R. Rich

True, there are no guarantees. The remaining DTs would carry a higher grade than the remaining QBs, so I'd be more inclined to take the DT. As I said before, the Bills are not going to address each and every need in one draft, but if they can come up w/ a few key pieces, then they've done okay for themselves. Sure, one of the QBs could end up being better than they're graded, but the Bills have taken players on faith in recent years and have come up short. They have many needs, especially in the wake of a new defensive scheme, and they cannot afford to just be wrong on these picks. Grab the best value you can for each pick.

I think Clausen did the best he could for that school while he was the QB there. Considering all the problems they had on the defensive side of the ball, as well as some just flat out stupid coaching decisions, it isn't all on the QB.

Sure it makes sense. You grab the best player you can get. In Round 2, there's still a chance you can get a difference maker @ DT. In Round 2, there is little to no chance of getting a so called "franchise QB". There are only 2 guys that even come close to that in Clausen and Bradford, and they'll be long gone by then. In Round 2, the Bills could possibly have a shot @ DTs like Cam Thomas of North Carolina, Terrence Cody of Alabama, and maybe even Dan Williams of Tennessee. If the Bills got any of those guys to anchor the 3-4 front @ the nose, it would be a great pick.

I'm not so sure I'd pick one in the 3rd round, either. This team is, most likely, NOT going to fix all of their woes in one draft. That said, if there's a good LB prospect out there in the 3rd that would be better than the available QBs, I'd like to see the Bills go for the LB instead.

Damn, and I was hoping the real typo was that Bell should've been 24th.

Oh.

I'd be more upset if the Bills went after a QB in Round 2 and left one of the DTs, a deeper and far more talented group than the QBs, still on the board.

We can all recall how Jim put that mediocre, talentless team on his broad shoulders and led 'em to four straight AFC titles, can't we?

Wow. The Bills are better suited to a 3-4? Lemme see: A 3-4 DE should have good size to take on double teams, yet still have the ability to push the pocket to create pressure and also help to neutralize the outside run. Guys like Pittsburgh's Aaron Smith or New England's Ty Warren come to mind. Which Bills DE comes close to fitting this description? Maybe Spencer Johnson and/or Marcus Stroud, but that is more what we all hope rather than what we know. Both Johnson and Stroud would struggle w/ double teams, something they'll get a healthy dose of as DEs in the 3-4. A 3-4 NT must be able to anchor the line, plug the A gap (guard to guard), and work to keep guys off the ILBs, so that they can chase plays. Guys like Pittsburgh's Casey Hampton, Cleveland's Shaun Rogers, and San Diego's Jamal Williams best reflect this. And the Bills' version? Kyle Williams is a bit smallish for the role. Now, some will mention another smallish NT in Dallas' Jay Ratliff, but he is the exception, NOT the rule. It's like saying all CBs can run 4.3 40 yard dashes well into their 30's 'cause Darrell Green could do it. Not true. A 3-4 ILB should have good size (will take on guards and must be able to stack n shed 'em to get to the play) and have the ability to diagnose plays and run. Hitting ability is also a nice plus. Think of guys like New York's David Harris or San Fransisco's Patrick Willis. Now, the Bills have Kawika Mitchell and Paul Posluszny, but I am not as confident as Chan Gailey that either is a better fit as a 3-4 inside 'backer. Posluszny seems to be a better fit as either a 4-3 Mike (MLB) or as a Will (WLB) in the 4-3 or 3-4. I think as an ILB in the 3-4, he could be as miscast as Jonathan Vilma was when he was w/ the NY Jets. Vilma excels as a 4-3 middle 'backer (All Pro this season), but struggled mightily inside in the 3-4. A 3-4 OLB is usually an undersized DE (the so called "tweener") who has the ability to rush upfield but also has the athleticism to chase plays sideline to sideline. Just as important, especially the way teams employ the zone blitzing w/ the 3-4 nowadays, the OLB should be adept @ dropping back in coverage. Guys like Miami's Joey Porter, Pittsburgh's James Harrison, and Dallas' DeMarcus Ware best illustrate this. Here is where the Bills are perhaps most sorely lacking in terms of the 3-4 and staffing. Right now, all we fans have are guys we HOPE can fill the bill, like Aaron Maybin. Maybin does have a great burst coming off the edge, but he also needs a lot of work on dropping back and in maintaining discipline, especially on misdirection plays, where he has the tendency to follow the flow of the play down the line and not be ready for the counters or reverses. I'm all for optimism, but the fact of the matter is that the Bills have tried for years to run a Tampa 2-type defense, which emphasizes a smallish, quicker defensive front. Now, they're going to a front that still requires speed, but also now requires more size. Maybe the guys who have the question marks (Johnson, Stroud, Maybin) can make the transition, maybe not. But I certainly wouldn't go into this offseason (before any free agent signings and draft picks, that is) saying that the Bills are better equipped to run the 3-4 than they were the 4-3. That is just not true.

I sure hope he can become a good 3-4 DE. The Bills really don't have much in the way of certainties for switching to that scheme, so I am hoping guys like Johnson, Stroud, Maybin, and Posluszny can make some sort of seamless transition. If not, it could get ugly.

Haha!! Nah. All it proves is that I need to keep such comments to PMs or spell out the sarcasm for those who may misread it.

True. It's not that much unlike the whole Manning vs Leaf discussion. Before Leaf's meltdown and immaturity surfaced, all people had to go on was his performance, particularly in the bowl game vs Michigan (despite the loss, he played a great game). It was considered a coin flip @ the time. Oops.

What argument would you be referring to? An inside joke made to someone else was misconstrued.

Been there, done that.

It is sarcasm, but I do it to point out how ICE is all for making judgments on a player based on a school's track record, but doesn't apply the same logic to Big 12 QBs, who have continued to flame out in the pros. Do I think Bradford is another Major Applewhite? Actually, no. But if you can have concern for a guy like Bulaga for the reasons stated, certainly you can have concerns for Bradford for the Big 12's QB track record.

Unfortunately, it isn't worth what it once was. Considering how many players get voted in, then cancel out for a variety of reasons, only to have replacement guys come in, many of whom will follow suit and cancel out, then you get the third choices and so on, the Pro Bowl has become a shell of what it once was.

And, to think, that's just one coach, as opposed to an entire conference full of coaches who routinely put out less than stellar QB prospects: the Big 12. I think they've "hit" on 1 out of their last 9, and that one is Vince Young. I guess that means we should take a pass on Sam Bradford then.

So, we're going to make judgments on a player based on a particular's school's.....or conference's....track record w/ the position, are we?

More of an inside joke to KRC, as we both get a laugh out of the Sportscenter generation's opinion on the history of the game, which usually starts from Super Bowl I. Sure. Why not? Can't say I recall those. Well, I am hoping that I finally get that elusive diploma this year. Oh, and it's 20,000 plus, but who's counting? I'll keep studying for my tests while you continue helping the masses as an accountant. This is probably the least informed response. But, what do I know? I'm still in high school.

That can't be true. There's only been 44 Super Bowls, so...

It isn't? Are you sure?

Wild Card round results and All-League team selections are posted.

There are elite QBs this year????

That was beautiful.

Those are decent enough options. Okung would be a good LT prospect, Bradford and Clausen are the top QBs available (though I still don't believe either are "franchise" QBs), Williams looked incredible @ the Senior Bowl and was a handful and Bulaga could end up being a very good RT. All would address areas of need for the Bills.