WhitewalkerInPhilly

Really KC? Four months wasn't long enough to make a decision, you're going to run out the clock on draft day?

Really KC? Four months wasn't long enough to make a decision, you're going to run out the clock on draft day?

Currently at my favorite bar, with a standing order to keep 'em coming.

Since it sems like no one has this going yet, lets's keep it going pick by pick.

Yeah, that seems to make sense. He really would be an upgrade, but it makes the most sense for both sides if they wait. The teams get to disguise their intentions a bit if they are gung-ho on taking a LB early, and once the draft is over Dansby gets considerably more leverage with the teams who don't fill the need.

This has pretty much been my logic in why I didn't want Barkley. Now, I'm not saying I know better than an NFL scout, but I feel caution is justified. Part of me is hoping that this has Whaley's fingerprints on it, and that he is some kind of mad genius for keeping everyone completely guessing, but I have a sneaking suspicion that people are now just making **** up.

Does anyone else feel like we're now just at Random Mass Guessing? The Bills are interested in Nassib, no now it's Barkley, but now they have Geno Smith in, but EJ Manuel felt he thought Buffalo was likely...it just never ends!

Seriously, what's with all the Lindell hate? Lindell never showed us any particular reason to consider him inaccurate. Maybe he doesn't quite have the leg to be elite, but he knows how to kick at the Ralph when things are windy. Yes, Chan didn't trust Lindell to make field goals. He also didn't trust CJ Spiller to be able to touch the ball 20 times a game, and put an inordinate amount of faith in Fitz when everyone was screaming to pound the ball up the middle to help him. Why are we suddenly putting so much faith in what Chan thought?

mrags hit the nail on the head. This is the time of year when misdirection abounds, and projecting a weakness we don't have anymore would make sense. That said, the same is true for every team that he visited.

Well, I don’t know if it counts for anything, but since we’re spinning out wheels until 36 hours from now I figured that it couldn’t hurt. Here’s the list of names that I’ll be checking off and hoping for as things progress. I should note, that I do believe that the Bills will trade down somewhere, as it seems that the picks from 1-5 all seem to have the same guys, and there seems to be a period in the upper single digits and the mid rounds of talented guys who don’t seem to be immediate needs for the people there to take them. San Fran? St. Louis? I don’t know who, but I would be shocked if all three of the elite tackles, Dee Milliner and Tavon Austin all fall within the first 7 picks. There is trade bait in there somewhere, the question is whether we can get at it and use it. 1) The last QB out of Smith, Manuel and Nassib-These are my three. I’ve seen endless debate on all of them, and not a single one of them is perfect. I’m OK with that. I do believe that any single one of them, coached correctly, could be a productive starter for the team…but I’m holding off calling any of them superstars. I think that Kevin Kolb stands a chance of beating any rookie QB here in camp this summer, but I don’t expect things to stay that way. Smith has shown the highest level of production, but has been inconsistent. Manuel has some incredible tools, but definitely needs polish. Nassib knows the offense the best and thrives in the system we’re taking on. I would be entirely happy with any of them, whether it’s at 8, 41, or some pick we’ve traded for between then. 2) Tavon Austin- But he’s not a big, strong outside receiver! Well, yes…he’s not the man who will let the Bills put Stevie in the slot. But the West Coast Offense is predicated on timing throws, slants, and a lot of yard after catch. He’s an incredible talent, and who knows…maybe someone wants him so bad that they’re willing to trade for him after he gets picked. 3) Dee Milliner- I know, another CB pick…can we slit our wrists yet? If we hadn’t had such abysmal luck at the position, and with Aaron Williams now moving to safety our #2 and #3 are McKelvin and Brooks, neither of whom have shown themselves to be rocks of consistency. Even more distressing is our situation behind them which looks…grim. We can hopefully get another gem out our depth charts, but some assurance would be nice. 4& 6) Tyler Eifert and Zach Ertz-The Bills don’t have their one starting tight end from last year, so the reasoning between the two of them is so similar that I lumped them together. Maybe Dickerson can be of some use as a passing TE, and maybe Chandler comes back at some point, and MAYBE he’s just as effective, but that is a whole lot of maybe. I don’t see this pick happening at #8, but if the Bills trade back, or one of them slips I would be content. 5&7) Kevin Mintner and Manti T’eo- I think that if there is a single remaining weak spot in the Bills front seven, it’s at the Mike linebacker. If the Bills don’t pick up Dansby, or if he’s not a good fit there, that leaves Sheppard as the weak link on the line with Lawson, Bradham and Mario. We NEED help there. I could only really see this for Minter is if the Bills trade for San Fran’s 31 and 34th picks, but we might get lucky and Teo may slide as low as 41. Remember, this is a guy who a few months ago we were worried may go top 5. 8) Tyler Wilson-You will note the absence of Matt Barkley here. Maybe I’m crazy, and I came down on the wrong side of QB debate once before (Johnson over Flutie…what was I thinking?!?) but I don’t see it. Wilson may not knock your socks on combine numbers and measurements, and had a down year, but he put up a body of work beforehand. Now, this may sound a lot like Barkley, who also has similar excuses, but Wilson lost his best receivers and head coach his senior year. He’s best comparison as a pro has been to Jim Kelly, and considering the elements that Marrone and Hackett have been trying to bring in I would be more willing to give the chance on him…if my top three are gone by the time 41 rolls around. 9) Justin Hunter- Did someone call for a tall, fast receiver who has experience with blocking? This might be the solution for who to put on the outside to help out Stevie. Comparisons to Randy Moss have been made, and there does seem to be a crop of decent WR talent for day 2.

