Smoke-E

For what it's worth - a friend was talking with the Clemson WR coach, Watkins told the coach that Doug Whaley told him the Bills are going to move up to get him.

If the Bills avoid making any one of these massive blunders, I'll be happy. Trading any picks away (this year or next) to move up and take one of these shotty QBs. Taking any one of these shotty QBs at No.8 Drafting Austin or Patterson at No.8

I'll go even farther than that! They're NOT taking Nassib in the 2nd round either! Nor are they taking a QB at No.8. Folks, even our inept front office knows enough not to telegraph your pick (or even the position you are commited to picking)! It is and has always been pure smokescreen. If you want to (try to) make sure that a player is still on the board and that another team doesn't leapfrog you, you show NO interest in that player whatsoever. Because if you, then people KNOW they have to jump you to get him. They have their sights on somebody in the top group and are playing possum. My guess is that it is Lane Johnson. He is a top 10 talent for sure and some say he has the highest ceiling/potential. The first two OTs will come off the board quick. That leaves one more elite OT that can and should "fall" to them - barring a last minute trade by someone looking to move up and pay a big price to get him. You try to prevent that by downplaying your interest and/or showing no interest at all. You further that goal by "convincing" everyone you're going to do X (draft a QB or whatever). It puts teams below you at ease. The Bill front office must be laughing the asses off about the Nassib talk.

Toddy McShay's new Mock Draft is out. He has the Bills taking Warmack at No.8. Take it for what you will.

8-8 BLOWS!!! We've been 8-8 for the last 10+ years. It gets you NOWHERE! It is NFL Purgatory - no high/elite draft pick and no playoffs either. We desperately need a top 3 pick - if not No.1. Clowney for example is just sick! You're not going to get him by going 8-8. I promise you that much. And by the way...if anyone on the Wall truly is a realist, they'd know we'll top out at 4 wins IF THAT!!!! More likely to 2-3. We will be TERRIBLE!

Yeah! What he said! Folks, we have NOBODY on the team right now that plays QB. TJax. Really!?!? He was a healthy scratch on a bad team with bad quarterbacking. A vetern like Palmer is a neccesity at this point. We need warm bodies. We need competition. We need some degree of talent at QB. Palmer provides that. The question is - at what price and will he come to BFLO?

This is true - or at least it seems true. I like the logic. This is also an excellent point. My concern is that our OL is average at best and it needs to be solidified and improved before we draft a franchise QB and throw him into the fire. It is true that some guys succeed regardless, but I'm in favor of a plan that addresses OL (and D-Line) before using a top 5-10 pick on a franchise QB. Maybe an OG at No.8 is not great "value" and maybe its not "sexy" but the Big Ugglies play a much much bigger role than they get credit for. Ideally, I'd like to see them trade back as often as possible, accumulate picks and try to rebuild the entire roster with youth, starting in the trenches. What I don't want is a rookie QB playing behind an average OL and throwing to unopen receivers. Having said that, I also don't want a WR at No.8! That is some of the craziest talk on the whole Wall! High picks - or even first round picks - on WRs is just plain stupid. Unless its Fitzgerald or Megatron, forget it. Get WR late in the draft. Of course, the silver lining to drafting a rookie QB THIS year is that it virtually assures us the No.1 pick next year, which we can then use to get Clowney. That sounds good to me too!

I doubt he would sign with us as bad as we are. I think he signed with the Raiders because of the SoCal thing. Coming and playing in Buffalo (one of the worst teams in the leagu) is probably not on his bucket list. However, I'm all for it! He'd be a quality bridge til next year and can then help mentor a rookie QB for a year or two. I do not like any of the QBs in this draft and would rather they get a decent veteran. They'll need to add two QBs anyway and I'd hope one of them would be a veteran with plenty of experience.

I completely understand the concept of not "overpaying" for a guard. What I don't understand are comments from people who think good/exceptional guards are easily replaceable and/or not critical. I disagree completely. And when you are in position like the Bills (committing themselves to starting a rookie - either this year or next), you better damn well make sure your OL is solid! Every position up front is critical and important, PARTICULARLY when you're turning your offense over to a rookie! I'll get over the loss of Levitre soon enough, but Nix-Whaley better work on the OL BIGTIME! As I see it, right now, the Bills OL is below average. What's the point of drafting a "franchise QB" if he's just going to get killed, have his confidence destroyed and not be able to develop (which is exactly what happens every time teams throw rookie QBs in the lineup with no protection upfront!)

