WideNine

Wonder if the players will prank him this year and present him with a Bills' jacket to wear on the side line?

I don't think that either is the wrong QB, they both bring their own set of skills that can lead to success in the right situations. I like some of Darnold's game and he does not have to suck for Allen to be good.

All I know for sure is that NE (working the comp system) has 5 picks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds and it is very likely they piss me off tonight. Just say'n.

Evolving term to take into account both traditional defensive ends and smaller players that are closer in size to linebackers like Hughes in our 4-3, or going back in history like Lawrence Taylor was to the 3-4 defense. Taylor who was labeled a linebacker would be labeled an edge rusher today considering how he was used. Basically it is easier to give those players who primarily rush the passer off the edge a scheme-neutral label "edge rusher" Makes the position more flexible in terms of scheme and what kind of players can be used to fill it, by focusing on the defensive role. Also they may not be lined up on the "end" of the d-line at all, as teams like Seattle made splitting those guys off into a "wide nine" position more popular. Just my take.

It is ok to like both players. Hockenson did not have to be a terrible, risky, or a "mouth breathing" disaster of a prospect for me to like Oliver more and rank him a few spots higher. I don't get too caught up with position in the draft other than knowing you have to mindful of how competitive it is to fill some roles ( good QBs come to mind), and what your team needs are (not desperation need, just guys that can be plugged into a meaningful role). I also look at whether the prospect is a standout player at their position who has a high probability to step in an contribute. I felt Hockenson was that kind of blocking/receiving offensive talent who could do that for a team with a shorter learning curve than most. Glad he went to Detroit rather than a team in our division. He should be a good player for Matt Patricia.

The Bills scheme will have Oliver attacking the gaps with plenty of added twists and stunts to take advantage of his bend, ability to shed blocks, and speed. Our d-line has too many guys on it now who tend to get tangled up with blockers struggling on the wrong side of the LOS. The main reason RBs were hitting our 2nd level LBs and safeties with a full head of steam. We need players that can be disruptive on the other side of the LOS. Oliver and a few other DTs that went early last night fit the bill.

I rated Hockenson much higher than Fant because he catches everything, athletic enough to beat coverage (check the cone and shuttle drills), was awarded the Mackey award as the top TE in the nation (first time to a sophomore), declared early so still has room to grow, but was also a well above average blocker in just his first full year. So it would be like having an extra o-lineman to in pass-pro or to open holes for your RB, who could also beat LBs, S, and DBs for passes. Fant may develop into that all around TE and he is clearly the more freakish athlete, but the drops and subpar blocking left me leary and BTW they were rarely used on the field together which gave Hawkeye fans fits with how Ferentz was using them. I did not have any other TE's graded in the 1st, and if we pick up one later I don't want just an over-sized WR, I want a guy who has at least the foundation for becoming an effective blocker too. I had Oliver going to the Bills even if Hockenson was available.

I really like the Oliver pick, but am hoping they are able to pickup a good TE prospect later that can both catch and block. I feel like the Bills have not had an offense that featured an impact TE for 20+ years - time to join the rest of the better offenses in the league who seem to have a clue about how to take advantage of that skill position.

Fits their mold of that guy who can operate in traffic and make contested catches.

So you don't like tight ends being rated high in a draft as they do not impact winning or losing and edge rushers do. OK - fair enough, as I have not done any comparisons against a team that had 2 edge rushers go in the 1st. Would think things like coaching, your QB, and how competitive the conference was would factor in the W/L column too. Maybe too subjective to prove either way.

So...is your point that since IA is great at scouting and getting Tight Ends NFL-ready, that they should be winning more games, or are you upset with the fact that they produced two Tight Ends that went in the first round?

Plenty of decent receivers left no need for folks to panic AJ Brown Hakeem Butler Deebo Whiteside N'Keal Preston Williams Riley Ridley (the slow blinker, but good WR)

Good question. We should ask the Raiders and the Giants

Good value there if someone needed another solid DB....

Oft-injured and aging HOF'er...gotta plan for the future. Dillard is a solid pick for them and can learn by watching one of the best, and fill in if/when Peters gets dinged.

Huh? 150 lb Smurf with a bad foot, goes down quicker than... (I will keep it clean), invisible in big games, with the dreaded concentration lapses... Yeah, I would hate it if someone grabbed him before us.

Fant probably would have driven us nuts. With his freak athleticism he would blow by everyone only to drop that key pass. Remembering how we all felt about Clay dropping a critical pass for us last year how much patience would we have had with Fant who has concentration lapses from time to time?

The kid has talent..especially in that flex receiver role. Mismatch for anyone to cover, glad it was not NE. Now Denver just needs someone who can get the ball to him.

Rumor has it is some really expensive guy who sort of sucked last year.

The spooky way he shakes that magic 8 ball whem making his picks maybe?

Yeah, they mentioned the league is moving away from schemes with a clear-cut WR #1 to spread offensive role players who can get open and CATCH the ball.

The ONLY reason I would trade back in to take Fant would be if i was sure Bellycheck was targeting him, and just to pee in his Cheerios.

I just don't see the divide between the borderline 1st rd WRs and those we can grab in the 2nd meriting trading away picks to make the move IMO. Keep our picks and some decent prospects will fall to us.

Festival of summer lights a few times. Good times, great memories.

He's just the anti-lock brakes for their tank.