Wizard

Thanks, Big Cat. That's exactly what I was looking for. I usually don't miss too many articles on Rumblings, but I now have a better grasp of how the 3-4 will primarily work in Buffalo. After reading the article, I think OLB will be the third biggest need behind LT and QB in next year's draft. Sounds like you can't have too many linebackers.

I do know that OLB are supposed to be quicker than ILB and should be better pass coverage guys as well in a 3-4, but what are some strategies Buffalo can use to help/protect their OLB's weaknesses and/or maximize their strengths? Chris Kelsay wasn't a strong pass rusher in a 4-3. He is slow, and as a 3-4 he'll be further away from the ball. He won't be able to guard a running back, fullback, or tight end. How is Kawika Mitchell in the areas of pass rushing and coverage ability? Of course, I've read a lot of comments about hoping Maybin adjusts well to a 3-4; however, Maybin and Batten's lack of pro experience seems like a scary prospect for our other two OLB candidates. Between two unprovens and two players with suspect pass rushing and coverage ability (in my opinion), I just don't see how the Bills defense has improved. It seems like we are taking two steps back to move step-by-step forward in the future. I'm okay with that. I'm just wondering how the OLB's fit in a 3-4 considering the team personnel. Please explain OLB in a 3-4 scheme.

Look at the weight programs, the skill level and the teams that these guys play for. If height and weight were the only measurables, then we may have pro bowl linebackers.

Yes...thank you for explaining that basic (junior high school English) rule to people. Although, the spelling of basic words kills me more from people on this board.

Not too many guys today who I would be willing to wear their name and jersey. I would choose the following from history or today: Packers (Hornung, did I spell his name right?) Jets (Namath) Bills (Bruce Smith or Steve Tasker) Colts (Peyton Manning) Titans (Julius or Gary's # from the movie, Remember the Titans) Raiders (Bo Jackson or Howie Long) Broncos (Elway) Chiefs (Derrick Thomas) 49er's (Rice or Montana) Ravens (Ray Lewis) Browns (Jim Brown) Bengals (Ickey Woods...if I got to shuffle with it on) Falcons (Deion Sanders) Lions (Barry Sanders) Bears (Payton or Singletary)

Amen...40 times are worthless except for special team players. And even then, the 40 time only matters if the guy can make the tackle. Yes, there are guys who have incredible 40 times who are hall of fame players, but the 40 time is not the primary indicator. 5-15 yards is where it is at.

Finally, Lawrence Taylor has contributed to something more digusting than ripping off Joe's leg. What a waste of talent and life. Likely the most physically gifted LB in NFL history, and he also has to be in the top 10 useless human beings to ever play in the league.

We are paying Evans $9 million a year because we can't get players like Moss, Boldin, Fitzgerald, Welker, or Marshall. And, no he isn't robbing us blind, he is happy to be a #1 receiver on this team collecting a big paycheck right in front of our eyes. It is not his fault that management screwed this up.

My only changes... 1. No FB-McIntyre is a waste of a roster spot...I would take Rodney Ferguson or Walter Mendenhall as a power running back (4th option) instead. 2. Christian Gaddis won't make the roster in my opinion. The Bills will keep the other nine (9) o-line 3. No to Klopenstein. Jonathan Stupar is more athletic and a better talent in my opinion as the third TE. 4. Let's separate the positions on the DL. DT's (Williams, Troup, and Harvey (he's a project but he's 342 lbs, a true NT size) DE's (Stroud, Edwards, Carrington, Johnson, and Ellis (I'm assuming we cut overpriced Kelsay and that Schobel retires...I can't see either of them as a 3-4 DE or fast enough to be an OLB) 5. LB's (Mitchell, Poz, Davis, Maybin, Moats, Batten, Harris (I like his versatility...He's 232 lbs, light for a LB; however, he contributes on ST's, can cover people ( a need for an OLB), and he also has versatility to step-in coverage situations) I think Keith Ellison is gone. 225-230 lbs won't cut it in a 3-4 scheme. 6. Can't argue with the CB's, Safeties, or Special teams

Admire your optimism, and I think a switch to a 3-4 and Chan running the "O" will help, but we still need a healthy and deeper offensive line to be talking playoffs. Let's call it 6-10 or 7-9 this year with a better looking future. Let's get a strong quarterback in next year's draft, a true LT, and another #2 or #3 receiver before talking playoffs.

