WideNine

That is because the brain cells for reading have shrunk down for some folks to the point where they are at full capacity with about a 6 word tweet. Some, if not most of us understood "designed runs" as opposed to saying scrambling to avoid pressure or if Allen sees that the defense has given up 20 yards of green in front of him. He is money on those sneak plays though...think we have to keep those in the playbook.

I would not undervalue that director of pro personnel role. When the Bills promoted John Butler from his pro personnel role to GM and then jettisoned he and his protege A J Smith and Wade too...Butler and Smith both went to the Chargers. They built a great Chargers team while the Bills sank into a freaking tar pit of poor personnel decisions and even poorer leadership. The good ones are worth retaining.

May be making too much of the Long signing as Bodine is set to be a UFA after next season and I think Long fits in nicely as a starting Guard that could serve as a backup to center if needed. I don't necessarily see a little over 4 million a year deal being a show- stopper for the Bills front office still finding a premium upgrade at center. IMO He may be just a guy that can fill a need and depth role when Bodine is either released or hits the market as a UFA. Admittedly, I am hoping this is the case. Otherwise my mental response to Beane's plans on making upgrades around, and protecting Allen better will be a slow clap of mocking derision. "Awesome, yay we landed the 37th rated center" where do we sign for those club seats?

Wasn't Borq the punter who was supposed to hold on a field goal and thought it was a fake kick...than ran around for 2 seconds before getting crushed looking for a receiver while all the Bills players were all WTF-ing? I like that guy

Normally I don't think so. I like the prospect from Utah and think the Bills should have him on speed dial as a UFA.

That being said if he is that good pay the man $$$$$ so he does not feel so "held back". I am a bit selfish regarding this, as I would like to see more continuity in the Bills FO. That being said, you still don't block guys from taking a promotion if your perks can't sway them towards retention.

Dunno about the Ebron reference. I don't think I ever caught Ebron saying that about Stafford, but will revise opinion if you have a quote. What I did read was that Ebron went on record saying that Stafford was a general who lead on the field, but did not throw him the ball and Detroit refused to use him as a red zone target. https://www.prideofdetroit.com/platform/amp/2019/2/5/18212005/eric-ebron-begged-detroit-lions-more-red-zone-targets

I would have to think after the underwhelming QB skills on display at the Senior Bowl this year, that Elway has to be kicking himself. We can argue all day about the different QBs taken last year, but regardless I believe it was a very, very good year to take a top-end QB. It may even go down as a great year if some of these guys develop like I think they will.

You may be right. I like Hockenson a lot, but I think any other year he would probably be a 2nd round pick. Because no one has really separated themselves from the pack as THE top-end receiver in this class folks are looking more at the deeper TE class and it's top-end prospects. Kittle was taken in the 5th I believe, but his success now has more teams looking at that Iowa program, how they recruit and coach up their TEs. These other factors I do think have caused his draft stock to rise... I don't think he will last through the first round, and neither will Irv Smith. Not sure about Fant, but don't know if there was ever a year where 3 TE's went in the first...would have to do some digging. I personally do not see the Bills brass taking him at 9, but there are no guarantees even at the top of the draft either. I do think he should be just as much an option as the top receivers folks are batting around if they trade down in the 1st.

Run out of town and was arguably the biggest offensive impact weapon for Indy last year. Went to the pro bowl this year and scored the AFC winning TD....so there may be more to the Ebron story. Detroit was clueless on how to use him whereas Indy was not. https://247sports.com/nfl/detroit-lions/Article/Eric-Ebron-Lions-offensive-targets--128709175/Amp/ That being said Ebron reminds me more of Fant with the athleticism, but concentration lapses...he will drop some passes. Hockenson supposedly has the more dependable hands and blocking of the 2 Iowa prospects. The Iowa HC was NE's TE's coach and that is why they have been churning out some pretty good prospects like Kittle in 2017 who broke NFL receiving records last year. Not saying Hock will do the same, but TEs coming out of that program are generally well coached.

No offense taken. Many of us feel that at 9 the BPA will be a defensive prospect. I think if the Bills trade down then they may turn to our O-line needs 1st as the BPA should align better with those sans reaching. So this was just a conversation about which direction they would go IF they go defence at 9.

I think that is true to a degree, but Milano (as awesome as he is in coverage) is not exactly built as a run stopper, and if your safeties are making a stop it is usually after a RB has picked up a head of steam and gained 3-4 yards. Look to the Jags game for that proof. Also, it is making those kind of stops (RBs with a full head of steam) and getting caught up in the wash of our d-line getting blown up that I believe got those two injured in the first place. IMO....regarding run defense, other than Edmunds in the Mike position who should be hitting those inside run gaps, I think of those two as guys that when needed prevent a 4 yard gain from turning into a 15, or string out the sweeps to force any runs back into the teeth of the pursuit, or clean up if our DEs lose contain on the edge. Just my opinion, but I have always been a guy that believes you build your lines fron the inside out.

