ctk232

With Byrd practically gone, might want to start looking at safety talent earlier in the draft. Our secondary certainly improved last year from a DB perspective, yet without a strong FS provide over the top coverage, our secondary will be very weak this year. IMO invest early through the draft, but if young talent is available in FA, not a terrible route either

I still think field goals kicked over 50 yards should be worth 4 points...just saying

I watch the playoffs and think the same thing...and then I remember it all depends on what Bills team shows up to play. If we have the team that showed up against the Panthers, Ravens, and both Dolphins games, I start to think we could have won in the postseason. But then we have that other team in Buffalo, the one that loses ten games and looks completely different. It's just sad the team we deserve and they deserve to be only show up 37.5% of the time...

I don't know if any of you saw this on reddit this morning, but a fantastic decision tackle (offsides penalty aside) http://i.imgur.com/Enqax8P.gif

Not surprised, why risk further injury, and exacerbating a tender knee during another dead end season? Smart call. I'm still hopeful versus the fish as Thad took it to them last time we faced off. And now we're in Orchard Park. Here we go, BILLS!

I agree. It's difficult to determine at this point what exactly Moeaki's contribution will be before he's played in our system. Even with him exceeding expectations you are right, we will have an adequate TE duo compared to all other NFL duo's. But compared to other NFL rosters, we will be one of the few who are able to put two solid TE's on the field. It adds options to our system, creates mismatches with imbalanced defenses who use nickel and cover zones, and if they can stretch the field, man coverage as well. Rather than waste a draft pick or two on TE talent this year (which isn't supposed to be all that deep anyway), I'd rather we go after other positions: OLB, CB, OL, S, and even an RB because Fred won't be around much longer and if WIngo doesn't pan out, CJ needs a power runner to compliment his finesse style, and even then we will need a backup for slot 3. All in all, this could be a solid improvement.

I love reading the posts concerned with Scott Chandler's future after this signing...seriously guys... How many posts have we read, drowning to find the big physical receiver down field to compete. Instead of automatically assuming Moeaki will replace Chandler, let's remember the two have played together before. And since when has conventional ideology ever won Super Bowls? Who says we can't have two tight-ends (especially as physical as Chandler and Moeaki) on the field challenging linebackers and corners to make plays. Imagine our hurry up offense with stevie, woods, moeaki, and chandler on the field at the same time. Imagine the mismatches that will ensue with nearly 90% of the defenses currently in the NFL. Pending Moeaki's health and ability moving forward, to retain Chandler at a bargain price and negotiate a bargain with Moeaki for the future using injuries in our negotiations. We could potentially have two very solid TE's for this season and next. It will certainly help Manuel develop having two large targets to see down field, improve the blocking scheme, and give Hackett more opportunities to diversify the offense to compliment the run. Don't lose the optimism. GO BILLS!!!

Agreed. The biggest thing about having a defense heavy and reliant team is the necessity to have a clean offense and QB. It is unfortunate that all of our QB talents have merely rookie experience because we would have won some key games this year otherwise. But this is to all be expected from Rookie QBs. They need a year or two to develop and make these mistakes before we see consistent game managers who don't commit turnovers, and turnovers in key situations. But I agree that Pettine has instituted a successful system for our defense. While it may not be air tight or domineering as was the Bucs super bowl defense, it could very well be on its way there.

Let's give our man Scott Chandler some love here. He is always mismatched, under-utilized, reliable, and a boss. Let's give him some more targets. He constantly produces and is a physical mismatch 95% of the time for whoever is covering him... go bills

No, even then it's still a problem. With Byrd gone in the secondary and possibly for good after this year, we have no over the top, ball hawk, cover safety to support either Gilmore or McKelvin. Gilmore is a great DB but McKelvin is subpar and struggles often with one on one man coverage. Our DB corps healthy is frightening and should've have been addressed in the early rounds of the draft. We have zero depth and shut down ability in our secondary. Byrd and Gilmore are the only threats, McKelvin is just a bandaid to patch a major weakness. I'm terrified for how offenses are going to exploit the living hell out of our DB's and safeties.

