port allegany

It does seem that way. But things aren't so bleak (although a turnaround depends on improved coaching and I'm not sure we're an attractive spot for a top-drawer assistant coach). In some ways, 2005 was a Perfect Storm: a lot of players either got old fast or had off years, we had injuries at 2 key spots - replacing Pat Williams with Edwards, and our best player Spikes; and the geniuses at the top handed an NFL team over to a rookie QB that hadn't played a big game in his life (by definition, Tulane doesn't play 'big games'). Things kind of snowballed out of control. Looking at 2006, on the plus side, we have 4 of the top 75 picks in the draft. Our receivers are pretty good and now have some experience (and there's a chance to resign Moulds). McGahee is a good back - maybe not a superstar yet but another year removed from the knee injury. The line can't help but improve - Peters & the rookie center will have some experience under their belts and an entire off-season to learn. Mike Williams had a nightmare year and it's 50/50 if that will be the norm or the improving 2004 season. Gandy is a decent backup, the draft is deep in OL and there are FA possibilities. On defense, the line got some good experience. Anderson improved and he was designed as a rotation player behind Edwards. Assuming Edwards is good enough to let Pat Willliams go, you have rotation there with a deep DT draft. Our ends are fair (Schoebel is certainly acceptable but Kelsey/Denney/a FA/a top draft choice needs to be upgraded. However, there will be experienced depth. The LB are solid, assuming Spikes comes back nearly 100% and Crowell wasn't a fluke. Clements will be back (perhaps franchised or maybe resign - we caught a break on the franchise tag there), McGee is improving and King/others provide some experienced depth. The safeties are experienced and TVincent will have another year at the position (with him it's a double-edge sword, more experience = older). The kicker did fine. The punter is outstanding. The special teams are tops. The two unknowns will determine 2006: 1) Losman - of our 2 QBs, he's the only potential starter. It's a shame our brilliant coaches/GM wasted this year without getting Losman experience or the chance to take leadership of the team. If anything, they added doubt in his mind and in his teammates. In some ways, Losman is behind where he was when they gave him the keys to the team. If Losman has the goods, things might be promising. If not, well forget about it. 2) Coaching - I don't know how you fire the GM and just about every assistant, realize the young QB was handled like a rag doll, have a veteran revolt, and embarrassing loses, yet the HEAD COACH keeps his job. Maybe the top folks know something we don't - somehow it really was ALL Donahoe's fault. Otherwise, you got a HC on eggshells and how in the world can he put together a quality staff? Here's hoping the glass is half-full.

Is D'brickshaw Ferguson considered in the same class as Ogden and Pace? Those guys are very quick and HUGE. Ogden is 6-8" and 345 while Pace is 6'7" and 325. Ferguson is no slouch at 6'4" but is "only" 295, and has a history of knee surgery. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I despise given up 1st day draft picks and I'm very hesitant to give up a #2 to go up 3 slots and grab a relatively light LT unless he is solid gold, and not just compared to this year's crop but over the past 5 years. There are at least 4 other 1st round quality LTs this year. And what if Peters really is a LT prospect (where he actually practiced before inserted at RT at midseason this year) and Mike Williams gets back to the play he exhibited in 2004? I'd rather get younger on defense. How many starters on defense are over 30 (Adams, Spikes will be, Fletcher, Milloy, Vincent, maybe Posey?). It would be nice to get a super talent on that defense that is young enough to build around. As nice as Schoebel has been, he's not a star (changes defenses) but a very good player that could really feed off the extra attention given to a star talent.

Unbelievably, given the performance we've received for the #4 money we paid, MW is holding all the cards. Why would he resign for less money in Buffalo? He'll get his money anyway, he'd get a signing bonus elsewhere on top of that because someone will take a chance on that level of talent, and he's dug a pretty deep hole here in Buffalo for himself. The only real hope is the guy has some character and feels some sense of fairness. If he'll take a cut (pay him $4M if that's the cap hit anyway), we need to get off his case and let him play. It's going to cost real money to replace him so there is a lot of reasons ($$$) to resign him on a restructured contract. I also believe the guy may yet turn into an All-Pro at either RT or G. Why not take the chance, especially when the money is gone anyway. It will take a lot of convincing and persuasion to get him to resign with Buffalo. Maybe that's exactly the strengths of Marv Levy as GM. Maybe he can connect with the guy by talking about pride and redemption. Marv can motivate and Marv has shown an ability to connect. I, for one, hope he's successful.

I would definitely NOT trade down and give up picks. The draft is a bit of a crap shoot anyway so I would retain as many shots as possible. Tossing around 5th, 6th, 7th round picks is one thing (these picks are not much different that UFA), but 1st day picks are precious. You can't hit 100% on them but they do form the backbone of a team. One of my biggest disappointments with Donahoe is how he gave away top draft picks. A #1 for Bledsoe. A #2 for Losman (along with a #5 but that's OK). A #1 for McGahee (when we already had a decent running back in Henry, in place). That's another two #1's and a #2 added to the current roster and still have Losman & Henry in the backfield. So I'm not a supporter of trading draft choices to trade up for D'brick Ferguson. If he comes to us fine. If not, pick another stud.

As everyone has noted, we really need to replenish the team this year so this draft is crucial. While I am not a draftnik, it appears that this draft is deep and getting deeper, especially along the lines. We might have lucked into the right year for our needs. Does anyone have a good site/link that outlines the top 100 players in a way similar to the starting post of this thread? The Bills should have 4 of the top 100 due to their unfortunately lofty draft position and the Tennessee pick. We should be able to get real quality in Round 1 but Round 2 and, most importantly, Round 3 will determine the success of this draft. If the draft really is that deep this year, we might get 3 eventual starters.

I'm only interested in Mario because they say he has Peppers-like size and skills. If he's just a very good DE (like the PSU guy), I would go with the DT. One thing to consider is the relative age of the different side of the ball. 2 years from now, when we might legitimately compete assuming Losman is legit, the offense will still be relatively young (evans, parrish, WM, peters, MW, the rookie center, everett, losman, and anyone added this draft). However, the defense will be aging and in decline in many positions (Adams, Fletcher, Spikes, Milloy, Vincent, Posey, and Schoebel may be topping out about then). Therefore, we might need to inject some youth with Top 8 talent into that unit. Having said all that, if the LT Ferguson is a special player and Mario or Ngata aren't at that level, then go with Ferguson, if we get the chance.

While I would be content with a premier LT (D'Brick) or DT (Ngata, if that's what they are, I would rather get a premier DE (Mario) if at all possible. It just seems it harder to get a special DE's than DT's. We might be able to get a potentially very good DT on the second or third round to plug up the middle. If Mario has freakish talent (6'6", 280, and fast), how can you pass on it? The OL is lousy but it might be not be so bad if MW can play guard (370 pound guard with Top 4 talent - it may translate into productivity), Peters seems to be a find at one tackle, Preston was picked to play center (and did OK for a rookie), so that leaves 1 guard (pretty easy - holdovers, gandy, FA, draft) and the LT. If MW takes a pay cut, it's a pretty cheap line until the LT, so the $$ is there to shore it up.