BuffaloRush Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) We will continue to take a look at the past General Managers in Buffalo and who was the most successful with the draft based on hits and misses. Today it's time to see how Russ Brandon did. If you recall Brandon was named "General Manager" after former GM Marv Levy quietly stepped aside. It is believed that while Brandon was involved in many football decision, the majority of GM duties (including the draft) fell to the competent trio of Tom Modrak (Draft), John Guy (Pro) and Richard "Dick" Jauron (A Bit of Everything). Here's the criteria I shared for defining a "hit" and a "miss" While this is very subjective, I am defining a "hit" as any player that reasonably performed at or above his draft status. As an example, a player like Paul Pozlusny becoming a solid starting LB as a 2nd round pick. A "miss" is the opposite - a player who performed under or well under their draft status. If you draft a player in the first round and they are a marginal starter, I am defining that as a miss. Like many of my polls, I think this will be very debated. Let's see how Russ did in two NFL Drafts Year Rnd Player Pick Pos To AP1 PB St CarAV G Cmp Att Yds TD Int Att Yds TD Rec Yds TD Int Sk College/Univ 2008 1 Leodis McKelvin 11 DB 2016 0 0 4 29 111 15 Troy 2008 2 James Hardy 41 WR 2009 0 0 0 1 16 10 96 2 Indiana 2008 3 Chris Ellis 72 DE 2010 0 0 0 2 15 1.0 Virginia Tech 2008 4 Reggie Corner 114 DB 2011 0 0 0 8 55 2 1.0 Akron 2008 4 Derek Fine 132 TE 2009 0 0 0 2 18 19 158 1 Kansas 2008 5 Alvin Bowen 147 LB 2010 0 0 0 0 2 Iowa St. 2008 6 Xavier Omon 179 RB 2009 0 0 0 0 7 11 27 0 0 0 0 NW Missouri St. 2008 7 Demetress Bell 219 T 2012 0 0 2 15 40 NW State (LA) 2008 7 Steve Johnson 224 WR 2015 0 0 5 33 99 2 16 0 381 4764 34 Kentucky 2008 7 Kennard Cox 251 DB 2014 0 0 0 2 29 0.5 Pittsburgh 2008 Draft = 2 Hits/8 Misses = Success Rate of 20% This was an unsuccessful draft in oh...so many ways. MISSES Yes Leodis McKelvin was a "miss." You can say that was an an "average NFL starter," but you NOT draft an "average NFL starter" with the 11th pick in the first round. I am sorry but Leodis never lived up to his draft status this was a miss. Speaking of miss - one of the most spectacular 2nd round busts in Bills history was James Hardy. This was an ill-advised pick based on a player's physical size which never materialized. The rest of the guy are non-factors...just a terrible brutal draft. HITS Old Russ did the 7th round right. First, I will give Demetrius Bell a very very very marginal thumbs up. He essentially was a 3 year starter for the Bills as a 7th round pick. I will call him a slightly "average NFL starter" which is good for a 7th round pick (not the 11th pick in the 1st round). Then there is Stevie Johnson. Say what you will, but Russ Brandon made arguably one of the greatest draft picks in Bills history. 2009 Draft 2009 1 Aaron Maybin 11 DE 2012 0 0 0 5 48 6.0 Penn St. 2009 1 Eric Wood 28 C 2017 0 1 9 47 120 Louisville 2009 2 Jairus Byrd 42 DB 2017 0 3 7 40 118 25 4.0 Oregon 2009 2 Andy Levitre 51 G 2017 0 0 9 55 141 Oregon St. 2009 4 Shawn Nelson 121 TE 2010 0 0 1 1 17 20 181 1 Southern Miss 2009 5 Nic Harris 147 LB 2010 0 0 0 5 30 1.5 Oklahoma 2009 6 Cary Harris 183 DB 2010 0 0 0 1 6 2 USC 2009 7 Ellis Lankster 220 DB 2014 0 0 0 5 49 2 1.0 West Virginia 2009 Draft 3 Hits/5 misses = 38% Yeah Russ whiffed BADLY on Aaron Maybin. Perhaps one of the worst draft picks in Bills history. But he did well in the rest of the 1st and 2nd round netting 3 Pro Bowl players who had decent careers in Buffalo. This draft will likely save his Hit to Miss ratio. So overall yes, Russ was a very bad GM...BUT thanks to 3 solid picks in 2009 his final score is 28% For those keeping score: Success Rate as GM: Russ Brandon: 28% Edited March 20, 2018 by BuffaloRush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Russ Brandon was even less GM than Marv. All these picks for both should be assessed as Tom Modrak's record as Bills GM. Between TD and Ole Buddy it was Modrak in charge. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 Right I don’t disagree. But the record shows that technically it was Russ Brandon who served as GM. As Russ would say frequently say “I own it.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
26CornerBlitz Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 4 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said: Right I don’t disagree. But the record shows that technically it was Russ Brandon who served as GM. As Russ would say frequently say “I own it.” Milli Vanilli were a great singing duo. