Nihilarian

I agree with this and I just don't get the love for a one dimensional DT who can't rush the passer. So, that means that Ryan can't use him in his one gap 3-4 or have him drop into pass coverage. Seems limited for a 1st round pick.

I would agree with this. He might have been a great run stuffer at Alabama but then they pulled him out on 3rd downs. Then the NFL level is an entirely different animal where those two-gapping rush stuffers need to be 325lb+ monsters who are far more athletic than this guy. If anything, this fire hydrant kid reminds me of a William "refrigerator" Perry type who could only play in a 6 sq yard area and he was 335 lbs. Kind of outdated in today's game.

Kinda difficult to keep that optimism going after 15 years of no playoffs. Then it's impossible for me to even get excited about this year's draft in knowing that unless Doug Whaley finds the next Lawrence Taylor with the 19th pick the defense won't get better. If I'm Whaley I draft only offensive players this year and hope that Terry fires that bum and lets me hire the next HC... who will be the man I want.

and not to mention that Buddy Nix was telling everyone that if Newton was there at three the Bills would take him. The owner of the Panthers was really upset when Luck told him he was staying at Stanford for another year and had his heart set on Luck.

Trade down? Why all the passion over Reed when the guy is such an ineffective pass rusher? Two years at Alabama and only two sacks with 16 QB pressures and he was subbed out on 3rd downs. Solid two gapping run stopper in college but looks to be a bit short and light in the pants for a full-fledged first round two-gapper in the NFL. Plus, kinda totally useless in dropping into pass coverage that Ryan loves to have his entire line get into at times. The Bills biggest loss was a pass rushing DE in Mario and now want to use that first pick on a run stuffing DT? I would have thought that first pick would be with an edge rusher at OLBer to fit the 3-4 Ryan wants to build.

I dunno, I'd rather see Lynch go to Denver, Arizona, Saints or even the Browns rather than the NY Jets. Let Gailey keep calling pass plays for Fitz. Unlike others, I wouldn't be upset if the Bills took Lynch and sat him for this season to see if Tyrod does become that elite franchise QB. If so then Lynch will make great trade bait for some extra picks. If not then the Bills have an actual backup plan who could be another Kaepernick... that isn't broken.

Ok, since it appears that some things were somewhat overlooked, let me go back and reiterate on a few things. WEAKNESSES: Elongated delivery. Struggles with accuracy on deep passes. Lacks great mobility that is increasingly valued in the NFL. That's three huge areas of concern, delivery, deep accuracy and lacks mobility. Then you have to take into consideration that he was playing behind an elite offensive line that gave him time to throw and that simply won't be the case in the NFL. So, if you are looking to draft the opposite of Tyrod Taylor then have at it. There are real reasons as to why Hogan has a 5th to 6th round grade. Guys like him are huge projects that have very slim odds of working out. READ THIS~ http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2014/nfl-draft-round-round-quarterback-data

Here,here! And a guy I know you don't want or like. I wouldn't mind the Bills taking a shot with Paxton Lynch if he is there at #19. 6'7'' 244lbs and the kid can run like Kaepernick. Only Lynch is not damaged goods like Kaep. I can see Denver trading up for him and I would hate to see him go to the Jets.

But you forgot to mention as to why he compares to Phillip Rivers...and it's because of an elongated, quirky delivery. WEAKNESSES: Elongated delivery. Struggles with accuracy on deep passes. Lacks great mobility that is increasingly valued in the NFL. COMPARES TO: Philip Rivers, Chargers - Hogan's elongated wind-up will earn plenty of criticism in the pre-draft process but like Rivers, Hogan's instincts, accuracy, and velocity are enough to overcome the quirky delivery. --Rob Rang (11/29/15) http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1851143/kevin-hogan Another note to consider is, "Hogan has been well protected by the elite talent blocking in front of him" Teams don't really know how he will stand up under the pressure that comes with being an NFL QB if he was well protected in College. An actual scouting report on Rivers, Philip Rivers, the first North Carolina State player named Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year, finished as the second-leading passer in NCAA history with 13,484 yards and set an NCAA record with 51 career starts. Last season he led the NCAA with a 72% completion rate and 170.49 pass efficiency rating. Although Rivers' delivery is more three-quarters angled than classic over-the-top, several NFL coaches insist they would be hesitant to change it. "It's a little side-armed at times, but he's been pretty efficient, pretty accurate," Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher says. "You'd better be careful with what you try to change. We've been known in the NFL to overcoach players." . I'd rather see the Bills take a shot at Paxton Lynch who is 6'7'' 244 lbs. He threw 28TD's, only 4 INT's last year and can run like Kaepernick. But alas, he will be gone by the 19th pick

