Armchair GM

I think he's actually got a shot. Marrone seems to like the H Back, hybrid type FB/TE. Now, we have 2 to mess around with. Funny that they call them hybrids on O and tweeners on D.

Agreed...why the F is this even news...on NFL.com no less? Reminds me of Dauber on the NY Lotto commercial...well, the scream anyway. An orange peanut...for me? I accept you!

How many of those votes are tainted by the media...to the tune of "don't rush the rookies....let him sit behind Kolb for a few weeks...not a good idea to start him right away?" A lot of fans out there still consider network analysts as "experts."

I started a thread the other day pointing out this quote from Brandon, which was contained in an article about the, yet to exist, analytics department. My point wasn't about the analytics department, but it got merged with another thread and the discussion turned into one about analytics only...bad thread title I guess. I wanted to focus on the quote and hopefully draw some responses about under the radar and/or unknown FA's available. Some teams are "done," some still active, but at this point, are we dumpster diving? Anyone out there still worth kicking the tires on, besides Dansby? I read someones post yesterday about remaining FA TE's, and I responded with a "no thanks" to any of the aging retreads with bum wheels. However, I found a couple of interesting younger guys out there, all of which are Chandler types in the weay of size and skill. A couple with injuries that cut there seasons short, but may catch on somewhere and make something of a career out of football still. Check these guys out (links are from Wiki, which I found to be best with player history on virtual unknowns, sorry): Zach Potter; 6'7" 270Lbs. Jeron Mastrud; 6'6" 260Lbs. Joey Haynos; 6'8" 270Lbs (oldest of the bunch, but had some promising stats before being derailed by a foot injury)

Draft grades from the fist full of a**holes in the media mean absolutely nothing!! As evidenced by the draft, itself, year in and year out....and the war room cams I saw that showed how real football guys laugh at those schmucks!

Not really about the analytics department that has yet ot be established, rather a quote from Brandon in the article: http://www.theredzone.org/BlogDescription/tabid/61/EntryId/34721/Buffalo-Bills--analytics-department-doesn-t-exist-yet/Default.aspx Last line of the article, "...and ramping up for the last few days in free agency." Some teams are "done," some still active, but at this point, are we dumpster diving? Anyone out there still worth kicking the tires on, besides Dansby? I read someones post yesterday about remaining FA TE's, and I responded with a "no thanks" to any of the aging retreads with bum wheels. However, I found a couple of interesting younger guys out there, all of which are Chandler types in the weay of size and skill. A couple with injuries that cut there seasons short, but may catch on somewhere and make something of a career out of football still. Check these guys out (links are from Wiki, which I found to be best with player history on virtual unknowns, sorry): Zach Potter; 6'7" 270Lbs. Jeron Mastrud; 6'6" 260Lbs. Joey Haynos; 6'8" 270Lbs (oldest of the bunch, but had some promising stats before being derailed by a foot injury)

Really? I'm all for giving people the benefit of doubt, but Geno Smith is a different story. If you can't "ball park" a guys character by your firat impression (well, first impression while facing adversity anyway) then you may wnat to rethink things. Thomas is a different story, he was "mad" and it put a chip on his shoulder and all he did was shove down the throats of everyone that passed on him and made it to the Hall of Fame. Geno hung his head, pouted like a child, and actually said, in so many words, that he was taking his ball and going home. Dude, it's a big stage these kids choose to put themselves on, especially at the QB position. Now nes comes out that he fired his agent...wow! As for your question about what I would expect him to do...look up what Barkley had to say after his slide. "It's not going to say '4th Round Barkley' on my jersey, it's just going to say Barkley." Not to mention the fact he's got to deal with b*tch boy Sanchez, who will do everything he can to ensure Geno's failure. Oh yeah, he's going to be a QB in NYC...I actually feel bad for the kid.

EXACTLY! The Chargers didn't start winning until year 4 with Nix in the fold. They plugged in some lineman, LB's and DB's, all along while acquiring their QB and RB's (Brees, Tomlinson, Turner). The guys he drafted, or had a hand indrafting, turned into annual pro bowl selections...to the tune of 28 guys from '04-'08. For all the Nix haters, let history dictate your condemnation...This is a pivotal year.

No thanks...on any of them.

Perfect!! More like our next pic with the run on TE's...Escobar going in the 2nd is crazy! If we don't take this kid in the 4th, forget it. To me, it's a must pic.

An additional 10lbs is an ABSOLUTE MUST.

Can you give me some insight on Jon Bostic? I'd love him in the 3rd. Animal in the hole w/a true aold school LB demeanor, IMHO

If that turns out to be true, then we just drafted one of the best QB's...ever

simply awesome

Me either on Jones. I'm dumbfounded as to the opinions being spewed about him. Bottom line, the kid is a winner...at every position he's played.

