Rockinon

I think this guy could go anywhere from 4th to 7th round depending on how he does in the combine. If he wows people there he may shoot up some draft boards. I'd like to see how he compares against better talent. He looks like he can play at a higher level.

I was looking at "Inside the Bills" on the Bills website and there was an article about this kid. He was supposed to play for Oklahoma but academic issues forced him to declare for the draft. Normally I wouldn't be interested in such a player but I changed my mind after watching this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqcvMAaw4Hs First, its pretty obvious he is a man among boys in this video(the talent around him is sub par), but he is big, he can catch and he can block. He was blowing up defenders with his blocks. I could see him springing CJ for a big gain. This kid isn't even rated on most draft boards, but I thought I'd share and see what you think. Discuss.

All ready? Really?

This team definitely needs big pass catchers. There are too many small speedy guys(I really think this is why we can't keep them healthy). TEs don't shy away from hits. They lower there head look for someone to run into. The offense needs to impose its will instead of always trying to out run or out smart the D. You don't do that with little people.

Maybe so but if the QB cupboard is bare you check another cupboard.

This is how I see it too. Fitz has payed well when he has protection and receivers to throw to. You take those away and he is hung out to dry. He is not going anywhere. Having someone compete for his job though is not a bad thing. The guy can manage a game if he is given a few tools to work with. Losing Fred, Scott Chandler, Wood, Cordy and multiple receivers is not easy. I'll grant that he is not a top 5% QB in this league, but he is long way the from bottom 5%. I have seen the same boneheaded plays as everyone else but I just don't see a QB, alone fixing this team. When the defense is in the bottom 5% in multiple categories, a lot of pressure goes directly on the QB. There are ways to win without having a Tom Brady. I see a bunch of fans watching the Pats dominate with poor defense and then jealousy sets in because the Bills don't have their own Tom Brady. Get over it. This team isn't going to get where it needs to be in the same way as the Patriots. This is the Buffalo Bills. Our team has pumped a bunch of money into defense and I'm glad about that. This team has a couple of dynamic running threats and I'm glad about that. We have a QB who while he is no Tom Brady, he is smart, gritty and doesn't complain about his circumstances. And I'm glad about that too. If you want this team to improve, you find your weaknesses and go from there. The last thing you want to do is find a scapegoat to blame it all on. I'm pretty sure I'll hear it from all of the people blathering on about the need for a "franchise QB". Everyone wants an easy fix, but when that ain't happening, you have to roll up your sleeves and find another way.

Man, this guy is old.

........and then the Bills pass on him too.

Most of these coaches are young and I like that. They will be fiery and aggressive. The years of older coaches always harping about ethics and commitment is nice and all, but that only goes so far. Coaches that can get under your skin and really make you dig deeper will be younger and more likely to openly challenge you. This is what this team needs. There are going to be flaring emotions and maybe even some fighting but this team needs to have that edge. I remember listening to Chan talking to the players after a big win this year and even though he was pumped, I got the feeling that the message was not really what they needed to hear. He was praising them and saying how in awe he was. To me, the timing was off. He should have been saying "we still have a lot of work to do. This game was just one and we far from where we need to be". I know this team has talent. A coach with fire can go a long way. I also think that the new coaches are much smarter than what many may think. So far, so good. I'm on board.

Nope. The Bills pick one slot ahead of the Jets in round one, but one slot behind the Jets in round two. My fear is that the Bills will go after a defensive player in round one and hope to get their QB in round two. But the Jets take the QB that Buffalo wants in round two.

He led LSU to the BCS Championship. Even though he didn't play(hurt) the team went on to win against Ohio State. He also threw 3 TDs and one Int against NE while with the Packers and had a chance to win the game before getting sacked at the end of the game. He has performed well in his career but never really got a shot having played behind some really good starting QBs.

I watched a bunch of his highlights against teams Miami, Ohio got thrashed by. He stayed pretty composed and just kept making plays while being flushed out of the pocket. He really is good at making plays while on the run. I like what I see so far. Can't help but wonder how good he could be with time to throw.

Draftek has the Bills taking a WR at 8? http://www.drafttek.com/2013-nfl-mock-draft-round1.asp

I agree with the bolded and have a feeling this is just how the draft will play out. I have been pulling for Fitz for far too long but my first impressions of the available QBs in this draft are no better. Personally, I think the Bills will go with best player available regardless of position. If the QBs left on the board when they pick are rated for the 2nd round, the Bills will wait for the second round to get him. I just don't see them not trying to get the best value out of this pick and I'm afraid QB is not going to be it.

