Senior Bowl week/NFL Draft

[jri111]

Ok, since its senior bowl week and I haven't heard much about it yet, i decided I'd throw my two cents in. Unlike past years, there's a lot of good players participating in the game this year, especially players that are of interest to Buffalo.

 

 

Louisville DT Amobi Okoye - Word out of ESPN insider is that he weighed in at 287, down from the 305 he was listed at for his senior season. That's light for a DT if we're hoping to add beef in the middle. Though I admit his age is attractive (he's only 19 years old), I really think we need size up the middle to improve our run defense. If you look at most cover-2 teams (i.e the colts, bucs, and even the bears towards the end of the season), they struggle against the run because the system is designed around speed. Speed equales smaller guys. Smaller guys results in being pused around between the tackles. Ideally you want a big guy with speed who can penatrate and rush the passer, but who can also help agaisnt the run too (alla warren sapp in his prime) and i don't know if Okoye really offers that.

 

Michigan DT Alan Branch - I don't think he's participating in the senior bowl, but he can't be ignored. He'd be a huge presence on the Bill's DL all 6-6 331 pounds of him. I'll admit i haven't done my research on him, so i don't know if he's a good cover 2 DT or not. I also don't know about his speed. He's far and away rated as the number 1 DT in the draft though and bills would have to get lucky for him to drop to them (same with OT Joe Thomas and WR Calvin Johnshon, which is why they aren't on this list).

 

Michigan CB Leon Hall - rated at the top CB, but apperently from reports hasn't been looking like it such far. He's 5'11 and 193 pounds. He's currently number 10 on Mel's Big Board. He's quick with decent size, and alot of mock drafts have him going in the top 10.

 

Really when you look at the bills needs, their draft position and the analysis of the players out there, I don’t know if they can get good value at the number 12 spot.

There aren't any other good "value" DT's at that spot, nor are there any O-linemen worth reaching for there. CB's are plentiful, but there's a gap between Hall and the rest. As for LB's, I dont really think there's a guy out there worth the 12th overall pick. OLB Paul Posluszney is a beast, but for some reason, he's been slipping over the last few months. The only player that seems to really fit is Branch, although they’ll be lucky if he’s still around when they are on the clock. One thing to think about is trading down. Perhaps to the low 20’s and being able to pick up a extra 2nd round draft pick in the process. Along with Posluszney, other players like Chris Houston (CB -Ark) and Revis (Pitt) might be good options for later in the first round. There are two players in specific though I think would fit well in Buffalo. Consider these two players who are having good weeks at the senior bowl practices (so far) and who can help the bills right away:

 

 

Cal CB Daymeion Hughes -Here's an intriguing guy. He's 5'11 and 192 pounds. Although he doesn't have the size of Nate Clements, he's been rising up draft boards. Some project him as high has 20 overall, and that was before the excellent senior bowl week practices he's having. He's not overly fast, but is instinctive and ideal for the cover two. Here's what ESPN said about his performance at the senior bowl this week:

 

"There wasn't a receiver on the team, including standouts such as Jason Hill (Washington State), Rhema McKnight (Notre Dame) and David Clowney (Virginia Tech), who could shake Hughes in one-on-one drills. While it's important to put everything into perspective this week, I think it's safe to say that Hughes showed better man-to-man cover skills this afternoon than Michigan's Leon Hall, who is widely considered the top cornerback prospect and a potential top-15 pick in this year's class." - ESPN

 

and then there's the reason why I started posting this to begin with...

 

Penn State RB Tony Hunt - Here's a guy that Mel Kiper rated as the 5th overalll RB's among seniors (that doesn't even include the juniors like Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch). Many mock drafts have him as a second or third rounder, and he's been flying under the radar up until this week. Being a Penn State alumnus though, i've been following ths guy for quite some time. He's a pure beastQ All 6'1'' 235 punds of him. He's a great blocker and has good hands out of the backfield. The biggest knock against him is his speed, but he place deceptivly quick. Hunt's best attribute though is his determination. He always runs hard and is a north and south runner (are you listening willis?) ESPN insider has said that he looks like the best all around back so far this week nothing his size and good blocking. CNNSI has said that he looked great in the weight room. I really feel as though he's going to be a sud in the NFL. The reason why he is on this list is because where we could possibly get him. If the bills trade down and aquire an extra pick, this may be the perfect guy for it. As i said earlier, right now he's projected as a second or third round guy, but (almost bitter-sweetly) I think his draft status is going to go up much higher from there. If he continues to have a good week this week ( which i think he will considering they're in pads today and running over people is what he does best), I can only see his stock going up at the combine (the only thing holding him back is if he has a bad 40-time). That said, if he goes up too high, he wouldn't be a good fit for Buffalo. But if we could get him in the 2nd or 3rd, he'd be a steal. The drafts a long ways away, and there's so much left to happen between now and then, but keep on eye on this kid (because he might just be the perfect replacement for Willis Mcgahee)

