2020 Our Year For Sure

I think Adam Carriker would be a good fit. He'd make half this board say "Who?" or "What the !@#$?" and the analysts would all call him a reach. Yet, I've read some reports saying the kid is a good DT prospect.

I agree that if the draft was tomorrow, we wouldn't be able to go best player available. But that fact is a moot point, because there's plenty of time before the draft. I expect the Bills to add a 1-technique DT (Ian Scott?) and a veteran cornerback (possibly re-signing Kiwaukee) through free agency. These two moves would be pretty cheap and easy, but would take us from being forced to draft a position to being able to select the best player available, which increases our chances of successfully drafting an impact player. The more players you can choose from, the more likely you are to pick a great one. One of your positions of need is linebacker. Why must we draft a linebacker in the 1st round? Our current linebacking core features Takeo Spikes on one side...last season, Spikes was only at full strength for one play, and that one play was a sack on Tom Brady and a forced fumble that went for a touchdown opening day. After that, it was an injury-riddled season for him. There have been cases of players with injuries similar to the one that ended Spikes' 2005 season that didn't get back to full strength until their second year back (Julian Peterson). There's nothing wrong with seeing what Spikes can do for us this year. Our other outside 'backer at the moment is Keith Ellison, who was on a level of play clearly above his 6th round draft status. He has the type of speed and athleticism that this system calls for from it's OLBs, and he should improve with his second season both in the NFL and in the Tampa 2. But still...don't trust Spikes? Not comfortable with Ellison? Want another option in the middle, besides Crowell? The draft is more than one round! There's no reason why we must take a LB in the 1st. And then your next position of need is DT. Agreed, the team as it stands now must add a defensive tackle, but a solid rotation guy (probably a free agent) for the 1-tech position to replace Tim Anderson will do. Williams showed potential playing on the nose last year, and most agree he can stand to benefit from adding some strength this offseason. McCargo also showed some flashes just before his injury, and its unfortunate he had to miss that time. But you drafted these guys for a reason, right? You have to give these guys a chance to develop as they enter their 2nd NFL (and 2nd Tampa 2) season. It wouldn't be so terrible to go into the season with McCargo and Tripplett at the 3-tech, with Williams and a solid free agent on the nose. As for corner, I agree, replacing Clements is an area of concern. Last year, the pass defense was ugly until they changed the system and allowed Nate to play more man-to-man against the opposition's #1 WR. But here's a newsflash: even if we were to address CB in the 1st round, in all likelihood that player would NOT be able to match Clements' role in the defense. So we're forced to hope that our zone pass defense will be improved this year. That means the coaches must find a way to get the most out of Terrence McGee (who struggled last year) and Ashton Youboty. Youboty hasn't played much to this point, but he's the physical, smart, good-tackling corner that can potentially fit into the system. And then you can bring in any one of a number of second-tier CBs from free agency, whether its re-signing Kiwaukee, or bringing in Nick Harper, or any of a bunch of other guys out there. Cornerback should still be addressed at some point in this draft, but again, I see no reason why it must be with a 1st round pick. This isn't to say we can't take a player from one of these positions...I've got no problem if the Bills take Patrick Willis, or Revis, or Okoye. But these positions aren't so awful that we're forced into it. If our braintrust is high on the likes of Levi Brown, Marshawn Lynch, Dwayne Jarrett, Jamaal Anderson...there's nothing wrong with them pulling the trigger. I'm open to anyone who doesn't play quarterback or safety. Its important to remember that free agency isn't over, and the draft is more than one round. I'm also definitely open to a trade-down, adding picks and allowing us to solidify multiple positions.

Why can't TSW be about getting information on potential draftees, potential free agents, discussing which players we should go after through either of these avenues, what we should do with any situation that arises (McGahee), what players are out there that fit into our schemes, discussing where our young players are in their progression, the impact of recently acquired players, and on and on and on. What, exactly, makes debating whether or not our defense is the worst in the league, 6 months before the season starts, a higher calling? There are plenty of worthwhile ways to use TSW other than arguing that we should have re-signed Nate Clements, and that people who go to the games know best.

If thats whats going on here, its a job well done by the management. But bringing down McGahee's price range isn't the only thing this accomplishes...now that Willis sees he doesn't have the value he thought he had, he's going to work hard in his upcoming contract year to get that value so he can recieve a big payday next offseason. This insures that we'll get McGahee's best in '07. Get ready to play the Jets 16 times...

