Brandon

JP didn't have to face the Panthers starters, but don't forget that he also played the 2nd half with the Bills backups and camp fodder in the game as well.

It'll be interesting to see how the Bills divide up the snaps this week in practice. Craig Nall's return to practice probably spells even more trouble for Holcomb, as the Bills will need to find practice and preseason game reps for him. Considering how much better Losman played and that he'll be starting next week, the Bills will very likely choose to rob more of Holcomb's practice and playing time for Nall instead of Losman's. The bottomline is that once the games started, I don't think there was any room for error. There aren't enough snaps to go around to maintain a 3 QB competition and ensure that they're all being properly prepared.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. Some of these OL won't even make the team, much less start.

I don't think it was even the worst performance by a Bills QB in the last couple of years. Look at this stat line from week 10 in 2004 for Drew Bledsoe: 8 of 19 for 76 yards and 3 INTS. JP was terrible at times last year, but he never quite reached that level of ineptitude.

Culpepper posted over 5,100 total yards and 41 TDs in 2004. He averaged about 26 TD passes per season from 2000 to 2004. It seems to me that if he can return healthy, there should be little doubt that he can play.

Actually, JP did show considerable statistical improvement from his first four starts to the next four games he played in. His stats against NE make him look worse in his 2nd stretch as a starter than he really was. In his first four starts, he completed 45 of 94 passes (47.9%) for 430 yards with 1 TD and 2 INTs. In the four game stretch beginning in KC, he completed 61 of 107 passes (57.0%) for 726 yards with 6 TDs and 3 INTs. Statistically, that's not a bad four game run. The one thing I find very encouraging is that he only had one game with multiple interceptions, that game being against NE. That's a decent indicator of his decision making, which I thought was adequate last year. The biggest problem was that he struggled to find his accuracy early in the year, but once he did, he posted reasonably good numbers. His actual on-field effectiveness was admittedly not quite as good as those numbers indicate, but he did show some improvement and it is something to build on.

Nance ran a 4.51 and a 4.58 at the combine, plus a 4.56 at his pro day workout.

The one position I'm really concerned about coming out of this draft is DE. The lack of pass rushing talent was a problem anyway, but the Bills have only five DEs on the roster, two of which appear to be camp fodder. That's cutting it pretty thin at that position and the Bills need to make the position a priority when signing undrafted FAs.

I think its a weak group, but I also think this is a 2-3 year rebuilding effort. They're focusing on the D this year, and while I think the lack of a pass rusher from this draft will come back to bite us this upcoming season, I think they've made a significant upgrade on that side. Hopefully its enough to keep them in most of their games this season.

I've been calling for a DE since round 4. I hope it happens, but I'm not expecting it now.

I'm still hoping they draft a pass rushing DE. Hope its Stanley McClover.

Jacobs was just selected by Pittsburgh

Dwight Freeney.

It certainly isn't going to help the defense, but again, they can't plug all the holes on the team in the draft. Just pointing out the strategy they appear to be taking. We'll have to see if it works out or not.

I think they feel they're better off finishing as much rebuilding on one side of the ball as possible. Improving the defense should keep us in most games this fall until we can improve the offense next year. This looks like an actual rebuilding plan (and yes, it will take 2-3 years) instead of trying to slap a bandaid on both sides of the ball in one offseason.

Can't really blame them. Troy Vincent is older than Marv is.

He's a sophomore eligible. Inexperience is largely the reason he was available at 105.

Its a fairly close call, but I'd pick McClover. I don't think we'll have an effective defense until the pass rush is upgraded. Hopefully the Bills can find a good pass rushing specialist here on day 2.

I'm also in the group that says we need a pass rushing DE. There isn't going to be much blitzing out of this defensive scheme, so the pressure is on the DL to rush the QB. Unfortunately, Schobel is the only player we have that has shown that he's remotely up to the task. Ideally, we need a new LDE, but this late in the draft, I'll settle for a long yardage pass rushing specialist. If we don't improve here I think every QB in the league is going to have all day to pick this secondary apart.

Gocong was selected by Philadelphia at 71. I would select either Stanley McClover or Mark Anderson at 105. We really only have three DEs on the roster and one is a FA after '06. Additionally, our pass rush needs significant help and a good speed rusher would make a nice addition to our defense. And finally, I just don't see any of these day 2 OL coming in and making an immediate contribution, but a pass rushing specialist can probably do so just on athleticism alone. In the end, I have to say that I really like the players still available both at DT and DE. DT still has enough players left that I think we can get a contributor at 134 or 143. DE...not many good prospects left and the few that are will go quickly today, so the Bills should get one while they can.

I don't think we're going to get much with an OL pick here on the 2nd day, but I do like the defensive players still on the board, especially the defensive linemen. I'd go with DE Mark Anderson or Stanley McClover at 105, followed by DT and maybe LB in R5.

I've been whining for years about the OL guys, but I've got to be honest...there are some very solid defensive prospects on that list and I don't think I could pass them up for a run-of-the-mill day 2 OL prospect. My R4 pick would be either McClover or Anderson at DE. I think McClover could have gone as high as early in R2 and will be an excellent pass rushing specialist and I think we need one. We could use another DT as well and a good one will probably be there at 134. That leaves the rest of the picks for OL (which I think is pretty average from this point on) and our lesser needs.

Feel free to add to this list: QB Reggie McNeal QB Erik Meyer RB Mike Bell WR Jason Avant WR Hank Baskett WR Brandon Marshall WR Jonathan Orr WR Demetrius Williams WR Todd Watkins WR Devin Aromashodu TE TJ Williams OT Jon Scott OT Jahri Evans OT Quinn Ojinnaka OT Guy Whimper OT Joe Toledo OG Max Jean-Gilles OG Chris Kuper OG Mark Setterstrom OG Rob Sims OG Isaac Sowells C Greg Eslinger C Marvin Phillip C Todd Londot DE Mark Anderson DE Victor Adeyanju DE Stanley McClover DE James Wyche DE Roderkus Wright DT Montavious Stanley DT Gabe Watson DT Titus Adams DT LeKevin Smith DT Barry Cofield DT Johnny Jolly DT Jonathan Lewis DT Orien Harris DT Jesse Mahelona DT Babatunde Oshinowo DT Kedric Golston LB Spencer Havner LB Brandon Johnson LB Brian Iwuh LB Jamar Williams LB Cameron Vaughn CB Charles Gordon CB Darrell Hunter CB Dee Webb CB Alan Zemaitis S Marcus Hudson S Pat Watkins S Ko Simpson S Darnell Bing S Calvin Lowry

I would like this pick even if Nate were under contract for the next five years. Youboty is an excellent value and a very good prospect in R3 at a position where quality players are at a premium. I really liked the McCargo pick, but this one is the best of the day. Marv has his work cut out for him tomorrow shoring up the offensive line, but he has salvaged the poor value (but a solid prospect) from the 8th pick by getting two very nice picks at 26 and 70.

I'd trade up into the 3rd from pick 105 using the 5th gained from the Moulds trade. As far as the 70th pick, I'd like to see them draft Gabe Watson. Yes, he's a risk, but he's a top 20 talent if motivated.