 

(note: The Willis Mcgahee debate: Iin my eyes, aside from all his character flaws, he just hasn't produced. Running backs are a dime a dozen in the NFL with a shelf life of less then 4 years. Willis is entering his 4th year now and wasn't even able to hit the 1000 yard mark this past season. I know he didn't have a great line, but not every great NFL runner have had good O-lines. 1000 yards also isn't what it use to be, not with guys like LT, LJ or shaun alexander around. Need I remind you we drafted Willis Mcgahee when Travis Henry was coming off a 1300+ yard season. The season Willis was rehabilitating his knee Travis ran for 1400+ yards. Willis wasn't able to crack a 1000 this season. Now, I'm in no way saying that we should make RB a priority, we have far to many needs, but if the right guy is in the right position, you gotta look at him. Furthermore, although personally I wouldn't like to see Willis on the roster next year, I can't see that happening for a few reasons. First, he has no trade value right now (see the reasons above). Who would give up a 1st or 2nd round pick when you can draft a guy with fresh young legs who can be just as productive if not better? They might be able to find some sucker to take him for a third rounder, but I seriously doubt it and Marv is not just going to give him away. Second, despite his lackluster performance, he's a good deal right now. He's getting far below market value, which makes it economically foolish to just cut him. I think for those two reasons alone Willis will be our back next year. Beyond that, when his contract runs out, or he demands more money i don't know though. And as I said above, if the right guy is there, why not? This is a team that is building to win now, not a few years from now, so why not have his replacement ready to go?).

[RShirley]

and then there's the reason why I started posting this to begin with...

 

Penn State RB Tony Hunt - Here's a guy that Mel Kiper rated as the 5th overalll RB's among seniors (that doesn't even include the juniors like Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch). Many mock drafts have him as a second or third rounder, and he's been flying under the radar up until this week. Being a Penn State alumnus though, i've been following ths guy for quite some time. He's a pure beastQ All 6'1'' 235 punds of him. He's a great blocker and has good hands out of the backfield. The biggest knock against him is his speed, but he place deceptivly quick. Hunt's best attribute though is his determination. He always runs hard and is a north and south runner (are you listening willis?)

 

 

Why would we need another A-Train.........this would be a waste of a pick.

[stuckincincy]

Ok, since its senior bowl week and I haven't heard much about it yet, i decided I'd throw my two cents in...

 

Thoughtful post!

[In space no one can hear]

Ok, since its senior bowl week and I haven't heard much about it yet, i decided I'd throw my two cents in. Unlike past years, there's a lot of good players participating in the game this year, especially players that are of interest to Buffalo.

Louisville DT Amobi Okoye - Word out of ESPN insider is that he weighed in at 287, down from the 305 he was listed at for his senior season. That's light for a DT if we're hoping to add beef in the middle. Though I admit his age is attractive (he's only 19 years old), I really think we need size up the middle to improve our run defense. If you look at most cover-2 teams (i.e the colts, bucs, and even the bears towards the end of the season), they struggle against the run because the system is designed around speed. Speed equales smaller guys. Smaller guys results in being pused around between the tackles. Ideally you want a big guy with speed who can penatrate and rush the passer, but who can also help agaisnt the run too (alla warren sapp in his prime) and i don't know if Okoye really offers that.

 

Michigan DT Alan Branch - I don't think he's participating in the senior bowl, but he can't be ignored. He'd be a huge presence on the Bill's DL all 6-6 331 pounds of him. I'll admit i haven't done my research on him, so i don't know if he's a good cover 2 DT or not. I also don't know about his speed. He's far and away rated as the number 1 DT in the draft though and bills would have to get lucky for him to drop to them (same with OT Joe Thomas and WR Calvin Johnshon, which is why they aren't on this list).

