Jump to content

OldTimer1960

Community Member
  • Posts

    6,731
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by OldTimer1960

  1. Hasn't Gailey proven that we do not need a franchise QB to effectively compete in this league? Didn't Bellichek prove that with Matt Cassell? The Jets keep winning with Sanchez and he is average and not consistent. We need an offense that can block and run, once we have that the passing game will take care of itself. To have a chance at the playoffs, along with an effective offense, you need a very very good defense. We have a chance to move from the worst defensive unit in football to one that ranks 20 to 24 next year. Hopefully we can reach the top 15 the following year as Dareus, Carrington, Troupe, Sheppard and the backfield improves.

     

    With what we have coming back from last year and what we drafted it looks like our draft top needs next year are OLB, TE, OL depth, and QB in that order, about half of what we needed this year. With any luck we can pick up a serviceable TE and RG in free agency this year. If so, we can begin to target specific needs to get the team on a playoff course in 2013. Imagine if we can get a monster OLB in the 2012 draft to go with Merriman, Poz, Moats and Sheppard, and if the D Line becomes halfway decent our defense will be solid.

     

    I am generally not the optimistic type, but I think the defense can jump even higher than that this year. I think (hope*?) a DL of Kyle Williams, Dareus

    and Dwan Edwards with Troup, Carrington and Spencer Johnson rotating in will be pretty darned good. I still think that our LBs are a little weak, but

    I hope they resign Poz and that Kelvin Sheppard and Andre Davis can be a good combo next to him. At OLB, I think that Merriman (IF healthy) and

    Moats can be respectable. Hopefully, AntonioColeman and Danny Batten can help out, too. In the secondary, I hope they can re-sign Drayton

    Florence and that McKelvin steps up. McKelvin is a TREMENDOUS athlete and can be a good starting CB. I think McGee will start out at the other

    CB and Aaron Williams can help a lot (along with a respectable Reggie Corner). At S, I think that Byrd will be much improved with not having to

    focus on run D as much and I believe that George Wilson will be adequate at the other S with help from Bryan Scott and Williams.

  2. I put QB at the top of our need list, so I would have leaned toward taking Gabbert in Rd1. But there is no denying that Dareus is a solid pick.

    I definitely would have taken Dalton or Kaepernick in Rd2 and definitely would have grabbed Mallet in Rd3.

    This draft fell perfectly for the Bills to grab a QB in each of the first 3 rounds, but they chose to pass, just as they did last year.

    I think this means more that they didn't like the QBs available rather than that they didn't think that they needed

    a longer-term answer than Fitz. I think that they are rightfully comfortable with Fitz for now and that they felt that there

    was significantly better value at other positions of need, so that is where they used their picks.

  3. I think that the Bills want to resign Florence and I believe that they would be happy to

    resign Whitner if he is willing to play for reasonable money. I know that Whitner has

    shortcomings with regard to covering TEs, but maybe a lot of that is because he has

    to sell-out helping against the run all the time. That would likely have gotten him

    out of position to have good coverage.

     

    I am hopeful that the addition of Dareus and Sheppard will upgrade the run D to the

    point that the Bills safeties can be less worried about run support. Heck, maybe

    Jairus Byrd will be able to focus on pass coverage and bump up his INT total again.

    He clearly can make plays in pass defense - he demonstrated that big-time in 2009.

  4. In a year where the QB class was very suspect & possibly weak in a lot of ways why would you take one ? Especially if you didn't think they are worth the pick !!

     

    We did draft a player that is a very big Offensive left tackle from Clemson a 3 year starter at the position , i'm not real sure of the RB pick but i;ll give Nix & company the benefit of that one after all they are the ones that do this for a living not me !!

     

    So offense wasn't completely ignored they just paid more attention to D this year as it should have been !!

    That is our biggest weakness !!

     

    One thing that i thought was the head scratcher was with the pick in round 3 with Martez Wilson still on the board (ranked the highest LB) why they took sheppard over him , i would like to here that explanation ?? As i said earlier they are the football guys i'm just a fan !!!

