MrLocke

Obviously RB is a need with the trade of Willis. Steve Fairchild has coached both the 3rd down type back in Marshall Faulk and the power type back in Steven Jackson. Any idea, which type he prefers? SLB-another obvious need with the trade of Spikes. WLB-does anyone think the Bills can get by with Ellison at WLB? CB- I think the real question is can Terrence McGee replace Nate Clements? I think McGee Replaces Clements and then Youboty replaces Terrence McGee. Terrence was pretty bad early in the season and wasn't he usually facing other teams' #2 WR. He did play better down the streach but can he be the #1 CB? People always say the Tampa 2 does need great corners, well if that is the case Terrence was REALLY bad early on. Any other positions I am missing out on? I know you can never have enough depth at CB and on the lines. The Bills should have great depth on the D-line now the depth on the o-line I'm not so sure about. I defienetly see the Bills going corner with one of their top four picks. Also I think a WR is going to fall into the Bills lap that they just won't be able to pass up on. I've looked at a couple draft preview magazines and WR looks like the best stocked position. I could see there being a run on wide receivers much like the 2003 draft with defensive linemen and then someone being there for the Bills much like in 2003 when Kelsay was there in the 2nd round. How do others see the Bills needs?

It's a fair question. One big thing they have in common is playing in a Jeff Tedford offense. People raise questions about Jeff Tedford coached QBs ie. Kyle Boller and Joey Harrington so why not question the quality of RB he coaches. Some players look better because of the scheme they play in college and it doesn't convert over to the pros. Just look at all the Florida St. DEs, Andre Wadsworth, Jamal Reynolds and Reinard Wilson.

Some people apply a double standard to Drew Haddad. Is this just because he played at UB?

I say no. I got the sense that Marv's top 2 priorities this offseason were fixing the o-line and the run defense. The o-line could be fixed, but I am not sold that Steve Fairchild will structure the system to the new personnel. In other words for the additions of Dockerey and Walker to mean anything to the defense the Bills will have to play a ball control offense and I am not sure a deciple of Mike Martz will be willing to do this. Now we go to the run defense. Clements helped the run defense in two ways. The first was that he was a good tackler himself. Many cornerbacks do not like playing the run, but Clements was very capable of doing so. Also Clements did not need much safety help in that he could go one on one with the other teams receiver allowing one of the safeties to play the run. I think the loss of Fletcher is pretty well self explanatory in how his loss hurts the run defense. He played on some defenses in Buffalo that ranked very high against the run. The only way the loss of Fletcher won't hurt is if Marv is right in that the Bills need linebackers that attack and not just pursue. Like someone was saying in another thread. You take a bad defense and take away two of its best players where does that leave it? I know it is very early in the offseason and it is possible Youboty could fill the gap left ny Clements, but it will take him a while if it ever happens to be in the same caliber as Nate. Unless the Bills add another big name in free agency to the defense the additions of Walker and Dockerey will be for nought.

I think the RG spot will be up for grabs. I say bring back Reyes to compete as I think he played RG for Carolina. Peters= set LT Dockerey = set at LG Fowler= set at C RG could be just about anyone. Reyes, Whittle or even Duke Preston Walker= set at RT. I think the offense is set now. I think the draft will be used to build the defense. I think it is typically easier for rookies to come in and contribute right away on the defensive side of the ball.

When he played with that cracked fibula was it? I respected him. I don't think anyone would question Travis' toughness.

I'm a big Peters fan. I get many of my American stations from Boston because of where I live in Canada and saw Bill Bellechick talking up Peters one time and he had a lot of positive things to say about him. D'Brickashaw Ferguson will have plenty of time to prove himself. Comparing guys who have one full season under their belt at LT is foolish. wait another 2 years and then compare Peters and Ferguson and see who is better. Point well taken, though about not expecting as much from and UDFA versus a high first round pick.

This was Peters third season in the league. Right around the time offensive linemen start to come around. To compare D'Brickashaw Ferguson to him is unfair.

Offensive linemen take a long time to develop. To call D'Brickashaw Ferguson a bust after his first season is foolish. Wait untill the end of his 3rd season before making any judgements.

Pittsburgh is great on draft day. always willing to trade up or down to get value. Traded up to get Polamalu and Kendrell Bell. Baltimore is pretty good draft day. Terrell Suggs was a steal i think at #8 a couple years back.