I want the Bills to draft Chance Warmack. By most accounts this kid is the best guard in a decade, perhaps since Steve Hutchison. Don't you have to draft a guy like that if he is available when you pick (regardless of needs)!?!? I certainly haven't heard such accolades about anyone else in this year's draft! Even if we do resign Levitre, I'd still take him and I'd move Urbik outside to RT. My logic is this...a top flight, stout O-Line truly makes everyone on offense better - the QB by giving him and extra secound or two to find an open man, the WRs by giving them an extra second or two to create separation and get open, and the RBs by creating more/better/bigger holes. And not to mention...there is no point in drafting a franchise QB or even a developmental QB if he's just going to get killed. You need to protect him and give him the best possible chance to develop, to build confidence and to actually succeed. Furthermore, doesn't a top notch O-Line play to our one and only team strength - our RBs and our running game? It supports our best two players and best offensive weapons - CJ and Freddie! Maybe I'm overly critical, but I am NOT a firm believer in the strength of our O-Line. We're close but not there yet. A line with Glenn-Levitre-Wood-Warmack-Urbik looks pretty damn sweet to me. Chance Warmack, OG-ALA (6-2 3/8, 325) Production 1 2009: Played five games at OG as true freshman; 2010: Started all 13 at LOG; 2011: Started all 13 at LOG Height-Weight-Speed 3 Slightly shorter and heavier than the average OG prospect at past five NFL combines. But is country strong and moves well for his size/position. Durability 1 as started all 26 games during past two seasons combined (2010-11). Intangibles 2 Has been a consistent, reliable player throughout career. Continues to improve. Has taken care of his business in the classroom and has no off-the-field issues to our knowledge. Enrolled early at UA (January of 2009). Pass Protection 2 Wide-body OG with adequate lateral agility and overall athleticism for the position. But he's a natural knee bender with good short-area quickness and balance. Light on his feet. Explosive punch. Occasionally can get knocked back by powerful bull rusher and will let pads get too high. But more often than not, shows ability to re-sink hips and regain balance/leverage. Very good awareness and consistently picks up twists, stunts, blitzes and delayed blitzes. Run Blocking 1 Consistently does a good job with his first step to get quality initial positioning. Has a strong lower body and a powerful upper body. Can jar defender initially but also has the leg drive and tenacity to sustain and generate a surge. Tough, thick and smart run blocker. Impressive initial quickness and mobility when getting out on pulls. Takes solid angles. Good balance in space. Consistently shows ability to hit moving target on second level. Awareness 1 Very good football intelligence. Knows opponents' tendencies. Film work transfers to the field. Keeps head on a swivel in pass pro. Very good awareness versus stunts, twists and blitzes. Does a nice job of locating assignments on pulls and second-level blocks. Toughness 1 Classic OG tough guy - both physically and mentally. Keeps chopping away at defenders every play. Fights hard to regain leverage if he loses it initially. Not satisfied until he buries the defender. Plays hard for four quarters. Takes pride in his craft.

I agree completely! Mularkey came in and replaced him with his own guy. Nevermind that RJ was widely considered the best S&C guy in the league. Mularkey needed to give his buddy a job. I think I knew right then that Mularkey would fail. Regardless, I wish RJ all the best in his retirement. He was the best!

David Caldwell is long-time BFs with Chris Polian going back even before HS, I believe. Bill Polian mentored him (and his son) in the business, hired him in Carolina, brought him to Indy and then gave his blessing to David when he was offered the job in ATL. I'm not sure if it was based entirely/mostly/partly on David's recommendation or not but I think he was pivotal in making the move to get Julio Jones - gutsy move that seems to have paid off big for ATL. David is definitely from Buffalo and if you pressed him off the record, I'm sure he'd tell you that he's a Bills fan at heart, having grown up in Buffalo.