R. Rich

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.

This might be the year they fix that, or it could be year 13 of my blind faith in their ability to do so.

It would be nice to acquire additional picks so that we can address more areas of need. Like you said, this draft is deep in a number of positions that can help the Bills. Got my Ourlads guide yesterday also. I was surprised that they gave Mario Williams a better overall rating (slightly) than D'Brickashaw Ferguson. They had both rated very high though. I think only Reggie Bush had a higher rating than Super Mario.

I believe there are more than 2 DTs in this year's draft class that can play well in the NFL.

You wanna be the 8th overall pick in the draft?

Probably not. I'll be up that way for the draft party @ RICH in a few weeks, then probably not again until the home opener. I'd like to get up to Erie once this summer to see my goddaughter/niece, but that'll probably be it for trips up that way until the fall.

Actually, he's Mr Kipper.

Well, you did say clubhouse, didn't you?

Well, as long as you realize it's wrong..... As for Seymour, I said some time during the season that I think he is the Pats' X factor, the one guy they can ill afford to lose. Some people thought that was crazy. Thing is, if you look @ how poorly they played w/ him out of the lineup last year (even w/ the sacred cows like Brady, Vinatieri and that LB they have, whatever his name is), they weren't very spectaclar. However, once he was back and healthy again, the D started to play well and all of a sudden, they were "back" and "a Super Bowl contender" again. The difference?

Way ahead of you, Paul.

Ngata is special? How so? Because the draft sites say so? I think he's a good player, but I really think so many of us are so starved for a success story @ the position that it's becoming some kind of obsession to draft him. It reminds me of the frenzy here last year to draft Mike Nugent, another special, once in a lifetime player.

It's kinda foolish to hold an entire university responsible for one player's failings, especially one that is coming off a national championship season. Wright, in my opinion, could make the transition to DE in a 3-4 and be effective, something like RICHard Seymour did for the Pats. I just don't believe he'll be an impact DT in the pros. I could be wrong on that, but I just feel he's better off @ end in the 3-4.