JohnBonhamRocks

Posted the following in another thread. Matthews, Jones, Boldin seems like a solid top 3 WRs for an NFL squad to me. Let's say we end up with this: Matthews: 890 yards & 6 TDs Jones: 500 yards & 3 TDs Boldin: 700 yards & 6 TDs Conservative estimates based on JM and AB's prior 3 years and quite randomly the CBS fantasy projected outlook for Jones. They combine to give us 2,090 yards and 15 TDs from our top 3 WRs. Our top 3 WRs statistically from last year - Watkins, Woods, and Goodwin - gave us roughly 1,475 yards and 6 TDs. A marked improvement just from what looks to be our WR corps' floor. Even if Boldin declines and Jones has an average rookie showing, we got better.

Voted yes. Matthews and Watkins have very similar production. While Watkins is more talented, Matthews is more available and professional. Darby and Gaines have both been up and down, but hopefully Gaines is a better system fit. A 2nd and 3rd, on the other hand, are clearly better than a 6th. (Depending on who you draft of course.)

The best ability... is availability. Pretend you don't know Watkins exists. Matthews, Jones, Boldin seems like a solid top 3 WRs for an NFL squad to me. Let's say we end up with this: Matthews: 890 yards & 6 TDs Jones: 500 yards & 3 TDs Boldin: 700 yards & 6 TDs Conservative estimates based on JM and AB's prior 3 years and quite randomly the CBS fantasy projected outlook for Jones. They combine to give us 2,090 yards and 15 TDs from our top 3 WRs. Our top 3 WRs from last year gave us roughly 1,475 yards and 6 TDs. A marked improvement just from what looks to be our WR corps' floor.

I like WF for draft scouting info, but dunno how they are for daily NFL transactions. That Watkins, Woods, Austin combo ain't bad though. I also like Matthews, Jones, Boldin as a WR corps.

Appreciate the insight...

Maybe he likes Matthews and gave OBD positive intel about him before the pulled the trigger? No basis, just speculation.

You said that, not me. I do think that Matthews strikes me as more of a professional than Watkins. I do know that Matthews is more often available, that he puts up similar stats, and that he is just as good if not better of a fit for our offense.

I can't say whether he does or doesn't, but I know that Matthews is available more often. He also seems like more of a leader. ... Regardless, I do wonder separately if they'll use Matthews as a returner and if that also opens up a roster spot.

^Kelly the Dog I think it's more about professionalism than character. Fine line, but I think the difference is being fit to work in the NFL for the former and just being a "good person" for the latter. A team wants the guys who are taking care of themselves, going to be available, and then produce while on the field.

WR1: Matthews WR2: Jones WR3: Boldin WR4: Streater WR5: Tate WR6: Lewis PS: Shorts

Now the Bills can't make the fantasy playoffs

Can cut both ways: more targets = available to play more often Apologies if already posted: NFL Draft Profile OVERVIEW Cousin of Hall of Famer Jerry Rice. Receiver-defensive back who also played basketball as an Alabama prep. Played all 52 games of his career. As a true freshman in 2010, started 10-of-12 games and caught 15 balls for 181 yards (12.1-yard average) and four touchdowns. Started all 13 games and paced Commodore receivers each of the next three seasons -- produced 41-778-5 (19.0) in '11; 94-1,323-8 (14.1) in '12; and 112-1,477-7 (13.2) in '13. Rewrote the VU receiving records and owns SEC records for career receptions (262) and receiving yards (3,759). Team captain. ANALYSIS STRENGTHS Good length. Big zone target. Good form as a route runner. Sinks his hips and pops out of breaks. Concentrates, tracks and adjusts. Soft hands and sticky fingers. Has leaping ability to compete in the air. Opens up his stride in the clear and shows nice long speed. Good field awareness. Gives effort as a blocker. Competes and plays with intensity. Tough and intelligent. Lined up outside and inside and has punt-return experience. Team captain and four-year starter with record-setting production. WEAKNESSES Could stand to bulk up his frame. Adequate line release. Fairly linear. Not a quick-twitch athlete. Does not show elite explosion to separate vertically. Lets some throws into his body and is not immune to concentration drops. Limited creativity and elusiveness after the catch. Can be moody and has some diva in him. DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 2-3 BOTTOM LINE Matthews is a tall, narrow-framed, West Coast possession receiver with soft hands, a professional approach and the versatility to line up inside or outside and become a solid No. 2 or No. 3. High-floor prospect. A lot of similarities to Zay Jones with the bloodlines, production, and professional demeanor.

I feel like, although not a burner, Matthews is at least somewhat of a deep threat.

