High Mark

I really like Iupati and I got to thinking if there was any correlation between a Gs success in the league and draft position. I looked at 5 years of drafts (03-07) and started looking at the first round Gs. I picked those years because they were the most recent aside from 09 (too soon), and in 08 there were none taken in the first. In 2003 no Gs were taken in rd 1, but Eric Steinbach was taken at 33 overall and is a very good G for the Browns. in 2004, Shawn Andrews has been a multi time PBer, but has been suffering from depression as of late. Chris Snee was taken with the 34th over all and is a PBer as well who helped his team to a SB. 2005 only one, Logan Mankins, and he is a PBer and SB winner. 2006 Davin Joseph who is now a PBer 2007 Only Ben Grubbs in RD1. He hasn't made the PB yet but is a very good G and will likely be in the PB soon. So in 5 years, 6 Gs were taken in RD1 or very close to it (2 picks or less), and 4 have been PB while the two who haven't have been very good players for their teams. Eric Wood was the only player drafted to play G in 2009 and if his rookie year is any indication he is going to be a quality player as well - good news for us Bills fans But if those last 5 drafts are any indication, it would seem that if a guard is good enough to justify a rd 1 selection, he has a 66% chance to make the PB and 83-100% likely to become one of the better Guards in the league (83% if you count Shawn Andrews career as a bust). That has to be the highest % in the league for any position from draft choice to PBer. I have full confidence that Wood and/or Levitre will become one of the better Gs in the league, but I would have liked to add a guy like Iupati too that mix, with Wood as one of the better C in the league. EDIT: This link is posted in another thread on the Wall. Similiar line of thinking in their research, and G has the lowest bust rate of any position. http://www.ninersnation.com/2010/2/24/1324...-it-high-stakes

Losman should count on this list too.

It matters because your scouts are telling you the best players are the ones that cant break the starting line up. Now think of the players who you missed on because of the scrubs you drafted (please dont make me list them again). This is a huge statement about our scouting depart.

Id like to see the Ol and the D front 7 out there for a while too. They need the experience.

It pains me to say if but I really am jealous of what the Jets have been doing the last few years.

*good talent. Wood and Levitre will be our bright spots no doubt. but 2/5 or even 3/5 just aint gonna cut it. So your evidence that we can compete with the playoff caliber teams is that we lost to the Patriots twice, and that our 1 win vrs a playoff team was an OT win in a game we had 6 interceptions and the team we beat went 9-7 to squeak into the playoffs after winning 2 lay down games the last 2 weeks of the season which under normal circumstances they would have lost and not made the playoffs at all. Sorry but I must be missing the optimism...

Are you talking about Bulaga or Oher?

Ill post it again because no one seemed to acknowledge it before, but FWIW, Bulaga took 100% of his reps as the backup LT in the Packers intersquad scrimmage Sat (I watched it twice on NFLN). I am not sure where the article got its information, but even if he does start at LG good for him. He will eventually replace Mark Tauscher - a very very good long time LT I really liked Bulaga in the draft and wish we took him. He looked good in that scrimmage too. I think it could become another Oher situation where he really is not a "reach" in hindsight. But even if he is only a G, we need a G too! (because wood moves to C)

The Bills alwasy seem hell bent on developing OL talent rather than just drafting some OL who already have talent. The fact of the matter is Bell has a much higher chance of being out of the league in 2 years than the Bills starting LT. But I guess relying on the likes of him and others like him allows the Bills to draft 3 RBs in the first round the last 8 drafts while an undrafted former NFL Europe player is that starter

We simply dont have to OL talent to complete with the playoff teams. The LT situation has gotten a lot of press. Hangartner struggled mightily last season. Wood/Levitre are still young. We will wait and see about Green. Untill we have more talent our hands are pretty much tied.

A big thing with play calling in the preseason is also to put players in a situation to evaluate them best. Like calling 3 straight pass plays to see the QB in action, regardless of down/distance.

Iupati would have been a huge help to our team. Davis I have no confidence in becoming a quality LT, but as a RT he could have helped our team too. Same with Bulaga. The thing with it is that I think a team with Lynch/Jackson in the backfield and 1 or 2 of those guys on the OL creates a better running attack than Lynch/Spiller/Jackson and Hangatner/Bell on the OL.

Im not sure where that article got its info, but from the Packers intersquad scrimmage that was on NFLN this weekend he was purely at LT (backup). Also there is no harm in not beating out Mark Tauscher. Bulaga looked very good in a scrimmage - yes still a scrimmage - but I fully expect him to be a qualtiy T in the NFL.

From my one night at TC, #30 Chad Simpson was clearly that better runner and that opinion was was obviously shared by the coaching staff in his amount of reps in relation to Bells. Simpson got the most reps of any back there, albeit it was before Spiller signed and Jackson/Lynch obviously 1/2 before him. He turned his carries into some pretty nice runs too, with 1 or 2 would be TDs. If we keep a 4th tailback, its Simpson at this point. He also was Indys return man last season which may give him some extra value as a return man.

That story may be true, but I just figured it was because Jauron couldnt evaluate the talent they had until it hit him in the face (and sometimes didnt realise it even after it hit him in the face) See Greer/Jackson/Leonard - even Pat Williams could be on that list. Last preseason Stupar was very impressive and this whole board saw it. It was pretty obvious. Im not that suprised he has worked his way up the depth chart.

Dont look at me, I really wanted Sweed! I did really like Jordy Nelson too. He has had the most success of the bunch, but I dont think I would of taken him over Sweed if I had the cahnce.

