thewildrabbit

I won't complain, as at least its not another RB or DB.

exactly, as they will probably draft safety Ha ha Clinton-Dix with that #9. This team would be the same without draft DB's in the first round all the time.

I've changed my mind on this subject. "IF" Bortles is there at #9, then yeah! Should the Texans pass on him...then consider trading up with the Rams to draft him http://sports.yahoo.com/news/is-qb-blake-bortles-too-cool-to-go-no--1-in-nfl-draft--215740086-nfl.html http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000335254/article/blake-bortles-met-with-4-teams-a-day-before-his-pro-day-workout

The Pats owner stated that they offered Welker more money, and it must be that the guy wanted out from under Belicheat's censorship. Not to mention getting fed up with Gisele's criticism.

Relax guys this team isn't going to trade away its best WR, at least not until some of the others recently drafted start showing something more then they have shown. Jeez, the guy is only the first Bills player in its history with back to back 1,000 yard receiving seasons, and loves to be in Buffalo. Revis island, who is the best CB in the league couldn't always cover SJ, as he is able to get open even when he is closely covered. Once EJ gets into a sync with SJ things will get better.

In my view the entire O line is just as important to the offense as the D line is to the defense, as every position on both lines are equally important to what the scheme wants to accomplish. Having an elite, all pro guard is equally important in so many facets as his counterpart the elite, all pro D tackle. However, the prevailing thoughts around this team are that elite O line players are completely unnecessary, and would just cost to much to be worthwhile. This philosophy has been stated many times over, and over by many regimes the last 14 years, and so much so that the fans are starting to believe its the proper way to build an offense. This team just signed a player from the Rams who graded worse then the current backup center who was subbing in at guard. From my perspective the heart and soul of any good football team is its offensive line! There's no position that requires more discipline or technique then an offensive linemen. Success as an offensive football team hinges on their ability to control the line of scrimmage. This is something the Buffalo Bills have lacked for the last 14 years! The draft is a crap shoot, to the bad teams, who employ bad talent evaluators, bad scouts, bad coaches and the end result usually is complete guesswork. The best teams usually have the better employees that can determine the top talent from the maybe's and what ifs. The Buffalo Bills were one of those bad teams for the longest time, until Norm Pollom, Bill Polian, John Butler, AJ Smith. Currently Doug Whaley knows his stuff with the defensive side of the ball in players like Manny Lawson- Jerry Hughes-Alan Branch- Kiko. Wish I could say the same about the offensive side as the jury is still out on EJ, Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin. The jury is back with a guilty verdict, and life sentence of being utterly useless on the likes of Colin Brown, Sam Young, Doug Legursky, and now Chris Williams.

Excellent article http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-3/ON-THE-CLOCK-Rise-of-the-right-tackle/30cbf54d-12e1-46b7-9ae7-7115c5066dea "There are some really good defensive coordinators in this league and if you have a right tackle that struggles in pass protection, teams are going to put their best pass rusher on the left side,” said Jaguars GM David Caldwell. “So you better have somebody who can protect the passer over there.” This is sort of exactly the message of what I've been trying to convey to this board since I started posting here. By the same token if the weakest areas are the OG's, then that is where the defense will try to exploit. Kinda why I get frustrated with the past regimes that try and get by every year with sub par players on that Line.

Since nobody caught on....meanwhile the Bills selected a RB in that 2010 draft. Which must have been one of those BPA type deals, because they clearly didn't need another RB. Especially considering the kid spent almost two years on the bench. While they were in desperate need of a LT to replace the all pro LT Jason Peters, who they traded away in the 2009 off season. How did that elite skill position player at RB work out for Buffalo? Did they make the playoffs with him? BTW, how is the 100 million dollar DE working out? Did they make the playoffs with him? Or that #3 overall at DT, or the pro bowl DT, or the other #1 at DE on the other side. They make the playoffs with any of them? So now everyone wants a WR at #9, or a TE at #9, and everyone thinks they will make the playoffs with those acquisitions! Its all about the QB, its always been about the QB, and the QB will not succeed unless he is properly protected. Lets face it guys, as some fans are so into towing the company line that they just simply can't comprehend the value of having an elite right tackle. What is really sad is that this franchise feels the exact same way, and has felt that way for 14 years.

