WideNine

Not sure, but I think saying "everyone's sleeper pick" would qualify as an oxymoron. ...and yes, I am going through sports withdrawal.

I am a huge Hughes fan, but admit he can be a liability in run defense. His patented outside speed rush too often takes him past the QB level where he has a collection of spin, rip, and counters that do allow him to still get to the QB...maybe not a sack, but pressure and at times fumbles and poorly thrown passes. That same outside speed rush loses contain on the edge and allows teams to run under it...they just need a decent Center who can handle our DTs sans help and have their Guard chip, get to the second level, and neutralize any linebackers trying to fill. Teams that ran on us last year took advantage of Jerry taking himself out of the play on runs because of the way he aggressively plays pass. Not trying to be hyper-critical, as it stands in a pass-happy league it works out more than it hurts...even better when our Bills take a lead and teams abandon their running game.

It is an interesting argument...where to take a TE in the draft. I like this year's defensive class so I am torn a bit. Just got to trust Beans and Co. to make the right call. I think they will go with Oliver as their first pick unless they trade down. When I look at NE's TE draft history past 2 decades, their most successful TEs were all taken in the 1st and 2nd rounds, with the exception of Hernandez... 4th round, some could argue that character concerns drove his draft stock down. I look for NE to restock their TE cupboard this year and their timing is right with a deep class. Funny thing is I doubt that anyone will question where Belichick selects his TEs in the draft. They will just assume he is smarter than they are (correct) and that the pick will work out. I just hope the top talent goes before their picks come up.

Not completely true. Hockenson is the more polished route runner and dominating blocker. Both measured great on the shuttle/agility drills. Fant is faster and has an unbelievable range to high point the ball ....so agree with the red zone threat. Depends what a team is looking for...if you are just looking for a big receiver who creates mismatches and can out run DBs then Fant is your guy, if you are looking for a TE who can block or get open for passes then it is Hock.

He and Fant will likely be better than Kroft. Iowa does a solid job recruiting TE prospects and coaches up the most pro-ready TEs out there. Bucky Brooks referred to them as Tight End U in an article he wrote about "gold jacket" draft prospects. The coach there spent a few years on NEs staff coaching the TE position so you see guys like Kittle (another IA product) come in and break records in his second year. These guys won't have a long learning curve, especially not Hockenson. Fant neither if used primarily as a flex option receiver.

I struggle with the Irv Smith value setting. He was very productive in college, but his combine measurements actually only put him at 6' 2". Many WRs today are bigger. I don't see much in the way of a size mismatch for him at the NFL level, so blocking is probably meh, and out competing in space will be harder with how d coordinators will match him up against larger safeties and dbs, or smaller linebackers in the Milano mold. He's a gamer and I like his compete, but I think he will struggle finding his game at the pro level. We will see...

Good article that covers the 2 Iowa prospects pretty well, and why Hockenson shot up the boards when Fant is arguably more athletic. They are both really good, Hock is more complete as a 3-down TE who not only runs great routes and has dependable hands, he will open run lanes and keep your QB upright, Fant is a matchup nightmare for secondaries. https://www.blackheartgoldpants.com/2018/11/13/18089600/the-curious-case-of-noah-fant-iowa-football-bhgp

Mine will always be our Bills getting the conspiracy spotlight on the X-Files.

We have covered this a lot, but why not it is the off-season and the swordmen are missing the playoffs ....again. I don't get the Hock dissing. I can understand folks thinking he is a reach at 9, or he is not "your guy", but "bust" is a bit too much. He will be solid, and maybe even grow to be dominant at the position. Do I think he should go in the top 10, is what it is. He will go where a team wants to take him and that will be his draft position worth. Anyone that follows the Iowa program knows they can coach up the TE position better than many schools. That is why when the Bills are taking a look at the Ol' Miss prospect they are going to have to factor in more time to coach that kid up - if he has the aptitude. Knox has very good measurables, but when you watch the tape often looks lost, the blocking needs a lot of work, and was an under-utilized feature of their offense. Same for many of the other prospects in this deep class where they may have high ceilings, but you do not see that reflected in their college production. Fant to me is a flex option TE who has the athletism to create a lot of mismatches on the field, just don't expect any blocking from him. If he was willing to do that at Iowa he would not have lost reps to Hockenson. We have that (sort of) with Croom, I don't see them adding another, but who knows. Not sure how good the Bills staff is at developing TEs, Rob Boras has a good looking resume...need to see it produce on the field.

He was basically saying there are folks here that mostly seem to live to piss on everyone's Cheerios. Not sure if it needs to be said, as we hold these truths to be self evident and all that... I don't take it too seriously, I get a good laugh from how creatively this board can punish a careless post.... as long as those who dish it can take it too.

I know right? I was fear mongering too, but realistically Allen has 300 LB defensive tackles who can run sub-5 40's wanting to crush him each play, so wrapping him in bubble wrap doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Plus the kid thinks he can run through them, or leap over them. Must be a knee-jerk negative outlook reaction to years of seeing defeat snatched from the jaws of victory. Hard to be a Bills fan and not have "How could this go horribly wrong?" tattooed on your brain.

