freddyjj

Thanks Alphadawg7. So what was your poll choice with # of new starters next year?

So while all fans of the Bills wait and see how Rd 1 shakes out and what top QB we might get, my concern is what OBD will do to better protect the new QB. Granted, part of the Bills being 2nd to last in sacks allowed in 2017 can be attributed to Taylor's penchant for holding the ball. But some of the fault falls to the O-Line and specifically the right side where Miller struggled in pass pro early and then Mills had some tough games. So where does OBD stand in stacking talent on the OLine? A cursory review does not inspire confidence: Eric Wood's unfortunate diagnosis and subsequent retirement really forced OBD to sign an UFA in Russell Bodine to compete with Groy for the starting C role. Whoever loses that battle will be the primary interior backup at both positions. Neither is an upgrade to Wood. At LT, it would appear Dion Dawkins will be looked upon to start and hold down the position for 16 games. Given that he will face the Houston Texans, Jags, Vikes, Chargers, and Ravens pass rush this year, he will have to continue his solid play. This is likely a wash in 2018. At LG, Richie is due back (albeit at a paycut) and OBD is counting on him to continue his strong play (Pro bowl level). The fact they did not extend his deal shows they have concerns about his possibly tailing off through this his 13th season. Could OBD look to draft his replacement this year at LG? Again this is at best a wash in 2018. At RG, the choices are not stellar. Ducasse will likely be the nominal starter going to camp with Miller and the loser at the C battle also in the mix. Again, this could be a draft target or a camp signing of someone else's cap casualty. Perhaps Newhouse gets some reps here too. At best a wash again. At RT, Mills is again the starter by default right now. Newhouse has starting experience and Conor McDermott will likely see reps in a camp battle. This is definitely a draft target if OBD doesn't trade up. The fact that OBD signed Newhouse (and Bodine) may point to their being unimpressed with the mid-round talent at OLine or and indication of their realizing they needed to get some quality depth if they are in fact trading up. At best this is presently a wash again. So with a change at the pivot, the Bills Oline will be challenged to even equal last year's performance. The current talent level is at or below last year. They will not have the same 5 starters so cohesiveness via continuity will also be diminished. On the plus side, the new OC Brian Daboll committing to a power run scheme could help the OLine in the run game. O Line Coach Juan Castillo did show that over the 2nd half of last year the line could block the power game. In the passing game it is unclear how effectively AJ McCarron (or a rookie QB tbd) will execute Daboll's Erhardt Perkins offense. McCarron (or a rookie like Rosen, Rudolph or White) will not have the ability to extend plays that Tyrod showed in his tenure. Will that be offset by the new QB squeezing the trigger more quickly? So what do you foresee? How many new starters on O-Line does OBD trot out in 2018?

20 is the average for this test for all job applicants, regardless of race, for the sample period. So a score of 20-21 is not low, it is in fact the average score and reflects a normal IQ.

Let's temper this reaction as two HOFers - Jim Kelly and Marino scored 15 on same test. And Bradshaw was a 16. Not an easy test. 35/50 puts you in 98 percentile. Twenty is an average score

5th from left is Kosar - brown and orange zubaz and the mullet are tells. 3rd from right is Randall Cunningham? my guess on 2nd from right is Chris Miller. Is it me or were there way more good QBs back then? 5 HOFers there - Aikman, Elway, Kelly, Moon, Marino.

Yes that may be him. So the black guy with green white zubaz is Randall Cunningham? Is the dark haired dude in back on right the Falcons QB then Chris Miller?

So have to give you props on the zubaz pic above. And some mullets. And that they might have been drinking IC beer! Who are the three guys on right? Truth is, the test score is indicative of critical thinking skills and is used by many industries in the hiring/screening process.

previously covered class of 1983.