Apologies if posted: NFL Draft Profile OVERVIEW Cornerback-running back who also played basketball and ran track as a Missouri prep. Played in 13 games as a true freshman in 2010 and recorded 26 tackles, one pass breakup and no interceptions as a special-teams player and reserve defensive back. Took over as a starting cornerback in 2011 and tallied 69 tackles, 16 pass breakups and two INTs with three tackles for loss and one forced fumble. The combined 18 passes defended set a Mizzou record and ranked fourth in the NCAA. Returned nine punts for 98 yards (10.9-yard average) and one touchdown, a 44-yard scamper against Western Illinois. In 2012, he totaled 74 tackles, 11 pass breakups and one INT with seven tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Scored on a 13-yard fumble recovery against Kentucky. In 2013, recorded 75 tackles, three pass breakups and five INTs with four tackles for loss. In the SEC championship game against Auburn, he had an 11-yard fumble recovery for a TD. Missed two games with a quad strain. Team captain. Bench pressed at the combine but was medically excluded otherwise (pelvis). ANALYSIS STRENGTHS Good muscularity and thin ankles. Fills aggressively and supports the run. Likes to hit. Plays with confidence and carries a swagger. Good attitude and football demeanor. Competes hard and brings energy to the field. Good eyes and route recognition. Has experience matching up with slot receivers in nickel coverage and has returned punts. Very good career production on the ball. Proven special teams coverage defender. WEAKNESSES Is short and short-armed. Plays a lot into the boundary. Shows some tightness in his hips. Average transitional quickness -- lacks ideal burst and acceleration to recover and close ground. Can do a better job disengaging from blocks. Most of interception production stemmed from tips and overthrown balls (not created). Average hands. DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 4-5 BOTTOM LINE Strong, physical zone corner with the toughness, awareness and football IQ to function highly in short spaces. A solid tackler, Gaines plays bigger than his size and takes a professional approach. Can make an immediate impact on special teams and work his way into a lineup.

I think, if we were tanking, that McCoy and Williams would not be on the team.

I hope so, I'm just not sure there's space. (1) Watkins (2) Jones (3) Boldin (4) Holmes (5) Streater (6) Tate Still have Brown whose got coaching staff familiarity and Lewis who caught a touchdown to beat out too. With how good Streater has been during camp, would love to see Shorts show enough to warrant dropping Holmes (along with Ducasse and Davis, the latter who has been made expendable by Yarbrough). Could then be: (1) Watkins (2) Jones (3) Boldin (4) Streater (5) Tate (6) Shorts/Lewis/Brown At the very least, hope he makes our PS.

Maybe our defense can copy the offense and use him as a goal-line 'back...er.

I'm just watching to see the process. Also: - HB2, how Williams and Tolbert look back there and whether any of the rest look like they can challenge for a spot - RT, like everyone else - Groy because I wonder if he should be in the mix for RG/RT battle(s) - Boldin, like everyone else - Yarbrough because of all the positive reports - Washington to size up our DL depth - all the LBs - Poyer and Gary - Schmidt/Rehkow

Understandable re: giving Taylor options. Don't think we'll add to OT because we already traded up to draft Dawkins. Good point. Would probably need Clay to go down to warrant going harder for Barnidge though. That's my understanding. One of the reasons I've liked him for so long.

Given the positive reports on O'Leary and the addition of Boldin, who will probably be TE-ish in how he's used, this potential signing is less important than it used to be.

Say it ain't 'stro! Thanks for the great reports

Get Anquan Boldin to block for him.

Boldin has been one of my favorite non-Bill NFL players pretty much since he entered the league. Love the way he plays the game and have been beating the drum to sign him for a while. Some thoughts about the signing: - Makes sense to bring in the 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for a McDermott-run squad. - Yates, Boldin, Tolbert, DiMarco, Hodges, Johnson, Hyde, Poyer, Hauschka - not one under 26, all brought in this offseason, and all expected to make significant contributions (well, hopefully not Yates). Add to Taylor, McCoy, Clay, Glenn, Incognito, Wood, Hughes, Williams, Dareus, Alexander, and Humber... this is a veteran squad! - Unsure if posted yet, but saw a tweet that Taylor's first NFL completion was an 18 yard pass to... Anquan Boldin. - Cannot think of another receiver in the league I'd rather have the 24 y/o Watkins and 22 y/o Jones learn from. - Speaking of, this takes a little less pressure off Jones to step in and be the WR2 full-time. Holmes wasn't taking off that pressure based on camp reports. - Plus, now if any one of Watkins, Jones, or Boldin goes down, then you still have two of those guys plus Holmes/Streater as WR3/4. - Really good match with what the Dennison offense should look like. Block. Find short-to-intermediate pockets. Get 1st downs. Be productive in the red zone.

The disciplinarian similarities are there, but the article I just read laid out how McDermott brings love to coaching so tying him to a guy who used bounties for injuries seems to be off.

Anquan Boldin run blocks...