damaynman150

My question revolves around what you all would consider a "Great run" for an NFL Franchise these days. I was watching ESPN yesterday and they had Joe Flacco on the phone. It occurred to me that the Ravens are always considered a great team and have performed very well for the better part of a decade. They draft well, sign good players and coaches, and are always competitive down the stretch. That said, they have not won a Super Bowl since the turn of the century. Other teams like this include the Chargers (I know they have been discussed a lot here recently) and the early-2000s Eagles. If the Bills were to have a stretch coming up where for the next 6 years they were competitive (think consistent 9-11 wins or more), made the playoffs 4 years and hell, even won the AFC East once or twice, would that be considered a "Successful" job by Buddy and Chan? Or are we of the opinion that unless you win a Super Bowl at least once in a run like that, the front office has failed? My Bills fandom started in earnest at age 10 in 1999 with the Home Run Throwforward, so I have not really known the Bills to be anything more than a horrible team, but for you guys who are going into several decades worth of rooting for the Bills, I'd be curious to hear your perspective on what standard we hold the Bills to.

Lurker, I hope you're right sir. I was a sophomore when the team won the MAC championship and it was a great time to be a Bulls fan. Since then, not so much... That said, there is a linebacker they have Khalil Mack who will certainly be drafted in the 2014 draft (possibly as a mid-round pick) and carry on some tradition. I always was hoping Davonte Shannon would get another shot too [Thinks to myself: Wouldn't he have a better chance than Byron Mulkey??]

Not sure how many UB sports fans are on this board but as a graduate of UB and a fan of the football and basketball programs, this is interesting to say the least: http://www.wgrz.com/sports/article/167380/4/Former-UB-Guard-Byron-Mulkey-Gets-Tryout-with-Bills My thoughts? Definitely thinking outside-the-box, and it might not amount to much anyways, but Byron is a really good guy and obviously has some athletic gifts (I knew him a little bit from my time at UB). Just probably a case of turning over every stone - which is never a bad thing. Does make me wonder what all of the ACTUAL UB football players who never got an NFL shot are thinking though...

RE: Reiff and Martin. You make good points on the idea that they are not starter ready. That is probably accurate (but obviously not 100% conclusive). I guess I just have a natural disposition of not liking the idea of drafting a WR that early. A three-year window is not my idea of a good use of a pick - especially since rookie contracts are now 5 years (I think). I just think a starting LB, DE, or even the possibilty of LT will do more for our team this year than a WR putting up "average" numbers for rookies. Just MHO. Of course these risks can happen to any pick at any position, so perhaps I am overreacting. I put my faith in Buddy/Chan.

Quickly: I have not posted on here in a very very long time, but I do check this page daily and love a vast majority of the insight and information I read. Also - this board was the only page I checked on my phone when traveling during the Mario-Mania day and that thread (yes, THAT one) was incredible. Anyways, this topic - and perhaps it was discussed in a previous thread, but I did search and nothing came up that I skimmed over - revolves around the idea of drafting Michael Floyd at #10. I 100% agree that our offense needs a few more playmakers and a number-two WR is a must. That said, looking back on the list of wide-outs that have been drafted in the first round, is Michael Floyd a best use of our resources? Let's get this out of the way: Michael Floyd is not an "Elite Wide Receiver Prospect" a la Andre Reed, Calvin Johnson, etc. He has some great qualities, but he is a much riskier prospect than say Calvin Johnson or AJ Green. A guy like Michael Floyd might in fact turn out to be a great player. But most prospects like him do not really blossom until their 3rd year. And that is what bothers me. This has become such a common factor that it is now a cliche "The third year for a WR is when they break out!" Is it doing our team any favors TODAY by drafting Michael Floyd at #10? Let's assume he has a "typical" year for a player like him and produces in the ballpark of other first round WR that werent considered "elite prospects" over the past 5 drafts (I discounted Calvin Johnson and AJ Green for "elite" purposes, and 2008 didnt have a first rd WR!) An average season is 40 Receptions, 570 yards, 3.5 TDs - I will not take the time to source my research but you will just have to trust me on the numbers. For reference, David Nelson put up 61/653/5 last year. Again, Michael Floyd might end up being a great WR and actually, the average numbers jumped up (a little) in latter seasons, but it does worry me that we might not see the pay-off in our top 10 pick for three years, especially if we can get a LT, LB, or CB that can start for AND PRODUCE for us right away. Thoughts? I know our team is not exactly built to "win now" but opportunity costs are still an issue. Am I being too short-sighted on this?

