ax4782

I think that stat says it all. I don't think the guy's work ethic is really going to be an issue. Frankly, with all the crap that's been piling up, he seems like he's one of those guys who will want to show people that they made a mistake by passing him. He's a first round talent, and if he falls to us in the second round, Buffalo should jump at the chance to get him. That is, if we don't take Devin Thomas at #11.

Actually, there are plenty of 6th and 7th Round QBs who have turned out pretty well. Not necessarily as starters, but certainly sufficient for the back up role. With QBs its about whether you understand the game or not. They all mostly have the physical skills, at least to come in and play for a few games while an injured starter comes back from injury. You can find guys in those rounds who might not be the best players of all time (though Tom Brady might say that's not true) but they surely are good enough to come in if you need them. People would have said that there was no way a third rounder could come in as a rookie and lead a team and turn into a solid QB, but I think TE might also disagree with that.

JP will play well for the Bills if he has to back up because his future career depends on it. If he has to come in, he's going to play his ass off trying to get a bigger contract in FA next year. Furthermore, he wants to stick to the Bills for letting him go. Playing well now, after they made the decision to dump his ass would only be frosting on the cake, especially since he's holding all the cards. Also, this allows the Bills to take a decent QB in the sixth or seventh round who can sit for a year and learn the offense to become a back-up to Edwards. As to the "concerns" that some have expressed about Edwards and injuries, he does have some issues. However, he put on some bulk in the offseason and isn't having and pain in his wrist or knees. Sounds like he's ready to go to me. Worry about injuries when they happen.

Jenkins is a heck of an athlete too, though I have to say that sounds like the Jets or the Dolphins ranking board. However, if we took Jenkins at 11 it would not be bad. He has the size and speed that we are looking for to play in the cover two. I would rather have Talib or DRC if we were to pick a CB at 11, but any of the top six or seven corners in this year's draft are very good. I still think we take WR in the first after trading back and get Flowers with our first pick in the second round.

Just say no.

Actually with the new rules, we will only have to wait until 5 o'clock to find out. They cut the time between picks from 15 minutes to 10 minutes in the first round. You may, however, have to wait until 9 o'clock to see our second round choice.

It is always good to get upgrades on the line. That needs to be stressed, however, this year, those are not NEEDS. They are WANT picks. Buffalo has NEEDS that they have to address if they are to be successful now and in the future. They NEED another WR to give Edwards another target and to take pressure off of Evans. That would improve the offense far more than adding a rookie RG. Buffalo NEEDS more depth in the secondary. If James or Greer get hurt again, we're back to the same place we were at the end of last year. Those are needs. Some might say that a TE is a NEED as well. I don't know, but getting an Antonio Gates type TE wouldn't hurt with this offense. The O-Line was actually statistically rather good last year. Considering where it had been for the two or three years prior, they were downright elite. That being said, they have solid veterans on the left side, and Walker was solid at RT. The RG position is still a ?, but I think Butler is going to improve this year. With Whittle and Preston backing things up, the line is fine for now. An upgrade at center would be good, and Mike Pollack would be a great player to do that, and he will be available in the 3rd round. He could be an immediate starter at the position for us and if the Bills draft him, I see Fowler relegated to back up. The D-Line is also solid, especially the DT rotation. Yes, I know the argument that you can never have enough talent at DT and we only have four players who are really capable of starting or playing consistently. However, four solid to elite players is enough to say we don't NEED another one in the draft. Again, the same situation is true at LB. We have five solid guys who can come in and play. We could USE another one, but we don't NEED one. Plus, that is a position we can shore up easily after the camp cuts. Lastly, DE is arguably he position where we could use another play maker, but there are two responses. First, the improvement on the D-Line is going to make them better. Taking the double teams away from Schobel and Kelsay will give them many more chances to make plays and disrupt the backfield. Second, Buffalo should resign Al Wallace as a backup. He's not a starter but was a very good rotational player who could be valuable to the team. DE and CB are the only positions the Bills should consider drafting in the first three rounds on D. We have NEEDS on offense, and perhaps at CB, but we don't NEED to add a first round talent DE to make an immediate impact on this team. I won't be disappointed at all if the Bills take Derrick Harvey at that spot. The guy is a beast and an elite talent. I still think the best thing to do is to trade back into the first round, grab that top WR, add another second round pick and grab a CB and TE in the second, then address the line needs in the third and early fourth. Say: Trade with Philly for #19 and a 2nd. 1. Devin Thomas or James Hardy 2. Brandon Flowers 2. Dustin Kellar or Fred Davis 3. Mike Pollack 4. Best DE available 4. Owen Schmitt That's the best move for the Bills to add solid talent at all positions of NEED and WANT in this draft.