 

Michigan CB Leon Hall - rated at the top CB, but apperently from reports hasn't been looking like it such far. He's 5'11 and 193 pounds. He's currently number 10 on Mel's Big Board. He's quick with decent size, and alot of mock drafts have him going in the top 10.

 

Really when you look at the bills needs, their draft position and the analysis of the players out there, I don’t know if they can get good value at the number 12 spot.

There aren't any other good "value" DT's at that spot, nor are there any O-linemen worth reaching for there. CB's are plentiful, but there's a gap between Hall and the rest. As for LB's, I dont really think there's a guy out there worth the 12th overall pick. OLB Paul Posluszney is a beast, but for some reason, he's been slipping over the last few months. The only player that seems to really fit is Branch, although they’ll be lucky if he’s still around when they are on the clock. One thing to think about is trading down. Perhaps to the low 20’s and being able to pick up a extra 2nd round draft pick in the process. Along with Posluszney, other players like Chris Houston (CB -Ark) and Revis (Pitt) might be good options for later in the first round. There are two players in specific though I think would fit well in Buffalo. Consider these two players who are having good weeks at the senior bowl practices (so far) and who can help the bills right away:

Cal CB Daymeion Hughes -Here's an intriguing guy. He's 5'11 and 192 pounds. Although he doesn't have the size of Nate Clements, he's been rising up draft boards. Some project him as high has 20 overall, and that was before the excellent senior bowl week practices he's having. He's not overly fast, but is instinctive and ideal for the cover two. Here's what ESPN said about his performance at the senior bowl this week:

 

"There wasn't a receiver on the team, including standouts such as Jason Hill (Washington State), Rhema McKnight (Notre Dame) and David Clowney (Virginia Tech), who could shake Hughes in one-on-one drills. While it's important to put everything into perspective this week, I think it's safe to say that Hughes showed better man-to-man cover skills this afternoon than Michigan's Leon Hall, who is widely considered the top cornerback prospect and a potential top-15 pick in this year's class." - ESPN

 

and then there's the reason why I started posting this to begin with...

 

Penn State RB Tony Hunt - Here's a guy that Mel Kiper rated as the 5th overalll RB's among seniors (that doesn't even include the juniors like Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch). Many mock drafts have him as a second or third rounder, and he's been flying under the radar up until this week. Being a Penn State alumnus though, i've been following ths guy for quite some time. He's a pure beastQ All 6'1'' 235 punds of him. He's a great blocker and has good hands out of the backfield. The biggest knock against him is his speed, but he place deceptivly quick. Hunt's best attribute though is his determination. He always runs hard and is a north and south runner (are you listening willis?) ESPN insider has said that he looks like the best all around back so far this week nothing his size and good blocking. CNNSI has said that he looked great in the weight room. I really feel as though he's going to be a sud in the NFL. The reason why he is on this list is because where we could possibly get him. If the bills trade down and aquire an extra pick, this may be the perfect guy for it. As i said earlier, right now he's projected as a second or third round guy, but (almost bitter-sweetly) I think his draft status is going to go up much higher from there. If he continues to have a good week this week ( which i think he will considering they're in pads today and running over people is what he does best), I can only see his stock going up at the combine (the only thing holding him back is if he has a bad 40-time). That said, if he goes up too high, he wouldn't be a good fit for Buffalo. But if we could get him in the 2nd or 3rd, he'd be a steal. The drafts a long ways away, and there's so much left to happen between now and then, but keep on eye on this kid (because he might just be the perfect replacement for Willis Mcgahee)

 

