and are winning now. Look at the teams who are always always competing, or just beginning to compete. They have great OLs great DLs and a QB. The Bills need all three in that equations if we want to compete.

You can get as many WRs, RBs, KRs, and DBs as you want, but if you don’t have great LINES then you don’t win. Case in point the Madden Franchise that is the Dallas Cowboys (and Bills)

I agree with what you say about Wood and Levitre – these guys are picking it up and I think will totally dominate next season. Bell he also played great since week 2. He is making me forget about the LT position. But I disagree with Hangman. He has played too poorly in the past to be considered a solid starter. His real tests should be going against out AFCE opponents NTs. He cannot handle the Wilforks or Jenkins at all. I think we need an upgrade at G or C, with Wood being able to move to C if need be. At RT Green blows just cut him, as he was outplayed by a UDFA rookie in Howard. Howard however was not the Cinderella story everyone is saying he is. He took care of his easy assignments but was handily beat thoughout the game. If Fitz wasn’t hitting open receivers so quickly I think we would have seen a few sacks from the right side. The good news is a 2nd or 3rd round pick should be able to solve 1 or both of these problems this draft, giving us one of the better, younger OLs in the league (assuming they actually do something about it)

That leaves something to be desired IMO.

If Luck declares its Luck. We are kidding ourselves if we think Fitz is anything more than filling the spot till we have a true franchise QB. If he is not there I think we see a DE as there are a lot of good ones out there. With the second round pick a great RT or interior OL WILL be available. This could also be a good LB or DL player. The 3rd could also be a solid interior OL prospect that could contribute immediately. With no Luck, I would like to see a guy like Clayborne or Quinn (suspended) on D. I just don’t see a top T yet, and I hate the idea of taking another WR or DB. In the second a T like Love or an interior OL guy like Pouncy. There are a lot of LBs that it could be, including the NC guy and the NC Dlineman Austin – both of whom were suspended. In the 3rd I would love to see Carpenter the LT from Bama who would play RG for us. Talk about blocking with a mean streak. A guy I really like is Carmi the T from Wisconsin. I don’t think our picks and his value with align to make it happen though. I would love to add him and Carimi to our right side, moving Wood to C. If we could trade down, we could get Quinn who would fall due to suspension, then trade up to get Carimi at RT, and add Carpenter to play RG, Maybe with the picks left over to add another LB or DL – like more suspended NC guys.... Pipedreams....

Why is all the talk about height and weight? Its not about that. Its about being good at football. Some people are, and some people aren’t. there are a lot of 6’4’’ 240lb athletes out there that aren’t in the NFL – and its because they aren’t good at football. Maybin falls into that category, he just isn’t good at football. No matter which position he plays. No matter how much he weighs. He just is not good at football. He never was, and he never will be.

Why is maybin a bad football player? Because he just is. Not everyone is a good football player. 6 foot 4, 220 lbs (realistic, not this mythical 250), quick, not overly athletic by NFL standards, and bad at football. That’s just what he is. Maybin is a bad football player the same way Jim Leonard is a good one. Leonard is not big enough fast enough or strong enough, yet he is very good. Usain Bolt is 6’5’’ and literally the fastest man in the history of the world – yet I bet he would suck at football. You cannot quantify it, but you sure can see it. Maybin sucks, he sucked in college, it was painfully obvious that he did, and he continues to suck in the NFL. The sooner the Bills dump this chump the better IMO. Addition by subtraction. (I mean, didn’t anyone notice how much better Moats was in there?) PS – I believe the Bills will be releasing Maybin to add Merriman to the roster

Maybe its me, but I think there is a big false believe around here that Maybin is actually atheltic. yea he is more athletic than me, but by NFL standards I dont believe he is at all. He has no agility and is stiff. His top gear is slow. He seems to have one step in one direction from a track stance. When he has to stop and change direction its a lot slower than most. A total bust that was obvious before it happened. Just cut him. Did anyone notice how much more pressure Moats generated?

We wont draft a QB if Luck does not declare. Im still pretty certain we will be picking #1 though, almost guartenteed top 3. I could see a top DL being the pick.

You make a valid point. It would seem that the higher our draft pick (mike williams/Aaron Maybin/Hardy vrs k williams/Mcgee/s johnson) the bigger the bust. But that doesnt mean I am hoping the Bills get Luck in this draft, after all even blind mice can find the cheese once in a while. I am hoping that with the top pick they simply wont be able to miss.

I think he would have gotten serious consideration if not for the suspension. Adrian Clayborne should/will also get serious consideration. Maybe another LB or two also. I just haven’t seen a T that’s worth our top 5 pick (I haven’t seen the BC kid so does anyone have input on him?) Seriously though, without Luck, is there a single player that is “the consensus top guy”??? In years past there has been 1, if not 2 or 3, that were studs. Suh/Calvin Johnson/A. Curry going back just a few years. I haven’t seen anyone who has stood out like that. Without Luck I think this is a bad year to have the top pick. Obvious this team could benefit the most from trading down and getting a guy like Quinn or Clayborne or a T and a 2nd or 3rd to boot. (that is if Luck doesn’t declare, if he does, he is a lock IMO)

I apologize. You guys are right. There was someone else wearing a Bills uniform and playing RT yesterday. My mistake. O, and he didn’t fall on his face, he was pan caking the turf! And what dominating blocks they were…. I mean, why should I have a realistic attitude anyways, we did win the game after all, and are a lock to make the playoffs for the 10th time in 10 years. Forgive me, for when I went back to my new fancy DVR and re watched the first half, I didn’t see the exact things I was talking about earlier – my mistake! Now on a serious note, Im sorry if I call a spade a spade, but sometimes the truth hurts. You guys probably think “hey Fitz did well and Corado didn’t give up a sack, he must of played well” Well that’s where stats don’t tell the whole story. The fact is that he was beaten many times yesterday, go back and see for yourself if you have the ability, because you wont have to watch much more than the 1st Q to see what I am talking about. Did he play better than Green? Sure, but all you have to do is be the 2nd worst T in the NFL to play better than Green. He didn’t give up a sack, and it didn’t affect the offense as a whole much, but that doesn’t mean he played well in his 1 v 1 matchups.

Flea flicker anyone? Thanks for being so aware Byrd, and even more so Donte. I have long since thought our safetys are over rated and that Wilson is the best one. Donte also dropped a pick that could have been a TD and won us the game – but Donte couldn’t make a play to help this team win, story of his career. He has been average at best. I was never impressed with Byrds deflected interceptions last season – 3ish of those were TDs if it was a good pass, 3ish were spoon fed to him, and 3ish others were good plays. But he is never in tight coverage and neither is Donte. I agree with the Op and I think our best safety (GW) is on the bench, and I miss another playmaker…. Jim Leonard, he just makes plays.

NFL Draft Film Room – www.nfldraftfilmroom.com Its not up yet but I know the guys putting it up (the main “scout” is pretty good at the scouting stuff (coached at the college level for a few years, never was able to break into the NFL scouting circles though) – I get a lot of my opinions from him. He is going to have a lot of prospect videos, not highlight videos, but plays from entire games – aka every pass/run Mallet had vrs Alabama. The point being fans like the ones on this site can watch all of Mallets plays and debate for themselves who is good/bad/worth our draft pick. The plan is for him to also put together a scouting analysis video at the end of the season, where he points out things in each players game that will help or hurt him at the next level. I have seen some of the work and it looks great. Im not sure if it will be up 100% in time for this draft but going forward I see it being the best because of the videos, which no other site has.