Why do the Bills change all O-Line positions

[VirginiaMike]

I find it rather odd that the Bills, great talent evaluaters that they have become, find it necessary to draft a collect O-lineman who excelled at one position in college and make them play somewhere else with the Bills. Wood was a center, guard witht he Bills, Levitre was a tackle, guard with the Bills, Wang a tackle now practicing at guard. I'm guessing had we drafted Mangold we would have made him a guard. It makes no sense to me.

[plenzmd1]

I find it rather odd that the Bills, great talent evaluaters that they have become, find it necessary to draft a collect O-lineman who excelled at one position in college and make them play somewhere else with the Bills. Wood was a center, guard witht he Bills, Levitre was a tackle, guard with the Bills, Wang a tackle now practicing at guard. I'm guessing had we drafted Mangold we would have made him a guard. It makes no sense to me.

seems like we do that with more than just the 0-line, we do it all over the field. And I , like you, am stumped by it as well.

[Another Point of View]

A college team collects the biggest badest dudes they can find and depending on team needs move these guys around. A college running team requires power up the middle and speed Tackles for sweeps and protection.

 

The Pros are a different story and the over all speed of the game dictates how you use players.

 

Way to complicated to discuss in one thread.

Edited October 19, 2010 by Another Point of View

[VirginiaMike]

A college team collects the biggest badest dudes they can find and depending on team needs move these guys around. A college running team requires power up the middle and speed Tackles for sweeps and protection.

 

The Pros are a different story and the over all speed of the game dictates how you use players.

 

Way to complicated to discuss in one thread.

 

Maybe so, but it seems like that some of our best O-linemen of the past have maintained positions -- Ruben Brown, Kent Hull, Reggie McKenzie... We did hit a homer with Jason Peters, but that seems to be an exception.

[Ghost of Rob Johnson]

Maybe so, but it seems like that some of our best O-linemen of the past have maintained positions -- Ruben Brown, Kent Hull, Reggie McKenzie... We did hit a homer with Jason Peters, but that seems to be an exception.

Ruben played tackle at Pitt.

[DreReed83]

I find it rather odd that the Bills, great talent evaluaters that they have become, find it necessary to draft a collect O-lineman who excelled at one position in college and make them play somewhere else with the Bills. Wood was a center, guard witht he Bills, Levitre was a tackle, guard with the Bills, Wang a tackle now practicing at guard. I'm guessing had we drafted Mangold we would have made him a guard. It makes no sense to me.

 

The same way the Bears moved Urlacher from safety to LB. the same way they move LB's to DE's and DE's to OLB's. The same way the Steelers move Hines Ward who played QB to WR. The same way the Steelers moved Antwan Randle El from QB to WR. The same way the Patriots moved Julian Edelman from QB to WR. The same way the Browns moved Josh Cribbs from QB to WR. The same way the Jets moved Brad Smith from QB to WR.

 

Teams do it ALL the time. So what's the point you're trying to make? You talk as if we're the only team that does this.

Edited October 19, 2010 by DreReed83

[The Big Cat]

We also haven't drafted any lineman with skill so specific that they're commodities in the first 1-3 rounds.

 

Those we have (Wood and Levitre) have, for the most part, stayed put.

[Van_phelaN1]

A college team collects the biggest badest dudes they can find and depending on team needs move these guys around. A college running team requires power up the middle and speed Tackles for sweeps and protection.

 

The Pros are a different story and the over all speed of the game dictates how you use players.

 

Way to complicated to discuss in one thread.

 

Almost as complicated as understanding the difference between "too" and "to"

[1billsfan]

It's a mystery as to why Wood is not being made our center for the next 10 years. I see him as Kent Hull 2.0.

[VABills]

We also haven't drafted any lineman with skill so specific that they're commodities in the first 1-3 rounds.

 

Those we have (Wood and Levitre) have, for the most part, stayed put.

 

Levitre played tackle in college.

 

Wood played center in college.

Edited October 19, 2010 by VABills

[The Big Cat]

Levitre played tackle in college.

 

Wood played center in college.

 

Right, and the transition for Wood wasn't a huge leap, and Levitre was touted as an interior lineman going into the draft.

 

You're not wrong, Walter, you're just an !@#$.