No doubt we can't commit senseless penalties the way we have been. But to say Smith's holding cost us a long CJ run isn't true. In fact, most big plays that occur after a flag is thrown are resulting consequences of the penalty. I.e. when Smith held, it provided CJ an opening to exploit and get those yards. Smith doesn't hold and guy gets passed him and too CJ for an equivalent loss. But sure, the summers penalty was stupid as were others.

I heard a really good analysis on Watkins. Reason he was so heavily coveted in school was due to fact he was a 26 year old matching up against true freshmen at 18, 19, and 20 years old max. He came to the NFL and couldn't hack it because, wait for it, he was actually picking on people his own size. To pick him up would be a travesty waiting to happen. Let it pass.

It's silly to think that the preseason matters as much as you think. The reason we haven't played like we did the first two games is firstly due to injuries, and second to disguising our actual playbook. There's no reason to over expose game strategy in meaningless games and risk further injury. Everyone needs to just step down for a minute and relax. Judge our gameplan based on the first few games, not the preseason. And sure there isn't much experience on the team. But since when is that a bad thing? It's a new system with new FO and coaching staff. Young players are more malleable and don't have other systems in mind to distract them. It's here and only here. Experienced players won't necessarily adhere to the system the same way and with similar vigor thereby lessening the impact of our new gameplan. Just relax guys, come on. You may have speculations about the season due to injuries and lack of experience, and that's fine. But let's not use the preseason results to justify them. Considering the last game was entirely scrubs who were almost all cut anyway.

Routt would be cool. Don't need anymore depth at TE...that's kind of why Dickerson was cut. But we need CBs like no other because I don't think McKelvin is going to do much at all. He hasn't yet and frankly never will IMO. Either way Trufant or another safety would be great even. Unless we sign Byrd long term he won't play the same way and Searcy isn't panning out. I still don't know why we didn't address CB in the draft...even with Gilmore we needed a #2 CB

Yea to name any athlete as overpaid isn't too hard of an observation. Yet he'll earn his pay in this defense. Pettine has a great line scheme that definitely plays to his strengths. You saw it when he was able to get the edge and sack Luck and in the same game, recognize a TE shift and called it out. Unfortunately the rest of the line didn't listen and didn't shift and gave up a six yard run. But had they listened, it would have been stuffed. You can see his comfort level growing and his ability as well. Expect good things

To be honest, I have never thought of Cutler as a quality QB, capable of being a true starting caliber QB in the NFL. However this comparison between him and Fitz is a great insight into how media attention can shape and define certain player's careers:

Privately owned media like ESPN is a for-profit business, not an equal opportunity news outlet. Therefore everything ESPN does is for ratings; they report stories, create rumors, and add hype all to boost numbers, followers, and money. Even if the Bills were a winning team, their air time would still be short of that for GB, NE, NY, DAL, etc. purely based on popularity.

I think this is kind of silly. The reason "Viking" and "cowboy" aren't racist terms is because neither is a race. Native American is a race and "redskin" is a derogatory term for a Native American dating back to colonial times. Vikings weren't a race, they were Norwegian mostly and Scandinavian primarily. Or simply put...white. Really, figure out what race actually is and then decide. Cowboy is a race? Really? Please...races even have their own issues of clarification. For example African-American doesn't mean black...it means Americans whose ancestral lineage derives from Africa. There are white African-Americans and black Hispanics. People need to become knowledgeable of these cultural differences before crying that cowboy and Viking are racist...

Good god people. First, let me preface by saying out of all the QB prospects, I favored Manuel the most. I respect this kids raw talent and potential.... That being said, 16th pick overall?!? With Dee Milliner available at 8, Kenny Vaccaro at 16, in addition to many other defensive and offensive players, there was absolutely no reason to take Manuel at any point in the first round. The Bills, post trade back, still should not have taken him in the first. He would have been there for us in the second regardless because I have always said, and it was proven today, no quarterback in this draft is worth a first round pick. And teams choices today supported that. We could have dealt with our deplorable run defense, chasm-like secondary needs, or went after an offensive threat...but we draft a QB project...one I'm worried about playing in the weather conditions in Buffalo...at 16 he should be worth a franchise value. I am sorry but nothing less. This being said, he would have been there in the second for us without a doubt and this was a gross reach, possibly the largest reach in recent draft history. I would have liked this pick with one of our two second round picks. We had better take a safety cuz until Byrd figures out a contract deal, it's Williams back there and Gilmore and mckelvin...forgive me for not liking the sound of that, or our current line backing corps (unless Dansby signs)