     

    GO BILLS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     

    I think the explanation would go something like this: "We think that Kelvin Sheppard is a better ILB than Martez Wilson

    for the type of defense that we plan to run. We like his attitude, physical skills and his production. We got a first-hand

    look at the guy at work for a full week in the Senior Bowl practices and games and are very comfortable with our

    evaluation of him."

  5. I really wanted (thought) Bills' FO would go OLB in Round 2 (Ayers/Houston/Reed) and was very suprised that they went CB. I thought that would be a great complement piece after drafting Dareus. Not only did they not draft an OLB in Round 2, they didn't take one period. I understand you can't fill every hole in one draft, but as it stands now, we're looking at Moats (second year converted DE) and Merriman (oft injured vet three years away from last decent season) as starting OLBs. Did the FO avoid the position because they believe Maybin will compete for a starting job? Will they be looking at the position in FA? Personnally, I don't think Maybin makes it past training camp but I'm curious if any posters think that draft strategy was influenced by a belief that Maybin can actually play a role next year.

     

    I really don't think that they avoided it because they think Maybin is the answer. They said a few times

    before the draft that they felt that they needed inside LBs more than outside. They did note that they

    were comfortable with Merriman's health outlook and like Moats. I also think that they didn't like the OLB

    players available after Von Miller. There was a lot of mixed opinion on Akeem Ayers and Justin Houston.

    For Houston, in particular, I saw reports that he didn't play all-out all of the time. If you look at the guys

    that they Bills did take, the vast majority are described as being self-starters, highly motivated, hard

    workers.

     

    I think those are the reasons that they passed on OLBs.

  6. Some interesting prospects to consider:

     

    DE Christian Ballard (downgraded for failing drug test), Brandon Bair (overaged, but has good size to play 3-4 DE)

     

    NT: Ian WIlliams, Jerrell Powe (HUGE)

     

    ILB: Greg Jones (undersized, but productive), Casey Mathews (same as Jones)

     

    OLB Sam Acho (one of my favorites left), Mark Herzlich (THIS GUY IS GONNA MAKE IT), Jeremy Beal

     

    TEs: DJ Williams, Lee Smith (blocker), Luke Stocker (ht/wt), Virgil Green (great speed)

     

    OG: Clint Boling (very tough)

     

    RT Lee Ziemba, James Brewer, Jason Pinkston

     

    CB: Josh Thomas (from Buffalo and very talented)

  7. I am trying to figure out why anyone would be upset with this.....

     

    He was carrying a 1st round grade.....we have corners that are either getting old or about to be lost in free agency......Whitner is gone........he can play either corner OR safety......so we dont fall apart when the injury bug hits

     

    We are doing what needs to be done......fixing the defense........

     

    I have seen ProFootballWeekly had him as a 1st round grade, but it does scare me that he was Texas' nickel corner

    for half of the season this year. I am sure he is talented, but a nickel corner going at the top of round 2?

  8. I hope Buffalo is milking this cow for everything it's worth, I want 1st rounders next year & someone's 3rd / 4th pick this year.

     

    Not to rain on the parade, but NE will be the ones to reap the benefit of this and they will make

    out like bandits, as they always do. Once someone jumps up to get their favorite, there won't be

    as much of a market.

  9. At LB, I like Jabal Sheard first (with the Wanstadt connection) and then Brooks Reed.

     

    I would give very strong consideration to Bruce Carter to play ILB also. I think Carter would have gone

    in round 1 had he not had knee surgery late last year. He could be a Thurman Thomas type value in round

    2, even if the Bills might have to wait a year for his full recovery. All indications are that he will be healthy

    enough to participate in training camp. I will lay odds that if someone else doesn't take Carter early

    tonight that NE will grab him with one of their 3 freaking 2nd round picks.

     

    I could really get on-board with Colin Kaepernick or Kyle Rudolph, too.