This.. I know it is a buzz kill, but too easy for me to imagine something going wrong. Protect the investment for now...

I think we can agree that Allen imploding is unlikely given his performance last year with very little support around him. He has an interesting mental makeup and did not even look fazed when guys were dropping balls left and right, or if he had a bad play, just back to the huddle looking to take another crack. His best year at Wyoming was the year where he had a bit of support from the senior class of players around him and was not trying to do it all, I expect similar positive results this season. If he stays healthy, with a better supporting cast to help him move the chains, he should take some solid maturation steps forward this season. Honestly, I am just looking for Allen to improve his pre-snap reads and learn to better manage games by pressing less and taking advantage of underneath options when opposing defenses are giving those up. I also want to see our STs punt better, cover better, flip the field more, and kick in some decent returns. Hopefully our kicker will be healthy enough to hit field goals from 30 yards out again. I want to see our defense stop the run and improve their red zone stops. There is a lot I am looking for outside of our QB play that I think will lead to more wins.

It may be counter intuitive, but I am putting less on Allen and think that with improved ST play (they cost us 2-3 winnable games last year), better defense, and perhaps longer possession time with a viable running game we can churn out more wins. I am actually looking for Allen not to press as much for plays that aren't there this year...so, more of a team improvement effort around him. But, if we need him to push the ball downfield he should have more of the tools and protection to get that done too.

Bump Also revising my take on any G being taken this draft, at least not early with the Spain signing and the depth we have now at the position. In a draft that is arguably deepest at RT prospects, that is where they will likely go when filling out development depth behind all these FA signings.

Home is close, but we take the Broncos as I do not see them passing all over us and have team jet lag. 5-3 Away I think we sweep the Dolphins, ok with us splitting with the Jets. The Steelers win unless our D figures out how to stop the run, same down in Dallas. We expose the Browns and Mayfield has a bad day passing on our D. Titans and Giants we can take. 4-4 No wins against the Pats till this team and coaches prove they can. 9-7 overall. If they can pull off a spilt with NE, they could have a 10 win season. Lots of new parts and if they come together quickly, who knows?

Deiter is also an interesting prospect as he has that versatility teams covet; A natural G, but also 16 starts at C and all of 2017 at LT. He struggled mirroring edge rushers at LT, but at G he can be a real road grader and does a decent job at pass pro. This Bills scouting group, seems to be casting a wide net as they are checking all the boxes as they build their board. I like how Beane looks for a certain level of maturity and professionalism in their prospects too...little things that can make a big difference in how well a drafted player can adapt to being a pro. Looking forward to this draft.

Better than I did, was going to race my boy for fun...3 strides in I felt the hammy I pulled years ago start to go. It was "go", 3 strides and a bunch of hops on one leg off the track, with my boy laughing. Yep... I'm old.

Mentioned something similar about Ol' Miss limiting the routes they had him run. Liked the breakdown and comparisons to Calvin Johnson, makes more sense to use those big, strong, and fast receivers the way they used Johnson. A more fair assessment of Metcalf's abilities in the right system.

We are not the most patient fans as OBD regimes have used up much of that currency, but I thought Croom came along last year; The fumble trying to do too much aside. His measurables are comparable to KBs sans the slow feet, extra weight, lack of compete.... I think he is that flex option TE for the Bills for now.

I just don't see Irv Smith's size creating mismatches at the NFL level. Several of his profiles on the internet list him as 6'4", but he measured in at the combine at 6'2" 240 and change. Think he had decent speed in the 40 - same as Oliver who is 6'5" and a bit heavier, smallest hands.... I don't know. I don't see the ability to be that guy who can block and run routes. There may also be a lot of NFL linebackers and safeties who will be able to hang with him speed and size-wise and out-compete in space. Could be wrong, but think of him only as a flex option tight end for use just as a receiving option...which may be just what a team needs. If not Hock, I like Oliver and Warring for their upside. Not knocking how productive he was for Bama, just don't see as many mismatches at the pro level. More a big slot guy with above average hands.

Athletically gifted, questionable hands and concentration lapses, more a flex option TE in the mold of Croom position-wise. For a high draft I want a 3 down TE the Bills can use with any package and one that can catch and is also an above average blocker. That ain't Fant....not yet, maybe never. I envision him as a project; Someone who will make some amazing plays, but have plenty of wtf moments.

No.

I think he improves because he won't be asked to be most all of our offense as he was as a rookie last year. Throw in an o-line that can actually block so he is not pressured on close to 40% of his drops as he was last year and a running game to share the load, and yes receivers that can get open AND hang onto the ball. I have less demand on Allen getting better, than I do the rest of the offense needing to improve around him. With a cleaner pocket and some reliable underneath targets in Beasley, Gore, and Kroft he will learn to take the yards he can...especially if he does not feel he has to play hero-ball. Daboll and staff will drill that into him as well. I for one do not want him to not take those long shots with Foster and Brown on the outside. Completion % be damned It is not a bad thing that defenses have to respect that Josh can hit those speed guys 60-70 yards downfield.

Say what you want, but the region needed an owner like Pegs. Happy B-day!