R. Rich

I'll find ya three: Lawrence Timmons, David Harris (a prototypical 3-4 inside LB), and Jon Beason.

53 days and counting!!!!

62 days and counting!!!! Been gone for a bit, but I am still counting the days.

Funny you should mention that. To paraphrase what Buddy Nix and/or Chan Gailey said 'bout QBs before the draft: "We'll be looking to find a QB to groom in the draft". [Remember: this is me paraphrasing 'em, so no, I do not have a "link" to this quote!] Well, when a comment like this is made, I read 'tween the lines. Based on the comment, the actual layout of the draft, and the Bills' actions (or inactions), here's my guess: "We'll be looking to find a QB to groom in the draft" really meant, "We'll be looking to draft Cam Newton". Well, Newton was the top pick, so he was ruled out. Aside from Christian Ponder and Jake Locker, the Bills passed on every other high profile QB in this draft after picking Dareus and by picking Dareus, passed on Ponder and Locker as well (though they may have thought they'd have a shot @ one or both in Round 2). If Newton wasn't the only QB on their radar (rumor has it that Nix and Gailey were torn on Newton, w/ one in favor of and the other opposed), then why did they not go after ANY of the other top QBs in this draft? My guess (again, just a guess)? They thought, as many (like me) did, that these QBs were, as a class, "okay". None were worth losin' out on a badly needed component, such as a true ILB for the 3-4, guys (like Dareus and your favorite pick, Searcy) who can help in run support, or guys who can help defend the pass.

I believe the Bills should, "mix in need" when they pick like you said, but they cannot just blindly pick for need. Why select an OT early if there aren't any worthy of early selection, or if there's a player they covet @ another position that is rated higher? Like you said, they need to draft good players. All over . I know the Bills have neglected the lines over the years. You and I have discussed this numerous times. That said, they need to be smart in how they draft and, in my (meaningless) opinion, I feel Nix and Gailey are doing a good job of fixin' the mess they inherited.

