1959BillsFan

Schobel set the precedence for the entire Bills organization. He had a pro-bowl year, Kelsey was signed to a larger contract, and there was three years left on Schobel's contract. Schobel quietly discussed his contract dissatisfaction with OBD, then he didn't show up any off-season training, nor OTAs, and I think a few days of training camp. It looks like that Peters is following this same model, except......I'm not sure how much discussion he did have with OBD indicating his new contract desires. I guess the things that make me nervous, and the rest of Bills management, look at Schobel.....he still doesn't come in for any off-season training. I think OBD WAS looking at the big payday as an additional leadership position that Scobel SHOULD present to the rest of the young players....."football character" i.e. practicing WITH the team instead of doing the University of Miami kind of deal. Schobel still shows nothing in this type of leadership role; thus, the Bills are short changed. Plus let's not forget, Schobel definitely had an off season last year. His numbers were down and he showed a lack of focus he did demonstrate in previous seasons. Now.....let's take a look at the way Buffalo has treated their "star" quality linemen in the past, johanass jennings and fat mike williams. johanass was playing for his fat payday in his last season. The single season where he missed realitively little time "injured". All his previous seasons, jennings demonstrated low reliability. When jennings did score his big pay day, his reliabilite went in the toilet again. It appeared that desire to play was lost. Where is he now....unemployed? I think the 49ers cut him, or stated he is on VERY thin ice. Fat Mike.... obviously he got a great contract and his bonuses were split in two segments. In a way smart because OBD got a view of his football character without having to pay up an upfront bonus. He really never showed too much in his first two years, but the "potential" was there and he was learning the NFL game. After he got his second bonus, which was a real piece of change, he had zero motivation to dao anything more. Phantom injuries continues to appear, he was tried at guard, maybe a few years too late, after McNally said he should be moved to guard. Still, zero. Finally....he was cut. The clown was picked up by Jacksonville with more bonus money and still the phantom injuries appeared. Today???? Laughing his was to the bank with a pit stop at Hardee's drive up window. I look at both positions, Peters and OBD: Peters being undervalued and possible injury before the big payday; OBD has their history of overpaying for underachieving, unmotivated "stars". Both COULD win by paying Peters what a pro bowl Left Tackle makes, or even a rookie #1; but, it really depends on what kind of person Jason Peters really is, fat mike williams/joanass jennings or Walter Jones(Seattle)/Joe Thomas(Cleveland)? That is the stumbling block in my mind.

If I remember right, rookies are not allowed to attend OTAs until their schools final exams are completed.

