Rd 3, Pick 89 (25): LB Terrell Bernard, Baylor

[Kmart128]

25 minutes ago, Magox said:

Matt Milano coming out of college:

 

6 foot half inch

223 lbs

4.67 40 time

last two seasons in college 13 sacks 118 tackles

 

Terrell Bernard:

 

6 foot 3/4 of an inch

222 lbs

4.59 40 time

last two seasons 11 sacks and 158 tackles

 

Terrell will easily gain 5-10 lbs without giving up anything athletically

 

 

Perspective

 

 

I don't think we want him to gain weight. I think he is gonna be our Big nickle rather than a usual Linebacker. We are gonna use him to cover TEs. He will be likely be rotating with Taron Johnson. If teams go WR heavy then Taron will be in field but if a team goes TE heavy we need someone bigger to be able to cover and i think thats where Bernard rotates in. 

[Brother Hesekiah]

Question for the draft experts here who don't like the pick: what makes Bernard so much different from the athletic but undersized LB prospect Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah from last year? I think a lot of people would have been thrilled with getting in the 3rd round (he went in the 2nd).

 

Is it me or is name recognition the biggest difference?

[jkeerie]

Just now, OldTimer1960 said:

True, but it isn’t that most anyone they picked would sit behind someone for a time, my concern is that it is a stretch to see him ever developing into more than a sub-package coverage guy and special teamer.  I realize that there is only about a 25% chance of finding an eventual starter that late in round 3.

When you look at our current roster, you ask yourself, who you would sit?  So at LB, you are looking at a backup.  Plus I have so much faith in our coaching and training staff to develop these players.  Beane said that they look for football "traits" in these players.  You can't coach those.  They want instinctive football players on defense and Bernard fits that.  So does Elam.  

[Hapless Bills Fan]

7 hours ago, BADOLBILZ said:

Nah,  Kiper is actually quite good.

 

Is he though? 

 

I've tried to find his past "big board" to compare to how players actually worked out, and couldn't. Maybe they're available on some paywall site? 

 

What is Kiper's success percentage (let's say, players he listed in the first 3 rounds turning into capable NFL players within 3 years, which is a pretty low bar)

[NastyNateSoldiers]

10 hours ago, blacklabel said:

Dude certainly checks a lot of the boxes for them, experience, character, leadership, productive, etc. It doesn’t appear to be the most popular pick but I’m gonna wait and see how they utilize the guy and how they coach him up and all that. Again, BBB gets the benefit of the doubt from me, way more hits than misses. It ain’t exactly the Cadillac of prospect groups for this year either so…

I would of loved this Pk in the 5th 

[4BillsintheBurgh]

18 minutes ago, LEBills said:

We knew hey were going to draft a LB bc all the sniffing around they did pre-draft. He has some talent. Backup off ball LB (we played 2 LBs 90% of the time last year) in the 3rd is just not the best asset allocation is all.

When I first saw it I thought Lorenzo Alexander replacement. Just a jack of all trades guy with good instincts and character. Plus it seems like they see him backing up both spots, I don't think they see him as just a backup, he's  another piece to make the defense more multiple.i assume they saw something in the kc game where they could use him. Maybe they think he is a better match up on Kelce?

Edited April 30, 2022 by 4BillsintheBurgh

[Roundybout]

 

[Mr. WEO]

10 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

 

 

If he play this tail off, he'll be under 200lbs.

[BUFFALOTONE]

10 hours ago, Process said:

 

That’s awesome 

[BADOLBILZ]

9 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Is he though? 

 

I've tried to find his past "big board" to compare to how players actually worked out, and couldn't. Maybe they're available on some paywall site? 

 

What is Kiper's success percentage (let's say, players he listed in the first 3 rounds turning into capable NFL players within 3 years, which is a pretty low bar)

 

There are multiple ways to judge a drafnik's takes...........team/pick accuracy,  draft board v where picked,  player performance...........and even then there is always the aspect of whether the player ended up in a good place to develop(which we are going to have to hope is the saving grace of this seemingly poor value draft by the Bills so far).

 

I've seen analysis done where Kiper ranks surprisingly well but the burden of such proof falls on the person who first declares the opposite.     That's something I could spend an hour on and get a "pffft" as a response.   Serves the board better to point out his adamant defense of the Josh Allen pick against all comers.

[vincec]

10 hours ago, PetermansRedemption said:

People need to remember that a lot of these ESPN scouts are ESPN scouts for a reason. If these guys were good at evaluating talent they would be making a hell of a lot more money working for an nfl team. 

The average salary of an NFL scout is $45k to $95k per year. Mel Kiper makes over $400k per year.

[Arkady Renko]

I hope they didn't catch McVay laughing at this pick.  

