thewildrabbit

I think most fans just don't get how valuable certain players are in the league. It takes a very special player to make the impact that Byrd made, playing on bad defenses. Obviously the Saints thought he was worth the investment, and the Bills didn't. It just really bugs me that both those 2009, 2nd round picks who graded out above average are now both gone. Then consider that the first, first round pick in that draft was a complete bust in Maybin. So, when they do manage to find decent talent, that they have great difficulty keeping it.

This. The Bills ran mid guard, or up the middle 71% of the time last season, and that is simply not Spiller's forte to pound it up the middle. As Promo put it Gailey did manage to get Spiller more running room by utilizing a 4-5 WR spread vs Hackett's 3 WR-TE spread. The difference being is with 4-5 WR's on the field it not only causes the opposing defense to spread out more, it also usually makes the defense substitute DB's over Lbers. If the defense keeps LBers on the field, then the WR's have a mismatch. If the defense subs in more DB's, then its a mismatch for the RB's. Hackett was so predictable last year with his run play calling almost always up the middle, and almost always keeping TE's in to help with the blocking for protection. Hopefully this year Hackett will change up his offense to get Spiller more into space, or actually to run off tackle more to allow him to break some long runs like he used to do.

TE Scott Chandler was last years leading receiver on the team, and although Chan Gailey didn't put a high value on the TE position. It just might be that even though the team already has Moeaki, Chandler, that they could want an elite player at that position, and Ebron would fit that mold. The thing is, I see many draft sites grading Ebron as an early to middle round pick, and going anywhere from 14 to 20, so the Bills could trade back and land him. That said, It wouldn't surprise me at all to see the Bills draft a safety with the #9.Hasean Haha Clinton-Dix. They lose a top safety, so they draft another. All this talk of a right tackle is a waste of time considering who they just signed to play LG, as this team simply doesn't put a premium on RT position.

probably another reason why Mike Mayock says he would draft Mack #1 overall.

Thanks for posting the accurate numbers, as that does reinforce to me that they signed Williams to be a starter. "Williams' deal averages $3.287 million per season, making him the 12th-highest paid player on the Bills. His $4 million guaranteed ranks 14th on the team. " It really is disheartening to see that nothing has really changed so far. Perhaps in the draft...

I've recently starting to ask myself that exact question. I've been hoping the Bills would eventually build an O line like they had in the Jim Kelly days. They recently started to get there with Glenn, Wood, Levitre, and then let Levitre walk, and tried to replace him with players they outright cut after 6 regular season starts. So, it is every disheartening for me to see this team sign someone who graded as poorly as Williams. I'm hoping he plays better then his very poor PFF grade, as Legursky didn't. The Bills shelled out $13.5 million for Williams - $5.5 million guaranteed - which almost certainly means that he's the team's new starting left guard. http://www.buffalorumblings.com/buffalo-bills-news/2014/3/12/5500396/nfl-free-agency-2014-chris-williams-signs-buffalo-bills

Naturally us Bills fans would like to see more talent, and better depth for the offensive line then some scrubs off the waiver wire. Last off season the Bills went dumpster diving to a bad Steeler O line pick up the worst graded player on their line in Doug Legursky as the backup center. He filled in for 10 games, and graded as the worst starting player on that line in fort Buffalo in 2013, so nothing we didn't already know. This season the Bills went diving again for the worst graded player on the St Louis line to become the starter at LG, as 5.5 mill guaranteed says he will start. While both C Eric Wood & LT Cordy Glenn are solid starters on that line. There is absolutely no solid depth behind them with Legursky grading as a very poor run blocker, and since the Bills ran 71% of the time behind Wood. The bills will encounter serious issues should either Glenn or Wood suffer a season ending injury. You guys need to understand that this franchise simply doesn't believe in building an offensive line with elite or even top talent. For some reason they recently tend to value players with bad grades that other teams are looking to rid themselves of. I can only imagine that the FO thinks that running a quick strike, short passing scheme with eliminate the need for top talent. I have given up hope that the Bills will build a superior, power blocking offensive line.

Most fans don't want to believe this fact. 100 million dollar DE, and still 6-10. yet the Bills dumpster dive others teams worst players garbage. This Williams signing was 1000 times worse then Legursky because he was regulated as a backup, a bad back up...but still an emergency backup. 5.5 million guaranteed says Williams is the starter at LG

Plus, they don't want to put precious Jeff Tuel on the practice squad. I get this suspicion that we will see a lot of all 3 QB's this year, as they go in and out of injury mode due to another year of bad O lines.

