OldTimer1960

I disagree with the notion that QB is not the Bills' biggest need. I like Fitzpatrick and I respect him a great deal. Heck, I hope that he proves me wrong, but IMHO he is not a top 15 QB in the NFL. I know that people hold up Trent Dilfer and Mark Rypien as examples of Super Bowl winning QBs who weren't considered very good-to-great QBs, but Fitz (again, imo) is not in their category in terms of physical skills. Now, I think he is great at getting the team into good plays against the defense, he can direct the OL's blocking schemes and he makes good quick decisions with where to go with the ball. However, he is more akin to the junk-ball pitcher in MLB than he is to the front-line #1 or #2 starter. He might be the NFL's version of Tim Redding. I don't know if Blaine Gabbert is that elusive top 1/2 of the league starting QB or not, but if the Bills believe he is, then I think the Bills MUST pick him (if he is available). I know that their D is awful (and I don't want to watch a debacle like that again), but the opportunity to pick an answer at QB is too much to pass on for any reason (again, if they are very confident in Gabbert's ability, desire, effort, intelligence, etc). IMHO, Cam Newton is too much of an uncertainty to consider at the Bills' pick.

Other message boards are saying "No way does Buffalo pass on Gabbert or Newton. The Bills should be in panic mode right now b/c Fitzpatrick is their starter and Brohm is their backup".

From what I've read, I'd prefer McCarthy to Greg Jones. I've read that Jones is not strong against the run (he is a good drag-down tackler though). The Bills need someone who can step up and fill the lanes without being dragged for several yards. Is Greg Jones a bad player? No, but (IMHO) when the rest of your defense lacks the ability to stack the run, his short-comings will be magnified.

I really don't know if I like Quinn after he didn't play at all this year. From what I understand he was very good, but not Great, in the drills and disappointed in the weight lifting after sitting out all year. Why wasn't he in the gym lifting if he wasn't playing - if he was lifting, why isn't he stronger?

Stay away from Fairley IMHO. He looks wimpy compared to many of the other DL and he really has some questions to answer in terms of why he only produced for 1 year. He doesn't look like he has worked very hard in preparation for the combine (at least to me). While I would prefer a DL over a LB, I think Von Miller is a safer pick if Dareus or Bowers isn't available when the Bills pick. I MIGHT prefer Cam Jordan over Fairley at this point. Flame away...

You may be right, but I have a hard time believing that 6'1 1/2" Williams is the answer at 3-4 DE, when teams are looking for DEs that are 6'4"+. I also think that there is no reason to believe that Troup won't improve in his second year. Plus a #1 pick and a #2 pick at NT is going to be hard to support in terms of roster composition. I think that Williams has SOME chance to succeed at DE, but I think that is questionable - just my $.02 worth though.

I don't know that they need a "big old DT" in round 1. Kyle Williams is pretty good and they spent an early #2 on Torrel Troup last year (and he should be much better next year). If they draft a DT in round 1, it will necessarily push Williams to the bench or put him out of position at DE and keep Troup on the bench. From an investment perspective, I can't see a team being able to have a #1 and #2 pick at NT.

I'd prefer to pass on Nick Fairley, though. He has only produced for 1 year, has some character concerns and was very good, but hot super at the combine. No thanks.

I think Sam Acho would struggle at DE in a 3-4 at 6'1.5" and 257lbs. He would most likely have to play OLB and I can't see 2 LBs in the first 2 rounds. Not that Acho or Miller wouldn't be interesting picks, just not both.

I do not agree with picking him in the 2nd round. There are a lot of red flags around this guy and even discounting those, he doesn't look like a good fit for the Bills. He is big, but immobile and supposedly doesn't make good decisions even when given a lot of time. How bad might he be under the constant rush that he'd face with the Bills' weak OL?

We do need OT help, but the defense is ABYSMAL and I really hope not to watch yet another year of them being completely gouged on the ground by every single opponent. Man, to me, that is A LOT harder to watch than an offense handicapped by a poor OL.

If they think any of the QBs can be another Jim Kelly, then they WILL take them at 3. However, I don't think any of them is that good and given how WOEFUL the D is, I am expecting a defensive player at 3. IF they are VERY lucky, they might be able to trade down and still get a good defensive front 7 player, but I'd bet against that.

I am intrigued by Locker, if he is available in round 2. I think that accuracy can be improved a bit, but I'm not sure if he can improve decision making that much. I think a QB can kind of "get it" or not when it comes to reading defenses and making quick decisions. If it could be learned (to a significant degree), then I think Rob Johnson and JP Losman would have become good QBs because they were reasonably intelligent and worked hard by most accounts that I've seen.