The guy is like the 8th or 9th rated QB in this year's draft which equates to a 5th rounder or later. Not exactly a hot prospect. If the Bills are really interested in a QB in this year's draft I sure hope they are looking to draft one in rounds two and three rather than 5 thru 6 which kinda almost puts them in Jeff Tuel's area of lameness.

Similar, as in getting a pro bowl nod or similar to overall QB play? Last year the Bills fielded about the most QB friendly offense they have had in over a decade, IMHO. The Bills had a solid O-line on the left side, a decent receiving corps and they ran the ball to help set up the passing game. Plus, they ran the ball very well averaging 4.8 YPC and were the #1 rushing team in the league and had 19 rushing TD's. Still, the Bills were 31st in three down and out percentage. Conversely, they were 28th in the league in passing yardage and Taylor was ranked 23rd in yards passing. If Tyrod has a similar year to last year while not being able to carry the team with his arm I think the team moves on from him because he was very ineffective at times in some games and every time the team needed to throw more then run that was the case. Should he show some growth in being able to carry the game with his arm then he will indeed get that huge contract. That inability to carry games when the run game wasn't working is what caused the Bills to wait a year to pay him and to look for another QB. That 31st in 3rd down and out is why I hope the Bills spend an early round pick on a RT and in particular I kinda doubt they want to go forward paying Glenn 13.7 mill or even 11+ mill per. Then the RT situation in Buffalo is still rather Iffy. Should make for an interesting draft.

I'm still loving that they lost their first round pick and this is icing! \ Hmm, a different type of GOAT!

I can't help but wonder if Rex Ryan still passionately hates the Jets and they pick 20th right after Buffalo and it's pretty much a given by many that if Paxton Lynch is still there the Jets will go for him... At 6'7' 244 lbs and he can run like Kaepernick. I'm hearing the Dolphins want to trade up to make sure they get Zeke and the Cowboys might want him at four. Gonna be a very interesting draft.

Jon Gruden thinks he has a first round talent. http://www.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/index.ssf/2016/04/espns_jon_gruden_doubles_down.html Plus, I've read other reports on him and he was graded as a five-star talent his freshman season by setting a Penn State school record of 2955 passing yards in 2013. Sure he had some freshman mistakes but he also showed some rare talent for an 18-year-old. What stinks is this kid committed to Penn St because of Bill O'Brian and he sold him on running an NFL offense like Tom Brady runs and then bailed on him. I'm not advocating the Bills take him in the first or second rounds as he looks like a huge project going forward, and the Bills need players who can contribute right away. Perhaps even at QB.

Penn St's Christian Hackenberg looks like a case study in reverse on how coaching changes can ruin a young developing QB. The kid looked brilliant as a freshman under Bill O'Brian and when O'Brian left for the Texans Hackenberg took several steps backwards in his development. A new and different coaching staff, new offensive scheme, and after his freshman season the O-line, WR talent went downhill bigtime. All this reminds me of how some inept coaches and surrounding players can hurt a young QB attempting to develop properly. Like Doug Marrone with no QB coach, a very bad O-line and OC. That said, EJ has been learning under a better OC and the Bills now have a much-improved line. So, in my view, it will be interesting to see if EJ has improved at all under Greg Roman as compared to what he didn't learn under Marrone / Hackett. Anyway, I wouldn't be against the Bills drafting a QB at any point in this draft. I think the Bills were really thinking of moving up to the number two position to draft Wentz until the Eagles beat them to it. The Bills have had Connor Cook, Cardale Jones, and Dak Prescott all into Buffalo for a pre-draft look. Should Paxton Lynch be there at 19 I'd have to think the Bills will give him serious consideration. In all probablity it will be Jones in the 3rd round.

