BillsVet

And yet, DJ had plenty of personnel control in four drafts and free agency periods, but Buffalo still doesn't have enough talent. Go ahead and say DJ doesn't have some sway over the GM-less front office. The cloudiness of their management structure isn't enough to justify he lacks some degree of control over team makeup. Just for craps and giggles, what would have to happen fo you throw up the white flag and admit DJ is a mediocre coach? You can't have it both ways. If there isn't talent presnet, there's a reason. Besides, DJ should be able to coach these guys up anyway, right?

I love it when, if a person has nothing left, they resort to saying you don't know what it's like in the NFL to suppress any and all arguments. TBC- There's no other way to quantify a NFL HC than by wins and losses. This isn't HS football where the coach may be the likable teacher or an administrator. When a team's payroll is in the nine figures, likability isn't a job requirement, it's optional. Wins and playoff appearances are mandatory however. It's why Gruden and Shanahan lost their jobs, despite success a few years ago. DJ doesn't have that either. Winning above all else is what matters. Sure, I don't want a Brad Childress throwing the coaches under the bus when Reggie Bush returns 2 punts for TD's against me. I would hope your assertion that wins and losses aren't as important as other intangibles is merely a ruse. You can't be serious, although I've see worse on TBD. To quote Leo Durocher, "Nice guys finish last." EDIT: BTW, Bob Dole wants his third person references back.

The military example carries a lot of weight in this case. I think the best run franchises delegate all football decisions to football people. New England, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, San Diego, and the NY Giants all have de facto GM's who make moves. I'm sure on big dollar moves the owner is involved, but on draft day it's the GM who has all the say. The thing I hate about consensus is that it involves compromising. There's simply no reason why an experienced personnel man should compromise his mindset opinion with someone else. I know people like Polian and Belichick aren't establishing consensus and trying to accommodate everyone. They listen and make the decision, and are confident because they've been right so often. Because we do not know who has final say, I can't call any draft "Brandon's draft." For all we know, Modrak has one take, Jauron another, and Brandon yet another. You cannot learn how to handle NFL personnel in two seasons as a quasi-GM. It takes years of working either as a scout, in pro personnel, or amateur scouting. Just like no one commands an Army or Marine Division. The skills necessary to lead and prepare take many years to learn. Awesome post KFBD.

Playing hard without as much talent will only get you so far. IIRC, when this discussion started last year, people said DJ was good because his guys played hard for him. They probably did, but average players with below average to average coaching produces mediocrity. You could field a team of UDFA's who play hard, but they'll probably not win many games. It takes more than playing hard to win in the NFL. And that's where my issues with DJ begin: his teams, beginning with Chicago in 99, didn't draft well. I'm referring to 99 and 00 when he had personnel control before Jerry Angelo arrived.

Rams GM Billy Devaney made the decision to draft OT Jason Smith over the fans' choice of Mark Sanchez. Here are his comments in Peter King's column today: "How many times are you in position to get an elite quarterback' They're right. But how many times are you in position to get an elite left tackle? You can't get one down the line in the draft. You can't get one in free-agency; they're never available. Plus, I really believe, like our coach [steve Spagnuolo], that the personality of your team revolves around a big, tough, physical offensive line.'' Devaney probably had few options of trading out of the #2 pick. But they'll most likely pay the unproven Smith similar money as Peters received to play the OL's most demanding position. I'm glad Buffalo has attempted to fill the voids on the line with a UFA and two first day picks. Building the OL is done best through the draft, and good franchises don't buy OL's as Buffalo tried to do in 06-07.

In a nut-shell, yes. The issue is whether players can overcome coaching, or coaching can make players better. In any environment, leadership must provide a plan so those doing the work can succeed. When things go right, it's the players. When they go wrong, it's generally management. In the case of the Bills, a glut of bad decisions has made it difficult for players to perform. I was high on TO coming in, so we could see if Edwards was the real deal. Not long afterward, management saw fit to revamp a bad OL. Then they dealt Peters for rookies. So the line remains in a state of flux, same as it was going into 2007. Difference is, this year it'll be rookies and untested UFA's doing the work. Edwards has his work cut out from him. Potential only means one thing: ain't done nothin yet. Everyone mentions the Bills have potential, but fans were saying this after 2007.