PLAYER POS HT WT COLLEGE GRADE WATCH DARNOLD, SAM* QB 6'3" 220 USC 7.0 ROSEN, JOSH* QB 6'4" 226 UCLA 6.1 MAYFIELD, BAKER QB 6'1" 215 Oklahoma 6.0 ALLEN, JOSH QB 6'5" 233 Wyoming 6.0 JACKSON, LAMAR* QB 6'3" 200 Louisville 5.9 RUDOLPH, MASON QB 6'5" 235 Oklahoma St. 5.6 WHITE, MIKE QB 6'4" 225 Western Kentucky 5.6 McCarron was a 5.76 coming out and his current grade given his game experience would likely be a 6, so he would be right in the thick of first round. Scores translate as NFL key below. GRADE TITLE 9.00-10 Once-in-lifetime player 8.00-8.99 Perennial All-Pro 7.50-7.99 Future All-Pro 7.00-7.49 Pro Bowl-caliber player 6.50-6.99 Chance to become Pro Bowl-caliber player 6.00-6.49 Should become instant starter 5.50-5.99 Chance to become NFL starter 5.20-5.49 NFL backup or special teams potential 5.01-5.19 Better-than-average chance to make NFL roster 5.00 50-50 Chance to make NFL roster 4.75-4.99 Should be in an NFL training camp 4.50-4.74 Chance to be in an NFL training camp

I will play the law of averages. 2 will be Franchise QBs, All Pro, potential HOF careers in store. 2 will be good, average long term starters. And 2 will be below average NFL Journeyman. The tough part is figuring out who's who before the draft! Let's look at the OP's 1983 draft as a sample. The 1st QB taken,(Elway) the 3rd QB taken (Kelly) and the 6th QB taken (Marino) in Rd 1 all became HOFers and true Franchise QBs. Tony Eason was the 4th QB taken and Ken O'Brien was the 5th Qb taken and both had 10 year careers in the league with NFL Starter average results. Only Todd Blackledge, the 2nd QB taken, would qualify as a bust. This years class are not as experienced coming out of college save for Mayfield and Rudolph. But the talent is there with all 6 of the top prospects. Time will tell.

A couple things. His stat sheet and 4 years of experience are unique in this draft. By far the most accurate thrower and has some "gunslinger" in him. I guess this makes sense if we stay at 12 and see the top 3 guys taken in picks 1-5, a neighborhood we may not be able to move into. Teams wanting a QB or RB Barkley or DE Chubb may not want to trade down. Baker would seem to be the odd man out if only 3 QBs taken in first 5 picks. Baker Mayfield has some McD qualities - Baker is notable for being the first walk-on true freshman quarterback (Texas Tech) to start a season opener at a BCS school. Then he walked on and won job at Oklahoma. I believe McD walked on at William and Mary. Both were thought to be undersized players as well. I would be fine with him as our pick at 12 or with a trade to leapfrog Dolphins (say to # 10 or #9).

It was NDSU and here it is: GoBison.com - 2015 Football Schedule.pdf

Wentz had some strong players in his program as NDSU won 3 championships before the 2 he won as a starter. And they have won one since. Can't compare the programs. Allen will need to watch and learn for a year my guess.

Or maybe Buddy Nix should have just taken him instead of TJ Graham when he traded up in 3rd round of 2012 draft! The problem would have been solved going on 6 years now!

Sammy and Darby were pretty nonchalant about prep work, learning playbook and keeping in shape.. And Darby's worst skill was reacting to the ball in the air - which is critical to a zone DB. His tackling skills were not ideal either and they are a must for a zone DB. Scheme fit was reason for the trade. Gaines (and now Davis) were targeted for their skill sets.

injury prone and slow. hey that's the Bills profile

A couple things gleaned from Sirius NFL interview heard last week. Kid is only 19 yrs old. Would he be able to mentally adjust to and be accepted in an NFL locker room. Only started 2 years. Feels like he is ready for league as given dad was ion NFL and brothers all play he has football in his veins.

So by deduction, you are using a rating that has Jackson as #4 Qb in draft? Please expand on who you think the 3 QBs picked before # 7 will be and by which team?