I gotta say that I am intrigued by what Syracuse did this year. When I look back on the Bills season offensively one thing struck me.....even more than the empty backfield. When the offense left the huddle there almost always appeared to be a lot of time wasted while Fitz read the defense before the ball was snapped. I know that Fitz is good at reading defenses but this is valuable time that could be used moving the ball. Offenses like the Patriots lead the league in plays from scrimmage because they are much more uptempo. I kept yelling at my TV screen all season watching the Bills "What are you waiting for!! Hike the damn ball!!!" Sometimes waiting so long that they were penalized for a delay of game! Speed is what appeared to benefit Syracuse as well. When they started using a combination of the K-gun and NO offenses(both very fast paced), Syracuse started putting up big numbers. Reading the defense is nice and all, but picking up the pace and giving the defense no time to get a handle on what the offense is doing can reap bigger rewards. I am in no way saying that the K-gun alone is the answer, but mixing it in and moving more quickly is the trend that is taking over in the NFL. Buffalo's offense needs to pick up the pace and this new coaching staff could be just what we needed. This is also what makes Chip Kelly such a hot commodity. Doing things like going no huddle, lining up quickly, hiking quickly and getting rid of the ball quickly can really put a defense at a disadvantage. This is what I saw from the 'cuse offense and what I hope to see from the Bills next year.

Getting a great defensive coach and Chip Kelly would be huge. I don't care who has the title for head coach, but Kelly would have a ball with our OL and CJ. And a good defensive coach could do wonders for this team.

If you want to get the most out of Spiller, you hire Chip Kelly.

I'd take that job......not that they'd want me.

Chip Kelly's resume is looking pretty good. There appears to be a lot of interest in him too. I just think the Bills need a good defensive coach and a couple more players. The offense though....they need a QB and some real receivers......maybe a TE. If Chan can't fix this offense, then the talent needs to be improved. I was reading an article about fast paced offenses. NE is leading the league in the number of snaps per season by a pretty wide margin. Chip Kelly has been doing the same thing. His Oregon team likes running and can put up big points. CJ would thrive under this guy. I want a dominant defense more than anything, but all season I have watched the Bills offense slowly approach the line like they are going for a Sunday stroll. I have many times watched this happen even when the team is down by 20 points and not see any urgency until the we're down to the 2 minute mark. We need a coach and we need more talent. The good news is we are in better shape now IMHO than when Gailey first arrived here. Hopefully an innovative coach can make an impact. Hopefully a few additions to the roster will also help.

23 rushing TDs.......worst in the league. I think there are a lot more stats that point directly at the defense but I am in the same camp that believes there is more talent then what we have actually witnessed. The coaching didn't seem to really sink in until midway through the season. I still believe this team needs to improve by adding more talent.

Scheme is a part of the equation but it must fit the players. What I want to see is LBs that can actually get off of blocks and make tackles. I don't like seeing safties and corners doing this 10- 20 yds down the field. I've seen a lot of big plays both running and passing given up by this defense. LDE sounds like an interesting position to target. LBs that can shed blocks and make tackles before a back can get a first down would be nice too. A lot has been made of gap responsibility and it seems that the second half of the season this team has improved. The defense is young and prone to mistakes but I think they will continue to improve. That doesn't mean that they can't bring in additional talent. Is there another JJ Watt out there?

I know the big talk around here is centered around the HC and the QB, but I am increadibly disappointed with the performance of the defense this year. There have been some flashes here and there but their overall performance is absolutely horrible. I'd like to see is a coach with a strong defensive background but I'd also like to see an improvement on key areas of the defense. What is it going to take to get us to a top five defense? While it is wildly popular to point fingers at leaders like HC and QB, my personal opinion is that our defense is not getting the job done and needs an infusion of talent and good coaching to take this team to the next level. Defense still wins championships. We do have a few good men, but that isn't enough. Discuss. Who would you bring in to correct our enemic defense?

With our defense turning the corner and actually getting after the passer, Byrd may actually like the idea of staying in Buffalo. Money is a factor, but it's not the only factor. Maybe he stays. Maybe someone makes an offer he can't refuse. I think he will command a big payday. The real question is will the Bills make an offer he can't refuse? Hitting FA is no doubt going to raise the price tag, but if the Bills make an offer before that happens. it might be big enough to persuade him to stay. Who knows? It's hard to figure.

You might as well hang yourself now, because Fitz will be starting again next year.

Young and Snow have been waiting for their chance. It will be interesting to see how well they do.