Fan in Chicago

I too am on Nix/Whaley's side and feel they really know what they are doing. I think Nix's influence started ion 2009 with the drafting of Wood, Levitre, Byrd (Maybin looks like a miss). Fully expecting surprises - my prediction this year is that the early part of our draft will be more offense heavy than most people expect. The FO has already said that the draft is deep on the DL. (Having said all that, I will find it hard to digest a Petersen pick at #3.) Nice post.

Yeah baby. Can a Hawks-Sabres Stanley cup finals happen ? Certainly more likely than a Bills-Bears superbowl.

What a day for sports in Chicago: 7 pm - Sabres Game #7 7 pm - Bulls Game #5 9 pm - Blackhawks Game #7

Have been looking at my TV Guide and the game is now on Versus (Chicagoland area) at 7 pm CST. Woo hoo!!! I searched TSW and did not find this posted so for all those interested - where else would you rather be ?

As usual, thanx for the info. Am surprised that Newton is at the top of our board, I am personally hoping for Dareus to 'fall' to us.

What else did you expect him to catch ? Interceptions ?

There is no way to know that. But I do agree that there is no point making fun of him for his vocab or intelligence. This report says, Brandon told him to take a hike

Terrific ! Not surprisingly, he did not divulge much but the bolded is quite telling about what he thinks of the QB prospects at that pick position. In any case, nice to read about actual encounters with the FO folks.

For a change, I agree with you You have to make the picks when good players are available at your spot. It will take time and besides the Maybin and perhaps Spiller picks, I think we are on the right track.

If you want to ignore the positive impact Wood and Levitre have had on the OL or Byrd's interceptions in his rookie season, by all means go ahead. If you want to have no patience and start slamming Troup, Carrington, Moats or Batten before they have played their second season, knock yourself out. Yes the team was terribly devoid of talent. Which is why these individual picks by themselves are not yet translating to wins. Let this draft and FA (whenever it happens) go by and judge the regime on the team's progress this season. Wood should have fully recovered from his injury, last years picks will be in their second year when their talent should show positive impact. Add a couple of players from this year and we should do well.

Fair enough that Nix was scouting that year. But the next rounds yielded Wood, Byrd and Levitre. All solid starters. Judge the draft in its entirety. I think picking a DE was the right thing to do that year but Maybin looks to be a poor choice. But the others kind of make up for it. Any time a draft delivers 3-4 solids starters, the FO has done well. BTW, I have no evidence about who influenced the 2009 draft, but is it a coincidence that the first two drafts that Nix was involved with yielded primarily line players in the first 3-4 rounds ?

good points of discussion. I think these players plus Easley will contribute in a big way in 2011 and beyond. Frankly we got little production from most of last year's picks. Of the lot, I think the coaching staff must have been most disappointed by CJ so far. I hope people who are saying we need to draft several players on D this year realize that there is a huge implication there - that the entire 2010 draft class is a bust. I am certainly not much of a talent evaluator but would like to believe that this coaching staff brought the rookies in slowly to help them develop and help being excellent players in a long run. As opposed to rushing them in and hindering their development. Besides the first round which could go Dareus or Gabbert, I think we will see a lot of attention to the O especially at tackle and TE.

I am of the opinion that winning can create much more of a long term excitement than a single handed spectacular TD catch by itself. And we have always been in agreement that this kind of sustained winning comes from building from the trenches outward. I was just saying that RW while could have been an influencer, could not by himself have been the driving force behind the # 1 picks. In a way, blaming Ralph almost absolves the incompetence of TD, Levy, Jauron etc. Much of the failure of the franchise to build and maintain a winning team is due to poor drafting and the GMs have to shoulder more blame than RW. (yea RW is responsible for picking said GMs anyway) In any case, I don't think we disagree much and where we do, I am fine letting it go (primarily because I am not a wrestler )

While I don't really know if RW makes the final pick, here is my problem with some of what you said and most of what BillsVet always posts. - If RW makes picks that increase profits, how is drafting Lynch or DBs consistent with that thought ? I think QBs, WRs are 'star' picks that draw everyone's attention - If, as you stated, Levy/Jauron influenced the Whitner, McKelvin picks it implies that RW doesn't call the shots for first picks - I don't see how Spiller would have been thought of as a ticket seller either. I don't think ticket sales last year were any significantly better than in previous years after a losing season. Bills fans have always bought tickets and I don't think sales would have been much different if we had picked a lineman instead of Spiller. Hence, I am not totally convinced that RW calls the shots. The problem is that, this year, even if Nix, Whaley and Gailey think that a QB is worth picking high, it will only serve tp re-inforce the conspiracy theorists' conviction that RW makes the first pick.

Let me elaborate a bit further on your statement. Granted we have plenty of needs esp around the lines. Many of us (me included) believe that Fitz is adequate for a team that is stocking up on talent but is not a superbowl winning QB (accuracy being the prime failing). So, eventually we will need a QB that will help us win the big one. Largely such QBs are not available in FA or trades. Ergo, we need to draft one. Now, consider that overall the hit rate of QB declines as even round 1 goes by. If all goes well, we will not pick this high in the next two years. That is the time period during which we would have built the rest of the team and will be ready for a above-average QB. Hence, this draft is the right one to take a QB with our first pick. The only caveat is ofcourse that NIx and co have to be convinced that there is a QB worthy of being picked that high. I think we should not take a QB at all if not in the first round. Draft best talent if Gabbert, Newton are not thought of as atleast a Matt Ryan quality pick. If we dont draft this year, assuming we will pick in the middle next year, we can only hope a Roethlisberger or Rodgers is available.

You are ofcourse entitled to your opinion, but Nix drawsa different conclusion. He is saying that we are in a very good position, like to do what he did in San Diego i.e. draft someone like Brees and let him sit for 2 years till he is hungry, ready and able (read: Fitz can hold the fort down for a couple of years till this stud is ready)

I did not choose Peterson to be Levy's choice as he would typically go for a 'reach' player at our pick point

One would think that about Levy right ? But that was before he became our GM.

With all the numerous mocks and discussions/arguments about who to choose this year, I thought it will be interesting to get the board's opinion on who our former GMs would choose this year. Feel free to consider this thread debate-free (i.e. is Miller better than Fairley or is Newton the pick over Gabbert). Just your opinion on who these GMs would have picked. My opinion: Donahoe would have picked Newton or AJ Green Marv/Jauron would have picked Prince Amukamara

I agree with not drafting these three with our first pick. I also add Fairley to that list. My personal guess is that Dareus is our man but won't be surprised (disappointed perhaps) if its AJ Green

Thats what the Canadians figured out and look at the disparity between the two sides of Niagara Falls.

Check out this page in the Von Miller thread and DrDank's stats. Von Miller is smaller than most good OLBs and that is after he added weight http://forums.twobillsdrive.com/topic/128886-von-miller-discussion/page__st__500__p__2130335#entry2130335

When you were napping apparently Response to bat signal

Those in this thread who are pooh-poohing Gailey's statement as being too obvious will be well served by reminding themselves that for the last decade, the Bills have not picked/acquired one QB who has both traits in adequate measure

Thats not called a dream, its called a nightmare