There are currently some people in the NFL that are very good at evaluating college talent and some are actually excellent at it. First, you need a man at the top of the org chart who can recognize the people who are great at doing their job of scouting players. The Bills have had a few people like that over the years and one was HC Chuck Knox who hired Norm Pollom away from the Rams to join him in Buffalo as director of scouting for Buffalo. From there Pollom advised the hiring of a young man by the name of Bill Polian. Mind you the Bills still found and brought in some great talent under Chuck Know despite the standing GM being a complete moron in Stew Barber.

In 2014 both Teddy Bridgewater (1st round #32) and Derek Carr (2nd round #36) were there to be drafted and both have been to the pro bowl in their second year. Both look to be the franchise QB's of the future for both teams. Instead, Whaley drafted Sammy Watkins with two firsts and a fourth. Meanwhile, WR's Odell Beckham Jr, and two second round picks in Jarvis Landry, Allen Robinson all went to the PB this past year. In a draft literally loaded with wide receiver talent, this team went out on a limb for a receiver that doesn't even fit that big, tall redzone target they have been looking to find for years. The team still says they need that big, tall redzone target WR. Wasn't it the Colts GM who initiated that trade to get rid of a player that org deemed a bust and called one of Bill Polian's worst picks. A first rounder in Hughes for a 3rd rounder in Kelvin Shepard who played only one year for Indy and is now a Dolphin. Whaley lucked into that trade as he did with Spiller opting to sign with the Saints...Halleluja! Now, much money spent on Shady McCoy when the team could have drafted RB DeVonta Freeman in the fourth in 2014? Wow, did so many teams miss on that kid! Considering the two firsts for Watkins in a draft absolutely loaded with great WR talent, the failure of EJ and Cujo among others. I'd say this Org still has serious difficulty identifying offensive talent from the college ranks.

Let's look at some key qualifiers in terms of player talent from the draft recently. The Bills have failed to find a top edge pass rusher in the draft the last six years. Hence Mario for 100 million. They have failed to find that franchise QB since the mid 90's and EJ is the only QB taken with that first, first round pick for the franchise ever. Two first round picks for a WR when the team still didn't have that franchise guy to throw to him. This hurt the team more than fans want to believe. They failed to find a top pass catching TE. Hence Clay for 38 mill for 5 years with an average salary of 7.6 mill and 24 mill guaranteed for 51 receptions and 3 TD's? Failed to find a top all around RB after luckily losing out on Spiller the team went after Shady for a 5 year 40 mill with an avg salary of 8 mill per with 26.5 guaranteed. Everybody seems to love Doug Whaley because he is at least attempting to field a competitive team of players, and he has to a point. This franchise still has great difficulty in finding players for certain positions. I get that a lot of teams also have great difficulty finding these same players and the Browns have been one of those teams too. At this point, I can't help but wonder which team will make the playoffs quicker or if at all. I just don't think this team is anywhere near good enough in evaluating offensive college players or edge pass rushers.

Talking about trading away players for picks I'd say yes to Glenn and no to Gilmore as the latter will play a significant role in Ryan's defensive scheme. Glenn should end up with an 11 mill per payday and although he has looked like an above average LT some years and that kind of money would put him in the top five. I don't think he is anywhere near worth that much money per. Another player that was not mentioned is Marcell Dareus who really has no fit in Ryan's 3-4 two-gap and trading him could really help with cap relief going forward. Last year the Bills said they were playoff ready and built to win now, and yet the defense took multiple steps backwards and needs a rebuild away from the dominate 4-3 they had become to Ryan's 3-4. I can see Whaley trading away Dareus for picks to build Ryan's defense very quickly. Then, should Whaley not be entirely sold on Tyrod Taylor as the long term answer at QB I could see the Bills moving around to get a QB, LT and perhaps even a RB in this draft along with some defensive players. JMO