If you switch Mike Pollack and Fred Davis, I think you might have it absolutely right. Also, I like Hardy more and more. He is not injury prone, and he has the size and speed to be an elite receiver. Nice work.

Ditto

1. Devin Thomas WR (@19) 2. Fred Davis TE 3. Brandon Flowers CB

Jacksonville, San Diego, and NE at home at the end of the season. Cleveland on Monday Night is also right up there. I chose NE in the last week, because if the season goes as I think it will, that game may be for the AFC East crown and Buffalo could be right there with NE. That game, IMHO, has serious playoff implications, and just for once this decade I'd like to the team that sticks it to those cheating bastards.

This might be the dumbest post I've seen in the offseason. Let's address this one claim at a time, pretending that they deserve merit. Lee had more yds per game with JP in there. While that looks true statistically, you forget to take REAL LIFE into account. The O was far less likely to throw the ball with a rookie in there than with a veteran. That sucked for Lee but that was the reality. LE's numbers had nothing to do with JP being a BETTER PLAYER, but more to do with the fact that Trent was a NEW PLAYER with a shorter leash. Thus, fewer passes, fewer catches, lower stats. Very simple. Marshawn had more yards when JP was playing than when Trent was playing. Again, looking purely at the stats, this sure looks good. However, again, REAL LIFE comes into play to strike down another stupid theory. When a Rookie QB is in, the offense is far more likely to run than throw. That's born out by the stat we just discussed a moment ago. Also, two of Trent's starts were in blizzard conditions. Again, that even further diminishes the odds that on a given play a team is going to throw the ball. And lastly, looking at the pure stats, Marshawn had twice as many total carries while Trent was in the game. Over that time he was much more likely to have a lower average as he had many more chances of getting stuffed. As for the "big play" non-dispute, I would disagree for one simple reason. Again, JP has had more time with Evans, and is thus more comfortable throwing to him on all routes. At least, that was the case at the beginning of last season. However, IIRC, TE and LE hooked up on a number of long TD completions in the later half of the season, at about the time LE stopped suggesting that JP should be the starter. Also, IIRC, TE had a nice bomb to RP as well. Once the offense is a bit less conservative with SF gone and TE ready to take complete and comfortable charge, the passes to LE going long will go up. This whining is ridiculous. JP had his three years in the sun and he got baked. He's backup material and no more. This debate really has to stop and is really getting old. TE is the starter now. Get behind him 100% and lets see what the season bring.

Based on that statement by Brandon, I bet the Bills offer him a sheet by the end of the season and Evans is a Bill for another seven years. If not that, they tag him next year, pay him that money, and get a longer deal. Either way, I don't see Evans going anywhere next season, particularly not if the Bills get another WR target in the draft, and especially if they also add another young TE. Evans will like the direction the team is headed and he'll stay.

Getting Shepard would take care of one serious need and allow us to draft a WR and TE early. Then we can worry about want position picks in 3 and 4(x2). That scenario is pretty tempting. As for Lito "wanting to get paid" my reply is two fold. First, his contract right now is high, but not unbelievably so, and Buffalo has plenty of room to absorb the hit. In terms of his wanting more money, well, you give him a bit of an increase in guarantees starting in 09 and you put a lot of playing time bonuses in there as well, so that he doesn't make all of that extra money if he is hurt for eight weeks like he was two years ago. There are ways to structure contracts, even expensive ones, so that they don't hurt the team. Plus, that would help with our cap room calculations as well. Signing LE needs to be the top priority in the off season, or during the season, but putting the pieces in place to succeed will help that. Lito Shepard is a heck of a CB and that would pretty much finish our starting line-up on D. This trade makes extremely good sense.

I agree with your conclusion that we should be raising our expectations, but with the talent we have acquired, and the schedule we have this season, I think not making the playoffs would be a huge disappointment. I think 9-7 would certainly keep Jauron in his job for another year, and rightfully so. After that, however, the playoffs are a must or he is out.

I would love to see the Bills take Schmitt, but I don't think they will have to do that in the third round. He is more likely a Fourth and we pick fairly early. Also, if they don't get Schmitt in the Fourth, Peyton Hillis will still be available, and he is a better all around FB than Schmitt. Schmitt, however, is that true bruising blocker the Bills are looking for at the position and I would be truly surprised if they didn't pick him. I think with the third round pick one of two things will happen before the Bills would possibly draft Schmitt at that position. First, if the Bills do NOT trade out of the #11, they will use their Third on a CB. Second, if the Bills DO trade out of the #11 and gain a #2, they will take a TE and a CB in the second and take Mike Pollack C with their third rounder. If Pollack is gone, maybe then the Bills take Schmitt in the third. I do think the Bills will take him with their first pick in the Fourth Round. Most of the mock drafts I have looked at seem to be of the same thinking. Either way, I would love to see him or Hillis in a Bills Uni this Fall.