We were 1st in pass defense and 10th in rush defense. Opponents (particularly in the red zone) were able to run on our team. Rushing TDs were just about automatic once they were in the red zone. The Patriots owned us by running over our team then forcing the Bills to committ all the defenders they could to the box...then they were able to hit their short passes behind our defense. I know folks glamorize the DE position and sacks, but between our #1 pass defense and #7 turnover ranking, our biggest need area on defense is the ability to stop the run and prevent teams from owning us and scoring in the red zone, or forcing the Bills to commit our secondary to rush defence and opening up their pass options. Also if you can stop the run with your 4 man front, your defense can be more creative with blitzes on predictable passing downs. I agree with the O-line needs.

I see DT if they stay at 9 and go BPA. The Bills desperately need a d-line difference maker and have been searching since they let Dareus go. They could go with Bama's LT, but I think he is a bit of a reach at 9. RT is deeper this year so I don't see them throwing all their chips behind one of them at 9 as they could likely pick up a good people-moving RT later. Opposing teams were able to run right up the middle on our defense last year and QB's have been able to step up into a clean pocket to avoid the rush of our DE's, the Bills need a player that can get some push and play on the other side of the LOS and be disruptive. The top part of the draft has those premier DT players and I see them going that route if they don't sell the farm for an Offensive lineman. If they trade down - it is anyone's guess

That was my take with Star. I know folks talk about how he occupied blockers, but there is a difference between occupying blockers and being hermetically sealed to them. I kept thinking, can't you at least fall into the path of one of those runs. He gets steered out of the play. Hoping we see more from him or get someone who can actually push or collapse the pocket from the other DT position. With the way NE and other team ran at will against the Bills I would think getting a Defensive Tackle that can play on the other side of the LOS and maybe have a few tackles for a loss would be a value pick at 9. If QB's can't step into a clean pocket then maybe Hughes and Murphy pick up some more sacks.

Too much is made of this and I think it is more the stigma of losing in general and losing our Super Bowls in particular. I have been to Green Bay WI, it's no great shakes...especially in the Winter. 2 hours from Milwaukee, and about 5 hrs from Chicago, but you don't hear the players complaining. If someone is looking for International culture its 2 hours on the QEW to Toronto, or I guess you can stay inside and make babies...tough call.

Let those stars go "polarize" some other team with distraction. IMO The Bills have enough obsticles, why go out and sign a head ache.

I guess we will have to tune in to the sequel when we take on NE with Josh Allen playing the role of Solomon Kane. ....and is it time for the draft yet?

I think Darius is one of those naturally gifted athletes that coaches will always struggle to motivate. You see recruits like these all the time, that is why good talent evaluators have to look under the hood at a kid's work habits and motivation If a prospect is on the radar he has skills that stand out, but does he love the game, does he work at taking his skills to the next level, or is he someone who struggles with complacency or disciplining himself. Darius' measurables coming out of Bama were exceptional for a defensive tackle, and he was productive for the Bills, but I don't know if he will ever conquer the habits he has acquired that have made his ability to compete at a high level slide as they have. Spending his formative years playing under Club Rex did not exactly instill the habits he needed.

I like Nauta, but don't know if he is a game changer with the upside of some of the other TE's in this draft. May be a reach at that spot in the 3rd. He is solid, and I think he will be a dependable blocking and possession-type NFL starter, just don't see him getting separation or high-pointing passes on seem routes. IMO he projects more as the kind of guy that finds soft spots in zones and sits on those. From what I saw of his games he has dependable hands and decent blocking...needs as much work as most TE's coming out.

For some teams that is the norm. Look at the Vikings, rarely do they try to develop a QB, preferring to pick up veterans QB's instead. Not sure if that is a terrible model as you SHOULD know what you are getting and it should be less of a gamble than finding out if your drafted QB prospect has the juice to lead your offense. Bridgewater was a bit of an exception, and his tenure was short-lived. Considering Denver's success rate with developing prospects, this is arguably the wiser course for that team to take.

In all fairness to some of our receivers, on more than half those drops a case could be made for PI's. They were getting mugged. I remember a few years ago the league cracked down on contact and Seattle and NE were flagged the most that year as that is how their db's were coached to play. The league wanted to open up scoring, much like the argument with obstruction in hockey keeping the skill players from showing their stuff. Just like hockey, the rule enforcement fades over the course of a season and disappears altogether during playoffs. So you have to accept that is the way it is going to be more often than not and find the guys that can catch contested throws as it seems the league has reverted and the rule is rarely and subjectively enforced again. It can be a game changer calling a PI on a play, especially a deep throw so perhaps officials are just reluctant to hand those out....seems that way at least when you consider the blatant PI noncall that New Orleans had during their playoff game.

Tack on a 60 yard bomb that is caught, not lost in the sun, or just through the hands, and the numbers aren't all that bad. The kid will be fine, but I get it. The more I read about his mental makeup the more I think he is just super-competitive and wants to hit home runs, not singles and doubles. So many folks focusing on Allen's play when the Bills were just about dead last rushing the ball sans Allen runs. He could use a bit of help on offense if the Bilks want to have more possession time. That is not all on Allen.

I'll take 53 yards rushing each game from my QB, as long as my running backs are kicking in another 100.

Still a great clip... back in the days when they had some entertaining personalities. RIP Red