I know, right? Title change needed: "Please Do Not Draft Nassib Barkley." There, it looked as if you had mixed up the QB's.

Good thought. I'll start at the local bar...of course, I live in Philly, but I'll gradually work my way west. Godspeed!

Please god no... Look, maybe I'm just being too pessimistic. Maybe he can play under harsh weather conditions, but I hear "Southern California" and "subpar arm" and that sends black clouds everywhere. Look, Barkley's biggest upside is that he is the most polished of all draft picks. That is honestly the best thing I've heard about him. And if the Bills pre-Kolb, I would have grudgingly looked at that attribute as a major plus. Now, we can draft someone who doesn't NEED to start. To be honest, Barkley sounds like a Kolb clone, only Kolb weathered Philadelphia, has a bigger arm and can run faster...so, someone who is like Kolb except inferior in almost every way doesn't sound like a big upside. Geno probably has the highest upside, Nassib has the advantage of knowing the system and having better physical tools and still seems to have room to grow, and Manuel is the most physically gifted. I would take ALL of these guys over Barkley.

Personally, I agree. I would argue that the Jets are in an even worse position when it comes to QB than we are. The Bills wanted Kolb to come in, while the Jets benched Sanchez and bypassed Tebow for their third stringer. Will they go for a QB in the first round...I don't know. While I do think that Smith vs. Barkley vs. Nassib debate can rage on in Buffalo, I have a hard time believing that if the Jets have the chance to get a QB that they would have a hard time passing up on the opportunity. Plus, as previously mentioned this gives them three chances to snag a QB before we do. In the end, I say that if we like a guy, we take him at #8 and don't look back.

Not if the Bills trade back and get Nassib in the late first round, and get another pick to play with...I assume he means.

You know...I've been resisting it for a long time but I think I've finally come around to the idea. Is Nassib perfect? No. He doesn't have to be. Drew Brees isn't perfect, Russell Wilson isn't perfect, Colin Kaepernick isn't perfect. No QB in this draft is perfect. In the end, Nassib took the system which the Bills are going to be running and thrived in it. He did it with a team that didn't have the talent that flocks to the big name programs, and he did it in WNY weather. He'd be coming into a team with an decent to good offensive line and two incredible running backs. Marrone and Hackett know Nassib better than anyone. The people who have been watching tape instead of Bowl Games or the Combine say Nassib is a solid bet. If anyone is going to get the maximum usage out of him, it's them. I would not be dissapointed

Fair point, though I would argue that a true nose tackle has more effect than an OG, but even in that case I can at least see the reasoning behind it. Of course I would prefer a QB (Manuel or Smith) or a WR (Austin or Patterson), but to me it has some logic. Filling in a spot behind probably the most talented player on the team, whose backup is already an overpaid veteran...that would cause me to lose my **** more.

Love it. Manuel is a bit of a reach at #8, but he's now projected for the end of the first round, and people are talking about him getting picked up as at low as #4 with the Eagles but the good news is that Kolb can play...maybe he's not amazing, but I feel he can hold things down for a year while we get someone unpolished with a high upside a chance to get ready. Maybe that's Manuel...maybe that's Matt Scott, but I would be cheering with this choice.