As always, I’ll start off by thanking LancasterSteve and his lovely wife Lisa for their hospitality on draft weekend. Lis (“my Lisa”) and I appreciate it more than words can say. I only wish we could spend time w/ you two more often. It was also nice to see MarkVI. Sorry you couldn’t make the draft party (it’s getting’ cheaper by the year; move it back to the Jim Kelly Club-PLEASE!), but thankfully, we got to hang out for Saturday’s picks. Mark was the very first person I remember to leap onto the Marcell Dareus bandwagon (before the 2010-2011 college season even ended), and I’m sure glad the Bills got ‘em. Of course, the difference this time was Psycho Ward 86 makin’ the trip w/ me. So, she has to come up from now on. On to the Bills' draft picks. ROUND 1: Marcell Dareus, DT Alabama The Bills finally got a guy I have wanted to see ‘em draft w/ their first round pick! WOW!!! And, what a addition he is! He has the size (6-3, 319) and the ability to really become a difference maker on the Bills’ defensive line. Look @ the dramatic improvement Detroit’s D line had last year by adding their first round pick, Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh. Now, I’m not saying Dareus will be an immediate first team All Pro (way more impressive than making the Pro Bowl nowadays), but he should be someone that teams will have to focus on and that should allow for some one-on-one opportunities for guys like Kyle Williams to do some things. Whether he’s inside @ DT on passing downs or lined up as a 3-4 DE, I believe Dareus will be a factor in the pass rush. In other words, the Bills should actually have a pass rush now. ROUND 2: Aaron Williams, DB Texas Not the move I would’ve made @ that spot, but here is a guy who should give the Bills a defender to use on inside routes, a problem area for the Bills of late. Solid cover skills, plus the ability to match up better w/ multiple receiver sets is a good thing. Yeah, yeah, another defensive back, but I ‘spose the Bills realize that they have to be able to stop the pass in order to compete. Teams do throw the ball now, so if you’re gonna match up, you had best be able to field some decent secondary players, and a bunch of ‘em. Right now, w/ looming free agency, injuries, and less than stellar play, the Bills really don’t have a comfortable situation in their secondary. This guy can help in that area, and if he actually does, then this is a sound move. Many people will be watching this guy’s development, I’m sure. ROUND 3: Kelvin Sheppard, LB Louisiana State As I said ‘bout the Carrington pick last year (another third rounder), this is one of my favorite picks the Bills made in this draft. In my post game write ups, I have said over and over how the Bills have had issues w/ linebackers who cannot stack and shed, who cannot meet the ball carrier @ the point of attack or, perish the thought, in the backfield and make impact plays. I think a large part of this is due to the fact that the Bills linebacking unit is far too small, as they went w/ smaller, quicker LBs for the prior defensive scheme. Well, that ain’t gonna cut it for the 3-4. There has to be guys w/ good size (I’d say 6-1, 248 qualifies as “good”) who can deliver a big hit (if you haven’t checked out his Youtube video, do so!) and chase plays down. ROUND 4a: Da’Norris Searcy, S North Carolina Searcy appears to be the kinda tough, hard hittin’, in the box safety the Bills could’ve used a few times last year….when teams got to the second level or beyond and met little challenge from the DBs. If this guy gets his way, those days are over, as (probably) are the days of Twitter king Donte Whitner. Anyhoo, Searcy isn’t gonna remind anyone of Ed Reed in terms of deep coverage, but he is a thumper w/ the size (5-10, 223), speed (4.55), and range to make things really tough on opposing runners. God, I hope so. In addition, he’s a smart, instinctive player who also shows some ability as a return guy for special teams. ROUND 4b: Chris Hairston, OT Clemson Here, the Bills appeared to get @ worst a depth guy for the right tackle position and @ best, a potential starter. He has great size (6-6, 334) and long arms, always a plus for O tackles. He plays hard, but also has a tendency to play too high and let guys get under his pads, which makes his size advantage useless. Proper coaching should be able to correct this and, if so, the Bills may have gotten a solution to one of their biggest problems. ROUND 5: Johnny White, RB North Carolina There’s a lot to like ‘bout White: he has a good burst, shows good vision, is a willing blocker (a very key attribute in RBs makin’ the jump to the NFL), and is also a good receiver out of the backfield. He doesn’t have a very impressive resume, as UNC didn’t showcase his abilities, but appears to have the tools to be an effective third down back. He also has turned the ball over some, and that has to be a concern. But, this guy has a ton of potential and may not have shown his best stuff yet. ROUND 6: Chris White, LB Mississippi State Here’s another “try hard” guy who is physical, tough, and smart. He has good speed (4.68), but isn’t an awesome athlete ala Von Miller. What he can do is get to the play and give tremendous effort. Get this, he has shown the ability to actually shed blockers! Imagine that. Since the Bills will probably use a hybrid 3-4/4-3 scheme, he will probably get work as a strongside guy (4-3) and/or a rush ‘backer (3-4). Either way, he should provide solid depth along w/ last year’s find Arthur Moats. ROUND 7a: Justin Rogers, DB RICHmond Rogers has good cover skills and also has the ability to help out on special teams as a return guy. He’s a bit small (6-0, 180), but plays bigger than the measurables. He’s pretty good when the ball is in the air, in terms of anticipation and jumpin’ the routes. This guy could be a poor man’s Bob Sanders in one respect: if he were a bigger guy, he probably would’ve been taken higher in the draft. He should provide nice depth in the secondary. ROUND 7b: Michael Jasper, G/DT Bethel (TN) This guy is HUGE (6-6, 380), and shows good movement and athleticism for a guy his size. If you haven’t done so already (and I’m sure many of you have by now), watch his Youtube workout. The medicine ball part, in particular, impressed me! I’ve seen no tape of ‘em playing, so I’m sure this guy is a pure project. But, man, if they can get ‘em to be effective as a DT……..LOOK OUT!!! So, how did they do? Well, as many may know from reading my draft write-ups in the past, I do not give letter grades and I really don’t like to either praise or condemn a draft when nobody has played a down yet. Suffice to say that the Bills did a few things I like: 1. They addressed needs by going after help for the beleaguered defensive front (Dareus, Sheppard, Chris White, Jasper) and secondary (Williams, Searcy, Rogers) 2. They took players who not only had talent, but who also had production over a long haul 3. They targeted guys who were tough and smart (guys like Sheppard, Searcy, Chris White, Rogers) I can live w/ those kinda players fillin’ out the Bills roster, and if that’s the plan Chan Gailey and Buddy Nix are following (and after a couple draft, it appears to be their plan), I’m all for it. Now, I know there’s plenty of folks who still suffer from Mary Wells disease (as in, the Bills didn’t take, “My Guy”), but folks, these guys are building a team according to…..get this…..A PLAN!! I'm sure Nix and Gailey aren't finished yet, meaning they have more holes to fill, but they are @ least using a blueprint instead of blindly throwin' darts and hopin' they stick. They are gettin’ guys to fit their plan and continuing to build towards a future. Yeah, the Bills will finally have one. And, not a future filled w/ Plan B, Plan B part II, Plan B-the final chapter, etc. Ya gotta love that, right?