Nobody could be worse then Colin Brown, as he graded as the very worst player in the NFL last year. Colin Brown made himself look bad (-30.1) after 6 games, and if anything it allowed Glenn to look better because opposing teams knew where the weak link was in that line, and exploited it. Glenn probably saw less heat as teams would focus on Brown, and then Legursky when he took over for Brown in week 7, JMO. But yea, like I said, Glenn didn't regress. You make a good point should the Bills choose to draft a OG, and a OT early for depth, as all positions need time to develop. Those players could also help greatly with special teams. Should the Bills do this to add proper depth for that line, it could change everything. Just very highly doubtful that the Bills change their ways by doing that though.

Run blocking isn't what I'm particularly concerned with at this point, as the Bills will continue to overwork Wood. If nothing else the Bills proved that they could amass quite a bit of yardage by running mid guard. Lord help them should Wood suffer a severe injury, as Legursky would then take over at center...then they won't be running the ball whatsoever tho. Utter chaos will ensue should Glenn, or Wood go on IR. Anyway, what I am concerned about is the development and protection of that corps of young QB's, and especially EJ. I dunno, maybe this coaching staff, and new GM Whaley believe in baptism by fire. Thinking those young QB's won't learn quickly enough how to cope under duress in crunch time if they don't endure it all the time. I'm a firm believer in building a superior O line, building a power run game to control the line like the 2008 Ravens did, and allowed Joe Flacco to develop at his own pace. The guy is a statue and needed great blocking in front of him. Exactly how will EJ develop properly if is he is taken down every other play like a bowling pin? Has any QB succeeded in the last 14 years, or since Jim Kelly? Oh yea, I forgot that they all sucked!! I suppose that is what everyone will say about EJ, Lewis, and Tuel in two years after they are beaten down and shell shocked behind craptastic lines. Last year the Bills allowed 108 hits and *48 sacks and ranked 28th in pass blocking. So yea, a big part of the QB's play will depend on how well his LG, and line plays. Just like every team in the NFL, as it is a team sport.

Well, what is interesting is that Marrone was "hands on" the field last off season, lining up along side his players, and teaching them technique, and all but Glenn regressed. Two young backups that Marrone thought he could "coach up" in Colin Brown, and Sam Young were so bad at replacing Levitre that both were cut after week six. The back up for center was forced into the LG position because the only backups to the OG after him were directly off the waiver wire. Now Eric Wood didn't grade as well last year as he had previously, and that could be that Andy Levitre was no longer there to his left side. The Bills did kinda overwork him tho considering 71% of the run plays went right up the middle. Anyway, perhaps because of the failure with both OG's Brown and Young, that Marrone now feels the need to prove he can coach up the O line....or this simply could be like BillsVet stated that the Bills are just running the same, lame routine they have been running the last 14 years. We will soon see.

Man, what a dreamer... What makes you think EJ is going to achieve any kind of success this year with a LG who graded as bad as Williams did last year for the Rams. "Dud: He may be a former first-rounder but Chris Williams (-21.8) is just a liability as a lineman. Far too much pressure, not enough good run blocking, and he’s the team’s weak link on offense." https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/01/13/2013-offensive-line-rankings/2/ Williams will start at LG because that 5.5 million guaranteed says he will. Doug Legursky will go back to being the backup center who graded as one of the worst LG's in the league. Not much really changed. How close this team is to the playoffs depends on the play of a second year QB, and his performance will depend on how well that line in front of him performs.

It wasn't just ESPN,as Mike Mayock also stated that while Glenn can play left tackle he would be even more dominate at RT, and an all pro at guard. Mostly that was said because the guy is massive at 6'6'' 345, and usually players that huge are just not as agile as you need at LT. While Glenn was a force at LT in 2013, he wasn't voted to the pro bowl as an elite player at his position. Its tough enough to draft a top LT early in the draft and have them perform as well as Glenn has on the left side. He isn't moving anywhere, anytime soon. That said, I don't believe Bills fans need to worry about this team drafting a tackle at #9. They prefer to find players like Doug Legursky, Chris Williams.

This team has become so predictable. Kinda like running up the middle 71% of the time. Just going by their logic, they currently have Pears on the roster, and how Hairston is supposedly fully healthy. so no RT. They don't need a WR as they drafted two in the first three rounds last year, and a 3rd rounder two years ago. They signed a TE in Tony Moeoki, so unless they let Chandler leave it won't be a TE! Even if they let Chandler leave they won't draft a TE until the second or third round. This franchise loves star defensive players, and loves to draft them early. I'd say its a good bet that they draft Ha ha Clinton-Dix. It seems almost pre determined that they draft a player with a name like that. They lose a FS, so they draft a FS. Now, if only there was a RB ranked in the top 15

I gotta wonder if this is just part of the grand scheme of deflection? To constantly deflect all the blame to the QB, and off the FO, & owner. So fans are so busy complaining about the QB play that they lose sight of the bigger picture. This way the QB doesn't have a chance to succeed in any offensive scheme. Success has many fathers, and defeat is an orphan. No playoffs mean no big expensive journeys with the entire org to the big game. No multiple pro bowl players that want more money. Keep things simple and under control. Meanwhile keeping the stadium filled would be a job for a football man, or a marketing man? I agree with you BillsVet, as It just makes no sense to me to go so many years with sub par offensive lines. I just don't get it.