I'm definitely with you on your point as a whole, as I believe the nose tackle is the position that needs to be addressed and we're better off doing that through free agency. However, I don't think Kyle Williams is "ideally suited" to play the 3-technique position. He just doesn't have the quickness to shoot the gap and get into the backfield with the consistency that you need from that spot. I see Kyle Williams as a decent, developing nose tackle, who is going to improve as he adds strength and NFL experience. That said, we still have Tripplett and McCargo at the 3 and only Williams at the nose (Anderson is good as gone), so whoever we add better be able to play on the nose. Unless we want to move McCargo, which I'm not ready to do. Okoye doesn't make too much sense, but wouldn't Alan Branch be nice?

Great great back but I think we need Willis to plug big hole in middle

Well, then we'd be one right tackle away. We'll see about Butler and Pennington, though.

This team has no need for a TE. Now that we have a decent offensive line, I expect Royal to be used to his capability in the passing game instead of helping to block defensive ends.

I don't think the problem was the money, but the contract length. Despite my display name, I'm thinking its a bad idea for a Tampa 2 team (with its stress on speed) to be giving a 5-year deal to a 32 year old middle linebacker. I think he'd be a Bill if he wanted to sign a 3 year, $15 million deal. Time to say so long to London as I wonder who on this defense will replace his leadership. Looks like our MLB next year is either Patrick Willis or Angelo Crowell.

Still goin' with former Bears DT Ian Scott to push Tim Anderson into unemployment.

And a well done to you as well, good to see one person man up.

In reality, neither of those things were actually said. But don't let me interrupt, you had a real head of steam there.

Why in the world would you trade McGahee and then bring in a stop-gap free agent halfback? If you're going to have a vet and a rookie, just let McGahee be the vet.

I'd put OLB on a P6. One of our current OLBs, Angelo Crowell, was a MLB up until a couple of years ago...we have the option of drafting (or signing) an OLB and moving Crowell to the middle, and Priority 6 seems to describe this situation best.

If Jake Scott is good, why didn't they tender him an offer?

About Pennington, isn't 319 a bit light for a 6-7 right tackle? You'd think he could stand to benefit from putting on some more weight as left ends are generally a bit slower off the snap than right ends, and some more muscle could help him in the running game. Additionally, his 6-7 frame should allow for some more weight without losing too much speed/quickness/agility, right?

Mike Williams was drafted 4th.

He's only 305.

Sounds like some decent depth at guard. Nothing major, but perhaps something we needed. His versatility is a plus as they say he's able to play all three line positions.

I don't feel I need to address this, other than to say you really have no reason to follow this team until around this time next year, do you? Then you can just watch game film to catch up on the playoffless 2007 that you missed, and you're all set! Giving up on 2007 before free agency starts after going 5-3 in the second half of '06...catching my mistake with words doesn't change the fact that your viewpoint is retarded.

Jamie Dukes was talking about the Bengals need for a playmaking OLB, for what its worth.

This post is laughable. If you really think the Bills are in the same position they were in last offseason or where the Texans are now...

I don't know if you actually saw it, and I know nobody wants to hear this, but Rosenhaus didn't actually say anything terrible. And while the original post in this thread has quotation marks, those aren't the words Rosenhaus used. He was actually very careful with the words he chose...when the anchor made the point that McGahee gets plenty of touches, Rosenhaus kinda sighed, and actually paused a good 3, 4 seconds...then he slowly and carefully brought up the subject of the offensive line, but really tried to do so in a way that wouldn't throw them under the bus. I'm drawing a blank on his wording, I really wish I could remember cause I think some posters would see my point. All I can say is Rosenhaus "calling out" our offensive line is far too harsh of a description of what happened. I know alot of you will call bullsh-- because I can't back it up, but whatever, I thought this post was necessary anyway.

I don't like this thinking. No team should, at a stage in the game as early as we are, submit to the fact that they aren't going to win the SuperBowl. Especially the Bills, a team that won 5 of their last 7 games and has a good, young offense that came together down the stretch last year. Instead of just thinking that we'll fix the offense this year and the defense next year, we should be trying to find a way to maximize our resources to get players at every position at the level this team needs to compete NOW. There's no reason why we can't make the jump into the playoffs in '07. To already give up on this upcoming season is ludicrous.

Just saw this news on NFL Network. I kinda wanted them to keep Spikes around if Fletcher left because it would give us another option other than Keith Ellison...if Spikes goes, Ellison will start in all likelihood, I'm guessing on the weak side. This would also increase the chances that we draft Patrick Willis in the 1st round. Wonder what we could get for TKO?