LB Kuechly and QB Osweiler at One Bills Drive today.

[Lurker]

Crazy good instincts and a nose for sniffing out the ball.

Depends on where you make the tackle--at the LOS or five yards downfield. London Fletcher was a tackling machine, but not too many people ever considered him a differece maker...

Edited April 18, 2012 by Lurker

[Lurker]

They wouldn't want to take a look at Riley Reiff, the likely top rated available player (consensus-wise) at the biggest position of need?

 

It's entirely possible that the Bills are not going to draft Floyd. To me, however, considering that reality of what he did to get the character issue status, it would far more likely to bring him in and talk to him to see if it is an issue than it would be to just take him off their consideration list because of it.

 

Maybe there is other stuff we don't know about. But I think the Bills will still very strongly consider Michael Floyd as well as Riley Reiff in the draft as possible #10 selections.

I wonder if Buddy questions the level of competition those guys have faced. We know he's clearly biased toward the SEC, but maybe he's just not that impressed with the Big Ten or ND's 2010 or 2011 strength of schedule...

[Kelly the Dog]

I wonder if Buddy questions the level of competition those guys have faced. We know he's clearly biased toward the SEC, but maybe he's just not that impressed with the Big Ten or ND's 2010 or 2011 strength of schedule...

He brought in Keuchly, Mike Adams, Jonathan Martin, and Kalil... all of which would be considered at #10 and faced equivalent competition.

[NickelCity]

I like Kuechly, but am worried a bit by his speed. I hope his instincts overcome this perceived deficiency, should we draft him. I would be happy with this pick.

 

Floyd's interviews make me uneasy.

[Shoutbox]

OH MY GOD, A COLLEGE KID GETTING CAUGHT FOR UNDERAGE DRINKING. WHAT IS THIS WORLD COMING TO?

95% of college freshman are under 21 and I would be willing to bet that a very good percentage of them are out drinking regularly during their freshman year. The drinking age should be 18. If you are old enough to vote and old enough to die for your country, you are old enough to drink cheap beer and dollar drinks.

Seriously, I could care less about this issue with regard to Floyd. The Bills will do their due diligence. If they interview him and research him and decide that alcohol is not an issue for him and they decide to take him, that is fine with me. (and just a reminder, the greatest players in the history of our team (kelly, reed, bennett, talley, smith, etc) liked to indulge every now and again)

 

Let's be clear: Floyd wasn't just caught for underage drinking. He was ARRESTED for alcohol-related offenses THREE times, one of which was a DUI and another was a fight.

 

Personally, I believe in giving people extra chances in life, especially when the mistakes they make are while young. However, I am also not in the business of giving multimillion dollar contracts and risking my own job security on the decision-making maturity of 21-year-olds. I'm not being some uptight teetotaller here; I'm just trying to understand why Nix wouldn't give such a high-profile player at a position of need an interview.

[Lurker]

He brought in Keuchly, Mike Adams, Jonathan Martin, and Kalil... all of which would be considered at #10 and faced equivalent competition.

Kalil is clearly a top 5 guy, irrespective of competition. I wonder about Keuchly but give him the benefit of the doubt due to his measureables. Martin and Adams look like guys who could slide to the lower half of Round 1 or (in Adams case) be available at 2.

 

Something about Reiff and Floyd bugs me. They seem to be locked in to their 10-15 rankings and almost have a press machine vibe going.

[r00tabaga]

Let's be clear: Floyd wasn't just caught for underage drinking. He was ARRESTED for alcohol-related offenses THREE times, one of which was a DUI and another was a fight.

 

Personally, I believe in giving people extra chances in life, especially when the mistakes they make are while young. However, I am also not in the business of giving multimillion dollar contracts and risking my own job security on the decision-making maturity of 21-year-olds. I'm not being some uptight teetotaller here; I'm just trying to understand why Nix wouldn't give such a high-profile player at a position of need an interview.

^ ^ ^

This.

 

 

I hope for a trade down, but if not...Kuechly, Gilmore or Glenn

[Kelly the Dog]

I'm not being some uptight teetotaller here; I'm just trying to understand why Nix wouldn't give such a high-profile player at a position of need an interview.

Precisely my thinking. And after thinking about it, there are only two possible conclusions. He already determined that Floyd is off his board completely -- OR -- the alcohol related issues have already been discussed and dissected by the Bills and Nix doesn't think they prohibit his selection.

 

To me, the second choice is more likely than the first, considering the time since the incidents occurred and the actions Floyd has taken. If there were questions of whether Floyd had matured, they would have brought him in. To me, they already talked to him, and they interviewed people in ND and they already know what they need to know about the off the field issues. That is just conjecture though.

[PIZ]

Does anyone have the pre-draft list from last year, or the last 2 years? It would be interesting to see how many guys on these lists were actually drafted by the Bills.

[Kelly the Dog]

Another reason that Kuechly could very well be the pick. Nix likes versatility and this confirms it. Having a guy like that saves a roster spot for another position.

Bills GM Buddy Nix, commented on Boston College LB Luke Kuechly, who is visiting 1 Bills Drive on a pre-draft visit today.

