R. Rich

That's simple enough. Just add Peyton Manning to a team w/ an atrocious defense, and we'll be dangerous.

Since each and every team in the league passed on Tom Brady when they let him slip to the 6th round, there should be mass firings then. After all, the NFL Draft is an exact science and all.

As an unabashed PENN STATE fan, this may surprise you, but I agree. Not 'cause Maybin "sucks" (he did just complete one year, so I think it's a bit early to pull the plug on his entire career), but 'cause he didn't have that many starts and only got his chance to shine due to another player's suspension. He's very young and inexperienced and as last year attests to, he has much to learn.

The compensation is going to be a real hurdle in negotiations w/ any team. Baltimore probably would've jumped on the chance to grab Marshall w/ no compensation. But, paying the guy big bucks AND losing a first? That doesn't sound like an Ozzie Newsome type move. Then again, w/ the slim pickings in free agency this year due to the uncapped year and the uncertainty of 2011, someone may jump on the chance to take 'em, but it wouldn't really be a sound move per the reasons I just stated.

Please Buddy, don't get 'er dun.

Exactly. The Bills are still paying the price for not going after Mike Nugent, as so many TBDers thought they should.

Hmm....I don't have anything, and I'm building from scratch? I'd go @ it this way: 1. Offensive Line 2. Defense 3. The rest of the team This is kinda what the Baltimore Ravens did when Ozzie Newsome and company began to contsruct their squad, using their initial pick on future Hall of Fame OT Jonathan Ogden and their next pick on future Hall of Fame LB Ray Lewis. Considering this is an expansion team, I'm pretty sure we're going to be up near the top of the draft the following season and perhaps even the season afterward, so I'll look to find my QB then, AFTER I've used my initial draft and free agency period to put together an offensive line that won't get the guy I'm going to be spending a huge bonus on (especially if my expansion team finishes dead last and ends up w/ the #1 overall pick again) murdered.

Simmer down now, kids.

I hear that Lofton guy wasn't too shabby.

Precisely.

Alright, who stole DC Tom's username?

True, there are no guarantees. The remaining DTs would carry a higher grade than the remaining QBs, so I'd be more inclined to take the DT. As I said before, the Bills are not going to address each and every need in one draft, but if they can come up w/ a few key pieces, then they've done okay for themselves. Sure, one of the QBs could end up being better than they're graded, but the Bills have taken players on faith in recent years and have come up short. They have many needs, especially in the wake of a new defensive scheme, and they cannot afford to just be wrong on these picks. Grab the best value you can for each pick.

I think Clausen did the best he could for that school while he was the QB there. Considering all the problems they had on the defensive side of the ball, as well as some just flat out stupid coaching decisions, it isn't all on the QB.

Sure it makes sense. You grab the best player you can get. In Round 2, there's still a chance you can get a difference maker @ DT. In Round 2, there is little to no chance of getting a so called "franchise QB". There are only 2 guys that even come close to that in Clausen and Bradford, and they'll be long gone by then. In Round 2, the Bills could possibly have a shot @ DTs like Cam Thomas of North Carolina, Terrence Cody of Alabama, and maybe even Dan Williams of Tennessee. If the Bills got any of those guys to anchor the 3-4 front @ the nose, it would be a great pick.

I'm not so sure I'd pick one in the 3rd round, either. This team is, most likely, NOT going to fix all of their woes in one draft. That said, if there's a good LB prospect out there in the 3rd that would be better than the available QBs, I'd like to see the Bills go for the LB instead.

Damn, and I was hoping the real typo was that Bell should've been 24th.

Oh.

I'd be more upset if the Bills went after a QB in Round 2 and left one of the DTs, a deeper and far more talented group than the QBs, still on the board.

We can all recall how Jim put that mediocre, talentless team on his broad shoulders and led 'em to four straight AFC titles, can't we?

Wow. The Bills are better suited to a 3-4? Lemme see: A 3-4 DE should have good size to take on double teams, yet still have the ability to push the pocket to create pressure and also help to neutralize the outside run. Guys like Pittsburgh's Aaron Smith or New England's Ty Warren come to mind. Which Bills DE comes close to fitting this description? Maybe Spencer Johnson and/or Marcus Stroud, but that is more what we all hope rather than what we know. Both Johnson and Stroud would struggle w/ double teams, something they'll get a healthy dose of as DEs in the 3-4. A 3-4 NT must be able to anchor the line, plug the A gap (guard to guard), and work to keep guys off the ILBs, so that they can chase plays. Guys like Pittsburgh's Casey Hampton, Cleveland's Shaun Rogers, and San Diego's Jamal Williams best reflect this. And the Bills' version? Kyle Williams is a bit smallish for the role. Now, some will mention another smallish NT in Dallas' Jay Ratliff, but he is the exception, NOT the rule. It's like saying all CBs can run 4.3 40 yard dashes well into their 30's 'cause Darrell Green could do it. Not true. A 3-4 ILB should have good size (will take on guards and must be able to stack n shed 'em to get to the play) and have the ability to diagnose plays and run. Hitting ability is also a nice plus. Think of guys like New York's David Harris or San Fransisco's Patrick Willis. Now, the Bills have Kawika Mitchell and Paul Posluszny, but I am not as confident as Chan Gailey that either is a better fit as a 3-4 inside 'backer. Posluszny seems to be a better fit as either a 4-3 Mike (MLB) or as a Will (WLB) in the 4-3 or 3-4. I think as an ILB in the 3-4, he could be as miscast as Jonathan Vilma was when he was w/ the NY Jets. Vilma excels as a 4-3 middle 'backer (All Pro this season), but struggled mightily inside in the 3-4. A 3-4 OLB is usually an undersized DE (the so called "tweener") who has the ability to rush upfield but also has the athleticism to chase plays sideline to sideline. Just as important, especially the way teams employ the zone blitzing w/ the 3-4 nowadays, the OLB should be adept @ dropping back in coverage. Guys like Miami's Joey Porter, Pittsburgh's James Harrison, and Dallas' DeMarcus Ware best illustrate this. Here is where the Bills are perhaps most sorely lacking in terms of the 3-4 and staffing. Right now, all we fans have are guys we HOPE can fill the bill, like Aaron Maybin. Maybin does have a great burst coming off the edge, but he also needs a lot of work on dropping back and in maintaining discipline, especially on misdirection plays, where he has the tendency to follow the flow of the play down the line and not be ready for the counters or reverses. I'm all for optimism, but the fact of the matter is that the Bills have tried for years to run a Tampa 2-type defense, which emphasizes a smallish, quicker defensive front. Now, they're going to a front that still requires speed, but also now requires more size. Maybe the guys who have the question marks (Johnson, Stroud, Maybin) can make the transition, maybe not. But I certainly wouldn't go into this offseason (before any free agent signings and draft picks, that is) saying that the Bills are better equipped to run the 3-4 than they were the 4-3. That is just not true.

I sure hope he can become a good 3-4 DE. The Bills really don't have much in the way of certainties for switching to that scheme, so I am hoping guys like Johnson, Stroud, Maybin, and Posluszny can make some sort of seamless transition. If not, it could get ugly.

Haha!! Nah. All it proves is that I need to keep such comments to PMs or spell out the sarcasm for those who may misread it.

True. It's not that much unlike the whole Manning vs Leaf discussion. Before Leaf's meltdown and immaturity surfaced, all people had to go on was his performance, particularly in the bowl game vs Michigan (despite the loss, he played a great game). It was considered a coin flip @ the time. Oops.

What argument would you be referring to? An inside joke made to someone else was misconstrued.

Been there, done that.