How many of these tackles were behind the los? In all serioussness I do not know. Cite stats other then tackles as they are misleading Zach Thomas makes a lot of tackles, but misses more than he makes and is probably the most overrated players in the game. Does June miss as many or more tackles than he makes?

I think the better question is will Youboty be more like Terrence Mcgee or more like Tim Anderson? McGee was never expected to be Antoine Winfield's replacement, as the Bills signed Troy Vincent, but he filled the void quite admirablly. Anderson and Ron Edwards were expected to fill the void left by Pat Williams. I have a feeling Youboty will be more like Terrence Mcgee. The Bills seemed thrilled when they got him in the third round. I think they said they had a late 1st round grade on him. I think he never saw the field because the Bills were in the playoff hunt and he missed training camp. The coaches didn't want a corner in there who was learning on the job. Another question Are Bills smarter than all the other front offices out there? The other teams knew what they were doing in passing up Youboty?

Wow! I like Kelsay but not at that kind of money. How much money do the Bills have tied up at DE now? I think its hard to justify all of this money being spent on our DEs especially when you think they disappear at times.

If Fletcher doesn't come back. Cato June takes over on the weak side Takeo on the strong side and Crowell moves to MLB.

Could it be that the o-line isn't really that bad? John Madden always says he would take an average o-line and a great RB over a great o-line an an average running back. The point is that if the Bills upgrade the Running game pass blocking all of a sudden becomes a lot easier because the defensive linemen are guessing whether it is a run or a pass. Simon I responded to you specifically as I find you to have the best analysis on the board. what do you think improve the o-line by getting a better RB?

Assuming the Bills stay at #12 this player will get a pretty good salary. I'm just wondering if it is cap to cash with free agents and draft picks combined or if it cash to cap plus this years draft picks. Sorry if this is in another forum. What was the rookie cap for the team picking twelve last year and how much will it go up by? thanks.

Besides the o-line the one thing that Marv talked about that struck me was the play of the linebackers with regard to stoping the run. I think he said something to the effect of we need LBs who will not only pursue, but attack. Does Fletcher make a lot of tackles behind the LOS? Just a question I don't know the answer. I got the sense that Marv believes the way to upgrade the run defense isn't by getting better DTs but by getting attacking LBers. Do we have any on this team? I do not know the statistics. Do Crowell, Spikes, Fletcher along with Ellison make many plays behind the LOS?

Good enough. I just assummed Levi was a LT. If Levi isn't flexible enough to play RT then may be its a bad pick. I just figured a tandem of Levi and peters would be good no matter who played Right or Left Tackle.

The Buffalo has had great success with o-linmen recently is a puzzling claim, but honestly I think you could do a lot worse than Levi Brown at #12. Switch Peters back to RT and if Levi is ready as a rookie the Bills would have great tackles. Maybe the pick could be used at a different position, but i wouldn't be pulling my hair out if the Bills picked Levi.

Not necessairly on here, but a lot of people thought Rodney Harrison was old and broken down. The Bills have to beat the Patriots at their own game.

Drew Henson was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round a few years back. I don't know what kind of baseball prospect he was, but I would imagine he would be about equal with Samardzija in football prior to the draft. The Texans ended up getting a 3rd rounder for Henson, moving up 3 rounds in the draft. Anyway Do you think Samardzija is worth around a 5th rounder? Assuming they are both aboutr equal when it comes to baseball talent in that there is a good chance Samardzija could flop in baseball like Henson did?

Guards ain't worth the money. When are people on the wall going to understand what positions are priorites and which are not. Lets get a safety lets get a FB, Lets get a guard. Upgrade the most important positions and then get to the less important ones.

The last few years Modrak has stated that you really build your team through the draft ( I believe he said it is the true lifeblood of talent). Free agency is really just an add on to what you do in the draft. Do people agree with this? If so I don't think it really matters what the Bills do in free agency as long as they draft well? Thoughts?

I think 06, at least so far looks like one of the strongest draft classes ever. It's not just the Bills how had good rookies this year. Everyone raves about Marques Colston. I know different drafts can be strong at different postions, so I guess my question would be how does this class rate overall and what postions hyave the most good players coming out. I realize it is all speculation at this point and that there are good players to be found in every draft. I just want a general idea.

Killdrive seems like one of the most universally hated coaches in Bills history. I don't think anyone liked Mularkey/Clements playcalling in 05, but it was never as bad as Killdrives. The best was when he finally ran it on a third and short against Houston and Travis broke a 60 yard run and the standing ovation that followed.