# NAME POS Ht Wt Age Exp College CB:5 43 Bassey, Eric CB 6-1 200 23 R Oklahoma 22 Clements, Nate CB 6-0 209 26 6 Ohio State 29 King, Eric CB 5-10 185 24 2 Wake Forest 39 Lee, Rob CB 6-0 193 25 1 Northern Illinois 24 McGee, Terrence CB 5-9 195 25 4 Northwestern State 33 Greer, Jabari CB 5-11 169 24 3 Tennessee 47 Ward, LaShaun CB 6-0 200 25 2 California 38 Youboty, Ashton CB 5-11 189 21 R Ohio State 37 Thomas, Kiwaukee DB 5-11 192 29 7 Georgia Southern 30 Bethea, James DB 6-0 180 23 2 California DE:4 73 Cooper, Joshua DE 6-3 261 25 2 Mississippi 92 Denney, Ryan DE 6-7 275 29 5 BYU 90 Kelsay, Chris DE 6-4 275 26 4 Nebraska 91 Powell, Eric DE 6-3 268 26 1 Florida State 94 Schobel, Aaron DE 6-4 262 28 6 TCU 63 Word, Mark DE 6-5 295 30 5 Jacksonville State 72 Neill, Ryan DL 6-3 265 23 R Rutgers 76 Hall, Jason DL 6-3 260 22 R TEnnessee DT:5 97 McCargo, John DL 6-2 295 22 R N.C. State 99 Jefferson, Jason DT 6-1 310 24 2 Wisconsin 77 Anderson, Tim DT 6-3 304 25 3 Ohio State 68 Brown, LaWaylon DT 6-5 305 26 1 Oklahoma State 93 Sape, Lauvale DT 6-1 296 25 3 Utah 98 Tripplett, Larry DT 6-2 295 27 5 Washington 65 Tupa'i, Faafetai DT 6-3 330 25 1 Washington State 95 Williams, Kyle DT 6-1 295 23 R LSU FB:1 31 Shelton, Daimon FB 6-0 262 33 9 Sacramento State 44 Goldsberry, Jon FB 6-1 246 24 2 Purdue 46 Ming, Derrick FB 5-11 245 23 R Missouri 35 Burns, Joe FB/RB 5-9 215 26 5 Georgia Tech 9 Lindell, Rian K 6-3 235 29 7 Washington State 3 Setta, Nicholas K/P 6-0 194 25 1 Notre Dame LB: 6 60 Watson, Courtney LB 6-1 246 25 3 Notre Dame 51 Spikes, Takeo LB 6-2 242 29 9 Auburn 57 Stamer, Josh LB 6-2 238 28 4 South Dakota 54 DiGiorgio, John LB 6-2 225 22 R Saginaw Valley State 64 Ellison, Keith LB 6-0 228 22 R Oregon State 55 Crowell, Angelo LB 6-1 235 24 4 Virginia 53 Haggan, Mario LB 6-3 248 26 4 Mississippi State 52 Hunter, Wendell LB 6-0 228 24 2 California 50 Ezekiel, Liam LB 6-0 249 23 2 Northeastern 59 Fletcher-Baker, London LB 5-10 245 31 9 John Carroll 96 Posey, Jeff LB 6-4 241 30 9 Southern Mississippi 54 Schneck, Mike LS 6-0 246 28 8 Wisconsin OL:10 70 Reyes, Tutan OL 6-3 310 28 7 Mississippi 75 Preston, Duke OL 6-5 311 24 2 Illinois 61 Pennington, Terrance OL 6-7 319 22 R New Mexico 71 Peters, Jason OL 6-4 328 24 3 Arkansas 67 Fowler, Melvin OL 6-3 295 27 5 Maryland 69 Gandy, Mike OL 6-4 310 27 6 Notre Dame 73 Geisinger, Justin OL 6-3 322 24 2 Vanderbilt 74 Gibson, Aaron OL 6-7 371 28 7 Wisconsin 60 Butler, Brad OL 6-8 292 22 R Virginia 76 Jerman, Greg OL 6-5 310 27 5 Baylor 62 Merz, Aaron OL 6-4 340 22 R California 58 Villarrial, Chris OL 6-3 318 33 11 Indiana(Pa) 65 Thomas, Jason OL 6-4 325 29 1 Hampton 72 Morgan, Matt OT 6-6 304 25 2 Pittsburgh 8 Moorman, Brian P 6-0 175 30 6 Pittsburg State -- Brazen, Joshua P 5-11 185 23 R Kent State QB:3 5 Kingsbury, Kliff QB 6-3 220 26 3 Texas Tech 7 Losman, JP QB 6-2 217 25 3 Tulane 10 Holcomb, Kelly QB 6-2 212 32 10 Middle Tennessee State 16 Nall, Craig QB 6-3 230 27 5 Northwestern (La.) St. RB:3 45 Jackson, Fred RB 6-1 210 25 1 Coe College 25 Gates, Lionel RB 6-0 233 24 2 Louisville 21 McGahee, Willis RB 6-0 228 24 3 Miami 28 Thomas, Anthony RB 6-2 225 28 6 Michigan 20 Williams, Shaud RB 5-7 193 25 3 Alabama Safety:4 27 Wire, Coy S 6-0 205 27 5 Stanford 36 Whitner, Donte S 5-11 205 20 R Ohio State 23 Vincent, Troy S 6-1 200 35 15 Wisconsin 40 Simpson, Ko S 6-1 201 22 R South Carolina 42 Leonhard, Jim S 5-8 190 23 2 Wisconsin 26 Baker, Rashad S 5-10 198 24 3 Tennessee 41 Bowen, Matt S 6-1 203 29 7 Iowa TE:3 86 Cieslak, Brad TE 6-3 262 23 2 Northern Illinois 85 Everett, Kevin TE 6-4 241 24 1 Miami 88 Neufeld, Ryan TE 6-4 250 30 6 UCLA 84 Royal, Robert TE 6-4 260 28 4 LSU WR:6 81 Price, Peerless WR 5-11 190 29 7 Tennessee 82 Reed, Josh WR 5-10 208 26 5 LSU 17 Nance, Martin WR 6-3 212 23 R Miami (OH) 11 Parrish, Roscoe WR 5-9 168 23 2 Miami 83 Evans, Lee WR 5-10 197 25 3 Wisconsin 89 Aiken, Sam WR 6-2 204 25 4 North Carolina 18 Davis, Andre WR 6-1 195 27 5 Virginia Tech 14 Denney, Chris WR 6-3 219 23 R Nebraska-Omaha 19 Smith, Jonathan WR 5-10 194 24 3 Georgia Tech 15 Wilson, George WR 6-0 210 25 2 Arkansas

