R. Rich

I look @ it as another tool to use to measure a player's abilities. I also look @ game tape (gotta love the ESPN Game Plan!), so that I have some idea about what some of these guys can do. In Ngata's case, I've seen about 4 games this year, and he seems to be a pretty solid DT. I don't think he's the greatest DT prospect in a decade nor do I think he's a total bust. Based on what I've seen of him and what I've read about him, I think he's good, but I'd rather see the Bills use the #8 pick elsewhere and get a quailty DT either in the 2nd or w/ the earliest of our 3rd round picks, depending on how the draft plays out.

Way to keep your eye on the prize.

I admit that since his workout I'm more intrigued by him than I was before, but I'm still not sure of drafting him w/ the #8 pick.

Hahaha!!! Oh, and he can dropkick. Don't forget that one. Seriously, I don't think we need to bring in another QB. I don't think Tom Brady "divulged the secret of his power" to Flutie or anything like that. The guy is just a good football player, something we need to concentrate on adding more of to the Bills.

Now, if we had an additional 2nd, that would be sweet. We could take Huff, then get one of the top guards (Lutiu, Jean-Gilles, or Joseph), and then take the best DT available. I wonder if we could move up to another 2nd round pick somehow...

I've mentioned Huff, Davis, Ngata, or even a guy like Tamba Hali or Manny Lawson in a trade down besides the obviously unrealistic ones (Ferguson, Super Mario, Hawk).

Holcomb?

A whining moratorium would be more apropriate.

They're just part of the master plan to get the Bills moved to LA. Didn't you know?

You shouldn't hate.

Pace is certainly one of the most dominant OL of all. There have been some pretty good ones (living here in Baltimore, the name of the late Jim Parker immediately comes to mind), but I'd put him near the top for sure. As I've said before, he's proof positive that the Hypeman Trophy is a joke. Clearly, Pace was the best player in college football the year he finished 4th in the voting: Danny Wuerffel Florida Sr. QB 2nd Troy Davis Iowa State Jr. RB 3rd Jake Plummer Arizona State Sr. QB 4th Orlando Pace Ohio State Jr. OT 5th Warrick Dunn Florida State Sr. RB 6th Byron Hanspard Texas Tech Jr. RB 7th Darnell Autry Northwestern Jr. RB 8th Peyton Manning Tennessee Jr. QB 9th Marcus Harris Wyoming Sr. WR 10th Beau Morgan Air Force Sr. QB This is nearly as bad a ripoff as giving the Best Picture Oscar to Ordinary People over Raging Bull.

Manny Lawson is a great player, but probably better suited for OLB. I could see him being a great OLB in a 3-4 scheme, similar to Merriman. The guy brings it on every play, something that can't be said for many of the other top DE prospects. Since I don't see the Bills looking for a LB early on, I'd say our chances of drafting Lawson are slim. I agree w/ your take on the WRs. One of the worst group of WRs in recent memory. I think LenDale could be a very good pro in the right setting. If he's allowed to be a prima donna, he'll probably eat his way out of the NFL ala Curtis Enis (a sad story, even sadder for a Penn State fan like me).

Ugh! Let's not go there again. Please, Marv......say "no" to the "big dancing bear" type OL like Williams, Leonard Davis, and this year's version, Marcus McNeil.

Nah, he just came back better.......as Michael Strahan.

Variety is the spice of life. If it's first round draft pick threads you seek, there's tons of them on the Wall. Have @ it.

I've seen Leffew play a few times, and he's not too bad. One thing I always try to look for in late round gems (and I'm sure the NFL scouts do as well) is versatility, and Leffew doesn't really offer that. Now, Donald Penn of Utah State does have that kind of versatility, where you can use him @ multiple positions along the line. A few years ago, I mentioned Makoa Freitas as a late rounder who was versatile enough to be a late round pick for the Bills. Well, he's backing up Tarik Glenn in Indy now, part of the reason is that he does give them the versatility to use him @ tackle, guard, or even center in a pinch.

I don't consider myself a Ngata fan or basher. I just want the Bills to get maximum value out of the picks they have. If we pass up a TE that can create mismatches for us offensively (Not important? See Antonio Gates, Heath Miller, Alge Crumpler, etc.) or someone who would upgrade our secondary TREMENDOUSLY, that person had better be the second coming. I just don't see that in Ngata. You mention one game where Bunkley was knocked 5 yards off the line. I can recall one game where Ngata was completely shut down: the USC game. And no, not by Taitusi Latui, the 5th rated guard prospect in Ourlads' guide, but by his teammate Fred Matua, the 14th ranked prospect @ guard in their guide. Conclusion? One game doesn't define Bunkley.....or Ngata.

Uh oh. I guess I'd better prepare some extra travel time getting in and out of the city, then. I took off half a day Friday (wedding is Saturday night) and the entire day Monday. I hope that will be enough. Also, you shouldn't hate.

Too bad you're not already there. I'll be heading to Charlotte next weekend for a friend's wedding.

Ball skills? He may be a bit better than Taylor. Run support? Taylor has the edge, because he's a better tackler and is a fierce hitter as well.

Stop all this talk about 2 month old news. If this continues, this thread is locked.

Disagree away, William. I'm nobody special that you have to agree w/ what I say, that's for sure. You know how long I've preached about upgrading the OL, so that's not the issue. I'm only saying I think we can get that upgrade even if we use a 2nd or a 3rd...or both. When it comes to the OL, there's only 1 guy I'd take 8th, and he's not going to be there (Ferguson). After that, I'd consider Justice in a trade down scenario, but I really don't think he'll be there by trading down, especially after his pro day workout. There are some really good prospects in this draft that will be there after the first round, not only @ OT, but also, and perhaps more importantly, in the interior of the OL.

Just catch the damn ball, and if someone from the other team is taking a turnover the other way for a score, try to tackle them.

I'm all for getting the most out of this draft that we can. If that means trading down and getting a good OL and a good DL w/ the first couple of picks, I'm okay w/ that. If it means getting a DB first and getting a good OL in the 2nd and another w/ one of our 3rds, I could live w/ that as well. It's not just about the first round for me, as I sure hope it's not for the Bills.

Letting House Ballard and Will Wolford go in free agency was the start of the decline, rapidly accelerated by the retirement of one of my all-time favorite Bills, Kent Hull.