Last Guy on the Bench Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) Bills Build Team in an Unusual Way The young Buffalo Bills are making a name for themselves. The recent success of their late round draft picks and undrafted free agents has put the team increasingly in the spotlight. Lost in the glare, however, is the Bills almost uncanny ability to find the occasional nugget of gold in the typical camp fodder of first and second round draft picks. General Manager Buddy Nix says that this is a direct result of a scouting philosophy that permeates the organization. Listen, Id love to have lots of seventh round picks every year, obviously. But thats not the way it works. You only get one. So you gotta look at everyone. Simple as that. You gotta look, no matter how high they are likely to be drafted. We try to put as much time into evaluating the first round as we do the seventh round. While the Bills may rely for the bulk of their roster on blue chip late-round picks like Ryan Fitzpatrick and Stevie Johnson and glamorous undrafted players like Fred Jackson, David Nelson, and Donald Jones, the front office isnt too proud to take a long look at the occasional first or second round pick who shows promise. Doug Whaley, the Bills recently appointed Director of Player Personnel, points to 2011 first round pick Marcell Dareus as evidence of the success of this philosophy: Its refreshing frankly to be in an organization like this, where every player gets a chance. Now we are not naïve. We realize that your typical first or second rounder isnt going to be good enough to play in this league. We know that a guy like a Maybin or a McCargo is pretty much the norm for a high rounder they are good in college, but, unlike your average late rounder or UDFA, they just dont have that extra gear you need in the NFL. Sometimes, though, with a high pick you can find a guy like a Whitner or a Poz - a guy who basically stinks and wont win you any Super Bowls, but can at least get on the field and contribute to keeping your margin of defeat a little lower. And if you keep your eyes open, every ten years or so, you might stumble onto a first rounder like Dareus who can actually play. Its one in a thousand, but you never know. Scouting and drafting is just one part of the equation, however. The coaching staff also has to be prepared to give top picks a legitimate chance to get on the field in training camp and preseason. Head Coach Chan Gailey says simply, The best guy plays. Period. Thats how we do it. Gailey tells all of his staff early in camp to make sure they do not spend too much time with their late rounders and UDFAs at the expense of higher drafted players. And he agrees that the Bills may have found a first round keeper this year. You have to keep an open mind. Take a guy like Marcell Dareus. Frankly, I never heard of him before he got here to camp. And as the 3rd pick in the whole draft, you really dont expect much. But even though he is big and fast and was a superstar at a major college, Buddy and his guys saw something in him that they liked and to their credit they were right. I remember the first week of camp saying man this guy is playing better than some of our 5th and 6th rounders. He made you sit up and notice. Edited September 22, 2011 by Last Guy on the Bench Please insert a link Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JCBoston Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Sometimes, though, with a high pick you can find a guy like a Whitner or a Poz - a guy who basically stinks and won’t win you any Super Bowls, but can at least get on the field and contribute to keeping your margin of defeat a little lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBill Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Please post the link to the article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Guy on the Bench Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Please post the link to the article. It's linkless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsFanM.D. Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 where is the article? All I see is two sentence's Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Tuesday Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 You've underachieved here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Guy on the Bench Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Beerball, dude, there is no link, because there is no copyright, because it is a joke, written by me, posted here. Might not be a good joke. But it is my joke, so can you put it back please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Beerball, dude, there is no link, because there is no copyright, because it is a joke, written by me, posted here. Might not be a good joke. But it is my joke, so can you put it back please? Sorry, no can do. Feel free to add what you want, but when your post title is "Interesting Article" these things happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Guy on the Bench Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Sorry, no can do. Feel free to add what you want, but when your post title is "Interesting Article" these things happen. What are you talking about? It's obvious from the first few sentences that it is not real. Just a little satire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 What are you talking about? It's obvious from the first few sentences that it is not real. Just a little satire. You got me at "Interesting Article on Bills' Draft Philosophy Some good quotes" I never went past the first sentence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Guy on the Bench Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) You got me at "Interesting Article on Bills' Draft Philosophy Some good quotes" I never went past the first sentence. Then you missed the whole point of the post. I'm not saying it was genius. Just that it was fair game in that anyone who bothered to read a little bit would know that it couldn't possibly be real. Just having a laugh. Anyway, don't want to argue. But can't agree with a moderating philosophy that doesn't even read the post. But you're the mod, so no worries. And in general, I do appreciate how well and fairly you guys moderate my favorite site. Just think you