Agree...I like the data tool a lot; however, I admit that I was disappointed to see that South Dakota State, James Madison, UCONN, and Arkansas State never produce talent, the school's of our 3rd, 4th, and two 6 round picks. Better hope Nix is right, because I don't see a pro-bowler or a serviceable starter that has ever come out of any of these programs from 1988-present.

Great...we can't even get Jake Locker in a 2011 Mock Draft that is 360-something days away or a LT. Instead we get a tall dude that plays in a spread. Let's please hope that Locker, Mallett, and Luck all have monster seasons and all are graded as "can't miss" prospects. Then Buddy Nix will draft another RB because Lynch either will be traded or Fred Jackson will be 30 years old and the Bills will want another back.

Once again, another post by a fan that only heard what he wanted to hear. You didn't listen to the whole quote on Nix and Gailey's philosophy of receivers. Yes...they do prefer bigger guys on the outside if at all possible. However, they mention that height is an ideal but there are exceptions to that. Evans may be 5'10 but he is unquestionably the most gifted receiver on the roster despite his height. Next time listen to the whole quote before putting out your "expert opinion."

Exactly! The Bills should get 7 starters out of this draft.

Kelsay should go first.

Selvish Capers or Kyle Calloway in some way in the 6th round as an OT. Really, Edward Wang! Everything I read (4 draft magazines, online articles, scouting reports) says he will be a quality backup and is not a great finisher. Really? This is the guy competing with Bell and Green? I've figured out the Bills offense. Gailey thinks he is coaching players in a 7 on 7 (with 10 alligators) intramural football at Georgia Tech. Well, if this is true, then Edwards, Spiller, Lynch, Jackson, Evans, Hardy, and Easley would be a decent team. Otherwise, Gailey thinks this is the mid 90's Lions he is coaching. Spiller (is Barry Sanders), and Sanders got the Lions in and out of the playoffs a few times without a line, a defensive front, or a top-notch quarterback.

And Goliath, was 18 ft 9 inches. And, Danny Almonte, Little League kid from New York several years back in the Little League World Series was only 12!

Then, perhaps a rereading will help. Picking a QB like Tom Brady in Rounds 4-7 happens once every 30 years. If the Bills have 20 6th round picks and take 20QB's, they still probably won't find a starter better than Edwards.