I hear ya John, and can only hope you are right about turning some of these players into serviceable starters at some point. While I can understand the reasoning behind bringing in experienced NFL linemen who can hold down a position to some degree. My thoughts are, why are they settling for players that grade this poorly? My idea of building proper O line is with elite talent at least at the LT-LG-C positions and then moderate talent at RG-RT. With the backups being raw young players that can cut their teeth on special teams. I dunno, perhaps its this Buffalo Bills philosophy that the O line isn't that important that I resent so much. That they can get by with scrubs, and third rounders on the O line, but the D line needs to have 100 million dollar DE, a #1 overall, a #3 overall at DT, an all pro at DT, and another #1 at DE in Branch.

For the defense for certain For the O line...real gems, really? Colin Brown, Sam Young, Doug Legursky. In free agency I was hoping for Geoff Schwartz or Zane Beadles for OG, Zach Strief for OT. Now those are starters who graded in the green Given last years history in replacing Andy Levitre I'm not as optimistic as some. Especially considering that Chris Williams grades only slightly better then Legursky at (-21.8) In fact, I'm downright disappointed the Bills would settle for a player who graded as bad as this.

What gets me is the mentality of some fans here regurgitating the same philosophy of the franchise the last 14 years. I wonder why that is.... Its OK to draft a DT with the 3rd overall pick, but OT's can be found in the 3rd round.....which of course is complete and utter nonsense. To teams other then the Buffalo Bills, a blue chip O linemen is just as important as a D linemen. 2010 draft--#4 overall Redskins, Trent Williams OT-- #6 Seattle, Russell Okung OT--#11 San Francisco, Anthony Davis OT-- #17 San Francisco, Mike Iupati OG-- #18 Pittsburgh, Maurkice Pouncey C- #23 Green Bay, Bryan Bulaga OT. What do all those teams have in common? Yea, that's right. They all have made the playoffs since 2010, and the Packers- Steelers, 49ers, Seahawks have all recently been to a super bowl. Seattle also used a #1 pick on an OT in 2011.

Anyone do a trade chart? The Bills pick at #9 is worth 1350, round 2 is 490, round 3 is 225, round 4 is worth 105. Watkins could go as early as the #2 pick to the Rams, and as late as the #7 to Tampa. The #3 pick is worth 2200 points, so do the math. The Bills first four picks in this years draft are worth 2170. http://walterfootball.com/draftchart.php

winning cures everthing

Just stop it willya, as some Bills fans won't tolerate actual logic. Williams is basically guaranteed 4 mill, but he won't play according to the fans in the know. Even If he does see the field opening day, then O line guru Marrone will work "hands on" with him like he did with Colin Brown, and Sam Young.

