vincec

Mel Tucker is new DC. 3-4/4-3 experience but most recently 4-3 under Del Rio. Given that and Chicago's personnel, I think that the defensive system will be very similar to Smith's.

He's going to do very well in Chicago. Perfect system for him in a partial playing time role. Too bad the Bills got rid of him.

With only 6 draft picks and holes at QB, WR, OLB, ILB, CB, OG and TE I'd say they needed the best draft in NFL history plus some undrafted free agent home runs as well. Realistically, if it's only going to happen via the draft then the Bills are still 3+ years away from being a championship contender, and that's if they stop losing starters via free agency that they have to replace.

I know I'm going to be in the minority but I will go ahead and say that although I liked Winfield, I was actually not that impressed by him during his time in Buffalo. When Winfield came to the Bills they had the #1 pass defense in the NFL. When he left it was #31. There was a steady decline in the Bills defense during his time here and despite people constantly saying that the Bills had one of the best CB tandems in the league (with Clements) the Bills were in the bottom half of the league in pass defense the last two years before he left. I know that they had no pass rush then but if your CBs are supposed to be that good how can your pass defense be near the bottom? Season Pass Defense Rank 1999 1 2000 4 2001 13 2002 27 2003 31

Can you imagine if Jackson beats out Kolb for the starting job after all this hype and hand wringing over whether Kolb will be better than Fitz?

Given his experience and tackling ability, I am surprised that he hasn't been moved to safety to try and extend his career. I suspect that it's because of his size but he deserves a shot there IMO, just not with the Bills however who need young guys that they can develop and then let walk when they hit their primes.

It would be a dream for if he could really be a dominating NT, but I'm not holding my breath. There are only so many guys in the world big and strong enough to play a traditional 2 gap NT. Bill Parcell's used to call it "The Planet Theorey". A big, Vince Wilfork type NT/DT would change everything for the Bills run defense.

I'm confused (... I know). The write up on buffalobills.com talks about him playing 3-4 DE and 4-3 DT, but many of the posters here are talking about him at NT. Is this guy a NT or a DE when they go 3-4?

I agree with this. HAVE to get a QB in rounds 1 or 2... maybe 3 max.

Actually Buddy said specifically that he was not a guard. I believe the quote was "hell no he's not a guard".

I hope it sounds funny after the season is over. I'm actually pretty worried about the OL. There are lots of possible reasons that they may struggle heading into next season.

The Bills are definitely going to draft a QB. The only question is what round. I have a question however: besides Tom Brady what QB taken in the 5th round or later (in recent years) ever amounted to anything?

Do you mean "rather than" instead of "then", Mr. Grammarian?

Now, how do you expect anyone to take anything else that you have to say seriously after saying things like this?

This is a concern as well. If Wisenhunt and Reid couldn't make Kolb work why should we believe that Marrone can?

For all the people saying that Kolb will finally shine behind the Bills OL, I think that we are going to see a drop off from the OL this season. Gone is Gailey and his quick, short passing game. Gone is Fitz and his ability to adjust blocking schemes vs blitzes. Gone is Levitre, arguably the best pass blocker on the Bills OL. In comes Kolb, one of the most sacked QBs in the NFL. This doesn't sound like a recipe for a good season by the OL.

Another separate Kevin Kolb thread?

If only the modern NFL worked that way. The Vikings had a running back with one of the top seasons in NFL history and barely made the playoffs, and were eliminated in the first round.

Who was the last 7 year vet QB who bounced to his third team and went from mediocre to a star?

Can't afford a QB competition between two no-future veterans with a rookie who needs reps and attention in training camp and preseason sitting on the sidelines.

This is already in the other Kolb thread.

Kolb is not the answer. He has failed with two organizations. Who was the last QB to do that and then turn out to be a top player? It doesn't happen. And the Bills already have a stop gap veteran in Jackson so what's the point of this?

I agree with most of this. He's just another guy really. I fail to see the reason to pay a 5th year vet salary for that.

I would buy that too. Or maybe BPA at #8 and then trade back up into the middle of the 1st round for the QB.

How about taking the BPA at #8 and then trading UP back into the late middle of the first round and trying to take your QB there? The Bills only have 6 picks so they would pretty much shoot their wad in their first two picks but if the two guys are good then and especially if one is a QB then it would be worth it.