4BillsintheBurgh

I hear what you're saying here, but "well enough" helped contribute to a 6-10 record. I was hoping we'd get measurably better at backup instead of moving laterally. My fault.

I hope you mean developmental (Tuel, Dixon) and not backup (Lewis). I would be disappointed if they did not bring in a veteran to displace Thad if they did not like him. I don't see how one of the 2nd tier of quarterbacks in this draft could be counted on if they need to play next year. It would be a huge gamble assuming they are trying to push for the playoffs.

Yes, I assume is he also not going to be looking for another job and may be the only one not willing to mortgage the future to win next year. Plus I also assume he has been Ralph's right hand man through all this time of not going for this kind of trade.

Couple things - it seems OBD is trying to be all in on making the playoffs this year, as such could use all the players they can get high in this draft. If we were to move up, it would be a wonderful marketing ploy. With a new owner, none of their jobs are secure and probably the only one who may want to hold on to next years picks is Littman - other than that I would think OBD wants to make the splash and get to the playoffs if for no other reason than resume building. So if there is a move up, my guess is that next years picks are on the table more than this years, maybe with a player for some immediate value to the trade partner.

Hey, he cut his hair, he's got to work his way back up!

Congrats on your season, thanks for the story.

Either way, there's a sign in the window at OBD that says "We're dealin'!" Not a bad thing at all.

I think the only player at DE that makes sense at 9 is Anthony Barr. He has the dreaded "potential" to be a dominant DE but watching him play a little he doesn't understand leverage in the run game which would be a problem for us given the last couple years. Edited to add: I think Barr would be a good fit in Pettine's defense. I wouldn't mind Aaron Donald because I would like to see more tackles for loss out of our DL, but I don't think he will play against NFL OT's well because of his size. I like him much better against the interior OL and as such have trouble findind a roster spot for him with Dareus on the team. Now without Dareus...

With some of the comments from front offices (ours and others), I have come to the conclusion that we were successful because Modrak was less involved at the bottom of the draft. With EJ and a lot of the higher round picks, Nix talked about being more involved because the job is more contingent on hitting those picks. And that makes sense, but it lead me to think the lower round picks and udfa's got less "input" from other members of the front office and were picked based more on what the scouting guys assessed than anything else. Hence the successes, IMO.

All I know is - if they ask me not to eat for however long before a surgery - I'm not eating.

You could try the chant thingie, sure. Don't you have to have the pants on for that to work? I am taking some solace in the fact that we haven't maybined or mccargoed a draft pick under nix/whaley and this year more than any other I can remember in the recent past we don't have one position that we have to get in the first round. So I would not like to see a qb or rb taken. I would not be happy with Ebron or Mosely because I don't think they are good value but I can see where they fit on the roster and financially on the team. I think it's unfortunate we don't have a DE that makes sense for us because I think that would be a great value match for #9. I don't think Aaron Donald is long enough to play 4-3 DE full time in the nfl, I think he will do much better against guards than tackles but I think he's a good player and wouldn't be upset if he was on the roster. Seems like Kony Ealy (every time I see that name my brain says Tony Kealy) isn't in play at 9 even though to me he or Dix fills a need on defense. So I'm pretty easy going when it comes to who they pick because I do not get the chance to interview the players and that is such a big part of how they do in the nfl.

You said consumated. Huh huh huh

I would think that if the stars align for us someone will fall to 9 and you would not be consternated. If you believed.

Please update your sig.

I have to assume he is rising from a UDFA to a late round pick. Watching him at Pitt, he has the physical tools as Fluff said upthread, but I can't see him making an active roster in the fall.

I'd say adding Hughes is a bit much, I'm thinking if he could be an everyday 4-3 end Indy wouldn't have dumped him. Maybe we can trade him to Cleveland...

I just don't see Lovie Smith getting a replacement for his number 2 wr at pick 9. I assume he's going to take a front 7 defensive player or an offensive lineman.

Of course the bottom, but a couple guys are there primarily because they are good at ST, not because they are the 5 wr or 3rd rb with a chance of developing into a starter. Dixon at rb is a good example, he's probably not going to start or be competition to start as opposed to Ronnie Wingo who could have a chance depending on his development. Both bottom of the roster guys but with different strengths. So maybe we have to take a chance with Ronnie (or some other bubble talent player) on the PS because of Dixon.

Yep, drunks and metal steps are always a good combo. Not to mention drunks on top of trucks, nothing could go wrong there. "Is that a Dolphin fan? FIRE the slingshot!" That said, it looks sweet and would be awesome to hang out in.

I'm partial to a Jamaal Charles comparison. I think Spiller doesn't pass block well enough for Hackett's offense and that's why they're not enamored with him. I don't think it helps with him bouncing outside either, especially if they want to hurry up. I would think they'd rather have a back that hit the hole hard and got what he could to help the rhythm of the offense.

I am implying that the guys we had on the bottom of the roster are there fighting for a spot and they may not have the correct mental attitude to play special teams well - comparing that to someone who has all the physical gifts to play football but does not have the mental fortitude to play like a combine champion. Not every player can be "coached up", and there are a lot of players (especially high picks) that coaches took because of their high ceiling but in the end they could not play the game (eg Jamarcus Russell). Going "balls out" on ST also takes discipline and having your head on a swivel. There are guys who have made a living at it and they are valued commodities, say like Tasker. So the mental side of the game is important and that may not be able to be "coached up" hence bringing in folks who have the capacity to play on ST.

C'mon Baltimore!

By that logic we should just pick players based on their measurables. We could have a whole team of underwear olympics champions.

Thanks for that info. I like Aaron Williams covering tight ends, I don't know if Roby has the same kind of size to be effective, maybe he will be able to anyway.

I think if our first wave down the field can make a tackle more often than not even Moorman will do okay. He has to hit the correct spot on the field, but he does okay with that. We should be able to tell in the preseason. If Easley, Graham and dixon are around the ball a lot things should go well.