I don't know about this... From what I recall, it was Donahoe who lost a power struggle with Bill Cowher and is a big reason he was fired by Pittsburgh. I'm also thinking that Donahoe knew the Steelers were interested in Big Ben and also wanted him. In 2002 Tom Donahoe drafted OT Mike D Williams with the #4 overall pick to play LT and he wasn't really good enough to play RT. Unfortunately, for Buffalo, the Vikings took OT Bryant McKinny with the #7 pick and he turned out to be the best OT in the draft and a pro bowl player. I feel it was the Bills scouting dept and Donahoe missing one this one player that started the nails in the coffin. That and the fact that once the team had Drew Bledsoe at QB they refused to further upgrade the offensive line and instead tried to force Bledsoe to get rid of the ball faster. In 2002, under Gregg Williams, the Bills had the #11 offense in points scored and yards in the league but 27th defense in giving up points. The next year the defense went to 5th in points allowed and #2 in yards allowed while the offense tanked back to 30th in both yards and points. Donahoe realized he needed a better line by drafting Williams and then gave up on the idea once Williams didn't pan out. A darn shame too, because if you gave Bledsoe the time in the pocket he would rip any team a new one. Consider the Bills were 9-7 in 2004 under Mularkey and one game away from a playoff berth. The Bills had won six straight games going into that Steeler game and were blowing out teams they looked so good, Pittsburg announced they would sit their starters and play the backups for that game. So most Bills fans thought it was playoff time for Buffalo. However, the Bills ran into a little buzz saw by the name of Willie Parker who rushed 19 times for 102 yards and with 5 FG's by Pittsburgh kicker Jeff Reed the Bills lost 29-24. Tommy Maddox was the Steelers QB and he stunk by going only 12 of 25 for 120 yards one TD, two INT's and yet was good enough to get their kicker close enough for 5 FG's. In the start of the fourth quarter, Bledsoe was sacked and he fumbled allowing a TD return by James Harrison. The Bills gave up on Bledsoe after this game.

That Bolded Is not completely incorrect because you yourself acknowledged that Mario was utilized in a two-scheme at times. I have also pointed out to you that that I knew Ryan used multiple schemes and sets last year and even had the defense line up in Schwartz's wide-nine scheme with Mario on the outside of the tackle to rush the passer. Although that didn't happen very often and with not much success either. I think a big part of the problem was that Ryan's schemes and play calls are so complex that the players are no longer going by instinct and are forced to think about what their responsibilities are on any given play. This hurts the defense quite a bit because it slows things down for them. Another gripe that Mario had is that he felt he was being asked to drop into pass coverage more than he ever had done in the past. Even Buffalo's Jim Kelly said he would have loved to play against the Bills front four to see Mario, Marcell, Kyle, and Hughes dropping into pass coverage rather than just rush the passer. Then with the combination of late play calls, late player substitutions and players not being set when the ball was snapped the defense looked like a clusterfluck half the time. My talking about the 3-4 two-gap is because it looked like Ryan ran that scheme most of the time and more than any other play. The reasoning being is the lack of sacks, hits, hurries on opposing QB's all season long. Now this year Ryan states the team will move to the 3-4 full time. But saying that I also realize Ryan will still utilize multiple looks and sets to keep the offense guessing. It will probably be a combination of two-gap and one-gap schemes. He also stated he will simplify the play calls for the players who haven't played that much in his defense. The sole reason I kept bringing up the two-gap scheme is because so many Fans are saying the guy mailed it in and I brought up the fact that when that play is run it merely looks like the DE isn't doing anything! You even reinforced that in your post. But, If that were truly the case that Mario mailed it in, he wouldn't have even gotten the five sacks he had on the year or the coaches and players wouldn't be vouching for him. Yes, the guy had a bad attitude and yes he was vocal about his dislike for the way he was being utilized. However, like I said, I'm siding with the Bills coaches and Preston Brown on this.