No.

Post draft/opening day/CBA-lockout/start of minicamp/start of training camp/pre-season/regular season/Labor Day/Memorial Day/Arbor Day...

Only 152 days 'til the home opener!!!! Yeah, yeah, the lockout and all, but even more than the Bills season starting, and even more than seeing all my TBD friends and family, this opener is on my anniversary! I really can't wait!!

I like Sheppard. He's tough and can roam. Problem w/ him and Foster is that they both can get engulfed by blockers. Not a good thing for potential ILBs in a 3-4 (we have this problem now). Sheppard also has so-so coverage abilities; another bad thing for ILBs. But, these could be things that can be coached up (agility drills and weight training can help), and it's hard not to like his FBI (football intelligence) and his toughness (playing through injuries, delivering bit hits).

It would really upset me if the Bills draft any player w/ the 3rd overall pick, and then just go home and forget the fact that they have additional draft picks.

I hope anyone who shoots someone (and it can be proven that they're the culprit) goes to jail.

There are plenty of guys, even the black ones, who devote plenty of time to film study w/out being QBs. Film study and attention to detail is what has made Ray Lewis and Ed Reed among the best to ever play their respective positions.

Thanks folks for the well wishes. I had a great birthday and I'm continuing to enjoy my vacation (6 days from my birthday through Tuesday).