[Mojo44]

The guy’s athletic measurables are top tier. His intangibles are top-tier. In college all he did was make plays. What’s the problem with so many of you? And the pick was made by, arguably, the best GM in the league, not the coach!

[thenorthremembers]

Gotta fill out the roster.  People are forgetting that we dont need a 3rd round pick to "start off the bus" anymore.

 

If the guy can play outside where Klein was and become a ST Ace where we dont have to sign Taiwan Jones and Matakevich type players who give you nothing outside of teams, than I say its a great pick.  If he doesnt pan out he will be like 60% of draft picks.  Its all a crap shoot but I am going to go ahead and trust our front office, theyve earned that from me.   Even if Joe Marino hates the pick.

 

 

[elijah]

11 hours ago, IronMaidenBills said:

We need a S replacement likely soon, and we pass on Nick Cross? That’s a head scratcher. 

Only saw the highlights shown on TV last night and haven’t done much research, but between the highlights, measurables and his testing, it seems like this guy might be in the safety replacement conversation 

[Sharky7337]

This pick is the admission of Edmunds pick being an error. He's the polar opposite.

 

He has all the instincts and less of the physical wow.

 

The bills by picking him are admitting that instincts are more important then physical traits if its close.

 

Think about what he said. " he will be teaching the defense in short order"

 

Bills linebackers are the leaders of thr defense.

 

Maybe they convert him to safety but it's looking more like Edmunds may be out.

 

Edited April 30, 2022 by Sharky7337

[Straight Hucklebuck]

Pretty much all these third round linebackers are the same sort of build - 6’0 - 6’1” 220-230 pounds.

 

He was productive and is athletic.

 

The run on WRs was disappointing in the 2nd, especially KC getting Sky Moore, leading us to draft a part-time RB.

 

The WR grades are off a cliff at this point. Now get back up OLine, CB, S.

 

The WR idea vanished before our eyes. 

[PauleeeWalnuts]

1 hour ago, BTB said:

Up to the coaches to figure out how to use him?  Huh? 

Yeah def not very convincing this was a “want” pick 

[OldTimer1960]

46 minutes ago, Brother Hesekiah said:

Question for the draft experts here who don't like the pick: what makes Bernard so much different from the athletic but undersized LB prospect Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah from last year? I think a lot of people would have been thrilled with getting in the 3rd round (he went in the 2nd).

 

Is it me or is name recognition the biggest difference?

Owuso-koramoah is quicker as evidenced by his much better 3-cone and shuttle times vs Bernard.

[thunderingsquid]

Backup for Milano and STer yes.

 

[Brother Hesekiah]

2 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

Owuso-koramoah is quicker as evidenced by his much better 3-cone and shuttle times vs Bernard.

Owuso-Koromoah had a RAS score of 8.71. Bernard had a slightly higher RAS score of 8.87. We can split hairs on athletic measurables all day.  They're both undersized, rangy LBs with a nose for making plays. But one went to Notre Dame and got talked up in several mock drafts in the months leading up to the draft. 

[Magox]

5 minutes ago, OldTimer1960 said:

Owuso-koramoah is quicker as evidenced by his much better 3-cone and shuttle times vs Bernard.

I wouldn’t call it much better.  
 

According to the RAS rankings they are both “elite” at the 3 cone and shuttle time 

[4merper4mer]

48 minutes ago, NastyNateSoldiers said:

I would of loved this Pk in the 5th 

I would have taken this opinion seriously but something is telling me I shouldn’t.

1 minute ago, Magox said:

I wouldn’t call it much better.  
 

According to the RAS rankings they are both “elite” at the 3 cone and shuttle time 

Maybe the other guy is eliter.

[Magox]

Just now, 4merper4mer said:

I would have taken this opinion seriously but something is telling me I shouldn’t.

Maybe the other guy is eliter.

He has better scores but Bernard’s are around the top 10 percentile.  It’s certainly an area of strength for him.

[4merper4mer]

1 minute ago, Magox said:

He has better scores but Bernard’s are around the top 10 percentile.  It’s certainly an area of strength for him.

I just wanted to use the “word” eliter.

[Magox]

59 minutes ago, Kmart128 said:

 

I don't think we want him to gain weight. I think he is gonna be our Big nickle rather than a usual Linebacker. We are gonna use him to cover TEs. He will be likely be rotating with Taron Johnson. If teams go WR heavy then Taron will be in field but if a team goes TE heavy we need someone bigger to be able to cover and i think thats where Bernard rotates in. 

 

Maybe, maybe not.   If you heard what Brandon said about him it appears they aren’t sure yet either.    
 

