Astrobot

From Twitter: Rex Grossman hospitalized with pneumonia http://wapo.st/vjZ8GK From Twitter: Expect the #Redskins to add QB Jonathan Crompton from the practice squad if Grossman doesn't recover in time to get ready for the Bills game From Twitter: BillyVable BillyVable The Washington #Redskins have announced that Tim Hightower indeed did sustain an ACL tear, and has been humanely destroyed. From Twitter: Mike Shanahan said that Niles Paul and Anthony Armstrong will both be used to replace Moss as X-receivers in two-receiver sets.

Here's what I'm getting from you for this week's DraftTek Consensus Mock. P1=a pass-rushing 3-4 OLB. The computer will take this position in RD1 UNLESS the next best player is too much of a reach. In that case, it takes a P2, and so on. P2=a lockdown corner. P2=an edge-sealing 3-4 RDE to play opposite Dareus. P3=a tackle if they don't give contracts to Bell, Pears and Urbik. Keep it P3 for now. P3=a featured wide receiver (WRF) as opposed to a speed guy (WRS) or a possession guy (WRP). P3=another 3-4DT, although you saw the Bills' moves --we have 2 DT's on the PS now. P3=a QB to learn from Fitz. P4's=WRS, RT, RG, LG, TE, DE4-3, FS, SS All other positions are P6 or P9 I can live with this, even though I expected more QB and TE talk, and maybe FS. Also, you could talk me into a WRS at P4 to replace Parrish and stretch the field... Duly submitted. They'll likely run the mock tonight, with all 32 teams doing this same thing. This is done in fun. If it stops being fun, Ben and Jerry say you should stop doing it. --Astro

I thought Chandler Jones looked better than Quinton Coples this weekend, and they both had monster games.

http://www.drafttek.com/BigBoardPg1.asp He's #14 on our Big Board. We have him as a 3-4 rush OLB in the pros. I disagree. If the draft were tomorrow (it won't be), here would be the choice for the Bills at #24, where the DraftTek analysts have Buffalo this week: Andrew Datko OT Florida State (#4 OT behind Kalil, Martin, Adcock) D. Paige-Moss OLB34 UNC (the #2 3-4 OLB behind Brandon Jenkins) Jared Crick DE34 Nebraska (the #1 3-4DE) Michael Floyd WRF Notre Dame (the #3 WR behind Jeffery and Broyles)

RD2 #44 Philadelphia Nico Johnson OLB43 Alabama (before our 2nd pick) Hightower #52 to the Giants, followed by this run on some excellent players: 2 52 NY Giants Don'ta Hightower ILB Alabama 2 53 Tampa Bay Lavonte David OLB43 Nebraska 2 54 New England Vinny Curry DE43 Marshall 2 55 Houston Stephen Hill WRF Georgia Tech 2 56 Buffalo Cliff Harris CB Oregon

You can only have one P1 (top priority). I don't think we're only looking at one priority. Maybe next year. We can have lots of P2's; then the computer picks the best available player at one of those positions. I like both OT and OLB in this draft; if we put P2 on both positions (with no P1), it will take the BPA. ILB's will go fast in the '12 draft (we're thinking 4 in the first 20 picks).

We have Upshaw as 34OLB, 3rd best after Coples and Jenkins http://www.drafttek.com/PositionalOLB34.asp and strongside ILB http://www.drafttek.com/PositionalSILB.asp 5th best at that position (Burfict, Hightower, Kuechly, Manti Te'o). We don't need ILB; we need pass rush and edge sealers. While I don't think that Coples is the Bills' ultimate answer at #17-24 (think of a bigger Adrian Clayborn), Coples can seal the outside edge like Clayborn and turn the play back inside. Coples needs lots of coaching on his rush moves, but he won't freelance like Von Miller is doing. Clayborn's skills are translating well to the NFL. I don't think Jenkins will come out this year, so that's a moot point. BTW, I listen to the guys at DraftTek who do this for a living, not Wiki.