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 (edited) 2 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said: Milli Vanilli were a great singing duo. Funny but it seems to be a trend that Bills GM’s are never the ones actually making the selections.... not just Marv and Russ but also with Buddy and Doug whaley....hmm wonder why that is in all seriousness it’s is documented that Milli Vanilli did not sing. You cannot find any documentation that Marv or Russ didn’t make these selections. It’s all rumor an innuendo. I deal in facts not rumors and innuendo Edited February 21, 2018 by BuffaloRush Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 1 minute ago, BuffaloRush said: in all seriousness it’s is documented that Milli Vanilli did not sing. You cannot find any documentation that Marv or Russ didn’t make these selections. It’s all rumor an innuendo. I deal in facts not rumors and innuendo No it isn't. Buddy and Doug made their picks. Did they take input from their coaches? Yes. And it wasn't like they were all powerful GMs with total control, but their names are on those picks at least until 2017 which was McDermott. Russ and Marv did not make picks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 1 minute ago, GunnerBill said: No it isn't. Buddy and Doug made their picks. Did they take input from their coaches? Yes. And it wasn't like they were all powerful GMs with total control, but their names are on those picks at least until 2017 which was McDermott. Russ and Marv did not make picks. Again that’s speculation. That’s all rumor and innuendo. Find me documentation that shows Marv and Russ did not make draft picks. Then we’ll talk. All that has been published is rumor and innuendo...no facts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kwai San Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Russ Brandon was the reason I stopped my season tixs.......he wasn't serious about putting a decent product on the field, I wasn't happy spending big bucks for my Kelly Club seats that kept escalating upwards......frankly I am surprised he even hit 20%......he was flat out awful. I always felt bad for Marv, he shoulda stayed home. Russ? I was NOT a fan of the man at all..... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 16 minutes ago, GunnerBill said: Russ Brandon was even less GM than Marv. All these picks for both should be assessed as Tom Modrak's record as Bills GM. Between TD and Ole Buddy it was Modrak in charge. ...once the egotistical control freak "El Presidente" Donohole was exposed in a collapse of the "Inner Circle of Trust", RW quickly turned to trusted confidants Brandon and Levy.....unfortunately "trust" won out and the era of "Patchwork Admin/FO" was born......Brandon was put into positions that he was unqualified for......"re-tiring" Marv with redline radials did nothing as he was past his football prime......subsequent, even Buddy was past his prime and didn't get new tires......letting Modrak telecommute from Florida always bothered me but perhaps not others......sure scouting staff is logistically placed all over the country but not my Top Dawg........17 years is a pretty good indicator of a failed recipe....would anybody feel comfortable if Beane kept his home in NC and "logged in daily" as the Bills GM ala Modrak?.....BTW, he bought a house in July 2017, two months after hire in Orchard Park for $1.15 mil.....so he's "on-site"......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 25 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said: Again that’s speculation. That’s all rumor and innuendo. Find me documentation that shows Marv and Russ did not make draft picks. Then we’ll talk. All that has been published is rumor and innuendo...no facts You aren’t going to find it published. I can tell you with certainty that it is 100% fact. Modrak owned the drafts from Donahoe to Nix. If you were to sit down with anyone from the football ops during that time period they will confirm it. In fact, they will probably laugh at the notion that someone actually thought Marv or Russ was making draft decisions. Again, you can believe it or not but it isn’t rumor or innuendo. It’s truth. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cd1 Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 39 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said: 39 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said: Again that’s speculation. That’s all rumor and innuendo. Find me documentation that shows Marv and Russ did not make draft picks. Then we’ll talk. All that has been published is rumor and innuendo...no facts Funny, The same exact words could be used to you. PLEASE show us the FACTS - LINKS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 13 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said: You aren’t going to find it published. I can tell you with certainty that it is 100% fact. Modrak owned the drafts from Donahoe to Nix. If you were to sit down with anyone from the football ops during that time period they will confirm it. In fact, they will probably laugh at the notion that someone actually thought Marv or Russ was making draft decisions. Again, you can believe it or not but it isn’t rumor or innuendo. It’s truth. ...not sure why anyone would doubt Modrak's horsepower having been the VP of College Scouting at OBD for ten years.......he and his staff did the grunt work and assume he had major input.....BUT...we'll never know.....maybe "Past His Prime" Marv and "Unqualified" Russ made the FINAL decisions.....PLENTY of blame to spread around for the 17 year drought.