Best Bills Day 1 Pick of the 2002 Draft

[Rico]

Almost 4 seasons are in the books, I think it's safe to assess this disasterous draft class. Funny thing is, the only player I would bring back next year is Ryan Denney, the one who was pretty much universally ridiculed after the 2002 season. He's no star, but at least he's serviceable, which is more than I can say for the other 3 players.

[Robert Paulson]

i voted for Denney just because there was no place to vote for NONE.

 

the turning pionts of the game yesterday were J reed's two drops.

[Tortured Soul]

i voted for Denney just because there was no place to vote for NONE.

 

the turning pionts of the game yesterday were J reed's two drops.

508877[/snapback]

I think a vote for none is a vote for Coy Wire, because that's how much he played yesterday.

[KD in CA]

That hurts.

[e-dog]

WOW. What a draft and two of them were in the 2nd rd. after that brilliant trade up.

No wonder this team stinks. Please list the rest of TD's drafts.

[Beerstm]

interesting.. real interesting.. it's official.. Bills Suck

[Steve O]

WOW. What a draft and two of them were in the 2nd rd. after that brilliant trade up.

No wonder this team stinks. Please list the rest of TD's drafts.

508997[/snapback]

 

Here you go.

Pick / round / pick in that round / overall

(ie Roscoe Parrish was our first pick in 2005, 23rd pick of the second round, 55th overall pick)

 

2005

1 2 23 55 Roscoe Parrish WR Miami (FL)

2 3 22 86 Kevin Everett TE Miami (FL)

3 4 21 122 Duke Preston C Illinois

4 5 20 156 Eric King DB Wake Forest

5 6 23 197 Justin Geisinger G Vanderbilt

6 7 22 236 Lionel Gates RB Louisville

2004

1 1 13 13 Lee Evans WR Wisconsin

2 1 22 22 J.P. Losman QB Tulane

3 3 11 74 Tim Anderson DT Ohio State

4 4 13 109 Tim Euhus TE Oregon State

5 7 6 207 Dylan McFarland T Montana

6 7 13 214 Jonathan Smith RB Georgia Tech

2003

1 1 23 23 Willis McGahee RB Miami (FL)

2 2 16 48 Chris Kelsay DE Nebraska

3 3 30 94 Angelo Crowell LB Virginia

4 4 14 111 Terrence McGee DB Northwestern State

5 4 30 127 Sam Aiken WR North Carolina

6 5 16 151 Ben Sobieski G Iowa

7 6 14 187 Lauvale Sape DT Utah

8 7 14 228 Mario Haggan LB Mississippi State

2002

1 1 4 4 Mike Williams T Texas

2 2 4 36 Josh Reed WR Louisiana State

3 2 29 61 Ryan Denney DE Brigham Young

4 3 32 97 Coy Wire DB Stanford

5 5 4 139 Justin Bannan DT Colorado

6 6 4 176 Kevin Thomas DB UNLV

7 7 4 215 Mike Pucillo G Auburn

8 7 39 250 Rodney Wright WR Fresno State

9 7 41 252 Jarrett Ferguson RB Virginia Tech

10 7 49 260 Dominique Stevenson LB Tennessee

2001

1 1 21 21 Nate Clements DB Ohio State

2 2 15 46 Aaron Schobel DE Texas Christian

3 2 27 58 Travis Henry RB Tennessee

4 3 14 76 Ron Edwards DT Texas A&M

5 3 33 95 Jonas Jennings T Georgia

6 4 15 110 Brandon Spoon LB North Carolina

7 5 13 144 Marques Sullivan T Illinois

8 6 15 178 Tony Driver DB Notre Dame

9 6 32 195 Dan O'Leary TE Notre Dame

10 6 33 196 Jimmy Williams DB Vanderbilt

11 7 14 214 Reggie Germany WR Ohio State

12 7 38 238 Tyrone Robertson DT Hinds J.C. (MI)

[SilverNRed]

2003

  1 1 23 23 Willis McGahee RB Miami (FL)

  2 2 16 48 Chris Kelsay DE Nebraska

  3 3 30 94 Angelo Crowell LB Virginia

  4 4 14 111 Terrence McGee DB Northwestern State

  5 4 30 127 Sam Aiken WR North Carolina

  6 5 16 151 Ben Sobieski G Iowa

  7 6 14 187 Lauvale Sape DT Utah

  8 7 14 228 Mario Haggan LB Mississippi State

509398[/snapback]

More like this please.