I think we're comparing apples and screwdrivers. We need a 3-4DE, 3-4OLB, and another DT, not a ILB like Upshaw. No OLB43 like Zach Brown or 43DT like Jerel Worthy. I'd even take a good cover CB in RD1. My choices, drafting at #17-24, would be (in my order of preference): Billy Winn DE34 Boise State Brandon Jenkins OLB34 Florida State Morris Claiborne CB LSU Levy Adcock OT Oklahoma State Alameda Ta'amu DT34 Washington Andrew Datko OT Florida State Donte Paige-Moss OLB34 North Carolina Jared Crick DE34 Nebraska

I need to turn in our positional needs for DraftTek (32-Team List Here) by Sunday. Things are clouded right now by injuries, but the need for depth actually became clearer at some positions, and some players stepping up have reduced need at other positions. My Stab At It (P1=Top Priority, P9=Not a Priority at All; there is no such thing as P5, P7 or P8): QB=P2 Yes Fitz is very good, but Thigpen-Smith doesn't cut it for depth and grooming) RBF=P4 (RBF=feature back) Jackson has a couple years left; draft heir unless you believe in Hall-Spiller) RBC=P9 (RBC=change of pace) Spiller is the change of pace back; so is Johnny White, McIntyre, Smith WRF=P6 (feature WR) Love Johnson-Nelson-Jones-Roosevelt, but need to replace Easley and Ruvell) WRS=P4 (speed WR) Parrish is injured often; upcoming draft has burners with more height/muscle LT=P2 Bell-Hairston ain't bad but you need a franchise LT LG=P4 Levitre is wonderful, backup Colin Brown is who exactly? C=P6 Wood is good but look at the depth chart--there is nobody listed RG=P6 Urbik-Rinehardt is looking better than it did 6 months ago; Urbik and Wood have top numbers right now RT=P3 Pears-Young is acceptable, probably won't pull the trigger on an RT in the first 3 rounds DE=P3 Dareus-Heard-Johnson-Edwards is pretty good, until you find out we still develop no push NT=P2 Williams-Troup. Injured-injured. Need quality depth to get push, possibly early as RD1-2 ILB=P6 Barnett-Sheppard is a strong position on this team. Shep only needs time to be great. OLB=P2 Time to set a high priority to bringing in this year's Von Miller. It's not Merriman. FS=P4 This draft is strong at safety, we have 3 SS's and Byrd. CB=P2 Not quite sold on McKelvin-McGee-Florence-Williams-Rodgers in a division with Brady. I'd appreciate your preferences! DraftTek interactively creates drafts, as well as its simulator, this way. Astro

I like Dontari Poe of Memphis. Good player on a bad team. Sylvester Williams and Fletcher Cox are my other two. Who knows where they'll end up. Cox's numbers are impressive, so he may float up to where the first rounders are. Right now, the RD1#17 pick is DT Alameda Ta'amu of Washington---7 tackles each at Oregon last year, and has played every game since being a freshman. http://www.gohuskies.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/taamu_alameda00.html How about Dareus' teammate, Josh Chapman?

Each week, ProfootballFocus grades out each player on each play and comes up with an evaluation. After looking at the 22 Run plays and 37 Pass plays, Kraig Urbik received a 4.1 rating overall, the top pass block rating and the top run block rating. I want to remind folks that when Urbik became available (claimed off waivers from the Steelers), Nix proudly said he now had the top 3 linemen on their draft board playing for the Bills -- Wood, Levitre, and Urbik: “To be honest when we drafted Eric Wood and Andy Levitre, the three top interior linemen on the draft board were those two and Urbik. So now we’ve got all three of them,” Nix said. “We just didn’t get him early enough to get him ready quickly, but we’re working on it.” source Sure enough, those 3 linemen were the top blockers on Sunday.

Again, of 129 people playing his position in the NFL, Dwan Edwards ranked #121 of 129 (#102 pass rush #122 rushing defense). He's a starter by default. He'll be replaced.

