starrymessenger

With McCoach and Frazier I begin to believe that we are not that far from having an elite D.

If Beane likes Cam (and I suspect he does) maybe he makes a play for Josh Allen.

I don't think Ritchie is a racist, but he has said racist things lol. Seriously I think that Ritchie is sort of an A-hole, but I really like good guard play. There are lots of nasty things that are said (and done) in the pit that I'm sure are as offensive as racial slurs. At the end of the day Ritchie is just a football player. It's not like he's the President of the United States or anything. So I find it easy to look the other way. But, speaking as a foreigner, and with all due and sincere respect, I think you folks are f#@&ed.

The RB position needs to be addressed and upgraded, and I believe it will be. I don't know though how OBD will prioritize their needs or what their philosophy is in approaching the draft. Many observers have said that as a general matter and across all position groups this year's class is not especially strong. If that's true then it's maybe not the greatest year to be showing up with a boatload of picks, though no doubt there are enuf great players for us to have a successful draft. OTOH the RB group is unusually good and deep. One approach would be to take that into account in setting the board and in giving that position group a certain priority. There is a generational talent (Barkely)who will and fully deserves to go top 5. Guice is not too far behind and there are a number of other guys who project as franchise backs. While it's certainly true that you can find a good to serviceable RB in later rounds, in a trade, as a FA or even off the street, there is a big difference between that type of back and a true franchise back. A franchise back is an important cornerstone in a traditional NFL offence. John Elway was a HOF QB but the Broncos only won a championship when they found a great RB. If you are drafting and grooming a young QB his best friend is a strong running game. The Bills have an elite back, but for how much longer? Since they need an upgrade to spell him, why not draft his successor? If they get lucky maybe they find another Terrell Davis in the sixth round, but the percentages are much more favourable in rounds up to an including the third. If a guy like Penny is somehow still on the board in the 3rd I certainly wouldn't be upset if the Bills pulled the trigger. If the Bills don't prioritize the position and are interested in finding a "complementary" back to McCoy they might consider Bo Scarborough in the fifth. I think he may well still be there because of injury concerns and the talent that will go before him. But he's a Karlos Williams clone without the career threatening addiction to China food.

Ref was standing fifteen feet away looking right at it.

Like I said, it's Coaches call, and I'm just reporting this as a rumour. OTOH I'd be surprised if the HC and the GM did not discuss important appointments like the one this would be, and it probably helps if they are both onside the decision.

Sorta like Mike Williams and Corey Davis. Guess they suck too lol.

Just an unconfirmed rumor but I heard Coach wanted him but Beane did not. It's Coach's call but McCoy allegedly off the list.

Not sure why he would make that comparison. Something Rudolph appears capable of doing is throwing a very catchable ball with accuracy and touch to all parts of the field. Henne doesn't really strike he as someone who can do that. Rudolphs stats certainly exaggerate his value though and need to be dicounted somewhat in evaluating him.

Not at all what I am saying. First of all to the extent that he's a "decoy" who opens up the passing game underneath he has to be a credible vertical threat. He is that (at least opposing defences seem to think so). I'm not defending him either but the last minute long ball that he failed to convert and that eliminated the Rams is a perfect illustration of my point. Sammy cleanly beats his cover but has to slow down because the ball is under thrown. He does a good job of using his body to box out the trailing corner at the goal line but let's the ball fall right through his arms although he's in very good position to make the play. That's entirely on him and that's why he's not elite.

Agree about accuracy, but that also sort of makes my point about fundamentals. You cannot consistently be very accurate without good mechanics.

Don't know about Walter Football. From what I've seen, read and heard (scout podcasts) Mayfield has a lively arm, plenty enuf to play at the next level. Not elite to be sure but plenty good enuf to make the throws, sort of like Russell actually. Also the comment about not having good mechanics is not what I see, read and have heard. Apparently he doesn't get credit for it but probably he should. Its unusual for smaller guys to make it, they are rare, but he looks to me to have a decent chance. All of the projected possible first round QBs have flaws. They all pretty much also have something (albeit different things) to offer. I really wish I knew what the braintrust at OBD is thinking.

I agree he has the tools to develop into another Russel Wilson. He's technically very sound, has good footwork, compact throwing motion, quick release, good field vision, accurate, strong arm. He will have to tone down his enthusiasm a bit, though hopefully not his leadership, when he starts playing with adults. Somehow tho my gut tells me that Beane is looking for the prototypical big boy pocket passer. Maybe Rudolph as many have speculated. He'll probably be off the board well before we get to pick anyway.

I can see why the Rams would want him. Kupp and RW, who are good possession WRs, will not be handing in such outstanding report cards next year if Sammy or an equally credible vertical threat is not on the roster. They are not that easy to find. With Sammy their passing attack worked well. Why fix it if it's not broken? I don't know if there is any favouritism in Goff's selection of targets but I would doubt it. Not making any excuses for Sammy regarding his production or his failure to make some crucial plays but it seems to me that while Goff has developed into a very good short/intermediate passer it's also fair to say that his long ball could still do with some work. I've seen Sammy beat his man cleanly and get under thrown time and time again.

Just so you know, Seth Galina is a coach at a High school here in Montreal, where hockey is really what people do. Maybe you should handle his opinions with care. No disrespect but he's hardly a mainstream analyst. Besides I think Galina means chicken in Italian. Actually Billspro is 100% correct (though not about Allen going in the fourth). The senior bowl is were you want to see Allen (even tho he's not a senior). I hope he gets lots of snaps and I look forward to hearing how he does in practices. The Combine will simply confirm his elite physical traits (and he will wow folks) but not give you any insight into what he can do in live action against pretty good competition. And that's the main issue surrounding his draft status. If he has a bad senior bowl week and game he could fall quite a lot.