 

[Crap Throwing Monkey]

2005

  3 4 21 122 Duke Preston C Illinois

  5 6 23 197 Justin Geisinger G Vanderbilt

2003

  6 5 16 151 Ben Sobieski G Iowa

2002

  1 1 4 4 Mike Williams T Texas

  7 7 4 215 Mike Pucillo G Auburn

2001

  5 3 33 95 Jonas Jennings T Georgia

509398[/snapback]

 

Donahoe's offensive-line draft picks, if anyone was wondering. What is that, three starters? Only one of whom (Williams) is still with the team, and one other of whom (Pucillo) was so vomitously awful I cringe at calling him a "starter".

 

THAT is the real reason the team sucks.

[SDS]

Donahoe's offensive-line draft picks, if anyone was wondering.  What is that, three starters?  Only one of whom (Williams) is still with the team, and one other of whom (Pucillo) was so vomitously awful I cringe at calling him a "starter". 

 

THAT is the real reason the team sucks.

509441[/snapback]

 

that 2002 draft will bite us also as it appears to be devoid of anything significant enough to help this team win ball games. These guys should be coming into their own right now.

[Rico]

that 2002 draft will bite us also as it appears to be devoid of anything significant enough to help this team win ball games.  These guys should be coming into their own right now.

509495[/snapback]

Agreed. BTW, my definition of "serviceable" as used above is a player who can help your team win a Super Bowl... not necessarily a star, but someone who knows his role & performs it well. I could see Denney fitting in & contributing to any of this year's Super Bowl contenders.

[e-dog]

Thank-you Steve O.

 

As noted the o-line picks are terrible. Only decent player is hurt in S. Fran. Too early to tell on this years o-line picks.

 

The 2001 and 2003 drafts were not bad. Evans in '04 is a player and hopefully Losman. I personally think JP will prove to be a good pick. '05 So far not much but still early.

 

And as also noted the real killer to this team is the 2002 draft. They actually had three picks in the top sixty-one players. They STRUCKOUT ON ALL THREE. Those were three key picks that should be heavy contributers to this team and we get almost zero out of them.

 

Also not much on the back end {after 3rd} in any of these drafts outside of T. McGee.

 

Overall I'd give TD a C- for the five drafts. And since the drafts are the core of your team it reflects on what we are currently watching on Sunday's.

[Sisyphean Bills]

2001 was a pretty good draft. 4 solid players in Jennings, Henry, Schobel, and Clements. Too bad that this draft should be paying the Bills dividends now and half of those mentioned have moved on already.

 

2002 was a bust. That really hurts given the Bills draft order that year. Double ouch.

 

2003 gets a thumbs up at this point. McGahee, McGee are starters. Crowell has been playing decent. Kelsay is an OK backup, I guess.

 

2004 may be ok if Losman emerges.

 

It's too early, but 2005 looks like a 2002 repeat. We really chose a flying munchkin WR with our top pick? WTF for?

[Shamrock]

This from the Bills daily site...

Excuse the 20:20 Hindsight

 

Bills Daily 2002 Draft Board

 

Round Pick Overall Pos. Player College

1 4 4 OT Mike Williams Texas

2 4 36 WR Jake Reed LSU

2 29 61 DE Ryan Denney BYU

3 32 97* SS Coy Wire Stanford

5 4 139 DT Justin Bannan Colorado

6 4 176 CB Kevin Thomas UNLV

7 4 215 OG Mike Pucillo Auburn

7 40 249* WR Rodney Wright Fresno St.

7 42 251* FB Jarett Ferguson Virginia Tech

7 50 260# LB Dominique Stevenson Tennessee

* - Compensatory Pick

# - Non Compensatory Pick to fulfill number of draft picks permitted according to the Collective Bargaining agreement.

 

2002 DRAFT CAPSULES

 

 

1) OT Mike Williams 6-5, 375, 5.09 - Williams is a tight, impact player with a thick chest and arms. He is a big man with good flexibility and is very quick for his size. He allowed only two sack in his college career in 28 starts. He played right tackle to protect the blindside of left handed QB Chris Simms. He's light on his feet with excellent movement and has great techniques. He is a high character player who wowed Bills officials during his visit to Buffalo. He helps solidify the offensive line and projects as a left tackle in the pros but there is a chance he starts his career on the right side. It will be interesting to see how the offensive line juggles now that Williams comes to Buffalo.