  10. Gonna have to agree to diagree here......

     

    Fitz is not known for having a strong arm......in fact quite the opposite. Just a QB that can make all the NFL throws.

     

    I am not saying that Dalton has a stronger arm....I think they are about the same actually.....

     

     

    To me the difference here is accuracy (by the way....arm strength and accuracy go hand in hand a bit)

     

    Andy Dalton can make all the nfl throws.....

     

    What makes Fitz OK as a starting QB is his quick decision making and movement in the pocket. Dalton

    hasn't demonstrated either due to the offense he ran. Does he have those abilities? I don't know, but

    I'd rather not gamble on that.

  11. If Bowers is not able to be an OLB, my selection would be Ayers, who is capable of being a 3-4 ILB.

     

     

    I think that assessment of Ayers is fair. He looks to be a "skinny" 254lbs. But also has the team captain thing working for him. Ran a slow 40 (4.88) at the combine.

     

     

    I don't like that I've read that Ayers doesn't always work hard and tries to coast by on his (not elite) athletic

    ability. I know that there are many different opinions, so what I've read may not be totally fair, but it came

    from one of the longest-tenured draft coverage sources that I think is very well connected with NFL

    scouts (ProFootballWeekly).

     

    i want the Bills to TRADE UP for another early second round pick.....there are about a dozen high quality picks still on the board. usually it takes a third and a fourth to move into round 2.

     

    After the draft’s first day, a look at who’s left on the board:

     

    http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/04/29/after-the-drafts-first-day-a-look-at-whos-left-on-the-board/

     

    Boy, I am not seeing that many great prospects at all. I think Kaepernick is a reasonable gamble, if the decide that

    they must take a QB. I don't like Mallet at all and I think Dalton is a career backup.

     

    They need LBs desperately, but I don't see any great ones. Of the group, I could be on board with Brooks Reeed, but

    I don't like Houston or Wilson (based on what I've read). I think this pick is too high for Dontay Moch.

     

    No OT appears worth taking this high.

     

    I'd be happy if they nabbed another DL, but I don't know if Christian Ballard is worth this much and I don't know if

    Marvin Austin can be trusted and if Austin can play effectively in a 3-4.

     

    Of the available players, I think Kyle Rudolph (TE) might be the best and the Bills sorely need a good TE. It would

    definitely help the offense to have a decent blocker and good pass catching TE, but I would prefer defensive help

    provided that the defender is not a flat reach (which I believe many of the LBs are).

  12. None to get excited about, IMHO.

     

    Of those remaining, the only one I'd consider in round 2 is Kaepernick. I would still prefer another defender or

    an OT, if Carimi or Derek Sherrod are available.

     

    Beyond round two, you might as well wait until the 7th as you are just getting another camp arm. (Please don't

    tell me Tom Brady was a 6th rounder - I know).

  13. We have a glut of receivers. Marcus Easley ring a bell? Drafting a WR, no matter how good, is the definition of a luxury pick that we can't afford.

     

    PTR

     

    Just my opinion, but Easly is a hope and a prayer and should not be a reason that the Bills don't draft another WR. He was a 4th round pick

    with good athletic ability and very little college production. Him being on the roster should have ZERO impact on whether the Bills take

    another WR.

  14. There are maybe 5-7 players that should be considered at #3 based on all the reading that I've done (mostly ProFootballWeekly

    and GMJr/SportingNews along with NFL Network). My $.02 worth:

     

    1. Marcell Dareus - I think he is a very "safe" pick in that he will almost certainly help the run defense significantly. He can

    play in both the 3-4 and 4-3 looks and will be valuable.

     

    2. Von Miller - lots of production and athletic ability. I like Miller and think he can really help the pass rush and will be an

    improvement in run D, too.

     

    3. Patrick Peterson - not sold on him being a top CB and I don't know if he can be an Ed Reed type Safety. He could be a

    dynamite kick returner, but #3 is too high for a great KR and OK-good CB or Safety. If the Bills pick him, they might have

    the best set of KR ever with Spiller, Peterson, McKelvin and McGee. Is Peterson another Rod Woodson? I don't know, but

    I thin 3 is too rich for him.

