Nihilarian

The fact is the 2015 Buffalo Bills were the #1 team in rushing yards and #2 in rushing attempts. The Bills were also #1 in scoring rushing TD's and they averaged 4.8 yards per rush. While those rushing stats were great...we must also realize that because the Bills QB ran 104 attempts for 568 yards that it pads those overall rushing stats somewhat. The Bills were also 28th in passing yards and 31st in passing attempts. The 2015 Buffalo Bills were also 31st in 3 downs and out percentage at 186 drives with 53 going 3 and out! When you think about dominant running teams you would tend to think they control the line of scrimmage and clock and that really wasn't the case at all with the Bills last year. The simple fact is the right side of the line play was pretty bad and the left side basically carried the team. Miller was decent at run blocking and lousy at pass blocking and vice versa for Urbik. The RT play was pretty bad from everyone all season. What a lot of fans seem to forget is that in 2014 the Buffalo Bills fielded one of the very worst offensive lines in the league for most of the season and in my view is the biggest reason as to why the team lost to the Raiders in week 16 while attempting to gain a playoff berth. The Bills run game had only 13 rushes for 13 yards and every time Spiller touched the ball he was getting tackled five yards behind the line of scrimmage. The line also had great difficulty in protecting Kyle Orton all game. Doug Whaley's answer to the weakest and neediest area of the team in the 2015 draft was to select an OG in the third round. If it wasn't for Rex Ryan vouching for OG Richie Incognito the line would have been another horrid mess in 2015. Then to Incognito's credit, he played some of his best football with the Bills last season and really anchored that left side. His play upgraded both Woods and Glenn's play without question. The right side of the Bills line will still be a mess in 2016 and it should have been addressed in this year's draft or free agency. Because of cap hell, the Bills were limited in free agency and went full bore into helping Rex Ryan build the defense he wants in this year's draft. Still, the Bills did re-sign Richie and tagged Glenn. I can only imagine that Doug Whaley didn't want Ryan to have that same excuse that he used after he was fired by the NY Jets. The Bills did go 'all in" to get Rex Ryan the players he needed to build his defense and now let's see if it works. The bottom line is I feel the OPs pain and think this team has almost no quality depth for the O-line and the right side is still a huge question mark. I have no idea what this team will do if there is a serious injury to one of the left side of line players or if opposing teams start focusing on stacking the box to stop the Bills run game and thus forcing them to throw more than they want. Think what you will, but I can tell you that last season when the Bills were forced into throwing more than running they lost every game and Taylor didn't fare very well in those games.

and they just bent over the Cowboys to do it Great stuff!

Re-read the last sentence.

Yea, none of this years QB draft class should start day one. I don't like Wentz or Goff enough to make them the first and second pick in this year's draft and yet I think there will probably be 4 QB's going in the first round. Goff, Wentz, Lynch and Cook. The only guy I really like is Lynch and would hate to see him as a NY Jet.

Everything is smoke right now and the Jets are still hot on the trail of any QB they think can help them win.

Great, a top five team in talent that went 8-8! Rex Ryan took the most talented, highest paid D-line in the league and made them look below average in his craptastic scheme. and yet here the Bills FO is at attempting to rebuild the defense to fit a 3-4 for Rex! Now, unless Whaley finds another Lawrence Taylor / Von Miller type with the 19th pick the defense will still probably be a bad defense again in 2016. A darn shame that Doug Whaley is tied to a bum who only knows how run a defense in his own lame way.

I agree for the most part but I also I don't think it's completely meaningless as some QB's playing on bad teams can actually elevate the play of the players around them to get wins and that is an important factor. BTW, Luck didn't leave early as he redshirted his first year and he went 31-7 at Stanford and had a better winning percentage. I'm also not a big fan of taking a QB past the second round in the draft and then anticipating them to be a viable starting QB for the future. In regards to Hogan, I was merely feeding the fans that really like him. Earlier in this thread I made it known I wasn't really a big fan of taking QB's later in the draft.

I have no idea why that scouting report mentioned he lacks "great mobility" because as you say he has a decent 40 time (4.78) and has run designed QB option plays. Plus his 36 career wins are the most in school history and way more than John Elway who went 20-23. For those who want to further drool over what could be the Bills 4th round pick. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000646131/article/bills-gm-kevin-hogan-is-drafts-most-proready-qb-for-our-team

I agree with this and I just don't get the love for a one dimensional DT who can't rush the passer. So, that means that Ryan can't use him in his one gap 3-4 or have him drop into pass coverage. Seems limited for a 1st round pick.

I would agree with this. He might have been a great run stuffer at Alabama but then they pulled him out on 3rd downs. Then the NFL level is an entirely different animal where those two-gapping rush stuffers need to be 325lb+ monsters who are far more athletic than this guy. If anything, this fire hydrant kid reminds me of a William "refrigerator" Perry type who could only play in a 6 sq yard area and he was 335 lbs. Kind of outdated in today's game.