 

Nix was asked if Kuechly is more than just a middle linebacker.

 

“He could play all three (LB spots) for us,” said Nix.

 

The Bills GM also said that the strong side and weak side linebacker positions in Buffalo’s 4-3 defense are relatively similar in terms of skill set.

 

[Billsrhody]

I like Kuechly, but am worried a bit by his speed. I hope his instincts overcome this perceived deficiency, should we draft him. I would be happy with this pick.

 

Floyd's interviews make me uneasy.

 

Kuechly is actually very fast as a linebacker. He was 3rd at the combine this year with a 4.58. For comparison, Rob Grownkowski ran a 4.68 at the combine.

[Billshank Redemption]

Love how everyone proceeds to jump the floyd bandwagon now. He had his problems he's been great since. To me I will truly be disappointed with any other pick at 10. He fills a major need, he's a great player/value, and he could really give us quality depth at w.r

[Wayne Cubed]

@buffalobills: Nix: 'We feel Chris Hairston can play LT for us. But we have 3 tackles on the roster. That's not enough. We need to pick-up someone'

 

Makes me think LT might not be first pick...

 

@buffalobills: Nix: 'We have some speed guys (at WR) but they're unproven. We want another guy & we think it'll help Stevie Johnson's production a lot.'

[1billsfan]

Precisely my thinking. And after thinking about it, there are only two possible conclusions. He already determined that Floyd is off his board completely -- OR -- the alcohol related issues have already been discussed and dissected by the Bills and Nix doesn't think they prohibit his selection.

 

To me, the second choice is more likely than the first, considering the time since the incidents occurred and the actions Floyd has taken. If there were questions of whether Floyd had matured, they would have brought him in. To me, they already talked to him, and they interviewed people in ND and they already know what they need to know about the off the field issues. That is just conjecture though.

 

 

This line of thinking really doesn't wash though because the Bills brought in Spiller and Dareus for pre-draft visits. Why would they not bring in Floyd who's had three arrests?

 

The only conclusion is that they they have no intention of drafting him. There are two probable reasons for this...character concerns or he simply isn't the deep "home run" threat they're looking for opposite Johnson.

[Cash]

@buffalobills: Nix: 'We feel Chris Hairston can play LT for us. But we have 3 tackles on the roster. That's not enough. We need to pick-up someone'

 

Makes me think LT might not be first pick...

 

@buffalobills: Nix: 'We have some speed guys (at WR) but they're unproven. We want another guy & we think it'll help Stevie Johnson's production a lot.'

Here's the full quote:

 

“We need tackles, but we think Chris Hairston can play left tackle for us and win,” said Nix. ”People say Fitz gets the ball out quick, but we run our offense with a lot of empty sets, with five blockers and if they bring six he better get it out. In this offense he has to get it out quick. Chris Hairston might not be the prettiest foot athlete that he can protect the back side. We’ve got Pears and Sam Young is coming off of knee surgery. So we’ve only got three. We’d like to have two more.”

 

Definitely no guarantee of going OT at #10, but this isn't the first time Nix has said they want two more tackles.

[Billsrhody]

Love how everyone proceeds to jump the floyd bandwagon now. He had his problems he's been great since. To me I will truly be disappointed with any other pick at 10. He fills a major need, he's a great player/value, and he could really give us quality depth at w.r

 

So you aren't disappointed, I hope that Floyd comes off the board before the bills pick. Its time to start thinking about Marcus Easley again!

[Florida Gator 14]

I would love nothing more than to see these two in a Bills uniform this season. Kuechly is going to be a stud, and everything I've seen on Osweiler (game film, interviews, etc) makes me believe he is the perfect Qb to take the reins from Fitz in a couple of seasons!! Lets make it happen, Buddy!!

[BEAST MODE BABY!]

Love how everyone proceeds to jump the floyd bandwagon now. He had his problems he's been great since. To me I will truly be disappointed with any other pick at 10. He fills a major need, he's a great player/value, and he could really give us quality depth at w.r

 

I don't think people are jumping the Floyd bandwagon. I, for one, like him. I think people are just trying to figure out what Buddy is going to do. And now people are thinking it could be Kuechly.

Edited April 18, 2012 by BEAST MODE BABY!

[mattsox]

Kuechly is still my sleeper pick. He'd soldify our front seven for sure. Otherwise I like zach brown in the second round. His coverage ability would be huge when to play gronkowski and hernandez.

 

Agreed. We need a solid LB. This guy might be that guy!

[NoSaint]

It says that Kuechly and Osweiler were the last of the visits to One Bills Drive which means there is zero chance the Bills are considering picking Floyd. It tells me he's officially off their board.

 

Whether it's the character issues or if they just don't feel that he's the deep threat they want opposite Johnson, I think any talk of the Bills picking Floyd is folly from this point forward.

 

I get that it could be a sign but some posters confidence in this is amazing. I'd be curious the reaction if they do pick him. Could be he blew them away at the combine, that they had a solid book on him already, aren't tipping their hands etc.... A couple hours one afternoon shouldn't mean thaaaat much.