(note: The Willis Mcgahee debate: Iin my eyes, aside from all his character flaws, he just hasn't produced. Running backs are a dime a dozen in the NFL with a shelf life of less then 4 years. Willis is entering his 4th year now and wasn't even able to hit the 1000 yard mark this past season. I know he didn't have a great line, but not every great NFL runner have had good O-lines. 1000 yards also isn't what it use to be, not with guys like LT, LJ or shaun alexander around. Need I remind you we drafted Willis Mcgahee when Travis Henry was coming off a 1300+ yard season. The season Willis was rehabilitating his knee Travis ran for 1400+ yards. Willis wasn't able to crack a 1000 this season. Now, I'm in no way saying that we should make RB a priority, we have far to many needs, but if the right guy is in the right position, you gotta look at him. Furthermore, although personally I wouldn't like to see Willis on the roster next year, I can't see that happening for a few reasons. First, he has no trade value right now (see the reasons above). Who would give up a 1st or 2nd round pick when you can draft a guy with fresh young legs who can be just as productive if not better? They might be able to find some sucker to take him for a third rounder, but I seriously doubt it and Marv is not just going to give him away. Second, despite his lackluster performance, he's a good deal right now. He's getting far below market value, which makes it economically foolish to just cut him. I think for those two reasons alone Willis will be our back next year. Beyond that, when his contract runs out, or he demands more money i don't know though. And as I said above, if the right guy is there, why not? This is a team that is building to win now, not a few years from now, so why not have his replacement ready to go?).

 

 

I like Hunt also- he'd be a great addition to the Bills. (P.S. NICE FIRST POST!!)

 

You mention he is slotted to be a second or third rounder.

 

My guess is (with his added size) he will be either a very late first or an early second rounder.

 

So there is an outside chance we could get him with our second if Levy was so inclined.

 

It just depends on how the second round rb's fall- Hunt,Irons,Bush)

[BillsFanForever19]

Yeah, it would be difficult for Alan Branch to be participating in the Senior Bowl being a Junior and all.

[Buftex]

I heard a report on Fox Sports Radio last night, raving about the center from USC...name escapes me...you guys think Fowler is solid enough?

[Astrobot]

Ryan Kalil, USC Center.

We probably need a guy behind Fowler, but I think that'll be Preston.

[JStranger76]

Realistially there isn't any center in the draft or free agency who would be a promising upgrade. Do I think Fowler is solid enough? Depends. If we had either Steinbach/Deilman at LG and one of Levi Brown, Justin Blaylock or maybe Ben Gruggs at RG I think Fowler could really excel. If we stay the same no, I don't think Fowler is solid enough.

[BillsVet]

Senior Bowl roster lists Kalil in at 291 lbs. While I think it's funny that ESPN experts say a guy can't play well at a particular position if he's 5 lbs lighter or an inch less than THEY call for, Kalil still has similar size to Fowler. Of course that doesn't count strength, other intangibles, et al. No question Fowler needs help up the middle to get some sort of push and get us that one yard we had a tough time getting on 3rd/4th and 1.

 

Fowler's signed for awhile, and I don't think the Bills go Center unless something falls late in the draft.

[The Jokeman]

Why would we need another A-Train.........this would be a waste of a pick.

 

Let's see because A-train is an UFA in a few weeks and there's no guaranteeing he'll be back. Not to mention he turns 30 in November and with Willis entering the final year of his contract it be wise to have someone waiting in the wings. I've posted in other threads that Hunt's a sleeper and a guy I'd welcome in the 3rd round to serve as a backup/3rd down back as a rookie and possibly replace McGahee in 2008.

[jri111]

Let's see because A-train is an UFA in a few weeks and there's no guaranteeing he'll be back. Not to mention he turns 30 in November and with Willis entering the final year of his contract it be wise to have someone waiting in the wings. I've posted in other threads that Hunt's a sleeper and a guy I'd welcome in the 3rd round to serve as a backup/3rd down back as a rookie and possibly replace McGahee in 2008.

 

 

 

 

Thanks for making my counter-argument for me! well said. Also, I would add that A-train and Hunt are not clones of each other. In addition, do you think there is any chance that Marv is going to pay the big bucks that Willis is going to demand next year? NO WAY! He wont for a number of reasons, but mainly becase Willis is going to ask for more then he's worth and that will inevitibly lead to his departure. So why not pick up a guy like Hunt in say the 3rd RD, who has a lot of potential, to eventually replace him. Who knows, he'd may even be an Upgrade over Willis this year!

[Stevie Ray]

Thanks for making my counter-argument for me! well said. Also, I would add that A-train and Hunt are not clones of each other. In addition, do you think there is any chance that Marv is going to pay the big bucks that Willis is going to demand next year? NO WAY! He wont for a number of reasons, but mainly becase Willis is going to ask for more then he's worth and that will inevitibly lead to his departure. So why not pick up a guy like Hunt in say the 3rd RD, who has a lot of potential, to eventually replace him. Who knows, he'd may even be an Upgrade over Willis this year!