Kinda difficult to keep that optimism going after 15 years of no playoffs. Then it's impossible for me to even get excited about this year's draft in knowing that unless Doug Whaley finds the next Lawrence Taylor with the 19th pick the defense won't get better. If I'm Whaley I draft only offensive players this year and hope that Terry fires that bum and lets me hire the next HC... who will be the man I want.

and not to mention that Buddy Nix was telling everyone that if Newton was there at three the Bills would take him. The owner of the Panthers was really upset when Luck told him he was staying at Stanford for another year and had his heart set on Luck.

Trade down? Why all the passion over Reed when the guy is such an ineffective pass rusher? Two years at Alabama and only two sacks with 16 QB pressures and he was subbed out on 3rd downs. Solid two gapping run stopper in college but looks to be a bit short and light in the pants for a full-fledged first round two-gapper in the NFL. Plus, kinda totally useless in dropping into pass coverage that Ryan loves to have his entire line get into at times. The Bills biggest loss was a pass rushing DE in Mario and now want to use that first pick on a run stuffing DT? I would have thought that first pick would be with an edge rusher at OLBer to fit the 3-4 Ryan wants to build.

I dunno, I'd rather see Lynch go to Denver, Arizona, Saints or even the Browns rather than the NY Jets. Let Gailey keep calling pass plays for Fitz. Unlike others, I wouldn't be upset if the Bills took Lynch and sat him for this season to see if Tyrod does become that elite franchise QB. If so then Lynch will make great trade bait for some extra picks. If not then the Bills have an actual backup plan who could be another Kaepernick... that isn't broken.

Ok, since it appears that some things were somewhat overlooked, let me go back and reiterate on a few things. WEAKNESSES: Elongated delivery. Struggles with accuracy on deep passes. Lacks great mobility that is increasingly valued in the NFL. That's three huge areas of concern, delivery, deep accuracy and lacks mobility. Then you have to take into consideration that he was playing behind an elite offensive line that gave him time to throw and that simply won't be the case in the NFL. So, if you are looking to draft the opposite of Tyrod Taylor then have at it. There are real reasons as to why Hogan has a 5th to 6th round grade. Guys like him are huge projects that have very slim odds of working out. READ THIS~ http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2014/nfl-draft-round-round-quarterback-data

Here,here! And a guy I know you don't want or like. I wouldn't mind the Bills taking a shot with Paxton Lynch if he is there at #19. 6'7'' 244lbs and the kid can run like Kaepernick. Only Lynch is not damaged goods like Kaep. I can see Denver trading up for him and I would hate to see him go to the Jets.

But you forgot to mention as to why he compares to Phillip Rivers...and it's because of an elongated, quirky delivery. WEAKNESSES: Elongated delivery. Struggles with accuracy on deep passes. Lacks great mobility that is increasingly valued in the NFL. COMPARES TO: Philip Rivers, Chargers - Hogan's elongated wind-up will earn plenty of criticism in the pre-draft process but like Rivers, Hogan's instincts, accuracy, and velocity are enough to overcome the quirky delivery. --Rob Rang (11/29/15) http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1851143/kevin-hogan Another note to consider is, "Hogan has been well protected by the elite talent blocking in front of him" Teams don't really know how he will stand up under the pressure that comes with being an NFL QB if he was well protected in College. An actual scouting report on Rivers, Philip Rivers, the first North Carolina State player named Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, finished as the second-leading passer in NCAA history with 13,484 yards and set an NCAA record with 51 career starts. Last season he led the NCAA with a 72% completion rate and 170.49 pass efficiency rating. Although Rivers' delivery is more three-quarters angled than classic over-the-top, several NFL coaches insist they would be hesitant to change it. "It's a little side-armed at times, but he's been pretty efficient, pretty accurate," Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher says. "You'd better be careful with what you try to change. We've been known in the NFL to overcoach players." . I'd rather see the Bills take a shot at Paxton Lynch who is 6'7'' 244 lbs. He threw 28TD's, only 4 INT's last year and can run like Kaepernick. But alas, he will be gone by the 19th pick

The guy is like the 8th or 9th rated QB in this year's draft which equates to a 5th rounder or later. Not exactly a hot prospect. If the Bills are really interested in a QB in this year's draft I sure hope they are looking to draft one in rounds two and three rather than 5 thru 6 which kinda almost puts them in Jeff Tuel's area of lameness.