Me too. to the op, JaMarcus Russell was a 1st overall pick, did that mean he was going to be great? That O linemen the Bills just signed is a very slight upgrade to Doug legursky, and like Legursky was for the Steelers, Williams was the very worst graded player on the line in St Louis. Both those players graded in double digits in the RED! -24 & -21 So far Whaley has shown me that he is a chip off the good ole bumpkin in terms of signing scrubs for the O line. He gets it right for the defense, but so far he gets a grade of Z for building a top offensive line for all those young, inexperienced QB's. I feel bad for EJ, he deserves better then this .

keep dreaming guys.... now that Byrd is a Saint the Bills FO can now justify drafting a safety with the #9 pick, as they me love them some DB's The OP is 100% correct about not drafting a RT at #9, as they will either give that job to Chris Hairston or keep Pears in that RT position. The FO , and the majority of the fans this board thinks the team can win with scrubs playing on the O line.

The Saints paid him what? 9.6 mill per, and if he helps them get to another super bowl, and they win it again... will he be worth it then? Anyway, apparently the Saints thought he was worth the money. Andy Levitre didn't miss a game his entire time in Buffalo, and graded as the team best pass blocker. The Bills proceeded to replace him with garbage, and paid them garbage and in return got garbage play. This year they went dumpster diving into the Rams dumpster and came away with their worst O linemen. Last season 108 hits, 48 sacks, and nearly 20+ more sacks then the previous season The Bills drafted a rookie QB with their #1 pick, and now has three 2nd year QB's on the roster. Yea, it makes perfect sense to me to bring in a bunch of rookie QB's and have them run for their lives...because they all suck. SSDY

Somebody posted the Bills are filling the ranks with some cheap, garbage free agents But he wasn't expensive...

After all, like BB said, he is a durable former #1 draft pick for that O line....he, he, he must be good because Williams' deal includes $5.5 million guaranteed. I just don't see the frosting and sprinkles tho I just see a turd that replaced several other turds. Its sok, the O line doesn't matter to this new GM, as he was trained by the good ole bumpkin. Besides, EJ doesn't mind running for his life on his gimp knee

I'll bet they do better then the Bills.

While the defense is loaded up with top #1 & #2 round draft picks the Bills felt the need to being in a craptastic #1 pick at OG. Although Chris Williams failed badly with the team that drafted him in Chicago, and he still is the NFL playing OG with St Louis last season you have to admire the Bills for signing a failed #1 to the O line. Only in Buffalo would a team replace the highest graded player on the O line (Andy Levitre) with two of the lowest graded players in the NFL, only to cut them both after two regular season games. Then start the backup center at LG who graded as the worst player on the Steelers very bad O line in Doug Legursky. So, now the team has signed one of the very worst players they could possibly find at OG. Welcome to 6-10 again "Last season Williams led all Rams linemen with 923 snaps despite being one of the worst graded guards in the NFL (-21.8)" https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/03/03/team-needs-st-louis-rams/

The guy might know defensive players as he got it right so many times last year. Manny Lawson, Kiko, Jerry Hughes, Alan Branch. But then on the offensive side LG Colin Brown, his back up in Sam Young, and both cut by week six, Signed Doug Legursky away from the Steelers who fielded a very bad O line in 2012 and Legursky graded as the worst (-24.6) So this year knowing they needed to upgrade the LG and RT positions they signed Chris Williams to fill that LG position who graded (-21.8) four year 13.5 million & 5.5 guaranteed. "Dud: He may be a former first-rounder but Chris Williams (-21.8) is just a liability as a lineman. Far too much pressure, not enough good run blocking, and he’s the team’s weak link on offense." https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/01/13/2013-offensive-line-rankings/2/ #22 out of 32 is being kind if this latest move doesn't work out. First Byrd, and now this...shaping up to be another 6 win season, if they are lucky.

Hey man, its really kinda foolish to buy season tickets to a perennial loser. Unless you succumb to the fear campaign of "OH NO" the Bills will move if I don't buy my season tickets. The Bills lost a top starter, and 2nd round pick last off season in LG Andy Levitre, and got nothing in return. Then tried to replace him with utter garbage in two horrible backup players not even worthy to even be backups. This year they lost a very young 3x pro bowl safety to a perennial playoff team, and will probably get little in return. I gotta wonder how long it will take to find another pro bowl safety? Nothing changes...