Poz has been seen working out pretty hard at TC, with sprints and agilities and the like. I havent heard anything about Ellison and frankly dont care. He was one of the worst players on the team last season and that was playing in a scheme that was supposed to fit his abilities. Now he is in a scheme that doesnt. I dont see him making this team, and if he does and plays, I am just gonna snap (insert Billy Madison imagery here)

O guys! I almost forgot the most important piece of info. The Offense was practicing agaisnt a 3-4 defense!!!!!

Just because Trent is clearly the best QB we have (a statement I agree with from what I saw), doesnt mean I should be ok with him starting, if you know what I mean.

No suprise there with Iupati - he was one of my favorite players in this draft. Davis, I never see as being a quality LT. I think Bulaga was the better prospect for let or right tackle.

Troup worked primarily with and against teh 2econd teamers, but it was evident he was a good anchor there. He is a fireblug no doubt about it. Kyle Williams added a little bit of a gut and is very good so I dont see him getting benched for Troup. I think we have 2 very good NTs to work with. I think it was a big endorsement of Carrington to leave him at RDE in the 40 front when the team went nickle. I dont think the coaching staff would do that if he couldnt rush the passer. We are gonna need those 2 guys moving forward thats for sure - and if Stroud wears down over the season like he has the past few we could see a lot of both.

He was the Dime CB last night. Looked good with the 2nds as wel.

I want to try and stay away from "he looked good he looked bad" because that can be subjective/biased. What I will do is report on where they had players and who was starting ect. It was pretty obvious that Trent was the starter. From walk throughs, 7v7, 11v11, he took 100% of the 1st team snaps. Fitz and Brohm split the other reps and Brown got very few. If this practice was any indication of how camp has gone so far, and unless their are injuries or something major changes in the preseason, Trent will be starting day 1. - I know I wanted to stay unbiased, but Fitz looked bad. If this is how the majority of his camp goes, he is gone. I also have on some good authority he is not impressing some of the FO. I expect him to get the ax. Wood/Wang/Bell were wearing shorts all day and weren't in. The starting line was Merideth/Levitre/Hangman/Jason Watkins/Green. This unit stayed together throughout the practice. Meredith didn't look too bad. On one play he had to get a nice arm bar on Maybin to prevent a sack. That would have been a hold (unless we were playing the Patsies*). Who knows if Bell comes back to start, but last night that was the unit. I saw Calloway at both G and RT. He was ran around like a pylon by Maybin at T 2 or 3 times in 11v11, so I think he will be a G moving forward. Stevie Johnson saw the most work at WR#2. Parrish was in the slot a lot. Easley was out. One guy who was out there a lot was #86 David Nelson. He was used in the 4 WR set and was put in motion a lot. He may have been filling in for Shawn Nelson, because I didn't see him when they were working on it, but I did see him later in the practice in pads, so I'm not sure which guy is the 4th guy out there. They are both big at 6'5'' so they could have the same role on those plays. It looks like Stevie J will be the # 2 v Washington, and if he performs well, to start the season too. RBs there is not much to say. #30 Chad Simpson was pretty impressive. He was the 3rd RB, but he had a lot of good runs. If he can play on ST he should make the team. On D there were a lot of shakeups. Poz Kelsay, and Ellison were out so the starting inside backers were Davis/Mitchell. The OLBs were Ellis and Torbor. The OLB backups were Maybin and Coleman. When Ellis/Torbor were in they used a strong side/weak side backer setup with Ellis as the strong side, following the TEs to that side of the field. When Maybin came in they left him on the right side. Ellis looked good and I think he will be the starter - I dont see Kelsay beating anyone out. In the nickle, they went into a 40 front were Ellis moved to RDE, Edwards went to LDE and Williams Stroud inside at DT. Mitchell stayed on the field and Bryant Scott came in to play LB, with Whitner and Byrd at safety. In the Dime, Corner replaced Scott and Maybin replaced Edwards. With the 2s, Carrington went to RDE in a 40 front when they went nickle. Whitner took all the 1st team reps at SS, Byrd at FS. McKelvin filled in a lot for McGee, whose reps were limited. He was the #1 CB with the 1s when McGee was out, and also the nickle Cb with the 2s. This makes me think he is slotted to be the nickle CB this season as of right now. Although they did have Florence lined up on parrish in the slot a few times with the 1s with McGee and McKelvin on the outside. Either way CB is not a position to worry about. Now to move onto my impressions of the players. Its no secret QB is a weak position on this team and that was evident yesterday. Edwards has the upper hand, but didn't look great by any means. The OL opened a few very good holes. Jackson/Lynch/Simpson each broke through into teh second level for long runs. I was impressed by our run blocking and that should held our chances this season. Our DBs blanketed our WRs most of the night. Maybin looked quick and fast off the line, but he was out of position on a reverse while playing LDE in the dime. He ran circles around Calloway while Calloway was at RT, but going agaisnt Chambers he was swallowed up. It looked like Calloway just couldnt handle the speed of Maybin, and Maybin couldnt handle the strength of Chambers as Chambers could handle Maybins speed. As I said before Maybin drew a holding penalty on Merideth, but for the other plays he was in, Merideth pushed him upfield and out of the way. Maybin actually got a lot more reps at DE in a 40 front than LB in a 30 front - and he looked a lot better there too. I expect him to be a situational pass rusher this season. Hopefully as teh season goes on he can produce as a LB, but he wasnt doing much last night.

"Who needs Dick, we have Wang Levitre, and Wood!"

Are you sure that the night practice is open to the public? I had to get tickets at a Tops - I dont think anyone will be allowed in without a ticket. But you know what, I am glad they cancelled it. Its going to be a circus there with ESPN in town. F that, this is work not some entertainment event. Hopefully thats the reasoning behind it. If it is, thats my first to Gailey.