In actuality you need a combination of both talent AND chemistry. With the NFLPA and the CBA, there is much more of a drive towards individual statistics, which in turn, drive salaries and bonuses. Now a days, a talented player wants to maximize his contract and the only way to do that is through individual statistics. BUT, with football being a team sport; in order to succeed (WIN), you need to have the entire team working with each other and NOT as individuals. This is the where the chemistry issue takes hold. It isn't all about one or two or three players with vast amounts of talent, it is about 11 guys on the field at one time and an interrelationship within the three units: offense, defense, and special teams. Me personally, I would much rather root for a T-E-A-M rather than a single player whining because he is not making his individual statistics.

Adams actually has been to the OTAs, BUT he wasn't on the playing field with the team. The undisclosed reason is that he is not conditioned to the satisfaction of the Head Coach. Marvin Lewis had Adams working with the Strength and Conditioning staff instead of working with the team.

Mike Gandy worries me, he was never known as a steady, injury free player. Gandy did well last year, but he had a lot to prove. IF he goes down this year, it will be a MAJOR blow to the development of this o-line AGAIN. I would have to say a true Left Tackle should be a priority. Matt Moragn has been in and out of Practice Squads over the last few years and coudn't stick and Brad Butler is injured and hasn't done a whole lot of the mini-camps or OTAs because of it. The next closest players that could take over would be Geisinger, Gibson, or Jerman.

Sure, 365 doesn't charge for their articles, BUT they get their support in other ways. I have 3 pop-up blockers. Every time I go to 365, these blockers are running continuously. Essentially, the articles are decent, but the hassle of reading them and the information their spyware gathers about the reader makes it extremely unappealing.

I really don't think there is a Holcomb versus Losman between these two players. It really looks to me they cherish the competation because that helps them to learn and to tune their skills. The actual division last year seemed to come from the "veterans" first and foremost. It was mularkey's inability to handle the "veterans" that drove the locker room division in itself. Even Fletcher said the "veterans" were not fully behind Losman because mularkey/d?o?n?a=how gave Losman the position. As a consequence, the rift was in reality between "head coach"/"management" and "veterans". This division resulted in much more than a QB competation, but a loss of faith and confidence between players and coaches.

I read somewhere that Parrish and Everrett have rosen??? as an agent too. Is that right??? It is knid of scary if true: Parrish, Everrett, mcgahee, Fletcher.

I was kind-of ticked at Fletcher for not showing up at the OTAs, BUT....after hearing about his Mom, his abscence should be understood. Rosen???, that is a problem. I do think Fletcher is worthy of an extension, but NOT at at unreasonable price. This team has been short on leadership for some time now and it looks like FDletcher was the only person trying last year. Then again, the Bills haven't been a T-E-A-M for the last 5 years, what makes anyone think Fletcher is the leader this club is looking for??? No one has stepped up to this over his tenure. I think will do the right thing, but not at the expense of the T-E-A-M.

I wonder how many "Mike Williams" there are in the NFL??? Detroit has a WR that weights about 250lbs less than the tackle the Bills cut AND that Detroit Mike Williams is over weight and out of shape too.