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenhigh Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 I feel like Hardy was the consensus #2 pick around here. Just looked back at that whole draft, what a clunker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 19 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said: You aren’t going to find it published. I can tell you with certainty that it is 100% fact. Modrak owned the drafts from Donahoe to Nix. If you were to sit down with anyone from the football ops during that time period they will confirm it. In fact, they will probably laugh at the notion that someone actually thought Marv or Russ was making draft decisions. Again, you can believe it or not but it isn’t rumor or innuendo. It’s truth. That would not surprise me. But I’m saying all that we know FOR SURE...FOR SURE...is that Marv and Russ were the GMs during this time period. Fans on TBD and the internet speculate. It’s what makes Pro sports fun as a fan. But some of the speculation is inaccurate. We don’t know for sure what went down 25 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said: You aren’t going to find it published. I can tell you with certainty that it is 100% fact. Modrak owned the drafts from Donahoe to Nix. If you were to sit down with anyone from the football ops during that time period they will confirm it. In fact, they will probably laugh at the notion that someone actually thought Marv or Russ was making draft decisions. Again, you can believe it or not but it isn’t rumor or innuendo. It’s truth. 15 minutes ago, cd1 said: PLEASE show us the FACTS - LINKS Chalk one up for the GOOD GUYS: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d805a31ac/article/levy-to-resign-as-bills-gm Levy's role as GM was relatively undefined, although he provided input on the team's draft and personnel decisions, consulted with Jauron and stayed in close contact with Wilson, who lives in suburban Detroit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fadingpain Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Going back in time and revisiting this stuff has me shaken to my core! What a freaking tire fire this place was and for quite a long time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Don't you see BuffaloRush that undermines your position. A GM who "provides input" is not the GM in anything but name only. Don't take my word for it take the league's.... in order for a team to be required to let a guy interview for a GM job the job he is interviewing for must have personnel control.... not personnel "input". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 48 minutes ago, OldTimeAFLGuy said: ...once the egotistical control freak "El Presidente" Donohole was exposed in a collapse of the "Inner Circle of Trust", RW quickly turned to trusted confidants Brandon and Levy.....unfortunately "trust" won out and the era of "Patchwork Admin/FO" was born......Brandon was put into positions that he was unqualified for......"re-tiring" Marv with redline radials did nothing as he was past his football prime......subsequent, even Buddy was past his prime and didn't get new tires......letting Modrak telecommute from Florida always bothered me but perhaps not others......sure scouting staff is logistically placed all over the country but not my Top Dawg........17 years is a pretty good indicator of a failed recipe....would anybody feel comfortable if Beane kept his home in NC and "logged in daily" as the Bills GM ala Modrak?.....BTW, he bought a house in July 2017, two months after hire in Orchard Park for $1.15 mil.....so he's "on-site"......... Fans don’t want to accept or acknowledge it but Ralph really hurt the Bills following Donahoe’s firing. So many poor decisions 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunnerBill Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Just now, BuffaloRush said: Fans don’t want to accept or acknowledge it but Ralph really hurt the Bills following Donahoe’s firing. So many poor decisions Oh I think we do acknowledge that. 100% we do. Not having a proper GM and letting Modrak run the personnel department from home with no accountability being the biggest one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldTimeAFLGuy Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 8 minutes ago, Tenhigh said: I feel like Hardy was the consensus #2 pick around here. Just looked back at that whole draft, what a clunker. ...maybe the same physicality trait first that led them to EJ....think Hardy was 6'5"........or how about Jeff George and his cannon arm?.......or the Seahawks taking Dan McQuire at 16 in 1991 (Mark's little brother) because he was a 6'8" QB?.......pretty endless list.............of flops...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloRush Posted February 21, 2018 Author Share Posted February 21, 2018 1 minute ago, GunnerBill said: Don't you see BuffaloRush that undermines your position. A GM who "provides input" is not the GM in anything but name only. Don't take my word for it take the league's.... in order for a team to be required to let a guy interview for a GM job the job he is interviewing for must have personnel control.... not personnel "input". Maybe so. We’ll never know the full extent but either way I feel it’s fair to give credit/criticism to the men that held the title of GM during the drafts. Whether they made the selections themselves or not Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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