Sorry Webster Guy, but the days of the Buffalo Bills building an "elite" O line are long gone with the 60's, thru, 90's. That's right, this team hasn't had a top line since the AFL Championship days & four consecutive super bowlsappearances. The chicken or the egg controversy, as in which came first, the great QB, or the great O line. Did Jack Kemp / Jim Kelly make those O lines look great or did those great O lines allow the QB's to make enough plays to get to the big dance? Let's look at the 90's. In my opinion all pro LT Will Wolford, all pro LG Jim Ritcher, all pro center Kent Hull along with RG John Davis, RT Howard Ballard allowed Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed to make those big plays. When LT Will Wolford went to the Colts in free agency at the end of 1992. The Bills went ahead and drafted another LT with a first round pick in John Fina. In 1994 the Bills no longer had Wolford at LT, no Jim Ritcher at LG, no Howard Ballard at RT and went from 12-4 in 1993 to 7-9 in 1994. Coincidence? The Bills replace 15 year vet LG Jim Ritcher with Corbin Lacina. Then wised up and replaced Lacina with a first round pick in future all pro, and first round pick LG Ruben Brown. The result of that 1st round pick at LG was the Bills went 7-9 to 10-6 in 1995. Jeez, could a top LG make the difference between a losing season, and the playoffs? In my view an "elite" LT is worth at least as much as Super Mario simply because that is the position that faces that 100 million dollar DE. The RT is just about as important because what's to stop that left side DE from moving to the right side? However, In the opinion of many fans here, along with the Bills current front office that an "elite" tackle is not needed on either side....kinda why the team loses so many games every year for 14 years IMHO. Last season it wasn't only rookie first round pick at #11 by the Chargers, RT DJ Fluker help them make the playoffs. The Chargers make the playoffs under rookie HC Mike McCoy. Last year the Eagles selected RT Lane Johnson #4 overall, and he played all 16 games at RT. Oh yeah, The Eagles made the playoffs under rookie HC Chip Kelly. The Bills went 6-10 under their rookie HC!! The Bills lose their best pass blocking player on the line in Andy Levitre, and tried replace him with two players from a dumpster....that were both cut, and off the team by week 6. Then the player brought in to be the backup center who was another dumpster revival from the Steelers who graded as their worst player, and he played like it for the Bills. So this year the Bills wanted to replace the LG, and what did they do? Went dumpster diving again for the St Louis Rams worst graded player to play LG. My take is, you can forget about any O linemen being drafted by this team in the first three rounds in the near future, as this team simply doesn't value the O line players the same way other teams do. If Chris Hairston isn't up to the task, then expect a dumpster revival or a waiver wire scrub to be the new RT.

Considering what the O line looks like so far...they had better draft one or two more this year. Seriously, it would be foolish to draft another QB at this point simply because they don't know what they have in EJ just yet. No QB can develop enough in only 10 games. There are only so many reps / snaps in off season, pre season, and training camp that only one QB should be getting the bulk of the work with the 1st string. Judging from Teddy Bridgewater no throwing at the combine, and now stinking it up in his pro day. I'd have to think that he will be there at the #9 pick.

another one bites the dust...

I don't get why a man with that much money is ever behind the wheel of anything....

My point being that usually a RB needs 20+ carries to get into any kind of rhythm, and Spiller was lucky to see 15 most games. when he did see 15 or more carries he usually made the defense suffer for it. He killed the Jet so bad in that first game that they were keying on him in the second game, and did pretty well in holding him down in the run game. Although he hurt them in the passing game. Chan Gailey even acknowledged that he should be giving both backs 20 touches per game, and yet he could NOT stop calling for passing plays. Opposing teams knew the Bills limitations with that short, quick passing scheme, and that the Bills only had one decent WR, one decent TE, and so the opposing defense could easily double those players. Plus jamming the receivers at the line caused Fitz to delay his throws, and thus the lack of quality talent on that line showed itself game after game. Current Bills OC is a brand new kettle of fish with his own set of complex problems to overcome. If those guards / tackles continue suck at run blocking then I suppose the Bills will need to keep running up the middle behind Wood, and Spiller just won't be as effective as he could be.

When you really look at all the numbers, all the bills managed to do was put up some good yardage numbers by having the most rushing attempts in the league, and most of that was because of the talented RB's. Now, you would think that because they ran the ball so much last season that they must have been pretty good at controlling the clock, and line of scrimmage. To quantify why they were so bad a team (6-10) while being the #2 running team in the NFL. Just look at how ineffective they actually were running the ball. The Bills were 25th in three, and out drive percentage. 214 total drives, and 53 were three and out. They only had 10 drives all season of holding the ball more then five minutes. The Bills were 29th in third down efficiency The Bills were 31st in first down percentage. The Bills were 28th in offensive yards per play, 5410 overall yards, 1116 plays, 4.61 yards per play. To put it bluntly, the Bills offense stunk it up because they because they couldn't control the line, or the clock on offense. They need better talent on that line IMHO.