Just by looking @ the top 10 picks of the past ten years, here's the D linemen that were chosen: 2001 Gerard Warren (3rd) Justin Smith (4th) RICHard Seymour (6th) Andre Carter (7th) Jamal Reynolds (10th) Warren and Carter, while not all pros, have carved out steady careers in the league. Smith has really blossomed in San Fran's 3-4 scheme. Seymour was as pivotal to the Pats' Super Bowl as Vinatieri and Brady, in my opinion. That defense just wasn't anywhere close to as good w/out 'em (remember the year he was injured and how poorly they played?). Reynolds had trouble staying healthy early on and never really rebounded. 2002 Julius Peppers (2nd) Ryan Sims (6th) John Henderson (9th) A rough year, to be sure. I was so relieved when Detroit snagged Joey Harrington, thinking the Bills were going to get the pick right. Maybe not. Anyhoo, Peppers is one of the best pass rushers of his era, and Henderson was, @ one time, quite a formidable interior lineman when teamed w/ Marcus Stroud. Sims is another one of those journeyman linemen who has hung 'round and contributed in KC and Tampa. 2003 Dewayne Robertson (4th) Johnathan Sullivan (6th) Kevin Williams (9th) Terrell Suggs (10th) Robertson was a big(!) disappointment in NYC and didn't do much in Denver either. Sullivan was a flat out bust after washing out in 'Nawlins and then w/ the Pats. Williams is maybe the most complete interior D lineman in the league and while Suggs was a DE in college, he has spent the majority of his career @ LB though he does do a lot of rushing off the line. 2004-2005: No D linemen selected in top 10 2006 Mario Wiliams (1st) "They should've taken Reggie Bush!" Really? Super Mario is a standout pass rusher and a two time Pro Bowl and All Pro player in his 5 years in the league. I think they did alright there. 2007 Gaines Adams (4th) Jamaal Anderson (8th) Amobi Akoye (10th) Adams had a very good All-Rookie debut. His sophomore year was solid as well. Then he was traded from Tampa to Chicago and, tragically, died. He wasn't dominant, but was more than a journeyman, I think. Anderson was moved inside to tackle from end due to his ineffectiveness on the edge. Akoye has improved, but still hasn't shown that potential he flashed @ the combine, when he wowed all the scouts. He had a pretty nice rookie campaign, but then hit the wall and really didn't start to play up to his potential 'til this past year. 2008 Chris Long (2nd) Glenn Dorsey (5th) Vernon Gholston (6th) Sedrick Ellis (7th) Derrick Harvey (8th) Like Akoye, Long has begun to play up to his potential, and he gave the Rams a pretty solid pass rusher last year (8.5 sacks). Dorsey? Well, he started off very slow, but did have his best year as a pro last year and looks to be getting it in gear now. Gholston has been a major bust for the Jets while Harvey has done little for the Jags. Ellis has a Super Bowl ring from what was his breakout season in 2009 and had another very good year this past year w/ 44 tackles and a team high 6 sacks. 2009 Tyson Jackson (3rd) BJ Raji (9th) Kinda early, as they've only had a couple seasons in, but Jackson has struggled to live up to the hype of being the 3rd player taken in '09. Being in the 3-4 scheme isn't helping 'em either, as it doesn't usually (yeah, yeah Bruuuuuuuce Smith being the exception to the rule and all) lend to big stats from the ends, who must occupy blockers for the OLBs and help in stopping the run. Raji is quickly becoming one of the better young D linemen in the league; great footwork, athleticism, and he's incredibly tough to deal w/ on the line. 2010 Ndamukong Suh (2nd) Gerald McCoy (3rd) Tyson Alualu (10th) Suh was good enough to be named first team All Pro (an honor, these days, I think is much more relevant than just being named a Pro Bowl player) and upgraded the front seven play of the Lions exponentially. McCoy battled injuries but the Bucs believe he'll be a force. Alualu was the pick that many of the draftniks blasted as a reach, but he started all 16 games for the Jags and contributed nearly 40 tackles and 4 sacks as a rookie. Not bad. So, while there were a number of players you could label as busts, there were plenty of others who became Pro Bowl players, All Pros, and a few who were key to their teams' Super Bowl championships. And this is just the top 10. Imagine some of the guys who escaped the top 10 (Ngata, Tommie Harris, Vince Wilfork, Tamba Hali, and Charles Grant, to name a few) who also won accolades and helped their teams win championships. I dunno if I'd shy away from drafting D linemen in the first round, whether it's an early, mid, or late pick.

Konstant Lee Wynan

It's one of these. Some of us make 'em from time to time.

I picked up some Smith's hot dogs one of the last times I was in Erie when I went to the new Fuhrman's Cider Mill on upper Peach St. I did know that Troyer Farms were available online from their site, but I didn't know 'bout Pulakos. I don't often go there, but I do like their chocolate bars w/ almonds. Plus, they're just 'cross the street from Mighty Fine Donuts, and I really like those (the plain ones go great w/ Fuhrman's cider!!).

Well, the Bills certainly can't do that. Too many folks 'round here have said they MUST take certain positions or they are doomed. Can't go the talent route. Sorry.

Yep. I like Joe Buck's sense of humor, but not necessarily from his broadcasts. I've heard him do interviews on various talk shows and he's pretty funny in that capacity. Gus has plenty of fans who love his over the top screaming. I am not one of 'em. I don't equate screaming as being a good broadcaster. If that was the case, someone should've given Jerry Stiller, Jason Alexander, and the rest of the Screamfeld cast a job in the booth of an NFL game years ago.

It is possible to "perform" the anthem and still be respectful. My all time favorite version is the one done by my all time favorite singer, the late great Marvin Gaye, before the '83 NBA All Star Game. Very soulful and yet also very respectful and inspiring. I also think Jose Feliciano's version was very good.

Good ol' Erie (okay, Waterford, but it's close) chips. Love the Salt and Vinegar ones. They're not bad. My wife has gotten me to really like Kay and Ray's chips (regular and dark) also.

All the coulda, shoulda, woulda stuff is rapidly approaching the Tim Tebow hysteria of last year. It may end up in its own thread, like the Tebow stuff of last year.

Maybe it's on the same highlight reel as the one w/ Dan Marino spinning out of a QB sack and taking off downfield for a 47 yard TD run?

He's not nearly as big as Jerry Rice and he was too slow. He'd be lucky to make an NFL squad these days, and if he did, he'd probably be moved to tight end or something.