How do you know that Newton is a "difference maker"? He was clearly very good in the ONE (1) year that he started in Div 1AA, but a lot of his success came as a runner. I don't know if he will be great or not, but I also don't think any of us knows if any of the DL will be great either.

I am with you. Miller is much faster, quicker and more athletic (ie flexible, understands leverage, etc) than Maybin. Miller has also started and produced at a high level for 2+ years in a tough conference whereas Maybin wasn't even going to be a starter until the guy ahead of him got suspended for drugs. Maybin had one good year and was still pretty athletic. I don't see the comparison except that both were a bit undersized. Interestingly, Maybin has put on significant weight, but still can't get on the field. I take that to mean that there are more important problems for him than being "undersized".

Boy, I'd love those first two picks. I think that would REALLY improve the defense significantly.

Atogwe had 1/2 the number of tackles, 2 more INTs than Whitner did last year. The Rams cut him because he didn't live up to the big contract that he signed. Now, I am not saying that Atogwe isn't as good as Whitner, but I don't see a huge upgrade there. Money required to sign each would be a significant factor in choosing one over the other (IMHO).

I am not commenting necessarily on Nix's talent judgement (though he has been in the league a long time). Perhaps Jonathan Scott could fill the job in Pittsburgh because there was better talent around him to make up for his short-comings? I also think that Scott was starting as an injury fill-in. Cornell Green absolutely was not a great pickup, but I am pretty sure that they were hoping to get a year as a stop-gap not a long-term starter out of the 34 yo journeyman. That didn't work out very well, but when trying to build from the ground up, you can't fix every problem over night.

It isn't quite as black and white as this, in my opinion. Most players have only played in one system in college, but that doesn't mean that they can't (or necessarily can) learn and do well at another system. That's the thing with the draft - every player is a projection of some sort - step up in competition, change in scheme, etc. I agree, that there is less risk in picking a player whom you have seen play the same scheme/position that he will in the NFL. However, to discount players projecting to other schemes or positions would be ignoring many great players. Again, just my $.02 worth.

Spiller is not tiny. he is 5'11" and 195 (or more) with dynamic speed. I still believe that he will figure it out and have a strong impact. At 21-22 y.o, he is nearly as big as Thurman Thomas. He has a good work ethic, so I think he'll get it. I don't think that 91 y.o. Ralph Wilson is all that tied up in profits. I do think he doesn't want to operate the team at a loss in case he wants to leave it to one of his children. I think that posts like this who claim that Ralph Wilson is a meddling, money grubbing owner are very far off-base. Has he made mistakes in some of his hirings? No doubt, but I don't think any of it was motivated by "screwing the fans and going for profit".

Thank you. The posters here who think this is a sign of weakness or that he isn't getting professional strength and conditioning direction from the Bills TWO strength coaches (one of whom was a National Champion power lifter) are way off base.

Some counterpoints: Kyle Williams at 3-4 DE? Williams is severely undersized in terms of height for an ideal 3-4 end. He is closer to prototype size at NT than he is at 3-4 DE. I am not saying that he can't possibly play there, but I think his size works against him. I don't know if anyone can name a successful 3-4 DE who is less than 6'2" as Kyle is. Fitzpatrick is "pretty good": Well, OK he might be better than the weak players that the Bills have had at QB in the last 10 years, but he might have had his career best year last year and was just OK. The first 2 INT game that Fitz has next year, everyone would be clamoring for Newton and his "awesome running skills". I don't see ANYTHING that Newton has done that demonstrates that he is an NFL QB. Yes, he has great physical skills BUT, he won't make his name in the NFL by running (almost no QBs do) and he hasn't demonstrated NFL passing skills beyond having a strong arm. I am not totally against Newton or another QB at 3, but I am not very sold on any of the QBs in this draft, either.

I agree with the sentiment that I'd like to see them draft players that are as close to sure things as possible, but no draft pick is anything but potential. Some have more risk that can be identified than others do, but that doesn't mean that even the "surest" thing is a 100% slam dunk. While I agree that AJ Green has produced for multiple years and has great measureables, that doesn't guarantee that he will be great at the NFL level. Further, I am with you in regards to thinking that they should hold off at QB this year and address the D, but there is no QB ever coming out of the draft who is a sure thing. ALL of these guys come with risk.

Lot's of athletes and competitors say stuff like that to motivate themselves. I think it is good that he feels that he can and must play better and I'll bet that right after he said "I suck" he went and lifted extra weights. The guy is tough, accountable and a hard worker. He may not be Ray Lewis, but I think they can win with him with some better players around him.

From what I've read, I don't know that either Patrick Peterson or Prince Amakumara (sp?) are "can't miss lock down" corners.