Is there a way of keeping the distraction without giving his "roster bonus, i.e. keeping his rights without paying that $1million bonus???? If so, I would say that Marv has the upper hand. Regardless, by the time spring training camp gets here, most contenders will have dried out their available cap and moulds will NOY get what moulds thinks he is worth.

I guess I have to say, addition by subtraction. adams, milloy, williams, campbell gone; with one player more to go. The old front office and coaching staff are pretty much gone; therefore, fitting square pegs(players) into round holes (mularkey/gray "systems") will hopefully be gone; right along with the feuding/non-communicating "coaching staff". The locker room distractions are gone and hopefully, the young players can concentrate on a T-E-A-M oriented philosophy instead instead of the individualistic statistic performance way of the old regime stressed. The new additions are more second teir type players, STATISTICALLY, BUT... they will be bringing a more T-E-A-M oriented structure to the lockerroom.

It seems to me that we have had those high potential guys for the last 5 years and are constantly giving them chances every year. I look at most of d?onahow's drafts, and there may have been 2 or 3 good players, but the majority are of the type to NEVER "play to their potential". mike williams, josh reed, denney, coy wire, ron edwards, sobieski (hasn't seen a regular season game). There are a lot of these type players from the previous regime, LOTS. I get the feeling that Marv needs to follow the d?onahow regiment of rebuilding; no players from the previous regime within two years.

The big difference between those years and d?onahow's years is that, back then, we already had lines established, both D- and O-; as a consequence, Marv, Polian, and Butler were able to draft based on talent. Now, d?onahow already drafted all the skill players, but did NOTHING for the lines. That is what I do love about Marv, d?onahow had no clue about building a TEAM, but he did fill the seats and made great smoke screens. Marv understands that ni club can win without the lines. There is no smoke screen, just pure basic facts. Marv is saying the lines will be a priority, because they haven't been since d?onahow got here. In other words, the lines are THE biggest holes the Bills have right now.

That would be 25% of what mike williams is making. I still see the guy as a development project, and I also think he could move to the left side after another year as RT. So, you pose an interesting question. Other teams can see his potential, especially after beating out a #4 over all draft pick with 3 more years of experience than him. I would venture to say that the signing bonus will be the issue and if it is too large, will he do what mike williams did???? Personally, I'd like to see them sign the guy to a contract that is about 6 years, 18 million including the signing bonus. Play him at RT this year, then move him to Left Tackle next season.

After mike williams, I would be really gun shy of drafting anyone there. Especially anyone from Texas, or an o-linemen. I am also a little nervous about Ngata (SP???) Didn't he have another knee injury in the Shriner Game???? I would suggest trading down a few positions, 13-18, and picking up the best Offensive tackle there, unless if Tambi Hali is sill there. Then I would definitely draft the DE from Penn State. With another high round i.e. second, the Bills history is really pretty good there. A Guard or Strong Safety would be great.

Frankly, I am not convinced that Levy will be calling the shots. I really think modrak will be heading the draft. Final decisions will probably come down to Levy, BUT it will be modrak who is pumping/pushing the players he wants. This is a very scary thought because modrak doesn't have a clue about linemen, either offensive or defensive. The two we got last year, Geisinger and Preston, I really think were dictated by McNally. I just hope McNally has some say in this years draft but it is dictated on him, that they be high round selections.

mularkey and TEs????? The guy viewed TEs as he was used in his playing history: 1) a third Tackle 2) down field blockers 3) safety valve mularkey always emphasized blocking from his receivers whether they be TEs or WRs. We saw many a time when new players/rookies were held out of games until they could prove their ability to block. Euhus and Evans were not started until they proved to mularkey they could block. Is this a good approach??? I guess that is what the identity of the club is, what kind of "system" the coaches used. The big draw back is that the Bills haven't had an offensive "system" for 5 years. It is plain and simple, mularkey didn't know how to develop TEs because he refused to develop himself as a head coach.