Levy and his front office made the call to re-sign Kelsay on the fringe of UFA starting in 07. Looking back, I'd rather have spent Kelsay and Dockery's money on keeping Clements. The total money doesn't add up, but the guaranteed funds do. IIRC, Kelsay got 12M guaranteed and Dockery received 20M or thereabouts. Imagine giving NC a deal for this guaranteed money, as he'll never receive 80M out of his SF deal signed during March 07. Mistakes made in 06 and 07 will hurt for awhile. It's why saying what's "good" in 09, let alone 08 is a bit premature.

Taking Nelson still is my favorite pick after round 1. People were harping for Maualuga to Buffalo late in the first, but he's not as stout as some think. Nelson actually put his rear end on the ground at the Senior Bowl practices. The game is changing rapidly. Finding a guy who can adequately block and run the seam are few and far betweeen on draft day. Nelson has the potential to become a fine blocker who currently has the skills to exploit the middle of the field. Many sources have said Nelson can add weight to his frame, which will certainly help to block opposing OLB's.

Big difference is coaching and game day preparation. Belichick and his OL coach Dante Scarnecchia both excel at in-game changes and staying ahead of their opponent. I have no doubt that Levitre and Wood are solid prospects and perhaps the best in this draft class. They'll need to be prepared correctly, and I'm not sure Jauron and to a lesser degree Kugler are at the level where they can match the quality of in-game changes.

I judge a leader on a few things, namely who they surround themselves as subordinates. If assistants aren't producing, changing them is necessary. If that person gets the changes wrong, they should be gone. Jauron's also had personnel control for two franchises. Chicago from 99-00 and Buffalo at least to some extent from 06, owing to a lack of managerial experience in that area. The results are not very good, and I'm not clear why anyone delegates this responsibility to him. It's fair to judge a coach after 8 complete seasons in the league, regardless of the circumstances. No manager walks into a perfect situation, but it's up to them to make it as solid as possible. Jauron hasn't done that.

It's got a lot to do with more passing as opposed to running the ball. That, and have more speed in their front 7 to handle running backs. IIRC, only three pure strong safeties were taken in the entire draft. Them and players like former Cowboy Roy Williams simply don't have the coverage skills to play every down.

Tim, Thanks for voicing skepticism about taking so many DB's. At the end of the draft, I kept saying CB before the pick came up. Granted it's late Day 2 picks, but 6 DB's in 3 year seems excessive. Do you believe Jauron has more say in draft matters, given that Buffalo doesn't have a real GM? Thank you.

DJ says a lot of things. And I expect it, given that he's not about to show his hand this early. The truth will come out by about week 2 of camp where the Bills think certain players. I'm still not going to say DJ is a savvy coach, but he's being his normal elusive self in addressing the media.

It's not unprecedented to move positions in certain areas. OT's who lack arm length and height generally kick inside. Guys like Jahri Evans from NO and others have made the move. Cato June was a college safety, and there are CB's who don't have the speed but ball skills to play S. I'd rather not start players who are converting to another position, but Wood and Levitre knew months ago they weren't playing their college position. Byrd probably did as well.