Similar, as in getting a pro bowl nod or similar to overall QB play? Last year the Bills fielded about the most QB friendly offense they have had in over a decade, IMHO. The Bills had a solid O-line on the left side, a decent receiving corps and they ran the ball to help set up the passing game. Plus, they ran the ball very well averaging 4.8 YPC and were the #1 rushing team in the league and had 19 rushing TD's. Still, the Bills were 31st in three down and out percentage. Conversely, they were 28th in the league in passing yardage and Taylor was ranked 23rd in yards passing. If Tyrod has a similar year to last year while not being able to carry the team with his arm I think the team moves on from him because he was very ineffective at times in some games and every time the team needed to throw more then run that was the case. Should he show some growth in being able to carry the game with his arm then he will indeed get that huge contract. That inability to carry games when the run game wasn't working is what caused the Bills to wait a year to pay him and to look for another QB. That 31st in 3rd down and out is why I hope the Bills spend an early round pick on a RT and in particular I kinda doubt they want to go forward paying Glenn 13.7 mill or even 11+ mill per. Then the RT situation in Buffalo is still rather Iffy. Should make for an interesting draft.

I'm still loving that they lost their first round pick and this is icing! \ Hmm, a different type of GOAT!

I can't help but wonder if Rex Ryan still passionately hates the Jets and they pick 20th right after Buffalo and it's pretty much a given by many that if Paxton Lynch is still there the Jets will go for him... At 6'7' 244 lbs and he can run like Kaepernick. I'm hearing the Dolphins want to trade up to make sure they get Zeke and the Cowboys might want him at four. Gonna be a very interesting draft.

Jon Gruden thinks he has a first round talent. http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2016/04/espns_jon_gruden_doubles_down.html Plus, I've read other reports on him and he was graded as a five-star talent his freshman season by setting a Penn State school record of 2955 passing yards in 2013. Sure he had some freshman mistakes but he also showed some rare talent for an 18-year-old. What stinks is this kid committed to Penn St because of Bill O'Brian and he sold him on running an NFL offense like Tom Brady runs and then bailed on him. I'm not advocating the Bills take him in the first or second rounds as he looks like a huge project going forward, and the Bills need players who can contribute right away. Perhaps even at QB.

Penn St's Christian Hackenberg looks like a case study in reverse on how coaching changes can ruin a young developing QB. The kid looked brilliant as a freshman under Bill O'Brian and when O'Brian left for the Texans Hackenberg took several steps backwards in his development. A new and different coaching staff, new offensive scheme, and after his freshman season the O-line, WR talent went downhill bigtime. All this reminds me of how some inept coaches and surrounding players can hurt a young QB attempting to develop properly. Like Doug Marrone with no QB coach, a very bad O-line and OC. That said, EJ has been learning under a better OC and the Bills now have a much-improved line. So, in my view, it will be interesting to see if EJ has improved at all under Greg Roman as compared to what he didn't learn under Marrone / Hackett. Anyway, I wouldn't be against the Bills drafting a QB at any point in this draft. I think the Bills were really thinking of moving up to the number two position to draft Wentz until the Eagles beat them to it. The Bills have had Connor Cook, Cardale Jones, and Dak Prescott all into Buffalo for a pre-draft look. Should Paxton Lynch be there at 19 I'd have to think the Bills will give him serious consideration. In all probablity it will be Jones in the 3rd round.

There are currently some people in the NFL that are very good at evaluating college talent and some are actually excellent at it. First, you need a man at the top of the org chart who can recognize the people who are great at doing their job of scouting players. The Bills have had a few people like that over the years and one was HC Chuck Knox who hired Norm Pollom away from the Rams to join him in Buffalo as director of scouting for Buffalo. From there Pollom advised the hiring of a young man by the name of Bill Polian. Mind you the Bills still found and brought in some great talent under Chuck Know despite the standing GM being a complete moron in Stew Barber.

In 2014 both Teddy Bridgewater (1st round #32) and Derek Carr (2nd round #36) were there to be drafted and both have been to the pro bowl in their second year. Both look to be the franchise QB's of the future for both teams. Instead, Whaley drafted Sammy Watkins with two firsts and a fourth. Meanwhile, WR's Odell Beckham Jr, and two second round picks in Jarvis Landry, Allen Robinson all went to the PB this past year. In a draft literally loaded with wide receiver talent, this team went out on a limb for a receiver that doesn't even fit that big, tall redzone target they have been looking to find for years. The team still says they need that big, tall redzone target WR. Wasn't it the Colts GM who initiated that trade to get rid of a player that org deemed a bust and called one of Bill Polian's worst picks. A first rounder in Hughes for a 3rd rounder in Kelvin Shepard who played only one year for Indy and is now a Dolphin. Whaley lucked into that trade as he did with Spiller opting to sign with the Saints...Halleluja! Now, much money spent on Shady McCoy when the team could have drafted RB DeVonta Freeman in the fourth in 2014? Wow, did so many teams miss on that kid! Considering the two firsts for Watkins in a draft absolutely loaded with great WR talent, the failure of EJ and Cujo among others. I'd say this Org still has serious difficulty identifying offensive talent from the college ranks.