There are pluses and minuses to either Holcomb or Losman. Holcomb: +: Experience, intelligent, involved with change, quick reads, great short passer, players respond. -: Durability, frequently injured, not very athletic. Losman: +: Athletic, mobile, accepts responsibility, accepts blame for poor performance, does not point fingers, intelligent, willing to work and prepare. -: Inexperienced, possible loss of confidence, cannot get "veterans" to play for him, holds onto the ball too long, looses focus, does not diagnose defense well, doesn't check down too well, jittery i.e. happy feet, becomes too comfortable. Both: The biggest point for these two is definitely a positive, they want what is best for the TEAM. The WANT competation in the position to bring out the best in them. They are willing to accept what the coaches decide and will support those decisions. I do see the Bills drafting a QB in the 3rd or 4th. This would be about right to develop another young QB. I this this as a definite in that, this newly drafted QB will provide competation for the length of his contract. Losman and Holcomb will need additional competation for the length of their contracts. Both and Holcomb are contracted until 2008. That is only another 2 seasons. My biggest worry is with the QB coach. Fairchild almost looks like he will want to have the duel responsibility as QB coach. If that happens, Fairchild will be too busy to properly coach the QBs; although, that would leave one coach out of the chain in developing the most important position in football. In other words, there will be no misinterreptation in the system being run. mularkey's biggest problem was his inability to communicate to his coaches and getting the coaches to work together; thus, how could anyone expect the players to actually work together??? We shall see how things work out. I just want the club to play like a TEAM. That starts with the front office all the way down; thru the scouts and coaches and finally to the players. Under the previous regime, that didn't happen.

This is the Nun, right????? I saw her awarded the Super Bowl tickets and the interview. I though she was pretty cool and to me what set her apart from the rest wasn't her, but the people around her. Their appreciations and respect they all showed. I think she is betting the Steelers 27-25 for a final score.

I starting to smell a nasty smell here: d?onahow mularkey modrak After all, they are consided the three mouseketeers, or three rats. My worry, politics. modrak almost refuses to set foot into Buffalo, he is "scouting" in "the u" ans talking to d?onahow. I'm wondering what skill position or half azzed o-lineman modrak will chose for Buffalo. I figure this might be a real test of modrak's ethics. Levy, d?onahow???? Levy, d?onahow????

andre reed let a pass go thru his hands that should have been caught. The announcer said it was just a loss of concentration and reed should have caught it. It wasn't a Thomas run.

Clump, THANKS!!!!!!!!! I've seen this used all over the place to help provide arguments/justifications for keeping/cutting players. It would not surprise me if some of the "salary cap managers" use your data as an example. Again, THANKS!!!

I read the same article on the can this morning and it was quite insightful. I do have a question/observation: gray rotated the DTs a ton and I mean a TON. Dick J talks about using different players for different packages and building on players strengths, but the article also talked about consistency. I am wondering if DJ and the new DC, Fewell, will want to rotate DTs as much as the gregg williams/Dick LaBeau scheme that gray used??? It seems to me that half of Sam Adam's problems were with the "scheme" being used and the amount of rotation going on. I saw where either Kelsey or Denney were used at DT during third down situations while Sam Adams came out. Many here talk about using Sam Adams as a NT in a 3-4 alignment. That is not the kind of player he is. A NT is all about plugging the running lane in the middle and to take on two blockers. Adams is a two gap type player that relies on another large DT to take the double teams, like Pat Williams. Adams IS quick of the ball and that quickness is used to break thru the o-line and either pressure the QB or to disrupt the runner in the backfield. People are also high on Nagata. I'm not so sure. He seems to be a clone of Sam Adams rather than a complement. He relies on speed and his other DT to take double teams while he is a disruptive force in the backfield. Also, as with Sam Adams, he reminds me of a player where motivation is somewhat questionable. In other words, when he isn't being played the way HE thinks, he takes plays off. This is only the impression I have based on two or three games I have seen him play in. Like in the one Bowl game, I think it was against Ohio, the DT next to Nagata was injured, and Nagata just never really played well after that. If the rotation scheme is used again, will we see more of a fall off in the DTs, whether it be Nagata and/or Adams???? And overall, the Defense will suffer for it.