     

    4. AJ Green - Looks to be a great WR with the work-ethic and talent to excel. The Bills don't have a glaring need at WR

    and w/o a QB and OL upgrade could Green fulfill his potential?

     

    5. Cam Newton - I hate most everything I've read about him. I don't care how great an athlete he is or how strong his arm

    is. Too much off-field stuff and zero experience calling plays and passing in a pro-style offense. Can he do it? Who knows?

    But #3 is too high to gamble on a guy like this.

     

    6. Blaine Gabbert - I like his athletic ability and reported intelligence and work-ethic, but his production (admittedly with

    a weak supporting cast) leaves a lot to be desired this high in the draft.

     

    7. Nick Fairley - great athlete, bad body for this high of a pick. Does he play hard and train hard enough to be great? I

    don't think so.

     

    Just my opinion, but I'd rate these guys as:

    1. Dareus and Miller (tie)

    2. AJ Green in spite of much bigger needs

    3. Patrick Peterson

    4. Blaine Gabbert - at least he reportedly has the work-ethic and intelligence to maybe grow into a good starter.

    5. Nick Fairley - top athlete, if they can light a fire he might be great.

    6. Cam Newton - huge gamble on 1 year of production in a non-pro-style offense with off-field concerns to boot.

     

    Comments welcome!

  15. I believe I read that historically, the 3rd overall pick has seen the most players either make a Pro Bowl or be elected to the Hall of Fame.

     

    I don't disagree that you can get an outstanding player at #3. All that I am saying is to adjust expectations for the 3rd overall pick. It is

    maybe a 60-70% success rate rather than a slam-dunk based on the last 10 years.

  16. Below are the last several #3 overall picks. Looking at the list, I still strongly believe that the Bills' best strategy is to find a "safe" player with a

    "high floor". Of the last 10 3rd overall picks: 4 (40%) are flat busts/major disappointments: Tyson Jackson, Vince Young, Joey Harrington,

    Gerard Warren.

     

    I'd also add Braylon Edwards as a mild to moderate disappointment and the jury is out on Gerald McCoy.

     

     

    From ProFootballWeekly.com:

     

     

    Overview: The past decade has been good to players taken with the third pick in the draft. A couple of the league's top wideouts have been selected with the pick, and the Falcons got a pretty good quarterback in Matt Ryan. PFW found that the No. 3 pick, which is held by the Bills this year, has welcomed some top players into the league in the past 10 years.

     

    2010: Buccaneers select Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy

    It took McCoy a while to start playing a high level, but it finally looked like he was putting it all together before a torn left biceps ended his season after 13 games. McCoy has a ton of potential and is expected to be a building block in Tampa Bay.

     

    2009: Chiefs select LSU DE Tyson Jackson

    Jackson wasn't very impressive in his 14 starts for the Chiefs as a rookie and was unable to take a step forward in 2010. He started just three games last season, tallying 31 tackles and only one sack.

     

    2008: Falcons select Boston College QB Matt Ryan

    Ryan has become everything an NFL team looks for in a franchise quarterback. He is constantly improving and is coming off the best season of his career in '10, in which he threw for 3,705 yards and 28 touchdowns.

     

    2007: Browns select Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas

    Thomas has made the Pro Bowl each year he has been in the league and has never missed a start. At 6-6, 312 pounds, the strong, athletic tackle is extremely effective in pass support and can run-block just as well.

     

    2006: Titans select Texas QB Vince Young

    A winning record as a starting quarterback (30-17) in the NFL is all Young has going for him. He clashed with former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher throughout his career and, even though Fisher is gone, he was told by the team that it was moving on without him. He has thrown as many touchdown passes as interceptions (42).