Not a chance. Nostradamus ain't walking into the Bills war room, nor has he ever. This is a guy who did 9 reps of 225 at the combine. I'm positive he's increased his strength, but he started playing the position in college after being a basketball guy and did not get any PT last year. I'm speculating that he has a way to go to refine his technique and improv his strength to a NFL OT level. I believe he's a half way through a 2 year apprenticeship to learn the position for NFL play. Chambers was blasted at OG in the away NE and that plan ended soon. He should remain the backup OT. Butler can be good at times, but has had some injury issues of late. Won't complain if he remains the starting RG, but there's a reason he moved inside when entering the NFL. Walker is a guy who lacks lateral mobility at RT, let alone LT. Too many people marginalize the LT position into being like the other line spots. Put simply, Walker is adequate at RT, but moves poorly. I can remember the toss play to Jackson at Denver when Walker's inability to move out right allowed the woeful Denver defense to stop Jackson. He is not LT material, nor will he ever be. As a matter of fact, he didn't start full time OT until his fifth NFL season. No one moves into the LT spot after 7 seasons in the league. That's a move borne out of desperation. None of the LT options as of today are attractive. But because Walker played some there last season some casual fans think he can do so for the entire year. It's a pipe dream, especially with Freeney, Peppers, Porter twice, Mario Williams, and whoever Belichick trots out there two more times. Rex Ryan will be bringing heat with his rush LB's as well. That's 9 times we'll be seeing top pass rushers or 3-4 defenses. Walker hasn't had to deal with fast OLB's either.

And here I was thinking we'd declared a truce the other day. Nelson was a stroke of luck, but I'll give credit where credit is due. I figured trading the third would take them out of the running for a TE. And then Cook, et al, began leaving. They still have a lot of work to do, but draft day is a start.

I think Bills fans will see some changes after camp ends in August. There's no guarantee that Kelsay and a few other underachievers will remain for the regular season. I'm not a fan of taking so many DB's, but it's not worth it to get angry over 5th-7th round picks. The odds are against them making an impact. I will say that having options in the secondary with so many players nearing the final year of their deals is important.

I agree, there's no way Buffalo knew Cincinnati was definitely going OT at 6. I wouldn't mind the acquisition of L. Jones, because Bell isn't ready to play RT, Chambers is a swing OT, and frankly Butler isn't an OT in the NFL. Some will assail this, but it'd be a mismatch if any of them played long term at OT. And it's just wrong to say Walker can play LT long term. I really don't think there was an OT after A. Smith who would come in and start from Day 1. Neither Britton nor Beatty are the types I want playing LT against many teams.

I haven't been that happy about a late round pick in a long time. I'm still not sure how he lasted that late. He ran a 4.5 40, pancaked Maualuga during senior bowl practices, and has excellent hands. +1 to the front office for this one.

We'll see isn't the preferred solution for a team competing against three teams which will defend hard. Heck, I'm not an OL expert, but Oakland didn't want him as a RT, so playing a position which requires better mobility is a stretch. He will need help often this season, so I'd expect to see TE and perhaps RB chip help. The Raiders are a tremendous mess, but I can't recall a player who left them and became a solid starter elsewhere. They've become an embarrassment to the NFL. It still doesn't mean Walker can play LT in Buffalo.

The entire TBD loves you so much.

Hey, you will respect his opinion. Or else you're an idiot.

Cutting Dockery was a bold but necessary move. Royal and Fowler obviously weren't going to be around in 09. McCargo is a bust. It took two seasons after Levy to see that the foundation the front office thought they'd established wasn't good. The draft is not a crapshoot, but people not versed in building a team make it so.

I think DJ does this because he knows how hated he is among Bills fans. I don't think he'll be involved in another Bills draft. After all, he was involved with 4 in Chicago until the McCaskey's finally saw the light. I would trade a first for a GM with a record like Polian, Parcells, Newsome, or Jerry Reese to work as GM on this team. Regardless of this draft, there is a distinct need for someone with a personnel background to handle GM duties in Buffalo. Sadly, I think they'll find a reason to retain the management structure for the forseeable future.

Not trying to be arrogant or sarcastic, but do you think Walker can hold up for an entire season working alone at LT? I honestly don't think so. Walker and Chambers will need help if required to play on an island as neither has the lateral mobility to adequately handle speed rushers. With Freeney, Peppers, and some rush LB's, it's going to be necessary to put a TE on the left and chip with the RB. If Walker was a solid LT, Oakland never would have let him hit the market. He's never played the position for more than those games you referred to.