 

2) WR Josh Reed 5-10, 210, 4.65 - Reed He is a possession type of of receiver and is tough, with good run after the catch ability. Does a great job at breaking tackles and is considered in the Andre Reed-mold by Bill Polian. He won the Biletnikoff Award for being the best college receiver last year. He had 94 catches for 1,740 yards as a junior last season. He lacks pure speed but is a terrific athlete with solid body control. He was the best available athlete at the time and his a good choice except he comes in to tough competition as this wasn't a need area for the Bills. He is different than the burner type of receiver that Buffalo already has in Peerless Price and Eric Moulds.

 

2) DE Ryan Denney 6-7, 276, 4.85 - The Bills coveted this guy enough to give up a fourth round pick to move up eight spots to grab him with the second of two picks in the second round. His very tall and has very good speed. He projects as a pass rushing end in the pros. He is 24 years old, so age may be a factor. Has good explosion off the ball and is good at chasing plays from behind. He should compete for a job right away on the Bills thin defensive line.

 

3) SS Coy Wire Stanford 5-11, 209, 4.5 - He's an inexperienced strong safety as he played running back early in his college career. He also has played outside linebacker. He's a team leader who tackles very well and is a good worker. Doesn't have great athletic ability and is raw as a defensive player. He's a team leader who tackles very well and the Bills hope he can learn enough to be a factor in the 46 defense but was a reach in the third round.

 

5) DT Justin Bannan Colorado 6-2, 300, 5.01 - Bannan is a hard working, tough tackle that has excellent instincts and technique at tackle. He doesn't have the mass size but the Bills feel he is a two gap stuffing tackle. Doesn't rush the passer well but won't be asked to in the Bills defense. He is considred a good run stopper in the Shawn Price mode. He may replace Price on the roster since he's an unrestricted free agent.

 

6) CB Kevin Thomas UNLV 5-11, 180, 4.64 - Thomas is a good cover corner, who is a good athlete. He's smooth and agile but his weaknesses include his size and suspect tackling ability. He does seem to have the knack for making big plays but doesn't have top-end speed and needs to gain some aggressiveness. Will compete for a backup job with the club.

 

7) OG Mike Pucillo 6-3, 315, 5.35 - A disciplined lineman who can play both guard and center. He is improving and has some upside with his smart play. His technique is good and he gives a solid effort to help overcome the lack of great talent. Will challenge for a backup lineman position.

 

7) WR Rodney Wright Fresno State 5-8, 185, 4.45 - Had a big finish last year and had 91 catches for 1,331 yards and 10 scores. He is very small for a wide receiver with good quickness and elusiveness but not great pure speed but is a great route runner. The Bills are hoping they can catch lightning in a bottle like they did with Reggie Germany last year. It will be tough for him to crack this team. Unlike other drafted players he is not known for giving great effort all the time.

 

7) FB Jarett Ferguson 5-8, 222 - The Bills needed to add a fullback and did so late in the draft. He's a good bruising runner with some good movement to boot as he changes direction well. He is also considered a good receiver and blocker to go along with his good running skills. Not an ideal size for a blocking back. Should challenge for a roster spot at a position where there is no depth behind Larry Centers.

 

7) LB Dominique Stevenson Tennessee 5-11, 222 - Run stuffing middle linebacker who is small and can't handle multiple blocks well. Played running back in high school. He always plays hard but is slow at reacting. Best chances of making the team is as a special teams player.

 

 

2002 DRAFT GRADE

The Bills had an excellent first day of the draft and filled some holes on day two. Staying with the 4th pick and taking Williams was a smart move, it is a safe pick and he will be a fixture at tackle for year. We love the pick of Reed, he will be a starter in 2003. Denney was a good need pick but they gave up a valuable 4th round pick to move up and get him. They got burned in the third round when Denver traded up ahead of them and took a defensive tackle they may have wanted. Wire is a project case and the third round is too early to pick one. Picking Bannan in round 5 may have made up for the third round mess. The later picks filled some holes in the depth with Ferguson being a possible steal, while Stevenson and Wright may be possible misses. Grade: B. If you count the trade for Bledsoe in the draft day grade then it becomes in A.

[Orton's Arm]

This has to have been the most depressing poll I've seen on these boards. Hopefully we'll find a better GM after this year.