Um, the problem is, if you throw the ball to a guy who is shorter than the corner he is playing against, or your only good receiver is double covered, it makes it hard to throw in the endzone from that far away. Everyone knows who you're throwing too, and frankly JR and RP don't have the hands to make those plays. They are short to medium route guys. LE is our ONLY option in the deep passing game and that just doesn't cut it. Believe me, I would love to pick up more talent on the D and O lines, but that would be a wasted first round pick. If you don't get people who can score points, the line can block all day, and it won't mean squat. Buffalo NEEDS a WR and a TE badly. CB is almost at that category just due to the lack of any talent behind the three starters at that position. (I'm not counting the safeties with the CBs). After that, an improvement at ONE position on the offensive line is necessary, that being at center, and Buffalo can draft a very good one in Mike Pollack in the third round. Or Kory Lichtensteiger with the second fourth or fifth rounder. Both have size and talent advantages over Fowler, who should be retained as a backup. After that, you can take BPA. There is a lot of talent in this draft at a number of positions that Fourth-Seventh Round picks might all prove to be starting caliber. Taking need over BPA is what teams who are successful do in the draft. Donablow tried the BPA strategy for all those years and where did it get us? Nowhere. Now we are trying to fix his mess. We're so close. There's no reason to go back to those failed policies of the past.

The schedule seems favorable to us for a change. We have a number of games that we should absolutely win early in the season, which is good for this young teams confidence. Assuming we win them. Also, none of our games are against an opponent coming off of their bye week. Thus, we won't play anyone on two weeks rest, or the Patriots with two weeks to cheat. Buffalo has a solid chance at going 11-5, particularly if we win those easy early games. Buffalo could very easily be 4-1 before the bye week, and with a bit of luck, we could be 5-0 if we can beat J-Ville. Time will tell, but I think we have a pretty good shot at doing well with this schedule.

I don't find myself agreeing with people whole-heartedly on this board very often, but I think you said everything that I have been thinking for a while. People often fall in love with one guy and push him as the best choice. However, that ignores the essential and undisputed fact that we have positions of NEED that have to be addressed with top choice talent. Those NEEDS would be WR, TE, CB. The last is not truly a need, but I would like to get another decent player in there in the event that the secondary takes another beating injury-wise this year. People who want an O-Lineman or a DE are thinking smart, but not thinking NEED. Those are positions where better players would be nice. WR and TE are positions where if we don't get upgrades, we won't win seven games. The D is much improved after FA and I think the Bills are done with high profile acquisitions on that side of the ball (barring some trade down with PHI that nets Leto Shepard, a deal that is not likely to happen). James Hardy, by his physical attributes and his numbers has the potential to be the next Randy Moss. Not to mention, he's taller, faster, and has better hands and a better vertical leap than Moss did in his prime. Buffalo NEEDS a player like this, be it Hardy, Thomas, Jackson, Sweed or Kelly. As for TE, Fred Davis, Kellan Davis, Rucker, or Carson would be instant upgrades at the position and would provide a third weapon on the field. If Buffalo intends to win games this season, they had better get Trent some weapons. A top flight WR and TE would be exactly what the doctor ordered.

So, without speculating about Crabtree and addressing this post, I think from a purely position driven standpoint, Hardy is a very good choice. He does have the ability to go over the middle and make some difficult throws. Keep in mind that a lot of interceptions were thrown Evans's way because he was constantly double covered and throws to him were often forced. With a legit number two guy, Evans will have more one-on-ones and will be open on more of those routes. Also, that will allow Josh Reed to do his job from the position where he is most comfortable: in the slot. Reed does go over the middle and has excelled there when given the opportunity. Hardy has the potential to be a Randy Moss type player for the Bills, at least from a purely positional standpoint. He has the size, speed and numbers to support drafting him in the first round, though at #11 might be a bit much. I see Buffalo trading back and taking either him or Devin Thomas later in the first round and using their second rounder on a TE or a CB. If they trade back and get another second, they get both. Overall, I think drafting Hardy would be a very good move for the Bills. Also, on the character front, he has been completely clean during the last two years, and he seems like he has grown up a lot since those incidents his freshman/sophomore year. I think he might be a great pick for the Bills.