I couldn't find such a scenario w/in the last 15 years. I guess it just doesn't happen. Trades go 1 by 1, but why not got a few teams in the mix, all at once? Obviously, I have an agenda here... Bills, St. Louis & San Fran. Buffalo gives up #8 and #41 to St. Louis for #16 and #22...per the value charts I've seen, not too crazy, but Buffalo ultimately makes out by a few points. Bring in San Fran and give them #16 for #'s 31 & 34. Buffalo ends up with 2 1st rounders @ #'s 22 & 31 and a 2nd @ #34. St. Louis gets their pick of WR and 2 pics on a talent rich day 2. San Fran gets their pic of DL/DB ahead of Dallas, Cinci, Minn, NE, Atlanta and Baltimore...all who are in the market for either one. Plus they have 13 other pics to bargain with to move back up into the middle of rd 2 to close the gap between their pics at 16 and 61. Bills mock resulting... #22 - Matt Barkley, much better value than taking him in the top 10 and I billieve he's there for us. #31 - Robert Woods, makes sense...automatic chemistry which eases Barkley's transition #34 - Kevin Minter, ILB, Fills the hole @ ILB with a hole pluggn run stuffer. Compliments Sheppards latteral abilities...plus, they played together @ LSU..well, Minter replaced Shepp anyway #71 - Gavin Escobar, TE, here's our version of a viable receiveing TE threat...nightmare match ups for LB's and Safties. #105 - Sanders Commings, CB/SS - IMHO, could become the best SS out of this draft. (I know he's listed as a CB, just look at him, he's got SS written all over him) #143 - Barrett Jones, C/OG - no Idea why he slides this far, but here's Levitre's replacement. #177 - Josh Boyd, DT - very low risk, extremely high reward if he brings that motor with him. Can penetrate the line AND make plays outside the tackles. Most likely a pipe dream, but that's why I'm an Armchair GM.

Give me one reason why "NO LANDRY JONES." Make it original and don't just regurgitate some BS you heard.

Man, i just don't know...I guess it all hinges on how much input they give Marrone and how much weight it carries. I have to billieve they are going to give him what he wants. That being said, and considering Marrones history...getting a guy to get them by in year 1 (Paulus, a grad student @ Cuse) and his style of changing a teams culture right out the gate, leads me to think he may be OK with Kolb, year one anyway. I mean, the Paulus move in Cuse was the NFL equivalent of signing a stop gap FA, ie. Kolb. Not saying the won't take a QB in this draft, as I think there are a couple that may pan out to be a surprise, but I can't get past my hang ups on the "top" guys in this class (which seem to be shared by many "pros" and "joes" alike).

Eggcellent! I truly LOL'd. I work in a pretty conservative office, too...I can hear all the whispers already.

1,000,000% Agree...I will gladly eat my words if I (we) are wrong about this kid.

Can't agree...fully. That type of "fault" upholds to the 3 major criteria for lapse...comfort, convenience and habit

Hunter is th only pick I like, and as someone else said, slim chance he lasts into the 2nd...although, he may be poised for a bit of a slide due to the case of the droppsies last year. Oh, and is Minn wants to jump 15 spots into the top 10, I want both of thier 1's.

I can't sy that I don't like it...however, I think there are better picks to be had. Though Woods would make a lot of sense, I don't see him as being "the best WR in this draft..." Not saying I don't think he'll be a good NFL WR, I just think that he's interchangeable with Hunter. Hunter will have to get over his case of the droppsies from last year, but his combo of size, speed and athleticism is hard to come by, and hard to pass up...if he makes it out of Rd. 1. Thomas @ SS = missile attack...love the kid, love the pick! (maybe a round early, though) I believe we need an ILB > OLB; however, the top 4 are gone by this round, so we may have to play a little with the order. Minter (LSU) won't make it out of round 1...Teo, on the other hand will, but I think he's got a BIG ? on whether or not he'll be anything more than another Pozluzny (sp). Jon Bostic, FL. is my guy...like Thomas, he's a missile in the middle that fires into holes and lays some wood! Much more of a "heady" player than given credit for and has an old school demeanor...personally, I think he becomes a top ILB in the NFL sooner than later. I put him in Rd. 3, if he lasts and Thomas in 4...we miss on Thomas and there's always Sanders Commings, GA. He's listed as a CB, but he fits SS in the NFL...huge DB with a ton of range (MLB draft, AZ Diamond Backs, as an outfielder). I think you can bump Griffin to the 6th, though I like his skill set and size. But, in the 5th, I'd like to take a shot at Josh Boyd, DT, Miss St. Animal...strong like bull (russian accent). Not just a space eater, he attacks, has a high motor, and make plays outside the tackles. Again, he may not last this long as one of the DL guru's won't be able to get past his higher than average effort and convince a GM to scoop him up early day 3.

Wouldn't you say we need the talent before the depth?

That's a good bingo. More informed than what it comes off as, but it sums it up. The scouting process is more than a 1 year project. They've had their collective eyes on a couple targets for a couple years at this point. Nassib is the natural addition with the Marrone hire and with their extensive look into a couple guys, you have reason to believe that they have formulated their own list, unadulterated by mass opinion. IMHO their "top 2-3" are guys that have performed consistently and have not "choked" in the face of high pressure situations. That, in effect, eliminates the "top" guy this year in Geno Smith. Further, I believe it 86's Manuel. The three I see the Bills being "high" on...cutting Barkley some slack, even though the expectations heaped upon his shoulders going into the 2012 campaign lends to a high pressure situation, he was hindered by injury as well as a poor showing by his surrounding cast. Nassib got better and better and performed consistently, even in the "big game" situation. Finally, Landry Jones is the guy I think entered the mix late (after pro day, private work out and pre-draft visit). Sorry, but you don't put up gaudy stats like that being indecisive with questionable leadership characteristics. Granted his NCAA career ended in a blow out, but it's not like he gave the game away, 35-48 w/278yds, 1 TD and 1INT (that's 73% w/8YPC) and, even if the int was a pic6 (can't recall) the game wasn't even close. So, to sum it up, the 2-3 guys I think the Bills like, in order: 1.) Nassib 2.) Jones 3.) Barkley The thing is, with the teams in front of us, I'm not sure Nassib makes it to us in rd 2...maybe not even Barkley. That being said, I think there is more value in other positions @ pick 8 and they can afford to gamble on a slide to us in the second. If they hadn't have secured the Kolb insurance policy, than Nassib @ 8 would be a lock, IMHO.