I don't post here very often anymore, but I like checking the board everyday anyways. I was at practice on Sunday, watching the D-Linemen hit the blocking sled with all-four's on the ground. This drill - and I'm no coach/player/scout - showed me a lot about explosion and raw power. A guy like Lionel Dotson, who is no small man himself, was hitting the sled and moving it about 3 yards to the left or right. It was cool. Marcell Dareus hit the sled backwards about 3 yards, and THEN quite literally picked it up and threw it another 5 yards left or right. This was impressive. Jasper was closer to Dareus than he was to Dotson, and frankly, was just about as good in this particular drill. Of course it's not real football, but his strength and explosion was quite noticable, even to the untrained eye. He has a chance.

sorry guys but i think the point of the post is getting missed. its not about which 4th string DT is getting cut, its about improving the team, which should be the number one focus on any post here. so based on that, what do you think about the rest of the post?

id take harrell over anderson in a heartbeat and rotate Tripplett, McCargo, Walker and Harrell... but since you dont seem to want to improve an area on our team like DT, we could just as easily grab up a CB then instead of waiting...

actually they carried 5 last year (williams, mccargo, tripplett, anderson and jefferson) but for the sake of the discussion, instead of trading Preston, maybe get rid of anderson instead... helps Denver out either way

Heres what i think we should/could do: The Denver Broncos have the 21st overall pick in the draft and have a pretty big hole to fill at DT where Gerrard Warren and Michael Myers are both old and losing their skills. A guy like Alan Branch would be great for them so... -ship the 12th overall to Denver for 21st overall and their 2nd rounder (to make things more enticing, maybe add a guy like Duke Preston who Marv and Co. seem to have cooled on considerably and since Denver needs more depth at OL too) Then... -@ pick 21, take Poz who, despite getting some bad rap on this board, would help our team and would be a good pick at 21. -with the 12th pick in the second round, grab up DT Justin Harrell from Tenn. -with the Denver 2nd rounder take WR Sidney Rice: I know hes not a name most people have thought of for us, but one poster here said that we need to help JP out as much as possible and Rice is tall, "deceptively fast" (aka ran a poor 40 but still can play) and has big soft hands. He could potentially steal the #2 WR spot if Price doesnt improve -With the 2 third round picks, we'd need to grab up a RB (Tony Hunt or possibly Antonio Pittman?) and a CB (Daymeion Hughes or Tanard Jackson?) A lot would need to happen for this to go through, especially not a trade for Turner, which Ive cooled considerably on in the past two days. But if all of the above could happen, i think most Bills fans would be content with our draft/team. but remember... IN MARV WE TRUST

Heres what i think: The Denver Broncos have the 21st overall pick in the draft and have a pretty big hole to fill at DT where Gerrard Warren and Michael Myers are both old and losing their skills. A guy like Alan Branch would be great for them so... -ship the 12th overall to Denver for 21st overall and their 2nd rounder (to make things more enticing, maybe add a guy like Duke Preston who Marv and Co. seem to have cooled on considerably and since Denver needs more depth at OL too) Then... -@ pick 21, take Poz who, despite getting some bad rap on this board, would help our team and would be a good pick at 21. -with the 12th pick in the second round, grab up DT Justin Harrell from Tenn. -with the Denver 2nd rounder take WR Sidney Rice: I know hes not a name most people have thought of for us, but one poster here said that we need to help JP out as much as possible and Rice is tall, "deceptively fast" (aka ran a poor 40 but still can play) and has big soft hands. He could potentially steal the #2 WR spot if Price doesnt improve -With the 2 third round picks, we'd need to grab up a RB (Tony Hunt or possibly Antonio Pittman?) and a CB (Daymeion Hughes or Tanard Jackson?) A lot would need to happen for this to go through, especially not a trade for Turner, which Ive cooled considerably on in the past two days. But if all of the above could happen, i think most Bills fans would be content with our draft/team. but remember... IN MARV WE TRUST

As of right now, right this moment, which has you honestly most interested and excited: -NFL Draft -NCAA Bball Championship -MLB Opening Day -NHL Playoffs/Playoff races -NBA Playoffs/Playoff races

...on second thought...

if we obviously traded for turner, he would be part of the two-back system. I believe that it would work similar to Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush (although a less-talented combo for the bills...) Thats why i dont get people being too concerned about Turner's lack of experience or questions about whether he can "shoulder the load." remember, Bush was like that too coming out of USC... Turner is a fantastic scat back with potential to be a real gamebreaker. The trade Im thinkin would be worth it is either: -Swapping 1st rounders and picking up SD's late rounder too OR -Turner straight up for a 2nd no one knows how a rookie RB would fare but at least we know a little bit about Turner... and again, he wouldnt have to quote-unquote carry the load for our team game in and game out

not saying one way or the other whether we should do it or not, but what would it set us back? if the cost IS right, i think him and a-train would be a formidible combo and then we can worry about other positions early in the draft (ie: LB, CB, #2WR, etc.)