These are terrible uni's...no need to change from the ones we have. Still waiting to go back to the red helmets and 1990's throwbacks for good. Also, this could possibly be explained by different kinds of uniforms for purchase. Such as the imitation uniforms, the legends jerseys, authentic, etc...each of which are produced with varied accuracy based upon the amount paid for them. Cheaper uniforms won't use accurate material which could change color appearance, or they could just use a cheaper color solution.

Terrible. Idea. Why would you sign someone who will literally do more harm than good and eat up cap space. I hate the posts that always ask about scraping the bottom of the barrel....you want to know why an offseason becomes terrible? It's because of signings like this one

Not as a starter but just to fill a roster spot if he's looking to play. He's not a solution, more like a crutch til we can solidify our d. Who knows, he may turn it around.

McClain was recently released from the raiders...would it be worth pursuing him as another LB to fill the ranks? At a reasonable price obviously as players don't seem to making any long term deals and he isn't in any position to argue...what're your thoughts? Also, for the right price, would Woodsen be a possible CB pursuit to wrap up our FA moves? At least to give us some cushion going into the draft?

I definitely understand your point, and do agree with it. But drafting one or even two WR isn't really going to make a huge difference with no real QB to command the offense. Whether its one of the two we have now or a rookie, its going to take a little time with the offense for it to work. And i know we need WR like no other, but how can we get that without getting them early and potentially missing out on holes in the defense that will stop opposing teams from scoring and giving our offense a chance. A huge reason we lost early last year was because our offense couldn't keep up with how many points our defense was letting up. We at least need help with the Run-D so either LB/SS for that or both early on. And maybe a WR in the second between them to allow more throwing options. But otherwise we have too many holes to field a balanced team really. Also, our current starters on defense worry me as well. Even our "stacked" D-Line wasn't what we expected last year. Our current LB situation won't stop any run attack. For a 3-4/4-3 hybrid with a 4-6 worked in we need more than 3 mediocre LBs to have any affect with our Run-D. And Searcy at SS? I couldn't really see that especially with McKelvin as our starter opposite Gilmore. If the run doesn't kill us, the deep threat will be there all the time against whoever is opposite Gilmore. With all this our offense, drafted new or not, might not be able to keep up with the points again like in the last three years.

I don't think they would go with Warmack. It's really unfortunate the amount of holes we have to fill for the upcoming season. Especially the offensive ones. The way I see this draft playing out, there is much more defensive talent to be had than offensive. The QB draft class is like this years March Madness Tournament: there aren't any stand out players and it's really anyone's guess who will win. There's a handful of wide receivers to draft but most likely only available in the early rounds. Considering our offensive needs include QB, WR, OL, and TE. There is no way we fill these needs while also securing our needs at LB, CB, and SS. Bear with me as I know this sounds ridiculous. But if at all possible, I wouldn't even draft an offensive player in the first three rounds. Most likely won't work out that way and most likely for the better. We need someone opposite Stevie on the offense, especially if Chandler doesn't make it back to where he was. But I really think we could benefit defensively in this draft early on and go after offense next year. Either LB/CB in the first, I'm leaning towards LB, but a one-two CB combo, especially with young rookies would help solidify our secondary for years to come barring injury. Whichever we don't take in the first, fill in the second. And hopefully, if some are still on the board, draft Shamarko Thomas at SS. Kid has the same credentials as Bob Sanders, if not better, and faceplant aside, this kid is explosive and makes open field tackles for losses like he was getting paid for it. This is something the Bills need desperately. Obviously if not Shamarko, another SS who provides the same explosive attack. But in the first three rounds, the Bills now have a young defense that could potentially shape into one of the league's best defenses in the future. I know the chances of us drafting Defense with our first three picks is slim to none. But I really don't see any offensive talent worth killing our defensive needs over in this draft. Given our most recent offseason and the 100 million dollar monster eating up cap, this team cannot be rebuilt in a year...as much as I and the rest of us would like to see.