I agree. I think that if Pettine doesn't believe that either Dareus or Branch can be a true NT (I'm hoping one of them can do it), I would be delighted if Star Lotulelei dropped into our laps. Seriously, we would have a scary front 7. +1. Thank you!

Oh God no...people mocking him to Buffalo was the reason for my recent "Why the hell are we talking about taking a pass rusher OLB at 8?" rant. I'd rather see us take Milliner, take Warmack or Cooper before him...and I *really* don't want us to take them.

There seems to be some confusion. What I said was "Edge Rushers" People who play DE in the 4-3 and OLB in a 3-4. Importantly, all signs indicated that we are CHANGING SYSTEMS!!!!! In the 3-4, typically only one LB is consistently used for edge rushing, which is the Jack LB. Assuming that we use a system very similar to the Ravens (which Pettine coached), we can assume Mario being in a Ray Lewis type usage on the weak side. Meanwhile, we've brought in Manny Lawson, who thrives as being on the Strong Side, which typically is a mixture of coverage and stopping the running back, as opposed to tackling. This is what the depth chart looks looks like for our front seven at present: D-line starters: Dareus, K Williams, Branch D-line backups: Carrington, Troup, Rushing LB/DE Hybrid: Mario Williams, Mark Anderson Outside LB: Lawson, B Scott, Moats ILB: Sheppard, Bradham, Dowtin If anything, where we're weak in the front seven is in the ILB.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and say that having edge rushers aren't important. QB's make the flashy plays, but championships are won with stout D. I think there's a reason why three out of the last four Super Bowl teams have been touted as having defensive models work emulating (2011 Giants, 2012 Ravens and 49'ers) and some people may recognize that I've been trying to mock out defensive schemes since Pettine was hired. That said...what the hell is up with a third of the people picking for an edge rusher for the Bills at #8 in the draft? Now, at this point almost all mocks and predictions I see go one of three ways: Quarterback, Guard, and Edge Rusher (OLB or DE/OLB hybrid) Quarterback is obvious. We need a franchise QB. Buddy knows it. We know it. The whole league knows it. If the Bills think they have a guy, I won't object even if I think they drafted too high. Guard...I disagree with the idea, but I understand the logic. If the Bills want to break in a 2nd round rookie QB who is raw but has potential and needs time to adjust (Matt Scott, Bray or less likely EJ Manuel), it would make Kolb/the rookie's job easier if they have a solid O-line to work with, so that they have time and can open up the running game for CJ and Freddy. A solid O-line and run game might help counteract our deficiencies. Personally, I think it's something we can do with our current backups coupled with a midround pick, but I can see the debate. Edge rusher...I don't see it. I really don't see it. Maybe before free agency began, but with the acquisition of Branch, Lawson and Dotwin and what we've seen in mini-camp, it appears that we are primarily playing out of the 3-4. Branch is there to act as a gap stuffer, Dareus and Williams are best at interior penetration, which means that the role of rusher falls to the OLB. Well, it's not like we signed a $100M contract to get a premier outside pass rusher...wait, I'm being told that we signed Mario Williams for that amount. Well, Lawson isn't much of a blitzer, maybe we want someone on the outside who can do the hybrid OLB/DE role...no, wait, I'm being reminded that we overpaid Mark Anderson to do that. Considering that we already have Moats for depth, and Lawson likely taking all non-blitz snaps at SLB I'm mystified why people keep saying over, and over and over that the Bills need another pass rusher. How about our non-existent receiver corps? Buddy ignored every entreaty to pick up a cheap WR in FA. How about CB, as now that Aaron Williams at safety our #2 and 3 and Leodis McKelvin and Ron Brooks? This is not confidence inspiring. How about tight end, where our only quality starter is coming off an ACL injury. How about someone who projects to be an every down, pure Nose Tackle? It just...shocks me that in the face of all these problems, people seem intent on trying to add more to the one position where the Bills have thrown every resource.

Sounds great! I don't have any plans next Friday, and that sounds perfect! I just need to find a place to watch the first round, since I don't have cable anymore. TO THE CORNER BAR!!!

Wow, it's out early this year! Usually it only comes out in preseason.

"Seriously, when are we letting Eric out of Time Out?"