In 2012 Spiller attained a phenomenal 6.0 yards per carry on 207 attempts, 1244 yards. Go back and look at the stats of RB's with 200 or more carries in the last ten years, and see which ones attained that type of success running the ball. Then if you go back and look at each game by game result you come away thinking that Chan Gailey simply didn't use Spiller often enough. Week 1, Opening day against the NY Jets- 14 attempts for 169 yards, one TD. 2 receptions for 25 yards..total 194 yards! week 2, against the Chiefs-15 attempts for 123 yards, two TD. 3 receptions for 47 yards....total 170 yards! week 3, against the Browns- 4 attempts for 16 yards , 2 receptions for 42 yards...total 58 yards Week 4, against the Patriots-8 attempts for 33 yards, 2 receptions for 5 yards...total 38 yards week 5, against the 49ers-7 attempts for 24 yards, no receptions... total 24 yards week 6, against the Cardinals-12 attempts for 88 yards, 4 receptions for 22 yards...total 110 yards week 7, against the Titans-12 attempts for 70 yards, 6 receptions for 32 yards...total 102 yards week 8, against the Texans-6 attempts for 39 yards, 5 receptions for 33 yards..total 72 yards. week 9, against the Patriots-9 attempts for 70 yards, 4 recptions for 61 yards...total 131 yards week 10, against the Dolphins-22 attempts for 91 yards, 3 receptions for 39 yards...total 130 yards week 11, against the Colts 14 attempts for 107 yards, 1 reception for -1 yards..total 106 yards week 12, against the Jags- 14 attempts for 77 yards, 1 reception for 7 yards...total 84 yards week 13, against the Rams-7 attempts for 37 yards, 1 reception for 15 yards...total 52 yards Week 14, against the Seahawks- 17 attempts for 103 yards, 3 receptions for -2 yards...total 101 yards week 15, against the Dolphins- 22 for 138 yards, 4 receptions for 35 yards...total 173 yards week 16, against the NY Jets- 24 attempts for 59 yards, 2 receptions for 72 yards....total 131 yards What I come away with looking at those games is that Chan Gailey didn't run Spiller enough, and or gave up on the run game entirely to quickly, as he panicked when the team got behind in points. Probably why Nate Hackett stated before the season started that he would run Spiller until he threw up. He did, he just didn't do it very effectively! In regards to that bolded part about Spiller's elusiveness, "They don’t get much more elusive than Spiller. He turned his 207 rushes into 1,244 yards largely because of his ability to turn a little into a lot. That’s why his 2012 Elusive Rating(94.6) was the best we’ve ever recorded. A threat every time he touched the ball and a snip at costing the Bills $3.5m of their cap." https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2013/02/25/performance-based-value-buffalo-bills/ So you see that I'm not the only one who think CJ Spiller could be an awesome asset to an offense that understands how to properly utilize him. Then think, "IF ONLY" the Bills had an offensive line comparable to the Eagles or 49ers, that they would absolutely dominate opposing teams with the run game. Thanks from, http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/01/13/2013-offensive-line-rankings/3/