After the phenomenal fan showing at the Ralph this past season, we will get at least one night game. I think the schedule will shake down as follows: Week one will be at home against the Jets We'll get the Patriots at home after our bye week, but they'll get us at home after theirs Toronto Game will be on MNF and will be against the Seahawks or 49ers as those were the last two teams in the running for it last I heard We get the Thursday Night Thanksgiving Game at home We get a Sunday Night Game against a division opponent. We have a better schedule this year than we have in a long time. I think we win 10 games, though we will likely lose that Thanksgiving game to the Browns. Their team, at least on paper, looks really good. 10-6 or 11-5 and we make the playoffs as a Wild Card for the first time in 10 years.

You're right. They are going to address it later in the first round after they trade down with someone like PHI or WSH and add a second rounder. Then I think they take the guy they brought to work out at OBD: Devin Thomas. I think they add a CB and TE in the second, likely Brandon Flowers and Fred Davis, then take either Mike Pollack C or a DE in the third. Then in the Fourth I see them taking another WR, perhaps Simpson or Nelson and then add Owen Schmitt at FB. Then the rest of the draft is likely to be line depth and maybe another LB or CB late in the draft. As to Simpson, he could be very good. He's gotten less hype after his poor combine but, he could be a steal. Always remember, Andre Reed came out of Kutztown and Terrell Owens came from a podunk school, so those gems are out there.

Define recently. Buffalo has done a very good job finding starting talent late in the draft the past two years. Poz was a #2 choice and Ko Simpson was a #4. Brad Butler was a #6 and Kyle Williams was a #5 and Trent Edwards was a #3. As far as I can tell, that looks like a lot of Rd 2 and later talent that is starting caliber. Even if you look at the rest of the team, there are not a lot of first round starters still playing for us. Lynch and McCargo and Whitner and Evans. After that, it's not easy to find one from the last seven seasons. Most of them are gone. This team has been built on later round talent that has stepped up and shown they can play at the pro level. I expect more of the same this year.

I think perhaps this post has a bit much in the gloom and doom department. I certainly agree that the biggest problems for a significant period of time have been up front on both sides of the ball. However, that being said, I do think that the team has taken significant steps to address those needs. First, the O-line got a significant overhaul last year, and Dockery and Walker have been very good. If you look at Walker's statistics from last year, he wasn't nearly as bad as you are suggesting. Dockery was a very solid player and Peters is showing that he is an elite left tackle. The questions are at RG and C. I absolutely agree that Melvin Fowler is at best a back-up C. Buffalo should be looking to get Mike Pollack in the third round this year and solidify that position. RG is a bit of a different story. Whittle is capable if he doesn't get hurt, but I think Butler is good enough to start and will play well this year. I also wouldn't be surprised if Buffalo drafted this position either. A sleeper pick at #11 is Branden Alberts from UVa. I also think you are overly critical about the fixes on D-Line. Marcus Stroud and Spencer Johnson are both very good players, and adding McCargo and Williams makes this one of the better rotations in the league. Schobel and Kelsay should also have better production up front with the pressure from these guys. Buffalo's D was hit horribly hard last year with injury and a lot of our better talent was on the sidelines for most or all of the season. With those players back and the shoring up of the D-line and the LB corps, Buffalo's problems are at CB and with depth. Those can be addressed adequately in the draft. The D-line isn't the problem, though getting some talented depth wouldn't hurt. Buffalo needs to get weapons for Edwards to throw to and make plays. The line gave him a lot of time last year and he did fairly well when given the opportunity. If he had a legitimate number 2 target and a TE who could make a catch down the field, the offense will be scoring at least a touchdown more a game, if not 10 points more. Edwards was clearly a step ahead of JP with the offense and his ability to make quick decisions when the pressure was on. For a Rook he looked pretty good. Getting him that experience early, and having the team show confidence in him, will make him the anti-JP not the next JP. I do think the Bills will be better and with the way the FO has been handling the off-season I certainly don't think we will have to wait ten more years before we even make it back to the playoffs. BTW where's all that trust in the front office you had not so long ago?

I would agree that right now the line is above average, but no elite. We can do perfectly fine this season with what we have. That said, O-Line is a place where talented players are at a premium. I would rather we not draft Albert there. I tend to think that lineman from Virginia have been overrated the last few years, with Ferguson as a prime example. Albert is a good player and would likely be another above average player at RG. However, that spot is not a NEED position in the way that WR, CB, TE are NEED positions. We need top talent in those spots after this draft. I would not be surprised to see us trade back in exchange for an additional second or third round pick so that we can get four top playmakers on day one. Two WRs a TE and a CB, though not necessarily in that order. I wouldn't hate the Albert pick but I would question it with everything that we need on this team.