 

I've read that Hunt is a very unselfish player, doing whatever he is asked to do for the offense. He's a tough runner, good receiver and decent at picking up the blitz. He's a very hard worker and has been productive for Penn St. I think his character fits what Marv is looking for and I wouldnt be dissapointed to get him in Rds 2 or 3.

[Oneonta Buffalo Fan]

We must get Amobi Okoye. He sounds so good.

[tennesseeboy]

Realistially there isn't any center in the draft or free agency who would be a promising upgrade. Do I think Fowler is solid enough? Depends. If we had either Steinbach/Deilman at LG and one of Levi Brown, Justin Blaylock or maybe Ben Gruggs at RG I think Fowler could really excel. If we stay the same no, I don't think Fowler is solid enough.

From listening to the various coaches and announcers on NFL channel for the Senior Bowl, they seem to think that Kalil is the outstanding center, if not the best offensive lineman in the draft. I am pulling for Okoye and a guard as the second pick (I like Sears from Tennessee) but this guy sounds like quite a deal and we might do worse than to pick him if he makes it to us in the second round.

[obie_wan]

From listening to the various coaches and announcers on NFL channel for the Senior Bowl, they seem to think that Kalil is the outstanding center, if not the best offensive lineman in the draft. I am pulling for Okoye and a guard as the second pick (I like Sears from Tennessee) but this guy sounds like quite a deal and we might do worse than to pick him if he makes it to us in the second round.

 

Manny Ramirez as a ROG has been showing good agility to go with his impressive power. He is a better run blocker than pass protector which may be what we need.

 

 

Manuel Ramirez OG 6'4 335 Texas Tech

By: Robert Davis

Ramirez earned a starting job as a freshman in 2003 and has not looked back since. He has been the key member of a Tech offensive line that has routinely been one of the most explosive units in the country. As a junior last season, Ramirez earned 2nd Team All Big 12 honors.

 

One word to describe Ramirez is power. He plays with amazing strength and power on the football field. He can flat out dominate a defensive lineman at the point of attack and drive him to the ground. Ramirez is one of the best one on one run blockers in the draft because of his raw power. Playing OL for a Red Raider offense means you have to be able to pass block as well. He sets up quickly and keeps himself between the defender and quarterback.

 

While he is a solid pass blocker at the college level, he may lack the athleticism and mobility to do the same in the NFL. He is not going to get out and block on the move and needs to be in an offense that keeps him in a short area.

 

Ramirez is a very good right guard prospect and should be a very good run blocker in the NFL. Even though he lacks the ideal athleticism to be a great pass protector, he knows how to pass block. For a team looking to upgrade its ability in a power running game, Ramirez is an excellent fit.

[tennesseeboy]

two homers to be looking at at the senior bowl and maybe for us at a later than first pick. Justin Harrell at defensive tackle and Jonathan Wade at Cornerback both from UT. Harrell was compared to Haynseworth and Henderson before his injury at the beginning of the seaon. If he's completely healthy he could be a steal.

[Fixxxer]

two homers to be looking at at the senior bowl and maybe for us at a later than first pick. Justin Harrell at defensive tackle and Jonathan Wade at Cornerback both from UT. Harrell was compared to Haynseworth and Henderson before his injury at the beginning of the seaon. If he's completely healthy he could be a steal.

 

I´ll give one more chance to be a homer

 

What do you think about FB, Cory Anderson?

 

Does his game traslate well in the NFL? Though I like Shelton I think it´s time to part ways with him since he´s showing his age on the field. We need an upgrade on the FB position. IMO.

 

What round do you think he´ll go?

[jri111]

did anybody watch the senior bowl? see what i meant about tony hunt?!?!

 

 

problem is his draft stoc is going up, up, up. which is not the best thing for my dreams of us getting him .

 

 

 

One thing i will say i was absolutely wrong about though was Amobi Okoye. He may only weigh in at 287, but boy did he look good. And a good counter-argument to the weight issue is that he's only 19 years old and def has room to grow, something i overlooked at first. I don't know, I gotta admit, he'd be hard to pass up at 12 if he's still there.