You have to realize exactly how Gailey built his offense, and it was built more so around a broken QB in Ryan Fitzpatrick then it was for Spiller. Kinda why the Bills had 511 attempts passing vs 442 attempts rushing in 2012. One of the big reasons why Gailey was hired in the first place was, because he gloated to the Biills FO that he could build a winning team without superstars. Meaning he could do it with ordinary players rather then 15+ mill per QB's. Unlike Hackett, Gailey built his offense around Fitz because the guy was a journeyman QB, who was also excellent at reading defenses, setting then O line protections. But the main reason why Gailey loved Fitz (and never drafted a young QB to develop, and he went down in the ship with Fitz). Was because Fitz had an ability to get the ball out to the open receiver in 2 around seconds. This ability Fitz had to find Stevie Johnson in 2 seconds meant that the team didn't need a top O line to protect the QB for 3-5 seconds every play like Brady, Brees, Manning have. So Gailey could make things work with a sup par line. Then his 4-5 receiver spread offensive sets were just a smoke screen because the team only had one viable WR in SJ, and one viable receiving TE in Chandler. Kinda why Marrone & Co jettisoned all the other receivers aside from Stevie. Like Gailey, Hackett ran quite a lot out of the shotgun-spread formation hoping to duplicate Gailey's success but didn't seem to comprehend the differences between the offenses, and that his style of offense would actually hinder Spiller more then helping him make those big plays he was noted for making. I think this season will be very telling on if this coaching staff, and "IF" they can get the most out of their players by utilizing what they are best at, rather then forcing them into a style of play that simply doesn't suit their talents. So far I'm very leery of the Bills having a successful offense this up coming season mostly because they just signed the worst player from a bad St Louis O line to take over at LG. The Bills had a better ranked O line then the Rams did last year. This signing reminds me of the Bills signing Doug Legursky as an afterthought to back up the center position. Lord help us should Wood go out with an injury, as that running 71% up the middle will go right down the toilet with Legurski under center. Keep Spiller, build a better O line that can power block and open holes off tackle. Bills RB carries 456, carries off left end 6%- carries left tackle 11%- carries mid guard 71%- carries right tackle 10%- carries right end 3%. To put how lopsided that Buffalo offense was, the Eagles were the #1 rushing offense in the NFL last year. Eagles RB carries 402, carries off left end 21%- carries off left tackle 10%- carries off mid guard 40%- carries off right tackle 9%- Carries off right 19%. Now, that is a very well balanced effective offense run game.

While I agree with most of what you say in this post. However, I don't agree with that first sentence because that was a huge area where rookie OC Nate Hackett held CJ back! Like I said in an earlier post, CJ is not the type of back you run up mid guard 71% of the time (which is exactly what the Bills did),and I can recall the game announcers giving him grief because CJ wanted to bounce it outside for more then 2 yards up the middle. Then you need to consider how bad that O line really was PFF ranked them 25th in run blocking, and so many times I would see opposing teams stacking the box and keying on Spiller. So much so that he was often tackled behind the line of scrimmage. The #2 team in the NFL in rushing yards, and mostly due to the talent in the RB's. Opposing teams were so "amped up" in stopping the kid that averaged 6.0 YPC last in 2012, that they were indeed keying on him because he was the focal point of their entire defensive plan. They sure as heck weren't worried about EJ, or Freddy, or SJ, or Chandler. They were worried about the kid who can break one tackle and burn them for a big run. Then CJ and his struggles with a high ankle sprain, a very painful injury that can cause some players to miss 4-6 weeks http://leadingedgephysio.com/the-dreaded-high-ankle-sprain/ Spiller played in 15 games,so he only missed one game. The very last thing I want to see is a team like New England somehow obtaining Spiller and utilizing him properly and then ripping the bills up for 150 yards on 20 touches every time they play. If you think Marshawn Lynch to Seattle was stupid, then giving away the Bills best offensive weapon is galactic-ly stupid! JMO

Pardon me, but isn't that exactly the same reason he should be worth the 9 mill per to the Bills? Wouldn't that type of turnover machine be a good investment to a top defense? If he was able to make all those plays on a bad defense, then just think what he could do for a consistently good defense. The cash strapped Saints manage to cough up enough money to sign the best free agent Safety on the market, as their own starting safety Malcom Jenkins was stolen by Philly. To me it makes as much sense to pay Byrd what he wanted compared to the 100 million they paid Super Mario. In comparison between the two, wouldn't the INT machine be worth more?

So far, to me it is shaping up to be another difficult season to even watch games. I just don't see the "excellent job" in free agency this team has done. An excellent job in my view would have been to keep Byrd @ 9 mill, sign OG Geoff Schwartz, or go after Alex Mack and move Wood to OG. sign RT Zach Strief, and build that line properly. Although I like the Brandon Spikes signing to help stop the run, its not that great for me for a two down LBer.