It is apparent that many of this board's subscribers are up in arms over the recent Jets trade up to #3. While admittedly that is disconcerting, one has to take solace in the fact we now sit at #12 and 21 now as oppose to 21 and 22. OBD still has options and will likely draft a QB who will be our eventual starter. For more on that, please read all the surrounding threads. I would like to talk about several areas of need/concern for OBD to address in the remaining FA moves and the 2018 draft. The Bills were one of the oldest teams in the NFL last year and a quick review points to four areas where some key performers need to be replaced this year or next: LG will be an area of need in 2019 as Richie is on last year of contract and will be 35 by time the season starts. In a new Power Blocking scheme, his role is pivotal so OBD would be wise to find his replacement in this years draft and possibly play that player at RG in 2018. Will Hernandez from UTEP is an ideal replacement but would likely take pick 22 or a high 2nd to grab. There are several other strong LG candidates later in the draft. Sidenote: The Bills Oline will be one of the lowest priced Olines in the next few years as Dawkins, Groy, 2018 rookie TBD and Miller/Ducasse, Mills/ Conor McDermott are not expensive contracts. This is an area I see OBD building through the draft and scouring the wire in 2018. Look for a Guard or C/G to be drafted in the upper half of 2018 draft with an eye for a possible 2018 starter at RG with position versatility to also play LG or C in time The same age issue is true with the 3 technique DT - Kyle Williams, who will also be 35 by training camp. 2018 will be his farewell tour in NFL and will be OBD should look for another off the nose DT. Little help on the roster as Adolphus Washington is really a 5 technique DE without a home in this D and could be a training camp casualty if OBD finds an affordable cap casualty FA or a good 3 technique in this draft. Maurice Hurst, Taven Bryant or Harrison Philips would be late Rd 1 or Rd 2 picks who could play this position with the same tenacity, penetrating style and technique that Meatball exhibits. Kentavious Street is a mid-late rd candidate too. Suffice it to say OBD will not want to have Kyle on the field for 65-70% of plays like in 2017 again. SAM LB. Lorenzo Alexander will be 35 by training camp as well. This position may be least worrisome to OBD of the 3 as in today's NFL this is primarily a run down, set the edge position with some TE coverage responsibility. This should be easy to fill in the draft as there are some really athletic options here - Lorenzo Carter and Leighton Vander Esch come to mind. Scheme play a role here as McD/Frazier played 4-2-5 Nickel for 65-70% of plays late in the year with Lorax being replaced by Leonard Johnson or another DB. Lorax, if on the field in passing downs, will likely be playing with his hand in the dirt as a Pass Rusher, not as on off the ball LB. RB1. Shady will be 30 by training camp, and, despite my being a huge fan, OBD should look for an eventual replacement in this deep RB draft. And his primary backup, RB2 Chris Ivory will also be 30 by OTAs. The $$ paid this past week to Cadet, Jones and Murphy at RB3, 4 and 5 do not preclude their being released prior to camp. David Johnson the AZ Cards RB was a 3rd rd pick in 2015 and Alvin Kamara went in 3rd round to Saints last year. OBD could hit gold from a list of RBs such as Nick Chubb, Royce Freeman, Rashaad Penny, Kerryon Johnson could all be there with pick 32 of the 3rd round. Lets hope we are as lucky as AZ and NO! Of course, this is all just IMHO. Much will depend on what draft pick collateral could be surrendered in a move up to draft a QB. Even in that case, the above needs might lead to OBD surrendering 2019 draft assets instead of this year's especially to Cleveland as they already have 12 picks this year. All in all, the next 7 weeks will reveal what OBD's strategies truly are and how they plan on addressing these areas of need.

Heads Up - Bradham reupped with Eagles. Murphy is like Lorenzo and can play OLB or DE.

Sure that is the case but a likely scenario is we commit $32mm of the $40mm cap available this year and then roll over some $8mm to 2019. Coupled with reduction in dead moneys and increase in cap, even when you account for the players to be signed in FA and drafted this year in 2019, we could have $65-$70mm avaialble cap in FA in 2019.

Shaw66, wow that's a different take, never occurred to me. My take is they are moving up the board in 2 steps to get their QB ala the eagles in 2016 when they snagged Wentz. My take on FA QB is a McCown, Moore, Henne signing to be the sage to the youngster. Rosen or Mayfield are likely to play early on in 2018.

So looks like we gained $4.8mm in cap room by trading Glenn.