Obviously, the Bills still have gaping holes (as far as having quality players on the roster) at certain positions, including QB, OT, OLB, WR. Here are players at several positions who I believe may provide "value" in Rounds 4-7. I define "value" as a player that I believe is already better or equal to a guy on the Bills roster and/or a guy that could be a starter in the next 2-3 years. Here are my top (10) players that I would love the Bills to consider: 1. DT (Cam Thomas) 2. OLB (Eric Norwood) 3. OT (Kyle Calloway)....Please Bills...pick and OT 4. OT (Selvish Capers)....Please Bills...pick a second OT 5. WR (Riley Cooper) 6. OLB (Larry Hart) 7. TE (Dennis Pitta)....Isn't a position of Need, but Nix doesn't consider "need" too often 8. OG (Joe Hawley) 9. OG (Sergio Render) 10A WR (Chris McGaha) 10B DE (Corey Wooten) QB Levi Brown & John Skelton (I believe both could supplant Fitzpatrick and challenge Brohm as the #2 QB; however, the statistics I presented in my previous post (about Rounds 4-7 QB's) don't justify a QB before Round #6) Conclusion: Take Brown or Skelton in Round #6; otherwise, don't take a QB in draft WR Until Steve Johnson gets field time and Hardy proves he isn't an injury-prone 2nd round bust, there are three (3) guys I believe provide some value: Riley Cooper, Chris McGaha, and Freddie Barnes. I believe any one of these guys could be an upgrade at our #2 or #3 spot; however, they are competing against a weak field in (C. Jackson, Hardy, Johnson, and Parrish). Conclusion: If the Bills trade up for an extra fourth (4th), then take Cooper; otherwise, only take McGaha or Barnes if available in Round 7. TE Dennis Pitta is an overall better TE than Nelson (truly a larger WR) and the rest of the roster. He is solid value at TE; however, it is not a need. Conclusion: Take Pitta if still available in Round #5. The other guys like McCoy and Hernandez are athletic upgrades to the Bills current roster, but I wouldn't take them over need in Rounds 4 & 5 at OT/LB. OT/OG/C Can someone explain to me why the Bills still haven't selected an offense tackle when Demetrius Bell and Green are the tackles? I almost cried after each of the Bills selections in Rounds 2-3. The Bills need at least two (preferably three offensive lineman). Calloway, Capers, and Campbell (These are the only OT worth looking at in Rounds 4 or 5.) Sergio Render, and Joe Hawley (OG's...versatile players to look at in Rounds 6 or 7) Conclusion: The Bills should try and get Calloway, Capers, and either Render/Hawley. Calloway and Capers are upgrades to our current OT's. Render and Hawley serve as insurance for Wood's recovery and also provide long-snapping ability as well as experience and depth at center to Hangartner. DT/DE Cam Thomas (a true NT) should be a round #4 priority. You can never have too much depth, and in my opinion, Cam Thomas is an upgrade over any NT on our roster, including Troup. Corey Wooten (DE) and C.J. Wilson (DE) are worth looks at also. Conclusion: Cam Thomas should be a round #4 pick either by the Bills selection and/or the Bills trading back in Round #4 to pick up this guy. Wooten would be solid value in Round #5. Wilson would be worth a shot as a Round 6 or 7 pick; however, DE shouldn't get as much consideration as OT/DT/OLB/WR OLB/ILB: Eric Norwood is an upgrade and Larry Hart could either be a starter or a quality player on the roster. Of all the reports I've read about Hart, "has a passion for the game, competitive. Good football aptitude. Outstanding character-coachable, and humble." And, "flies up the field and makes plays." Conclusion: You can never have too many quality linebackers. Norwood is a Round #4 value pick. I would take Hart with one of the picks in the 6th round and consider it a steal. Safety/CB: DON'T TAKE A SAFETY OR CORNER....PLEASE DON'T DO IT.

Regardless of whether you are a fan of our first three picks (Spiller,, Troup, and Carrington) or not (I'm not), there are mixed feelings on this board about getting a quarterback still in this draft. Presented below are a few facts to consider when spending a pick on a QB in Rounds 4-7. Between the years 1994 to 2005, there were 85 quarterbacks selected in Rounds 4-7 plus an unknown amount of free agents who were signed after the draft or got invited to a training camp. Obviously, Warner and Romo were "needles in a haystack", as undrafted free agents; otherwise, here are the guys that have had success. Ironically, in my opinion, the best three quarterbacks to come in Rounds 4-7 in this time period were 6th round draft choices. In other words, if you are going to take a QB, take him in Round #6. On the other hand, I only consider (Brady, Hasselbeck, Bulger, and Garrard) clearly having had more successful careers than Edwards at this point in his career. Conclusion: If the Bills are looking for a starter better than Edwards, then the chances of getting him in Rounds 4-7 is 4 (Brady, Hasselbeck, Bulger, and Garrard) out of 85 (guys drafted between 94-2005). The odds: .047 or 4.7% chance the Bills will find a better QB in the draft than Edwards in Rounds 4-7. Players That Have Made A Difference In Rounds 4-7. Note: I didn't include QB's from 2006-2009 as a way of giving these players a fair chance of proving themselves as valuable QB pick in Rounds 4-7. 6 33 199 Patriots Tom Brady Michigan 6 34 187 Packers Matt Hasselbeck Boston College 6 2 168 Saints Marc Bulger West Virginia 4 5 106 Bears Kyle Orton Purdue 7 16 230 Patriots Matt Cassel USC 6 39 213 Ravens Derek Anderson Oregon State 5 24 155 Eagles A.J. Feeley Oregon 7 6 212 49ers Tim Rattay Louisiana Tech 4 10 108 Jaguars David Garrard East Carolina

There is only a few problems...Stroud isn't a DE in a 3-4 nor is Kelsay, and Carrington is a 4-3 DE. I'll give you Edwards. Troup weight is that of a DT. Schobel has never played 3-4 before, Lankster is practice squad material, McGee and McKelvin are short going against tall guys like Holmes, Marshall, and Moss. Whitner is an average player. Other than that, I'd say the defense has a ton of potential.