Astrobot

DraftTek has the bills drafting #14, selecting http://www.drafttek.com/2013-NFL-Mock-Draft-Round1.asp Do you want me to change the Positional preferences? http://www.drafttek.com/teamneeds2012.asp Astro

Pandora for interface, Grooveshark for freedom of selecting specific songs.

I prefer the existing logos. Call me a coot, but I think too much change -- uniforms, players on teams switching around, logos, etc. -- makes it harder for the fan to connect with the team. I know many of you think of Buffalo Bills and think white helmet, or royal blue, or standing buffalo. The youngster who's trying to connect with a team, to make it HIS team, needs consistency. The NY Yankees cap still looks the same today as the one I had, the pinstripes are still there, and, even though Mickey Mantle is gone, the ethos is the same, and The sense of "my team" remains intact. /rant

Badasse. What loco motive did he have?

I think it will shake out like this: 1. Stevie Johnson 2. David Nelson 3. Derek Hagan 4. TJ Graham 5. Marcus Easley 6. waived WR Jacoby Jones was waived this month. Seattle, Green Bay, and New England currently have 7 wide receivers better than Roosevelt/Jones. At Green Bay, Driver has decided to return, so James Jones might be available via trade. At Seattle, they have 13 WR's and 7 TE's on roster right now. NEP* has 10 plus Welker.

I may be in the minority, but I like our chances with Chandler, Lee, and Onobun, especially with Metzelaars coaching them.

My list of one player from each round of the 2011 Draft (a couple of ties): 1-Matt Kalil, Minnesota. Ponder will profit from having Kalil more than, say, Kolb will profit from Michael Floyd or Miami with Tannehill. 2-Alshon Jeffery, Chicago. No one smiling wider right now than Jay Cutler. He will line up opposite Brandon Marshall, which won't hurt. 3-T.J. Graham, Buffalo. With Johnson being doubled and Nelson/Jackson/Spiller getting the attention, TJ might do better than we think. This could also be Mohamed Sanu, but I don't think he makes the Bangals better than Graham makes the Bills. 4-Joe Adams, Carolina. I think Adams will be starting Week 1, and will make people forget about Steve Smith. 4-Robert Turbin, Seattle. Here's Beastmode 2.0. Big, fast, and mean. 5-Josh Chapman, Colts. Chapman, Dareus' sidekick at 'Bama, is a key component of the switch to 3-4 base in Indy. He'll play more than all 5th rounders. 6-Markelle Martin, Titans. Solid man guy, better zone guy. Solid tackler. 6-LaVon Brazill, Colts. I think he'll play into the Colts offense. Will work the middle of the field and has speed to attain separation. 7-Audie Cole, Minnesota. Disappointed at the combine, but Cole is a gamer who looked great in practice at the Senior Bowl. Astro

A RB who can run, block and receive? The Bills could pick a RB in the next draft that has this triple-threat potential. From Buffalobillsdraft.com: Onterio McCalebb-Auburn With Michael Dyer now gone the rushing game will fall almost exclusive on the shoulders of McCalebb. McCalebb is a speed back who will need to continue to be an effective option in the passing game in order to maintain his current value. Orwin Smith-Georgia Tech Orwin Smith is an interesting back because he plays in the Triple Option offense. He’s a nice combo back with good size and speed but he’s taken a lot of hits in that offense. Smith also has some pass catching ability and has been a favorite target of Tevin Washington.

"D" ARE US

I think the NFL's top d-line will come from a short list of 49ers, Texans, Steelers, Giants, Lions, and Bills. If the Bills can stay healthy, I have to rank the Bills in the top 3. Who's got the best D-Line on paper? 49ers: Mudders Isaac Sopoaga, Aubrayo Franklin, and Ray McDonald eat up blockers, allowing Aldon Smith to get sacks. Justin Smith recorded 7.5 sacks of his own. Passing-down DE's Ahmad Brooks, Travis LaBoy, Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson act as linebackers on non-passing downs. Justin Smith is their heart and soul. Texans: JJ Watt, Antonio Smith, Shaun Cody. The Texans are at their most dangerous in passing situations when Watt and Smith move inside and Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed, the starting OLBs, drop down to rush. Barwin and Reed combined for 17½ sacks in the regular season. Both Watt and Reed had 3½ in the playoffs. In Wade Phillips’ first season as defensive coordinator, the Texans set a team record with 44 sacks, and they played their last 13 games, including the playoffs, without the injured Mario Williams. Steelers: Ziggy Hood, Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel with Cameron Heyward Giants: Pierre-Paul, Kiwanuka, Tuck, Umeniora Lions: Avril, Suh/Fairley, Corey Williams, VanDenBosch

We will be drafting 14th in our first mock. there may be a #2 QB at that spot, or a #3. And you are dead on about the top TE being still available there. Likely looking at the best 4-3 OLB as well.