He takes snaps 5 to 7 yards behind that enormous line and he has a compact delivery and a quick release. If he has to line up under centre in a pro style offence the big bodies will be a lot closer and if he's short that could be a problem. Moreover when Georgia adjusted at halftime from rushing 3 to rushing 4 he had trouble. If he's Doug Flutie short I don't know that Beane will want him. He helped draft Cam and the two backups on that team are both prototypical size. If as college listed he is 6''1" I would personally have no concerns.

You're right. I don't know how high MRs ceiling is. But picking a QB is largely about projecting his skillset to the next level. Only two QBs playing in a system like the one he does have been high picks - David Carr and Patrick Mahomes. And they were only picked where they were because they have elite arm talent. Rudolph does not have that. His arm strength is average by NFL standards. There is nothing really wrong with that. It's good enuf for him to have a career. But it's one of several things that will likely cause him to drop, quite possibly out of the first round. I think he could very well be there when the Bills first pick and I think there is a chance they take him. Forget about Washington. The guy you want IMO is his teammate Marcel Ateman. He will be the better pro.

Ive only seen the bowl game so there is that. Against the Buckeyes I did not see a guy who was especially quick off the snap. He was frequently single teamed and largely neutralized. On a crucial third down conversion attempt they ran right over him. Haven't checked but I assume Ohio State has a good o-line but still I was hoping to see more from him. He's obviously freaky athletic for his size tho. I think I saw him playng special teams covering punts. Maybe he is the next Ngata (who also had his detractors) but I think I'd try for Christian Wilkins instead.

Fair enuf. I too have a high opinion of Mayfield. I don't think he gets enuf credit for his smarts and technical competence. He would be a fan favourite wherever he played. My reservation is his size, specifically his height. If he's no taller than Flutie my gut tells me he's not a Beane kinda guy. Rosen is not a blue collar type of guy. He's on his way to the big apple IMO.

JRober all of these guys have flaws. All of them. That's why, back when you were still compos mentis, you correctly said that you often have to throw out the stat sheet when evaluating these guys. The college stats often make these prospects look a lot better than they really are - or a lot worse. As a ready to go pocket passer Rosen has fewer flaws than the other guys. Dude has a golden arm, can make all the throws and make them accurately. If we went with the WCO he'd be ideal. Thing is maybe he'd rather play tennis. So, who do you like BTW.

If the Bills want to fill some holes and not burn their whole draft Rudolph is a candidate for sure. If they can nab him without moving up they very well might. What I don't know is how Beane feels about spending a first and sinking or swimming on a guy who is probably limited as to his ceiling. He would however be an immediate upgrade to what we have been used to seeing and there would be nothing to prevent Beane from picking another QB he might like more next year. I like Mayfield better but if he's 5'10" I have a hard time seeing Beane drafting him, assuming he can.

Rodgers was a cocky arrogant smug SOB. Process oriented guys sometimes don't like that. Same thing happened to G. Smith and Brady Quinn. That's why the 49rs probably preferred the much more approachable Alex Smith. Once he started to slide there was no getting out of the green room. Odd because before the draft he was seen as a likely #1 pick by many. The NFL humiliated him. Of course he went on to humiliate the naysayers. Rosen is a guy who could fall a bit because of his elitist attitude. He too will be a very good QB - if he wants to be. AR had the desire to be great, and of course he is.

77 million (I think 30 guaranteed) 4 years with no bonus. Thing is Irsay's will want at least some of our picks. How about another underperforming linebacker?

I suspect that the Bills will be drafting a QB with an early pick. They may move up to do it. They may not have enuf ammo to nail one of the top guys and they may not be willing to gut their entire draft for a QB either. They passed on a couple of good prospects last year, some feel better prospects than are available in this year's draft. We don't know what they are going to do, but we sort of know what the available options may be. If they get a vet good enuf to start they can go for a guy with a high ceiling but who is not ready to start. That would be Darnold/Allen. If they intend to start a rook assuming he wins the QB competition, then I think you are pretty much looking at Rosen, Rudolph and Mayfield. Mayfield behind Rudolph as a prospective starter but not for long IMO because unlike Rudolph he has a positive upward trending trajectory. Rudolph is a good QB and has played a lot of games, but he's pretty much the same guy he was four years ago. Mayfield is a very different and better QB today than when he started out. Rudolph can throw with accuracy and touch pretty much to all parts of the field even if his arm strength is only average. Unlike Tyrod he throws a very catchable ball. He's smart and is good at reading a defence. When things break down though his mechanics do as well. He becomes a very different QB. And you know that in the NFL the chaos will come. Mayfield plays in a QB friendly system, it's true, but the funny thing about him is that in his decision making he frequently forgoes his first, best and easy read to attempt a more spectacular, lower percentage throw. Unlike Rudolph he can excell when things break down. A little mentioned fact is that he is an excellent technician who has outstanding mechanics. Mayfield will have to tone down his college enthusiasm a tad in the pros, hopefully while retaining his leadership qualities. His teammates will not be kids but 30 year old guys with families to support.

Josh Rosen should be, based on value, the # 1 pick in this year's draft IMO. He is pretty much solely responsible for whatever little success the Bruins were able to achieve. He did not dominate college football and was unable to turn a mediocre program into a BCS contender. His lackluster supporting cast will not prevent him from being drafted high, and neither will the other Josh's. Of course maybe you don't think Rosen is a good prospect either.