They like his production, blitzing ability, leadership and athleticism.   They’ll most likely use him initially on special teams and just see how his body of work and athleticism fits in to what they are trying to do and just kind of figure it out as they go on how to best use him.

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

5 minutes ago, 4merper4mer said:

Maybe the other guy is eliter.

No, maybe he's a quart.  CFL uses the metric system.

[machine gun kelly]

I wrote in another thread, but should’ve written here is the PFF guys do a weekend show on NFLR, that Bernard is more a dime defense secondary type dude meant for the running teams and heavy TE teams.  I thought it was interesting take.  As an aside they raved about our 1st and 2nd round picks.  I’m not used to PFF guys speaking this highly of the Bills.

[Beast]

Pro Football Focus on Sirius XM just stated Bernard is one of the most dynamic LB's in this draft. The Bills don't have many snaps to hand out to rookies but believe Bernard will get snaps on obvious passing downs because of his coverage skills.

[Rocket94]

10 hours ago, Shaw66 said:

I agree. McBeane didn't take this guy without having a vision for him.  He's a playmaker, and McDermott will find ways for him to make plays. 

Another great example of how a player evolves and how he is found. Someone mentioned that Beane is friends with Baylor coach Dave Aranda. How sometimes a missing piece may be under the radar.

[Airseven]

14 minutes ago, Magox said:

 

Maybe, maybe not.   If you heard what Brandon said about him it appears they aren’t sure yet either.    
 

They like his production, blitzing ability, leadership and athleticism.   They’ll most likely use him initially on special teams and just see how his body of work and athleticism fits in to what they are trying to do and just kind of figure it out as they go on how to best use him.

That is exactly what you don’t want to hear about a third round pick. It reads like a fifth round prospect unfortunately.

Edited April 30, 2022 by Airseven

[Mopreme]

3 minutes ago, Beast said:

Pro Football Focus on Sirius XM just stated Bernard is one of the most dynamic LB's in this draft. The Bills don't have many snaps to hand out to rookies but believe Bernard will get snaps on obvious passing downs because of his coverage skills.

I think most people don’t have an issue with the player. Seems to fit a need and has nice skill set.  I think the issue is that they (including me) aren’t thrilled on picking him in the third. I, for example, was pounding the table for the guard from Memphis who ironically was taken a pick later by the Raiders.   I also liked the safety from Maryland.  

[Rocket94]

10 hours ago, MasterStrategist said:

Wait a minute....so round 1 an athletic corner, with man/zone press skills and recovery speed.

 

Then now this is round 3, an instinctive cover LB who can lock up on TEs.

 

Seems like we are trying to fix something that must have been a glaring weakness against KC.

 

Not sure why so many feel the need to say "I had so and so as a 6th rounder", or what value is he going to bring.  Hello, Beane and staff know what they're doing, and have a plan to keep adding the necessary pieces to put us over the top.

 

I'm sure if you go back and rematch thr KC game, our lack of speed on defense will stand out in more than 1 occasion.  We needed to fix that, and our physicality at the DT spots...check and check

The lack of speed was evident in the AFCC game a year earlier. The Bills spent the entire game seconds behind chasing the Chiefs all over the field!

[Mojo44]

Bernard presents as an ideal safety/LB hybrid. I think this position has been evolving on defense to match the recent evolution of NFL offenses. The more I find out about him the more I like this pick. 

[Vickveto]

I like the pick.
 

20 tackles and 2 sacks in the Sugar Bowl.

Above 8 RAS score what’s not to like?

[Andy1]

I don’t know much about Bernard but if he helps the D against teams like Titans, Colts or Ravens, I’ll like him.

[LabattBlue]

You know what Bernard used to be called at the NFL level…a man without a position. 😉

 

Guess what?  More than likely still the case. 

[frostbitmic]

I never heard of Bernard until tonight but McDermott and Beane have turned this team from dumpster fire to legit Super Bowl contender, I'll give them the benefit of doubt.

 

I'll also give Bernard a chance too. I'm looking forward to seeing what the kid can do.

[newcam2012]

3 hours ago, YoloinOhio said:

?

Mine was in my Notes app

“Literally”?  Cool that you have access to every team’s board to know whose radar he wasn’t on. I’ll take Beane’s island for 100.

 

none of us know anything - best to not speak in absolutes at this point in time. 

I absolutely hate the pick. How's that?

[TheyCallMeAndy]

I’m surprised he wasn’t graded higher. Sounds like one of the smartest, hard working LBs in the draft AND he’s an exceptional athlete AND he was super productive against good competition in college. 
 

Most 225 pound LBs struggle vs the run and getting eaten up by big blockers coming out of school.

Edited April 30, 2022 by TheyCallMeAndy