     

    2005: Browns select Michigan WR Braylon Edwards

    Edwards had 80 catches for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns with the Browns in 2007, the lone season that he appeared to be a true No. 1 receiver. Struggles at the quarterback position didn't help his development before he was eventually traded to the Jets in October ’09.

     

    2004: Cardinals select Pittsburgh WR Larry Fitzgerald

     

    Fitzgerald has emerged as one of the best wideouts in the game. He is a hard worker with tremendous body control, can catch the ball in traffic and does everything you would expect from a No. 1 receiver. His performance in leading the Cardinals to the Super Bowl in 2008 was historic — 30 catches, 546 yards and seven touchdowns in four games.

     

    2003: Texans select Miami (Fla.) WR Andre Johnson

    The AFC's best receiver, if not the best wideout in the NFL, Johnson has the potential to be a Hall of Famer. He has produced five seasons of 1,000-plus yards — including three in a row — has 50 career TD receptions and is a five-time Pro Bowler.

     

    2002: Lions select Oregon QB Joey Harrington

    Harrington had some ability, but his fragile ego got in the way of him becoming a dependable starter. He spent seven seasons in the league, making 76 starts, and threw 79 touchdowns and 85 interceptions.

     

    2001: Browns select Florida DT Gerard Warren

    Warren, nicknamed "Big Money," was known for his athletic abilities early in his career but was never able to live up to expectations during his four seasons in Cleveland. He was traded to the Broncos for a fourth-round pick in '05 and has played for four teams in his career, including a solid season in New England in ’10.

  17. Quinn, Newton, Gabbert

     

    With Quinn I just think of the WR Williams that Detroit took out of USC after having a year off and he BUSTED big time. I guess he latched on with Carroll and Seattle this year, but was out of football for a stint prior to that.

     

    Newton and Gabbert are good players and will be fine NFL players but I do not think either of them are going to be a Franchise QB. I think Gabbert is more likely than Newton to be one, but I liken him to a Marc Bulger or Jake Delhomme in their Primes. Newton just scares the crap out of me. I think, based on what I have seen and read about him and his body language, his quotes and his general demeanor, that h e feels entitled and that he won't get after it once in the NFL. I think he'll succeed like Vick did in ATL but he won't ever reach the level that a Top 5 draft pick with his measurables should reach....like Vick in ATL.

     

    I am with you on Newton. I think he is a disaster waiting to happen. Could he be great? Sure, but I think the odds are very

    much against it. Don't be pulled in by the athletic talent as it won't mean a lot for a NFL QB.

     

    I am luke-warm on Gabbert. I like his reported intelligence and work-ethic. I don't like his production, but he didn't play

    with a strong supporting cast.

     

    Quinn is a concern due to the reasons that you mention, though I don't think he'll be a huge bust.

  18. You dont understand. To most posters, anyone who isn't a 350 lb fat guy is a "luxury pick" :wallbash:

     

    OK, thanks for the help. I get tired of these "Von Miller is Aaron Maybin because they weigh about

    the same" posts. Miller has a lot bigger body of work than Maybin did, his combine numbers far

    exceed Maybin's and he is far more athletic and productive. Maybin was a bad pick, but that doesn't

    mean that all LBs who aren't 6'4" 260 are bad. Comparing Miller to Maybin based on their weight

    is no more meaningful than comparing Cade McKnown or Matt Leinart to Steve Young because they

    were all left-handed QBs.

     

    BTW, I don't want to come across as all-Miller. I think Dareus would be a great pick, too. I am not

    a Nick Fairley fan, though.

  19. We don't need a pass rushing OLB until we can force teams to pass.

     

    Huh? Defense is all intertwined. I agree that the run defense is terrible, but don't LBs help

    play run defense? I know Miller isn't 260lbs, but that does NOT mean that he can't play

    the run at least reasonably well. In the Senior Bowl, I thought he was very effective against

    the run using his athleticism to avoid blocks and still make the tackle. There is a reason

    that many many folks say Miller was the best player at the Senior Bowl.

×
×
  • Create New...