[In-A-Gadda-Levitre]

I find it rather odd that the Bills, great talent evaluaters that they have become, find it necessary to draft a collect O-lineman who excelled at one position in college and make them play somewhere else with the Bills. Wood was a center, guard witht he Bills, Levitre was a tackle, guard with the Bills, Wang a tackle now practicing at guard. I'm guessing had we drafted Mangold we would have made him a guard. It makes no sense to me.

IMO, it's less about changing their natural position and grooming them to play multiple roles on the line, in case they're needed.

[VABills]

Right, and the transition for Wood wasn't a huge leap, and Levitre was touted as an interior lineman going into the draft.

 

You're not wrong, Walter, you're just an !@#$.

The OP wanted to know why we keep switching position. I am right and you are the idiot.

 

Levitre was a tackle in college and why he actually was able to move back to tackle and play it effectively at the end of last season. Wood was a center in college and there is a huge difference between center and guard.

Edited October 19, 2010 by VABills

[cvanvol]

The OP wanted to know why we keep switching position. I am right and you are the idiot.

 

Levitre was a tackle in college and why he actually was able to move back to tackle and play it effectively at the end of last season. Wood was a center in college and there is a huge difference between center and guard.

 

 

There is a huge difference?? Wood was touted as an interior lineman he also played tackle and guard in high school. Every scouting service said he could play any poition along the line.

[DanInUticaTampa]

Another thing about Wood is, he is still coming off a nastey injury and he can't even play a whole game and he hasn't play all that well since the injury.... so I don't know what all this talk about moving him around when the guy is struggleing out on the field and trying to get healthy. Can we at least let the guy get healthy and playing well again before we move him around again.

 

Not to mention have a stud RG has been more important than having a stud C. And hangartner has actually been playing better than wood this season, because wood is still nursing that leg.... so you people are crazy for wanting to move him to center when the guy can't even finish a game.

[The Big Cat]

I am right and you are the idiot.

 

Nice life, tough guy.

 

[Mark Long Beach]

Wood played a different line position in college, but he hasn't moved around since he's been here at Buffalo.

 

Changing positions is pretty standard fare as players move up in competition. This is due to both increased competition at each position and different needs of teams at the higher levels. Lots of tackles in college are put there because they are the strongest and fastest lineman the team has, but in the pros their speed and size is typically not large/fast enough to handle the pro players so they get moved into guard. It's also easier to help guards so that position is often a starting point for young players (like tackles) to get some playing time on the field. As they gain experience, strength and technique then they get moved to positions of greater responsibility like tackle (or center).

 

Not to mention have a stud RG has been more important than having a stud C. And hangartner has actually been playing better than wood this season, because wood is still nursing that leg.... so you people are crazy for wanting to move him to center when the guy can't even finish a game.

 

Also very true. Wood hasn't completely come back from his injury and has struggled this season. But has been our best RG.

[VirginiaMike]

We also haven't drafted any lineman with skill so specific that they're commodities in the first 1-3 rounds.

 

Those we have (Wood and Levitre) have, for the most part, stayed put.

 

Wood was a center in college and Levitre a tackle -- both ar enow guards. With such a lack of talent at tackle why do we have Wang working at guard -- does that signal a move of Wood to center?

[DanInUticaTampa]

Wood was a center in college and Levitre a tackle -- both ar enow guards. With such a lack of talent at tackle why do we have Wang working at guard

 

Because they want Wang to know both positions. He is already a backup tackle. Now he is the backup T/G. Him knowing both positions makes him more useful. Training him at 2 positions makes him more valuable for depth.

 

 

-- does that signal a move of Wood to center?

 

No. Can we please let wood get healthy before we force him into a new position? "yeah, we know you are nursing a broken leg, are struggeling out there, and you can't even play a whole game... but you mind learning a starting in a position you never started in the nfl? It seems like a good time for you to learn, with your injury and all...."

 

 

Good grief. The switching Wood to Center right now is just ridiculous.

[Gabe Northern]

I find it rather odd that the Bills, great talent evaluaters that they have become, find it necessary to draft a collect O-lineman who excelled at one position in college and make them play somewhere else with the Bills. Wood was a center, guard witht he Bills, Levitre was a tackle, guard with the Bills, Wang a tackle now practicing at guard. I'm guessing had we drafted Mangold we would have made him a guard. It makes no sense to me.

 

This is a recurring problem with Tom Modrak. He and his team rate players based on their specific skill sets and then "project" where those skills would best be used at the NFL level.

 

Arthur Moats was clearly a perfect fit for OLB, yet Modrak and the scouts had him at ILB until the coaching staff realized it made no sense.