I'm looking for comments about positional needs for a June mock draft. Yes, I know it's early, and our picks haven't put on shoulder pads yet, but a droid's gotta do what a droid's gotta do as Bills analyst. What say you to this: QB---P1 (top priority) OLB--P2 (pick OLB if a QB isn't found on the Big Board within 12 slots) WRF--P3 (pick WR if QB, OLB aren't found on the Big Board within 12 slots) P4's: LOT--Left Offensive Tackle SILB-Strong Inside Linebacker P6's: WRP--Wide Receiver, Possession type TE---Tight End OC---Center WILB-weak Inside Linebacker FS---Free Safety SS---Strong Safety CB---Cornerback All other positions are set at P9 and won't likely be taken.

Barnett was playing OLB in 10 of 17 games last year (with Shep or Davis in the MLB). PFF ranked Barnett positively in 8 of those 10. Tank Carder played in a 4-2-5 at TCU.

Bills LB's did just fine last year, and will do even better with Wanny's 4-3 and some more rush from the D-Line. Last year, Bills LB's had positive ratings from Pro Football Focus for the most part. LB's are listed in order of strength of rating. MLB/ILB is in bold, negative performances in parentheses: LB's PFF Positive in Week 1 (Chiefs): Barnett, Sheppard, Davis LB's PFF Positive in Week 2 (Oak): Kelsay, Barnett, Davis, Batten (Shep DNP) LB's PFF Positive in Week 3 (NEP*): Davis (Shep DNP) LB's PFF Positive in Week 4 (Cincy): Davis (Shep DNP, Barnett was neg) LB's PFF Positive in Week 5 (Philly): Moats, Barnett, Sheppard, Davis LB's PFF Positive in Week 6 (NYGiants): Batten, Barnett, Moats (Shep and Davis neg) LB's PFF Positive in Week 8 (Wash): Moats, Morrison, Barnett, Sheppard LB's PFF Positive in Week 9 (Jets): Sheppard, Batten LB's PFF Positive in Week 10 (Cowboys): Barnett, Coleman (Batten, Moats, Shep neg) LB's PFF Positive in Week 11 (Fins): Barnett, Sheppard, Moats, Morrison, Batten (no neg) LB's PFF Positive in Week 12 (Jets): Kelsay, Barnett, Davis (Sheppard, Moats neg) LB's PFF Positive in Week 13 (Titans): Barnett, Sheppard, Davis (Kelsay neg) LB's PFF Positive in Week 14 (Chargers): Kelsay, Barnett, Sheppard, (Moats, Davis neg) LB's PFF Positive in Week 15 (Fins): Sheppard, Davis, Moats, Morrison (Barnett neg) LB's PFF Positive in Week 16 (Broncos): Kelsay, Morrison, Sheppard, Davis (Barnett neg) LB's PFF Positive in Week 17 (NEP*): Davis, Barnett (Shep, Morrison, Kelsay neg)

Ken Whisenhunt has rarely started a rookie in Game 1. He has been having quadriceps problems. About 30% of SB Nation say he won't start Week 1. Here's a discussion: http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/2012/5/20/3032740/rotb-reader-poll-by-when-will-michael-floyd-become-a-starter-for-the-arizona-cardinals I will bet Michael Floyd will be injured early in the season but will be starting by Week 4.

Wonderful post. I would love to see a source because I love data. Wisely, Nix opted for pass rush in FA and scored big time, fixing the greatest Bills shortcoming in your list ("Defensive sacks. We were bad."). In the draft, he went for a safe CB for more INT's, and a solid O-Line guy for more time for FitzMagic.

http://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/BUF

Pro Football Focus (PFF) analyzes each play of each game for each player and assigns point values on each play. PFF Premium Version has Sheppard 5th on the team in overall defense after Dareus, Byrd, Barnett, and Kelsay. In Run Defense, Sheppard is ranked #1 above #2 Barnett and #3 Kelsay. In Pass Rush, only 8 Bills rank above a 0.0 rating. Shep is #6 behind Dareus, Kelsay, Moats, Davis, & Heard. I suspect that he'll be in the #5/#6 range next year behind Williams, Williams, Dareus, & Kelsay/Merriman. In Pass Defense, he ranks 5th from the bottom. Drayton Florence was below him with Reggie Corner, Aaron Williams, and George Wilson. A better pass rush will improve Sheppard's, Williams' and Wilson's standing. Either that or Bryan Scott will be in there for obvious passing downs.

We know that Nix brought in 2 WR's for a visit. Brian Quick from Appalachian State, who was picked before the Bills pick in the 3rd, and Justin Blackmon. Perhaps they had drinks, and Blackmon finished his before Nix.

Wow...Blackmon arrested, Floyd unlikely to start, maybe Nix is a foreteller of the future.

Yet the Bills elected not to bring back Andra Davis and Reggie Torbor. Try again.

Only knock on him was that he's not a great one-on-one cover guy. I'd see him as a solid 1st-2nd down guy, being replaced perhaps by Bryan Scott.

Agree. Ron Brooks could also be in the mix, as he is amazing in the open field. I also don't think they'll use a vital player for KR/PR if they have bona fide return men on the roster. So, maybe, in order of proba-BILL-ity IMHO: Rogers Brooks BSmith Searcy Graham Spiller

Link? Last year's abbreviated preseason didn't help, either.

This is huge, as it's one of DeHaven's priorities this year (a worse drive start for the opponent's offense). Even if Powell is Moorman's equal during preseason, we need to shop the older player around.