They rank him poorly. First of all, he's lumped with NT/DT's, an unfair comparison for many of the stats. However, you asked. NT/DT's, Overall Ranking (Out Of 129): Dareus #17 of 129 (#10 pass rush, #40 rushing defense) Spencer Johnson #44 of 129 (#25 pass rush #70 rushing defense) Torell Troup #56 of 129 (#36 pass rush #79 rushing defense) Kyle D. Williams #108 of 129 (#64 pass rush, #38 rushing defense) Kellen Heard #114 of 129 (#90 pass rush #71 rushing defense) Dwan Edwards #121 of 129 (#102 pass rush #122 rushing defense)

A very enjoyable read. Thanks for posting. You are a good writer. I can almost always find spelling or grammatical errors, but you passed that test! I'm a teacher, so I can give you the A, for content as well as mechanics!! Three points I'd debate with you: 1. You did have a choice on whether to become a Bills fan (free will). 2. Bob Matthews sucks. 3. Chix only suck sometimes.

We don't have an elite defensive end you have to plan for. San Francisco has two of the top 3 pass rushers statistically right now, Justin Smith and Ray McDonald. Dareus is on his way. He's #9 on this list, but Dwan Edwards is not on this list. We need 2 to play. 1 Justin Smith SF 2 Antonio D. Smith HST 3 Ray McDonald SF 4 Darnell Dockett ARZ 5 Randy Starks MIA 6 Calais Campbell ARZ 7 Wallace Gilberry KC 8 Kendall Langford MIA 9 Marcell Dareus BUF 10 Brett Keisel PIT 11 Vonnie Holliday ARZ 12 Tommie Harris SD 13 Sean Lissemore DAL 14 J.J. Watt HST 15 Cameron Heyward PIT

According to Profootballfocus.com, Premium Stats, our best lineman so far is the rookie Dareus. His most recent game earned him a +5.1, which is awesome. He's #19 of 59 on the list of DE's, ahead of Cameron Heyward, Jared Odrick, Vonnie Holliday. He's had 4 positive games out of 6. Our second best lineman is Dwan Edwards. He's #29 of 59, above Ricky Jean-Francois and Clifton Geathers. The CIN game was his best game, and only positive game, where he got a +0.2. He's had 1 positive game out of 6. Spencer Johnson is at #35, above Muhammad Wilkerson and Igor Olshansky. His last game was the worst, a -3.2, and he's had 2 positive games out of 6. Carrington is #44 among 3-4 DE's, and 3 of his last 4 games have been positive. Kelsay is not listed here. He's listed #59 of 69 DE's in the 4-3, below Carrington (our best 4-3 DE at #43), and Merriman (#53). He's also listed as 3-4OLB, #20 out of 53. 2 out of his 4 games played were positive in this role, netting a +4.7 in the OAK game. Moats is #26 as a 3-4 OLB and Batten is #39. Merriman is #47 out of 53. These stats lead me to believe we'll be shopping early for a disruptive DE who can play 3-4, but also a 4-3 DE (likely different players).

Happy Birthday Ralph! I have sent prune danish, 93 candles, and ice cream to your house. Who's your draft droid?!? Who's your draft droid?!?

what about completing the process?

Missing Kyle in the middle

Expect to win!!! Oh, and try to pressure Manning.

Expect to win!!!!

Lindell 100% from 40 to 49 ydsthis year

Moats just brushed away like a flea

Three of you have PM'ed me about Courtney Upshaw. He and Brandon Jenkins are the two best OLB3-4's in the upcoming draft, with Upshaw's ability to also play SILB the difference-maker IMHO. The Bears love Upshaw; we might have to see who drafts first.

By the Bills' 2nd pick, Luck, Jones, Barkley, and even Tannehill will be gone, saving us this talk, or that QB controversy. Hopefully. http://www.drafttek.com/positionalQB.asp