are wrong in this case. Edited September 22, 2011 by Last Guy on the Bench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBD Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Burn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 [This is an automated response] As a courtesy to the other board members, please use more descriptive subject lines. The topic starter can edit the subject line to make it more appropriate. Thank you. Feel better? This is is intended as a joke, nothing but a joke. Please do not be alarmed and do not lynch the closest moderator. This is only a joke. We now return you to your regularly scheduled Fred Jackson contract update talk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CSBill Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Joke? Ah, I still don't get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Guy on the Bench Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 [This is an automated response] As a courtesy to the other board members, please use more descriptive subject lines. The topic starter can edit the subject line to make it more appropriate. Thank you. Feel better? This is is intended as a joke, nothing but a joke. Please do not be alarmed and do not lynch the closest moderator. This is only a joke. We now return you to your regularly scheduled Fred Jackson contract update talk. Thank you, oh fair and compassionate Moderator. (Seriously.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvermike Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I think it's pretty funny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdnlng Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) What are you talking about? It's obvious from the first few sentences that it is not real. Just a very little satire. Fixed Edited September 22, 2011 by 3rdnlng Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayFinkle Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I think it's pretty funny. You and the last dude on the bench should go bowling together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBD Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Could you please supply a link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Guy on the Bench Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Could you please supply a link? No problem. http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors?eref=sihp&sct=hp_bf2_a2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Direhard Fan Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 This is why I love the site. Great article. Where did you find it?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozymandius Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Tough crowd. That was pretty good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Guy on the Bench Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Tough crowd. That was pretty good. Thanks. But I'll keep my day job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MavBavButav Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Tough crowd. That was pretty good. I agree. I thought it was good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_want_2_BILL_Lieve Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 (edited) No problem. http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors?eref=sihp&sct=hp_bf2_a2 Dammit!! I wish a bell or buzzer would go off on everybody's computer or smartphone every time somebody clicks on that. I'd just snicker ever time I heard it go off. Edited September 22, 2011 by I_want_2_BILL_Lieve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfaninvgs Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 No problem. http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors?eref=sihp&sct=hp_bf2_a2 I just laugh so hard everytime..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Guy on the Bench Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 I just laugh so hard everytime..... Me too. Somehow, unlike almost everything else in the world, it never gets old. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assquatch Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Dammit!! I wish a bell or buzzer would go off on everybody's computer or smartphone every time somebody clicks on that. I'd just snicker ever time I heard it go off. Reminds me of a story I heard years ago (may not be true or might be a scene from a movie for all I know) about a bar that had a poster of a naked man over the urinal in the (one person) men's room. There was some kind of flap covering the groin area of the man in the poster that would flash the lights in the bar (not the bathroom) whenever a curious customer lifted it to see what was underneath. All the regulars knew what that meant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozymandius Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Thanks. But I'll keep my day job. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you're a funny guy at all. It was just a nice effort there. On average, a message board poster will do worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EasternOHBillsFan Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 Doug Whaley, the Bills’ recently appointed Director of Player Personnel, points to 2011 first round pick Marcell Dareus as evidence of the success of this philosophy: “Sometimes, though, with a high pick you can find a guy like a Whitner or a Poz - a guy who basically stinks and won’t win you any Super Bowls, but can at least get on the field and contribute to keeping your margin of defeat a little lower." THAT'S what I'm talking about... finally some honesty as to where our talent level has been. I'm sad that Poz turned out to be just another great college-turned-NFL journeyman linebacker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last Guy on the Bench Posted September 22, 2011 Author Share Posted September 22, 2011 Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you're a funny guy at all. Glad we got that cleared up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker Posted September 22, 2011 Share Posted September 22, 2011 I think it's pretty funny. ...and more than a bit accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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