That's the thing, John, as I've watched the games and understand what a DE's responsibility is in a two-gap scheme. Especially for a player that isn't used to playing in it at all. Then Ryan's scheme is a particularly overly complicated defensive scheme in that the DE might have 5-7 reads on each pass play. Then depending on what the defensive call is the player needs to read and react while thinking of what he is supposed to do rather than just allowing instinct to take over. Even some of the Bills players are torn on what they saw on the field. Some say he was dogging it while others say he wasn't. This was from a link I posted in an earlier post. "Inside linebacker Preston Brown asserts that Williams “definitely bought in” to Ryan’s defense and that effort hasn’t been an issue. “He was trying to do what the coaches asked him to,” Brown said. “When you’re 30 years old, it’s kind of hard to start doing stuff you’ve never done. … He’s out there doing his job. I know he’s out there doing his job day in and day out.” All I was saying is that in Ryan's scheme it looked like Mario Williams wasn't playing at full speed and yet he wasn't being asked to rush the passer. He was being asked to stay in one position to hold the point of attack until the direction of the play could be determined and then make the read on what to do. To the layman, and to someone not privy to what the defensive play call is, this makes the DE look like he isn't doing anything for a few seconds but standing in one spot. Mario Williams had 5 sacks on the season so he must have been giving some effort to attain those sacks. On the other side Jerry Hughes also only had 5 sacks. In regards to the difference in tackles between Jerry Hughes and Mario is that if you were an offensive coordinator which player would you slant the play towards? The 6'6 290 LB all-pro DE or the 6'2 253 lb DE? My take on this situation is that Mario was very unhappy about his role in Ryan's scheme and because he was very vocal about it, then one could easily define him as having a bad attitude. Nobody on that D-line looked good in Ryan's scheme vs Schwartz's scheme except perhaps that Manster #99 who looked like he did what he wanted on some plays and didn't always stay put to allow the LBers behind him make the plays. I'm not so much defending Mario as I am condemning the 2015 Bills DC and the bozo who took an all pro D-line in being the number one team in the league in sacks and castrated them into looking like a bunch of average players who were almost last in the league in sacks. Going from 1st to 31st is beyond ridiculous. I tend to agree with Preston Brown and the Bills coaches on this issue.

A darn shame they will waste them as usual. A quote from a Philly fan on this trade after hearing the team will draft a QB with that #2 pick. "Why don’t we just sign Fitzmagic, Vinny T, Rodney Pete, heck even Rodney Pete’s wife, and run an 11 QB offense? Jesus someone help us"

Everyone has an excuse for everything. Apparently Ryan thought the roster was going to work last year too. Like when he said "we will make the playoffs" and "we will be the number one defense for the 2015 season". Then not even close for either. Sucks for me when I chose to believe the guy. The man knows how to run one defensive scheme and if the players don't match that scheme then the defense won't be very good. It will be years of drafting before that two-gap scheme of his works in Buffalo to be a top 5 defense whether you or anyone else believes it or not. And that is "if" the bills manage to draft the right players. Plus, like I said Mario was a pro bowl pass rusher in Jim Schwartz's scheme, as was Dareus, Kyle Williams and Hughes should have gone too with his 10 sacks. Put those men in a two-gap scheme and they all sorta look average because they don't fit well in it. You know, kinda like last year. I also said Mario was a lousy DE in a 3-4 two-gap mostly because he isn't used to playing in it. Just like his line coach mentioned. I also stated Mario doesn't get a pass because of his attitude and deserves some criticism. Just not to the extent that some here are railing on him for.

Kinda funny huh? If that were true though then why not bench him or even outright cut him for lack of effort. Me, I believe Mario was doing his best in a very ineffective scheme as the man is a pro bowl pass-rushing defensive end and a lousy 3-4 DE in a two-gap scheme. What most Bills fans don't get is that because of the limited cap space for top free agents that fit a 3-4 two-gap scheme. It's going to take a few years of drafting players to make Ryan's scheme work properly. What's even more problematic is that neither Kyle Williams nor Marcell Dareus are a fit in that 3-4 two-gap and should Ryan continue to run that same scheme again this year Marcell might be the unhappiest player in the league. If the FO is intent on keeping Ryan as HC it might be smart to shop Dareus for some picks to better build that 3-4 for Rex.